Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #239
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 6/26/2002 7:48 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 239
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Re: Comic Books & OTR?                [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
  Today in radio history 6/26           [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  Bob Hastings rank                     [ "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed]; ]
  Re: Rexall                            [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
  Re: Ezra Stone and Jackie Kelk        [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
  Hoagie?!                              [ "John DiMezzes" <jadm1@[removed] ]
  Rexall                                [ "Peter H. Vollmann" <vollmann@hawai ]
  A "Cinnamon Bear" Discovery           [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
  Thanks to Ted Davenport               [ steve mcguffin <earl22002@[removed] ]
  Hey Jughead!                          [ "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@worldnet. ]

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 13:53:20 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Comic Books & OTR?

I sure don't have time to weigh in on this psycho babble and Comic Book
censorship thread, but I had to say a few words since Archie Comics was
mentioned, (and my friend, publisher John Goldwater was castigated).

It's a free Country, John, and you are certainly entitled to your opinion.
Now here's mine, for what it's worth.

Point one: I do not have too much truck with people in the applied
psychology field. The one's I knew from personal experience, (Not as a
patient, I hasten to add) but from socializing, (and having a few of them as
in-laws at one time), I came to the following conclusion.  The majority of
them got into the field because they were a little wacko themselves, and
after "treatment", decided to make a career of it. What does that tell you?

Anyway, some can, and have, posed a danger when it comes to censorship and
attempts to control media. Wertham is a prime example.

But let's face it folks. There is a bit too much gratuitous violence on TV
and in Video games. And I suppose Horror Comics can go too far as well.

I grew up playing Cowboys and Indian's, cops and robbers, and "War", being
only 10 when WW2 started. That was play-acting violence, but it was always
the good guys against the evil-doers. (It's the "warrior" genetic code in
most boys).

I certainly was influenced by the media, (Movies, comic books, magazines and
Newsreel propaganda back then).

I am far from being puritanical, but I applaud John Goldwaters attempt to
bring some degree of "self policing" to the comic book industry. Archie
Comics were squeaky clean entertainment fare for kids. It was not designed
to appeal to older boys. It was nothing more than light hearted silly humor
concerning high school age kids. (I didn't read them, because I was into
Action Adventure. My favorite was "the Blackhawks"). He wasn't trying to
drive competition out of the market place. He was sincere in the belief that
gory stuff was going too far. Comic books were supposed to be Comical, hence
the name. Action-Adventure was not competition for Archie. Simply another
form of entertainment. Escapism.

But society will go to hell in a handbasket unless "Someone" (in the various
media industry associations)  at least exerts a modicum of control as to
explicit and gratuitous violence.

Back in the days or OTR, the Networks had a code that everyone followed, and
it really didn't impact "entertainment" to any negative extent. The same was
true of early TV, and of course, the film industry. But all that has changed
drastically over the years due to "Liberals" screaming about censorship and
free speech. Now look at the situation. It seems that anything goes
nowadays.

That sort of permissiveness has created a society that has bombarded our
children with all sorts of blatant violence, pornography and gore. I say
again, I am far from being a goody-two-shoes, but there is no doubt in my
mind that it does impact and effect the minds of young, curious, and highly
impressionable children. The liberals say it's the parents job to control
what their children are exposed to. I say to them, "Get Real". The kids
can't escape it because it is so prevalent, and totally out of control.

When I was growing up, we didn't have kids killing other kids at school.
I'm not for controlling guns. But young people's do need to be taught by
example. With the steady diet of violence they are fed today, does it take a
psychologist to tell us that we may have gotten a bit too permissive by
letting all forms of media have total "freedom of Speech" without regard to
even basic moral standards that we would like our children to learn.

KIDS ARE EASILY BRAINWASHED. Look at the "Hitler Youth" movement, and the
young Palestinians who think it's neat to become a walking bomb.

