Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #270
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 9/20/2007 7:57 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to:
[removed]@[removed]

------------------------------


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2007 : Issue 270
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Vintage radio program magazines       [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
  Adv. of the Abbotts log needed        [ Chargous@[removed] ]
  9-20 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
  Re: Can You Top This                  [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
  Dell Four Color Comics                [ Steve Lewis <stevelewis62@[removed]; ]
  OTR comic books                       [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
  Can You Top This?                     [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
  "The Great Radio Sitcoms," by Jim Co  [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
  Adv. of the Abbotts - more previousl  [ Chargous@[removed] ]
  Can You Top This?                     [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
  Can You Top This                      [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
  Words IN Pictures                     [ Wich2@[removed] ]
  Swearing on OTR Shows                 [ Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed] ]
  TALLULAH BANKHEAD VS BETTE DAVIS      [ "belanger" <belanger@[removed]; ]
  Dick Tracy on Radio                   [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Can you top this?                     [ Bob Beckett <bobbyb1324me@[removed] ]
  Can You Top This?                     [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
  re: old-time radio comic books        [ MarkJusticeWLGC@[removed] ]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:06:59 -0400
From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Vintage radio program magazines

Some 30 years ago a comic book dealer in Winnipeg offered quite a lot of
vintage radio magazines for sale.  I contacted him, made an offer, and bought
them all for $[removed]  I didn't do anything with them other than storing them
in a
safe place.

A few months ago I decided to scan the magazines.  It's a very time-consuming
procedure, as I'm trying to convert the images to an attractive package, and
it's
cost me a bit of money as well, because I required a couple of expensive
software
programs.

This is what I'm doing:

1: I scan each page using a program called "Scan-n-Stitch".  Most pages take
two
scans which are then stitched together to create one image.  Two-page spreads
take
eight scans.

2. Once all pages of a magazine have been scanned to a folder, I then
go to Paint Shop Pro to tidy things up.  I trim off extraneous borders and
remove
scribbling and blemishes if possible.  I even remove the crossword puzzle
answers
that have been filled in by previous owners.

3. I then use a program called "Convert Image to PDF" to create a PDF file of
the scanned magazine.

I've just now completed the collection of 51 Movie - Radio Guide issues and am
beginning to work on the large stack of Radio Guide magazines. That project
will
take a few months to complete.  Here's what's in that stack:

1935 - Every weekly issue from June 29th to December 28th
1936 - Every weekly issue
1937 - 3 issues
1938 - 3 issues
1939 - 4 issues
1940 - 3 issues

I'm wondering how many of you have a collection of vintage magazines, however
small
it may be. The preserving and sharing of these is in my opinion a necessary
factor of
our hobby that should not be ignored.  I'd like to encourage anyone who can
add to
the project to consider getting involved.

Al Girard

*************************************************************

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:07:02 -0400
From: Chargous@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Adv. of the Abbotts log needed

HI,

I'm the guy who released the 13 eps of the Adv. of the Abbotts - I was
interrupted by my microgroove stylus breaking, and I was too cheap to get
another for a while, until spurred on by a recent 16" micro buy - anyway,
I'll dub the remaining 4 or 5 eps., including What's My Line? TV
soundtracks on the reverse - what I need is the log that someone posted
when I initially released the episodes.  I checked OTTER, but it bears no
relation to said log - the titles and sequences are way different.

Travis

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:07:04 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  9-20 births/deaths

