Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #382
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 9/30/2002 6:13 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 382
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Evolution Of Science Fiction Show     [ jeff quick <mrears69@[removed]; ]
  "What's a Nice [removed]"               [ Peter Kinder <pdkinder@[removed]; ]
  Sandy Singer                          [ "alanladdsr" <alanladdsr@[removed] ]
  Gunsmoke music 45?                    [ "Matthew Bullis" <MatthewBullis@run ]
  Re: WOTW Facts and Figures            [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
  WOTW the first half hour              [ joseph <josephm@[removed]; ]
  Christian dramas like Ranger Bill     [ "Matthew Bullis" <MatthewBullis@run ]
  The Stae of the Hobby                 [ SeptSev@[removed] ]
  Black Dahlia & "True Confessions"     [ Peter Kinder <pdkinder@[removed]; ]
  Radio writer to guest at SPERDVAC me  [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
  Re: RS tape cases                     [ Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts) ]
  "The Black Dahlia & Radio Spirits"    [ "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed]; ]
  websites with otr interviews          [ John <glowingdial1@[removed]; ]
  RE: biographies of and interviews wi  [ "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@worldn ]
  Common Sense                          [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
  Comics and OTR                        [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
  Sandy Singer and 1940s Chicago radio  [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
  Updated Broadcast Logs                [ "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@worldn ]
  re DVD players for playimg MP3        [ "Ellsworth Johnson" <eojohnsonww2@a ]

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 16:44:22 -0400
From: jeff quick <mrears69@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Evolution Of Science Fiction Show

Hi,

My name is Jeff Quick & I have been a "lurker" on the
list for a long while. I have enjoyed the posts and
learned a lot about the history of OTR in the process.

I thought I would comment on what a wonderful show the
History Channel Program turned out to be.

I taped it & just got a chance to watch it a few
minutes ago. For any of the Sci Fi enthusiensts on the
list, it's well worth a look. I assume the History
Channel will re-run this show in the future.

Congrats to Anthony on some very insightful
commentary.

Jeff Q

Politicians should read science fiction, not westerns
and detective stories.

Arthur C Clarke

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 16:44:34 -0400
From: Peter Kinder <pdkinder@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "What's a Nice [removed]"

	I love stories like this.  Wish there were more of them on the list.
Thanks, Sandy and Charlie.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 16:45:13 -0400
From: "alanladdsr" <alanladdsr@[removed];
To: "OTR message" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Sandy Singer

Appreciated the remarks by Mr. Singer, particularly since I grew up in
Chicago, as well, and the memories he shares are particularly relevant to
me. My first show to see was something called "Date With Daddy" hosted by
Tommy Bartlett, WGN I think. He mentioned Everett [removed]'t he
murdered and was the case ever solved?

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 16:45:01 -0400
From: "Matthew Bullis" <MatthewBullis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Gunsmoke music 45?

Hello, I remember hearing on a Gunsmoke radio episode that the music for the
program had been released as a single. Just wondering if these are extremely
rare, and for how long does the music play on the record? It's basically the
same notes, so I wonder how long they had it on the record. Was it the same
on both sides?
Thanks a lot.
Matthew

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 16:45:27 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: WOTW Facts and Figures

Laura Leff wrote:

One [removed] our recent Digest debate about
the "proof" of "zapping" between Bergen and War of the Worlds, I thought
there was a good case against the claim that people switched en masse at the
song.  Am I remembering it wrong, or is it one of these facts on which there
continues to be a "difference of opinion"?

Well, recapping a bit of what was discussed the last time this came up,
the only substantive, contemporary analysis of what actually happened on
the night of 10/30/38 -- that published by Hadley Cantril of Princeton
University in 1940 -- concluded that:

*Only 18 per cent of those who heard any part of WOTW tuned into the
program after tuning out on the Chase and Sanborn Hour.

*62 per cent of that 18-per-cent share tuned into WOTW at the conclusion
of the first "act" by Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Examining a
recording of the 10/30/38 C&S Hour reveals that the first Bergen-McCarthy
"act" ended at 14:56, and led into Dorothy Lamour's rendition of "Two
Sleepy People." (Nelson Eddy's first song appeared at 2:17 into the
program. Preceding this, Charlie had a few quick introductory lines with
Judy Canova -- Bergen is not heard -- and there was no actual
Bergen-McCarthy "act" until *after* Eddy's initial song. Cantril's survey
does not indicate a significant number of listeners tuning out at the
2:17 mark, and while some modern OTR listeners might rather undergo a
root canal than listen to Nelson Eddy, **there is nothing in any
surviving evidence** to suggest that a majority -- or even a significant
number -- of listeners in 1938 shared that view.)

