Subject: [removed] Digest V2001 #329
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 10/10/2001 2:44 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2001 : Issue 329
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  seeking Daws Butler radio info        [ Ben Ohmart <bloodbleeds@[removed]; ]
  Deaf and Broadcasting                 [ "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@worldnet. ]
  Hedda, Louella and Walter             [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
  Winchell's Introduction               [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
  Grand Central Station                 [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
  Re: CBS Radio Mystery Theater articl  [ Bob Noble <bobnoble@[removed]; ]
  The Final Problem                     [ Jim Kitchen <jkitchen@[removed]; ]
  Re: Empire of the Air                 [ Alan Bell <bella@[removed]; ]
  Re: Rathbone's Moriarty               [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
  Duke Ellington                        [ "chadwick jenkins" <chadoj@hotmail. ]
  Today in Radio History 10/9           [ Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed]; ]
  CBS Myst Theater article & Tech Guid  [ BRC Productions <platecap@brcradio. ]
  Tokyo Rose                            [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed]; ]
  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ lois@[removed] ]
  Louella Parsons on Radio              [ Dan Riedstra <[removed]@wcom. ]
  The Legacy of WOTW                    [ Michael Henry <mlhenry@[removed]; ]
  Three guys at a [removed]               [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
  Duffy's Tavern Log                    [ ORCATMD@[removed] ]

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 13:21:00 -0400
From: Ben Ohmart <bloodbleeds@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  seeking Daws Butler radio info

Hi. I'm writing a book on Daws Butler, and though I
already have 5 pages of credits for him - including
radio (like Stan Freberg, of course) - I'd still like
help from anyone who knows what otr Daws did. Just in
case I don't have the information. Hope to hear from
you!
Thanks.

=====
Check out Fibber McGee's Scrapbook, a new otr book!
[removed]

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 13:44:50 -0400
From: "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Deaf and Broadcasting

Lost among all the coverage of the air strikes against Afghanistan, Rush
Limbaugh made the announcement on Monday that he is, for all practical
purposes, totally deaf. To our resident historians I ask, Is this a first?
Has any hearing impaired person ever had a successful career in the most
aural of mediums?

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 14:28:48 -0400
From: leemunsick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Hedda, Louella and Walter

I am responding to Kenneth Clarke, and for others who are too young to
remember these three memorable columnists (they were NOT considered news
commentators, although Winchell claimed he was).  "Gossip providers" is
perhaps better, unless one prefers the straight-out "Gossipmonger".

The business about Hedda's hats is most definitely true.  Probably as many
as a certain political lady had shoes.  All three embellished their
material and often used it as a weapon.  The feud between the two Hollywood
ladies was real, although both of them took advantage of it when they
wished to, even meeting privately to revive it publicly.  Winchell feuded
with just about everyone.

To get the feel of how they operated I'd suggest two films, which are
available on video tape.  I bought them both on eBay.  One should bear in
mind that these are dramatized stories, reminiscent of the Hollywood
biographies of the 40s and 50s, and should be taken with a large salt
lick.  None of the principals really looks--or sounds--like the original,
but then who could?

Both videos are filled with period backgrounds, autos, clothing, and
cliches.  They do give the novice a pretty good idea of what went on, and
most assuredly will answer Kenneth's question of "for whom they
toiled".  Therein lie some marvelous tales as well.

"Malice in Wonderland" AKA "The Rumor Mill", with excellent performances by
Elizabeth Taylor  (as columnist Louella) and as-always excellent Jane
Alexander (as ex-actress Hedda), the two innuendo icons.  A fine supporting
cast including Richard Dysart and Joyce Van Patten.  Great costumes for the
two one-upping flamboyees.  Made for TV.  Vidmark Entertainment 1985, 94 Mins.

"Winchell", starring 1999 Golden Globe Winner Stanley Tucci, has a surprise
appearance by Christopher Plummer as FDR.  Paul Giammatti is excellent as
Winchell's ghostwriter and picking boy  Herman Klurfeld, who wrote the
biography on which the cineplay was based.  Made for TV.
HBO Home Video 1998, 115 Mins.

