------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2001 : Issue 328
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
CBS Radio Mystery Theater article [ BRC Productions <platecap@brcradio. ]
Re: Cleo [ [removed]@[removed] ]
Re: A Dog Named Cleo [ "Dave DiSisto" <ddisist1@[removed] ]
Louella Parsons [ Robert Fells <rfells@[removed]; ]
Yesterday in radio history 10/7 [ Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed]; ]
Holmes & Moriarty [ Wich2@[removed] ]
Hello, Again ... and Again ... and A [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Re: A dog named Cleo [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
A dog named Cleo [ Alan Chapman <[removed]@verizon. ]
Re: Holmes vs. Moriarty [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
Jean Shepherd sites [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
re: Louella Parsons [ "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@pacbell. ]
re: a dog named Cleo [ "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@pacbell. ]
A dog named Cleo [ "David L. Easter" <david-easter@hom ]
Cleo the talking dog [ Clifengr3@[removed] ]
Re: Hedda, Louella, and Walter [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
a dog named Cleo [ elliot s ferber <otrcollector@juno. ]
Re: Tokyo Rose [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
A dog named Cleo [ "Roger Rittner" <radiorog@earthlink ]
Recommend A OTR Show [ lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed]; ]
RE: SOUND EFFECTS GOOF [ "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
A dog named CLIO [ "Michael Muderick" <[removed] ]
A Bassett named Cleo [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
Re: Lucy DVD [ Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts) ]
Hedda Hopper [ "Ted Davenport" <tedotr@[removed] ]
Recurring themes [ "Philip Railsback" <philiprailsback ]
Re: Relatives of Hedda Hopper [ RFURRY@[removed] ]
RE: CBSRMT story [ Barth Wysong <stargazerbw@[removed] ]
Radio Festival [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 09:55:35 -0400
From: BRC Productions <platecap@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CBS Radio Mystery Theater article
Just wondering if there's any interest in Ed Cole's researched article on
CBS Mystery Theater?? It has not seen print since 1986. More on Ed's
background is at [removed]
Bob Burnham, BRC Productions
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 13:51:49 -0400
From: [removed]@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Cleo
Cleo was the dog from "People's Choice", starring Jackie Cooper--although I
don't know what years it ran.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 14:25:41 -0400
From: "Dave DiSisto" <ddisist1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: A Dog Named Cleo
RE: A Dog Named Cleo
In response to the question concerning Cleo the dog. I believe that was the
People's Choice and the dog could talk but only the one guy heard him. I
believe the show starred Jackie Coogan.
Dave DiSisto
Email: ddisist1@[removed]
Web site: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 14:25:49 -0400
From: Robert Fells <rfells@[removed];
To: old time radio <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Louella Parsons
Re Donna Halper's inquiry, I would have to track down the date but I
recall a Jack Benny show where Miss Parsons was guest. Benny also
seemed to refer to her on various shows during the mid-40s. I can recall
one great line by Dennis Day on the show where she appeared. Benny
tells Dennis, "We're having Louella Parsons for dinner," to which Dennis
deadpans, "You promised us spare ribs."
Bob Fells
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 14:26:08 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Yesterday in radio history 10/7
From Today in History --
In 1922, the first radio network -- of sorts -- debuted when two
stations, WJZ in Newark, New Jersey, and WGY in Schenectady, New York,
teamed up to bring listeners the World Series game direct from the Polo
Grounds in New York; columnist Grantland Rice was behind the microphone
for the broadcast.
In 1940, "Portia Faces Life" debuted on the NBC Red network, a radio
soap opera that centered around the life of Portia Blake Manning, an
attorney and a widow with a young son.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 14:26:49 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Holmes & Moriarty
Mr. M. was indeed a Celestial Mechanics Mathematician; he appears in THE
FINAL PROBLEM (the story with the tumble over the falls); and O. Welles did
do a good turn in the part opposite John Gielgud- though this British [removed]
Towers series is very technically underproduced ("three guys at a mic does
not a radio drama make").
I, too would be interested in the character's appearance in the
Rathbone/Bruce episodes; especially if in the better NBC shows (by the time
of the Mutuals, Nigel Bruce has been forced into the "bumbling walrus" mode,
which does a disservice to his acting abilities, as well as to Doyle's
writing.
The Professor's #2, Sebastian Moran, is a fallen big-game hunter and gambler,
who appears in Gielgud's THE EMPTY HOUSE.
As far as stellar Doyle villians, many folks (including Sir Arthur) consider
[removed] Roylott one of the strongest- he is the antagonist in THE
SPECKLED BAND, which has been dramatised in most every Holmes series ever
done, from a special broadcast by William Gillete in the 30's (the FIRST
Meiser show), to the most recent 90's British series (available on cassette
at many bookstores).
