------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 151
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Portia Faces Life; Vinton Hayworth [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
[removed] [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
A rookie's reflections on CincyCon [ "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@delphiau ]
Re: Lone Ranger Theme [ Graham Newton <gn@audio-restoration ]
Reels for Sale [ doug kosmonek <dougkosmonek@[removed] ]
Archie recreation [ Tedshumaker@[removed] ]
Charles Mullen RIP [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
The Gildersleeve Project [ "david rogers" <david_rogers@hotmai ]
Cincy Con [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
Radio Days - the movie [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
______________________________________________________________________
ADMINISTRIVIA:
Before the guy in the funny hat gives me the business, yes the
message from Hal Stone in last issue's Digest was mistakenly
included twice. I was doing some maintenance on the server, and
when I manually redirected the mail held while I was working, I
accidentally redirected that message twice. It's mea culpa,
folks, not his. --cfs3
______________________________________________________________________
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 14:19:42 -0400
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Portia Faces Life; Vinton Hayworth
If the teacher who wrote to the Digest awhile back about getting a copy of
a "Portia Faces Life" episode is still looking, I have finally found an
obscure episode in my collection that has good sound. I'd be glad to send
it to her if she would contact me.
Second, Vinton Hayworth who, among other roles, played the father on the
"Archie Andrews" show, came in for some close scrutiny in this forum last
year when we were discussing Rita Morley Harvey's book about political
activity in AFRA, later AFTRA . [THOSE WONDERFUL, TERRIBLE YEARS: Southern
Illinois University Press, 1996]. Certainly, Howard Blue's new book will
give some additional insight into this subject.
However, while I had seen Vinton Hayworth's credit on some early
television programs, such as "Perry Mason," I had never really known his
extensive entertainment background until I read Steve Cox's new book on the
"I Dream of Jeannie" television program [DREAMING OF JEANNIE; TV'S PRIME
TIME IN A BOTTL E: St. Martin Press, 2000]. Hayworth played General
Winfield Schaeffer for the last two years of the Jeannie series
(essentially taking Barton MacLane's place when he was no longer able to
work on the show).
Hayworth is featured in a multi-page essay regarding his contribution to
the industry, not the least of which is his eleven year stint on AFTRA's
Board of Directors. Hayworth was among the very first news broadcasters in
Chicago and had an important and long-running role on "Myrt and Marge." I
found it interesting that Ginger Rogers was his niece (his wife and
Ginger's mother were sisters).
Occasionally, folks are mentioned here whose faces are hard to recall. I
was glad Steve Cox gave me more background on Vinton Hayworth. Hal Stone
has promised more info on Hayworth in his forthcoming book, which we
Digest readers are eagerly anticipating.
Dennis Crow
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 14:37:05 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: [removed]
Regarding Lee's posting about [removed]:
[removed] used to be (and might still be) one of the best on-line
bookstores for books, videos and audios of OTR. One can buy Dave Siegel's
wonderful book THE WITCH'S TALE history and log and CD sets of OTR that you
can't find as easily on other sites. But on the negative side, their
customer service has changed the past few months.
About a year or so ago my book THE HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL COMPANION was
published and months before it became available, Amazon was already listing
it in their catalog. They offered a publication release date (something
like April 4) and their system allows buyers (and NON-BUYERS) to post book
reviews if they want, after the book becomes available. Sadly, on April 5
and 6, two days after Amazon listed the book being available, two reviews
from readers went up. Both were very negative reviews. The first mentioned
a photo on page 304 being from another television series and not HAVE GUN,
the other was also negative, remarking how bad the info was and even
recommended another western book.
Now I don't mind a bad review if the reader is honest. But here's the
oddity. The book's printers were delayed so it wasn't released till the
middle of April (something like 14 or 13th.) Even I the author didn't have
any copies of the book in hand. I contacted Amazon and complained that two
negative book reviews were posted when the book hadn't been published yet -
literally - and it took phone calls and multiple e-mails till someone
realized that it too was impossible for someone to review a book that wasn't
published. They then promptly took the reviews off. (One of the reviews,
by the way, was authored by someone named Paladin residing in the Hotel
Carlton.)
Since then, the same problem occured - and I have come to the conclusion
that although [removed] offers great prices and a chance for readers to
post a book review, WAY TOO MANY fictional book reviews are on their site
(no doubt other authors have had the same problem - you don't even have to
buy a book from Amazon to post a review!) and the internet, sadly, has
opened the gate for cons to perform such tactics. I don't pay attention to
on-line reviews anymore (I don't even bother going to their site and reading
them - haven't now for almost a year) but their customer service is not up
to par when it comes to maintaining their products or [removed]
Just an FYI - I'm curious to know if any other OTR authors have had similar
problems with fictional book [removed]
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 15:15:32 -0400
From: "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A rookie's reflections on CincyCon
I just wanted to share my reflections of the Cincinnati convention.
This was my first OTR convention, and I didn't know what to expect. Now, I
strongly recommend to anyone on this list to be sure and go next year.