Disclaimer:  I have no economic interest in either of these, and offer this
information for those who--like me--enjoy films about radio and its people,
from Amos 'n Andy to Jack Benny to Eddie Cantor to Hal Peary to Willard
Waterman to Orson Welles to Bill Zuckert!  Bless 'em all.

Remember Pearl Harbor
Remember 911
God Bless America

Lee Munsick   That Godfrey Guy

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 15:32:16 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Winchell's Introduction

Kenneth Clarke asks, anent Walter Winchell,

My mother told me that he always began his broadcasts with the same
lead in---"Hello Mr. and Mrs. America and all  the ships at
[removed](then the latest breaking news item)".  Is this true?

Almost.  First one would hear a (meaningless) rattle of a telegraph key,
then he'd say, "Good evening Mr. and Mrs. North America and all the ships
at sea!  Lets go to press!  Flash!"  Then he'd give the news.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 15:32:04 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Grand Central Station

Hokay, it's all a bit complicated.  First off, the name of the railroad
station in New York City is Grand Central Terminal.  It is an underground
facility which replaced an earlier, above-ground station known as Grand
Central Station.

It was an amazing project.  The center of Manhattan was occupied by an
extensive railroad yard, at the southern end of which was Grand Central
Station.  Both the railroad yard and the railroad station were moved
underground in about 1909 without disturbing regular railroad service to the
city.

When the trains were moved underground, they were electrified: no steam
engine goes into the underground section of Manhattan.  All of the railroads
in the vicinity have long been electrified, so an electric locomotive was
generally hitched to the train at a yard somewhat removed from Manhattan.

After the railroad yard was moved underground, it was roofed over with a
platform strong enough to support city traffic.  It is called Park Avenue.
The tall office buildings built along Park Avenue are supported on columns
that are built between the tracks below: construction workers had to adhere
to the train schedules as the foundations were built.

The building above the magnificent Grand Central Terminal is a relatively
low one and housed the offices of the New York Central Railroad.  The air
rights over this building were valuable enough that more columns were sunk
between the tracks below and an entire office building was built above the
Grand Central Terminal [removed] was originally the Pan Am Building, but
the name has changed since the airline's demise.

The location remained so valuable that there was a move to demolish Grand
Central Terminal and replace it with something that might bring more profit.
  The perpetrators of this scheme thought they had it all sewed up until
they ran into a diminutive patron of the arts who, like most New Yorkers,
loved the Terminal.  One does not mess around with Jackie Kennedy Onassis,
nohow.

The Terminal moves far more people and trains than it did when it was built,
and it does so uneventfully.  It has its own power generating facility,
located many stories below ground in a secure sub-basement that was assigned
special guards during World War II and has likely re-acquired them this
month.

The main terminal room is an immense interior space with a ceiling large
enough to bear a star map of the heavens above.   Glorious place: go visit
it, even if you're not taking a train.

No, the trains would not have vented steam from the locomotives.
The trains just pull into the station and stop.

But the experience of riding into Grand Central Station (which is indeed
what everyone calls it, even though that's the old pre-1909 name) is very
much as described in the radio show's introduction: you ride full-speed
right down the middle of Harlem and dive underground at 125th street,
occasionally flashing past breaks in the tunnel to see glimpses of the city.
  A long, fast ride in the dark, and then the driver intones through the
loudspeaker "Grand Central!"  It never fails to excite me.

Mark Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 740 687 6368
[removed]~kinsler

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 15:39:53 -0400
From: Bob Noble <bobnoble@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: CBS Radio Mystery Theater article

Bob Burnham asked if there was any interest in the Ed Cole article on
the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. Well, I, for one, would be interested in
reading it. I checked out the articles on [removed], but it doesn't
appear to be there. Is it anywhere on the web that we can access it?

