------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 194
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
RE: SoCal OTR Conventions [ "Kris Stone" <anaheim47@[removed] ]
Re: Fights Are Final [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Ronald Reagan RIP [ Randy Collins <rlcollins1@adelphia. ]
Two Myths - again. [ Wich2@[removed] ]
Identifying an OTR theme [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
Re: Fights are Final? [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
Re: Comics to Radio and Back Again [ Mark Stratton <[removed]@[removed]; ]
AdAge Mentions Jack Benny [ seandd@[removed] ]
Never Made It To the Comics [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
6-8 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Pres. Ronald Reagan [ Allen Wilcox <aawjca@[removed]; ]
Radio history [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Sergeant Preston's music [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
SPERDVAC Contacts [ "Kris Stone" <anaheim47@[removed] ]
Shadow pulp stories adapted to radio [ <kurt@[removed]; ]
Re: OTR compared to NTR [ "david rogers" <david_rogers@hotmai ]
OTR compared to NTR [ "mike kerezman" <PHILIPMARLOWE@peop ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 14:31:38 -0400
From: "Kris Stone" <anaheim47@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: SoCal OTR Conventions
Mike Thomas asked whether there were any OTR conventions in Southern
California. Mike, please see the SPERDVAC site: [removed]. This
year the convention will be held on November 12, 13 & 14 at the Hacienda
Hotel, El Segundo California.
For More Information Call Bobb Lynes at (877) 251-5771,or e-mail him at
iairotr@[removed].
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 15:27:37 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Fights Are Final
On 6/7/04 2:48 PM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
I have a mislabeled show and I cannot determine what show it actually is. It
sounds like it is called "Fights are Final", but that does not make much
sense to me. It is a 15 minute show. Can anyone tell me the actual name of
this show?
This is "Five Star Final," a March-of-Time knockoff produced at WMCA, New
York during the late thirties. The "Intercity presentation" system cue is
a reference to the Intercity Broadcasting System, a small regional
network fed by WMCA with affiliates in Philadelphia, Wilmington DE, York
PA, Lancaster PA, Baltimore, and Washington DC.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 15:30:13 -0400
From: Randy Collins <rlcollins1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Ronald Reagan RIP
How fortunate we were to have the Ronald Reagan radio appearances thread run
for a few days prior to his passing. I don't really remember why it began,
but for whatever reason, the timing of the thread was perfect. Doubt had
begun to creep into my mind as to whether anyone was going to comment on his
passing. In my opinion, he will be remembered as one of our greatest
Presidents. I am thankful we are blessed with quite a few appearances by him
over the years in the world of otr. For the most part, the network TV
tributes have been very gracious to him, and there have been several mentions
of his very early radio career in Iowa as a sports announcer. Several photos
from his broadcasting days have been run, and I've seen a clip from his first
movie wherein he is talking into a microphone as he basically played himself
as a sports announcer. Perhaps someone can give the title of that first movie
to us. God rest your soul, Mr. President. Yours was a good life. Randy Collins
[ADMINISTRIVIA: Let's keep politics out of this discussion and focus on Mr.
Reagan's radio work, shall we? --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:27:37 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Two Myths - again.
Dear Jim, John, & Gang-
Number One: Not all new audio drama is bad (though a sadly large amount is.)
Number Two: (Hold on to your hats-) Not all old audio drama was good.
We seem to revisit this about twice a year. I tried to resist responding this
time; as a producer, I won't be seen as a disinterested party. I had hoped
that some Listers who have heard good modern work would chime in. Very often,
the folks harping on this chord have simply not heard enough new work. And
the rose-colored glasses seem to go on, whenever looking at The Golden Age.
There is no forgotten miracle involved in creating good Theater of the Mind.
Then as now, good writing, good production, and good performances are the
result of very prosaic things: talent, effort, and most of all, RESPECT for
the medium.
It never ceases to amaze me that folks who would not in a million years
consider themselves qualified to write, put on, or perform in a stage play or
film, glady rush "up to the mic". I'm not being a snob here; but - unless you
have a natural/and/or developed gift for these arts, it's a bit like picking
up a brush & expecting to be Norman Rockwell the first time out.
As I'm an actor first, let me say it again: RADIO ACTING IS NOT JUST
READING!!! I've actually heard that theory stated by folks who should know
much better. In fact, I find the fault of most modern audio acting to be
UNDER-playing, not OVER. Listen carefully to the best work, old or new: as
you have only one sense represented, the playing has to be very full. "Just
overhearing it" film-style acting is dead as dishwater on mic.