Cantril's figures indicate, depending on estimates of audience size, that
from 480,000 to 600,000 people tuned over from the C&S Hour to Welles.
Considering that the total audience of the C&S Hour amounted to over
35,000,000 people according to Hooperratings for that week, this could be
considered a mass tuneout only if the definition of "mass" is stretched
substantially.

Cantril did conclude that those who tuned into the program late were more
likely to accept the fiction of the "news bulletins" as reality -- which
explains in part why the "tuneout" story gets so much play. But it
doesn't explain why modern-day pop historians continue to ignore a more
important factor: according to a post-broadcast survey by the American
Institute of Public Opinion of those who did tune in late, *more* people
tuned in the program because someone called them on the phone and told
them to do so than tuned in because they were tuning out on the C&S Hour
-- twenty-one per cent of the total surveyed were "telephone tuneins,"
compared to 18 per cent who tuned in after tuning out on C&S. Not only
was the C&S tuneout *not* a mass incident, it wasn't even the most
important factor in late tune-ins.

Elizabeth

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 16:54:42 -0400
From: joseph <josephm@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  WOTW the first half hour

I was listening to the program again the other night. The first half
of the WOTW program is a masterpiece of what I call the impression of
real time story telling on radio. In other words the first half uses
no music bridges, no narration and other radio drama techniques. I
always liked the uses of silence in the first half. Mostly because
silence was generally thought of as "dead air" and Wells, Koch and et
al used the silences to add weight to the real time impression.

After re-reading Ms McLeod's earlier posting regarding the Cantril
book I can see why some people had panicky feelings. The word
martians was used sparingly as most of the time it was "reported" as
news as it was happening. When some might have casualy tuning around
the dial and heard black smoke poisening the populace and the deaths
of on the scene news reporters. A person might not notice real time
not being followed. Might have tuned out or turned off the radio in a
panic. Of course the German crisis and other conflicts have been
noted as to help the nervous become more nervous. Also noted that the
newspapers overplayed the panic with headlines about people being
injured. Still I could imagine myself then tuning around the dial
hitting a scene where something was going on dramatically then
silence and the tinkly piano coming and feeling some panic rising
inside me.

The second half of WOTW is more, and excellently done, standard radio
drama. As far as I know no onw tuning into the second half panicked.

I also ordered the World Greatest OTR of the month. Got everything as
promised. The WOTW they shipped with the first order was so over the
noice reduced that I only heard subtle background effects when actors
talked. The scene in the observatory was butchered because of the
noise reduction. I wish people who made these tapes understood that
natural silence is not dead sound and a little crackle won't make the
listner turn off the cassette and run away in PANIC.

Joseph McGuire

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 17:38:32 -0400
From: "Matthew Bullis" <MatthewBullis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Christian dramas like Ranger Bill

Hello, does anyone have any info about these Christian radio dramas I used
to listen to in about 1988? I think they might have been produced years
earlier and I had just happened to start hearing these series years after
they were originally made. They were series like Ranger Bill, and a series
called Adventure Drama which had different miniseries within it like the
Sugar Creek Gang, and adaptations of Patricia St. John books and other
Christian authors. Actually, Harry Bartell sounded a lot like Ranger Bill.
This shouldn't be confused with the narrator Bill in the Sugar Creek gang
series. Anyway, I wondered if there were sets of these out there that people
had taped, or any other info, because I've searched on the web and even
phoned the Moody Bible Institute and they've never had any info about these
series. I sure wish these series were as well documented and easy to find as
the great Adventures in Odyssey! I know it's kind of straying a bit, but I
figured that if anyone would know more, you all would.
Thanks a lot.
Matthew

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 17:40:21 -0400
From: SeptSev@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Stae of the Hobby

Hello There Friends;

I bounce in and out of this list and sometimes have to take long hiatuses
because of travel and work.  I'm back after a year, and among the changes
I've seen are the proliferation of mp3's , as well as cd's.

