------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 75
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
IS "JOHNNIE" STILL LIVING? [ Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@doityours ]
Musical Idents [ Michael Shoshani <shoshani@[removed] ]
Big Ben Chimes [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
Re: Actors' credits [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
It's Superwomen that's needed! [ Carolie Minuscule <daggerofthemind2 ]
Re: Spondulicks [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Help with OTR clips [ "bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed] ]
Abe Lyman [ "Irene Heinstein" <[removed] ]
Challenge of the Yukon and The Lone [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
Little [removed] [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
Musical Idents [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed]; ]
CONVERT FILES [ "thomas pawlak" <kalwap77@worldnet. ]
Brunswick Radio Hour [ Tyrone Settlemier <settlet@[removed]; ]
Spondulix [ Christopher Werner <cwerner@globalc ]
Amen [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 15:03:51 -0500
From: Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@[removed];
To: "Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: IS "JOHNNIE" STILL LIVING?
Many years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting "Little Johnnie" (last name
escapes me), when he came to our city on a promotional tour for Phillip
Morris and the "Crime Doctor" program. I have been searching the web in vain
to see if there was one for him. The only thing I came up with was a mention
of his association as the spokesman on the Phillip Morris web site. Can any
one help? Tanks in advance
Kevin Michaels
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 15:37:19 -0500
From: Michael Shoshani <shoshani@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Musical Idents
Sandra Skuse wrote
[quote Mike Biel]
They now use three electronic sounding notes in the pitch of
"B B C" for some services, and used to use the sound of the
Bow Bells for other services.
The BBC World Service uses the chimes of Big Ben, the clock tower which
adjoins the Houses of Parliament, not the sound of Bow Bells, which are
something different (Bow is another district of London, some miles away). It
still uses the chimes of Big Ben on the hour, but not every quarter hour as
it once did.
I think Dr. Biel is referring to the interval signal, not the time
signal. I don't know what they do anymore, but up until a few years
ago at least the BBC would play the chords "B" "B" "C" for several
minutes before starting a non-English broadcast; English language
broadcasts were prefaced by several minutes of a literal cacophony of
bells I never knew where they were from. But with these sounds a
person tuning a dial would be able to find the signal before the
broadcast started.
Michael Shoshani
Chicago IL
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 16:02:47 -0500
From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Big Ben Chimes
Sandra Skuse posted that the BBC still uses the chimes of Big Ben: During
WWII, did the BBC
broadcast the bell chimes on a recording, rather
than live?
I understood the recordings were used on BBC worldwide transmissions to keep
the British troops morale high. The intent was that as long as Big Ben
chimes were heard, they were assured that London had not fallen to the
enemy. Also, if the tower were hit in a blitz, the chimes couldn't ring out
for the same [removed]
A side note: I'm told that the police in England do not use "wailing
sirens" on police cars because the sirens are reminders of the blitz
bombings during WWII and it still offends the general public today.
Russ Butler oldradio@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 16:35:11 -0500
From: Ga6string@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Actors' credits
Regarding the recent post about building a site with actors' credits, it
would indeed be a Herculean task, as Mr. Bartell suggests. Years ago, Radio
Yesteryear offered a custom search service of its programs that provided a
list of programs by actor, and David Goldin is apparently working on a
similar service now at his site [removed]. (Hope he finishes
soon!) In the past, for my personal enjoyment (not for developing a site, or
posting info elsewhere), I've used his program listings -- which usually
include extensive actor credits -- to build individual listings by actor. For
example, I'd go to various "likely suspect" programs, such as -- in the case
of Harry Bartell -- Escape or Suspense, and use a "find" or "search" function
(there are a lot of ways to do this) for the name of the actor, [removed],
"Bartell." It takes a while, and it's not a complete listing, but it's a good
place to start. From there, for actors I was really interested in, I'd
augment my search by scanning other logs, such as those at Jerry Haendiges'
site and the Radio Showcase site. And, by posting queries on this digest
regarding a specific actor, I've often gotten very useful feedback as well
that's help direct my searches. By the time you're finished, you can build a
fairly comprehensive listing.
