------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 69
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Young HARLAN Stone's theater credits [ Wich2@[removed] ]
Phil Harris disbands his orchestra? [ "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed] ]
East coast / West coast versions for [ "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed] ]
Frances Langford & Nash car with bed [ "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed] ]
Phrase heard on OTR: "I've got a TL [ "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed] ]
And then there was a long dry spell [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Gratitude for the list [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Dwight Weist & Harry Bartell [ Ken Greenwald <radio@[removed]; ]
Eric Blore [ "Dan Wildt" <dwildt@[removed]; ]
Howard Hughes [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]
2-27 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Hal Stone [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:02:50 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Young HARLAN Stone's theater credits
Dear Folks-
(This is quite a wonderful wake. I hope the ol' redhead is enjoying [removed])
As spoken of at length in his book, he was also one of the sons - Touring
Company, I believe - in LIFE WITH FATHER.
As he told me the story, with tears welling in his eyes, that's where his
Stage mother, Lillian Gish, took him under her wing to the extent of somewhat
becoming a Surrogate mother.
(Connecting the three degrees of separation, if memory serves, dear departed
Larry Robinson also did that gig at one point.)
Best,
-Craig
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:33:50 -0500
From: "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Phil Harris disbands his orchestra?
I'm curious to know when Phil Harris gave up his orchestra and only led
multi-purpose studio units for his radio programs. On the early Jack Benny
shows, they often mention Phil's engagements at different dance spots, but
by the end of the war the cast seems to refer only to his novelty singing.
The post-war years were difficult for big bands, and 90% of them broke up
(my guess-timate). Does anyone know the background of the Harris
orchestra, including Remley? I believe the real Remley toured Korea with
Jack Benny's USO troupe. Would that mean that Remley stayed with Benny,
after the demise of the Harris orchestra?
Stephen D
Calgary
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:34:10 -0500
From: "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: East coast / West coast versions for game
shows, [removed]
It must have been a logistical problem to schedule the two versions of
national programs which were aimed at the different coasts and timezones.
But how did the accommodate game shows or panel discussions? Surely they
only did one version per night which aired coast to coast (or as we say in
Canada, from coast to coast to coast).
Similarly, the band remotes must have started in the East each night and
then progressed westward in origin as the night got later. Is that a
correct assumption?
Stephen D
Calgary
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:34:43 -0500
From: "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Frances Langford & Nash car with beds
Someone asked quite a while ago about the Nash make of car in which the
front seats folded back to make beds. I had heard this joked about in "The
Bickersons", but I still haven't come up with an exact reference. I
thought I would throw this out, and someone else can furnish the episode.
Following up on request for info about Frances Langford in OTR and movies,
she appears in the Lum & Abner movie "Dreaming out loud" (1940). She plays
the post-mistress / love-interest, and she gets to sing the title song.
Somehow Phil Harris was in it too (as I read now), but I have no
recollection of him.
Stephen D
Calgary
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:34:25 -0500
From: "Stephen Davies" <SDavies@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Phrase heard on OTR: "I've got a TL for you"
One often hears the phrase "I've got a TL for you" before a warning or bit
of advice. I hear it on Jack Benny, Bergen & McCarthy, and a lot on Burns
& Allen, all around 1940.
Can anyone explain this phrase?
Stephen D
Calgary
(I'm unburdening myself today of nagging questions.)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:35:28 -0500
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: And then there was a long dry spell
Tas Richardson recalls:
I am reading a biography of Enrico Caruso and it states that he was
fascinated by technical developments, and that any new experiment found him
eager to collaborate. On the night of Jan. 3rd, 1910 he made his own niche
in radio history when part of 'I Pagliacci' was transmitted by Lee de Forest
from the Metropolitan stage to the Victor Talking Machine company's
headquarters in Camden, New Jersey, with a private link to Gatti-Casazza's
office (he was the manager of the Met) and several friends and employees.
The songs were also picked up by hams in Connecticut and even in the
wireless cabin of the steamer Avon at sea.
That same night is recalled in my 369-page hardback volume "Music Radio:
The Great Performers and Programs of the 1920s through Early 1960s"
(800-253-2187, [removed]). On that occasion, De Forest set mikes
in front of Ricardo Martin, Enrico Caruso and Emmy Destinn making the Met's
debut on the air with "Cavalleria Rusticana" as well as "Pagliacci."
Picking up the story there, the wireless operator on board the SS Avon at
sea was dumbstruck. An earthly sound of human singing was clearly coming
out of his headset! In the decade ahead hobbyists would continue playing
with their electrical toys, perfecting the transmission of sound over the
air. By 1917 there were in excess of 8,000 licensed broadcasters in the U.
