Subject: [removed] Digest V2001 #381
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 11/29/2001 1:03 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2001 : Issue 381
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ lois@[removed] ]
  We Hold These Truths                  [ KirkG12797@[removed] ]
  Wayne, musical interludes             [ Tony Baechler <tony@[removed]; ]
  Day the Earth Stood Still?            [ "Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed]; ]
  Re: [removed] Kaltenborn                   [ "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@hotmail ]
  FIRST PIANO QUARTET                   [ "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed] ]
  First Piano Quartet                   [ Allen J Hubin <ajhubin@[removed]; ]
  Wall Street Journal Article on Crosb  [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
  Today in Radio History                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed]; ]
  MP3 era                               [ bkeller@[removed] (Bob Keller) ]
  John Wayne                            [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  My MP3 Player Experience              [ "Knaggs, Jim" <[removed]@[removed]; ]
  Best Christmas Carol                  [ "michael edwards" <medwards_47@hotm ]
  Re: cataloging your collection        [ Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed]; ]
  Re: obit, Peggy Chantler Dick         [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
  Recovered from a virus                [ "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl ]
  Don Wilson 1900-1982                  [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Re: Cataloging your collection        [ Christopher Werner <cwerner@globalc ]
  Peggy Chantler Dick                   [ JimInks@[removed] ]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 04:52:01 -0500
From: lois@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

A weekly [removed]

For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over four years, same time, same channel!

Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
"Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........

and Me

Lois Culver
KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
and widow of actor Howard Culver

(For more info, contact lois@[removed])

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:05:48 -0500
From: KirkG12797@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: We Hold These Truths

About a month or two ago, driving through the night from Reno to Grass
Valley, my wife and I were listening to Norman Corwin's "We Hold These
Truths," and I was struck as always by what a dynamic show it is, and
especially by how timely this celebration of the Bill of Rights is today.
And an idea was born in my fevered little brain.

This weekend, that idea reaches full growth as Reno Little Theater presents a
live production of Norman Corwin's "We Hold These Truths."  Mr. Corwin
himself has been very gracious in allowing us to perform his work, we have a
fine group of actors to interpet it, and the Board of Reno Little Theater has
decided to present it free of charge.  There is no cost of admission, and
donations will be accepted for the September 11 charities.

If you are in the Reno, Nevada, area this weekend, please come and see "We
Hold These Truths" at the McQueen High School Auditorium, November 30 and
December 1 at 8:00 [removed], and December 2 at 2 [removed]

This is not a commercial plug, 'cause the show is free, so what can you lose?

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:05:59 -0500
From: Tony Baechler <tony@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Wayne, musical interludes

Hello.  Yes John Wayne did radio but not much.  I know he did Lux and other
movie shows but I think not much else.  I do not recall hearing him doing
any guest appearances except for movie shows.

On the subject of musical interludes, I think it was to break up the show,
not for less material.  This way the shows (Fibber specifically) could be
broken up into 10 minute segments since often people would do other things
while listening.  However, I do not understand why this suddenly stopped
after the war.  With Benny and Fibber, I noticed that the instrumental
songs disappeared by 1948 or so.  They both still had singers but that is
it.  I could understand a little with Benny because of the sponsor and
character change, but not Fibber since the format had not changed at all in
many years.  However, I also noticed that Pet Milk seemed to bring the
music back to Fibber, starting with the 1950-51 season I think until the
end of the 30 minute format.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:06:11 -0500
From: "Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Day the Earth Stood Still?

Has anybody ever heard of a radio version of the classic 50's sci-fi movie,
The Day the Earth Stood Still? I would be interested in buying a copy.

Also, a quick tribute to Elizabeth McLeod for all the knowledge she provides
here and elsewhere. She is a treasure beyond price! Her website at
[removed]~lizmcl/ is packed with info.

Doug Leary

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:06:33 -0500
From: "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: [removed] Kaltenborn

Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; writes:

In 1953 [[removed] Kaltenborn] stopped regular broadcasting, but he would
occasionally offer commentaries on radio and television. This in spite of
his
dislike of television. He didn't like television because it forced you to
do
things totally unrelated to what you were saying, such as keeping you heel
on
a chalk mark on the floor, or making sure you were looking into the right
camera. [removed] Kaltenborn said of television, "It's a bastard art".

