Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #305
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 8/6/2002 8:08 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

------------------------------


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 305
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Community Radio                       [ "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed]; ]
  SF Giants Broadcasts                  [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
  Paul Harvey in Chicago Tribune        [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
  Sleep sensor?                         [ Chip Melsh <chip20877@[removed]; ]
  Re: Al Helfer and Southern Baseballe  [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
  Gunsmoke                              [ andy ryan <anbryan2000@[removed]; ]
  Les Paul                              [ "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl ]
  FDR anecdotes                         [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
  Lillian Randolph story                [ lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed]; ]
  Latest issue of SCARLET STREET        [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Re: "Magic Castle piano" and random   [ "" <cooldown3@[removed]; ]
  CHICK HEARN                           [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
  Re:FOTR Convention                    [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
  Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  "Song of the South"                   [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 12:31:41 -0400
From: "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Community Radio

Way back on Fri, 19 Jul 2002, in Issue #174 of the OTR Digest, Ted Kneebone
asked:

Here are a few:  What is community radio?  Is it something
like public radio (NPR, PRI)?
In the latest discussions of commercial radio networks as well as public
radio networks, I am wondering if there is reason to hope that community
radio might put us in touch with some things that we used to expect from
commercial and public radio?

I didn't see a response so thought I'd weigh in on this a little.  My
knowledge comes from my involvement with "community" television as a
volunteer, producer, and currently chairman of their board of directors.

"Public" television and "public" radio usually refers to stations that are
associated with PBS and NPR, respectively, and perhaps Pacifica.  They are
supported by the CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting), corporate
donations and underwriting, and by viewer/listener members.  Programming is
generally national rather than local in its focus.  The stations, while
trying to serve a variety of needs, have a fairly high standard in terms of
production values, and many stations, especially the radio type, have a
"format" that may emphasize jazz, classical music, etc.

"Community" television and radio are a bit different.  Their focus is
generally local and the producers are local.  As for the television side,
when cable television came along and was given a monopoly in a community,
the deal was that in exchange for the monopoly they would give a channel, or
2 or 3, back to the community and provide financial and technical support
for that channel.  In many communities, like here in Billings, MT, the cable
company pays a franchise fee to the city which then gives a portion to the
channel to cover salaries and equipment.  The channel can be housed in a
variety of locations depending on the community.  In our case, it is in
three rooms of our school district's administration building.

Programming on the TV channel comes from the community.  For a nominal
membership fee (like $25/yr, more for businesses, free to students) anyone
in the community can have their own television show.  As long as the
programming is not a blatant commercial, and stays within FCC guidelines for
content, it's the ultimate in free speech.  The station, as our does, might
also provide live coverage of various civic functions like city council,
county commissioner, and school board meetings.  We also provide live
coverage of high school graduations, parades, and charity auctions.
Programming produced in our studio is of the "talking head" variety and
features regular shows by groups associated with our medical, legal, and
social outreach communities.

We also have shows produced by individuals which provides some of the more
colorful programming.  One, a few years ago, a guy just video tapes his fish
swimming in their aquarium for 30 minutes.  Some are shows from folks who
want to rant.  Some are local musicians getting themselves known.  We have a
guy who does a performance art piece as a drag queen in a nun's outfit.  I
produce a weekly show where I play an old radio program while showing the
viewer a photo of an old radio to look at.  Pretty much anything goes.

As for the "community" radio, it functions the same as the television in
that the programming is provided by local producers.  We have an excellent
station of this type in Bozeman, MT.  Check out their program guide at their
website to see the diversity of shows:

[removed]

To find out more about other community stations, just type "community radio"
or "community television" into a search engine like Google.

As for Ted's question about whether community radio might serve up as an
alternative to commercial and public radio, that depends on whether your
community already has a station.  We have been trying to get a community
radio station here in Billings for over 3 years, at least that is how long
it has been since we submitted our application.  The problem is that
virtually every application for a non-commercial radio station in the
country has been blocked by the application for the same frequency by one of
several religious organizations who either want to block diversity on the
dial or want to beam their non-local content from one source.  The FCC's
procedure for determining who gets the frequency when there are multiple
applicants has changed several times since we have filed and each time we
have had to resubmit our application which costs us money in engineering or
legal fees.  It is suspected that one of these groups files applications
just to get the serious applicants to buy them out since they have over 600
applications filed and not a single station on the air.

So, is community radio the answer?  Probably not.  However, most communities
do have community television and commandeering a portion of their broadcast
day is a good way for OTR to get even.