To my knowledge, the only adaptation drawn BOTH from the short story AND
Doyle's play THE STONOR CASE is Quicksilver Radio Theater's from 1998,
authorised by Dame Jean Conan Doyle.
Best,
Craig Wichman
Quicksilver Radio Theater
[removed] If anyone knows of tape sources for the Gillette or NBC Rathbone shows
mentioned, share with the class
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 14:27:36 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hello, Again ... and Again ... and Again ...
Scott Eberbach notes,
Just take a look at some of the extant episodes of The [removed] a
number of recurring themes if not stories there. <snip> three [cited]
stories are essentially the same with a few minor variations thrown in to
make it appear not to be entirely the same. There are [also] at least 3
(possibly more) shows dealing with insurance fraud.
Realistically, there are only so many different plots. The Shadow, like
The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, and others, ran on for _years_.
Particularly in the nonserial format, where the whole show has to be
wrapped up in a half hour, there's only so much a writer can do. It ran
for more than 15 years, which means something like 600 shows. If even 10
percent of these shows are retreads, you're still talking some 60 shows.
In this sense, the 15-minute adventure serials had it better: there was
enough time to develop subplots and legitimate side trips. In a
half-hour, or even one-hour, format, the nuances available in the logger
format are just not practical. Take a look at a Jack Armstrong epic.
The plot moves glacially, but an awful lot happens each week.
It's not surprising that long-running half-hour shows present retreads;
it _is_ surprising that it didn't happen more often!
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 15:11:43 -0400
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: A dog named Cleo
In a message dated 10/8/01 10:04:51 AM, Jerry Lewine asks:
Can anyone remember what early TV show had a bassett hound (I think) named
Cleo on it?
***The show was THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE and starred former child-star (and
SUSPENSE-veteran) Jackie Cooper as city councilman Socrates "Sock " Miller.
During the final season, the Millers to the town of Barkerville, though I
don't recall Cleo ever actually barking. (Wasn't her style.) And just to
keep my response OTR-oriented, the voice of Cleo the basset hound was voiced
by radio-veteran Mary Jane Croft. Actually, Croft voiced the dog's thoughts,
which only the audience could hear.
--ANTHONY TOLLIN (breeder of champion dachshunds)***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 15:12:26 -0400
From: Alan Chapman <[removed]@[removed];
To: Old-Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A dog named Cleo
Can anyone remember what early TV show had a bassett hound (I think)
named Cleo on it? My dad thinks it was Life of Riley but mom says it
was another show. Can anyone help promote domestic tranquility
between a couple of 83 year olds? Thanks!
The show was THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE. It starred Jackie Cooper city
councilman Socrates "Sock" Miller; it was broadcast on NBC from Oct.
55 to Sep 58. Bassett hound Cleo would make asides to the audience,
and there is a radio connection: the voice of Cleo was long-time
radio soap opera actress Mary Jane Croft.
Hope this helps!
--Alan
Alan Chapman Communications
70 Gregory Road/Suite A, Framingham, MA 01701
508-788-9080 Fax: 508-788-9081 alan@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 15:13:47 -0400
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Holmes vs. Moriarty
In a message dated 10/7/01 10:23:20 AM, [removed]@[removed]
writes:
I know that Orson Wells played the professor in the British series in the
1950's but who played him in the Rathbone series and all the others? I know
he appeared from time to time through out the series.
***Professor Moriarty was portrayed by Louis Hector in the early 1930s
episodes starring Richard Gordon as Holmes. Hector took over as Holmes
during the 1934-35 series and also starred as the Great Detective in a 1937
NBC experimental TV broadcast. Charles D. Penman portrayed Moriarty during
the1947-48 season opposite John Stanley (Holmes) and Alfred Shirley
(Watson).***
I have two Holms trivia quetions to ask and that is 1. Who was the
second most used villian in the radio series? (hint: he was the second in
command in Moriarty's crinimal empire).
***Elementary. You're speaking of Colonel Moran, who was portrayed by Barry
Thomson during the Stanley/Shirley season. BTW, Radio Spirits has just
released a new Smithsonian CD/cassette collection featuring 20 episodes of
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES starring John Stanley and Alfred
Shirley (supported by Penman, Thomson, Bernard Lenrow as Inspector Lestrade,
James Monks, Maurice Tarplin, Ted Osborne, Philip Clarke, Humphrey Davis and
others. I understand that 17 of the 20 shows (from my late friend Edith
Meiser's final season as scriptwriter) are previously uncirculated. The set
also features a new historical booklet (including a wonderful photo of John
Stanley as Sherlock flanked by John Dickson Carr and Frederic "Ellery Queen"
Dannay) authored by yours truly, ANTHONY TOLLIN (with assistance from Bill
Nadel of the [removed]).