This is also particularly ironic in light of the fact that, somewhere around
2:00 [removed] on June 6, 1944, NBC aired a radio promo for a Kaltenborn special
news report about the Allied invasion of France to be broadcast over NBC
Television (was it New York-Schenectady-Washington by then?) at 8:00 that
evening. (I'm going on a 4-'0-clock-in-the-morning memory on those times.)
Thus, for someone who found TV so distasteful, he was the main personality
promoted in what has to have been at least one of the very earliest
surviving network radio plugs for television programming.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:07:01 -0500
From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: FIRST PIANO QUARTET

Dick Wamser asked;

While listening to a Philip Marlow show from February 1950, I heard
a plug for the next program: the "FIRST PIANO QUARTET."

I suspect that this was an actual four piano program.  Four pianos
at one time? Four pianos in different locations?

What was the scope and length of the series?  Who were the pianists?  Do
recordings of these programs exist?

	We have a RealAudio clip from one of the 1943 NBC programs in our
Preview
Listening Lounge.  To get there go to The Vintage Radio Place at
<[removed]>.  Go down to the "Main Table of Contents" and click on "
Old Time Radio Programs -- Preview Listening Lounge."  You'll find that clip
on the second page.  All programs there are available for purchase on CD.

	I hope this helps.  If you have any other questions, please feel free
to
contact me.

            Jerry Haendiges <jhaendiges@[removed];

  [removed]  The Vintage Radio Place

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:07:13 -0500
From: Allen J Hubin <ajhubin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: First Piano Quartet

For Dick Wamser, I can't say whether recordings exist
of the Quartet, but I recall attending a wonderful concert
at my college (Wheaton College, in Illinois) around 1957.
Four pianos, four players.  Mostly classical music, I believe.

Al Hubin

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:07:43 -0500
From: Kubelski@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Wall Street Journal Article on Crosby/Clooney

Nat Hentoff has an article on page A16 of today's  (11/28) Wall Street
Journal on the reissue of the Bing Crosby / Rosemary Clooney collaboration
"Fancy Meeting You Here," in which he reflects on his childhood listening to
Bing and the late Friends of Old Time Radio Convention regular Arthur "The
Street Singer" Tracy.  Billie May, of Stan Freberg fame, did the arranging.

The reissued CD also apparently includes some Crosby - Hope duets.

A lot of our OTR friends are mentioned in the article - worth checking out.

Sean Dougherty
Kubelski@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:07:53 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in Radio History

  From Those Were The Days --

1932 - Groucho Marx performed on radio for the first time. Using his
fast-paced, ingenious patter, he invented a new form of comedy that
delighted audiences from coast to coast.

  From another digester who sent me these --

Nov. 26, 1944 - The Sally Moore Program premieres on CBS Radio.

November 28, 1937 - New Poetry Hour premieres on Mutual, hosted by A. M.
Sullivan.

  Joe

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

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:08:45 -0500
From: bkeller@[removed] (Bob Keller)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: MP3 era

In the past, the only MP3 files I've dabbled with were episodes of the
Shadow that I'd play on my Mac at home or the office.

Basted entirely on list member feedback on the MP3 subject, and comments
about the Apex brand found here, last Friday I stood in line at Wal Mart to
get one of their Apex DVD players because of the MP3 playback feature
(note: I bought the wife an RCA DVD player three years ago and paid $399,
last week I got the Apex for $[removed]).

After spending a few puzzled minutes trying to feed the signal through the
satellite box or the VCR, I got it up and running, the sound feeding
through the VCR to the television.

Now here is my question.

I noticed something when I was playing the first Shadow episode that wasn't
as clear when being played with "low" volume on the computer at work. The
show was good quality, but right before the show started and during the
Blue Coal ads, the audience was clearly talking and laughing at something
else. It struck me that the position of the mike sounded as though it was
somewhere in the audience, and not being recorded from the mikes on the
stage.

I have not noted this on any of my other tapes of any show, or the handful
of the Shadow MP3s that I've had time to listen to. Is this sort of thing
common, or was the source of the show a taping of an audience listening to
a Shadow story at an OTR convention?

And thanks to list members who commented at length on their MP3 player
experiences!

Bob Keller
Waukesha, Wisc.

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:09:04 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: John Wayne

In response to Mark Lambert from issue 379. He was not sure if John Wayne did
any radio. He did not do much, but he did have one program to his credit as a
regular player and not just a guest star.

