------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 116
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
ADMINISTRIVIA: Support for the Maili [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
Brace Beemer acknowledgement [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
FOTR Script Contest [ JayHick@[removed] ]
Premiums and Programs [ skallisjr@[removed] ]
radio drama [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
Ipods for OTR? [ "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed]; ]
New radio productions? [ "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed]; ]
CDs for the Troops [ seandd@[removed] ]
radio shows for 1945 [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
Phol Harris Orchestra [ Rentingnow@[removed] ]
CINCY SCRIPTS/ BOOKS [ "randy story" <hopharrigan@centuryt ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:15:14 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ADMINISTRIVIA: Support for the Mailing List
Folks;
Before I do anything else, I want to thank all the folks who support the
OTR Digest and other lists, web services, etc., whether by financial support,
moral support, or simply posting questions and answers; it's because of all
of you that this place exists in the first place. I'd also like to note that
no payment is _ever_ required to receive the mailing lists or visit the web
[removed] now, not ever; or at least as long as I'm operating them, anyway.
That said, there _is_ some need for support. Prices increase, time
investments increase as well, and for various personal reasons my company is
increasingly unable to subsidize the "hobby" aspects of the server, so I'd
like that side of things to be a little bit more self-sufficient. At the same
time, though, as some people have noted, I don't routinely post notices
requesting financial support the way Bill [removed]'s a little uncomfortable
for me, and sometimes feels just a bit unseemly.
The web services, as you probably know, do have small single
advertisements at the top of each page (compare this to the bazillion of ads
thrown on the top, sides, and bottom of most other website pages). The
unfortunate truth is that they bring in very little income. The Barnes and
Nobel book sales are in the same category; for the past EIGHTEEN MONTHS,
we've received a few cents over $[removed] as commission for sales through The
Nostalgia Pages/The Nostalgic Rumblings Blog. I've been seriously
considering the addition of advertisements onto the top of the mailing lists,
and there are quite a few dealers who would be happy to advertise on the
lists. But I think that would be ugly and annoying, particularly to those
visually-impared subscribers who use software to read the lists. Besides,
I've held out this long on general principle, so I couldn't bring myself to
add advertisements now.
To rectify all these different issues, and after considerable thought and
research, I've decided to take a two-prong approach to making the old-time
radio/nostalgic TV aspects just a little bit more self-supporting, and it's
to explain these two prongs I send this over-long message. To those
subscribed to all of the mailing lists on the server who will receive
multiple copies, I apologize in advance.
The first prong is a reworking of the Fundraiser disc distributed back in
2003, when our server went through a series of downtime caused by one
provider's incompetence, and a second's suddenly going out-of-business. (The
former still owes my company some money, and the second still owes my company
a computer. I'm not expecting to see either, frankly, but "hope springs
eternal.") Thanks in large part to the sale of the fundraiser disc and some
donations by individuals and organizations, we were able to rapidly move
TWICE to keep the list operational even when the server was sitting in my
office instead of a server farm, and build an upgraded machine for placement
at the farm - for that support I will _always_ be grateful.
That 2003 disc was sold at a price of $10, but many of you were overly
generous and paid more, sometimes _much_ [removed] else I am extremely
grateful for, especially considering the conditions. Fortunately, that
immediate (dare I say, desperate?) need for funds is a thing left in the past
- the concern now is solely for a renewing source of income.
So my plan here, and it should be interesting to see if I can stick to it,
is to release a new disc every month or month-and-a-half, available at the
new storefront (hang on a sec, I'll get there); each disc will contain a
different mix of Old-Time Radio shows in MP3 format, various OTR-related
video pieces in VCD-compatable format, and some chatter from yours-truly.
This will _force_ me to spend more time listening to OTR, and give you
[removed] you don't care about what's on this month's disc, maybe you'll
be excited about the programming on next month's. The price for the discs
will be _fixed_ at $10, with state sales taxes computed for those unfortunate
enough to have Pennsylvania delivery addresses. (I plan on bringing a few
copies of the new disc to the Cincy convention later this week if you
want to save the shipping charges, but whether or not you pick one up,
find me and say, "Hello!" What I love most about the conventions is
meeting subscribers face-to-face.)
The storefront will also give me an opportunity to sell other items, too;
for example, some years ago I was able to "cherry-pick" an old record
warehouse (for our younger subscribers, please get your parents to tell you
what a vinyl "record" is) for OTR programs. After keeping one copy of each
record for myself (hey, I _did_ have to breath in all that dust!), there are
a few titles available still in the shrink-wrap; over time, I'll be able to
make those available through the on-line store. I'd also like to put together
some public-domain feature film DVDs, complete-series CDs, and maybe some
other items, too.