S. Most didn't see any applications of wireless technology beyond
broadcasting between ship and shore and communicating experimentally among
themselves. Early hams, for sure.
Following De Forest's test, meanwhile, an unmovable opera management stood
resolute against subsequent broadcasts from the Met. In spite of that
injunction, New York's WEAF aired a Met performance of Verdi's "Aida" on May
11, 1922, featuring Leon Rothier and Rosa Ponselle. Narrated by WEAF
announcer Tommy Cowan, the broadcast originated from the stage of
Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, and not from the Met facility itself.
A resolute Giulio Gatti-Casazza, Met manager, forbade any more attempts to
air Met operas after the 1910 experience. He didn't mellow until 1931.
Management, it seems, believed opera was not only a glorious musical
experience but a visual spectacle as well, and radio would undercut and
cheapen it. "Opera is an art that must be seen as well as heard," Gatti was
fond of saying. There was also the legitimate fear that putting the Met on
the ether could reduce proceeds, possibly catastrophically. Nonetheless, a
couple of other reasons were publicly stated -- that technical
considerations could not be properly satisfied ([removed], not enough space for
control room and equipment without blocking patrons' view), plus appearing
in aired concerts was strictly forbidden in the contracts signed by Met
artists.
The pros and cons of all this are spelled out in detail in "Music Radio."
Ultimately, as we are all aware, the Met reneged on its stand, motivated --
of all things -- by money. The Met's cash flow was seriously jeopardized by
the stock market crash of 1929 which resulted in a pathetically dwindling
gate. When broadcasters vied for the Met's "business," the heart gave way
to the head and CBS and NBC schemed to win such a prestigious plum. That
combative chase is spelled out in the book, a battle royal that NBC finally
won. (CBS won others.) It's a fascinating narrative -- and it all began
when Caruso and more sang for Lee De Forest and a handful of the curious
tuning in way back in 1910.
Oh yes, and putting the Met on the airwaves opened up its music to millions
in successive generations who would likely never have had an opportunity to
have been exposed to it. Not only that, it helped significantly in raising
the nation's awareness of -- as well as the contributions to -- the Met. In
hindsight, what else could have made such an incredible difference to the
Met in those decades?
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:35:56 -0500
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Gratitude for the list
You've read it here many times but I will say it again: the readers of this
forum are absolutely the best.
All one of us has to do is to express a genuine desire or need and almost
invariably somebody comes to the rescue in a hurry. The other day I posted
a request for an episode of Stella Dallas that had gotten away from me.
Several folks responded within 24 hours, all volunteering information -- or
recordings -- at once.
Folks, you are the best. Those of us who do intensive research in our
preservation attempts realize it every time you act. Thanks for being you!
Now, do we have someone among us who reads Italian fluently? I need help
with the spelling of a name only "heard" on a broadcast. Thanks.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:37:25 -0500
From: Ken Greenwald <radio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Dwight Weist & Harry Bartell
Lee Munsick's wonderful and perceptive observations on Dwight Weist
reminded me of two things:
First, Mr. Weist did make it to the west coast at times. And, one
time, he actually came down to the PPB Radio
Archives where I had a chance to meet and talk to him. A charming
man. Whatever happened when Weist
finally made it to the FOTR convention must have held over during his
visit to PPB. For he was very, very
enthusiastic about "remembering" the golden age of radio. He poured
over many of the photos of radios
great stars and talked about the old days. He seemed warm and gentle
to me. I won't forget that day meeting
him.
Second, in 1989 I flew up to Oregon to have Harry Bartell record a
number of special introductions for the Sherlock Holmes
series I was producing (he was the original announcer on the 1945-46
season). At that time he was teaching radio acting at
the University of Oregon. He made an interesting comment to me. Seems
that all the students who were taking his class knew
absolutely NOTHING about radio or radio acting. Most were taking his
class out of curiosity. He told me that every one of the
students thought there had to be a microphone for everyone. Each
actor had to have their own mike.
The announcer had to have his own mike. Each section of the orchestra
had to have a separate mike.
All this was to go directly into a mixing board where the sound could
be balanced properly.
What surprised all the students was (Harry said) that only one or two
mikes were needed. The Students were astonished. Of course,
Harry had to demonstrate to them how those one or two mikes were
used. How the actors could make themselves seem far away by
moving to the side of the mike, and how two people could be on one
mike and even how one of the two actors could move out of the
way completely to allow a third actor to step up to the mike.
