------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 496
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Favorite Christmas Show [ welsa@[removed] ]
BBC 7 URL [ "david rogers" <david_rogers@hotmai ]
Re: young listeners [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
Christmas Shows [ Lennell Herbert-Marshall <HerMars@e ]
"The Navy Lark" [ "Maureen O'Brien" <mobrien@[removed] ]
Re: Young People [ "Robert W. Paine" <macandrew@prodig ]
a not young person's story [ Grams46@[removed] ]
Re:young(er) OTR fans [ "Alain Altounian" <aaltounian@fourn ]
Re: Old Stuff in Daily Use [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Larry Kiner [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
LOT ADDRESS [ "jeanne and bill powell" <sweetnana ]
Younger fans of OTR [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
Re: Young (!) OTR fans and Christmas [ ""Cynthia \"ChibiBarako\""" < ]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 19:24:53 -0500
From: welsa@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Favorite Christmas Show
I agree that many Christmas shows are sappy, but maybe I like sappy. My
favorite Christmas show, hands down, is the Fibber McGee & Molly episode
where Fibber decides to paint his Christmas tree white. I think the
exchange between Fibber and Mrs. Uppington about their dogs is very funny.
The Johnson's Wax commercial, although not related to Christmas, is very
clever (it's the Shakespearean commercial.) And the conversation between
Fibber and Teeny is just the right touch for the season.
Ted
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 19:24:45 -0500
From: "david rogers" <david_rogers@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: BBC 7 URL
Dear Sandra Skuse and others for whom the URL I lisred does not work, I am
sorry that the URL for BBC 7 seven does not work for you. Maybe I recieve a
different signal as I live in Korea.
What it is, is the URL that my computer recieves when I click on the BBC 7
link that Sandra mentioned. Therefore, it is not a web address but a URL. I
am not too well versed in computers to explain what the difference is.
However, if I cut and paste the URL that I mentioned onto my address bar,
hey presto the real player starts up. Also if you place the URL that I
mentioned onto a download manager (like Streambok VCR) then you can record
BBC 7 live.
Sorry it doesn't work for others though.
Love as always, David Rogers
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 19:25:18 -0500
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: young listeners
I'll be 24 on Monday, and my first introduction to OTR came when I was 6
or 7, probably around 1985-1986. A friend of my mother's probably
realizing that I was a bright, slightly eccentric kid, who oddly enough
would record the audio of TV shows (we didn't have a VCR) and act them
out using the sound, passed a couple of tapes to her for me to listen to.
I think one was an Abbott and Costello tape, and the other was The
Bickersons, I believe. I listened to the tapes countless times before
reluctantly returning them.
My Mom's friend told me that a local public radio station played reruns
of radio programs every weekday at 11:00am, and I seem to remember the
episodes rerunning on Saturday and Sunday evenings for awhile. Like so
many people who grew up with radio drama (I guess because I did too!) I
spent most every day during the summers by the radio for an hour
listening to Jack Benny, The Life of Riley, The Green Hornet and a bunch
of others, and I'd catch the weekend repeats during the school year.
By the time I was 10 or 11, I had a small cassette player, and I'd record
the shows off of the radio and listen to them countless times. I may
still have 1 or 2 of these tapes, but naturally, I don't count them as
part of my collection.
As I got older, other interests took prescedence. I'd still listen to
Jack Benny when I got the chance, and I was certainly interested in
nostalgia, but a growing interest in BMX, and independant/alternative
music took up most of my time.
For reasons unknown to me, about three and a half years ago I did some
searching online, and found the Radio Spirits website. I bought a Jack
Benny collection from them, and started searching out more and more
things. Now, three years later, I've amassed about 1400 shows (none on
mp3), am a member of a local OTR club (where I get most of my tapes),
have attended the Cincinnati OTR Convention for the last three years, am
writing articles for just about any OTR newsletter that will let me, and
have met some genuinely nice people.
It's weird that even though I was born 16 years after radio drama largely
left the air, I can still relate when those of you who grew up in the
1930's and 1940's speak of growing up on radio. I suppose I can thank my
parents for always teaching me that just because something is older than
I am, and isn't "cool" doesn't mean that it's not worth my time.