It isn't much to look at now, and indeed the only two items currently
available are the two fundraiser discs (the one from 2003, and the first 2005
disc), but over time there will be additional items added. I hope you'll stop
by occasionally, remembering that your support there goes DIRECTLY to support
the mailing list and web-based services.
Check out [removed] (AOL-friendly URL at the bottom of
this message) - suggestions/comments appreciated, either via email, or by
using the form you'll find in the storefront.
And for those who _are_ financially able and interested in supporting the
lists and web services with voluntary "subscription" fees ($35/year is the
most common, with more or less also gratefully accepted), we're going to add
program distribution, using the BitTorrent peer-to-peer system. Because
BitTorrent clients help distribute the files while receiving them, the load
on our server can be managed while still distributing large blocks of shows
(indeed, 400-600 MB blocks should not be unreasonable, even on dialup for
patient users). The plan is to begin with programs I have here, and
eventually (with the help of others) distributing complete series blocks.
I still need to write some of the authentication routines, but plans are
to begin distribution by the end of May, after beta-testing with the help of
a few interested souls sometime early next month. Those of you who have
already contributed will be receiving a seperate and verbose email on this
shortly, completely explaining the system, where to get it, how easy it is to
use, and how to participate. If you haven't yet, and are interested in
supporting the lists and web-based services with a voluntary contribution,
see [removed] (again, AOL-friendly URL below).
So there you have it; hopefully something for anyone interested in
supporting the OTR Digest, Kinescope, and other mailing lists on the server,
along with The Nostalgia Pages, Phorums, Nostalgic Rumblings, and other
web-based services.
Apologies for the intrusion; we now return to our previously-scheduled
discussions, already in progress.
Charlie Summers
<A HREF="[removed]">The OldRadio Shop</A>
<A HREF="[removed]">To Contribute</A>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:17:05 -0400
From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Brace Beemer acknowledgement
Fred Hillman wrote:
There has been some talk of a statue of Beemer in his hometown, Mt.
Carmel, IL, but I don't know if that has moved forward. Perhaps
someone else has some info on [removed] Here's an idea: a
sign below the Mt. Carmel highway signs saying something like "Birthplace
of Brace Beemer, Radio's Lone Ranger."
On a similar note, at one time, the small town of
Oxford, MI, where Brace Beemer lived while working on
"The Lone Ranger" (and until his death), had a wooden
sign at the entrance to town which read: "Welcome to
Oxford, home of Brace Beemer, the Lone Ranger." I saw
it back in 1989.
I understand the sign is now gone, but don't have
confirmation. I also don't know when it was installed.
Great news about the Earle Graser tribute in
Farmington.
Rick
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:17:20 -0400
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: FOTR Script Contest
FRIENDS OF OLD TIME RADIO SCRIPT CONTEST
The 12th Annual Original Script-Writing contest is now open. Your half-hour
script can be, but need not be, based on any recognizable classic radio
program - this time a drama, but NOT a crime or cops and robbers show. The
usual
format includes short opening, middle and closing commercials, either for a
product that existed then or one of your own imagining. The judges would
prefer
the story to be set in its original time period (unless science fiction).
Scripts must be ready to produce - 10 point type or larger, all sound cues
included. Try to limit the size of the cast, although some actors can double
in smaller parts. First prize is $[removed], and the script will be performed at
our 2006 convention. Second prize is $100. The script will not be performed.
Scripts must be submitted by August 31, 2005 to Dave Zwengler, 319 Plymouth
Road, North Brunswick [removed] 08902 (732-940-7639). Three experienced judges
from our steering committee will pick the winning scripts and suggestions for
improvements will be sent to non-winners. If you want a primer on the
preferred
page format send an SASE to Mr. Zwengler.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:18:15 -0400
From: skallisjr@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Premiums and Programs
One of the unalloyed joys I had when growing up was when I received a
brown envelope in the mail, opened it up, and withdrew the latest premium
offered on one of the shows I listened to. Once in a while, I'd even
send for a premium from a show I _didn't_ listen to, if it was neat
enough. Not counting Code-O-Graphs, which were "equipment" for secret
Squadron members, most of the programs' gadgets were just clever gadgets
that were fun to play with.
But there were different ways of presenting the premiums on the show.