Bryan Powell
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 16:34:18 -0500
From: Carolie Minuscule <daggerofthemind2000@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: It's Superwomen that's needed!
Several years ago my daughter came across some old
engagement books of mine
and decided to log shows I did.
Do these still exist?? Or at least your daughter's
distillation of them?? If [removed] chance of my
getting my grubby little hands on them? I would hope
they've been donated somewhere - to Sperdvac or
something? I would think many OTR lovers would love
such a glimpse into the daily life of an actor in such
a way!
I know its going to be a big project, but there are a
lot of resources out there and everyone has to have a
hobby!
=====
Caroline Miniscule
THE FRIENDS OF MR. CAIRO
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 16:53:59 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Spondulicks
On 2/26/02 3:04 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
I've heard "spondulics" (slang for "money"?) used is some OTR programs
(particularly "Vic and Sade"). Does anyone know the origin of this word?
Was it used in normal conversation?
"Spondulicks" or "Spondulix" can be found in American gambler's slang, as
far back as the 1850s, and the best explanation of its origin I've seen
is that it's a corruption of the Greek word "spondylikos," which referred
to a type of seashell once used as currency. The word also turns up in
mid-19th-century lower-class British slang, so it's unclear on which side
of the water it first became popular. But it was very old, even by the
OTR era.
By the early twenties, it had become the sort of word habitually used by
the type of people who wore checkered vests, horseshoe tiepins, and straw
boaters all year round -- in other words, just the sort of smalltown
drugstore jazzbos Vic and Sade might have known in their youth. (In fact,
I suspect Vic himself might have been just such a character.
"Vo-do-de-o!" )
By the thirties, it was extremely outdated, and its use by V&S is Paul
Rhymer's way of pointing out that his characters are quite a long way
from the cultural cutting edge. The ironic use of "retro" language is by
no means a modern invention.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 17:48:08 -0500
From: "bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
To: "" old-time radio digest ">" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Help with OTR clips
Hi all,
A friend of mine is a high school teacher. He has a student who is looking
for little OTR clips. She is doing a project on the history of radio.
I need to have these clips to her on Friday--Oh yeah, my friend asked me if I
could help his student.
I'm too young to remember this but wasn't there a broadcast of the Empire
state building colapsing or catching fire or something in the 30's?
If so where could I get a clip of it?
What would be a good example of the very earliest example of an important
broadcast that I could get for her?
Thanks.
Bill
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 19:00:31 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Abe Lyman
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
littlejc2@[removed] typed:
I haven't seen anything by Abe Lyman for years but perhaps you could check
[removed] for possible available recordings.
There is a website which transfers old songs to CDs. There are 2 CDs for Abe
Lyman.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 19:01:57 -0500
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Challenge of the Yukon and The Lone Ranger
Michael Browning <aquarii2u@[removed]; asked:
A question was brought up to me concerning the creator
of The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet. There was a
third program that he created and right off hand I can
not think what it was.
This one will not require the scholarship of Elizabeth or any of the
other true cognoscenti on this list; even I can answer: The show was
_Challenge of the Yukon_, featuring Yukon King and his sidekick Sgt.
Preston. It was my favorite as a boy, and, just a few years ago before
my eye problems made my financial situation somewhat precarious, I was
making plans for a dogsledding expedition in the Yukon, ideally from
Dawson to White Horse. There are a number of dog sledding outfitters up
there, but I had trouble finding one that overnighted on the trail.
Which reminds me of a question I asked a couple of years ago and to
which I do not recall the answer, if any: The Lone Ranger was referred
to on the Green Hornet show, described, I believe, as the great uncle of
Britt Reid. Were these references oblique or clearly stated? And was
there any similar cross-reference between The Lone Ranger and Challenge
of the Yukon? I don't know what the Lone Ranger's time milieu was,
though I know it was Yesteryear, but I believe the Yukon gold rush
started around 1898. The origin of the Texas Rangers is ambiguous, but
apparently the Rangers were more military than law enforcement until the
formation of their Fronteir Battalion in 1874 (the Lone Ranger's use of
the six-shooter would certainly place him sometime after 1844, when the
five-shooter was first used by the Rangers).
