------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 76
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
A curious juxtaposition [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
Car radios [ BH <radiobill@[removed]; ]
CENTENNIAL [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
telephone exchanges [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
Harry Bartell and other nice people. [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
Harry Bartell [ "evantorch" <etorch@[removed]; ]
Horlicks [ Mark Reesor <mrees@[removed]; ]
The Have Gun DVD set [ "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@run ]
actor John Randolph [ howard blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
Re: Harry Bartell [ rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed] ]
Writers and Directors [ Dick Judge <dickjudge@[removed]; ]
Rebroadcast of "Brain Wave" recreati [ StevenL751@[removed] ]
Golden Age of Radio Preempted by Hai [ seandd@[removed] ]
3-2 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Harry [removed] other topics [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
Donald Duck [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Have Gun - Will Travel DVDs [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 21:53:16 -0500
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: A curious juxtaposition
As part of my year-round vigiliance for reporters who might want to write
about the Friends of Old Time Radio Convention that takes place in Newark,
[removed], each October I have Google News alerts set up for "Jack Benny," and
"Old Time Radio," which are the sources for many of the articles I post to
the digest.
Today was a doozy. A newspaper in Clarkson TN ran a column about a guy who
loves wholesome old time radio comedy that starts out being about how well
it translates to the current day. It then turns into a rant on certain
current political/marital events taking place in California. Okay.
The very next link was a Washington Post about married couple with at least
a passing interest in Jack Benny that would probably agree with him on the
first part - but not the second.
You have to have an odd set of search terms programmed into Google to see
these stories one after the other - and the effect was pretty funny, at
least to me.
It also netted an article tonight's Oscar ceremony that mentioned Bob Hope
and Jack Benny as previous Oscar hosts.
Later,
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
[removed] since I'm posting, I saw Harry Bartell perform exactly once - three
REPS Showcases ago. I actually got to see him perform "Three Skeleton Key"
live with Herb Ellis and Eliott Reid. That was one of the most memorable
performances I've witnessed in ten years of attending OTR recreations and it
was a joy to be there. I remember thinking what a risk they were taking to
perform a play that 90% of the audience could probably recite from memory
and still make it exciting. Let's be understated and say they got there. I
spoke to Harry briefly during the convention and like all of the OTR stars
seem to be, he was an approachable, friendly guy who seemed more than happy
to have fans ask geeky questions of him and talk about OTR in general, not
just his own work. What a loss.
BOB Hope hosted 18 Oscar shows' '59 was a rarity that ran short
The Grand Rapids Press - Grand Rapids,MI,USA
... with co-hosts Hope, Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Tony Randall and
Mort Sahl); Jack Lemmon (three times, '64, '72 and '85); and two-time
hosts Jack Benny ('44 ...
<[removed]
[removed];
WHEN new TV brings gasps, old radio brings guffaws
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle - Clarksville,TN,USA
... On our recent trip to the mountains in January, I took along a couple
of old Jack Benny tapes and a couple of the old "Amos and Andy" radio
series. ...
<[removed];
JUST married, after 51 years together
MSNBC - USA
... Shirley Chisholm. Stacks of videos -- "Inherit the Wind," a Jack Benny
collection, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" -- are endless. There ...
<[removed];
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 21:53:55 -0500
From: BH <radiobill@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Car radios
Greg Willy posted:
I read Mark Kinsler's post about using a car radio in the home with
interest. This brings up an important question for me. Why is a car radio
able to pick up distant AM stations better than boom boxes or home
reciever's? Is it the quality of the radio or that the car is able to use
the whole chassis as an antennae? If it is indeed the quality then
somewhere there should be a home radio with that same level of quality I
would guess. There is a small town radio station, KMIL AM 1330 in Cameron
TX, the plays my favorite show every day, Lum and Abner at 12:45 pm.
Auto radios have an extra stage of RF amplification between the antenna
and the converter stage, where most household and boombox AM radios do
not. This gives them greater sensitivity and better selectivity. Unlike
a set for the household, which will be in range of most local stations
and not moving about, a set in a vehicle is expected to be able to pick
up signals from a distance as when out on the open road.
For those interested I have posted pictures of an early auto radio at
the URLs below. This is a 1937 Philco Ford model F-1540. It is designed
to mount under the dash of a vehicle. I have fully restored the set and
it plays and sounds really great.
What a coincedence you mention station KMIL in Texas (of all my years in
Tex, never new there was one with that call), just add the number 5
after the K and you have my ham radio callsign.