September 20th births

09-20-1869 - George Robey - London, England - d. 11-29-1954
music hall singer: "Music Hall"
09-20-1885 - Jelly Roll Morton - Gulfport, LA - d. 7-10-1941
jazz musician, songwriter: "Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin
Street"; "Americana"
09-20-1896 - Si Wills - Pennsylvania - d. 10-3-1977
writer: (Husband of Joan Davis) "Joan Davis Time"
09-20-1898 - Charlie Dressen - Decatur, IL - d. 8-10-1966
baseball manager: "Tops in Sports"; "Brooklyn Dodgers Locker Room
Interviews"
09-20-1899 - Elliot Nugent - Dover, OH - d. 8-9-1980
actor: "Best Plays"; "United States Steel Hour"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-20-1911 - Frank De Vol - Moundsville, WV - d. 10-27-1999
conductor: "Rudy Vallee Drene Show"; "Sealtest Village Store"; "Dinah
Shore Show"
09-20-1912 - John W. Loveton - d. 1-17-1997
director: "The Shadow"; "Mr. and Mrs. North"; "Court of Missing Heirs"
09-20-1915 - Joe King - Birmingham, AL
announcer: "Songs By Morton Downey"; "Walk A Mile"
09-20-1917 - Red Auerbach - Brooklyn, NY - d. 10-28-2006
legendary baskeball coach: "The Inside Track"
09-20-1918 - Gordon Heath - NYC - d. 8-27-1991
actor: "New World A' Coming"; "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
09-20-1918 - Peg Phillips - Everett, WA - d. 11-7-2002
actor: "Studio One"; "The Big Show"
09-20-1919 - Francis Heflin - Oklahoma City, OK - d. 6-1-1994
actor: (Sister of Van Heflin) "Aunt Jenny"; "Big Sister"
09-20-1924 - Michael Hardwick - Leeds, England - d. 3-4-1991
author: Adapted Sherlock Holmes for radio
09-20-1925 - Joan Barton - d. 8-27-1976
actor: Cashier "Meet Me at Parky's"
09-20-1928 - Dr. Joyce Brothers - NYC
psychologist: "Monitor"
09-20-1929 - Anne Meara - NYC
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
09-20-1937 - Tom Tresh - Detroit, MI
baseball player: "Tops In Sports"

September 20th deaths

03-12-1912 - Paul Weston - Springfield, MA - d. 9-20-1996
conductor: "Chesterfield Supper Club"; "Paul Weston Orchestra"
03-22-1913 - James Westerfield - Nashville, TN - d. 9-20-1971
actor: "Mystery Theatre"; "Gunsmoke", "Have Gun,Will Travel"
04-25-1909 - Karl Farr - Rochelle, TX - d. 9-20-1961
singer: (Sons of the Pioneers) "The Roy Rogers Show)
07-18-1893 - Richard Dix - St. Paul, MN - d. 9-20-1949
actor: "Eveready Hour"
08-16-1899 - Glenn Strange - Weed, NM - d. 9-20-1973
singer, actor: "Arizona Wranglers"
08-28-1910 - John F. Holbrook - Cameron, WI - d. 9-20-1978
announcer, director: "The Bickersons"; "The Dinah Shore Show"
10-10-1918 - Paul Dubov - Illinois - d. 9-20-1979
actor: Frank Race "Advs. of Frank Race"
11-11-1909 - Rad Robinson - Bountiful, UT - d. 9-20-1988
singer: (Member of the King's Men) "Fibber McGee and Molly"; "King's
Men"
12-11-1882 - Fiorello La Guardia - NYC - d. 9-20-1947
NYC mayor: "Douglas Corrigan Parade"; "This Is New York"; "Reads the
Funnies"
12-30-1894 - Vincent Lopez - Brooklyn, NY - d. 9-20-1975
bandleader: "Luncheon with Lopez"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:31 -0400
From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Can You Top This

In reply to the question from Paul V. Fornatar about "Can You
Top This?" ". . .Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly.
I've hunted for it but can't seem to find anything. . ."

Our website features a program with Peter Donald, who was
the joke teller on the show, and who discusses the program.
We also play an excerpt.

Go to [removed] Click on "The Golden Age of
Radio" then select Program # 43.

Bob Scherago
Webmaster

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:18 -0400
From: Steve Lewis <stevelewis62@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Dell Four Color Comics

Martin Grams asked:

Are there any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other
than Disney comics?  They published a few old-time radio subjects and I
cannot find an archive on-line other than disney stuff.  Anyone have any
leads?

There must be a better one, but have you seen
[removed] ?  It's about Dell Comics in general,
with links to many that appeared in the Four Color series, of which there
were about 1300 or more.

Contact me offlist, and I might be able to come up with some alternatives.

                                 Steve

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:45 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  OTR comic books

Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:19:29 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];

Are there any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other
than Disney comics?  They published a few old-time radio subjects and
I cannot find an archive on-line other than disney stuff.  Anyone have
any leads? Martin

All the Tom Corbett, Space Cadet comic books, including 11 from Dell
and three from Prize Comics, are summarized with cover art at
[removed] .  This site has all sorts of
great stuff about Tom Corbett and Space Patrol, including material
about the radio and TV shows and the Tom Corbett novels and newspaper
comic strips.

