------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 329
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: must-have books [ Illoman <illoman@[removed]; ]
Johnny Dollar TV Pilot? Casey films? [ "Joseph" <drjoewebb@[removed]; ]
Louis Nye on Radio [ "Arthur Funk" <art-funk@[removed]; ]
Re: Camels going out to our [removed] [ "Arthur Funk" <art-funk@[removed]; ]
Les Paul Interview - Part 2 [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ charlie@[removed] ]
The Great Radio Heroes [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
10-26 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
On Ken Roberts & Gunsmoke [ "Jed Dolnick" <jdolnick@[removed] ]
Radio is a medium of sound - Great R [ [removed]@[removed] ]
Errata [ Wich2@[removed] ]
Cigarettes and Cancer [ "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed] ]
Cynthia Gooding's radio work [ "Ronnie Wise" <rwise@[removed]; ]
Andy and Virginia Mansfield [ Ivan Watson <watsoni@[removed]; ]
Abbott & Costello radio log update [ Bruce Forsberg <forsberg@[removed]; ]
FOTR 2005 [ Garisongs@[removed] ]
Superman vs. the [removed] [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
White Feller vs. Scout, FOTR [ Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@earthlin ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 23:54:22 +0000
From: Illoman <illoman@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: must-have books
> I was looking at my bookshelf and in my mind, such as it is, I was
> mentally listing books that I could not do without. Books that should
> be on any self respecting OTR bookshelf.
There's one I just came across, that is a must have as well. It's entitled
The Laugh Crafters, by Jordan R Young, and it's a collection of interviews
with some of the top writers from the early radio comedy shows. There are
great stories about Ed Gardner, Jack Benny, Al Jolson, [removed] It really
gives you an insight into what went on behind the scenes, and how those
guys got to be so funny in the first place.
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 23:54:59 +0000
From: "Joseph" <drjoewebb@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Johnny Dollar TV Pilot? Casey films?
I read on [removed] that there was a pilot for a Johnny Dollar
TV series. [removed]
Does anyone know if it's floating around anywhere?
Also, I saw a Casey Crime Photographer DVD at the [removed] anyone have
any information on how to get it and also if the others might be available?
I didn't buy fast enough, and when I got back it was gone.
I've looked all over on the Internet for the Casey TV series with Darren
McGavin, and the book I mentioned yesterday mentioned there was only one
episode available and it was in one of the broadcast museums. I know the
series was bad, but it is kind of neat to see them.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 23:55:08 +0000
From: "Arthur Funk" <art-funk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Louis Nye on Radio
Louis Nye is in the cast list for Official Detective as the Police Sergeant
in Buxton & Owen's The Big Broadcast (Viking Press, NY 1972), page 176. I
remember being surprised to read this in the first edition of their book and
being amazed because I couldn't mentally reconcile the "Hi-ho, Steverino"
character that I knew from TV with that of a hard-boiled cop. I guess such
disparity of characterization is the gift of a good actor. I don't have any
Official Detective eps so I haven't heard Louis Nye's cop portrayal.
Regards to all,
Art Funk
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 23:55:16 +0000
From: "Arthur Funk" <art-funk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Camels going out to our [removed]
When I was a young single airman and eating in the chow hall in the early
1960s, tobacco salesmen would give out cigarette "samples" outside the chow
hall. I recall these as being small packs of 5 or 6 cigarettes. When the
broohaha about tobacco health hazards began the salesmen were no longer
permitted access to military installations. Nowadays it isn't uncommon for
installation commanders to ban smoking inside any building, including
barracks. They've also pretty much done away with unit beer busts and open
bars at official functions. The life of a GI isn't what it used to be.
That's good or bad depending on your point of view.
Regards to all,
Art Funk
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 23:55:24 +0000
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Les Paul Interview - Part 2
Hi Gang -
Late last night I arrived home from the FOTR convention. It was great.
While at the convention, I asked several attendees if they might have
recorded part two of the interview with Les Paul that was broadcast on
XM the night of October 17. Alas, nobody that I asked recorded it.
In fact, most people were unaware of the broadcast.
I was asleep at the time of broadcast, and my recorder made a nice recording
of the wrong XM channel, so I didn't get to hear part two of the interview
either.
If anyone has a recording of part two of this two-part interview, please
contact me off-list. Many thanks.
