Subject: [removed] Digest V2006 #305
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 11/5/2006 4:18 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2006 : Issue 305
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  OTR Digest Available                  [ Tom Barnett <[removed]@earthlink. ]
  Christmas Carol & Code                [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
  Another Christmas Carol               [ Illoman <illoman@[removed]; ]
  Cue the huskies!                      [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
  CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER REVISTED    [ Allen Wilcox <aawjca@[removed]; ]
  Barrymore Christmas Carol             [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
  Nikolas von Reznicek & the [removed]  [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
  11-5 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
  Rich Little's " A Christmas Carol"    [ mlwallace57@[removed] (Mary L. Wa ]
  And it's a [removed]!                      [ Wich2@[removed] ]
  OTR Movies                            [ "Don and Kathy Dean" <dxk@ezlinknet ]
  The Music of the Great Northwest      [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
  Sgt. Preston                          [ "Jim Nixon" <ranger6000@[removed] ]
  Re: Classical Themes                  [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
  Re: Classical Themes                  [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
  Speaking Of Allen's Alley             [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 17:50:10 -0500
From: Tom Barnett <[removed]@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  OTR Digest Available

Several years ago, Herb Brandenburg started a bi-monthly periodical dedicated to Old Time Radio. It was the "OTR Digest" and was started in 1984. I have in my possesion several of issues from the run of that little magazine and am selling them as a lot (31 Issues) for $15 and I'll ship them USPS Media. Contact me offline at [removed]@[removed]. 

#  Issue                    Year          Description
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1   Jan-Feb  	1984	*Premier* Issue - FOTR Convention
2   Mar-Apr	1984	Edger Bergan
3   May-Jun	1984	Lux Radio Theater
6   Nov-Dec	1984	Kenny Delmar

13  Jan-Feb	1986	Jack Benny
15  May-Jun	1986	OTR Dealers: Friend or Foe
16  Jul-Aug	1986	Radio ond the Comics

21  May-Jun	1987	The Hindenburg Broadcast
22  Jul-Aug                1987	The Shadow
25  Jan-Feb	1988	Carlton E. Morse
26  Mar-Apr	1988	Gale Gordon
29  Sep-Oct	1988	John Archer
30  Nov-Dec	1988	Fred Allen

31  Jan-Feb	1989	War of the Worlds Pt. 1
32  Mar-Apr	1989	War of the Worlds Pt. 2
34  Jul-Aug	1989	Willard Waterman
35  Sep-Oct	1989	WLW's Ruth Lyons
36  Nov-Dec	1989	Farewell, Mel Blanc

37  Jan-Feb	1990	Radio Nostalgia Convention
38  Mar-Apr	1990	Bulldog Drummond
39  May-Jun	1990	Burns-Benny Smuggling Case Pt 1
40  Jul-Aug	1990	Burns-Benny Smuggling Case Pt 2
41  Sep-Oct	1990	5th Annual OTR Convention Highlights
42  Nov-Dec	1990	Kenny Delmar
43  Jan-Feb	1991	Ed "Archie" Gardner
44  Mar-Apr	1991	Polly Wants a Copyright!
45  May-Jun	1991	Bobby Benson
46  Jul-Aug	1991	Fanny Brice
47  Sep-Oct	1991	Ezra Stone
48  Nov-Dec	1991 	6th Annual OTR Convention Highlights  

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 17:54:13 -0500
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Christmas Carol & Code

Can anyone stand another post about "A Christmas Carol"? I've
been on the road and may have missed mention of another version
due to limited e-mail access. But I don't believe anyone has
referred to the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre version that
was done 10 years ago this month. If you think the 30-minute
productions don't do the story justice (I agree), then you might
think Focus' is too much - it runs 90 minutes. You can read more
about it at [removed]

I think it is well-done, as their other productions are; my only
gripe continues to be their sound effects and music seem
overpowering as they imitate movie theater sound. It
(radio/audio), after all, is the "theater of the mind" and we
need only hints of sfx and melodies much of the time.