It seems the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you)
has been supplanted by (GET [removed] for any real or imagined grievance, and
kill the sucker first before he can kill you). Read my Lips. it's the fault
of all media. (Except radio). :)

It is obvious to me that they all have gone too far. (Is it any wonder that
the idiot fanatical Muslim fundamentalists preach that the United States is
the great Satan). We no longer have ANY semblance of moral standards in the
media, IMHO and that's how we are perceived to the 3rd world.

Certainly, we do not want an "Orwellian" big brother government telling us
what we can read, watch or listen to. But somebody needs to be in control of
the asylum to a "reasonable" degree, wouldn't you agree?

Speaking of agreeing. I totally endorse Gad4's (George) posting on the
subject. OK. And my thanks to Derek Tague to finding something nice to say
about "Archie Comics. let's face it folks. Plain and simple. Beauty is in
the eyes of the beholder. [removed], I'm through moralizing on this somewhat off
topic debate. :)

Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 13:53:31 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Today in radio history 6/26

  From Those Were The Days --

1933 - The Kraft Music Hall debuted. It turned out to be one of radio's
longest-running hits. The first program presented Paul Whiteman and his
orchestra. Singer Al Jolson became the host of the show shortly
thereafter. Several years later crooner Bing Crosby was named the host.
The Kraft Music Hall continued on NBC until 1949.

1949 - Entertainer Fred Allen ended is regular programming run.  His
final radio guest was his old pal, Jack Benny.

Today's birthday ==

1904 - Peter Lorre (László Löwenstein) d. Mar 23, 1964

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

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:35:28 -0400
From: "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Bob Hastings rank

Quoth Jughead:

If you ever watch re-runs of "McHales Navy" on TV, Bobby
plays Ensign Carpenter, the goody-two-shoes assistant to
Captain Binghamton. You an see what he looks like if you ever
watch that TV show.

Funny, I always recall Elroy Carpenter being a Lieutenant. Did
Bob get demoted while I wasn't looking? Or was I watching only
the later shows? 8^)

(NOTE TO All Digesters). Autographed pictures are only sent
to those who think I was "Hilarious". :)

How about a scale?

Mildly amusing: Initials on an index card

Funny         : Printed name on a sheet of note paper

I personally think you were hilarious. Can you still do that
voice? Just curious. I heard that Stan Freberg was told by his
doctor not to do the abominable snowman voice anymore.

Have fun,

-- Tom Kirby <kirby@[removed];

[ADMINISTRIVIA: As anyone who was at Cincy can attest, he can "still do that
voice." I noticed during the Archie recreation the glass vibrating in the
[removed]  --cfs3]

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:37:12 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Rexall

On 6/26/02 2:09 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

Does anybody know why the apparently thriving and large drug-store chain
Rex-All went from widely held success in the 40s-50s to obscurity?

I understand that most of the stores were franchise [removed]
that aspect impact the decline of the company?

Rexall started out in Boston in 1903 as the United Drug Company, a
manufacturing-wholesaling operation controlled by John Liggett, of the
Liggett's Drug Stores chain on the East Coast. Liggett's idea was to have
a complete factory-to-consumer supply chain for drug store merchandise --
and to emphasize the idea of the drug store as an outlet for
over-the-counter merchandise as well as prescriptions. Rexall was the
brand name adopted for United Drug products sold in Liggett's stores, and
the Liggett chain began to display signs reading "The Rexall Store."

This system spread from the Liggett's chain as United Drug began
servicing independant drug stores as an alternative to local or regional
distributors -- which spread the Rexall trademark nationally. By the
1930s, the United Drug Company had become the dominant force in the
American drug store business -- and also a major factor in local radio.
While the company had no network programs until the 1940s, it was a heavy
user of transcriptions, especially for its annual One Cent Sale
promotions (Buy any Rexall product -- get an additional product for one
penny more!) The company also held a controlling interest in the
Boots-the-Chemist chain in Britain, and had interests in other drug
companies around the world.

