------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 01 : Issue 167
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Fran Allison [Marklambert@[removed] ]
Harriet Nelson [Marklambert@[removed] ]
Glenn Miller [Marklambert@[removed] ]
Ronald Reagan [Marklambert@[removed] ]
Re: Tesla and radio ["John <ayer" <mayer@[removed]; ]
Arlene Frances [William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];]
Arlene Francis ["@" <josephpostove@[removed]; ]
Re: Hotlips Houlighan ["Dixon H. Chandler II" <dchandler@n]
RAILROADS ON RADIO/COPYRIGHTS ["Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
Re: Mandel Krammer [Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
Re: Cost of CDs [Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
Copyrights and Wrongs ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
Trains ["Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@eart]
symbolism vs. substance ["J. Alec West" <Alec@[removed];]
50s L:ocal Radio Themes ["jstokes" <jstokes@[removed]; ]
Uncle Don ["J. Alec West" <Alec@[removed];]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 22:18:31 -0400
From: Marklambert@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Fran Allison
To see a brief biography of radio & tv actress
Fran Allison ("Kukla, Fran & Ollie:) go to:
[removed]
--Mark
Mark Lambert
marklambert@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 22:18:30 -0400
From: Marklambert@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Harriet Nelson
For a mini-biography newspaper column about
Harriet Nelson ("Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet),
go to:
[removed]
--Mark
marklambert@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 22:18:28 -0400
From: Marklambert@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Glenn Miller
For a mini-biography of band leader Glenn Miller,
go to:
[removed]
--Mark
marklambert@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 23:13:02 -0400
From: Marklambert@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ronald Reagan
For a mini-biography of Ronald Reagan, including a
1932 photo of Reagan behind the WOC/WHO
microphone, go to:
[removed]
--Mark
marklambert@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 23:13:45 -0400
From: "John <ayer" <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Tesla and radio
Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed]; kindly replied to my question concerning the
Marconi-Tesla dispute:
But it *is* a fact that Teslaites, in the interests of "revisionist history" have
perpetuated a great deal of sensationalistic misinformation about their
hero, and the most outstanding example is the widely-published-in-the-pop-media claim
that "The U. S. Supreme Court has
declared Tesla the Father of Radio."
Thanks very much, Elizabeth. Your information spurred me to investigate further (guess I
could have done that in the first place, had I not been so lazy. Of course, then, no one
had brought the matter up).
Anyhow, I am certainly no "Teslaite," didn't even know such a cult existed. All I know is
that Edison was a great villain, mistakenly venerated by American school children, and that
he wronged Mr. Tesla greatly. ;-) Okay, I DID read a book about him long ago,
which, I guess, is where I derived my half-memories.
As to his Death Ray, I recall he did invent some kind of sonic wave device that he decided
to suppress because of its great potential for massive destruction. Sort of makes you wish
there were more of that sort of conscientiousness in the scientific community today.
But I think the August Body I was remembering was somebody like *The Institute of Radio
Engineers* rather than the Supreme Court. I'm sure everything you say about the limited
nature of the SC decisions is correct (you're certainly the last person on this group I
would contradict about anything radio), but, apparently, Tesla *was* the first to
demonstrate the ability of radio waves to send signals, though he demonstrated by
transmitting across a stage rather than across the Atlantic, in 1895 in St. Louis.
According to Margaret Cheney, author of *Tesla*, though the demonstration was not as
exciting as Marconi's famous transmission, he had "demonstrated all the fundamental
principles of modern radio: 1. an antenna or aerial wire; 2. a ground connection; 3. an
aerial-ground circuit containing inductance and capacity; 4. adjustable inductance and
capacity (for tuning); 5. sending and receiving sets tuned to resonance with each other;
and 6. electronic tube detectors." He published papers on his discoveries in many
languages; the [removed] Patent examiner called his claim he was unaware of them "patently
absurd [sic; no pun intended, I'm sure]."
I also recall - this is base on a very fallible memory, mind you - that Tesla first
employed radio to remotely control model boats, with wartime applications in mind, and
that, when he finally set about attempting to transmit great distances, it was electricity
itself, for energy purposes, he was trying to wirelessly transmit through the ionosphere,
rather than radio waves, an effort that eventually bankrupted him.
Again, this is mostly from memory, and I'm unsure of the accuracy of my sources, but it
seems to have been an interesting dispute, almost as interesting as the conflict between
Tesla and Edison. Further details would be of interest.