-0-

Al Girard wrote Friday of Morse Code on broadcasts that was
sometimes accurate and other times not. It's my understanding
that when broadcast on commercial radio, there was an FCC rule
against it making any sense - because the commercial broadcast
band wasn't for tranmission of code. Therefore, if the sound was
to be used for whatever purpose on a "voice channel" it was to be
gibberish. I remember WOAI in San Antonio using a code effect as
its intro to the 10 o'clock news (early 1950s); a neighbor who
was a ham radio operator said it was just a random selection of
letters - nothing dramatic like W-O-A-I N-E-W-S.

Bob Cockrum

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 18:44:45 -0500
From: Illoman <illoman@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Another Christmas Carol
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I recall reading that Ernest Chapell once narrated a version of A
Christmas Carol. Does anyone know where I might obtain a copy?

Thanks!
Mike

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Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 19:53:18 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Cue the huskies!

On Saturday, November 4, 2006, at 05:52 PM, James Yellen wrote:

Can anyone tell me the source for the Sargeant Preston of the Yukon 
theme? Somehow, to me, it always conjurs up images of a wind-blown
snowstorm with mushing huskies pulling a sled. Which brings up another
question.  Did Sgt. Preston ever actually say, "On you huskies."

The main musical theme for Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (called 
"Challenge of the Yukon" for the first 12 years) was a short section 
taken from the overture to the opera "Donna Diana." This was one of a 
dozen operas composed by Austrian-born Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek 
(1860-1945) none of which involved wind-blown snow. Reznicek was a 
prolific composer; in addition to his operas, he wrote four symphonies, 
one operetta, and dozens of orchestral works.

"Donna Diana" was first offered in 1894 and revised versions played in 
1908 and 1935, all in Prague. He had relocated to Berlin about 1911 and 
spent his remaining years there, as conductor and instructor. With the 
WXYZ tradition of paying no royalties on European classical music, 
Reznicek, sitting out WW II in Germany, was in no position to expect 
different treatment. (He died in Berlin on Aug 2, 1945, four months 
after the Nazi military powers surrendered to the Allies.)

As for the [removed], Preston said, on the introduction of nearly 
every episode in the last 10 years it was on the air: "On King, on you 
huskies!"

Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
[removed]>

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 19:54:58 -0500
From: Allen Wilcox <aawjca@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER REVISTED
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I am a fan of CBS RMT. It was my introduction to OTR and have fond memories
of [removed] G. Marshall was the host for the longest time. Is he still with us?
Are any of the actors from RMT still here?

  The memorable opening of the show had the creeking door wich also was the
opening of Inner Santum Mysteries. Was that idea stolen from ISM?

   I was wondering has Hyman Brown released them on CD yet? Bernard Herman
was the musical director but he died durring the mid 70's. Who took over
after him?

  Allen

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:18:49 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Barrymore Christmas Carol

On 11/4/06 8:24 AM [removed]@[removed] wrote:

During the 1939 broadcast, Orson remarks that the reading of Dickens
Carol is a seasonal tradition and that Barrymore's presentation of it is
fast becoming one.
That says to me that Barrymore had done Scrooge on radio for quite some
time.

The first broadcast to feature Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge was aired on
Christmas afternoon 1934, as a segment of a special three-hour holiday
variety special on CBS sponsored by the Nash Motor Company. In 1935,
1936, and 1937 the Barrymore "Christmas Carol" was presented as a segment
of the "Hollywood Hotel" variety program, under Campbell's Soup
sponsorship. No recordings exist of any of these performances. Campbell's
continued its association with "A Christmas Carol" with "Campbell
Playhouse" performances in 1938 and 1939 -- but Barrymore was ill and
unable to broadcast the 1938 program, leaving Welles himself to carry the
role of Scrooge.