Myself, & some of my Quicksilver mates, have been honored to perform beside
Vets of the old days. We were gratified to be told - by them and by listeners
- that the mix was seemless. Good Acting was, and ever shall be, Good Acting.
(Another secret: some of those Vets - who shall remain nameless - were not
terribly good then, and aren't now; their long-time compatriots will even
tell you so.)
Judge work on its merits. Don't brand by era.
Best,
-Craig
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:30:24 -0400
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Identifying an OTR theme
I know there will there will be scores of responses (no pun intended)
to the theme questions, but it's fun to try to be first. The Shadow
theme was "Omphala's Spinning Wheel," (someone else will have
supplied the composer by now) and Sgt. Preston's theme was "Overture
to Donna Diana" by Reznicek, also used as a bridge in older episodes
of The Lone Ranger.
Back when no one but me seemed to remember OTR I often remembered the
Sgt Preston theme with especial fondness; it was one of my favorite
shows as a boy. I'm not sure I even realized it was classical music
until I heard it over our local public station (back before NPR all
but preempted classical music). The next day I excitedly raced to the
record store near campus and asked the knowledgeable sales help there
to identify the tune based on my vocalized rendition of the tune: "Ta
DA da [removed] ta da da [removed]" Hmmmm. No the sales clerk didn't
recognize it. He called over a colleague: "Ralph, do you know this
tune?" gesturing to me. I obliged with another chorus: "...Ta DA da
[removed] ta da da [removed]" No, [removed] "Wait, here comes Charlene back
from lunch. She'll know it if anyone will. Charlene, do you know
this?" My cue again: ">ahem< ta DA da [removed] ta da da [removed]" "No,
it doesn't sound familiar. I know; let's call the UT music
department." So I vocalized over the shop's phone to some music
professor "Ta DA da [removed] ta da da [removed]," then to his associate:
"Ta DA da [removed] ta da da [removed]" and finally to one more: "Ta DA
da [removed] ta da da [removed]"
No one knew it. Dispirtedly I went home and forgot about it. Until a
few weeks later when WUOT played the piece again. This time I acted
quickly and called the station. "That piece you're playing: what is
it?!" "Let's [removed] that's 'Overture to Donna Diana' by Reznicek."
"Thanks; I've been trying to identify that for weeks now. Did you
know that used to be the theme to Sgt Preston of the Yukon?" (I did
not then know it was really Challenge of the Yukon). After the piece
ended the announcer said,"That was 'Overture to Donna Diana' by
Reznicek, performed by [such and so]. While that was playing TWO
people called to inform me that that used to be the theme to Sgt
Preston of the Yukon."
Two people? I thought. I wonder who else in Knoxville would have
remembered that.
The next day I went back to that same record store and an attractive
girl about my age waited on me. I asked for a copy of "Overture to
Donna Diana." As she was finding it I said, "You know, that used to
be the theme to Sgt Preston of the Yukon." She turned to me, her eyes
wide. "So YOU'RE the other caller!" I didn't know if she'd already
known that, or had been around when I was doing my own a cappella
version of the music. However, fate had taken a hand and led me to
the only girl of my age in the entire city of Knoxville who would
have shared even that much of my interest in OTR. I'm sure it was
intended that I ask her out. I didn't, and I remain single to this
very day.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:30:38 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Fights are Final?
Andrew Steinberg asked about a program that might have been titled "Fights
are Final" that ends with ". . . goodnight for Remington Rand. This is an
Intercity presentation." I don't have any info about this specific
program, but Intercity was the regional network headed by WMCA in New York
and WIP in Philadelphia in the mid to late 30s.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:31:00 -0400
From: Mark Stratton <[removed]@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Comics to Radio and Back Again
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 14:27:40 -0400
From: "Philip Railsback" <philiprailsback@[removed]; wrote:
"The Saint" really started as books, and then the screen, I believe, before
radio). There were probably a fair number of shortlived comics based on
radio shows. I know that The Mysterious Traveler" appeared in the 1950's,
with at least some of the stories done by Steve Ditko. That one was a
Charlton Comic. DC put out "My Friend Irma" and "Mr. District Attorney".
That's about all I can think of but there must have been others.
One of my favorite comics from the late 40's and 50's is "A Date with
Judy" which started out as a Radio Show on NBC, IIRC. For the first
few issues, there was a blurb on the cover about the show being on
NBC. I believe that "A Date with Judy" also managed to make it to the
small screen and there was a movie as well.
Gangbusters was another show that had a decent run as a comic book
while starting out on Radio.
