------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 308
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
more fact on Bob Hope [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
Domineering OTR wives [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
Spy Who Came n from the Cold [ "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed]; ]
GBS [ welsa@[removed] ]
In defense of Shemp [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
Lux Radio Theater book [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
Lucy Didn't Love Herself? [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
strong women [ kathleen grams-gibbs <grams46@bloom ]
Br'er Rabbit Shows [ ilamfan@[removed] ]
Harry Von Zell [ lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed]; ]
Petrillo [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK Schedule for [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
Packard Bell Radio [ "gary hagan" <grhagan@[removed]; ]
Re: domineering wives [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
twilight zone music [ "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed]; ]
OTR on DVD [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
FRAGNET [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
John Rayburn's new Book [ Larry Gassman <lgsinger@[removed] ]
Firefighters [ Richard Olday <raolday@[removed]; ]
more on the Victrola thread [ "Austotr" <austotr@[removed]; ]
Today in radio history --sorta [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Help- Locate a selling forum for my [ "Steve Manning" <kingocards@earthli ]
Roma wines [ Jeff Weaver <jweaver@[removed]; ]
Annette Hanshaw [ "Albert" <alkb2ng@[removed]; ]
The Stooge in the [removed] [ Wich2@[removed] ]
Who's Who? [ Wich2@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:24:13 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: more fact on Bob Hope
Hi Everybody,
I am reading Bob Hope book about his movie career. Bob and it has allot of
stories about his radio days. Three things he mention are
1. Bob had to decide to either hirer Skinny Ennis, or Ozzie Nelson band for
his radio show in 1938. bob chose Skinny because he help encourage Skinny
to become a band leader.
2. Bob mention at one time during his career that he had 13 writers under
contract.
3. Bob original theme song on radio would have cost him $250 per show to
play it, but he went with Thanks for the memories because he knew he could
work out a better business deal and he had success with it in the movie.
Take care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:16:40 -0400
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Domineering OTR wives
I would nominate Mrs. Anderson ("Poopsie" to her husband Herbert; and played
by Verna Felton, Paula Winslowe and Bea Benaderet), Dennis Day's landlady on
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DENNIS DAY.
Ivan
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:22:49 -0400
From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Spy Who Came n from the Cold
U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers ("Frank") worked at KGIL San Fernando when I
knew him. He and his family lived in the San Fernando Valley and Frank was
doing drive-time news at KGIL, then later was in the KGIL helicopter when it
had the fatal accident in which Frank was killed. A regular, nice guy!
Join OTR Chat on Thursdays, 8 PM ET, on IRC. StarLink-IRC network,
#Oldradio channel. Meet actors, soundmen from the "golden days of radio",
and others with the same interest. Email for directions.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:24:25 -0400
From: welsa@[removed]
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: GBS
I came across this quote from George Bernard Shaw. Thought it worth
sharing: "There are three things I shall never forget about [removed]
Rocky Mountains, the Statue of Liberty and Amos 'n' Andy."
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:17:59 -0400
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: In defense of Shemp
Martin Grams, Jr. wrote:
I forget the name of the short, but if you watch the first Three Stooges
short to feature Shemp Howard, you'll catch Curly sitting as one of the
passengers in the train.
The short Martin is thinking of is HOLD THAT LION (1947), which is actually
the third short released after Shemp returned to the comedy trio. What is
not generally known, however, is that Curly Howard also made an appearance
in a 1949 short, MALICE IN THE PALACE. His scene(s) were excised from the
released product, but you could see him on the poster advertising the short
(and there's a still from his appearance in the wonderful book THE COLUMBIA
COMEDY SHORTS by Edward Watz and Ted Okuda--he's barely recognizable, due to
having lost a lot of weight and sporting a handlebar moustache).
Curly Howard suffered a stroke at one time and was regrettably replaced by
Shemp Howard as the next [removed] Shemp came on, only a few of the
shorts shined but the shorts began to lack the humor.