Elizabeth

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:19:29 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Nikolas von Reznicek & the [removed]

Theme song for Sergeant Preston (or Challenge) of the Yukon was
    Dona Diana Overture by von Reznicek.
Don't know what orchestra played it, but probably a studio group that did
themes for that show and The Lone Ranger.  Lots of neat classical music for
both shows, and the Green Hornet.

Ted Kneebone / 1528 S. Grant St. / Aberdeen, SD 57401
[removed]~stmarkch/

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:19:39 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  11-5 births/deaths

November 5th births

11-05-1878 - Henry M. Neely - Philadelphia, PA - d. 5-1-1963
actor, writer, director, producer: "Fitch Bandwagon"
11-05-1879 - Will Hays - Sullivan, IN - d. 3-7-1954
puritanical censor: "Republican National Convention 1948"; "A Tribute
to FDR"
11-05-1885 - Will Durant - North Adams, MA - d. 11-7-1981
historian: "America's Town Meeting of the Air"
11-05-1887 - Ralph Moody - St. Louis, MO - d. 9-16-1971
actor: "Gunsmoke"; "Roy Rogers Show"; "Wild Bill Hickok"
11-05-1891 - Vinton Freedley - Philadelphia, PA - d. 6-5-1969
host: "Theatre USA"
11-05-1893 - Jean Sothern - d. 4-14-1964
actor: Edie Gray "Pepper Young's Family"; Connie Rickard "Red Davis"
11-05-1893 - Theodore von Eltz - New Haven, CT - d. 10-6-1964
actor: Inspector Fernak "The Saint"
11-05-1895 - Charles MacArthur - Scranton, PA - d. 4-21-1956
playwright: "Jumbo Fire Chief Program"; "Chase and Sanborn Hour"
11-05-1897 - Jan Garber - Norristown, PA - d. 10-5-1977
bandleader: "Jan Garber Supper Club"
11-05-1902 - Borrah Minevitch - Kiev, Russia - d. 6-26-1955
harmonica player: (King of the Harmonica) Had own show on NBC Blue
11-05-1905 - Annunzio Paolo Mantovani - Venice, Italy - d. 3-29-1980
orchestra leader: "Music In the Air"; "Of These We Sing"
11-05-1905 - Joel McCrea - South Pasadena, CA - d. 10-20-1990
actor: Jace Pearson "Tales of the Texas Rangers"
11-05-1905 - John Whedon - d. 11-21-1991
writer: "The Great Gildersleeve"
11-05-1911 - Roy Rogers - Cincinnati, OH - d. 7-6-1998
singer, actor: (King of the Cowboys) "Roy Rogers Show"; "Saturday
Nite Round-Up"
11-05-1913 - Vivien Leigh - Darjeeling, India - d. 7-7-1967
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
11-05-1919 - Hy Zaret - Syracuse, NY - d. 7-2-2004
writer: "Sing It Again"
11-05-1919 - Myron Floren - Webster, SD - d. 7-23-2005
accordianist: "Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music"
11-05-1927 - Robert Abernathy - Geneva, Switzerland
newscaster: "News on the Hour"
11-05-1933 - Donald Madden - NYC - d. 1-22-1983
actor: "Let's Pretend"
11-05-1937 - Harris Yulin - Los Angles, CA
actor: "Empire of the Air"