Best,
Mark
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:31:07 -0400
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: AdAge Mentions Jack Benny
This article on the current sorry state of advertising singles out Jack Benny
for the way he worked Jell-O into the opening of his programs.
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
DEATH OF THE GREAT ADVERTISING IDEA
[removed] - USA
... needs reinvention. Product placements? "Jell-O again!" as Jack Benny
used to say. Consider what today is passing for creative. The ...
<[removed];
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:31:32 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Never Made It To the Comics
On the radio-to-comic thread, Jack French notes,
A better question, or thread, would pose this quiry: Try to name a
radio series that was never in a comic book?
That's easy. The Hartz Mountain Singing Canaries. ;-)
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:31:55 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 6-8 births/deaths
June 8th births
06-08-1918 - Robert Preston - Newton Highlands, MA - d. 3-21-1987
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Eternal Light"; "Medicine USA"; "Silver Theatre"
06-08-1921 - Alexis Smith - Penticton, British Columbia, Canada - d. 6-9-1993
Actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Stars in the Air"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
06-08-1927 - Jerry Stiller - NYC
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
06-08-1930 - Dana Wynter - London, England (Raised: Rhodesia)
actress: "Black Museum"; "Lives of Harry Lime"
06-08-1937 - Joan Rivers - Brooklyn, NY
comedienne: "Voices of Vista"
June 8th deaths
01-30-1915 - Dorothy Dell - Hattiesburg, MS - d. 6-8-1934
actress: "Stars of Tomorrow"
02-25-1879 - Frank McIntyre - Ann Arbor, MI - d. 6-8-1949
actor: Captain Barney "Maxwell House Showboat"; Captain Henry "Showboat"
05-03-1905 - James Nusser - Cleveland, OH - d. 6-8-1979
actor: "Gunsmoke"
07-03-1899 - Herb Polesie - d. 6-8-1979
panelist: "Twenty Questions"
08-01-1904 - Eli Mintz - Lemberg, Austria - d. 6-8-1988
actor: Uncle David "The Goldbergs"
08-05-1911 - Robert Taylor - Filley, NE - d. 6-8-1969
host, actor: "Good News of 1938"; "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Plays for Americans"
--
Ron Sayles
For a complete list:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:32:03 -0400
From: Allen Wilcox <aawjca@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Pres. Ronald Reagan
It is with sad irony that I tell this story. I
purchased a colletion CD with Burns and Allen that
guest stared thier close friend, Mr Reagan. He was a
great man and a hero of mine. he will be missed.
Allen
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:34:21 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Radio history
Howard Blue is right on the money in my opinion when he writes:
Radio history, art history, the history of music, the history of radio
etc. tell us something about where we've been and who we or our parents
or grandparents are or were.
He offers a good defense of "why radio history."
Elizabeth McLeod has done a marvelous job of reporting and analyzing for us
digest readers implications of radio in its earliest years. While she has
concentrated on the 1930s she has also been able to offer surprising
insights from the 1920s.
My attempt in preparing "Say Goodnight, Gracie: The Last Years of Network
Radio" (McFarland, 2002) was to research how radio touched Americans' lives
in the decade of the 1950s, and how it all changed dramatically as that
decade progressed. Furthermore, because no one had done it previously, I
added a final chapter reporting what became of network radio from 1962-2002.
I've often wished that somebody would prepare a work similar to mine on the
decade of the 1940s. Those were the halcyon days of the medium we loved.
While I know there have been overlapping texts on the era, there's been
nothing similar to my book. And why haven't I done it? My plate is full at
the moment. I'd love to see one of my colleagues tackle it. I think there
would be many potential readers.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:48:12 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Sergeant Preston's music
Steve Cottle Jr. asks:
I have, for years, been trying to find the name of the musical piece that
was the theme for "Sergeant Preston of The Yukon". Can you please help me?
Easy. It was Von Reznicek's "Donna Diana Overture." This melody was part
of the background and bridge music heard between scenes of The Lone Ranger.
Source: "Radio Crime Fighters: Over 300 Programs from the Golden Age" by
yours truly, pages 73-75 (McFarland, 2002).