Happy Taping - Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois
_kenpiletic@[removed]_ (mailto:kenpiletic@[removed])
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 02:12:00 -0400
From: charlie@[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 nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!
Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!
For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:33:28 -0400
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Great Radio Heroes
"Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed]; asked:
Who was it who said "If I am not for myself, who will be?"
I believe that was Dr. Bronner on the label of his famous Dr.
Bronner's Castille Soap. No one who has a bottle of that soap in
their bathroom needs any magazines there. Or books. Not even Jim's,
about which he confided to us:
I really believe my book, "The Great Radio Heroes", should be on
such a list [of great radio resources].
Yes, I certainly think his _The Great Radio Heroes_ deserves to be
included in any OTR library. That book, along with Feiffer's _The
Great Comic Book Heroes_, which came out around the same time, helped
reassure me that two of my great interests were, indeed, worthy of
respect. Never did I dream when reading Jim's book, though, that the
day would come when most of the lamented radio shows he eulogized
therein would some day once again be readily available.
BTW, if you decide to contemplate the spiritual teachings revealed to
us on Dr. Bronner's soap bottle, I recommend the economy size ,
especially for those of us old enough to remember when OTR was brand
new; the text on the half-pint size is awfully small and likely to
cause headache within the first few passages.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:33:35 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 10-26 births/deaths
October 26th births
10-26-1876 - [removed] Warner - London, England - d. 12-21-1958
actor: "Hollywood Hotel"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-26-1899 - Rudolph Wickel - d. 3-xx-1971
contestant: "Truth or Consequences"
10-26-1904 - Igor Gorin - Ukraine - d. 3-24-1982
singer: "The Voice of Firestone"
10-26-1907 - Tony Pastor - Middletown, CT - d. 10-31-1969
bandleader: "Tony Pastor and His Orchestra"
10-26-1910 - Clarence Hartzell - Huntington, WV - d. 3-5-1988
actor: Uncle Fletcher "Vic and Sade"; Pappy Yokum "Li'l AAbner"; "Ben Withers
"Lum and Abner"
10-26-1911 - Mahalia Jackson - New Orleans, LA - d. 1-27-1972
gospel singer: (The Angel of Peace) "Mahalia Jackson Show"
10-26-1912 - Donald Siegel - Chicago, IL - d. 4-20-1991
film director: "Bud's Bandwagon"
10-26-1913 - Charlie Barnet - New York, NY (Raised: Winnetka, IL) - d. 9-4-1991
jazz saxophonist: "Fitch Bandwagon"; "Kate Smith Hour"; "Jubilee"
10-26-1914 - Jackie Coogan - Los Angeles, CA - d. 3-1-1984
actor: Ernest Botch "Forever Ernest"
10-26-1918 - Ivor Francis - Toronto, Canada - d. 10-22-1986
actor: "Secret Missions"; "The Chase"
10-26-1920 - Eleanor Rella - d. 6-19-2003
actress: Billie Devere "Myrt and Marge"
October 26th deaths
02-23-1909 - Anthony Ross - New York, NY - d. 10-26-1955
actor: Danny Clover "Broadway Is My Beat"; Broadway Columnist "Mr. Broadway"
03-08-1902 - Louise Beavers - Cincinnati, OH - d. 10-26-1962
actress: Beulah "Beulah"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
04-24-1910 - Albert Zugsmith - Atlantic City, NJ - d. 10-26-1993
film producer/director: "Bud's Bandwagon"
05-03-1897 - Larry Puck - d. 10-26-1969
producer: "Arthur Godfrey Time" Was one of Godfrey's many firings
06-10-1895 - Hattie McDaniel - Wichita, KS - d. 10-26-1952
actress: Beulah "Beulah"; Mammy "Maxwell House Showboat"
xx-xx-1905 - Paul Rhymer - Bloomington, IL - d. 10-26-1964
writer: "Vic and Sade"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:34:04 -0400
From: "Jed Dolnick" <jdolnick@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: On Ken Roberts & Gunsmoke
First, just a bit of trivia. On a whim, I did a Google search on Ken
Roberts, famous "Shadow" announcer. I was surprised to learn that his son is
Tony Roberts, seen in many Woody Allen movies, on Broadway etc. What's more,
the Roberts are related to the late Everett Sloan.
