------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2008 : Issue 218
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Whither the Kennedy Center Honors fo [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
9-13 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Re:Art Gilmore [ "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed]; ]
Video Tape [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
This week in radio history 14-20 Sep [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
The Vanishing OTR Generation [ Tom Barnett <[removed]@earthlink. ]
9-14 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
From the [removed] [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
Benny thinking it over on CBS [ "Laura Leff" <president@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:38:42 -0400
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Whither the Kennedy Center Honors for RADIO?
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
It's nice that the recently announced Kennedy Center Honors Awards are keen on
recognizing Barbra Streisand, Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Twyla Tharp, and
the Who's Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey. However, while perusing a list of
past recipients of this Arts prize on the much maligned Wikipedia website:
[removed]#Recipients_of_the_Kennedy_Center_Honors_Awards,
I couldn't help but thinking that there seems to be a bias --intentional or
unwitting -- against honoring the art of RADIO. Granted, past recipients have
included folks who did work in OTR-era radio such as Lucille Ball, George
Burns, Arthur Miller, Lauren Bacall, Frank Sinatra, James Stewart, and various
composers and opera singers whose work reached the audio masses. But when are
these Kennedy people going to single out someone whose PRIMARY medium was
radio?
I very much would be interested in spearheading a grass-roots effort to ensure
that this honor is bestowed upon someone who is arguably this country's
greatest living link to the Golden Age of Radio --NORMAN CORWIN, and I would
very much like for it to happen sometime in the next two years as a 100th
anniversary birthday present to him.
If anyone has ideas about how to go about convincing the powers-that-be to
bring this about, please contact me off-list. Should we set up clipboards
with petitions at next month's "Friends of Old Time Radio (FOTR)" convention?
My main concern is that the folks who determine the Kennedy Honors are not
aware of "why Corwin matters," nor the gravitas of his broadcasts such as "On
a Note of Triumph," "We Hold These Truths," "!4 August," "All-Star FDR
Rally," and other shows that promoted tolerance and brotherhood, and how these
shows proved vital to the war and postwar efforts and, thus, figure into the
zeitgeist of modern America history.
I humbly am willing to hazard that there are many persons reading this who
fell exactly as I do. That is all.
Derek Tague
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:38:48 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 9-13 births/deaths
September 13th births
09-13-1871 - Alma Kruger - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 4-5-1960
actor: Emily Mayfield "Those We Love"
09-13-1876 - Sherwood Anderson - Camden, OH - d. 3-8-1941
writer: "The Free Company"
09-13-1880 - Jesse L. Lasky - San Francisco, CA - d. 1-13-1958
film producer, host: "Gateway to Hollywood"
09-13-1883 - Lewis E. Lawes - Elmira, NY - d. 4-23-1947
commentator: "Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing"
09-13-1894 - J. B. Priestley - Bradford, Yorkshire, England - d.
8-14-1984
dramatist: "London After Dark"; "Studio One"; "NBC University Theatre"
09-13-1895 - Ruth McDevitt - Coldwater, MI - d. 5-27-1976
actor: Jane Channing "This Life is Mine"; Mother "Keeping Up with
Rosemary"
09-13-1896 - Laidman Browne - Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England - d.
9-11-1961
actor: Sherlock Holmes "Corner in Crime"
09-13-1897 - David Rubinoff - Grodno, Poland - d. 10-6-1986
violinist, conductor: "Chase & Sanborn Hour"; "Rubinoff and His Violin"
09-13-1900 - Gladys George - Patton, ME - d. 12-8-1954
actor: "Lincoln Highway"
09-13-1903 - Claudette Colbert - Paris, France - d. 7-30-1996
actor: "Cresta Blanca Hollywood Players"; "Lux Radio Theatre";
"Millions for Defense"
09-13-1903 - Dave Binder - London, England - d. 10-3-1992
formed "Jingle Jem Co," to produce radio jingles
09-13-1903 - Ken Trietsch - Arcadia, IN - d. 9-17-1987
musician-singer: "National Barn Dance"; "Uncle Ezra"