One was to make the gadget a part of the plot. For instance, in the Jack
Armstrong 1940 Sulu Sea adventure, the story opens with somebody trying
to intercept a small package sent from the Philippines. After several
attempts, the package was opened, and in it was a strange, ivory colored
ring with a green stone that was a key to get the cooperation of some
natives in the Sulu Sea region to help Uncle Jim recover a lost shipment
of Uranium (this in 1940!). After the ring was revealed, the villains
_still_ tried to steal it. When that wasn't happening, Jack, Uncle Jim,
Billy, and Betty conversed about its mysterious characteristics. All of
this impelled the listener to want one of those things. Even when I
heard it for the first time in the 1970s, I wanted one! (I have one now,
but I didn't get it for some coin and a Wheaties boxtop). Eventually,
there was a ring, a replica that looked exactly like the ring Jack
Armstrong had, offered as a premium. That was a subtle hard sell.
In one of the few surviving Ovasltine-sponsored Captain Midnight shows,
there's mention of a ring owned by the Queen of Sheba. It was so
midentified because it had "the Hebrew letter 'S'" on its crown. Captain
Midnight listened to Chuck's suggestion for a "souvenir," rather like the
ring, for all Secret Squadron members. This has led some to speculate
that there used to be a Queen of Sheba Ring actually, it was a buildup
for the Initial Printing Ring. However, in this case, the ring might
have been in important plot element, used in locating where the mines
where Sheba got her jewels, but the associated premium wasn't tied
closely to the story.
There were premiums that never became involved in the storyline at all.
The Cold Ovaltine Shake-Up Mug was one such. The Kix Atomic Bomb Ring
was another. The Sky King Spy-Detecto Writer was a third. None of these
could be identified with specific adventures, but they were plugged
heavily on the commercial breaks.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:18:40 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: radio drama
Wow.
There was plenty of room for improvement in my question the other day about
radio drama.
One reason I asked about this is that I had indeed heard an episode of
"Imagination Theater" some years ago and was struck by its effectiveness: it
was a drama that scared me but good. But I haven't been able to hear it
since then, nor is it at all obvious how to hear it: the nearest station is
a low-powered AM some hundred miles away.
What I was really asking is why I can't turn on the radio and hear a radio
play or comedy. Or, stated another way, just what is different about
today's market that prevents radio from being the dramatic medium it was in
past decades?
I'm not certain that competition for talent or audience explains the matter
sufficiently. I know that Hal Stone is an expert on TV advertisements, but
perhaps he might have some observations on the pool of talent available for
radio ads. Ads are about the only radio dramas that non-enthusiasts
encounter, many are incredibly clever and entertaining, and it seems that
there are many actors and producers available to make them.
Audiences and advertisers for non-musical shows would seem to be available
as well. They advertise a lot of foot powder on political talk shows, and
the morning 'drive-time' shows are exceedingly lucrative.
Network radio still exists. Both sorts of shows are typically network
productions: though it's not usually discussed on their shows, Bob and Tom,
Opie and Anthony, Howard Stern, Imus, Rush Limbaugh, and several others have
their own informal but highly-effective satellite-distribution networks.
And I think there's room for the medium. Each new TV cable channel tends to
duplicate the efforts of the existing ones, yet these seem to survive.
Broadcast radio drama and comedy would comprise what would be essentially an
entirely new medium for most people.
So: My question is just why good radio drama could not be self-supporting
through advertising, just as it was in past years.
Was the vaudeville circuit inadequate in 1920? Were movies too expensive
and rare? Were phonograph records too expensive? My guess is that the
average person in, say, 1918 wouldn't have thought so, and might well opine
that there really wasn't any room for a new entertainment medium in that
busy world.
I know that efforts were made in an attempt to save radio during the '50's:
NBC's "Monitor" was the best-known of these. And on that basis, it seems to
me that the radio networks didn't die out solely because of lack of
advertising money or talent, but from old age: Monitor was pretty lame for
young people of the day; drawing too heavily from old sources.
M Kinsler
I did like Mike Nichols' and Elaine May's marvelous skits, however.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:20:06 -0400
From: "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ipods for OTR?
Sean Dougherty asked:
Can anyone identify the professor in the following article who is
using Ipods to teach a class in Old Time Radio: Theater of the Mind at
Duke University?
Daniel Foster, Theater Studies professor, according to this page:
[removed]
"In his current course, Radio: Theater of the Mind, students are
creating their own podcasts to experiment with combining old and new
media."
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:51:19 -0400
From: "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: New radio productions?