When I last checked in (a year ago or so) the ugly copyright issue had raised
it's head (always!)  with RS claiming "ownership" and aggressively going
after other dealers (or at least rattling a saber.)  As one who has always
wanted to post my collection for Trade/Sale on the web, I wonder if I might
ask for an off-list email from a few kind, knowledgeable souls explaining the
State of the Hobby and where we all stand on such issues.  (Please, don't
bore the rest of the list, email me directly.)  A recent web search of OTR
for sale yielded many of the old players as well as  a few new faces,
indicating to me that the hobby is, afterall, not controlled by one giant
media company with all rights in perpetuity throughout the known universe!
(But I may be wrong about that<g>)

Thanking you in advance--

Thom

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 17:40:50 -0400
From: Peter Kinder <pdkinder@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Black Dahlia & "True Confessions"

	The Black Dahlia murder case was adapted into a book, "True
Confessions" by John Gregory Dunne (I think) and a good -- not great --
feature film with Robert DeNiro, Robert Duvall and every other method actor
they could round up.  The movie (and the book, too) suffers from some
howling anachronisms, an utterly absurd scene at a fundraiser -- never
could/would happen -- and some poor plotting.

	BUT, you just won't believe the performances.  Burgess Meredith and
Cyril Cusack do brilliant supporting pieces.  And, oh! what a final scene.
DeNiro and Duvall -- I've shown just the last three minutes to people -- no
context, no nothing.  Their jaws drop.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 17:39:17 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Radio writer to guest at SPERDVAC meeting

SPERDVAC's (Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and
Comedy) next meeting will take place on Saturday, October 12 at noon at the
South Pasadena Public Library Community Room, 1100 El Centro, South
Pasadena. The guest speaker will be ROBERT HECKER, radio writer on such
shows as RED RYDER, SUSPENSE, COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE SAINT, BEHIND THE
STORY W/ Marvin Miller, plus many others.

The meetings are free and the public is invited.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 18:01:30 -0400
From: Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: RS tape cases

I have no experience with Radio Spirits'  new cassette packaging, so I
can't comment on it, but I would like to suggest that folks who are
unhappy with them might consider writing the company a letter and
letting them know that you don't like the cases they're currently using
and the specifics of why.  Regular old snail mail is probably a better
choice, simply because it stands a better chance of actually getting
into the hands of somebody who might be able to do something about it.

Just a suggestion.

Randy

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 18:01:51 -0400
From: "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "The Black Dahlia & Radio Spirits"

I recently read a novel by Max Allan Collins retelling the "Black Dahlia"
Case. Collins writes about Private Eye Nathan Heller, a Chicago investigator
of the 1930's and 40's. He uses true cases to fictionalize and his hero is
involved in such mysteries as the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Earhart
disappearance and is involved with Elliott Ness.  A great series of novels,
well researched. His latest is the Black Dahlia.

I totally agree with the comments regarding Radio Spirits new treaury boxes.
I guess those who trashed Carl Amari on this site may wish he was still in
charge if these boxes are an example of the new broom at Radio Spirits.
John Southard

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 18:25:41 -0400
From: John <glowingdial1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  websites with otr interviews

    Hello fellow digestees, Matthew Bullis recently wrote in asking if there
are any websites out there on the net that have interviews with otr actors
and actresses.  The answer is yes.  I'm sure there are plenty of others but
my site The Glowing Dial Page has some.  I feature a different celebrity
interview every 2 to 3 weeks.  I don't have all that many, say 10-15 of them
but they all play in rotation on my site in MP3.  I also feature a different
episode of my recent Yesterday USA show, The Glowing Dial on the site which
is changed out every week.  I have added some shows featuring Jack Webb and
have just started Serial Theatre where I present episodes from several otr
serials.  Check them all out please!
The links are:
Celebrity Interviews, Glowing Dial episodes and Serial Theatre -
[removed]
A list of the celebrity interviews I have done is at:
[removed]
Jack Webb radio shows - [removed]

John W. Matthews
The Glowing Dial Page
glowingdial@[removed]
glowingdial1@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 19:12:23 -0400
From: "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  RE:  biographies of and interviews with the
 actors?

Matthew Bullis inquired about:
    Biographies of and interviews with the actors?

    Yes,  there are some incredible sources of information you are seeking.
They are repositories for incredible amounts of information on OTR.
They are Old-Time Radio Clubs.  Some of these clubs have been keeping OTR
alive since the 1970's.

    Several Old-Time Radio Clubs have interview tapes in the their
libraries.  Three clubs that have good collections of interview tapes are:

Radio Historical Association of Colorado has tapes over 100 interviews of
OTR personalities that were conducted by John Dunning.  The RHAC web site is
at:
[removed]

Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound has interview tapes from their meetings and
Conventions.  The REPS web site is at:
[removed]

The Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy
probably has the largest collection of OTR interview tapes.  SPERDVAC's web
site is at:
[removed]

    Both RHAC and REPS have Lending Library Catalogs on-line at their web
sites.

