------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 263
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Henry Fillmore [ "Mike Martini" <mmartini@[removed] ]
First singing commercial? [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
OTR in Robert Parker's Double Play [ <sweetedit@[removed]; ]
andy griffith vs. lum and abner [ "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@charter ]
ITTA 2 [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
8-10 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Lurene Tuttle [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" on r [ Steve Salaba <philmfan@[removed] ]
Jackson Beck in Star-Ledger [ seandd@[removed] ]
Re: RKO Radio [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Mystery in the Air [ Randy Watts <rew1014@[removed]; ]
King Kong [ Zharold138@[removed] ]
Everett Sloane [ damyankeeinva <damyankeeinva@earthl ]
recording restoration [ Mark Reesor <mrees@[removed]; ]
Sixties stories [ "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 13:45:12 -0400
From: "Mike Martini" <mmartini@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Henry Fillmore
Hello,
Randy Miller recently posed an inquiry regarding the great Sousa trombonist,
arranger and March music composer Henry Fillmore and his dog, Mike, aka "Mike
the Radio Hound." I cannot speak for his national radio program, but I am
fairly sure his WLW Cincinnati radio program does not exist in recorded form.
It's my understanding that Fillmore's show was fairly early in the game and
WLW didn't get its own transcription disc lathe until late 1934. We do have
some recordings, however, of Dr. Frank Simon's "Armco Steel Program." Dr.
Simon was also a member of Sousa's band and formed his own orchestra for the
steelmaker in Middletown, Ohio to broadcast nationally for several years in
the 1930's. Durward Kirby was the announcer and the Armco band would delve
into spirited renditions of Fillmore, Sousa and others. In fact, Simon and
Fillmore were good friends (Fillmore is mentioned often in Simon's
autobiography)...Fillmore wrote a few tunes for Simon's band including a
march called the "Armco Spirit." In addition, Fillmore's family owned an
important music publishing company in Cincinnati, which supplied music to
Simon. I should note that the Frank Simon band lives on today in a new
incarnation that is performing throughout the Ohio Valley region.
And Mike the Radio Hound? There's an interesting story about [removed] Mike
passed away (as all radio hounds eventually do), Fillmore apparently had him
buried with a very expensive, jeweled collar on a farm near Harrison, Ohio
(near Cincinnati). Fearing some one might just, well, dig him up to get the
collar, Fillmore told no one exactly where the dog was laid to rest. And so
it remains, sixty some-odd years later, the mystery of the whereabouts of a
dog collar "treasure" lying beneath the sod in an unmarked spot somewhere on
a Harrison farm. May Mike and his master rest in peace.
-M. Martini
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 14:09:15 -0400
From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: First singing commercial?
In my Franklin Planner, there is a little factoid at the top of each day
page. Today's is:
"The world's first singing radio commercial, aired in 1926,. pitched Wheaties
cereal."
I suspect that I may be opening the proverbial can of worms here, but was
this really the first singing radio commercial? I'm always suspicious of
"world's first" things, since they seem to be open to so much debate. Is it
even possible to pin down the first singing commercial? Are there other
contenders for this title? Anyone want to shed some light on very early
radio advertising practices?
-chris holm
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 14:09:28 -0400
From: <sweetedit@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR in Robert Parker's Double Play
Just thought I would mention that Robert Parker's new novel, Double Play,
which tells the story of a bodyguard for Jackie Robinson during his first
season with Brooklyn, features a lot of references to OTR programs.
For me, it's always interesting to see that!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 15:36:12 -0400
From: "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: andy griffith vs. lum and abner
With all these postings concerning my all-time favorite TV show, The Andy
Griffith Show, I am reminded of something I've wondered about for many
years: Were Andy Griffith and/or his writers fans of the Lum and Abner radio
show? Many of the TV show plots and sub-plots parallel those of the Lum and
Abner radio show of the '30s and '40s. If I were to meet Andy Griffith I
would ask him if he listened to Lum and Abner in his younger days.
Mike Leannah
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 15:36:31 -0400
From: Ga6string@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ITTA 2
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Maybe I missed it, but has there been any mention here of the recently
published second volume of "It's That Time Again"? Both volumes, published by
BearManor Media, include new, fictional short stories written using the style
and
characters of various programs.
I contributed to both volumes as a writer, and enjoyed it immensely. (My
stories were based on "Rogue's Gallery" and "Nightbeat." I also enjoyed
reading
many of the other stories included in these volumes.
The books are available at [removed] and at [removed], I believe.
Amazon lists Vol. 2 as a written by Jim Harmon, although he was actually the
editor of, and a contributor to, the collection.