--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
 92 State Street, Suite 700                   Fax [removed]
Boston, MA 02109-2004           	         [removed]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:57 -0400
From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Can You Top This?

Paul V. Fornatar asks if anyone remembers the show.
If you are old enough, you definitely would because it
was one of the most popular shows during the time it
ran.  Listeners would write their jokes to the show,
and each joke would belong to a category, or theme.
The performer who read listeners' jokes actually
dramatized the reading.  Audience laughter was
measured by "laugh meters" which were run on the same
principle as "applause meters", to measure the best
audience reaction.  Three professional joke tellers
would then each tell a joke in that category.  They
were Harry Hirshfield, Senator (not a real senator)
Ford, and Joe Laurie, Jr. Audience reaction was
measured, and prizes were awarded to successful joke
submitters from home, thus "topping" the professional
comedians.  The three above mentioned were
unrehearsed, not having previous knowledge of the
categories. Thanks for reminding me of a show that I
thought had been long since lost in my fading memory.

Stuart Lubin

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:08 -0400
From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "The Great Radio Sitcoms," by Jim Cox

All Jim's work is flawless.  The above book will be
yet another major contribution to this great hobby.
Jim, you do not have to be proactive or anticipate
criticism.  Anyone who has ever read your books have
to know that you do not make glowing mistakes.

Stuart Lubin

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:32 -0400
From: Chargous@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Adv. of the Abbotts - more previously unreleased
 episodes

Well, I got the dates straightened out, I guess the OTTER log did have the
same log as the one I was asking for. I was confused by the OtterPlus
[removed]  (Hickerson's book lists the series as starting 1/2/55 and that's the
date the AFRTS discs start.  OTTER lists a '54 season too.  Is that correct
- anyone know?

Anyway, the news is that after a long delay (me being too cheap to get
around to buying a replacement microgroove stylus), I have finally dubbed
the last of the episodes I have of the Adventures of the Abbotts and have
some new episodes. By the time this reaches everyone, they will be
available on usenet ([removed]).

For those that don't have usenet, I uploaded them to mediafire (one zip
file contains the mp3's).  The download link for Abbotts are:
[removed]  (download is pretty self-explanatory
- don't click on the ads).

Bonus: the flip sides of the Adv. of the Abbotts: what are probably TV
soundtracks of What's My Line.  [removed]

Enjoy,
Travis

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:51 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Can You Top This?

Paul V. Fornatar inquires about "Can You Top This?":

Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly. I've hunted for it but can't
seem to find anything. Anyone know anything about this show with Joe Laurie
Jr.
Senator [removed]

But of course, Paul!  Open my book, "The Great Radio Audience Participation
Shows" ([removed], 800-253-2187), and turn to chapter 6.  You'll
find a complete introspection that delineates all the personnel associated
with the show (Roger Bower, Ward Wilson, Peter Donald, Ed Ford, Harry
Hershfield, Joe Laurie Jr., Charles Stark, et al.), data about the ratings,
when and where the show aired, factual information, lots of anecdotal
behind-the-scenes stuff, some typical gags used on the air and how audiences
interacted with the show, the clever ripostes of those sterling personnel,
brief biographies of each, the program's impact on its genre, and a
wonderful photo showing panelists Donald, Ford, Laurie and Hershfield
cracking up (well, it was difficult to get a dour-faced Ford to smile a
whole lot, but three out of four seemed to be having a ball!).

And Jay Hickerson's current guide informs us that at leat 27 Can You Top
This? shows are out there in circulation somewhere.  Check with your nearest
dealer if you can't locate some on somebody's website.

Hope this helps.

Jim Cox

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:43 -0400
From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Can You Top This

Paul Fornatar Asked about :Can You Top This"

Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly. I've hunted for it but can't
seem to find anything. Anyone know anything about this show with Joe Laurie
Jr.
 I remember very well it was on the for about 14 or 15 years  on ABC,
Mutual and NBC for various sponsor. Colgate was the sponsor in the
1940's when the show was at it most popular time. There are about 50
episodes listed in the "Old Time Radio Researchers" program log. So
there are episodes [removed] have a couple.
In the early 40's it was Saturdays at 8:30 PM  as a preteen I thought it
was great. In those days there was not a lot of programing that I really
liked, on Saturday nights,  so Can you Top This was great.