The company remained under the control of the Liggett family until John
Liggett's death in 1945, at which time the "United Drug Company" name was
dropped, and "Rexall Drug Company" adopted as the name for the combined
manufacturing-distributing-retailing operation. The company began at this
time to heavily invest in network radio, continuing to do so thru the
mid-1950s, with the Jimmy Durante-Garry Moore program, the Phil
Harris-Alice Faye Show, and the Amos 'n' Andy Show its most notable
presenations.

In the 1950s, as corporate diversification became fashionable, the new
owners of the company decided to turn the company into a conglomerate,
buying up such enterprises as Tupperware Inc. and the West Bend Company
during the 1950s and 1960s. Reflecting this shift away from the drug
business, the company changed its name to Dart Industries in 1969.
Management declined in the 1970s, and Dart, in turn, was absorbed by
Kraft in 1980, which closed down the drug business and gradually sold off
the unwanted components of the company. The Rexall trademark has gone
thru several owners since the 1980s, and is currently owned by a promoter
of multilevel marketing schemes.

Elizabeth

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:38:27 -0400
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Ezra Stone and Jackie Kelk

Jerry Bechtel asks:

Would any of our local scholars happen to know if Ezra Stone, Jackie
Kelk or any of the Aldrich Family cast members are still alive?

***Ezra Stone, a frequent guest at the annual FOTR convention, died in a 1994
auto accident.  Jackie Kelk is still with us and a few years back wrote the
foreword for my second RSI SUPERMAN booklet. --Anthony Tollin***

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:39:47 -0400
From: "John DiMezzes" <jadm1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Hoagie?!

John Mayer writes,

Although Hoagy Carmichael will long be remembered for "Star Dust" and
for his contributions, among other things, to the Oriental Foxtrot
genre, I'm sure many of us are reminded of him most often by the
sandwich named in his honor. To me it is never a "sub" or a "hero," nor
even a "Dagwood." It is, and will forever remain, the "Hoagy.

I realize this is very far removed from OTR, but I must set the record
straight nonetheless.  To my knowledge, Mr. Carmichael had nothing to do
with the gustatory delight known as the "hoagie."  The hoagie originated in
South Philly (I know.  I grew up in Philadelphia, and am acquainted with the
sandwich's heritage).  In the "old days," blue collar workers laboring in an
area called Hog Island would take meat and bread meals for lunch, and these
became the forerunners of the latter day version.  Originally, they were
called "Hoggies," after the island.  Then, perhaps because mouths were full,
the name was slurred to "hoagie."  In my entire life, I have never heard any
reference made to Mr. Carmichael in connection with the
"invention"...especially not in Philadelphia, and most especially not in
South Philadelphia.  In Philadelphia, Mr. Mayer, you commit sacrilege. :-)

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:35:44 -0400
From: "Peter H. Vollmann" <vollmann@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Rexall

Rexall supplied independent drugstores, that thru their franchise agreement
participated in nation-wide advertising (on radio and in print media) and
had the advantage of a well known brand name. I guess like in other retail
sectors the chain stores slowly but surely killed off these independent
retailers. I believe Rexall still exists, but must have lost most of its
market share since the forties.
Peter

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:41:31 -0400
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  A "Cinnamon Bear" Discovery

As OTR expert and author of the only published book on the history of "The
Cinnamon Bear" [THE CINNAMON BEAR BOOK: Hall Closet Publications, 1987],
Chuck Schaden is absolutely right when he remarks, "Just when you think
there's no new OTR to be discovered, that's when some goodie shows up. It's
all out there, just waiting to be uncovered."

Chuck is referring to "The Cinnamon Bear" audition disc which showed up
this year at the "Cincy" Convention.  Richard Fisher,  in these pages,  was
first to announce to the readership that this disc existed.  I offered to
send a cassette copy to Chuck through our mutual friend, Jan Bach, but he
had already heard it. Shawn Wells of The Old Time Radio Shop made me my own
audio cassette version  and, boy, is it a blockbuster!