Vince

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 13:47:40 -0400
From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  SF Giants Broadcasts

<<Alan Bell asked what Bay Area radio station carried the SF Giants games in
the 50's and 60'[removed];>

When Gene Autry ("Golden West Broadcasters") owned KSFO 560AM with studios
in The Fairmount Hotel, they carried the SF Giants baseball games.  The
format then was "The Sound Of The City" with American standards and big
bands with live personalities:  Don Sherwood, Al "Jazzzbeaux" Collins, Jim
Lange,  Jack Carney, Del Courtney, Bob Hanson, Wally King, Bob Colvig, et al
and the Giant's sportscaster was Russ Hodges.  One of the Johnny Mann
Singer's vocal station ID's was a "Bye Bye Baby" promo for the Giant's
games.

Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 13:48:45 -0400
From: Kubelski@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Paul Harvey in Chicago Tribune

There is an article on the life and continuing career of Paul Harvey in
today's Chicago Tribune.

The link is here:
[removed].

According to the Trib, he is 83 (and Thomas Dewey was elected president).

The article actually recalls in many ways the comments of Dave Neihaus, voice
of the Seattle Mariners, at REPS this year about preparation for radio work
and the discipline it takes to do a daily broadcast well.

Sean Dougherty
Kubelski@[removed]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 13:48:19 -0400
From: Chip Melsh <chip20877@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Sleep sensor?

As for more recent players, like TVs, CD players, etc.,  I don't know of
any that "sense" when you're asleep, then shut [removed] they all have to be
manually time-set.

Perhaps a sound activated switch, when the snoring
starts the player shuts down.
Chip

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 14:18:04 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Al Helfer and Southern Baseballers

On 8/5/02 12:43 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

This was
al helfer and in my opinion, there was no one better. He did the Mutual Game
of the Day. Does anyone know of his history and whatever happen to him?

Al Helfer was the only broadcaster to work for the Dodgers, Giants and
Yankees -- he was Red Barber's original sidekick when Dodger games were
first aired in 1939, remaining in that slot thru 1942, and returned to
Brooklyn for the team's last two years in the East in 1956-57. He also
called Yankee and Giants games while Mel Allen was in the service during
WW2 (Allen had worked for both teams from 1939-43, with only home games
being broadcast).

Helfer was with the Mutual Game of the Day during the early 1950s, until
he clashed with Dizzy Dean -- who was brought on board when the Falstaff
Brewing Company took over sponsorship of the Mutual broadcasts. Helfer
was an old-school broadcaster who took his job seriously, and despised
Dean's on-air clowning -- at one point sharply interrupting one of his
routines with something along the lines of "If you want to be a comedian,
go to Las Vegas." Dean was under contract to Falstaff, and was considered
their best salesman -- so the end was in sight for  Helfer's Game of the
Day career once Dean showed up. He was soon replaced by Buddy Blattner,
who had been Dean's partner on St. Louis Browns broadcasts, and who was
also under contract to Falstaff. (Dean and Blattner subsequently did
Falstaff's TV Game of the Week as well.)

Helfer remained active thruout the 1960s -- he was part of the first
broadcasting team of the Houston Colt .45s in 1962, and finished the
decade as Monte Moore's sidekick on the first two years of Oakland A's
broadcasts. His skills were badly eroded by that point, and he retired
after the 1969 season. He died in 1975.

Another OTR connection of note for Helfer is that he was married to
Ramona Davies, the six-foot-tall pianist/vocalist with Paul Whiteman's
orchestra in the 1930s.

it seems that many, if not most of the great announcers were
>from the south ala allen, barber, harwell, and i assume many more. Does
anyone know if this is true and where were some of the other greats from?

I think this has a lot to do with the Southern storytelling tradition --
great broadcasters had to be great storytellers, and such skills were a
staple of pre-media-era Southern culture. Southern voices dominated New
York sports -- Red Barber was from Florida, Mel Allen was from Alabama,
Russ Hodges was from Tennessee, Ernie Harwell is from Georgia, and
Lindsey Nelson (the original Voice of the Mets) was from Tennessee. Other
noted Southerners include Jimmy Dudley, longtime voice of the Cleveland
Indians -- a Virginian -- Arch McDonald, the voice of the Washington
Senators -- a native of Arkansas -- By Saam, of the Philadelphia
Athletics and Phillies, a Texan, and of course Arkansan Dizzy Dean, who
covered both the Browns and the Cardinals in St. Louis before his long
network career.