November 5th deaths

01-17-1880 - Mack Sennett - Richmond, Quebec, Canada - d. 11-5-1960
king of silent comedy: "Hear It Now"; "Biography In Sound"
01-27-1908 - "Hot Lips" Page - Dallas, TX - d. 11-5-1954
jazz trumpeter: "Milt Herth Trio"; "Eddie Condon's Jazz Concert"
02-05-1911 - Bert Wilson - d. 11-5-1955
chicago cubs play-by-play announcer 1944-1955
03-11-1922 - Vinnette Carroll - NYC - d. 11-5-2002
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
04-09-1903 - Ward Bond - Denver, CO - d. 11-5-1960
actor: "Screen Director's Playhouse"
06-19-1902 - Guy Lombardo - London, Canada - d. 11-5-1977
bandleader: (The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven) "Lombardoland USA"
07-03-1878 - George M. Cohan - Providence, RI - d. 11-5-1942
composer: "Collier Hour"; "Ed Sullivan Show"; "Free Company"
08-05-1887 - Reginald Owen - Wheathampton, England - d. 11-5-1972
actor, writer: "Lux Radio Theatre"
08-30-1908 - Fred MacMurray - Kankakee, IL - d. 11-5-1991
actor: George Harvey "Bright Star"; "Lux Radio Theatre
08-31-1906 - Ruth Weston - Boston, MA - d. 11-5-1955
actor: Maude Kellogg "Life Can Be Beautiful"
09-28-1901 - William S. Paley - Chicago, IL - d. 11-5-1990
Founder and president of CBS
09-28-1909 - Al Capp - New Haven, CT - d. 11-5-1979
cartoonist: Creator of "Li'l Abner"; "Monitor"
10-01-1904 - Vladimir Horowitz - Kiev, Ukraine, Russia - d. 11-5-1989
piano virtuoso: "GuestStar"; "Pictures At An Exhibition"
10-13-1909 - Art Tatum - Toledo, OH - d. 11-5-1956
pianist: David Rose Orchestra
11-03-1902 - Ted Pearson - Arlington, NE - d. 11-5-1961
announcer: "Advs. of the Thin Man"; "Cavalcade of America"; "Good
News of 1938"
12-15-1916 - Buddy Cole - Irving, IL - d. 11-5-1964
musician: (Buddy Cole Trio) "Ginny Simms Show"; "Hollywood Showcase"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 23:54:39 -0500
From: mlwallace57@[removed] (Mary L. Wallace)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Rich Little's " A Christmas Carol"

Rich Little played Scrooge as [removed] Fields'' Nixon was Marley's Ghost.
Others Little played were Paul Lynde as Bob Cratchit, Jean Stapleton (!)
as Mrs. Cratchit, Groucho Marx as Fezziwig (sp?). and Truman Capote as
Tiny Tim.  As I recall, he had characters played as Jimmy Stewart and
Jack Benny.  Can anyone fill in the rest of the "cast"?

Mary Lou Wallace

[ADMINISTRIVIA: [removed]  --cfs3]

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 23:57:11 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  And it's a [removed]!

From: "Tim Lones" _tlones1@[removed]_ (mailto:tlones1@[removed])

[removed] is  believed that Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol is known as the
first half-hour  cartoon special made especially for [removed]

Dear Tim-

As mentioned before, I absolutely agree that it's wonderful. But it's one
hour.
(Radio vets in cast: Jim Backus, Morey Amsterdam, Paul  Frees, John Hart, Les
Tremayne.)

Best,
-Craig

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 23:57:40 -0500
From: "Don and Kathy Dean" <dxk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  OTR Movies

For those of you who missed them the last time -
Turner Classic Movies are showing the following OTR
related movies on the date & time shown.

HEAVENLY DAYS (1944) - starring Jim & Marion Jordan
Fibber McGee & Molly - 5:00 AM Tuesday November 7

SO THIS IS WASHINGTON (1943) - starring Chester Lauck
& Norris Goff (Lum & Abner) - 6:15 AM Tuesday November 7

LOOK WHO'S LAUGHING (1941) - starring Jim Jordan,
Lucille Ball, Edgar Bergen - 2:00 AM Thursday November 9

SUPERMAN Chapters 11-15 (1948) - 10:00 AM Saturday Nov. 11

ATOM MAN VS. SUPERMAN (1950) - Chapters 1- 4
Saturday November 18 - 10:00 AM

ATOM MAN VS. SUPERMAN (1950) - Chapters 5-8
Saturday November 25 - 10:00 AM

The other chapters would be shown the following Saturday at 10 AM

Times are Eastern Standard Time

Don Dean N8IOJ

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

Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2006 23:59:35 -0500
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Music of the Great Northwest

On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 15:50:51 -0500 "James Yellen" <clifengr3@[removed]; wrote:

Can anyone tell me the source for the Sargeant Preston of the Yukon
theme? Somehow, to me, it always conjurs up images of a wind-blown
snowstorm with mushing huskies pulling a sled. On you huskies! Which
brings up another question.  Did Sgt. Preston ever actually say, "On
you huskies." Or is that like one of those "Famous Sayings That Were
Never Said"? Like "Play it again Sam."