Thus, the Lone Ranger and Sgt. Preston were almost certainly
contemporaries, though the Lone Ranger would have been somewhere in
middle age. A guest appearance would have been delightful, but I'm
confident that never happened or I think I would be aware of it. But
perhaps there was some reference or another?
The only cross-overs I'm aware of were the use of Sgt. Preston's theme
music Doņa Diana as a musical bridge in Lone Ranger shows that, I
assume, predate Challenge of the Yukon, and the occasional appearance on
that show of Sgt. Preston's voice playing the parts of villains.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 19:05:10 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Little [removed]
Scott Bultman of Uncle Goose has just informed me that they now have the
license to distribute Little Orley songs and stories. Penn State decided it
was too much hassle and sold the rights to Scott & Co.
Ted Kneebone
1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
OTR: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 19:51:43 -0500
From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Musical Idents
"S Skuse" <sskuse@[removed]; commented:
The morse code letter "V" was used for those wartime broadcasts because the
resistance movements in several parts of Occupied Europe used the letter V
as a symbol of resistance. It represented the first letter of the word
"Victory" (a word which begins with a "V" in several foreign languages). The
BBC only used it during the war, for broadcasts to Occupied Europe; and they
used it only because it had that wartime connotation.
The Morse code letter "V" (dit-dit-dit-dah) for Victory was
repeated five time after the second sounding of the NBC "fourth
chime" at 3:18 on the morning of the D-Day invasion.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 21:27:39 -0500
From: "thomas pawlak" <kalwap77@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CONVERT FILES
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
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Hello Fred, My name is Tom Pawlak, I found your article in the radio digest
very interesting. I have very little knowledge about converting recording
formats, could you recomend any books on the subject.
thank you
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 23:31:15 -0500
From: Tyrone Settlemier <settlet@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Brunswick Radio Hour
Does anyone know about the content of the Brunswick Radio Hour, probably late
20s. Did it promote Brunswick radios, phonographs, or records, or all three?
Or just billiard equipment? Are any shows extant? Thanks!
Tyrone Settlemier
[removed]~settlet/[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 00:29:34 -0500
From: Christopher Werner <cwerner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Spondulix
Mike Hamm wrote:
I've heard "spondulics" (slang for "money"?) used is some OTR programs
(particularly "Vic and Sade"). Does anyone know the origin of this word?
Was it used in normal conversation?
The left arm instinctively reaches to the shelf and grabs the Dictionary of
Word and Phrase Origins by William Morse. Opening to page 539 we read:
spondulix is a bit of dated slang meaning money, specifically small change
like nickels and dimes. It is one of many words coined in the
mid-nineteenth century by humorists like Josh Billings and Petroleum V.
Nasby in imitation of Latin and Greek words affected by the literati of the
period. Mark Twain used it in Huckleberry Finn when he had a character say:
"I'm derned if I'd live two miles out of twon, not for all his spondulix."
We're told that it was one of [removed] Field's favorite words and that wouldn't
surprise us a bit, for the great man doted on such verbal oddities.
Shelving that one, we grab the Dictionary of American Slang by Wentworth
and Flexner, turn to page 510 and read:
spon n. Money, Some use c1900. From "Spondulics." ---dulics spondulix
[removed] Money. 1860: "Spangles and spondulics were in direct ratio to each
other." Phila. Press, Jan 5, 1910: "He's just loaded with the spondulix."
Johnson, Varmint, 60. Archaic. [removed] To enrich; to pay, loan, or give money
to another, c1870-c1900; obs.
Book closed, returned to shelf. Large grin passes over face, send button is
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 00:50:58 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Amen
Chester Littlejohn suggested that the recording of "Amen" was by Abe
Lyman and his Orch. but couldn't remember the name of the female
vocalist. His vocalist for many years, and also his wife, was Rose
Blaine. Although I'm not familiar with this recording it is possible
that she is the vocalist on that recording.
George Aust
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #75
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