As has been previously pointed out, Shemp was a member of the Stooges [removed]
(Before Curly) when the trio was still working alongside Ted Healy. (He
appeared with the Stooges in their first feature film, FROM SOUP TO NUTS
[1930].) I bow to no one in acknowledging that Curly Howard was a vastly
underrated comedian, but I firmly believe that many of the Shemp shorts were
superior to the Curly product. Curly was funny, but to be perfectly
frank--he wasn't ever going to be anything other than Curly of the Three
Stooges. Shemp, on the other hand, proved to be a first-rate comic
character actor--as witnessed in such films as THE BANK DICK, HELLZAPOPPIN',
and many of Abbott & Costello's more memorable features (yeah, it was
difficult steering this back to OTR, but I did it!).
Ivan
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:23:57 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Lux Radio Theater book
Hi Everybody,
is Art Pierce book on Lux Radio Theater is still around, and does any one
have Art email? Take care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:19:53 -0400
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lucy Didn't Love Herself?
Another tell-all biography, this one of Lucille Ball, is reviewed in today's
New York Daily News.
It says she was unhappy all the time and had a bad relationship with her
family. It avows that Jack Benny thought she needed a psychiatrist.
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:23:32 -0400
From: kathleen grams-gibbs <grams46@[removed];
To: otr <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: strong women
Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; wrote:
I've listened to several OTR programs over the years
and have noticed a recurring theme. Some of the wives
(some mentioned in name only) have been--what's the most
PC way of saying this--domineering(?) I'd like to see how
many of them the mailing list members can think of.
blanche bickerson of "the bickersons"
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:22:24 -0400
From: ilamfan@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed] (OTR Bulletin Board)
Subject: Br'er Rabbit Shows
The short "Br'er Rabbit" shows are probably the series "Sleepy Joe" -
"Uncle Remus" stories told by Jimmy Scribner. I believe they are from
1948. Episodes 1-44, 129-132, and 2 auditions are available. Each is about
7 minutes long. Available here and there, with a bit of looking around.
Hope this helps!
Stephen Jansen
--
Old Time Radio never dies - it
just changes formats!
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:24:37 -0400
From: lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Harry Von Zell
Is there any one on the digest that ownes a copy of
the book Golden Throats and Silver Longues-The Radio
Announcers by Ray Poindexter. If you do could you
contact me off list. I need some info for a story I
am doing on Harry Von Zell.
Thank You!!
Lynn Wagar
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:20:31 -0400
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Petrillo
My friend, Lee Munsick, commented about my recent posting about the
Petrillo's, pointing out that Caeser was James Petrillo's middle name.
Perhaps true, but Caeser is listed in "The Big Broadcast" as conducting
the orchestra on at least two shows, "Treat Time" and "First Nighter".
Also I remember hearing his name credit on Chicago originations in those
days. Also I think that Caeser was staff musical director for WBBM at
that time. For some reason I knew that the two Petrillo's were brothers.
I will check it out Tuesday. My large local "ham" radio group meets for
breakfast at a local restaurant every Tuesday morning. I usually sit with
one of the members who is an old time, retired WBBM engineer. He will
know the answer. Stay tuned! My knowledge is not from books but from my
own experience!
BILL MURTOUGH
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:16:32 -0400
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK Schedule for week
starting Sunday 8/10/03
Here's the coming week's shows in streaming high quality audio at:
[removed]. Available 24/7
SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges
Bob Hope Salute
1. SCREEN DIRECTOR'S PLAYHOUSE 6/14/51 "Ghost Breakers"
stars: Bob Hope & Shirley Mitchell.
2. CAVALCADE OF AMERICA 10/11/43 "Bob Hope Reports"
Bob entertains the troops.
3. THE BOB HOPE SHOW 3/25/52 With guests: Gracie Allen,
The Bell Sisters, and Jerry Collona.
4. THE SCREEN GUILD THEATER 2/15/43 "The Got Me Covered" stars: Bob
Hope, Dorothy Lamour and Phyllis Ruth.
HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood
1. THE SHADOW 1/5/47 MBS "The Werewolf of Hamilton
Mansion" stars: Bill Johnstone & Grace Mathews.
2. THE RED SKELTON SHOW 3/8/51 CBS Red plays "Deadeye"
in "The Sad Texan" and "Junior" - the mean widdle kid.
3. THE COLGATE SPORTS NEWSREEL with BILL STERN 12/1946
Last show of 1946 - Guest: Eddie Cantor.
