Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #73
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 2/25/2002 3:00 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 73
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  GEORGE EDWARDS FRANKENSTEIN           [ "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed] ]
  09-21-39 question                     [ "dick wamser" <snapp@[removed]; ]
  Re: What's in a Name? - Westernb Ele  [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
  Re: musical idents                    [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
  GM Radio                              [ "Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed]; ]
  Re: VOA/USIA                          [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
  Voice of America                      [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
  CBSRMT: "Journey into Terror"         [ "Murphy, Michael J" <michaeljmurphy ]
  Re: The "Stone" boys                  [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
  Yo-Yo, [removed]                         [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
  She Ain't got no yo-yo                [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Bob Cook's CBSMT                      [ llewis@[removed] ]
  "Happy Trails"                        [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
  new web site 5 dollar movies          [ "[removed]" <tandt@[removed]; ]
  SUSPENSE FINDS ??                     [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
  WRUL Shortwave                        [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
  Little Orley                          [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
  Great Radio Audience Participation S  [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
  NPR and "business influence"          [ "Donald Skuce" <donskuce@[removed] ]

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:25:05 -0500
From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: GEORGE EDWARDS FRANKENSTEIN

As I announced last week, in Australia we have formed an Australian OTR
Group based on preserving Australian otr as well as educating people
(particularly Australians) about our colourful radio history.  As a person
who knew so little about the subject 2 years ago, I learn more each day.
One of the questions I posed to the members last week was the 1931 date
somebody has applied to Frankenstein and I received a lot of information
back, this is the result.

The Digest is filled with knowledgeable people and maybe more importantly
interested people and from time to time I have contributed slightly, but now
I would like to clear up some misconceptions regarding the dating of the 13
part George Edwards production of Frankenstein, currently in circulation.  I
once read on a website, a story of how the series was discovered in the
basement of a New York radio station and is being restored.  I would like to
contact the people involved in this project if anybody has the contact
details.  I do not know if the 'discovery' story is correct, however the
date of 1931 is almost certainly incorrect.

Whilst it is possible that the play may originally have been produced for
theatre at that time by George Edwards, certainly it would not have been
recorded at that time.  I include some facts here to support this:

During the 1931-32 period, George Edwards was not producing any recordings,
but doing live radio plays (usually historical)out of station 2BL.

General transcription production did not occur until about 1934-36 in
Australia.

The serial, 13eps x 15min. was recorded in Sydney in the Columbia/EMI
Homebush studios at approx April 1938 and the serial was aired over station
2UW shortly thereafter.

George Edwards himself declared Darby and Joan his first serial and we know
the very first 16" transcription disc pressed by Columbia/EMI in Australia
was an episode of George Edwards serial,
Darby and Joan and was recorded on May 27 1935.

This show, and a lot of other George Edwards productions were sold to the
USA through the selling agent at the time Oswald P. Sellers.

If no other information comes to light to show that this was some sort of
special recording, then I would suggest that the series be dated 1938 and
not 1931.  I want to find the restorers to see how they dated the show as
1931 with a 1932 broadcast in New York and to see if there is any supporting
documentation.  Certainly 1938 is documented.

Ian Grieve

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:25:33 -0500
From: "dick wamser" <snapp@[removed];
To: "otr" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 09-21-39 question

Hello all.  Still 'way yonder behind.  I was listening to the Original
Amateur Hour from 09-21-1939 this afternoon.  I've only had it here since
1995? <G>

I was interested in the identity of the individual who played the piano for
the performers. He/she sounded as if there was alot of talent beneath those
fingers. Also was wondering if anyone has followed up on the fate of the
performers. Especially the seven-year-old and the Electrician's Mate in the
Navy.  I know this is asking quite a bit, but there are plenty of dedicated
researchers out there.  Thanks in advance.

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:28:14 -0500
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: What's in a Name? - Westernb Electric

Chris Werner writes:
Actually Bell Labs were split up further. The portion of the labs that
produced the switches and other hardware did go to [removed]

I always thought that "Western Electric" was the division of AT&T that
produced the telephone products that we used for years. I remember that the
telephones (that we had to *rent* from the phone company) were heavy, and
of high quality. They seldom broke. Matter of fact, "Ma Bell's" telephones
were the murder weapons in quite a few radio/movie/early TV mystery and
detective shows.
Since there was basically no competition, there was little innovation in
the product: the basic unit was black, heavy, and unlikely to wear out.
I may be wrong, but I thought that, as part of the Deregulation order,
ATT&T had to open up the market for consumer hardware to competitors, which
led to today's proliferation of cheap telephone devices, priced $10 and up.