09-13-1908 - Mae Questel - The Bronx, NY - d. 1-4-1998
actor: Betty Boop "Betty Boop Fables"; Olive Oyl "Popeye the Sailor"
09-13-1909 - Leith Stevens - Mount Moriah, MO - d. 7-23-1970
conductor: "Death Valley Days"; "Molle Merry Minstrels"
09-13-1910 - Raymond Raikes - London, England - d. 10-2-1998
producer: "Dick Barton"; "The Foundling"; "National Theatre of the Air"
09-13-1910 - Van Amburg - d. 3-15-1990
sportscaster: KPIX San Francisco, California
09-13-1911 - Bill Monroe - Rosine, KY - d. 9-9-1996
mandolin player: (Father of Bluegrass) "Rider's Radio Theatre"
09-13-1912 - Claude Casey - Enoree, SC - d. 6-24-1999
country, bluegrass: "Briarhoppers"
09-13-1913 - Gretchen Davidson - Chicago, IL - d. 8-2-2002
actor: Carol Kennedy "Carol Kennedy's Romance"
09-13-1913 - Roy Engel - Missouri - d. 12-29-1980
actor:Schuyler 'Sky' King "Sky King" "NBC University Theatre"
09-13-1914 - Leonard Feather - London, England - d. 9-22-1994
composer: "Esquire Jazz Concert"; "Mildred Bailey Show"; "One Night
Stand'
09-13-1914 - Leonard Feather - London, England - d. 9-22-1994
journalist: "Jazz Alive"; "Music 'Til Midnight"
09-13-1916 - Norm Lenhardt - d. 4-28-1993
announcer: WXYZ Detroit
09-13-1916 - Roald Dahl - Llandaff, Wales - d. 11-23-1990
writer: "Escape"
09-13-1918 - Dick Haymes - Buenos Aires, Argentina - d. 3-28-1980
singer, actor: Dick Haymes Show"; "Tommy Dorsey Show"; Crane Dockery
"I Fly Anything"
09-13-1918 - Ernie Winstanley - England - d. 5-27-1992
actor, sound effects: Scrub Troy "Secretary Hawkins' Fair and Supper
Club"; "The Lone Ranger"
09-13-1918 - Ray Charles - Chicago, IL
choral director: (The Other Ray Charles) "The Big Show"; "Radio Hall
of Fame"
09-13-1920 - Carole Mathews - Montgomery, IL
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-13-1923 - Janice Gilbert - NYC
actor: "Bachelor's Children"; "Dorothy Dix at Home"
09-13-1924 - Scott Brady - Brooklyn, NY - d. 4-16-1985
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-13-1925 - Mel Torme - Chicago, IL- d. 6-5-1999
actor, singer: Joe Corntassel "Little Orphan Annie"; "Torme Time";
"New Mel Torme Show"
09-13-1944 - Carol Barnes - Norwich, England - d. 3-8-2008
report for the BBC
September 13th deaths
02-08-1913 - Betty Field - Boston, MA - d. 9-13-1973
actor: Mary Aldrich "Aldrich Family"
04-18-1882 - Leopold Stokowski - London, England - d. 9-13-1977
conductor: "NBC Symphony/Symphony of the Air"
06-14-1918 - Dorothy McGuire - Omaha, NE - d. 9-13-2001
actor: Sue Evans Miller "Big Sister"; "Joyce Jordan, [removed]"
07-06-1895 - Grete Stueckgold - d. 9-13-1977
soloist: "The Chesterfield Show"; "Chesterfield Presents"
07-13-1895 - Bradley Kincaid - Kentucky - d. 9-13-1989
country singer: "Grand Ole Opry"; "WLS Barn Dance"
07-27-1889 - Ada Arlitt - d. 9-13-1976
host: "Mother's Discussion Group"
08-31-1907 - Winifred Cecil - Staten Island, NY - d. 9-13-1985
singer: "Show Boat"
09-02-1901 - Phil Napoleon - Boston, MA - d. 9-13-1990
bandleader: "Napoleon's Retreat"
10-15-1879 - Sara Allgood - Dublin, Ireland - d. 9-13-1950
actor: "Radio Guild"; "Family Theatre"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-15-1900 - Mervyn LeRoy - San Francisco,CA - d. 9-13-1987
film director: Intermission Guest "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Songs By
Sinatra"
10-15-1921 - Geri Fontane - New Milford, NJ - d. 9-13-1993
singer: (The Fontane Sisters) "Chesterfield Supper Club"
10-22-1884 - George Washington Hill - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-13-1946
President of American Tobacco Company, sponsor of many radio programs
12-31-1923 - Arthur Siegel - Lakewood, NJ - d. 9-13-1994
pianist, composer: "New Faces"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:40:32 -0400
From: "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re:Art Gilmore
Hello again ---
I'm amazed at Ken Greenwald's information about Art Gilmore, still alive and
working at 90+ !!
I wonder if Art knows that writer Paul Rhymer -- who apparently knew Art and
may have worked with him -- paid a small tribute to him in one of Vic and
Sade's half-hour programs from August 15, 1946, more than sixty years ago!
Vic is trying to do his office work at home but because the street gang is
working on Virginia Avenue all the pedestrian
traffic somehow gets diverted through the Gook household as a shortcut. Two
absolute strangers to Vic strike up a
conversation while passing through and one says:
"Say, Pete, you ever see anything of Art Gilmore these days?"
"Gee, I don't guess I've seen Art Gilmore in six months."
"He talked about goin' to Terre Haute, Indiana."