Enjoy!! Tom & Jerry
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:23:50 -0400
From: "gary hagan" <grhagan@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Packard Bell Radio
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Recently my father-in-law sold his house and moved into an assisted living
home. Among his possessions is a 1947 Packard Bell radio console. I am
told it also records 78 rpm records. It has a microphone with it and blank
records. It is both [removed] and [removed] and says Stationized
Phonocord-radio-FM-PA-Mic-Rcd-Rad Rec on the radio face. It also says
California and NW stations. We have a stack of blanks to record on. Does
anyone know the value of such an old time radio and if people really
recorded radio shows to records or their own voices? We couldn't find a
book with it that tells these things. It is supposed to record from the
inside out. Info or Value anyone?
Gary
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:22:57 -0400
From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: domineering wives
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In a message dated 8/10/03 4:16:02 PM Central Daylight Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:
Can anyone think of any more?
I seem to recall Abner's wife on "Lum and Abner" being rather domineering, I
think her name was Elizabeth. There's an episode of the short-lived half-hour
sitcom incarnation in which she runs onto Abner's "Mr. Anthony" -style advice
program and chases him apparently with a rolling pin or something. She even
shouts his name, possibly the only time (or one of the rare times) her voice
was actually heard.
Come to think of it, a lot of the women on "Lum and Abner" seem to fit either
the domineering wife or man-chaser stereotypes.
Dixon
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:19:38 -0400
From: "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: twilight zone music
I am listening to Mirror Image on Twilight Zone. I notice that some of
the music used was the same as that used on CBS radio Mystery Theater
with [removed] Marshall. I thought it was kind of strange but his background
music made up some of the music for this show. These shows are quite
listenable and some of the scrips seem definitely new to me. I went to
the web site, but didn't see anything there about a free CD as in the
commercial. Anyway, an interesting show with lots of commercials.
Thought I would write and mention the music. Thank you. Kurt
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:20:04 -0400
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR on DVD
For those of you keeping score: the recently released 60th anniversary
version of CASABLANCA (a 2-DVD set) contains the April 26, 1943 broadcast of
The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players version of the movie starring Humphrey
Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Heinreid. (I heartily recommend this DVD,
btw.)
Ivan
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 23:23:03 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: FRAGNET
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No, Laura -- fragnet is part of the Japanese, 'Land Of The Rising Sun'
radio network -- their system cue -- This is the Fragnet Radio [removed]
Oh, my -- I have to find an indoor place to [removed]
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 00:16:12 -0400
From: Larry Gassman <lgsinger@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: John Rayburn's new Book
Hi,
I received this recently concerning John Rayburn and thought you'd be
interested.
This portion does not have anything to do with Old Time Radio but see below
where he covers his future web site.
Larry Gassman
The publishing business offers an arduous path to follow and
persistence is
a byword. Finally, a collection of ol' John Rayburn's newspaper columns is
coming out in two versions--Ebook (The electronic one that can be
downloaded off the Internet) and a print version. It's titled The Spirit
of America: Stories to Recognize the History, Humor and Heritage of Our
National Culture. You can find out about it at
<[removed];[removed] Just look for the
heading Search Our Collection and type in John Rayburn and there you
are. If any of you in this mailing have an extensive address book I'd
appreciate it if you'd pass along the word so we can get some hits on the
web site. We're developing our own web site at the moment and it will
include some other things such as a couple of CDs--A Quiet Time--made up of
narration of poetry, inspiration, humor, motivation, etc. and Old Time
Radio, An Historical Perspective containing much material from the Golden
Age of Radio--excerpts and anecdotes.
Just wanted to bring you up-to-date. Any assistance will be
appreciated. Thanks.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 00:15:37 -0400
From: Richard Olday <raolday@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Firefighters
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Firefighters was a syndicated show. I believe that there were only 140 shows
(15 minutes). I have 140 shows. It was very preachy on fire safety. There was
an Uncle Remus 5 minute show that featured Brer Rabbit. I have a 5 part Brer
Rabbit serial.
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:46:56 -0400
From: "Austotr" <austotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: more on the Victrola thread
In issue #307 Ellsworth Johnson mentioned this book:
It was printed in1991published by the General Electric Co primarily for
their employees and former employees. It is absolutely loaded with pictures
and has quite a story and history of the Victor Co. and the story goes
that it took 6 years to get it altogether prior to printing. The title is
"His Masters Voice In America" It is a beautiful hardback book with hundred
of pages.