    Also, many interviews with OTR personalities and articles about their
careers have been and continue to be published in the newsletters of these
and many other OTR Clubs.  In addition, most clubs have libraries of OTR
books, including many reference books and biographies.

    These clubs have done so much for the OTR hobby and are worthy of your
support.

    A listing of OTR clubs can be found at:

[removed]

Stewart

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 19:13:14 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Common Sense

Lois Culver reacted to Matthew Bullis' comments thus:

COMMON actors?????

Certainly "common actors."  I'm sure that Mr. Bullis was speaking of
actors who weren't nobility or royalty.

In fact, even if we include knighted actors, just how many OTR thespians
_weren't_ commoners?  Some OTR characters weren't (such as Lord
Greystoke, better known as Tarzan), but the vast majority were untitled.

This could be an interesting thread.  Even counting guest appearances,
how many "titled" actors were involved in OTR?

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 19:13:45 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Comics and OTR

On comic-book changes, AZnthony Tollin notes,

DC Comics' ALL-STAR WESTERN continued numerically from ALL STAR COMICS
and featured the Trigger Twins and Johnny Thunder

The original All-Star Comics had the _real_ Johnny Thunder, not a cowboy,
but instead a rather innocent young man who wasn't aware why a pink Djinn
would appear periodically and perform semi-miraculous deeds for him, then
vanish mysteriously.  He was one of my favorite DC characters, and I've
never forgiven them for dropping his presence in the DC universe.

To swing this back to OTR, one of the other DC Comics was All-American
Comics.  One of its features was Hop Harrigan, who, on the radio, was
billed as "America's Ace of the Airwaves."  (Just how one becomes Ace of
the Airwaves is unclear: as a pilot, he had to have five or more
confirmed kills -- but what did he shoot down?  Other shows?)  An okay
juvenile aviation show, but to many listeners, its closing appeared
confusing for some listeners, as the announcer said that Hop Harrigan
"appears in All-American Comics magazine."  To a young listener, it
sounded as if you could find Hop Harrigan in every comic book published
in the United States.  Since the drugstore where I bought my comic books
didn't happen to carry All-American, it was particularly confusing.  I
couldn't find Hop Harrigan in any of my comics, I finally decided that
the announcer didn't know what he was talking about.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 19:29:27 -0400
From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Sandy Singer and 1940s Chicago radio

    I was happy to read Sandy Singer's mini-memoir in issue #380. Thanks,
Sandy.  I've gathered he's a man of few (written) words but I still wish he
would've written more details of the experiences he related. Maybe he's
writing a book about his career as a child radio actor in Chicago??

    When he was eleven he attended a broadcast of 'That Brewster Boy',
starring Willard Waterman, at the famous Wrigley Building.  That show
developed into a new series, 'Those Websters', and when I was eleven I
attended a broadcast of 'Those Websters', starring Willard Waterman (and Gil
Stratton, Jr.) at the famous Tribune Tower, across the street from the
Wrigley Building -- this show had just moved over to Mutual.

    He mentioned Everett Clarke in the lead role of the Chicago-originated
show 'Crime Files of Flamond'.  Just thought I'd mention that by 1948
another Chicago radio actor (and announcer) took over the lead of that
series, the later-famous Myron (Mike) Wallace.

  -- Phil C.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 19:29:33 -0400
From: "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Updated Broadcast Logs

You will find updated broadcast logs for the following series at:

[removed]

21st Precinct

Dameron

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

The Adventures Of Harry Nile

Kincaid, The Strange-Seeker

Initial Airing Of Jim French Shows On Seattle Radio

Stewart

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

Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 19:30:00 -0400
From: "Ellsworth Johnson" <eojohnsonww2@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  re DVD players for playimg MP3

I recommend The APEX model AD 3201. With a little shopping you can find this
model for $ 100. It has all sorts of bells and whistles that you might have
to pay $ 300 for in the likes of Sony. Go onto [removed] and type in
the search block APEX model AD3201.

It is made in China and I think it is first class. I spent 40 years in the
electronics retail and wholesale biz and I know a good piece of equipment
when I see one.

WalMart handles this brand but some different models. It seems this model is
only sold over the internet to make their dealers think that
$ 100. is all this machine is worth. So far I have bot 3 of them--- 2 for my
own use and one for a gift.

Ellsworth Johnson
Spokane, Wa
eojohnsonww2@[removed]

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #382
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