Harry said every one of his students were completely amazed at how
such an approach could work. All this because they thought
in terms of present day mike placement for small rock groups.
Well, Harry did teach them the difference. And they did learn and
appreciate it. Still, Harry shook his head in disbelief. He expressed
to me his realization that a great medium, radio, is truly lost on
todays kids. That was why Harry was attempting to bring back an
understanding of radio to young kids.
And, of course, now that Harry is gone, even his attempts will soon
be forgotten.
It can't be helped. It's the natural unfolding of time and change.
But we will remember, won't we? For we have the OTR Digest, OTR
conventions, and, thank heaven, thousands of original radio
broadcast to listen to and remember.
Ken Greenwald
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:37:43 -0500
From: "Dan Wildt" <dwildt@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Eric Blore
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Recent posts cited some work by Eric Blore. One of his animation
assignments was providing the voice of Toad in the Madcap Adventures of Mr.
Toad, the full length Walt Disney cartoon
based on the Wind in the Willows story.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:06:29 -0500
From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
To: ""old-time radio digest">" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Howard Hughes
Hi all,
Well I've finally seen The Aviator.
I'm curious if there's any available OTR coverage of Mr. Hughes, maybe from
Hollywood, news coverage of
his plane crashes, or the hearings?
If so where could I get them?
Thanks.
Bill
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:46:00 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-27 births/deaths
February 27th births
02-27-1873 - Enrico Caruso - Naples, Italy - d. 8-2-1921
tenor: On 12-13-1910 made experimental broadcast with Lee DeForest
02-27-1880 - Georgia Burke - Atlanta, GA - d. 11-28-1985
actor: Lily "When A Girl Marries"
02-27-1888 - Lotte Lehmann - Perleberg, Prussia, Germany - d. 10-24-1976
soprano: "Command Performance"; "Concert Hall"; "Here's to Veterans"
02-27-1891 - David Sarnoff - Minsk, Russia - d. 12-12-1971
executive: National Broadcasting Company"
02-27-1892 - William Demarest - St. Paul, MN - d. 12-28-1983
actor: Mr. Cobb "Cobbs"; "Eddie Bracken Show"
02-27-1893 - Maurice Spitalny - Tetieff, Russia - d. 10-28-1986
conductor: Music director for KDKA Pittsburgh
02-27-1894 - Frank Munn - The Bronx, NY - d. 10-1-1953
singer (The Golden Voice of Radio) Paul Oliver "Palmolive Hour"
02-27-1894 - Upton Close - Kelso, WA - d. 11-14-1960
commentator: "Events and Trends of the Week"; "Close-Ups of the News"
02-27-1897 - Marian Anderson - South Philadelphia, PA - d. 4-8-1993
singer: "Ford Evening Sunday Hour"; "Telephone Hour"; "New World A'
Coming"
02-27-1899 - Ian Keith - Boston, MA - d. 3-26-1960
actor "The O'Neill Cycle"
02-27-1902 - Gene Sarazen - Harrison, NY - d. 5-13-1999
golf legend: "Tops in Sports"
02-27-1902 - Joe Tarto - d. 8-24-1976
musician: "The Ipana Troubadors"
02-27-1902 - John Steinbeck - Salinas, CA - d. 12-20-1968
novelist: "Radio Hall of Fame"; "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen
Director's Playhouse"
02-27-1903 - Reginald Gardiner - Wimbledon, Surrey, England - d.