Rodney Bowcock
Past Tense Productions
"Classic movies and TV for $7"
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 19:56:23 -0500
From: Lennell Herbert-Marshall <HerMars@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Christmas Shows
Like many others, I too am immersed in listening to Christmas Shows at
this time of year. My very favorite is Grand Central Station's
"Traditional Christmas Show", sorry but I have no other title for it.
Another one that I enjoy is Roy Rogers "The Night Before the Night
Before Christmas".
At work I make sure to listen to Cinnamon Bear. When people come to my
office, they usually just turn around and leave quietly (shaking their
heads and asking me if I am going to take some vacation time).
Happy Holidays to All.
Lennell H-M
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:11:09 -0500
From: "Maureen O'Brien" <mobrien@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "The Navy Lark"
I was listening to that show today on BBC7 today, too. It reminded me
a little of McHale's Navy and Operation Petticoat, but I have to say I
liked it more than either.
What _really_ startled me was hearing a pre-Dr. Who Jon Pertwee! Holy
cow! He was really really using a thick Cockney accent, too! Now that I
think about it, I vaguely remember seeing "The Navy Lark" in his list
of credits, [removed]! He was a main character on a hit show! And he
even was called by his own name! CPO Pertwee! *shakes head* Nobody ever
told [removed] feel so [removed]
(For those who've never seen Dr. Who, Jon Pertwee was the third actor
to play the Doctor. He did so with great savoir faire and
sophistication, so it's a bit startling to hear him play a hardbitten
Navy man.)
I really wish I'd known about this back before he passed away. I got to
see and talk to him at a convention in Indianapolis during the last
year of his life. He was a lot of fun, especially during the little
cabaret the Dr. Who actor guests put on. It would have been good to
have something a bit different to ask him about.
Maureen
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:42:34 -0500
From: "Robert W. Paine" <macandrew@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Young People
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If Ron Sayles considers me at 51 to be "young", he has my eternal gratitude.
Tom Zotti said he at 39 isn't sure he feels so young. I'll let the Old Timer
on Fibber McGee and Molly respond to [removed]"Well, that's purty good, Johnny,
but that ain't the I heerd [removed]" - there are times I feel much older than my
[removed]
Several things got me interested in OTR or "real radio" as I like to call it.
There was the need for an escape from the pressures of being a teen in the
'60's and from events at home, etc. I was getting bored with TV in the mid
'60's. Except for Star Trek, Petticoat Junction and The Green Hornet, the tube
had little to offer.
I used to somehow pick up Ch. 7 from Bangor Maine on 31 meters shortwave,
maybe due to a faulty TV set downstairs.
On Friday evening I'd listen to The Green Hornet - the TV version - on the
radio. IMO, it was one of the best radio-to-TV transfers, and had the bad
fortune of having to compete with Batman. The Hornet was played seriously
while the Caped Crusader was anything but.
Many years later and having endured serious harrassment from peers in school
for liking real radio, I got Buxton and Owens book. I began collecting after I
got out of the Army and with the help of a cartoonist-friend, now sadly passed
on, I was able to get my first tapes. I also purchased a few albums.
To explain the attraction, I have to refer to the answer a little boy gave the
BBC as to why he preferred radio over TV. Again, IMO, the young lad summed it
up in a few words and gave the most damning argument to radio's superiority as
an entertainment medium, equalled only by the printed word. He said, "Because
the pictures are better." That's why to me, a half-hour of Gunsmoke on radio
is more easier remembered than an hour of the same show on the tube.
Happy holidays to all. Be safe, be well. And if anyone knows how to make this
silly computer format so my posts go out in the right language - PLEASE TELL
ME HOW!!!!! <ggg>
Macandrew
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Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:42:48 -0500
From: Grams46@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: a not young person's story
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i was born in 1946 so i do remember a few of the programs broadcast in the
united states in the 1950's. i didn't listen much though - i was hooked on
television. fortunately, my air force father was transferred to japan in
1957. there were no english speaking television programs at that time on
the far east network. fen was exclusively a radio network. yours truly
johnny dollar, inner sanctum, gunsmoke, the greatest story ever told, and
enjoy japan were my favorites.
when we returned to the states in 1960, there wasn't much to listen to
besides music and news on the three radio stations we could receive.
i was living in los angeles county in southern california in the mid 1970's
when i was delighted to find old radio programs on krla am and kpfk fm.