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 19:38:13 -0400
From: "Kris Stone" <anaheim47@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: SPERDVAC Contacts
Check with Larry Gassman lgassman@[removed] and/or John
Gassman jjgassman@[removed]
Unfortunately John and Larry Gassman are no longer involved in organizing
the SPERDVAC conventions. The last one they put together was in 2000 - and
what a great convention that was! I really miss those days at the Crowne
Plaza.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 19:53:00 -0400
From: <kurt@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Shadow pulp stories adapted to radio
At least one radio script ("The Leopard Strikes") was adapted during
Vernon Greene's early run in SHADOW COMICS. During the final few
years of the Golden Age comic book series, artist Bob Powell adapted a
number of radio scripts (including "Spider Boy," "Phantom of the
Lighthouse" and "Curse of the Cat") to comics form. --ANTHONY TOLLIN
Kurt Shoemaker has a further query for Anthony:
Hi, Anthony, I believe you're just the man to answer a question for me
about the Shadow, which changes the direction of this topic a bit.
What about Shadow pulp stories adapted to radio scripts? Some must
have occurred, right?
Thank you.
Sincerely, Kurt.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 19:53:33 -0400
From: "david rogers" <david_rogers@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: OTR compared to NTR
Thanks, Mike. I agree the acting is not as polished, though some
modern voice actors are as good as any. I suspect, since nobody's
making any money of audio drama any longer, or so I assume, the pool
of available actors is more limited and producers are more willing to
let novices fill in.
I have recently been listening to the BBC's "The Adventures of Sherlock
Holmes" with Michael Williams and Clive Merrison (currently on BB7) and I
must say that it is about as good as it gets.
I am not saying that all OTR is good/bad or that all NTR is good/bad.
However, I do feel that the BBC is still producing a good range of quality
stuff with some top drawer talent. If folks on this digest are not checking
out the BBC7 listen again page I really reccomend it.
Mention before was made about cultural references in British radio. This is
especially true in British comedy. However, to me such references, while
sometimes annoying, can often be quite interesting. I know nothing about
American presidents and little about American geography or history (for
example), yet I have learnt a lot of things from hearing American radio
shows and asking some of my North American co-workers. It may be argued
that details are often the things that raise a show from bland nothingness
to a level of human interest.
Love as always, David Rogers
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 09:52:44 -0400
From: "mike kerezman" <PHILIPMARLOWE@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR compared to NTR
John Mayer wrote:
The acting is part of it, but the writing is, perhaps, even more
deficient. Even the worst pot-boilers of OTR were usually pretty good
at grabbing the listener and pulling them in, though the endings
might leave us groaning. The modern stuff as often as not leaves us
yawning. Among other problems, some of it is totally baffling, the
writer failing at the basic task of keeping us aware of the action
through dialogue. Also, much of it is now an hour as opposed to the
more common 30 minute shows of days gone by; padding is often
evident. And sometimes the modern stories just plain aren't worth
telling. I suspect a part of the problem is that a lot of modern
writers don't read much and haven't done much to draw upon.
I would also say the writing is deficient in the newer stuff. I would
however say the BBC has done so adaptations of classics that are pretty well
done. I think the longer time frame
(1 hour average) works better here than 30 minutes. The example I use is
Joseph Conrad's short Novel Heart of Darkness which runs under a 100 pages
in paperback. The BBC dramtized it in 2003 and it rans at a hour and twenty
minutes. This was a well done, superb adaptation. All the deeper
complexities of the Conrad's novel are here in practically every detail even
epilogue to the story. Heart of Darkness had previously been done as a
segment on MERCURY THEATER (1938) and THIS IS MY BEST (1945). However, these
pale somewhat due the 25 to 30 minute time constraints and seem almost one
dimensional in comparison. I think this why shows like ESCAPE stuck to short
stories. Escape did a decent adaptation of H. Ryder Haggard's SHE in 30
minutes but shied away from Haggard's more famous KING SOLOMAN's MINES which
the BBC tackled in 90 minutes. Likewise MYSTERY IN THE AIR did a version of
DOSTOESKY's [sic] novel CRIME AND PUNISHMENT in under 30 minutes! However, I
likewise feel the Hour long SUSPENSE shows less satisfying than the short,
nail biting 30 minute ones. They grab the casual [removed] said all
this regarding adaptations, I have not found much original writing that
could hold up some of OTR original radio plays. I have also noticed some
modern writers of NTR do not always write natural, believable dialogue. This
may explain the "reading ability" I previously aluded to. I once heard a BBC
version of the THE MALTESE FALCON. I had previously heard some of the BBC
adaptations Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe novels they had done which were
not bad. I had a difficult time however in accepting a very English sounding
Sam Spade trying play our Hard Boiled detective hero. One NTR show I heard
once made me wonder: do people really talk that way? Perhaps, if Mr. Keen
revised the [removed] .
Mike Kerezman
Macomb, OK
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #194
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