Listeners would send in a joke that Peter Donald would read in his
inimitable manner. Then the panel of Joe Laurie, Jr, Senator Ed Ford and
Harry Hershield would tell joke on the same topic as the listeners
topic. The audiences reaction was recored on a laugh meter. If the panel
didn't get more laughs than the joke read by Peter Donald  The lister
was sent $[removed], $[removed] in later [removed] Wilson was the Emcee or Host
of the show.

In the last years of the show (1950's) There were a lot of repeats and
many  sponsors. In my opinion the show had run out of gas, TV was
getting all the listeners/viewers in those [removed]

Frank McGurn

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:54:18 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Words IN Pictures

From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];

Are there  any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other than
Disney  comics?

Martin-

You may already know this; but the best overall site I know of is The Grand
Comic Book Database:
_[removed]_ ([removed])

See you soon, God willing,
-Craig W.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:54:42 -0400
From: Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Swearing on OTR Shows

Yesterday while in the car I was listening to X Minus 1- The Light from
10/24/1957. Near the end of the episode they actually said "jack-ass". I
was really, really surprised by this. Granted, I've heard "a-hole" on
radio programs today but even that seems like it's cutting it close with
the new FCC regulations in place thanks to Janet Jackson's wardrobe
malfunction. Insinuating the wrong thing on the radio today leads to
large fines.

I have a hard time thinking that the FCC back in 1957 thought "jack-ass"
was OK to say on a radio show.

Does anyone else find this odd? Does anyone know, or remember, if other
shows ever let a little curse word slip out? I've been listening to as
much OTR as I can since I discovered it back in December of last year
but I can honestly say this is the first time I have ever heard a swear
word on the shows that I listen to.

Thanks,
Kevin

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:55:11 -0400
From: "belanger" <belanger@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  TALLULAH BANKHEAD VS BETTE DAVIS

While hosting THE BIG SHOW in 1950, Tallulah Bankhead often mentioned Bette
Davis's name with mocking disparage as a way of getting a laugh. I assume it
was predicated on the fact that Davis had given Broadway a try, and because
she starred in the movie ALL ABOUT EVE, which Bankhead thought was based on
her own career. Apparantly Bankhead even considered suing Warner Brothers
over it. Was there any real animosity between Bankhead and Davis, or were
they actually friendly toward each other?

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:23:54 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Dick Tracy on Radio

A friend of mine asked if I knew if Ralph Byrd, the screen Dick Tracy,
played the role on radio.  I did not know the answer but it actually had my
curiosity.  Anyone know if this is so?
Martin

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:26:00 -0400
From: Bob Beckett <bobbyb1324me@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Can you top this?
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly. I've hunted for it but
can't seem to find anything.

Hi all,
  In response to Paul's query into Can You Top [removed], I'm sure many otr
fans fondly remember this show. I own a number of copies of the show on
cassette. The jokes are extremely CORNY but are delivered with great good
humor and gusto by the panel of jokesters. You should be able to easily buy
copies at various OTR sellers like Radio Spirits, etc.

  Bob B.

  *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
  ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:27:24 -0400
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Can You Top This?

Paul Fornatar asks for details on this series and availability of
audio copies.

This variety-game show was on the air from January 1940 to July 1954.
It was on several different networks (Mutual, NBC, ABC) at various
times, usually weekly.

Audio copies do exist; 27 different shows at last count and most
internet OTR dealers have some of these in stock. Most are from the
1940's.

The book "Can You Top This?" came out in 1945 published by Blue
Ribbon Books and went through several editions. In addition to bio's
of the key comedians on the show, it has hundreds of the jokes they
told on the air. Most used-book dealers have copies of this book for
sale at reasonable prices.

Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:54:26 -0400
From: MarkJusticeWLGC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  re: old-time radio comic books

In a message dated 9/19/2007 11:06:30 [removed] Eastern Daylight Time,  
[removed]@[removed] writes:

Are  there any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other  than
Disney comics?  They published a few old-time radio subjects and  I cannot
find an archive on-line other than disney stuff.  Anyone have  any leads?

Martin:
 
Have you tried the Grand Comics Database? You can search by publisher,  
title, artist, writer, etc.
 
--Mark

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #270
*********************************************

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