However, any "Marconiites" out there will have only tomorrow to flame me; I go into surgery
once again Tuesday, in a last ditch effort to save the sight in my left eye, and will be
unable to use the computer or much of anything else for awhile (previous surgeries are the
reason you've not heard from me lately). I expect my radio archives will get a great deal
of use for the next few weeks.
As a public service announcement, allow me to caution you not to take your opthamologist's
bland reassurances concerning "floaters" in your field of vision too much to heart. They
may be merely signs of aging, but they could also be warning signs of potential retinal
detachment, a very common malady that, I fear, is not sufficiently publicized. Many in this
group are of an age when regular eye checkups are highly advisable.
Looking forward to catching up with this group in a few weeks.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 23:12:58 -0400
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Arlene Frances
It was with great sorrow that I noted the demise of Arlene Frances. She
was a fantastic lady with a million dollar personality and a rare sense
of humor. She, along with my good friend Bill Cullen, were featured on my
"Fun For All". I also worked with her on the radio version of "What's My
Line". Then at a later time, the TV version of "What's My Line".
Arlene was married for many years to actor Martin Gable who was cast in a
number of soap operas. I could not understand why Martin wasn't mentioned
in her obit, even though their son was.
One day Dorothy Kilgallen, who always used a limo to come to the studio,
asked Arlene how she got there. (Arlene and Martin lived in upper
Manhattan). Arlene stated that she rode the M-104 bus. Dorothy was
surprised and asked if the other passengers didn't pester her with
questions. Arlene replied ":Of course they do and I love it".
One day on "Fun for All" I used a new Electrovoice model 655 microphone
for sshe and [removed] It was tubular in shape and about nine inches long. I
cannot print her coments but I am sure you can imagine what she compared
it to.
There will never be another Arlene Frances!
Bill Murtough
.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 23:54:20 -0400
From: "@" <josephpostove@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Arlene Francis
One of the great ladies of television and of New York radio has died. Arlene
Francis was 93.
I remember her most, like most, from What's My Line. Also, when on our
visits to New Jersey and New York and my Dad or Mom controled the dial I
would hear her late morning show on WOR.
In our morning paper down here in Norfolk, the article this morning said
that a television reporter in the 50's described her as femininely "gay' (of
course using the word in the popular context of the times) and I think that
is just about right. She was a "gay" person, in the strict meaning of the
word, and television and radio was the better for it.
She was for me always watchable (good looking for an older woman I used to
think in the 60's) and I will never forget looking foward to her on Sunday
Nights at 10:30. We were allowed to stay up late on Sundays, as my parents
loved Candid Camera and then right after that "Line, and they wanted to
share that with us. What a classy show, and classy parents. I almost felt
uneasy watching in my pajamas.
Farewell, Miss Francis. You certainly were one of the best and you are
missed.
Joe Postove
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 00:14:52 -0400
From: "Dixon H. Chandler II" <dchandler@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Hotlips Houlighan
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr. wrote about Hotlips houlighan and the Jimmy Durante
Show.
It occurred to me that this was the nickname of Margaret Houlighan in the
M*A*S*H movie and TV series, set in the Korean War era.
I never realized this might be a reference to the Durante character.
Anybody have thoughts on this? Margaret wasn't happy with the nickname, of
course--was the Durante character an unsavory sort? I always assumed she
didn't like the name just because "Hot Lips" sounds so sexually derogatory.
-dc
dchandler@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 00:15:17 -0400
From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RAILROADS ON RADIO/COPYRIGHTS
In seems like no one mentioned the OTR Program "Mysterious Traveler" and
"The Man In Black," who introduced the show. In the background there is a
definite sound of a train riding over the rails as he is giving the opening
narration.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
These postings about copyrights brings back some daja-vu. It seems that
each decade since the early 70's when OTR as at its peak, there have been
some problems with copyrights. In the 70's we had a gentleman named
Michelson, who very sucefully distributed Fibber McGee & Mollie,
Gangbusters, Green Hornet and The Shadow programs to Radio stations around
the country. He did his homework well, and got he rights from the estates
of the shows in question.
In the 80's there was another copyright litigation between several
OTR Distributors and a giant of a Publishing Co. (whose name escapes me)
over distribution of The Shadow Broadcasts. They sent out letters to these
distributors to remove all the tapes of The Shadow from their individual
tape catalogs and Libraries. At that time, some of the OTR Clubs did not
offer The Shadow tapes from their Libraries, pending the outcome of the
Litigation. As it turned out, although it cost these distributors a small
fortune in court coasts, they won, as I see there are The Shadow programs
still in various Distributor tape catalogs and Libraries.