It is the first new information on CB since the Gassman brothers of
SPERDVAC identified Rosa Barcelo (of  "Magic Island") as the actress who
played Queen Melissa.  Also  the sheet music to the title song finally
showed up. That's about it in terms of fresh data.

The disc is really a "promotion" disc.  Much is made of it being eight
minutes on each side as Paddy O'Cinnamon moans that his side, side 2,
doesn't give him sufficient time.  The Barton twins are worried
that the record will be over before they can complete highlighting their
story.

Side one begins with announcer John Heistand announcing a new Christmas
program produced in the Hollywood Studios of the Radio Transcription
Company of America, Limited, under the direction of Lindsay MacHarrie,
production manager of TRANSCO.

MacHarrie talks about how Charles C. Pile [I do not know if this is the
correct spelling of his last name], President of the Radio Transcription
Company of America, over a number of years,  received numerous requests
from field managers,  and by direct mail from radio stations,  advertising
agencies, and sponsors,  " for a program series designed especially for
pre-Christmas running."

MacHarrie says he bumped into Glan Heisch one day on Hollywood Boulevard
and invited him to lunch. He told Glan that he wanted a Christmas series
"with all the charm and whimsy of the OZ books and  'Alice in Wonderland.'
"   MacHarrie told Heisch he wanted a series of twenty-six 15 minute
programs designed to run from Thanksgiving to Christmas. This would be
TRANSCO's premier Christmas series.  He pointed out that he wanted the
series  to intrigue children, keep them listening from day to day, and at
the same time,  be highly entertaining for adult listening audiences.

Heisch agreed, allowed ideas "to percolate" until 2:30 the next morning,
and called MacHarrie with a synopsis a few hours later. He said it just
rolled out of his typewriter.

MacHarrie and the TRANSCO staff agreed that this was the show they had
wanted for so long and "would give it  the best dressing up they could."
Immediately they decided it had to have original music, ---- at least ten
original numbers sung by the characters in the story.  Glan eventually
included eleven songs with reprises of two. Everyone agreed that Santa
Claus must play an important role. The show should have "a growing
Christmas feeling" as it approached its climax on Christmas Day.

As Heisch had outlined the story, the Barton twins would search for their
missing silver star ornament that always adorned their family Christmas
tree.  It had been stolen from their attic by the Crazyquilt Dragon.  [
Many of you are familiar with this famous theft and the adventures that
followed.  The Cinnamon Bear and Judy and Jimmy Barton review high points
of their escapades on side 2 of the disc.]

MacHarrie discusses briefly the plot without revealing the surprises and
twists of the story.  He also explains how Glan hooked up with a former
associate of his, Don Honrath, to compose the songs and incidental music.
Felix Mills was hired to handle the musical direction.   Heistand
interrupts MacHarrie to tell him how Mills had been head arranger for
Raymond Paige on "Hollywood Hotel,"  for Jacques Renard on "The Eddie
Cantor Show," and who currently had his own musical organization.

MacHarrie says it was Mills' imagination "that provided us the musical
arrangements, the scintillating instrumentation, and the clever singers who
sing the songs."  MacHarrie goes on to say that TRANSCO decided not to
publicize the actors who played the three principals because the company
wanted them to remain in the public's mind as Judy and Jimmy Barton and
the Cinnamon Bear.  But MacHarrie did say  that they chose an actor to play
Paddy O'Cinnamon who was well known from cartoon comedies and who was a
showman from the early days of vaudeville. He was also among the first
featured comedians in the early silent picture days.  This confirms that
vaudevillian Bud Duncan IS the Buddy Duncan who plays CB.     [John Mayer,
bless his whimsical heart, has previously provided me with a relatively
complete filmography of Bud Duncan.  I can now go to any of those  films
that are still available with the  certainty  I'll see the Cinnamon Bear in
person!]  MacHarrie found the actor on a little ranch in Van Nuys, and he
jumped at the chance to play CB.