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 15:14:22 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jean Shepherd sites
A "Shepherd" search of my links database (
[removed] ) brought up
these sites:
[removed]
[removed]
[removed]
[removed]
[removed]
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 16:04:11 -0400
From: "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: re: Louella Parsons
Also, were there any recordings/transcriptions of these two
highly-rated ladies, both of whom were around during Radio's Golden Age in
addition to writing for magazines and newspapers?
louella also guest starred on fred allen's program a couple of times,
12/10/41 and 2/13/44.
--gary
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 16:04:04 -0400
From: "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: re: a dog named Cleo
i'm 90% sure that the show you're thinking of was "the people's choice", a
program i've never seen but have read a little about. it was produced by
george burns's production company, mccadden, at the same time the burns and
allen show was being produced.
i would be 100% certain if you'd mentioned that the dog talked, which he did
on "the people's choice". it seems unlikely you'd forget that detail.
george burns apparently had a penchant for talking animals, as it was also
mccadden productions that made "mister ed".
regards,
gary
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 16:04:33 -0400
From: "David L. Easter" <david-easter@[removed];
To: "Old-Time Radio Digest (E-mail)" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A dog named Cleo
Jerry Lewine inquired about a TV show with A dog named Cleo.
The show was "The People's Choice" (10/6/55 - 9/25/58) on NBC.
Jackie Cooper was elected to the city council. He was a champion for the
people and this created problems with the mayor. Complicating matters, his
girlfriend was the mayor's daughter. Cleo only "talked" to the audience (not
the cast).
Jackie Cooper as Socrates 'Sock' Miller
Patricia Breslin as Mandy Peoples
Mary Jane Croft doing the voice of Cleo the Basset Hound
Margaret Irving as Auntie Gus
Leonid Kinskey as Pierre
Paul Maxey as Mayor John Peoples
Dick Wesson as Rollo
John Stephenson as Roger
David L. Easter
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 18:31:12 -0400
From: Clifengr3@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cleo the talking dog
The TV show with the basset hound named Cleo was "The People's Choice," a
situation comedy starring Jackie Cooper as a municipal councilman. His boss
was the Mayor, whose last name was Peoples. Jackie (I forget the character
name) is in love with the Mayor's daughter. Hence the play on words, People's
Choice.
The bassett hound, Cleo, observed the action going on around her and the
viewer was treated to being able to hear her funny thoughts.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 18:31:19 -0400
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Hedda, Louella, and Walter
I'm not sure whether these questions of mine will open
another can of worms, but here goes:
I know that the big three gossip columnists of the 1930's
were Hedda Hopper, Louella Parsons, and Walter
Winchell.
[removed] there any actual feud between Hedda and Louella
or was this just for publicity? I realize that they must have
been rivaling columnists and each probably attempted to
get exclusive stories before the other. Was it anything like
the feud between Jack Benny and Fred Allen?
[removed] were the differences between the styles of these two
women?
[removed] there any truth to the stories I've heard about Hedda Hopper
having a fixation about crazy hats? The reason I ask is because I
remember seeing a guest appearance she had on an "I Love Lucy"
episode. When she saw Lucy and Ricky climbing out of a hotel
swimming pool drenched to the skin, she remarked
'And they say I wear strange hats!'
[removed]'ve heard several interesting stories about Walter Winchell. One
reported that he 'embellished' some of the reports he made on the
air. Is this true? My mother told me that he always began his
broadcasts
with the same lead in---"Hello Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at
[removed](then the latest breaking news item)". Is this true?
[removed]'s an easy question---Who did each of these reporters work for?
[removed] there any recordings of any of these reporters on tape? Where can
I get them?
[removed] one of them was most reliable when it came to the stories they
reported?
[removed] they report their stories as part of a news program (like Rona
Barrett
used to on "Good Morning America" some years ago) or did they each have
their own show? Who sponsored the shows and which network were they
broadcast on?
[removed] these three concentrate mainly on Hollywood gossip or did
they report gossip from other countries as well?
Kenneth Clarke
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 18:34:05 -0400
From: elliot s ferber <otrcollector@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: a dog named Cleo
The Dog named Cleo was on the show The People's Choice with Jackie
Cooper. Cleo always had thoughts on the happenings of her master Sock
(Jackie Cooper).
Pretty funny show from I believe the late fifties.
Elliot
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 18:34:18 -0400
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Tokyo Rose
I've heard people speak of a women who broadcasted
under the name of "Tokyo Rose" during WW II. What
was here real name? Are there any recordings of hers
available? Did her efforts aid the Japanese during this
time. What was her purpose in their wartime effort?
Was it just to spread propaganda?
Did her broadcasts pre-empt many of the OTR programs
of the day?
Whatever happened to her? Was she ever punished for her
involvement?
Any information from anyone, especially anyone who remembers
the type of propaganda she was spreading from personal
experience, that would be great.
