Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #103
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 3/31/2005 5:18 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 103
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Re: Don Pardo                         [ Patrick Franzis <old_radios@[removed] ]
  Re: Stan Freberg and the Twilight of  [ "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed]; ]
  Re: MP-3 Players                      [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
  Re: Chris Steinbrunner and the shado  [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
  Re: Better on TV                      [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
  "John Zacherle And Sebastian"         [ Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed]; ]
  Don Pardo                             [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
  best detective/mystery                [ "david rogers" <david_rogers@hotmai ]
  best actor                            [ "bcockrum" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
  Request for [removed]                   [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
  Location Productions                  [ Richard Fish <fish@lodestone-media. ]
  donald vorhees                        [ JayHick@[removed] ]
  WOTW                                  [ dougdouglass@[removed] ]
  Mea culpa to Jim Burns                [ Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@earthlin ]

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:43:02 -0500
From: Patrick Franzis <old_radios@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Don Pardo

I remember seeing Don Pardo when I saw a live TV session in New York
City of "Jeopardy" with then host Art Flemming.

Pat

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:43:40 -0500
From: "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Stan Freberg and the Twilight of OTR

David Loftus <dloft59@[removed]; asked:

Does anybody know who did the terrific voice of the Abominable Snowman in
the
various Freburg sketches? Was that Butler or Peter Leeds?

Neither; the voice of the Snowman was none other than Stan himself. If you
listen near the end of the first interview segment, Stan and the Snowman are
exchanging rapid-fire monosyllabic responses with one another in which Stan
is straining to stay in character during switches. The audience goes mad and
responds with some of the strongest applause I've ever heard immediately
upon the bit's conclusion.

Incidentally, I've heard that Stan's doctor =hated= to hear him do that
particular voice, as the means by which it's produced (inhaling rather than
exhaling through the vocal chords) can cause serious, long-term, possibly
irreperable damage to one's speaking voice.

But by the last two shows, the humor includes rueful references to
Freburg's
inability to land sponsors

=That= is a bit of an urban myth. Stan had several offers to sponsor his
show, but refused them all on moral grounds.

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:45:57 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:  MP-3 Players

Richard Fisher spoke of portable DVD players that also play mp3 CDs.

I bought one myself a couple of months ago - at UBid on the internet for
$[removed] made by Polaroid but with no remote.   Very happy with it.  My
grandaughter is also very happy with it when she visits every week!

[removed] (formerly Egghead), a very reliable dealer,  features one made by
GoVideo - [removed] inch screen with remote at $245 and at least for now, $1
shipping charge, not to mention no sales tax unless you live in California.
I've been very satisfied with the GoVideo combo DVD-VHS players I bought at
Costco which also play mp3 and if I hadn't bought a portable player already
I'd consider theirs.  Another feature of the GoVideo that extends its use as
an entertainment center is that you can turn it into a portable TV with an
optional 181-channel TV Tuner,   Plays DVDs, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Music CDs,
Picture CDs, mp3 audio and JPEG image files CD-R/RW.  Built in stereo
speakers.  [removed] hours of playback and rechargable battery.   [removed]

I think all of the models on the market now play mp3 and photo discs.   I
actually bought it for running slideshow picture cds to help my husband in
therapy for post-stroke loss of short term memory, and also for his viewing
movies from a close range.

No connection to any of the companies and websites I've mentioned.

-Irene

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 16:35:06 -0500
From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Chris Steinbrunner and the shadow of
 Walter Gibson

on 3/30/05 1:31 PM, Jim Burns wrote:

But, also when a young man--Tony Tollin would remember if this had been
based strictly on a spec submission--Steinbrenner wrote one of the last
episodes, of THE [removed]

***The episode in question was "A Smuggler's Secret," broadcast August 16,
1953  with the author credit "COLIN CHRISTIAN."  (That's approximately 16
months before THE SHADOW ended its long MBS run.)  While Chris scripted the
episode, the plot was developed by Chris and his lifelong friend Charles
Collins, hence the pseudonym.  And yes, the script was purchased after Chris
submitted it on spec.***

Nearly three decades later, when Chris was co-producing the 1983 edition
of the annual Bouchercon <SNIP> he booked Walter Gibson, as one
of their main guests. <SNIP> Was Gibson now in his eighties?

***Are you sure that particular Bouchercon was in 1983.  I recall Walter
calling me at DC to visit him at the con, at a time when I was still on
staff (pre-1982).  Yes, Walter was born in 1897 and turned 86 in 1983.  In
October of 1983, Walter made his third appearance at the annual FRIENDS OF
OLD-TIME RADIO CONVENTION to take part in my SHADOW reunion panel and view
the first OTR recreation I ever directed. --Anthony Tollin (who dearly
misses his wonderful friend and mentor, who passed away in 1985 at the age
of 88)

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:04:04 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:  Better on TV

Brian Bedsworth wrote about shows better on TV than radio.