[removed]
[removed]
Bill H. - K5MIL
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 01:20:16 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CENTENNIAL
I think that it would be appropriate for us all to take a moment on this
March 1st to honor a legend, a musician, and most of all a man, Glenn
Miller.
He was a man who gave up a beautiful home in New Jersey, a ranch in
California, the most popular band in the land, a new contract with CBS,
an unfulfilled contract with 20th Century Fox, a contract with RCA
Victor records, and personal appearances all worth millions of dollars,
and most importantly, a loving wife and two babies in 1942 in order to
serve his country.
Of course as we all know he also gave his life in that service.
This was a man who changed popular music in the short 6 years he had the
public's ear. There are celebrations going on all over the world at this
moment, in Vienna Austria , in Germany, in the Netherlands, in England,
in South Africa, and in Japan.
They honor that American man from Clarinda Iowa and remember the magical
strains of Moonlight Serenade and give thanks for men like that.
George Aust
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 01:20:27 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: telephone exchanges
John Abbott just wrote about old telephone exchanges. I grew up in small
towns in South Dakota. Our telephone number in Sisseton was 212-J.
Population: about 2000.
Ted Kneebone/1528 S. Grant [removed], SD 57401/605-226-3344
OTR: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 01:20:57 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Harry Bartell and other nice [removed]
I did not know Harry Bartell, but have many of his Sherlock Holmes
broadcasts. Over the years I have noticed that when one of the old timers
from radio gets sick or dies, this family gets together and remembers the
good times. And the good people. I wonder if radio had something that the
movies and television do not have: a heart. I seldom read of anyone in
radio (old time or new time) hurting anyone else, or taking advantage of
someone.
As I write this, I realize that I am making a kind of blanket statement.
But I do recall reading comments by actors, announcers, sound effects
people, engineers, musicians -- just about anyone who had anything to do
with old time radio -- like this: "We covered for each other."
Maybe that sums up the helping nature of these dedicated people.
And some place in my thoughts, there is this scenario that says, "The
day will come when real radio will come back here in our country."
Ted Kneebone/1528 S. Grant [removed], SD 57401/605-226-3344
OTR: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 01:21:19 -0500
From: "evantorch" <etorch@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Harry Bartell
I was saddened to hear of Harry Bartell's death. I once wrote him to ask if
he knew of a remedy for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) which is a
medical research subject of mine. I reasoned that as an actor of many years
of location shooting in very hot western locales he might have some
insights.
I was amazed at his breadth of knowledge and his erudition on the subject,
especially given that I was communicating with a man in his eighties.
He was a brilliant photographer of OTR and hopefully, after a suitable
period, his children will publish them.
Evan Torch, [removed]
etorch@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 01:21:44 -0500
From: Mark Reesor <mrees@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Horlicks
The post about Horlicks got me curious. Turns out the product has just
been relaunched in the UK and is also marketed in India, Maylasia and a
number of other countries - and it's owned by a little company called
GlaxoSmithKline! I love Google!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 09:49:39 -0500
From: "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Have Gun DVD set
Hello, this is a question for those who have seen Have Gun Will Travel on
TV. I have the radio series, and as a blind person, who will not be
benefiting from the video portion, I wonder if there is a lot of dialogue in
the show so I can still follow along while enjoying the voices?
Thanks a lot.
Matthew
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 09:50:00 -0500
From: howard blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: actor John Randolph
I was saddened, but not surprised to hear of John Randolph's death. As
it happens this very evening in which I read Ronald Sayle's announcement
of Randolph's death, I have been doing some writing using among other
things an interview of Randolph that was done some twenty years ago.
I am only familiar with Randolph's career as it is relevant to the piece
that I'm currently writing. But I want to mention that he was one of
those people who helped put an end to segregation in the Theatre. His
dedication to equal justice is an important part of his [removed] rightly
celebrate actors' success in their craft. But when we can also say so, we
owe it to them if, as John Randolph did, they also made their marks on
improving the human condition.
Howard Blue
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 10:45:24 -0500
From: rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Harry Bartell
How extremely sad to learn of the passing of our friend Harry Bartell. I
never got the chance to meet him in person, but he was always so kind to me,
always trying his best to answer any questions that I had about the parts he
played, and the people that he worked with.
Sometimes, with all of the death that we've been experiencing lately, this
seems to be a depressing hobby. We've lost too many of our stars in the last
year or so.
Today, I'm pulling out my tapes, and putting on a tribute. Thank you Harry
Bartell, for being a fine actor, but mostly for being a fine man.