Second, I had posted a question about "The New Hotel" but received only 1
reply. It's possible that many of the readers were occupied with the FOTR
convention in NJ and didn't see it. At least I hope that was the
[removed]'s better for my self-esteem than the alternative ("what a
stupid question!"). Anyway, here it is again, I promise for the last time:
I just got my copy of John Dunning's Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio. In the
section on Gunsmoke, he wrote about "The New Hotel" rehearsal that we're all
familiar with. Now, I've listened to that tape dozens of times but what I
hear at one point is not what Dunning described. Perhaps someone with better
hearing can tell me which version is correct.
In the story, Enoch Mills hires Gil Shanks to guard the new hotel. When they
meet with Dillon, Shanks says, "Well with the law being so loose around
here, we gotta protect your hotel". Everyone breaks up, and someone says,
"That goddamn shrimp story does it every time". To me, they were laughing at
the formulaic nature of the story line. But Dunning writes that someone
committed a gastric indiscretion, and the comment was "That goddamn shrimp
curry does it every time". I just listened to it with the volume cranked
up, and that is not what I'm
hearing!
Jed
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:34:34 -0400
From: [removed]@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio is a medium of sound - Great Radio
Heroes / Comedians
Jim Harmon wrote:
I saw a list of the ten or it became twelve books on old time radio that were
the best or most important. I really believe my book, "The Great Radio
Heroes", should be on such a list.
I hearty agree, but the problem with lists is they are based on the likes and
dislikes of the compiler. Knowledge of the compiler also comes in to the
picture. They cannot recommended something that they know nothing about.
Jim does not have to toot his own horn, anyone who has been around this hobby
at
least since the 60s remembers what a ground breaking book, The Great Radio
Heroes was. Jim was even interviewed on national radio (was it Monitor?) when
the book was issued. Not only did Jim put the facts in this book, but quoted
from scripts to programs that are not in circulation at that time. He had
information from the actual sources, not recopying the same mistakes from other
OTR books.
Great Radio Heroes was followed by the equaly complete Great Radio Commedians
which featured a bonus "flexidisk" record so you could actually hear the voices
of some of the people featured in the book. This is one aspect that most OTR
books miss. Old Time Radio was a medium of sound, and no printed word, can
capture the essence of radio. Jim appears to have been the only person that
realized this and included the "record" with the book. I have not seen it done
since, until the fine book on the War Of The Worlds broadcast. That's a shame
as
most OTR books today could include a CD of excerpts.
Great Radio Heroes and Great Radio Commedians belongs in every basic collection
on OTR, assuming you are interested in those subjects.
Paul Urbahns
Radcliff,Ky
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:35:05 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Errata
Dear Folks-
From: "Jim Harmon" _jimharmonotr@[removed]_
(mailto:jimharmonotr@[removed])
Who was it who said "If I am not for myself, who will be?"<
I dunno. But he was right on the same wavelength as John L. Lewis, who said,
"He who tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted,"
"Great Radio Heroes" belongs on a list of the top ten books on old time
radio.
No question. Yes, it dates from that Ur-era of more Love for Subject than
Scholarship; but that makes it's place all the more secure (ala Jules
Feiffer's
THE GREAT COMIC BOOK HEROES.)
From: Ron Sayles _bogusotr@[removed]_ (mailto:bogusotr@[removed])
(... the winner of this years script writing contest The
Lone Ranger Spoof) is Mike Leannah and he is a member of the Milwaukee Area
Radio [removed]
Mike seems to be a very nice guy - and is, this proof noted (!), a very good
writer.
Best,
-Craig W.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:35:26 -0400
From: "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Cigarettes and Cancer
Several of us have commented in one way or another about cigarettes being
sent to overseas military installations and to military and veteran hospitals
during the OTR era. There had been 'rumors' of a link between cigarettes and
cancer for many years, but most studies had either been inconclusive, or the
tobacco companies managed to spin the results so that they appeared
inconclusive. The first 'Surgeon General's Report' that definitely linked
tobacco smoke and cancer was issued in 1964, a couple years after the OTR era
'officially' ended (with the sudden end of most CBS network programming in
late 1962). I believe the tobacco companies advertised sending free smokes at
least until that time, and probably until a few years later, when the
government forbade advertising tobacco products on radio and TV. I could be
wrong about some of the dates, but there's no question that free cigarettes
to the military were touted well into the fifties.
Thanx,
B. Ray
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:35:44 -0400
From: "Ronnie Wise" <rwise@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Cynthia Gooding's radio work
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
One of the greats of the Greenwich Village folk music scene of the 1950's was
Cynthia Gooding. She had her own radio show on WBAI (New York?) in the early
1960's.