This is taken directly from John Dunning's latest radio encyclopedia "On the
Air". (John Wayne played the character Dan O'Brien in a program called "Three
Sheets to the Wind". It ran from 2-25-42 to 7-5-442. In it he played a
character call Dan O'Brien. He goes on to say, John Wayne, who did little
radio, was then just beginning his rise to fabulous screen success).

As far as I know, none of these shows are circulating.

Ron Sayles

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:09:44 -0500
From: "Knaggs, Jim" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: My MP3 Player Experience

Dear Fellow List Members:

I have seen the ongoing discussion of MP3 players.  An excellent choice for
me has been the Archos Jukebox 6000.  I bought one several months ago and
have been pleased.  It sports a 6GB capacity on its internal hard drive (no
removable storage) and has good sound.  I have played some (not a lot) of
programs at lower bit rates and have seemed not to have a problem.  I think
it is great for an OTR enthusiast who travels and likes to have a
significant collection at their fingertips.  This is not meant to downgrade
other players, but just to share my experience with the Archos unit.  I
think these can be found for $200 or less these days (since Archos has
introduced a newer model with recording capability).  BTW, I agree that OTR
programs should be MP3ed at a fairly high bitrate.

Happy listening,

Jim Knaggs

[removed] -- I asked this a couple of weeks back -- is anyone familiar with Bob
Cook's CBS Radio Mystery website and when it will be operational?

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:19:31 -0500
From: "michael edwards" <medwards_47@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Best Christmas Carol

With all the talk recently about various versions of "A Christmas Carol"
floating about, I am wondering what list members think is the BEST version
of "A Christmas Carol".  After all this time collecting OTR, I realized I've
only heard two versions: the 12/24/39 Campbell Playhouse, and a bizarre
half-hour version which includes sequences with Charles Dickens in various
stages of writing the story.  (Can't remember which show the second one
stems from).  So, what's your opinion?

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:48:51 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: cataloging your collection

Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 13:28:36 -0500
From: "Joe Salerno" <sergei01@[removed];
Subject: cataloging your collection

What databases have you discovered for cataloging an OTR collection?

  I use a very simple .txt file. I will have the name of the program,
show, quest star (if any) and air date.
  [removed]:
                		Jack Benny
			Jello, Sunday, 7 [removed] NBC

		Jack does something           		10/30/38
		Jack goes [removed]   Fred Allen  	11/30/38
  (These are made up titles and dates btw <g>).

  The list continues as I add shows, in order.  Since I am now
collecting .mp3's I put that extension on so I will know whether its a
tape or CD.
  These lists are in alpha order on two floppies, which I back up on CD
monthly.  (I've had bad experiences losing a list or two with a bad
floppy and don't want to go though that again!)
  Joe (your mileage may vary)

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

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 13:26:22 -0500
From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: obit, Peggy Chantler Dick

John Henley wrote:

She married Douglas Dick in 1963 so I presume she did her radio writing as
Peggy Chantler.

That's how she was billed in TV as well.  She also holds the dubious
distinction of having written the most reviled episode of TV's ADVENTURES OF
SUPERMAN: "Mr. Zero" in 1956.  This may have been her first work in the
medium; her brother, David Chantler, had been writing for the show since
1953.  Does the obit say whether he survives her?

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 14:14:33 -0500
From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Recovered from a virus

I have been without email for at least 10 days, having been
struck by the Sircam virus (a terrible and expensive experience).
I had to have my hard drive erased of the virus and everything
else, so I lost my address book.  I no longer have the email
addresses of individuals and websites where I purchased (and
hope to purchase further) old radio shows.  I first of all hope
that Jerry Haedinger and Evan Armstrong will send me their
email and website addresses.  I will try to locate various
other individuals I have corresponded with by picking up
their addresses from the OTR daily messages.  If there is
anyone that was hurt by my virus, I apologize.  I've upgraded
my anti-virus control (Norton 2002) and will not allow any
infected mail to go out from me.  I thank those who emailed
me (Jerry H. for one) and told me I had a virus.  My thanks
in advance for email from Jerry and Evan.