Just thought I'd give 'em a plug, in case no one's familiar with these books!
Thanks,
Bryan Powell
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 15:36:38 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 8-10 births/deaths
August 10th births
08-10-1885 - Hugh Herbert - Binghamton, NY - d. 3-12-1952
actor: Pop "That's My Pop"
08-10-1899 - Jack Haley - Boston, MA - d. 6-6-1979
comedian: "Log Cabin"; "Wonder Show"; "Sealtest Village Store"
08-10-1900 - Norma Shearer - Montreal, Canada - d. 6-12-1983
actress: "Everyman's Theatre"; "Louella Parsons"
08-10-1902 - Robert Siodmack - Dresden, Saxony, Germany - d. 9-2-2000
film director: "Screen Director's Playhouse"
08-10-1908 - Jane Pickens - Macon, GA - d. 2-21-1992
singer: "Gulf Headliners"; "Evening in Paris"; "Jane Pickens Show"
08-10-1913 - Noah Beery, Jr. - NYC - d. 11-1-1994
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
08-10-1914 - Jeff Corey - NYC - d. 8-16-2002
actor: "Nightbeat"; "Escape"; "NBC Presents: Short Story"
08-10-1923 - Rhonda Fleming - Los Angeles, CA
actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"
08-10-1924 - Martha Hyer - Fort Worth, TX
actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"
08-10-1928 - Eddie Fisher - Philadelphia, PA
singer: "Stars in Khaki 'n' Blue"; "Eddie Fisher Show"
08-10-1928 - Jimmy Dean - Plainview, TX
singer: "Grand Ole Opry"
August 10th deaths
05-02-1903 - Sylvan Levin - Baltimore, MD - d. 8-10-1996
conductor: "Sinfonietta"; "Brownstone Theatre"; "Let's Go to the Opera"
06-18-1910 - Dick Foran - Flemington, NJ - d. 8-10-1979
singer: (The Singing Cowboy) "Burns and Allen"
07-03-1915 - Jerry Gray - Boston MA - d. 8-10-1976
bandleader: "I Sustain the Wings"; "Philip Morris Frolics"; "Club 15"
07-17-1917 - Lou Boudreau - Harvey, IL - d. 8-10-2001
sportscaster: Chicago Cubs
08-23-1900 - John Nesbitt - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - d. 8-10-1960
commentator: "Passing Parade"
09-20-1898 - Charlie Dressen - Decatur, IL - d. 8-10-1966
baseball manager: "Tops in Sports"; "Brooklyn Dodgers Locker Room Interviews"
09-30-1912 - Kenny Baker - Monrovia, CA - d. 8-10-1985
singer, comedian: "Jack Benny Program"; "Glamour Manor"; "Kenny Baker Show"
10-27-1890 - Bob Becker - Terryville, SD - d. 8-10-1962
commentator: "Fireside Chats About Dogs/Pet Parade"
11-13-1903 - Conrad Thibault - Northbridge, MA - d. 8-10-1983
singer: "Show Boat"; "Packard Hour"; "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round"
11-17-1901 - Ted Husing - The Bronx, NY - d. 8-10-1962
announcer, sportscaster: "Sportslants"; "March of Time"; "Radio Reader's
Digest"
11-27-1897 - Vera Allen - NYC - d. 8-10-1987
actress: Grace Doblen "Hilltop House"; Mother Malone "Young Dr. Malone"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 16:12:48 -0400
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lurene Tuttle
Richard Pratz asked about Lurene Tuttle who I knew casually when I was on
the engineering staff at CBS-Hollywood (1945-1951). She was not an old
lady but was no kid either. She was married and had a daughter who as I
recall was also and actress, but I never knew her. Also I do not recall
the name her actress daughter used. When i would be working the night
shift in KNX (CBS-Holywood) Master Control my wife would pick me up and
we would drop in at Dan Dailey's "gin mill" in the San Fernando Valley
for a nightcap on the way home and would run into Lurene and her
husband. (Dan was the bartender). Jackie Coogan also was a regular there.
He lived in a development near us.
BILL MURTOUGH
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 17:36:41 -0400
From: Steve Salaba <philmfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "The Day the Earth Stood Still" on radio
I happened to tune in to an internet radio station today just in time to
hear the last part of a radio dramatization of the 1952 science fiction
film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" which starred the same actor who
played "Klaatu" in the film, Michael Rennie. It seems to have been a
transcription played for the US Armed Forces according to the "commercial"
I heard during the broadcast. I'm wondering what program it may have
originally been on. The film was released the same year I was born, so I
didn't see it until it was on TV years later. I didn't know they'd done a
radio version. It's one of my favorite films.