Rodney
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 10:51:35 -0500
From: Dick Judge <dickjudge@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Writers and Directors
I am wondering if a list OTR writers and directors with the series they
worked on - would be of some interest to the OTR family.
I just added writers and directors to two logs (Sears Radio Theater and
Mutual Radio Theater) that appear on Lou genco's website, [removed].
Stan Dyrector, one of our current writers, felt that writers and directors
are not given their due. And this is what I believe, too.
So, that is the question. Would a "log" listing the efforts of these people
be of interest?
You can contact me off-line if you like.
MEMORIES OF RADIO/Dick Judge
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:11:24 -0500
From: StevenL751@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Rebroadcast of "Brain Wave" recreation by
Gotham Radio Players
I'm pleased to announce that you will have another opportunity to hear a
LIGHTS OUT recreation that the Gotham Radio Players performed live back in
December.
In this lost Arch Oboler thriller not heard since it's original broadcast
more than 65 years ago, "Brain Wave" tells the horrifying tale of Dr. Agatha
Lynn
and her attempts to create a machine that can read thoughts. What she ends
up with, however, is something that should have remained beyond the [removed]
With many thanks to Barbara Watkins and "Don't Touch That Dial," you can hear
"Brain Wave" tonight (Monday night/Tuesday morning) at 12midnight Pacific
time on KPFK, [removed] FM in Los Angeles and [removed] FM in Santa Barbara, and also
streaming live on the web at [removed].
The Gotham Radio Players were formed in 1991 by a group of enthusiasts for
the heyday of radio drama. Our mission is to bring new productions of classic
radio programs of the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's to the airwaves of the new
millennium, as well as showcase original scripts written by the emerging audio
dramatists of today. Now under the leadership of Max Schmid as producer and
Steven Lewis as director, the Gotham Radio Players are featured regularly in
performances on WBAI-FM, at the annual "Friends of Old-Time Radio"
Convention, and
at other appearances in the New York City metropolitan area.
I hope you'll tune in!
Steve Lewis
director, Gotham Radio Players
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:11:50 -0500
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Golden Age of Radio Preempted by Haiti
Coverage
WBAI-FM New York chose to take Max Schmid's Golden Age of Radio program off
the air last night to air news updates on the political situation in Haiti.
I suggest any regular listeners write the station to complain (as I have
already done). There are an infinite number of news venues to get update on
world affairs in New York City and its environs but only one place to listen
to old time radio in prime time.
Contact information for the station can be found at [removed].
It would really be unfortunate if the people who run the station got the idea
that people listen to it for political news and not the unique programming it
offers to the community.
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 15:47:58 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 3-2 births/deaths
March 2nd births
03-02-1917 - Desi Arnaz - Santiago, Cuba - d. 12-2-1986
actor, bandleader: Ricky Ricardo "I Love Lucy"; "Your Tropical Trip"
03-02-1919 - Jennifer Jones - Tulsa, OK
actress: "Radio Hall of Fame"
March 2nd deaths
02-08-1902 - Lyle Talbot - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 3-2-1996
actor: "Your Hollywood Informer"; "Calling All Cars"; "The Unexpected"
07-24-1913 - Hollace (Vivien) Shaw - Fresno, CA - d. 3-2-1976
singer: "Blue Velvet"; "Vic Damone and Hollace Shaw Show"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 17:50:15 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Harry [removed] other topics
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Like everybody else, I was deeply saddened by the news about the passing of
Harry Bartell. I met him, Herb Ellis, and Peggy Webber when "Dragnet" was
re-created at the FOTR/NJ convention back in 1992. A class act all the way!
And yes, my fondest memories of him also are concomitent with his on-screen
role as the humble priest Father Rojas in the "Big Little Jesus" Christmas
episode of "Dragnet."
Re: Keefe Brasselle. He has been mentioned as having had been a mid-level TV
exec at CBS in connection with James Aubrey. Is this the same Keefe Brasselle
who starred in the title role of "The Eddie Cantor Story?"
"Granby's Green Acres": I do enjoy what few episodes I've heard of [removed]
at the risk of sounding sacrilegious, I believe that this is one occurrence
where the TV version is much better than the OTR version. Judging by promos
I've seen on TV Land, it's safe to assume it's coming back!