Harry Machin, Jr.
harbev5@[removed]


[ADMINISTRIVIA: Although I hate to bring this up, being _really_ off-topic
and all, there is a new version of the BadTrans virus that _many_ of you have
already sent to the mailing list server. Of course, the list is protected and
the server can't get a Windows virus, and I've just implimented today a
warning system which should email you should you send a copy of this virus to
the server, but it's _always_ a good idea to check your computer for viruses,
and then check it again. Make sure your antiviral software is updated with
the latest patches, as well as your email client of you are using one of
Micro$oft's clients. (Other company's clients appear to be immune, which is
something to strongly consider.)  --cfs3]

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 14:45:15 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Don Wilson 1900-1982

In response to Bill Harker, according to Thomas A. DeLong in his book "Radio
Stars" Don Wilson was born on September 1, 1900 in Lincoln, Nebraska and died
in Palm Springs, California April 25, 1982.

Ron Sayles

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 16:01:17 -0500
From: Christopher Werner <cwerner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Cataloging your collection

Joe Salemo asks:"What databases have you discovered for cataloging an OTR
collection?"

[A question sure to bring a weeks worth of responses]

Well, that [removed]

... on how big the collection is. Something less that 2000 tapes would
probably do fine in a large single spreadsheet, or even a manual ledger
listing.

... on what you want to do with the information. Do you just want a list so
you can do an inventory and track who you loaned what to, or do you want to
document plots, characters, keywords, advertisers, additional information
from other sources. Again, manual lists work fine for the small, a large
database for the other extreme.

.. on your technical expertise. Do you have experience creating a
database? Managing tables? Do some reading on the subject (program manuals
or other books) before you get started. Most of the work is in the
*Planning* of the database architecture, filling in the data should be a
much simpler job.

Assuming a large collection and a technically astute owner with lots of
time and [removed]

If only one person is going to use the database at a time, Microsoft Access
will do the job quite nicely as would Dataease or Filemaker on the Mac
(assuming Acius 4th Dimension no longer exists). If many queries are going
to be done simultaneously, then a more robust solution like IBMs DB2 or
Oracle would make more sense.

My own approach (for better or worse):

Eventual goal is a DB2 database with a web interface. For now there are two
main drivers for the data:
1) Accurate logs for all series so the dates and titles on the tapes are
correct.
2) Accurate catalog information from various sources (club, dealer, and
collector) so I know what the source is and when there is a choice, who
else to obtain a copy from.

I do this all in Excel spreadsheets. Each series has a directory containing
the raw catalog information from other logs and catalogs (cut and paste
into .txt files) and a 'Log' directory. In the Log directory is a master
spreadsheet containing a complete log listing for the series and a column
for every source containing the appropriate part number. If an episode is
in my collection the row is greyed and the source cell is yellow (actually
beige when ordered, green when received, yellow when dubbed). One column
has *My* part number for the cassette.

I have sub-classified the various genre into: Comedy, DramaAnthology,
ScienceFiction, CrimeDetective, Modern and Variety. One could also
subdivide Crime into Western, Detective, CrimeAnthology, and Mystery. This
helps with finding the titles when there are sooo many.

I also keep a spreadsheet tracking each library activity (when received,
due, and sent) and what has been ordered or will be ordered next.

Since obtaining a complete collection of any title may involve several
sources, it is also useful to have a master spreadsheet listing series by
row and sources by column. The tape numbers go in the columns and as they
are received they are deleted. When all numbers are gone from all columns
(and in the 'log' file all rows are grey) the series is complete, color is
changed to Green and marked complete.

Happy is the collector with many green rows of complete series.

It is a simple process to convert the spreadsheet data to a database table
or even to feed a label program to create 'proper' labels for your
collection. For that reason I find the spreadsheet just fine until I share
the info with others interactively. One other word of advice, create a
template spreadsheet with all the column headings defined. Load the
template and fill in the data/program information. That way all the file
formats will be the same if you want to convert them later.

More info than you wanted, to be sure, but I hope it will help you
'visualize' what you might do next. I could 'share' sample templates if
anyone is interested, reply privately.

Storage and Spousal contentment with all the time needed for this is
another subject.

Have fun.

Chris Werner

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

Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 20:54:31 -0500
From: JimInks@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Peggy Chantler Dick

I notice that obit for Peggy Chantler Dick didn't mention her writing for the
Superman TV show.  Oh [removed]

-Jim Amash

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #381
*********************************************

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