Several auditions were held at the TRANSCO Studios for actors to play Jimmy
and Judy Barton. Each auditioner had a number, and they were listened to
"blindly."  They narrowed the choice to two actors "who had played brother
and sister parts together many times before."

WOW!  No name for Jimmy Barton yet, but we do know the actor who played him
and Barbara Jean Wong (Judy Barton) were featured in other media as brother
and sister several times. That would be pre-summer, [removed] OTR Digest
readers, help me track Jimmy Barton down.  This is a great clue and we have
never had it before.  Previous appearances as brother and sister, perhaps
on the stage, in radio or films, is a new field of inquiry.  And we know
one of the actors---Barbara Jean Wong.  Who played Jimmy Barton is one of
OTR's enduring mysteries --- we need to solve it.  And I believe with all
my heart that we can solve it.  We are now so much closer.

MacHarrie says this disc will be sent to station executives and their
clients, with the presumed hope that the show will receive a broad airing
based on his description of its excellent production values. At the end of
Side 2, Hiestand announces, "we know you'll want to learn more about the
Cinnamon Bear and all his strange friends. Just drop a note of inquiry to
the Radio Transcription Company of America at the address on the envelope
in which this record came to you.  We'll be glad to send you full
particulars."

Most of side 2 is a wonderful synopsis of the story provided by Judy and
Jimmy and a cranky Cinnamon Bear.  It is delightful.

This disc, surfacing as it did 65 years after it was made, is amazing.  I
hope we can use its information to track down Jimmy Barton.

Dennis Crow

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:41:50 -0400
From: steve mcguffin <earl22002@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Thanks to Ted Davenport

I've been catching up on some old digests, and have
some comments, but would like to begin by publicly
thanking Ted Davenport and Tom Monroe.  As I have
related on this digest before, I am a teacher in the
Blind Department at the Virginia School for the Deaf
and the Blind, located in Staunton, VA.  Back in the
fall, Tom contacted me to see if I was interested in
some donated tapes from Radio Memories.  Of course I
accepted and during the 2001-2002 school year we
received 4 boxes of tapes.  These were a big hit with
our students (and some of the other teachers), and
have been in our library available for all to check
out.  Some favorites were, Gunsmoke, Suspense, The
Lone Ranger and Escape.  Jack Benny was popular with
the older students.  The totally blind students were
immediately very enthusiastic, but some of the
partially sighted kids took a bit more convincing that
these could be equally, if not more so, enteraining
than, (gasp)television!  So again, I would like to
thank these gentlemen publicly, and would like to
mention that I have no financial interest in Radio
Memories, but that since they began donating, they now
have my business!

Since blindness was mentioned in digest #227, I think,
I would like to briefly share some information, which,
I hope, does not stray too far off topic.  Our kids at
VSDB are just like any other kids.  I find myself
telling people that frequently.  In any given school,
there are going to be kids of varying ability and
motivation and our kids are no different.  If you'd
like any more details about my experiences, please
email me off-list, I won't bore everybody!  I'm going
to search out the Escape episode mentioned by John
Mayer, "Country of the Blind", and as another
blindness related episode, I recommend "Pride of the
Marines", presented by the Lux Radio Theatre.  This is
the story of Al Schmid, blinded while serving in the
Marines on Guadalcanal.  A very touching story.

Again, on behalf of the Blind Department at the
Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, thanks to
Radio Memories.

Steve McGuffin

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

Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 21:42:01 -0400
From: "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Hey Jughead!

Hal (Harlan) Stone (aka Jughead) ended his last posting with a "(NOTE TO All
Digesters). Autographed pictures are only sent to those who think I was
"Hilarious". :)

Gee, Jug, why the past tense? What if we think you're STILL "Hilarious?"

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #239
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