Hi,
There's been the question of new radio productions raised here lately. Many
posters have mentioned BBC, Twilight Zone, Quicksilver, [removed] Let me share
some info with you.
Since August of 1983, a group called "30 Minutes to Curtain" has been doing
new radio dramas and comedies on the air (and "live re-creations" on stage)
all around the Los Angeles area. Barbara (Sunday)Watkins and I were two of
the founders of the group at KCSN. Many people have participated in many
ways (writing, directing, producing, recording) over the years. We
sometimes did our shows "live" at KCSN, but usually they were recorded and
aired, initially, every two weeks on an alternating schedule, with a quiz
show, Bob Shannon's "The Man Says Yes".
When a format change almost cancelled the dramas and the quiz show, Barbara
(who produced/co-hosted "Don't Touch That Dial") made room on our Sunday
afternoon show for them and so, they was able to continue. "3 MTC" has very
effectively performed at SPERDVAC meetings and conventions and at SCARS,
churches and civic groups all over So. California.
When both 3MTC and DTTD were summarily cancelled by new KCSN Mgt. in
April,2001, our friend Roy(of Hollywood)Tuckman invited us to be a part of
his Midnight show (once a month) on KPFK. So, we didn't miss a beat and
we're still going strong with DTTD(31 years!),"live" and recorded 3MTC and,
occasionally, shows from The Gotham Radio Players (thanx, Steve) as part of
the mix. It' only once a month, but it's better than "nothing" as they say.
We're attempting to archive some of our productions and make them
available, but since we're all volunteers, this will take some time.
[removed] NTR(NewTime Radio) still lives!!!!
Bobb
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:51:49 -0400
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: CDs for the Troops
My friend Virginia Postrel received this post from a Marine in Iraq on her
blog ([removed]).
Since we have so many people on this list with access to large amounts of
entertainment I thought it would be appropriate to post here as well.
Maybe we can collectively turn today's troops into old time radio fans!
Can anyone think of any OTR tributes to the Marine Corps it might be
appropriate to send first?
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
My name is SSGT Jerry Jeffrey and I'm a Marine currently in Iraq till Oct 05
and have approx 30 Marines that work for me. We really enjoy watching movies
and listening to music to help combat the bordom during down time. We work
12-14 hour days and enjoy kicking back and relaxing to a good movie or cd.
Please add our unit to your list to recieve dvd's, and cd's.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
MY ADDRESS IS:
SSGT JERRY JEFFREY
HMM-364 M/A
UNIT 42015
FPO AP 96426-2015
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:52:02 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: radio shows for 1945
Hello everybody,
I am planning to broadcast shows this year to help mark the 60th of year of
the end of World War II this year on Yesterday USA. The dates I am shooting
for are week of 4-12-45 of FDR death. I hope later this year to broadcast
parts of 20 hour of CBS and ABC coverage of this week later this year. I am
trying to find the Dick Tracy broadcast that announce Hitler death of
4-30-45 or 5-1-45. I had this years ago on 8 track tape. I hope some one
has this broadcast or any such broadcast on that date. I have some of the
VE Day broadcast from mutual of 5-8-45 Roy Rogers, Tom Mix, ands Superman.
I have the shows heard on 8-10-45 on WEAF, and 90 minutes from 8-14-45. I
hope other have more to help celebrate the end of World War II. Take care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 17:07:43 -0400
From: Rentingnow@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Phol Harris Orchestra
A recent discussion was made about the Phil Harris Orchestra and "his"
music
on the Jack Benny Program. Someone by the handle of RoadWalker has taken
the time to excerpt them from the JB programs and put them on the
[removed] newsgroup. He or She stated the reason: "A
while back I got
the bright idea that if I were to pluck a bunch of Phil Harris numbers from
the Jack Benny radio programs and string them all together they might make
good walking music. --- Each musical number is way too short, --and after a
while they all begin to sound alike. --just think of them as "The lost Phil
Harris Performance".
Those who use the newsgroups (also called Usenet) may be interested in
knowing this.
Larry
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 19:35:43 -0400
From: "randy story" <hopharrigan@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CINCY SCRIPTS/ BOOKS
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hello, all!
Looking forward to seeing so many of you at Cincy in a few days!
I am hoping to get a hold of several radio show script books as well as the
much sought after book about the making of WXYZ and the shows they produced. I
can never remember the title of that tome. [removed] IN WONDERLAND??!
I really need OTR script resources other than those provided on the internet,
so if anyone can steer me in that direction while at Cincy I would be in your
debt.
Thanks,
Randy Story
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #116
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