------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 281
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Andy Devine [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
This is James Bowen, reporting for N [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
Fred Allen/Ubangi reference [ "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed]; ]
(Non-) Non-traditional [removed] [ wich2@[removed] ]
Milwaukee's WTMJ [ "[removed] George" <yourstruly@[removed]; ]
Lou Marcelle [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
Fred Allen/Ubangi reference [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
"Remember When" and Secret Codes [ Elmer Standish <elmer_standish@telu ]
Little Orphan Annie Questions [ Dancingdays72777@[removed] ]
OTR Ham Radio Operators [ Dennis DeMarco <dennisdm@earthlink. ]
Magazines and autographs [ Ryan Ellett <ryanellett@[removed]; ]
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK SCHEDULE [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
Radio Artists Directory [ Backus2@[removed] ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 10:57:31 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Andy Devine
Peter Kinder And Harry Bartell both shared some info with us about Gravelly
Voiced Andy Devine. Part of Peter's posting I now quote.
Kingman's favorite son, born in Flagstaff, grew up in Kingman. A mischievous
child, >SNIP<
When Peter mentioned the above, it triggered my recollection about how Andy
got such a distinct voice.
The story goes (as peter commented), Andy was definitely a most "Mischievous
Child". One day, he was fooling around with a curtain rod. The thin tubular
kind. (You know, the hollow rods that telescope one inside the other). Well,
when you take them apart, one end has a sharp metal edge. Somehow, when Andy
was playing, the sharp end penetrated his throat. To coin a military phrase,
you'd have to call that a million dollar wound.
I think of Andy Devine often whenever I pass Kingman on the way to visit my
money in Las Vegas.
Hal(Harlan)Stone)
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 10:57:46 -0400
From: leemunsick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: This is James Bowen, reporting for NBC, er,
CBS, er NBC?
To Jim Widner:
Thanks for the poser, re the possibility the Montevideo short wave
broadcasts were carried on CBS! Please do pursue this. I'd like to know
what you find.
It's possible that NBC made the reports available to CBS and/or other
nets. Considering the times back then, it may also be that Jim Bowen was
feeding CBS but over RCA circuits, and CBS agreed to let NBC have the
results. I wouldn't put it past them all.
It's also possible that John Dunning is in error. I'm inclined not to
accept that. Please do keep us posted.
Meanwhile, I have ordered a video of the film. We'll see what
happens. I'll see if there's a sign on Bowen's (or whatever name they use)
microphone in the film. But of course that won't prove anything.
Thanks again.
Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 11:33:02 -0400
From: "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Fred Allen/Ubangi reference
Sean Dougherty wrote:
Two field hands just finished telling Fred that it is so hot at the
circus they spent all day hanging around the Ubangi.
Why, he asked -- "Because the only place where there was
shade was under the Ubangi's lips."
Ugh. I'm certainly no PC crusader, but if an urbane and intellectual
comedian like Fred Allen was using stuff like that on network radio,
can you imagine how horrible the average nightclub hack's act must
have been?
It's not easy to apply all of today's standards to OTR programs.
I think that what Fred was referring to was one of those
people with the plates inserted into their lips, probably a
popular attraction at the less-than-PC sideshows of yore. Is
this what you find offensive, or did you think (and it's
still possible that this is the case) that he was referring
to the stereotype of africans having big lips?
The reason I think he was referring to someone with plates
was that at that time, I don't think someone dressed as an
african tribesman would have been strange enough to have
appeared in a sideshow.
-- Tom Kirby
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 18:12:43 -0400
From: wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: (Non-) Non-traditional [removed]
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]
Concerning the thread about Little People in OTR, I'm amazed that no one has
mentioned my friend Dick Beals (Speedy of Alka-Seltza fame ... and he's still
doing child's [removed];
Dear Hal (& all)-
And doing it darn well, too.
Arthur Anderson graciously offered tapes of his modern recreation (of his OWN
golden age childhood success) "PETER ABSOLUTE", after listening to a few of
my shows. I had a little trepidation re: hearing Mr. Beal's playing of the
lead in this; "sure, he was great THEN- but how he possibly still play a
juvenile now?". (I'll admit, one of my problems with the CBSRMT was always
the fact that near-retirement aged performers where asked- unfairly - to
often play -usually, unsuccessfully - young lovers; a bane of good
performances is sometimes using old friends AT THE EXPENSE of correct
[removed]).
But in this case, Dick Beals beat the odds. He is TERRIFIC as young Peter.
Almost unbelievably so, when you afterwards recall who was actually standing
at the mic. The magic of audio drama strikes again!
Best,
Craig Wichman
Quicksilver Radio Theater
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 18:12:51 -0400
From: "[removed] George" <yourstruly@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Milwaukee's WTMJ
Here's a link to the history of one of Milwaukee's first radio/tv stations.
Check out the Announcers page and see if you can spot a couple of famous OTR
people.
[removed]
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 18:13:50 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lou Marcelle
In Digest #278 Elizabeth McLeod wrote:
Marcelle is a rather obscure figure -- but you might recognize him as the
off-screen narrator heard at the beginning of "Casablanca."
This is very interesting! I have been trying to find out who that off-screen
narrator in "Casablanca" was for about the last four years. No one seemed to
know, not even Leonard Maltin. My best guess was that he was Pat McGeehan,
a busy radio actor in Los Angeles. He sounds like it could be him.
Elizabeth, what is your source for it being Lou Marcelle?