Kenneth Clarke
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 00:39:28 -0400
From: "Roger Rittner" <radiorog@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A dog named Cleo
The series was called "The People's Choice". It starred Jackie Cooper as a
local politician (congressman, I think), who had a dog who commented on the
story directly to the audience. Cleo's mouth never moved; it was as if the
audience heard her "thoughts".
Roger Rittner
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 00:39:18 -0400
From: lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Recommend A OTR Show
Hello Every one:
I am always on the hunt for new and diffrent
shows.
I was wondering if anyone out there would like to
recommend a great program or certain favorite show. I
will start out with a favorite of mine. Being that
halloween is comming up one of my all time favorites
is The Baby Snooks Show- Halloween Pranks Dated
11-1-46.
A classic "Snooks" show that no one can listen to
and not be "rolling on the floor". A must for every
"Comedy Nut". Now how about recommending one of your
favorites!
My Thanks!!!!!! Lynn
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 00:40:22 -0400
From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: SOUND EFFECTS GOOF
Michsel Biel asked me if I was sure it was the brakes and not steam letting
off.
I kind of thought that post would get a reply, but I can assure you, having
lived in Baltimore near the Penn. Station and heard many a steam Loco come
in there that the sound on GSS was steam escaping from the engine. The post
was taken from an article from an Old Radio Mirror Magazine article from
June, 1946 called "SFX, Boy How They Fooled Us!".
Owens
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 00:39:35 -0400
From: "Michael Muderick" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A dog named CLIO
The dog named Clio was on THE PEOPLES CHOICE which starred Jackie Cooper.
His girlfriend's stage name was Mandy Peoples, and her father was the mayor.
I think Clio belonged to Cooper.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 09:24:24 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: A Bassett named Cleo
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2001 12:31:59 -0400
From: Jerry Lewine <radiojer@[removed];
Can anyone remember what early TV show had a bassett hound (I think) named
Cleo on it? My dad thinks it was Life of Riley but mom says it was another
show.
It was "The People's Choice," which ran for three seasons on Thursday nights
on NBC in the
mid-1950s. It starred Jackie Cooper as Socrates Miller, whose dog, Cleo,
used to talk to the
audience. This was accomplished by simply showing an up-close portrait of
the dog, with a
female voice over.
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210 lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 09:24:28 -0400
From: Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Lucy DVD
The bad news is that the program is
divided into segments that automatically
stop after each segment. In order to
listen to the entire episode you have to
have remote in hand and press the 'next'
button about every 5 minutes to be able
to continually hear the episode.
That's not supposed to happen. Someone on another list I belong to who
is involved with production of the LUCY DVDs just brought up this
problem and recommended waiting about four weeks and then contacting
Columbia House about getting a corrected disc. He said it would be
about that long before the corrected discs are replicated.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 09:24:57 -0400
From: "Ted Davenport" <tedotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hedda Hopper
I have some radio broadcasts of THE HEDDA HOPPER SHOW. She would have
several guest stars for each broadcast. I am sure they appeared just so she
would put a good word in for her. I have never heard of so many big name
stars appearing on each show! One broadcast might have Humphrey Bogart,
Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and more "dropping by" for a show. I know that
Hedda Hopper's son was William Hopper who played Paul Drake on the original
Perry Mason show on television. If memory serves, he committed suicide.
Ted Davenport
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 09:25:11 -0400
From: "Philip Railsback" <philiprailsback@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Recurring themes
The only recurring themes I can think of is that of blaming the
star of the show for being 'stingy' or 'cheap'. The most notable
examples are on "The Jack Benny Show" and "The Bob Hope
Show".
Eddie Cantor and George Burns were notable cheapskates, as well. What Jack
Benny did was take this rather common characteristic and raise it to
surrealistic heights. Now, that was genius.
- Philip
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 09:25:51 -0400
From: RFURRY@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Relatives of Hedda Hopper
Donna Halper asked:
The BBC called me to ask if I knew whether either Hedda Hoppa (actually
Hopper) or Louella Parsons might have any living relatives, or any people
who knew [removed]
Hedda Hopper, nee Elda Furry, was born in Hollidaysburg, PA in 1885. Her
brother Frank was my grandfather, making her my great Aunt. I have a sizable
collection of memorabilia and knowledge of her career and family. I would be
glad to share this information. Please contact me offline.
Robert W. Furry
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 10:42:51 -0400
From: Barth Wysong <stargazerbw@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: CBSRMT story
The story you are looking for is called "Island of the Lost" broadcast date
9/23/74.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 12:23:26 -0400
From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Radio Festival
The Museum of Broadcasting in NYC and LA
will have a "Radio Festival" with OTR
included. Web site for details [removed]
Russ Butler russbutler@[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #328
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