Yours in the ether (the true "place to be!"),
Derek Tague
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 18:43:39 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Donald Duck
John Eccles, Jr. mentioned:
I am curious after reading Martin Gram, Jr.'s post about Walt Disney doing
the voice of Donald Duck. To the best of my knowledge Clarence Nash did the
voice of Donald. I have read several books on Disney and have never heard
this fact mentioned. Walt Disney did the voice of Mickey Mouse for many
years until the late Jimmy MacDonald (I think I am spelling his last name
right) took over for him, but I have never read anything about Disney even
"filling in" for Clarence Nash. Do you have any documented evidence in your
research that shows this to be a fact?
If memory serves me correctly, it was the article about Clarence Nash that
made this mention, in a back issue of Filmfax Magazine (the one with Nash
and Donald on the cover of their issue). I've been out of the office for
the past week and still have another week and a half to go so my appologies
for the delay in posting an answer. (I just got home this afternoon and
have to leave again tomorrow and have TONS of things to do between.) If you
don't have the article, John, e-mail me and when i get back I'll dig it out
and make a copy.
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 21:04:54 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Have Gun - Will Travel DVDs
Greg commented:
Well, it has just been announced that "Have Gun--Will Travel: 1st
Complete Season" will be released as a DVD set on May 11, 2004. It
features all 39 episodes from the first season (1957-1958) on 6 DVDs.
It has a list price of $[removed] but most internet discount DVD stores are
selling it for around $[removed]
For anyone who does not have a DVD player, don't fret. The entire TV
series, all 225 episodes have already been commercially released on video
(56 videos, about 4 episodes per video) through Columbia House/CBS. Some
sources sell those videos for anywhere between $[removed] and $[removed] depending on
where you shop. As for the DVD series, CBS is releasing them (they own the
rights to the TV series) and they plan to have the remaining five seasons
out on DVD within the next three years. If anyone wants to see some of the
best episodes of the series, I highly recommend seasons two and four. More
4 star episodes during those two seasons than any other.
What makes this exciting for OTR fans is that many radio stars are
featured in these 39 episodes: John Dehner (not playing Paladin, but
another character), Harry Bartell, Larry Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Olan Soule,
Jeanette Nolan, Karl Swenson, Parker Fennelly, Ralph Moody, Lurene
Tuttle, Jess Kirkpatrick, Marian Seldes, Ted de Corsia, Russell Thorson,
Joe De Santis, Ben Wright, Tyler McVey, and many more. So, if you want
to SEE the faces that match these wonderful radio voices, I'd recommend
getting this DVD set.
"High Wire" was the episode featuring John Dehner, and was filmed and
broadcast before the radio series even began being recorded. Because Dehner
later supplied the voice of Paladin for the radio series, "High Wire" ended
up being the only television episode of HGWT to feature John Dehner.
Highlights of the first season include:
"Three Bells to Perdido" (September 14, 1957) was the premiere episode of
the series. (NOT the episode entitled "Genesis" like people keep mistaking.
"The Outlaw" (September 21, 1957) featuring the late Charles Bronson.
"The Great Mohave Chase" (September 28, 1957) with radio/TV actor Larry
Dobkin.
"No Visitors" (November 30, 1957) with June Lockhart as Dr. Thackeray, one
of Paladin's few true loves.
"The Hanging Cross" (December 21, 1957) a superb Christmas episode that also
featured a different opener than the show usually offered and proves (after
you watch it) that the visual medium of the TV series was far better than
the radio series - the radio version of this script was not as good.
"Helen of Abajinian" (December 28, 1957) with a "risky" dance by the bride
offering her services to her new husband, which Gene Roddenberry, the author
of the script, would later reprise for the STAR TREK pilot "The Cage."
"The O'hare Story" (March 1, 1958) featuring director Andrew V. McLaglen's
real-life father, Victor McLaglen.
"Hey Boy's Revenge" (April 12, 1958) considered by TV GUIDE (most recently)
as one of the 100 best television episodes ever filmed and broadcast.
"The Return of Dr. Thackeray" (May 17, 1958) with June Lockhart returning to
reprise her role (which clearly "hints" that Paladin and Thackeray were more
than mere lovers, in which Paladin almost beats a man to death with his bare
fists just because the villian hit Thackeray, and features Johnny Western's
only appearance on the show. Western would, shortly after the filming of
this episode, compose a "thank you" song called "The Ballad of Paladin,"
which the producer then in turn made it the closing theme song for the show
beginning with season two.
All in all, the DVD series is a must-see for anyone who loves westerns
and/or classic TV. Comes highly recommended. (And it would figure CBS
would begin releasing the series on DVD - just weeks before their
announcement, I purchased the entire series on DVD for [removed])
Martin Grams, Jr.
Create a Job Alert on MSN Careers and enter for a chance to win $1000!
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #76
********************************************
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]