"Yes, I know he did."
"Maybe that's where he went."
"I wouldn't be surprised."
It was years before I learned that Art Gilmore was a real human being -- and
in the broadcasting industry at that -- and not just another
figment of Paul Rhymer's fertile imagination.
Jan Bach
Proud member of the "Friends of Vic and Sade" fan club
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:40:37 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Video Tape
This is a question that could fall under the category of, "I just
want to know." Years ago as video tape became popular there was talk
of putting radio shows on that medium. How this was done I don't have
the slightest idea. Have any of you on this list tried that? If
someone has I was wondering how the recordings have held up over the
years. I guess at the time it seemed like a good idea.
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:40:42 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 14-20 September
From Those Were The Days --
9/14
1936 - NBC presented John's Other Wife for the first time. Actually,
John's other wife was not his wife at all. She was his secretary.
9/15
1934 - NBC presented The Gibson Family to American audiences. The
program was the first musical-comedy-drama to be broadcast. Ernest
Whitman and Eddie Green were featured members of the cast and were
billed as "network radio's only colored comedians." The show originated
from the studios of WEAF in New York City.
9/18
1927 - The Columbia Broadcasting System was born on this day in 1927.
CBS broadcast an opera, The King's Henchman, as its first program.
1948 - The Original Amateur Hour returned to radio on ABC, two years
after the passing of the program's originator and host, Major Bowes.
Bowes brought new star talent into living rooms for 13 years.
9/19
It was just an average day this day in 1932, when Just Plain Bill was
first heard on CBS. It was "The real life story of people just like
people we all know." The 15-minute show (Monday through Friday at 7:15
[removed]) was all about (just plain) Bill Davidson and his daughter, Nancy,
who lived in (just plain) Hartville. Since Bill was the town barber,
everybody came to him with their problems -- and Bill helped them
straighten things out.
Instead of playing the usual organ, as a first, Hal Brown played
harmonica and whistled the Just Plain Bill introduction music (Darling
Nellie Gray). Hal also handled the closing theme (Polly Wolly Doodle) in
the same manner.
The show, created by Frank and Anne Hummert, who also came up with Mr.
Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons, Little Orphan Annie, Amanda of Honeymoon
Hill, Front Page Farrell, John's Other Wife, Mr. Chameleon, Our Gal
Sunday and many other radio dramas, later moved to NBC. Just Plain Bill
chalked up over 20 years on the air. A few of the Just Plain Bill
sponsors over the years were Kolynos toothpaste and Clapp's baby [removed]
"Bill" lasted to September 30, 1955, when NBC had "a better idea" and
canceled it.
9/20
1921 - KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania started one of the first daily
radio newscasts in the country. The broadcast came from the city desk of
The Pittsburgh Post.
1953 - Jimmy Stewart debuted in The Six Shooter on NBC, playing Britt
Ponset on the Western.
Joe
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:40:55 -0400
From: Tom Barnett <[removed]@[removed];
To: OTR <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Vanishing OTR Generation
I am not part of the old time radio generation.
Far from it - I am only 38. Although I do have an atypical history. This year
marks 25 years that I have been listening to old time radio. WHen I started
listening it was 1983 and I was taping program played at night on a local
newstalk AM radio station.
As a result, I was a rare 13 year old who knew the 'inside' jokes and
characters around the Jack Benny program, Suspense, and Fibber McGee and
Molly.
I couldn't get enough of them. I guess you could say I was a nerd.
Fast forward to this week. I was in a meeting with our CEO at the company I
where I work when a reference came up to a medical site we have Rochester
Hills. The consultant who was pitching to us just called it 'Rochester' and
the CEO corrected him that it was Rochester 'Hills'. "Careful" he told the
consultant, "when you say Rochester I think of Jack Benny."
Aboslutely no one around the table knew what he was talking about other than
me. At that moment it struck me that something so familiar to me was becoming
as ancient and out of touch and the revolutionary war. At 39 I felt old. Some
friends were talking over dinner last month and mentioned a 'big band' was
coming to town next month.
I inquired 'which one' thinking it was still some combination of Basie or
Glen Miller's and embarassed myself.
The generation and its references seem to fading to me.
Thank goodness for the internet which keeps much of this rich history of
entertainment not only fresh but availble.
And thank you to everyone on this digest which I read daily.