Herb Harrison

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:37:43 -0500
From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: musical idents

Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; writes:

". . . Worldwide radio stations often still have "Interval Signals" which
are musical themes or sounds that they play over and over and over and over
between transmissions to help people identify the stations and be tuned
in for the start of the transmissions.  Radio Australia used a music box
playing "Waltzing Matilda" . . ."

The Voice of America has used for years, and continues to use, "Yankee
Doodle."

Bob Scherago
International Broadcasting Bureau
Washington, DC

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:23:32 -0500
From: "Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: GM Radio

Gayland Darnell <hankie01@[removed]; wrote:

I have just been given a radio manufactured by General Motors Radio
[removed] it is not a radio for an automobile.

That company was originally a joint venture between GM and RCA, and later
became part of Delco.  They did make both home and car radios -- the home
radios were sold by Frigidaire dealers, since Frigidaire was also owned by
GM -- and that lasted until well into the 1940s, until Delco decided to
concentrate on car radios.

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:40:10 -0500
From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: VOA/USIA

After I posted a response to Michael Biel, I read the
following from Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];

. . . It was an historic day in radio broadcasting, as the Voice of
America (VOA) signed on for the first time on this day in 1942.
The worldwide, shortwave radio service, a department of the
United States Government, continues to beam a variety of
programming around the globe under the auspices of the United
States Information Agency (USIA).

In fact, the USIA was disolved in 1999, and all but the radio/TV
operations were absorbed by the Department of State. A new entity,
the International Broadcasting Board, was formed, which encompasses
VOA Radio and TV, Radio and TV Marti, Radio Free Asia, Radio
Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and others. It is overseen by the
Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Bob Scherago
International Broadcasting Bureau
Washington, DC

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:24:41 -0500
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Voice of America

It was an historic day in radio broadcasting, as the Voice of America
(VOA) signed on for the first time on this day in 1942.

On February 23rd, a friend who is host of Communications World at the Voice
of America  broadcast his show centered around the 60th anniversary of the
inception of this broadcasting giant. His show (which I haven't heard yet)
was to feature clips of early VOA broadcasting, etc. It isn't posted yet,
but you will be able to hear the broadcast if you missed it at:

[removed]

via download or streaming audio.

Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:55:19 -0500
From: "Murphy, Michael J" <michaeljmurphy@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CBSRMT: "Journey into Terror"

To the gentleman who wrote me the other day about the CBSRMT episode
"Journey into Terror," I hope you're reading this. Please write me back. I
have the episode, but I foolishly lost your e-mail address.

Best,

Mike Murphy
michaeljmurphy@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:38:00 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: The "Stone" boys

Kevin Michaels posted;

I read with great interest, Mr. Hal Stone's synopsis of his radio career and
being identified mainly with the "Jughead" role on Archie Andrews.

Hey [removed] so formal. Call me Hal like everyone else does. :)

This reminds me of another Stone who was identified with only one role in his
radio career.  Ezra Stone, who portrayed Henry Aldrich for many years.  In
the book about his life,  he, too, wore many hats; Actor, Director
(TV,Stage),
It seems that EZRA STONE & HAL STONE almost had twin careers in Show Business.

Hal, were you related?  Did you know Ezra, and did you ever work with him
either in radio, stage or movies?

As you might imagine, Kevin, I've been asked that question many times over
the years. Ezra and I are no relation, even distantly. And yes, I did work
with him in Radio. I appeared on the CBS "Henry Aldrich" program a few
times, but once I got the part of "Jughead" on NBC, I think I was considered
as being from "the Enemy Camp" and wasn't used again after that. Perfectly
understandable, in my opinion.

Ezra was much older than I was, so we had little or no social exchanges. As
a matter of [removed] considered him a bit aloof. Jack Kelk (Homer) seemed a
little more outgoing and friendlier to other young performers when they
appeared on their program. As was House Jamison, who played the "Father". I
seem to recall that the part I played on "Aldrich" was a teenage character
named "Biff". And I also seem to recall that the Director was Frank Papp, a
super nice guy, who I worked for on many other Radio programs.