Thanks much,
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 18:14:50 -0400
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Fred Allen/Ubangi reference
Sean Dougherty wrote:
Two field hands just finished telling Fred that it is so hot at the
circus they spent all day hanging around the Ubangi.
Why, he asked -- "Because the only place where there was
shade was under the Ubangi's lips."
Tom Kirby replied:
I think that what Fred was referring to was one of those
people with the plates inserted into their lips, probably a
popular attraction at the less-than-PC sideshows of yore. Is
this what you find offensive, or did you think (and it's
still possible that this is the case) that he was referring
to the stereotype of africans having big lips?
I went out surfing the net and Tom Kirby is right. I found a reference to
the Ubangi women at a website about the Coney Island sideshows. They were
from French Equatorial Africa and had stretched their lips over wooden
platters up to ten inches wide, continuing a "bizarre tribal custom which
had begun centuries earlier to protect their women from pirate slavery by
making their women undesirable" I don't think Fred's crack was meant to
stereotype anyone
Actually sideshows, or freak shows as they were often called, in general
were less-than-PC. I went to Ringling Bros Circus a few times at Madison
Square Garden late 40s, early 50s (alternating years with going to the rodeo
at the Garden!) and what I remember of the sideshow was the bearded lady,
sword swallower, siamese twins, tallest man, shortest man, fattest person, a
"wild" man, and of course little people. Actually since we had a little
person living on our street in the suburbs that was a wee bit jarring to me
because 'Miss Lilly' was just a regular person to us, one of the neighbors,
living with her normal sized brother, and quite formidable at that
particularly if a ball went into her yard; not that we didn't make some
youthful jokes among ourselves occasionally, but never to her. We were too
well brought up for that.
Irene
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 18:17:48 -0400
From: Elmer Standish <elmer_standish@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: "Remember When" and Secret Codes
In discussion with an EMail friend, he passed this on to me
in case I had any information on the matter. However, I have
never heard of this before BUT on the off chance it is more
than a rumour, I am passing this on to the knowledgeable
subscribers of the Digest in the hope that someone can
either verify or deny it with authority.
TEXT AS PASTED O ME:
There was an episode of "Remember When", where they were
doing a children's program that involved a secret decoder.
The sponsor would give the station the message each week to
send out. Well, it turned out the sponsor was an enemy
agent for Germany and was sending secret instructions to
agents listening to the program.
My kind regards to everyone out there and many thanks ===>
ELMER
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 18:26:07 -0400
From: Dancingdays72777@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Little Orphan Annie Questions
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hi all! I have a few questions about Little Orphan Annie that I thought
somebody could help me out with.
First off, how many episodes are currently in existence?
Second, is there anywhere on the web or elsewhere where once could fine a
complete episode guide of the series?
Third, who sang the theme song?
Thanks,
Matt
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 01:54:05 -0400
From: Dennis DeMarco <dennisdm@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR Ham Radio Operators
Hello all,
All this talk about Andy Devine reminded me that he was an Amateur (Ham)
Radio operator. His call was WB6RER.
Other NTR/OTR hams include Arthur Godfrey, Jean Shepherd, Stewart Granger,
Walter Cronkite, Hugh Downs.
Anyone know of any others?
Thanks,
Dennis (call KA3QOT).
Visit my Jack Benny Web Page: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 01:54:19 -0400
From: Ryan Ellett <ryanellett@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Magazines and autographs
Two general questions:
1. Does anyone know of any dealers who sell old
radio-related magazines from the 30's to 50's? I've
scoured the net with no luck.
2. Is there an accepted protocol for requesting
autographs from some of the stars who frequent this
group?
Thanks,
Ryan in Kansas
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 01:55:03 -0400
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK SCHEDULE
Here's this week's schedule through Saturday, July 27th. NEW SITE:
[removed]
Please let us know if you are having any problems accessing at the usual
high-quality (32 kbps) Streaming
Audio 24/7
SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges
1. THEATER GUILD ON THE AIR - 12/14/47 "The Corn Is Green" with Helen
Hayes.
2. STUDIO ONE - 3/23/48 "The Thirty-Nine Steps" starring Glenn Ford.
HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood
1. THE JUDY CANOVA SHOW NBC 5/1/48 Judy dreams she has won an Oscar.
Gale Gordon,
Mel Blanc, Vera Felton, The Sportsmen.
2. FIBBER McGEE & MOLLY NBC 2/24/53 "McGee, The Artist"
3. QUIZ - Win an OTR tape coupon.
4. COLGATE SPORTS NEWSREEL with BILL STERN NBC 12/23/49 - The Guest is
Joe Lewis, reading "The Night Before Christmas"
Enjoy - T om & Jerry
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 01:55:32 -0400
From: Backus2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio Artists Directory
I'm always fascinated when Conrad Binyon includes a scan from his Radio
Artists Directories. ([removed], the one on Walter Tetley in Digest #280)
Apparently it was an "insider" periodical, and I'd love to know more about
it and own at least one issue. I've searched Ebay, several paper ephemera
stores, and many a garage sale, and have never found one. Does anyone know of
a source for them?
Dick Backus
Monongahela, PA
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 09:55:36 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
From Those Were The Days --
1934 - The program Home Sweet Home debuted on the NBC Red radio network.
The principal characters were Fred, Lucy, Dick Kent and Uncle Will.
Today's birthday --
1894 - Arthur Treacher (Veary) d. Dec 14, 1975
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #281
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