Tom Barnett
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:41:02 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 9-14 births/deaths
September 14th births
09-14-1890 - Anthony Frome - Bellaire, OH - d. 1-20-1962
as "The Poet Prince" he sang and read poetry over NBC Blue in early
1930s
09-14-1892 - John Robert Powers - d. 7-19-1977
modeling agency founder: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
09-14-1899 - Hal B. Wallis - Chicago, IL - d. 10-5-1986
film producer: "Tex and Jinx Show"; "Academy Award Program"; "Lux
Radio Theatre"
09-14-1907 - Cecil Brown - New Brighton, PA - d. 10-25-1987
newscaster: "CBS European News"; "Sizing Up the News"
09-14-1908 - Bernard Green - NYC - d. 8-8-1975
orchestra leader: "The Clock"
09-14-1910 - Jack Hawkins - London, England - d. 7-18-1973
actor: "[removed] Steel Hour"
09-14-1914 - Robert McCloskey - Hamilton, OH - d. 6-20-2003
author: "Books Bring Adventure"
09-14-1916 - Jerry Doggett - d. 7-7-1997
baseball announcer: "The LIberty Broadcasting System"
09-14-1918 - Malcolm Yelvington - Covington, TN - d. 2-21-2001
mandolin: "The Star Rhythm Boys"
09-14-1918 - Mike Stokey - Shreveport, LA - d. 9-7-2003
announcer: "One Night Stand"
09-14-1922 - Frances Bergen - Birmingham, AL - d. 10-2-2006
actor: (Wife of Edgar, Mother of Candice) "New Edgar Bergen Hour"
09-14-1924 - Jerry Coleman - San Jose, CA
baseball announcer for the San Diego Padres
09-14-1925 - Bill Christy - Seattle, WA - d. 2-25-1946
actor: Franklin Dexter "Meet Corliss Archer"
September 14th deaths
01-01-1911 - Hank Greenberg - NYC - d. 9-14-1994
baseball great: "Play Ball"; "We the People"; "Philco Radio Time"
01-17-1903 - Warren Hull - Gasport, NY - d. 9-14-1974
actor: Jack Hamilton "Gibson Family"
01-23-1925 - Bernice Wirsbitzke - Milwaukee, WI - d. 9-14-2006
singer: "Heinie and the Grenadiers"
02-17-1914 - Wayne Morris - Los Angeles, CA - d. 9-14-1959
actor: "Radio Reader's Digest"; "NBC university Theatre of the Air"
03-22-1893 - Tito Vuolo - Italy - d. 9-14-1962
actor: Uncle Carlo "The Goldbergs"
04-06-1883 - Vernon Dalhart - Jefferson, TX - d. 9-14-1948
singer, composer: "Barbasol Ben"
05-20-1920 - Dorothy Howe (Virginia Vale) - Dallas, TX - d. 9-14-2006
actor: "Gateway to Hollywood"
05-27-1926 - Peter Ling - Croydon, Surrey, England - d. 9-14-2006
adapter: "Casebook of Sherlock Holmes"; "Return of Sherlock Holmes"
06-08-1921 - Gordon McLendon - Paris, TX - d. 9-14-1986
Founder of the Liberty Radio Network
06-24-1910 - Cootie Williams - Mobile, AL - d. 9-14-1985
jazz trumpet player: "Jubilee"
07-07-1915 - Terry O'Sullivan - Kansas City, MO - d. 9-14-2006
announcer: "All-Star Western Theatre"; "The Jack Smith Show"
08-19-1928 - Norman Brooks - Montreal, Canada - d. 9-14-2006
actor: "The Best Things In Life Are Free"; "Bud's Bandwagon"
09-02-1904 - Vera Vague (Barbara Jo Allen) - NYC - d. 9-14-1974
comedienne: "Vera Vague Show"; "Bob Hope Show"; "Jimmy Durante Show"
10-03-1899 - Gertrude Berg - NYC - d. 9-14-1966
actor: Molly Goldberg, "Goldbergs"
10-06-1906 - Janet Gaynor - Philadelphia, PA, - d. 9-14-1984
hostess, actor: "Hollywood Showcase: Stars Over Hollywood"; "Lux
Radio Theatre"
11-10-1924 - Bobby Limb - Australia - d. 9-14-1999
actor: "The Idiot Weekly"
11-12-1929 - Grace Kelly - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-14-1982
actor: "Family Theatre"; "Bob Hope Show"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:41:07 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: From the [removed]
Received the following, and I admit to some curiosity myself if there are
any OTR programs where Mr. Cagney is performing musically:
Hello. Customer Service at Radio Spirits suggested that I contact you
regarding some information I am looking for. Namely, James Cagney singing-not
Yankee Doodle, but I have heard snippets of his singing over the years and
it's lovely. Most recently in a bio channels bio of Cagney which began and
ended with his singing. Any help or leads you can offer would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you very much.
---Ann Leef
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:43:02 -0400
From: "Laura Leff" <president@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Benny thinking it over on CBS
The package also includes Jack Benny's famous "I'm thinking it over!"
radio gag, but I'm positive that was delivered on NBC rather than CBS,
or did Benny recreate that gag after moving to CBS?
He did on television.
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #218
*********************************************
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]