Not all great baseball broadcasters were Southerners, though -- Vin
Scully is from New York, Jack Buck was from Massachusetts, Ned Martin was
from Philadelphia, Bob Prince was a Pittsburgh native, Jack Brickhouse
was from Peoria, and Curt Gowdy is from Wyoming, just to name a few.

Elizabeth

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 18:00:50 -0400
From: andy ryan <anbryan2000@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Gunsmoke

I've lost my copy of "The New Hotel" rehearsal and
broadcast tape from "Gunsmoke".  It was one of the
first tapes I bought when I started collecting.
If anyone would be kind enough to sell me a copy of
both the rehearsal and show, please contact me
off-list.

andrew ryan
anbryan2000@[removed]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 18:52:22 -0400
From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Les Paul

After reading all of the favorable comments by
people who personally met Les Paul in one way
or another, I have to add my own experience.
I was in the navy at the time, and Les Paul and
his wife, Mary Ford, were playing in a dance
hall.  They were set up and playing behind a
wooden pole that ran the length of the hall, but
they were only about three feet away from their
audience.  Les and Mary were quite sociable
and I sometimes spoke to them between songs.
I was interested in the way they were set up for
the multiple voices of Mary and the guitar.  As
I remember it, Les was playing, and Mary was
singing, along with a tape player which gave the
multiple sound.  I also think that they said that
Mary's sister was "offstage" (out of sight) and
singing along with Mary.  This was about 52
years ago, and I wouldn't swear to the help of
a sister, but I believe that was how it was.  I
have some very nice photos of Les and Mary I
took at that dance.  It is one of my fondest
memories of a time when I was able to be in the
audience of many radio shows in Hollywood and
see many current musical recording stars.  The
most unexpected event during my navy years was
having Joni James (who was at the height of her
popularity then) come out to my table after her
performance at Ciro's Night Club.  I and a friend
were in our uniforms and Joni noticed us.  She
said her brother was in the navy.  She joined us
for about l5 minutes and you can believe that the
boys on my ship were green with envy!
Harry Machin, Jr.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 19:00:02 -0400
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  FDR anecdotes

          Not too long ago one of the members requested some
information regarding any jokes, anecdotes, stories, or other
references to FDR by OTR performers.  I was just looking through my
August 2002 issue of Radiogram (SPERDVAC) and noticed a small
article on this subject.

          Some of the resources mentioned are:

SPERDVAC@[removed] and  their toll free phone number
( 1-877-251-5771).

          I also noticed the mention of  the July 14, 2002 article in The

Orange County Register regarding  brothers John and Larry Gassman,
who have contributed to the mailing list.  Their radio program "Same
Time,
Same Station" is mentioned as well.  An abbreviated version of the
article
can be found online at  [removed].  Bravo, John and Larry!

          I hope this information is helpful.

Kenneth Clarke

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 23:19:03 -0400
From: lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lillian Randolph story

Many of you may have seen my story on Lillian Randolph
in the current Sperdvac newletter.  What was missing
from the story was a credit due to Ben Ohman and
Charles Stumpf, Authors of The Great Gildersleeve
Book.
These gentalmen let me use information from thier book
for my story. For thier help I am very greatfull!!
If you have not read thier book The Great Gildersleeve
your missing out!!  I must for every Gildy Fan!!

Thanks Ben And Charles!!!!!!!

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 00:13:15 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Latest issue of SCARLET STREET

For any interested parties, the latest issue of SCARLET STREET hits
newsstands in about a week from now and offers the conclusion to the
two-part interview with Harry Alan Towers, who produced radio programs on
BBC and US radio during the fifties like Horatio Hornblower, Lives of Harry
Lime and The Black Museum.  On an even more interesting note, there is an
article about Ellery Queen on radio, documenting the origin of the program
THE ADVENTURES OF ELLERY QUEEN.  Lastly, their latest issue offers a short
article about pulp magazines and their cover designs of the thirties and
forties and THE SHADOW makes two appearances!   If you are a regular
subscriber of the nostalgic mystery magazine, your issue will probably
arrive in a few days. If you are not a subscriber, SCARLET STREET can be
found on barnes and noble and borders book stores (larger sized stores) so
you can pull up a chair and take a nostalgic read.  I think they have a
websight (probably [removed]) but I'm not sure exactly what it
is.
Martin

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 09:59:25 -0400
From: "" <cooldown3@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: "Magic Castle piano" and random
 [removed]

Dear Mr Munsig,

You posted

A) if anyone is interested or bothers to read (this is from years behind
the mike asking the same about [removed] never really knows, do
one?), and

B) of those who read or heard, if they just think I'm a blow-hard, absorbed
in name-dropping.