7-7-1980
actor: "Document A/777"
02-27-1905 - Franchot Tone - Niagara Falls, NY - d. 9-18-1968
actor: "Arch Oboler Plays"; "Free Company"; "Knickerbocker Playhouse"
02-27-1907 - Kenneth Horne - England - d. 2-14-1969
comedian: "Round the Horne"; "Ack Ack Beer Beer"; "Beyond Our Ken"
02-27-1907 - Mildred Bailey - Tekoa, WA - d. 12-12-1951
singer: (Rockin' Chair Lady) "Mildred Bailey Show"; "Camel Caravan"
02-27-1909 - Carl Frank - Weehawken, NJ - d. 9-23-1972
actor: Jerry Malone "Young Dr. Malone"; Bob Drake "Betty and Bob"
02-27-1910 - Joan Bennett - Palisades, NJ - d. 12-7-1990
actor: "Ford Theatre"; "MGM Theatre of the Air"; "Skippy Hollywood
Theatre"
02-27-1912 - Ralph Camargo - Glendale, CA - d. 1-15-1992
actor: "X-Minus One"; "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"
02-27-1913 - Irwin Shaw - NYC - d. 5-16-1984
author: "Columbia Workshop";"Studio One"; "The Gumps"
02-27-1915 - Donald Curtis - Cheney, WA - d. 5-22-1997
actor: Michael Shayne "Michael Shayne"
02-27-1920 - Jose Melis - Havana, Cuba - d. 4-7-2005
bandleader: "Arthur Godfrey"s Talent Scouts"; "Arthur Godfrey Time"
02-27-1921 - E. Jack Neuman - Ohio - d. 1-15-1998
writer: "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"; "Advs. of Sam Spade"; "Escape"
02-27-1923 - Dexter Gordon - Los Angeles, Ca - d. 4-25-1990
saxophonist: "Newport Jazz Festival";"White House Jazz Festival"
02-27-1927 - Guy Mitchell - Detroit, MI - d. 7-1-1999
singer: "Stars On Parade"; "1957 March of Dimes Galaxy of Stars"
02-27-1927 - Ralph Stanley - Big Spraddle Creek, VA
bluegrass singer: (The Stanley Brothers) "Farm and Fun Program"
02-27-1932 - Dame Elizabeth Taylor - London, England
actor: "Theatre Guild On the Air"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
February 27th deaths
01-20-1899 - Joseph Buloff - Vilnius, Lithuania - d. 2-27-1985
actor: Barney Glass "House of Glass"
02-25-1908 - George Duning - Richmond, IN - d. 2-27-2000
composer: "Bud's Bandwagon"
03-16-1889 - Elsie Janis - Columbus, OH - d. 2-27-1956
First female announcer on network radio
04-04-1908 - Ted McMichael - Marshalltown, IA - d. 2-27-2001
singer: (The Merry Macs) "Bing Crosby Show"; "Fred Allen Show"
04-12-1908 - Robert L. Scott - Waynesboro, GA - d. 2-27-2006
wwII fighter pilot, author: "Mail Call"; "Hop Harrigan"
04-13-1890 - Gene Rodemich - St. Louis, MO - d. 2-27-1934
orchestra leader/singer: "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round"
04-16-1918 - Spike Milligan - Ahmednagar, India - d. 2-27-2002
comedian: Eccles the Idiot, Miss Minnie Bannister, Count Moriarty
"Goon Show"
06-03-1900 - Frank Dailey - Bloomfield, NJ - d. 2-27-1956
bandleader: "Matinee at Meadowbrook"
06-16-1885 - Tom Howard - County Tyrone, Ireland - d. 2-27-1955
comedian: "It Pays to Be Ignorant"; "Sunday Night Party"
06-24-1909 - Milton Katims - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-27-2006
violist, conductor: "NBC Symphony"; "Eternal Light"
07-14-1901 - George Tobias - NYC - d. 2-27-1980
actor: "Cavalcade of America"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
07-23-1918 - Anne Ayars - Los Angeles, CA - d. 2-27-1995
vocalist: "The Chicago Theatre of the Air"
08-09-1910 - Snag Werris - NYC - d. 2-27-1987
writer: "The Comedy Writers Show"; "Quixie Doodles"
10-14-1893 - Lillian Gish - Springfield, OH - d. 2-27-1993
panelist: "Arthur Hopkins Presents"; "Texaco Star Playhouse"; "Suspense"
10-28-1895 - John Boles - Greenville, TX - d. 2-27-1969
actor, singer: "Texaco Star Theatre"
11-30-1906 - John Dickson Carr - Uniontown, PA - d. 2-27-1977
writer: "Suspense"; "Cabin B-13"; "Murder by Experts"
12-31-1897 - Orry-Kelly - Kiama, New South Wales, Australia - d.
2-27-1964
costume designer: Intermission Guest "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-31-1914 - Pat Brady - Toledo, OH - d. 2-27-1972
sidekick, stooge: "Roy Rogers Show"
Ron Sayles
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:31:49 -0500
From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hal Stone
I've been a bit behind in reading the Digest, and when
Karen Hughes asked in a recent E-Mail if I'd been
reading all the Hal Stone posts, I thought she meant
posts _by_ him, not about him. So I was surprised to
learn he'd died.
There isn't much I can say about Hal that hasn't been
said by others. About all I can add is that I had the
pleasure of seeing (and hearing) him speak dialogue I
wrote when he performed as Johnny Dollar in a radio
play I'd penned for the 2003 Cincinnati convention.
That, and the fact that when he signed my copy of his
book (that same year?), he took responsibility for the
bad weather that preceded the convention.
The Cincinnati con won't be the same without him. Now
who'll give Bob Hastings a (good-natured) hard time?
Rick
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #69
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