I tried [removed] and Powells in Portland, Or. Neither had one.
I wanted to find out what they might ask for one."
Only one listed on [removed] for US$[removed] the description on the
site gives a lot of detail.
Ian Grieve
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:47:06 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history --sorta
From Those Were The Days --
1909 -- The international distress call, SOS, which replaced CQD (All
stations -- distress!), was first used by an American ship on this day.
Joe
--
Visit my homepage: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:47:22 -0400
From: "Steve Manning" <kingocards@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Help- Locate a selling forum for my 1936
Atwater-Kent radio
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Hi, I am hoping someone can help direct me to the appropriate forum to sell my
radio. I have a 1936 Atwater-Kent Model 53 floor model radio. It is an
all-steel floor style that is in excellent condition (original, no restoration
work). I am the second owner as my grandfather bought this unit at the
Northwest Radio Co. (Greenwood Ave. at 67th Street) in Seattle, WA in 1936.
It's serial # is 3683174. Until recently it was working very well but the
tubes take forever to "warm up". I have the original sales sticker, etc., but
no manual. I did get a couple of appraisals from high-end auction houses but
they seem unrealistically high. Any ideas on fair pricing? I would like to see
this go to a old-time radio enthusiast and not sit is someone's victorian
foyer to "catch" car keys, etc. I am "all ears" for your opinions,
[removed]
Much Thanks!
Steve Manning
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:48:11 -0400
From: Jeff Weaver <jweaver@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Roma wines
A question my wife has asked over and over. What has become of Roma wines?
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:12:46 -0400
From: "Albert" <alkb2ng@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Annette Hanshaw
Hello!
Can anyone tell me more about my newest favorite singer Annette Hanshaw? I
recently heard a selection by her on a nostalgia program on WHCU in Ithaca,
NY. Prior to that I had never heard of her, but a little research on the
web indicated that she was voted the most popular songbird on radio in
1932, easily out distancing more familiar names like Kate Smith, Ruth
Etting and Harriet Hilliard. I now own four CD's of her recordings, all
made between 1926 and 1934, and they are a pure delight. She retired in
1935, when her radio contract ran out, but she lived until 1985.
Apparently she was friends with Helen Kane (the model for Betty Boop), and
did a very good impression of her. One story on a web site relates that
Helen Kane was once sued by her recording company which came to the
conclusion that she (Helen Kane) did not really exist but was actually
Annette Hanshaw using the name of Helen Kane!
Regards,
Albert J. Kopec
Dundee, NY
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:42:18 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Stooge in the [removed]
Dear Martin (& co.)-
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
Subject: Three Stooges
Curly Howard suffered a stroke at one time and was regrettably replaced by
Shemp Howard as the next Stooge.
"Regrettably"? Ouch!
I have to plead guilty that as a kid (and in the Joe DeRita era, no less), I
saw the Shemp shorts & wondered, "Who's THIS goofy looking guy?". Watching
the films now, though, Shemuel Horovitz is actually my favorite Stooge. He
had a very successful career as a character actor apart from the group (for
sheer acting chops, I find him the best of all 6 Stooges) and I think he
carries his solo scenes in the shorts as well, if not better than, Curley -
to whom, no disrespect!
After Shemp came on, only a few of the shorts shined but the
shorts began to lack the humor.
True enough. They got cheaper & cheaper, alas - but no fault of the casts.
Which brings us back on topic - can anyone come forward with any radio
appearances by The Boys, or Shemp alone?. I have heard later performances on
children's records, and they were such pros that the work is perfectly full
in audio [removed]
Best,
Craig W.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:00:51 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Who's Who?
From: "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed];
Subject: suspense
House in Cypress Canyon is also quite good.
Kurt & Folks-
Like many of us, I'd probably pick SUSPENSE as my all-time favorite show -
but the preference for this one always eludes [removed] It's been a while since
I've heard it, and I recall the atmosphere being great, but doesn't the
script have a hard time deciding whether the bogie is a psycho killer, a
ghost, or a werewolf?
I wonder if CYPRESS gets the nod because it was one of the first ones
released commercially, & hence first heard by many? I'd list the Classics:
HITCHIKER, WRONG NUMBER, DONOVAN, PRESENT TENSE, XERO HOUR, etc.
Best,
Craig "Man in Black" Wichman
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #308
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