--
Steve Salaba
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:47:05 -0400
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jackson Beck in Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger of Newark mentions Jackson Beck in a recollection of great
cartoon voices today. Has it really been "several weeks" already?
Ugh.
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
THE voice is familiar
Newark Star Ledger - Newark,NJ,USA
... who was the voice of Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Barney Rubble
and many others, but who was also seen as an on-camera regular on Jack
Benny's popular TV ...
<[removed];
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:47:35 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: RKO Radio
On 8/9/04 11:40 AM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
It has been pointed out here that RKO broke a sort of "understanding" among
film studios that they wouldn't let their properties (scripts, characters,
actors, etc.) participate in the new medium. Sort of the way that the AP
ignored radio stations for a long time.
I have to wonder about the origins of this legend -- Loews Inc, the
parent of MGM, was regularly presenting Metro stars on the "MGM Movie
Club" on WHN, New York as far back as 1925. Paramount was an major
investor in CBS beginning in 1929, and the Paramount Publix Radio Hour
was a regular feature of the network during 1929-31. Warner Brothers
regularly promoted its stars and its films on the Warner-owned KFWB,
Hollywood beginning in the late twenties, and the Vitaphone Hour was a
network feature beginning in 1928.
In view of those facts, RKO was actually a bit of a latecomer to the
movie-radio game -- its predecessor studio, FBO, didn't have a radio
presence, but when the firm was bought out by RCA in 1928 -- which was
the source of the "Radio" in Radio-Keith-Orpheum -- it became closely
tied to broadcasting. Being an RCA subsidiary, RKO had full access to
performers under contract to the NBC Artists Service, and such
personalities as Fred Waring, Rudy Vallee, and Amos 'n' Andy all made
films under the RKO banner. Beginning in 1929, the RKO Hour on NBC
regularly presented RKO contract talent and capsule previews of upcoming
films.
I think it's too common for OTR writers to forget that many if not most
of the "innovations" that became popular in radio in the forties and
fifties actually had their origins in the twenties, perhaps because very
little meaningful research has been done until recently into that era's
programming -- and the movie-radio connection is definitely one of these
innovations.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:48:04 -0400
From: Randy Watts <rew1014@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mystery in the Air
Radio actress Peggy Webber told me about this years
ago. She said it happened on one of the Mystery in
the Air broadcasts.
There were actually thirteen MYSTERY IN THE AIR
broadcasts, but only the last eight circulate among
collectors. A ninth, "The Tell-Tale Heart," broadcast
July 3, 1947, survives in the Library of Congress.
Randy
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:49:29 -0400
From: Zharold138@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: King Kong
Hi Anybody,
On the subject of the movie "King Kong" I just read that the female star Fay
Wray has passed away at the age of ninety-two.
On another subject I hope you keep the larger print in todays old radio
newsletter for us senior readers.
Till Next Time, Harold
,
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 23:42:41 -0400
From: damyankeeinva <damyankeeinva@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Everett Sloane
[removed] lists Everett Sloane as a presumed case of self-inflicted
barbiturate overdose age about 56, as this outstanding radio and film actor
feared he was going blind. He was part of Orson Welles' Mercury Players, and
appeared in nearly three dozen films starting as Mr. Bernstein in "Citizen
Kane" with other Orsonians.
Sloane appeared on numerous TV shows, directed a few, and wrote the lyrics
for the theme song for "Mayberry RFD"!
One should certainly understand how the prospect of blindness could spell
doom in the mind of such an outstanding, varied, and accomplished talent,
with such a career in a visual medium or two in which scripts were so
important.
Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 00:18:03 -0400
From: Mark Reesor <mrees@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: recording restoration
The results from scanning old recordings are quite dramatic, and have
improved a lot since 2002 - you can find some examples and information at:
[removed]~av/
The equipment requirements are a little daunting but the technology
seems very promising.
Mark Reesor
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 02:20:10 -0400
From: "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Sixties stories
I'm trying to remember a storytelling program of the late 60s or early 70s,
featuring a guy with a deep, resonant voice told strange stories. One
concerned a man obsessed with time, who collected clocks and eventually
realized that he knew what time it was everywhere in the world. He ended up
in a little room saying, "BEEP, the time [removed]" Another was about a house
burning down, and in the house a stove furiously kept making pancakes as the
place burned down.
That's all I can remember. This program was featured on KMPX San Francisco,
but may have originated elsewhere.
Doug Leary
Seattle
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #263
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