I'm afraid I won't score any points for arcane knowledge with this
response; no doubt a score of people will respond. But the music is
"Overture to Donna Diana" by Reznicek. And I agree that there is an
arctic chill in its shivering melody, augmented by the  wind machine.
_Challenge of the Yukon_ MAY have been my favorite show from OTR.
Certainly the opening notes always called me away to clean, unspoiled
reaches of the wilderness as a boy, listening in the rather grubby
little kitchen of our threadbare four room house. Happily, there were
woods to play in outside (all gone, now), and only one kid my age
within walking distance, so the loneliness of the setting may have
had a special appeal for me. Later I DID get to spend some time doing
wildlife work, living in a $25 tent in the great Smokies for a
Summer; perhaps my radio adventures in the Yukon prepared me for that
isolation.

Years later, when I had a job that allowed me to afford it, I tried
to arrange a dog-sledding outing - alone; my girlfriend wasn't
interested - in the Yukon, but couldn't find any outfitters that
included even one night camping on the frozen trail in their
itinerary. The job ended before I found the vacation offering I
sought.

I got to meet Richard Simmons a few years before his death. It was
Paul Sutton, of course, I'd heard on the radio, though Mr. Simmons
said he'd done a few radio shows (can't verify or dispute that). But
when I heard Mr. Sutton's voice it was Richard Simmons' face I saw in
my mind's eye, as it was his face that appeared on the comics, games,
cereal boxes(?), etc. Surprisingly, no one had asked him to recite
the line, so I did, and he obliged: "Well, King, this case is
closed." Not long afterward, sadly, it was.

That music, perhaps the most evocative in all of OTR, still
transports me to the wind-swept, snow-covered reaches of the great
Northwest, even when I hear it used as filler on the local classical
station.

And, yes, Sgt. Preston did call out "On, King! On, you  huskies!"
right at the very beginning of the show (I don't recall his ever
saying "Mush!" though).  In earlier versions, mid-40's, he cries "On
King! On, you malamutes!" That didn't have the same panache, somehow.
That was also before Reznicek's music was used, making for altogether
a less galvanizing opening.

You can hear the music, and Danial Pinkwater's musings on the wonder dog, here:
[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 10:07:56 -0500
From: "Jim Nixon" <ranger6000@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Sgt. Preston

James Yellen asked for the theme name for Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, which
as many posters have previously noted, is the overture to "Donna Dianna" by
Emil von Reznicek.  Now, as howling winds echo across the snow-covered
reaches of the wild Northwest, James, you can enjoy this wonderful music.
And yes, Preston certainly says, "On you huskies" many times, including
during the intro.  He must have been a University of Washington alum.

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

Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 11:45:30 -0500
From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re:  Classical Themes
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Can anyone tell me the source for the Sargeant Preston of the Yukon
theme?

The theme to Challenge of the Yukon is the Overture to "Donna Diana"
by Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek.

rob

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

Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 13:46:25 -0500
From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re:  Classical Themes

The theme to Challenge of the Yukon is the Overture to "Donna Diana"
by Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek.

rob

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

Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 13:46:41 -0500
From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
To: ""old-time radio digest">" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Speaking Of Allen's Alley

How 'bout those Demarco Sisters?
Did they ever have any recording success before, during, or after they were
on the Allen show?
They could do that 5 part harmony stuff very well.
I've never heard of them appearing on other shows either.  Did they?
Bill

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #305
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