Everyone there was very nice, and VERY in to OTR. The recreations were a lot
of fun, and Hal Stone, Bob Hastings, and Rosemary Rice were wonderful. It
was a great experience to watch some real pros work.
The dealers were almost overwhelming. There was so much stuff there.
I wish I had taken the time to catalog my collection before hand. More than
once, I looked at a show and couldn't remember if I already had a copy or
not. So I finally decided to grab shows I was unfamiliar with and experience
some new things. Next year, I'll be ready with a list in hand of what I
need.
Also, I was glad to find that I wasn't the only younger person there,
although Martin Grams and myself might have been the only ones who had to
show ID when trying to buy a drink.
The only other advice I can pass along is something the Jim Cox told
me before the convention. Get in line for the recreations early!
-Chris Holm
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 15:19:35 -0400
From: Graham Newton <gn@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Lone Ranger Theme
Jshnay1@[removed] said to the OTR [removed]
On the subject: Re: Lone Ranger Theme
In a review in the current issue of Gramaophone magazine, a British journal
that reviews and writes about classical music, it is mentioned that Leonard
B. Smith, a band irector, who "gained renown as a cornet soloist and the
Goldman band" later became well-known to radio listeners. "More than a
million listeners each week heard Smith play the opening fanfare from
Rossini's William Tell Overture at the start of the popular Lone Ranger radio
series."
Just thought I'd pass it along.
It is nice that he did pass it along, but maybe Jshnay1@[removed] will now write
a correction to the Gramaophone magazine publishers, and the writer of the
article, because they are just plain WRONG!
Reg Jones Jr. wrote the definitive book on "The Mystery of the Masked Man's
Music", (pub by Scarecrow Press, Metuchin [removed]) and thoroughly documents ALL
the music used in the show from beginning to end.
His account is ABSOLUTELY accurate because he had access to all the papers
relating to the show and the music, and interviewed many of the people
involved.
The show theme (The William Tell Finale by Rossini) was recorded in Mexico
by the Thesaurus division of RCA Victor to avoid problems with one
Mr. James Petrillo of the American Federation of Musicians who was
shepherding a musicians strike at the time. It was a pick-up orchestra
made up of available Mexican musicians in Mexico City at the time.
You can bet that Leonard B. Smith had nothing to do with it, lest he raise
the ire of Petrillo, which would not have been a desirable thing to do if he
wanted to keep his union membership and ever play for pay again!
Reg has a lot more detail in his book, if it is still available, and it is
well worth a read if you have not already done so.
A few years ago, I did the mastering of the original Mexican recorded theme
and other Republic based music from the Lone Ranger which was included in a
now out-of-print CD on the CineDisc label.
... Graham Newton
--
Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, [removed]
World class professional services applied to phonograph and tape
recordings for consumers and re-releases, featuring CEDAR processes.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 15:25:12 -0400
From: doug kosmonek <dougkosmonek@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Reels for Sale
Hi Everybody,
I've got a great deal for anybody who's still collecting reel to
reels. I finished dubbing my reels to cassettes, now I would like to
offer these to somebody who might have use for them.
Here's what I have.
16 reels of The Red Skelton show. Starting from 1939 ending in 1952.
51 reels of Fibber Mcgee & Molly (about 650 shows all together)
Both of these sets are recorded in chronological order.
All the reels are on good quality tape. The only stipulation I have
is that if someone is interested in one or both of the sets, they buy
the complete set, [removed] I don't want to break them up and sell them
individually.
The cost is $1 per reel plus postage.
If interested contact me dougkosmonek@[removed]
Thankyou,
Doug Kosmonek
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 18:23:44 -0400
From: Tedshumaker@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Archie recreation
Hal, when the Archie recreation was getting ready to go on the air your new
"Uncle Robbie" kept asking "where's Hal, Where"s Hal?" He was about to get up
when you made your GRAND [removed] was relieved, it was great. I hope uncle
took good care of you.
Ted
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 20:19:17 -0400
From: leemunsick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Charles Mullen RIP
I'm so sorry to read here of the demise of friend Charles Mullen, nee
"Archie", and retired head of American Tobacco.
Years ago, it was through a fluke that I bumped into Charlie. A happy
occasion, for it led to having two Archies in our re-creation of "The
Adventures of Archie Andrews" that year at the FOTR in New Jersey.
I was trying to locate Johnny Roventini, the famed Philip Morris
page-boy. Johnny was the source of the ubiquitous "Call for Philip
Morreeeees", heard extensively on the radio virtually every evening. It
became an American byword. There were life-size stand-up figures of Johnny
Roventini in every tobacco store in the [removed]
One radio comic used the advertising's success on his show by yelling the
commercial announcer's introduction line, "Here's Johnny, stepping out of
thousands of store windows across the country", followed by a tremendous
sound of glass crashing. Seemed like a truckload of glass! There were
other Johnnys scattered across the country for local appearances, opening
of tobacconist shops, etc. But it was Johnny Roventini in the northeast,
on the network and in print advertising. He made a good living in the
role. After the advertising campaign came to an end years later, he went
on to other things. When the Philip Morris people learned some years later
that their pint-size representative had fallen on hard times, they gave
Johnny Roventini a pension. He occasionally made public appearances for
them for additional years.