I know very little about Gooding's radio work, except that one of her claims
to fame is an interview she did with a newcomer to folk music by the name of
Bob Dylan in 1962. I think that interview has survived. Do any radio buffs
have any of Cynthia Gooding's radio shows? Please let me know what you have.
Ron Wise
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:40:17 -0400
From: Ivan Watson <watsoni@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Andy and Virginia Mansfield
I recently purchased some transcription discs and among the lot were a few
"Andy and Virginia Mansfield" shows from the mid-forties.
Does anyone know anything about this couple or their series? A quick
online search reveals very little. All I could find was the following
obituary from a few years ago:
"Two female radio veterans' deaths were reported this week, one in Chicago,
the other in Palm Springs. The latter was of Virginia Mansfield who died
aged 96. She worked as a staff singer on radio in Cincinnati and then for
stations in Los Angeles but was best known for her work with her late
husband Andy Mansfield, whom she married in 1933, on NBC's "Andy and
Virginia" and "Turn Back the Clock" in the 1950s and 1960s." (February 26,
2001 - [removed])
Has anyone actually heard any of their shows? (I haven't listened to the
discs yet)
Before embarking on more serious research, I was wondering if anyone on
this list might be able to provide some more details or at least point me
in the right direction.
Cheers,
Ivan
(the Canadian visitor who had a fantastic time at FOTR this past [removed])
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:40:32 -0400
From: Bruce Forsberg <forsberg@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Abbott & Costello radio log update
I have posted an update to my Abbott & Costello radio log. It is available at:
[removed]~forsbergweb
Thanks,
Bruce Forsberg
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:43:57 -0400
From: Garisongs@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: FOTR 2005
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hi--I just want to say how grateful I am for all the kind words people are
saying about my contributions to this year's events. I particularly want to
say that it is really a group effort and people like Charlie, Fred, Derek,
Bill
and of course, Jay, make it all happen. I saved all my energy for the show
and am paying today with the loss of my voice and having to do an appearance
and signing at Tower Records. I'll live. It was worth it.
best,
Brian Gari
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
[ADMINISTRIVIA: I'm working to get the photos together and posted, so those
of you who missed it can see the result of Soupy's handiwork on Brian (you've
already seen Derek's [removed]). And for goodness sake, buy a copy of the DVDs
from Fred, so you can see "The [removed]" --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:56:01 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Superman vs. the [removed]
Folks;
Two questions:
1) Does anyone know the dates of the Superman radio shows based on Stetson
Kennedy's info that included real Klan codewords (sometime in 1946/47?)?
2) Are there any legitimate dealers out there with good depth in the
Superman series in good-quality audio CD?
Please contact me directly; if there's interest, I'll summarize for the
list.
Charlie
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 15:29:30 -0400
From: Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: White Feller vs. Scout, FOTR
I hate to beat a dead horse, [removed]
So-called White Horses (to the uneducated about such equine things) are
actually called Gray by those in the know. The reason and rationale is in
actually skin-deep, not hair-long: most "whites" actually have black, bay or
brown skin so are properly termed Gray even if they have white hair. This is
true of the famous Lipizzaners, most of whom are born with bay skin. Gray is
dominant.
Correctly to be called White they would have to have white skin as well, and
probably then would be albino, complete with pink eyes, etc.
Getum up White Feller. Loses in the translation, doesn't it?
For all you Lone Ranger and other OTR fans, if you weren't at FOTR last
weekend you really missed out. What an incredible 30th anniversary! There
is a 2-DVD FOTR 30th Anniversary Set, available I imagine from Jay Hickerson
and/or the FOTR website. Fantastic memories!
And, for you Ranger boys and girls, Fred Foy still looks, stands and acts
like the fine, marvelous, dignified, gentlemanly, friendly, class act that he
has always been! Thanks for being at FOTR once again, [removed] coming
back until the 60th Anniversary. And the 90th. And of course the Centennial
bash!
Congratulations, Jay!!! My wife Charlotte and I are so deliriously happy
still, from the weekend, and I so wonderfully fortunate to have been there
about 24 or 25 of the 30. Such a joy to see so many old friends, and
wonderful new and younger ones, many of them superbly talented. Onward!
- Lee Munsick
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #329
*********************************************
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]