I don't agree with a couple of them.

Father Knows Best (far superior talent on the video side's cast)

I would argue for the actor who played Bud on the radio.   I thought he was
excellent.  Great flat, deadpan delivery.

The TV show, a favorite of mine, made 'father' more warm and fuzzzy.   I was
surprised when I listened to the earliest radio episodes how acerbic
'father' was, not at all the sensitive parent he became later.   They did
tone him down on the radio program as time went on.  His early personna
definitely would not have qualified him for father of the year.

Our Miss Brooks (no worse than the second-best long-running TV sitcom of
its era)

I think it's too close to call.    Our Miss Brooks was one of the radio and
TV shows I could not miss.  The radio and TV casts were the same for the
most part and both programs were of top quality.

-Irene

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:05:09 -0500
From: Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "John Zacherle And Sebastian"
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

I first heard of John Zacherle in 1958 here in California when he cut that
great parody record, "Dinner With Drac" Parts I & [removed] was an absolute riot!
The band that had that wailing sax and guitar was a studio band called, "
Dave Appell &The Appel Jacks'"from Philadelphia. I believe they were on "The
Cameo-Parkway"label, which Dick Clark, when he had his "American Bandstand"
show in Philadelphia , had a big interest [removed] head of the studios,
daughter, saw John Zacherle on his show when he was known as "Roland" and I
believe gave him the idea to cut the [removed] course we all know because of
all the notoriety from the record, that he went to WOR in New York, and just
became "Zacherle."I must have seen him in 1959 on WOR  at the NYC USO
building on television doing his zany horror show with all the bubbling test
tubes, spaghetti, and [removed] just kept you in stiches, especially with that
demented [removed] was at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey at the [removed] had a west
coast counterpart
 in Fresno, Calif. called "Sebastian" in 1958 on either KJEO-Channel 47, or
KFRE-Cannnel 12, now  [removed] show was called "Nightmare" and Sebastian
would laugh and carry on at commercial breaks, between the old horror
[removed] wore white facial make up, that made him look like a skull
[removed] anyone who lived in the San Joaquin Valley in 1958-1959 know who
played Sebastian and whatever became of him, please?Thank you !   Bob Slate

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

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 20:12:41 -0500
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Don Pardo

Don Pardo still announces Saturday Night Live.  Don't know if he still does
it live or on tape, but I would guess it is live in case the host or musical
guest has to back out at the last second.  DP may not be an NBC employee,
though.  The show is now produced by Lorne Michael's production company
("Broadway" something) and that may be where his paycheck comes from,  not
NBC.

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 20:12:51 -0500
From: "david rogers" <david_rogers@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  best detective/mystery

When my wife and I go away on holiday we love listening to Paul Temple.  The
plots are good and the charaters are great.  When I listen to Paul Temple I
feel like I am wearing slippers and sitting by the fire.
There is nothing like a good murder to help you to relax.

Love as always, David Rogers

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 20:54:11 -0500
From: "bcockrum" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  best actor

While we're on the topic of radio's best (sound effects/detective shows),
how about radio's best actor from the movies. I forget which program I heard
Glenn Ford on. I always enjoyed him in the  movies, although I know some
critics thought of him as Dorothy Parker once did of Katharine Hepburn,
describing her as showing emotions that ran the gamut "from a to b." But in
this particular show, Ford definitely showed all the signs of mike fright.

I can't say who, among the actresses from film I would give the "best" award
to, but among the men, no contest, Jimmy Stewart. Superb at comedy as a
guest on Jack Benny and Bing Crosby, great in Suspense and other
anthologies, excellent in adaptations of his movies, and outstanding in "The
Six Shooter" -- here was a man who could play to the microphone as well as
the best of the radio professionals! Who needed pictures with his expressive
voice?

Bob Cockrum

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 21:34:06 -0500
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Request for [removed]

   Received this request for info this evening; the requestor has been
invited to join our little group, but you might want to copy him directly on
anything you send to the list.

         Charlie

--- begin forwarded text

From: Dan Gingold <dgingold@[removed];
To: webmaster@[removed]
Subject: Inquiry

Hi, Charlie.

I'm a pretty-much retired TV producer/director who spent many years at
KTSL/KNXT, both at 1313 Vine and
at Columbia Square. As you may know, the Square has been sold to a
development group and is destined to
meet the wrecker's ball in the next couple of years.