some years later, i discovered the broadcasts of john and larry gassman on
kpcc fm and bobb lynes on kcrw fm.
i was also an avid listener to the cbs radio new drama hour on knx am and
it's replacement - the knx drama hour which continues to this day.
i am currently a member of the friends of vic and sade, the national lum and
abner society, one man's family family, and sperdvac.
my favorite programs now are vic and sade, lum and abner, one man's family,
yours truly johnny dollar, dragnet, gunsmoke, and almost any soap opera.
from kathy
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:59:45 -0500
From: "Alain Altounian" <aaltounian@[removed];
To: "Old. Time. Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re:young(er) OTR fans
It seems to me that this recent thread has prompted MANY responses- several
from self-described "lurkers" (and perhaps more "casual" fans? )like
[removed]
As i found it interesting to hear the ages of these "younger" fans, i will
include [removed] was born in that apparently (in)famous year of 1962 (that
is, i have now celebrated two 39th b-days).
Over the years, i occasionally heard an OTR repeat on late-night AM-radio;
but it was no more significant to me than a TV show you might semi-watch at
that hour after coming home late or couldn't [removed]
While in a bookstore about 8-10 years ago, i noticed a Sherlock Holmes
"audiobook" and just decided to buy it. Again, this didn't seem significant
to me - it was just a casual alternative to the occasional casual read i was
going to quickly pick up.
Well, i enjoyed those 2 episodes ( i believe it was around tape #18 of the
24 or so of the then re-packaged Rathbone series from mid-40's)...and went
back for [removed]
Of course, the trail lead to OTR [removed] so on and so [removed]
[removed] I also would like to thank Harry Bartell for his [removed]
was one of the first voices and names i could recognize in my early fan days
( including new intro's and original announcer in the aforementioned Holmes
tapes).....and he is still one of my favorites!
[removed] Since i am momentarily out-of-lurking, i should mention that i find
many of the submissions by the various participants to be very interesting
and [removed] you all!
Alain ( BTW- from Canada )
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 22:01:20 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Old Stuff in Daily Use
On 12/19/02 7:37 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
How about the rest of you? Do you have any devices that would have been used
in the forties and fifties?
Well, let's see --
Our refrigerator is a Kelvinator, with an OPA Ceiling Price sticker on
the inside of the door ($[removed]) and a manufacturing date of 11/45 on the
motor housing. I defrost it twice a year, and we replaced the thermostat
in 1989. Other than that it's required no repairs or maintenance of any
kind in the years we've owned it. It could use a new paint job, but
otherwise I expect it will outlive me. I believe it's already outlived
the company that built it.
Our main household telephone is a Western Electric 202, built in 1933,
and is wired to a wall-mounted ringer box in the foyer of our house. It
still has its original number card on the dial (KIRkland 3947, indicating
the phone was liberated from Cambridge, Mass.) Our seven year old niece
is the only child in her class who knows how to use a dial phone.
Out in the garage is an ancient Apex wringer washing machine, which we
used it for our regular family wash until about five years ago, when the
wringer rollers finally split. Replacements, alas, are no longer
available. We now have a 1960s vintage machine in the basement, but we
still dry our laundry in the old-school manner: on a piece of rope strung
between the side of the house and the board fence separating our back
yard from the scrap-metal yard next door. On cold days, laundry is dried
on a wooden rack set up in the basement next to the furnace. I've never
lived in a house with a dryer or an automatic dishwasher.
For the fifteen years I worked in radio news, ending in 1997, I wrote my
daily quota of copy on an upright Royal manual typewriter -- at the
stations where I worked, you were expected to supply your own equipment
wherever possible, and my brother brought this typewriter home one day
from the dump -- dump-picking was a respected activity in the
neighborhood where I grew up -- and I bought it from him for $5. The
percussive beating on the keyboard helped to keep me awake, a major
benefit since my workday usually began at 3 am. The day I quit my job I
celebrated by giving the typewriter to my niece -- and it's still sitting
in her room next to her computer.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 22:01:24 -0500
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Larry Kiner
Does Larry have an e-mail address or a web site?