In all honesty, I think Ezra had a much more notable Directorial career than
I did, (Stage  & Motion Picture), but I can't complain.  I made a nice
living Directing dumb TV commercials over a 25 year period.

I hope that doesn't sound like shameless bragging on my part.  To quote the
great line from the film "Jerry McGuire"... "Show me the money"!!!  And the
work was a heck of a lot "steadier" than the vagaries of the acting
profession. (One can't spend "credits"). But they do help to lead to other
assignments.

Many TV notables were seduced by the money to be made Directing TV
commercials. Stan Freeberg (spelling), The "Fonz" Henry Winkler, Spike Lee,
[removed] list is endless.

But [removed] one thing I missed out on when I quit "performing" were [removed]
Residuals. :)

Thanks for asking.

Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:38:52 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Yo-Yo, [removed]

Joseph Onorato asked,

Subject: "I ain't got no yo-yo"
any help on this song?  I kinda remember hearing it on radio ...40's
most [removed]   japanese [removed] maybe lyrics had  "you got no yo-yo too".

Actually, it was an Americanized version of the Japanese song that
translated as "China Night."  In Japanese, the first words, phonetically,
were,

"Shee-ay-ah-no yoro"

When I was living in Japan (my father was stationed there), that first
line was transformed to

"She ain't got no yo-yo."

I first heard it in Sendai, Japan, in 1952.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:47:57 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: She Ain't got no yo-yo

In reference to Joseph Onorato. I believe the Japanese style song with the
words "She ain't got no yo-yo" in reality is "Shina no Yoro". The spelling may
be wrong, but that is the Japanese song "China Night".  Shina meaning China
and Yoro meaning night. The  R in  Japanese sounds like and L so you would
pronounce yoro, yolo. When you say Shina no Yolo it sounds like she ain't got
no yo-yo. I am almost positive that is the song being referred to. I was in
Japan 45 years ago and I have a very scratchy copy of it, if Joseph is
interested I could send him a copy.
--
Ron Sayles

Make your day just a little better,
Listen to an Old Time Radio Program.

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 11:30:31 -0500
From: llewis@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Bob Cook's CBSMT

Bruce Glazer wrote concerning the problems with downloading CBSMT files from
Bob
Cook's site.  I  too have had that problem.  I have attempted several times to
download and I also get about 17 minutes of each episode.  I have e-mailed
twice
to the address listed at that site, but I have received no response.  These are
large files, and at first I thought that I might have some local limit on the
size of downloaded files, but that is not so.

Although Bruce apparently was attempting to play the files on the fly using
Quicktime, I was doing a straight download and playing the files back through
either Real Player or Microsoft Media Player.  I noticed that although the file
sizes were listed at 9 -12 MB on Cook's site, I was getting about [removed] MB for
each file, no matter what the original file size was.  After downloading
several
files I decided to played one and discovered that only about a third of the
program was there.  Further checks indicated the same thing.

This site is a very valuable site for those interested in CBSMT, I hope that
the
problems can be resolved.

Larry Lewis

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 11:59:03 -0500
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: "Happy Trails"

Sometimes we begin thinking that our OTR hobby is beginning to fade away
into a kind of nostalgic oblivion.  Every time I ponder that awful thought,
 something happens to make me think that OTR  will never really die.

What a treat, then,  it was to hear the children of the world at last
night's Olympic closing sing "Happy Trails," a song I have always
associated with the radio program of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.  I watched
the crowd, old and young alike, sing the words of that song as the camera
panned their faces.

I wonder how many in our generation were hearkening back to their childhood
and the magic of Roy and Dale.   I wonder how many had shared the words of
that song with their own children.

Dennis Crow

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:47:45 -0500
From: "[removed]" <tandt@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: new web site 5 dollar movies
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

ran across a web page hes offering old movies for 5 dollars + shipping
seems like a bargain anyone buys any charlie chan, monster flicks ect  i hope
they make me a copy ...
[removed]
sorry it this is off subject terry

  *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
  ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 13:10:27 -0500
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: SUSPENSE FINDS ??