Now here late 90's and into the next Century, the battle starts all over
again, with RSI and Napstar. Who will win? When do you suppose this all
will end?
Owens Pomeroy
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 00:31:46 -0400
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Mandel Krammer
Did Mandel Crammer, and I may have misspelled his name, every appear on
either television or in [removed] I've heard his voice in so many X Minus
One programs and always wondered what he looked like.
Fred
For the best in Old Time Radio Shows [removed]
New e-commerce page [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 02:42:21 -0400
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Cost of CDs
I recently bid on two transcription disks of 2 half hour radio shows that
are not easily available. They cost me $[removed] plus shipping. The sound was
not what I would call excellent. It was between very good and good, the way
I rate my shows in my catalog.
But, by spending several hours on removing clicks and some surface noise, I
ended up with a recording that is a lot better sounding that it was to
start with. Removing things like a click can be done by some software, but
then the click becomes a "bump". When the record is rotation at 33 1/3
rotations per minute, that means that if a small scratch were to cover a
minute of material, I'd have about 34 clicks to contend with.
The best way, to get the best sound, is to cut out the click. Back when I
did all my editing on tape, I'd make a splice at the start of the click and
remove just a small amount of tape to get rid of the sound. I could even
transfer the tape to 15 ips so that it made it easier to edit out the
clicks but not hurt the sound of the program material. Not a lot of
collectors go to this trouble, but I just like to hear things as best as
they can be.
So, using a computer, I can now zoom in on each click and remove it. I'm
going to start practicing on redrawing the audio wave form to do an even
better job of this and not effect the running time of the program.
So, when I'm all finished, I'll probably have 3 hours of time in cleaning
up the records. Add that to my purchase price and it is substantial. I may
never sell enough copies of this show to make back the money invested, but
at least I'll know that another program has been rescued from oblivion.
Fred
For the best in Old Time Radio Shows [removed]
New e-commerce page [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 02:45:04 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Copyrights and Wrongs
Dave Phaneuf, speaking of the Radio Spirits/MediaBay business notes,
And for those shows that Carl Amari owns the copyrights to -- well, the
name says it: he has the right -- and only he has the right -- to copy,
or give permission to copy or perform.
If this were all that there was to it, there would be no controversy, no
protracted discussion. What's happening is something less honorable,
from all the information available. The basic story seems to be that
MediaBay's attorneys are sending Cease & Desist orders to dealers in OTR
programs indicating that they are selling programs that RSI has rights
to, but without specifying which programs. Without specifying which
shows were being sold that would impact the RSI rights, the dealer is in
the position of having to shut down completely to comply, with no further
input from the lawyers -- unless that dealer went through a lengthy and
not inexpensive procedure of doing the same kind of copyright search that
Amari did to be able to acquire the rights in the first place. And if a
dealer politely asks which programs RSI has rights to, they respond that
they're not going to say: their reason being that to do so would give
unfair marketing advantage to the competition.
This argument is faulty, only because the dealer doesn't have to have a
list of every show that RSI has tights to; just those that the dealer's
selling. In an honorable situation, the RSI representatives would write
something ion the order of, "We note you're selling [say] Lone Ranger,
The Shadow, and The Green Hornet programs. Please be advised that Radio
Spirits has the sole rights to sell those programs, [removed]" followed by
Cease & Desist language. That would solve the immediate problem, have
the dealer comply with the infringement, and yet be able to vend the rest
of the inventory. RFeiterating, if the MediaBay aim was _just_ to stop
nonlegal sales of shows they have rights to, that would solve the problem
without forcing complete disclosure of all RSI-owned shows to the general
public, thus protecting the bulk of the marketing-sensitive information.
That RSI/MediaBay has taken the other tack raises serious doubts in my
mind as to their actual intentions.
By refusing to tell the small dealers which shows shouldn't be carried,
again, the only simple alternative to comply with the Cease & Desist
letter would be to go out of business! And that goes beyond merely
protecting copyright -- far beyond.
The latest press release on PR Newswire is a further attempt to strike
the same stance. MediaBay is claiming that OTR shows available through
Napster are owned by RSI -- but a careful reading of the release will
reveal that the wording is carefully constructed. It doesn't say that
every OTR show Napster is involved with is owned by RSI, but in the
context, the implication is that such is the case.