I'm in the process of developing a documentary memoir of Columbia Square
and its glorious history as a
radio factory and television production center. Having discovered your
website, I'm wondering if you can
lead me to any archival materials relating to C-Sq and to some of the
surviving vets of the early days in radio
and TV there. I'm a member of Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters and am
beseeching those folks as well.

Any help you can give will be appreciated.

Dan Gingold
dgingold@[removed]
(818) 784-4368

--- end forwarded text

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 23:19:22 -0500
From: Richard Fish <fish@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Location Productions

Many thanks to Messrs. King and Parker for their info on early location
efforts. That "Flying Time" broadcast sounds like it could qualify as
the first live-broadcast effort in this area. Is there a recording of
this show extant anywhere?

The "Empire Builders" programs are fascinating, and I'd love to get
copies of those too. It looks like they really tried hard to push the
envelope in this direction. But it's not quite the technique I was
referring to.

There is some evidence that location audio theatre may have been done as
early as 1894, but that was not, of course, for broadcast! It was done
on a cylinder.

Say, there's a general question: does the radio theatre that was created
before there was any radio broadcasting qualify as "Old-Time Radio?"

The modern technique, at any rate, is always a recording. Going on
location for a live broadcast would certainly be fraught -- with
anything you can think of. In the years when all radio plays had to be
performed live, taking your cast and microphone out of the studio, and
giving up that total control over what the mic picks up, must have
looked like a bizarre risk. Not to mention wind, rain, and birds flying
overhead.

In Location technique, done under ideal conditions, there are no sound
effects people needed. The actors create footsteps as they walk, open
doors, pour drinks, etc., as they deliver the lines. Scenes are blocked,
and the microphone really is used like a camera -- either fixed in place
or on a boom, moving with the action. Even scenes in a car are performed
in a car, driving along.

The resulting recordings, in a perfect world, would then just cut
together, like film.

The BBC does some of this in their studio productions today. If there
is, say, a scene where the characters gather in a living-room and take
tea, they will set up a sofa, chairs and low table in the studio, and
have a tea-tray available with all the acoutrements. The actors will
walk, sit, pour and drink tea, etc., as they speak.

"Hayward Sanitarium" and some other modern productions go way beyond
that -- but it's not live on the air. We performed a whole episode
outside, at night, in a graveyard, because that's where the script put
the action. Worked great, too.

Since we were recording, we could deal with unexpected sounds. We took
take after take, sometimes, because extraneous sounds would interrupt.
"Hold it, car coming, cut!" was our motto a lot of the time, outside.

The result, though, is quite remarkable. The sounds and voices are heard
to excite the same accoustics. The FX exactly match the actor's timing
and [removed] apparent location. Outside scenes really sound outside,
not just "dead." You get an extremely detailed and co-ordinated sound
picture without a lot of careful foley work or finicky postproduction.

The use of the binaural technique, such as Tom Lopez has done, can be
absolutely spectacular when you listen on headphones. It's like you're
really there, an invisible "fly on the wall," overhearing the action.
And isn't that the goal of radio theatre production?

If the location concept was around as early as the 1890s, then it stands
to reason it was probably tried at least somewhat, sometimes, during the
Golden Age. I'm trying to learn what early experiments may have been
made, and this group is a wonderful resource!

Thanks again,

Richard Fish

--
"Post proofs that brotherhood is not so wild a dream as those who profit
by postponing it pretend." -- Norman Corwin, 1945

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

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 23:19:37 -0500
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  donald vorhees

Can anyone help Catherine?

I've been reading Martin Grams's website about the Cavalcade of America.

I'm looking for information about Don Voorhees's activities in radio from
the 1920s, mainly in connection with William Grant Still, who worked for
him as an arranger c 1926-30.

Thanks in advance,

Catherine Parsons Smith
Professor Emerita
University of Nevada Reno <smithcp@[removed];

-

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

Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 08:46:04 -0500
From: dougdouglass@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  WOTW

New Jersey's Acting Governor Richard J.  Codey talking about a massive
terrorism drill planned for next week, said "Don't be alarmed. We don't
want this to turn into 'War Of The Worlds'. It happened before and it
could happen again."

Doug Douglass

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

Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:20:29 -0500
From: Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Mea culpa to Jim Burns

Jim, I regret that I did not credit you as the person who identified "Brother
Theodore".

Anthony Tollin posted information about Theodore also.  Tony sent his posting
direct to me, thus I received it on my PC before it appeared in the OTR
Digest.  So I thanked him.  But I see that in fact your posting ran first.

And now I thank you both!  I appreciate the help of both of you!  And several
others who contributed information about John Zacherly and Brother Theodore,
both via OTR-D and in direct communications to me.

Bestus, Lee Munsick

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #103
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