Dear Hearts:
    I have returned from two months in Europe and boy are my ears tired!
    The disco phase has just hit them it seems. Couldn't even find a nice
quite pub in London or a bar is Paris without the din and throb.
    I did miss my radio shows as I brought none with me and that has keened
me up more than ever.
    Question.
    Have there been any "discoveries" or recent "finds" in the area of
Suspense, or Inner Sanctum since December of last year?
    I am eager to get back into the world of downloading so if there are,
please let me know and I will try to remember how to do all this magic.
    You are all the best people and I missed you, though I did read an
occasional issue on line at a dusty and noisy cyber Cafe.
    It was impossible to write as the French, Italian, and English keyboards
have all been altered to suit them and their mysterious typing proclivities!
    Apparently the Norwegian keyboards are the most fun!
    Glad to be back!
                    Michael C. Gwynne

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 13:15:09 -0500
From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: WRUL Shortwave

Dr. Beil posted that worldwide broadcasters have "Interval Signals":  I
remember WRUL Worldwide, a commercial shortwave station used Anton Dvorak's
"Going Home" refrain from "The New World" symphony as their sign-off as they
changed frequencies.

WRUL had ornate studios in a luxurious Boston brownstone apartment building
on Commonwealth Avenue complete with heavy drapes and an observation deck
for guests and advertisers to watch their live, 45-minute broadcasts in the
late-
1940's, early-1950's.  Very impressive, real radio!

Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 13:48:16 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Little Orley

For the fans of Little Orley, I can report two sources of his stories and
songs.  One set can be ordered from Pennsylvania State University Libraries,
Fred Waring's America.  These were the stories recorded in the NBC studios,
1949-1950.  I don't have the Penn State URL, but I think it easily accessed
on the internet.  My CD was made by Digi-Rom of New York City.
    The other three CDs are available from Uncle Goose Toys: Phone,
888-774-2046.  URL is:   [removed]    The first two are from the
Vocalion LPs and have the CD numbers LO - 1 and LO - 2.  The third set of
stories was taken directly from ETs of the Fred Waring broadcasts of 1946-47,
and is LO - 3.  Each of the three sells for $15.
    These are three treasures in my collection!  I was a teenager when I
heard some of these delightful stories by "Uncle Lumpy" Hugh Brannum.  And
even at 67, I still delight in the humor of Little Orley.
    No, I was not hired to say this and receive no compensation whatever,
except the sheer joy of listening to these stories again!

Ted Kneebone
1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
OTR:  [removed]

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 14:30:18 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Great Radio Audience Participation Shows

Jim Cox's new book called Great Radio Audience Participation Shows (McFarland
& Co., 2001) is a trip down Nostalgia Lane and full of information that often
left me saying, "I didn't know that!"    (Subtitle:  Seventeen Programs from
the 1940s and 1950s.)
    Chapters include the seventeen shows listed in the table of contents, but
each chapter also tells about other similar programs.  For example, Can you
top this? also deals with It pays to be ignorant.  Before reading the book, I
knew I would be especially interested in the chapters on Dr. IQ and Dr.
Christian.  After reading it, I would have to say that the chapters on
Welcome travelers and You bet your life/Groucho Marx were every bit as
fascinating.
     Well written and researched, Jim has done yet another service for us
collectors and traders, and to the history of radio broadcasting.  For each
chapter, the reader will find the vital stats like idea for the show,
producers, directors, announcers, writers, musicians, sfx, sponsors, ratings
and airdates.
    The exhaustive appendix of audience participation shows (p. 217-236)
takes care of those who remember a show that Jim did not cover in the 17 main
chapters.  And his chapter notes and bibliography are helpful should readers
want to do further research.
    I don't own any stock in McFarland and have not received any compensation
to write this review.

Ted Kneebone
1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
OTR:  [removed]

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

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 16:12:44 -0500
From: "Donald Skuce" <donskuce@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: NPR and "business influence"

I read with interest the informative post from Mr. Biel
regarding NPR and the FCC.  He posted:

Ever since the Nixon administration started the enforced over-dependence
on corporate underwriting for Public broadcasting, even these outlets
are not free from the influence of the business environment

Some American's believe that the greatest influence on NPR is the hard left
slant of it's management, editors, and on the air personalities.  If you listen
to NPR regularly you can't deny their political bias.  I've heard nothing from
NPR that would lead me to believe that they're taking their marching orders
from some massive corporation.  The influence that I hear would appear to
emanate much more from a college or university faculty think tank.

I don't want or intend to turn this into a political thread but some
statements need clarification.

All the best to all of you,

Don Skuce


[ADMINISTRIVIA: This thread ends here.  --cfs3]

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #73
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