If a specific OTR show or series is owned by RSI and I want it, I'll buy
it from that company. If it isn't, though, I don't want to be forced to
buy it there be tactics of questionable morality driving the smaller
dealers out of business.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 02:45:08 -0400
From: "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Trains
Tony Baechler wrote "The Orient Express. This was done on Escape but
maybe other series as
well. I am thinking of the book written by Agatha Christie but the Escape
version might be different"
Actually, the ESCAPE show "Orient Express" is based on the Novel Stamboli
Train by Graham Green. The Agathe Christe novel Murder on the Orient Express
is an entirely different story except for use of the same train.
Mike Kerezman
.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 02:45:10 -0400
From: "J. Alec West" <Alec@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: symbolism vs. substance
J. Alec West wrote:
I suspect that this MediaBay action is symbolism without substance. In
essence, they're kicking a company that has already been kicked to the
ground by the top-5 media cartel.
Stephen Kallis replies:
This is far more than symbolic; it's very clever.
Well, at the end of my post, I did say that while cowardly it was smart from a
business standpoint. However, I meant a bit more when I said "symbolism."
They're basically roping a dead horse. Personally, I haven't used Napster for
ages. And, I don't know too many others who still use Napster either. There
are too many other peer-to-peer clients out there providing a MUCH better
selection of OTR than Napster ever did. It's like they're complaining about a
one-inch-across hole in a leaking boat (a hole that's about to be closed) when
a hundred other bigger holes are sinking the ship -- and newer holes are
opening up during the complaint process. Here's one newer hole I just
discovered today:
[removed]
The client is a bit kludgy but it does work (kind of like Napigator). Anyhoo,
that's what I mean by symbolic. They're roping a dead horse while a whole herd
of stallions gallops by behind them.
Regards,
J. Alec West
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 02:45:12 -0400
From: "jstokes" <jstokes@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 50s L:ocal Radio Themes
Wow, the OTR board is a-smokin' with antipathy toward RS & the nasty old
Napster disaster! Let me insert a change of topic before everybody goes
broke in the OTR tape and CD sales biz. Whatever will happen, the lawyers
will be the richer and the only winners, financially! :)
I spent many years in local radio in South Dakota and Minnesota. It
wasn't non-stop music back then. It was possible to hear music from a
Broadway musical, a rock song, Montovani type music, and slow ballads all in
the same program!
I recall the days when local radio shows had theme songs. The DJs
would have their own themes. And programs themselves had their own theme.
Here are some from memory. I'd like other folks to join in from around the
country. The theme music was pulled off 45s and LPs. Just like today,
nothing is new in radio programming. News travels fast. When someone
found a theme in some city, within a few weeks, it would be used all over
the country. The stations' ASCAP and BMI license fees covered the playing
of these records. And ohmyohmy, do I recall that every so often, we would
have to write down every piece of music we played for over a period of time,
so the composers, etal, would get their fees. The licensing fees were
pro-rated for the year, based on this kind of sampling.
So now, the following list is from South Dakota stations during the
50s. --
.THEME SONG PROGRAM STATION
"The Hawk Talks" Juke Box Review KSDN, Aberdeen
Count Bassie (his
tribute to Coleman
Hawkins)
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Juke Box Special" later-same pgm KSDN
Ray Anthony,
Capitol Records
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Pennywhistle Blues" Miday Melodies KSDN
Clark Terry,
RCA Records
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Synopated Clock" Turn Back The Clock KSDN
Leroy Anderson (guess the song)
--------------------------------------------------------------
"The Bumpty Bump" Toast & Tunes KWAT,
David Carroll Ork Watertown
Mercury Records
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Charlie's Dream" Local DJ KSDN
Les Elgart
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Gin Fizz" Trade Away KABR
Spencer-Hagen Ork (call-in, trading items)
---------------------------------------------------------------
That is just a few. More later.
Good listening!
Cut/Print!
Jim Stokes
NaturaLite Pictures
jstokes@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 02:45:15 -0400
From: "J. Alec West" <Alec@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Uncle Don
Regarding the "Uncle Don" OTR myth. I heard a whole different variation of
that from my mom, before I graduated from high school in 1968. In this
version, Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo) ended his show and thought the cameras
had been turned off (when they hadn't). He then, purportedly, walked over to
Mister Grandfather Clock, opened up the faceplate, pulled out a bottle of
whiskey, took a swig and said, "Well, that'll take care of the little
(expletive) for another day." This version also mentioned an apology he made
on TV the next day.
I imagine that's a myth, too, hehehe.
Regards,
J. Alec
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #167
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