Joe Salerno
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 23:20:15 -0500
From: "jeanne and bill powell" <sweetnanajean@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: LOT ADDRESS
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TO MY OLD RADIO FRIEND IN FOLLY BEACH SC PLEASE EMAIL ME I HAD A CRASH AND
LOST YOUR ADDRESS
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 23:20:28 -0500
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Younger fans of OTR
Almost all of my life, I heard my Mother speak of the
great times she spent as a girl listening to radio programs
with the family. Her face used to light up each time she
mentioned them. Years later (in 1986), I dated a woman
who collected just "Amos n' Andy". She gave me the address
of the place where she bought her tapes. One of the gifts
I received for my 30th birthday was an hour long episode of
"The Shadow" titled "Death From The Deep". I've been
collecting ever since.
I agree with one of the members on the last mailing list
who said the biggest attraction was because each program
allowed the individual listener to imagine what each character
and location was like. I'd also like to add that the music of each
added to the intensity of the situation. The steps leading to the
apartment, the turning of the key in the lock, the door closes,
then the music comes to a great crescendo, and --- the SCREAM!
Some of that intensity gets lost when you actually see everything
happening. IMHO, the sound effects people on these programs
did some marvelous work. Those sound effects led us to vital,
thrilling moments, some of which we all still remember. TV,
didn't lead you anywhere, you were always there watching it happen.
Kenneth Clarke
kclarke5@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 00:18:02 -0500
From: ""Cynthia \"ChibiBarako\""" <cvc@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Young (!) OTR fans and Christmas shows
I'm forty, and I remember when I was in school we used to get Scholastic
paperbacks at a dramatic discount (this was in the days before the
big-box bookstores, of course!). I saw what was described as a
transcript of the Orson Welles War of the Worlds broadcast. Having very
little idea what WOTW was and no idea whatever who Orson Welles was, I
was nevertheless interested enough to purchase the book -- and I still
remember trying to figure out how to record all the different voices
_and_ the sound effects with just me and my trusty Panasonic cassette
recorder. This must have been about 1973-1974.
By 1976 I was listening to Floyd Brown's Sunday evening radio show on
WGN Chicago, and in the half-hour before his "Kumbaya" segment he would
frequently play a 30 min OTR show -- usually the reliables like Benny,
Burns & Allen, Fred Allen. Sometime before 1980 I discovered Chuck
Schaeden on WBBM-AM (when it was running at dinnertime instead of at
midnight!). Then when I went to DePaul in the early eighties one of my
professors (who also introduced me to WNIB-FM classical music) mentioned
that Chuck had a 4-hour OTR show Saturday afternoons on WNIB. I was in
hog heaven!!
WBBM dropped OTR when Chuck "retired" from the seven-day show (I still
think they yanked his final show unaired), but then WMAQ picked up When
Radio Was (which I found out was how the rest of the country was hearing
the shows I had heard on WBBM). It was my introduction to Stan Freberg
as a radio host, and to Carl Amari. I do have a dim memory of hearing a
WRW broadcast with Art Fleming but it must have been a repeat or very
early. Then the little 9-volt station the next town over started running
Remember When with Don Corey -- and Don opened a little radio shop on my
way home from work!! HEAVEN!! Well, Don moved down to the western
suburbs, all the politics regarding OTR trading and sales started
happening. WMAQ went dark and WBBM picked up WRW again, and I got
involved with the Those Were the Days Radio Players. This was the dream
of a lifetime come true; what I had dreamed of with that Panasonic so
many years ago. I've been with the group for about -yipe- seven years
now (the group itself has been in existence for ten years).
I love radio because it calls on the imagination, much as reading a book
does. I love the challenge of trying to figure out how to convey a
sound; do you go for the literal reproduction (where it's possible), or
do you invoke the "swoosh" rule and do something symbolic? (What I call
the "swoosh" rule relates to the idea that spaceships in deep space
don't really go "swoosh", but the film would feel weird if they
didn't.) Sometimes reproduction doesn't go over the mikes well. And I
can play anything from a young boy to an old grandma, if I can wrap my
voice around it.
Anyway . . . now that I've completely bored everybody ... *sheepish
grin* I think my favorite Christmas radio show is the Six-Shooter
version of A Christmas Carol. Don't get me wrong, Barrymore is
fantastic in the real thing, but there's this fascination with how
familiar characters work in a different environment.
Cynthia
"ChibiBarako"
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #496
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