You are one of the posters I look forward to.

I have been struck by the absolutely complete cross section of humanity
posting here. When you and Hal add the touches about the people involved I
am always moved.

While the scholars have furthered the knowledge about the "nuts and bolts"
and have allowed me to sit at their feet and learn, you have raised the
curtain on the faces, possibly less  well lit, sitting in a room spinning
dreams and magic.

Thank You.
Patrick

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 10:01:27 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CHICK HEARN

The passing of Chick Hearn is doubly sad for me.  We have been good
friends for 52 years--since 1950, when he joined our broadcast team at
WEEK radio in Peoria, Illinois, of which I am now the only remaining
survivor.

Chick was a late bloomer--he was already 35 when we found him at a small
FM station in Aurora, Illinois, but he took off like a rocket on that
September Monday when Chick Hearn On Sports debuted at 6:15.  By the time
he  finished reporting his first story we knew we had discovered a
SuperStar.  Chick was as 'colorful' that first day, as the day he
broadcast his last Laker game.

We used to lovingly call his show Chick Hearn In Shorts because he would
come into the studio with his belt buckle undone, sit down in the
announcer chair, and unbutton the top button of his slacks.  In every way
he was truly a one-of-a-kind.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 10:04:47 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:FOTR Convention

 Derek Tague had this to say:

Last week Jay Hickerson sent a notice out that TV comedian Howard Morris
has been added to the bill at  this autumn's Friends of Old-Time Radio in
[removed] It just occurred to me that Mr. Morris provided the speaking voice of
Jughead in the Filmation series "The Archie Show" in the late 60s.
Sorry, Hal, for even bringing this up. <SNIP>

No problem whatsoever Derek. (Hey Charlie! He's OFF TOPIC bringing up a TV
cartoon) :)

To me, you are the ONE & ONLY Forsythe Pendleton "Jughead" Jones.

You are too kind, (thereby insuring a soft spot in my heart). I can at least
lay claim to playing the "Jughead" role the longest. But I betcha that Howie
Morris got paid a lot more for his "Archie" cartoon work than I did in all
the years on radio. (Ah! the power of TV, and the money one could earn).

If they knew where to find me, I might have had a shot at it, but by then, I
was totally focused on TV directing, and moved around quite a bit.

It has always been my guess that the the voice actors who provided the TV
voices for the core group of Archie & his gang  [among them, Dallas McKennon,
Jane Webb, John Ervin (also the voice of Morris, the 9-Lives Cat), & the
aforementioned Howard Morris] must have studied the voice >characterizations
from the 1940s OTR series.

That may be true for everyone but the lovely and talented Jane Webb. Were
you aware that she played Veronica on our OTR radio version? She replaced
Gloria Mann in that role towards the end of our programs run on NBC.

Two Jugheads at the same venue? I'm there! But, then again, I'm al-ways at
the Newark [removed]  helps immeasurably when you live two towns away.

I'm looking forward to meeting Howard Morris. It seems we have a very dear
mutual friend. He and the comedienne Pat Carroll were standout "2nd
banana's" on the Sid Ceaser TV show many years ago. Pat Carroll and I worked
together often many years later, and became friends and socialized whenever
our paths crossed. A truly funny, charming and lovely lady.

Hey! Derek. Looking forward to seeing you at the FOTR Convention also.
(Probably even more than Howard Morris) He's probably not as big a fan as
you are, much less even know who the heck I am. (And that's not false
modesty)  :)

Regards
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 09:59:39 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Today in radio history

  From Those Were The Days --

1928 - One of radio's first serials was heard as Real Folks debuted on
NBC.

1939 - After becoming a success with Ben Bernie on network radio, Dinah
Shore started her own show on the Blue network. Dinah sang every Sunday
evening.

Birthdays --

1881 - Leo Carrillo d. Sep 10, 1961

1881 - Louella Parsons (Oettinger) d. Dec 9, 1972

1911 - Lucille Ball d. April 26, 1989

  Joe

--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 10:00:52 -0400
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "Song of the South"

Hello Charlie & Co.:

   Martin Grams bringing up "Song of the South" reminde me of a joke:

If cosmetics purveyor Helena Rubinstein married famed jurist Judge Learned
Hand, divorced him & married "Song o/t South" actor James Baskette, she'd be
"Helena Hand-Baskette."

Yours in the ether,

Derek Tague.

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #305
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