When I began looking for him, I was getting nowhere finding Johnny. People
at Philip Morris couldn't or wouldn't help, and I got the impression that
they hadn't the faintest idea what I was talking about. It turned out that
Johnny and I weren't more than two hours apart, I in NJ and he on Long
Island. We spoke by telephone about an appearance at FOTR. I told him we
would arrange transportation for him and a guest, and a stay at our
convention with all expenses paid. Sadly, he demurred, saying that he
simply didn't go out in public anymore. I told him that many of our guests
were his age or over, and his voice sounded as strong as ever. Politely,
but firmly, he refused, saying he was flattered by our
invitation. Privately, I feared that he was somehow deformed, perhaps from
a stroke. We never met.
According to an Internet "obituary server", diminutive pitchman Johnny
Roventini died November 30, 1998. Born in 1912, he appeared in hundreds of
Philip Morris radio and television ads, and dozens of programs during the
1950s and 60s. The information further stated that Mr. Roventini succumbed
to a "facial infection".
Strangely, some contact in my search suggested that I call a chap named
Charlie Mullen, and gave me his office address. This became a bit
confusing at first, because there was another Charlie Mullen, and I was
temporarily sidetracked!
I was [removed] would a top-level executive at American Tobacco
know where to locate an advertising icon for Philip Morris, his biggest
competitor? I persevered, and got through to the correct Charlie
Mullens. We had a delightful, friendly talk. Charlie told me all the
tobacco people know each other, and promptly gave me little Johnny's
address, telling me to give Roventini his best regards. Seems they'd known
each other for years.
In the conversation which followed, Charlie asked why I was seeking
Johnny. I told him about FOTR, and my idea to have a convention theme that
year with the many radio shows sponsored by tobacco firms. That's when
Charlie's dark past came [removed] sheepishly and then proudly, he told
me that he had been the first Archie Andrews on the radio! This was during
World War II, and Charlie was drafted! Bob Hastings, himself just out of
the service, took his place.
That very year, we planned to do our re-creation of "The Adventures of
Archie Andrews" with Bob Hastings in the title role. Charlie
enthusiastically joined us in a great surprise for convention goers. We
had two Archies alternating lines in our re-creation! Mid-script, the
place broke up when our Veronica ad-libbed in perfect gushing
character, "Oh, I just adore having TWO Archies to talk with!" Those two
Archies -- Charlie Mullen and Bob Hastings -- had a ball. Everyone present
enjoyed a great time.
Charlie returned to visit subsequently. Some idea of his personality and
persuasiveness may certainly be drawn from the American success-story tale
of the cigarette route salesman in Brooklyn who rose to be CEO of the
biggest tobacco firm in the world. We enjoyed his company and
participation. I especially, having been the inadvertent but delighted
reason for it all!
Charlie Mullen, we shall miss you. And Johnny Roventini. And the great
entertainment that your companies and their other competitors provided for us.
Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 21:42:19 -0400
From: "david rogers" <david_rogers@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Gildersleeve Project
It seems as though The Gildersleeve Project website has stopped offereing
downloadable shows. I would like to thank not only this site but many others
who kindly offer regular shows. I am not North American and I do not live in
North America, so my introduction to such shows has been through the net.
The Gildersleeve Project was one of the first sites that introduced me (and
I am sure others) the the world of OTR (particularly American radio shows)
and I would just like to show my appreciation.
Love as always, David Rogers
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 21:42:42 -0400
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cincy Con
Just checking my e-mail for the first time since returning home from the
OTR convention, and I really had a blast! If anyone has never been to
Cincinnati for the convention make plans to come! It really is a great
get together of a real family. I've never met so many kind and nice
people willing to answer questions or chat. This really is a community
to be proud of.
The recreations were simply wonderful. I'm amazed at what amazing actors
tried out for the recreations (far better than my pitiful renditions, I
fear) and naturally, our professionals showed why they are called
professionals.
It was an amazing weekend. I made so many new friends, and had such a
great time that it was kinda sad to return to the "real world" after 3
days of OTR goodness.
rodney.
Past Tense Productions
Carrying Old Radio related films, and
Hal Roach shorts, for $7 per tape.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 23:15:20 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio Days - the movie
They have been playing I think on AMC a movie called Radio Days. I just
wondered if anyone knew anything about it.
Though I am sure someone has already beat me to the answer, this is Woody
Allen's paeon (of sorts) to his love of and growing up around radio both as
entertainment and news. It is a wonderful film though a fictional account
from the mind of Mr. Allen - all of the incidents are based on concepts of
characters, but not actual ones. Definitely worth watching for anyone who
either grew up with radio from the thirties and forties or who just loves it!
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #151
*********************************************
Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
including republication in any form.
If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
[removed]
For Help: [removed]@[removed]
To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]
To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed]
or see [removed]
For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]
To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]
To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]