--Bob Noble

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 16:06:21 -0400
From: Jim Kitchen <jkitchen@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  The Final Problem

Several years ago,  I made a pilgrimage to Reichenback [removed]
of the fatal
encounter between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty in "The Final
Problem".  Located near Meiringen in Switzerland, a cable railway takes
you to the top of the falls.  Across from the upper railway station,
there's a white star over a ledge signifying where this encounter might
have taken place.   As I gazed at the falls, the thought that Sherlock
Holmes might have enjoyed the same view more than 100 years earlier made
my spine tingle.   Sherlock left a farewell note to Watson.  There were
no witnesses to the fatal plunge into the falls, while footsteps
indicated two people walked down the trail to the ledge, there were no
footsteps coming back!

A Sherlock Holmes commemorative plaque reminds visitors that Conan Doyle

was so deeply impressed by the wild beauty of this waterfall that he
decided to let his world famous detective Sherlock Holmes, fall to his
death in the Reichenbach Falls after a fight with his archenemy Prof.
Moriarty.   We fans know that Sherlock didn't die, returning 3 years
later in "The Empty House".

The local folks have capitalized on our fictional hero.  There is
Sporthotel Sherlock Holmes, and a Sherlock Holmes Museum in the basement
of the English Church where a nearby sign says "Borough of Meiringen -
Conan Doyle Place".  The museum has some Conan Doyle memorabilia, London
police artifacts of the era, and an authentic replica of the front room
at 221b Baker Street.

Jim Kitchen

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 17:23:58 -0400
From: Alan Bell <bella@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Empire of the Air

After reading of the excellent radio production of the Tom Lewis
book, I bought it from LodesTone, have listened to it, and must
agree, it is outstanding. However, I also must reaffirm that the
video production by Ken Burns is also excellent, though different.
The radio version is largely dramatized. The video is straight
documentary. You can't go wrong with either.

Perhaps best of all would be the book, which I have yet  to read.

Alan
--
Alan Bell
Grandville, MI
bella@[removed]

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 22:03:15 -0400
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Rathbone's Moriarty

In a message dated 10/7/01 10:23:20 AM, AandG4jc@[removed]  asked:

I know that Orson Wells played the professor in the British series in the
1950's but who played him in the Rathbone series and all the others? I know
he appeared from time to time through out the series.

***I previously mentioned that Louis Hector regularly portrayed Moriarty in
the early 1930s episodes before taking over as Holmes for the 1934-35 series,
and that Charles D. Penman portrayed Moriarty during the1947-48 Mutual
season.  I checked with Bill Nadel, who was invested as a member of the
[removed] (Baker Street Irregulars) at the same time as SHERLOCK HOLMES radio
producer Edith Meiser, and Bill informs me that a number of different actors
gave voice to the Napoleon of Crime during the Rathbone years.  However, it
appears that Rathbone's most frequent Moriarty-impersonator was Joseph
Kearns, SUSPENSE's Man in Black, an early voice of The Whistler and (on TV)
Dennis the Menace's "good ol' Mr. Wilson. -- ANTHONY TOLLIN***

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 22:03:55 -0400
From: "chadwick jenkins" <chadoj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Duke Ellington

I am interested in finding as much information as possible about Duke
Ellington's early broadcasts (pre-1931, when he left the Cotton Club). I
know that he was broadcast on WHN as early as 1924 when his band (then known
as the Washingtonians) was performing at the Hollywood Club on Times Square
(soon to be renamed the Kentucky Club). Shortly after he moved to the Cotton
Club in 1927, CBS began broadcasting his shows apparently giving him two
spots--one around dinner time and the other later at night. The announcer
Ted Husing was involved in both the WHN and the CBS broadcasts. I have other
information if anyone is interested and would like to contact me but I want
to get to my requests. 1) Does anyone on this list know of surviving
recordings of those broadcasts--there is one of a BBC broadcast from this
period but I am interested specifically in those from New York? 2) Does WHN
or WABC (the station from which the CBS broadcasts originated) have archives
and if so! how do I access them? 3) Is there any recommended reading on Ted
Husing that might help me? Finally, anything else that people may know about
that I may have overlooked would be most appreciated. I have looked through
the Smithsonian finding aid but didn't see anything that was applicable and
have done a variety of other searches but have a long way to go yet. Any
advice would be welcomed.

Thank you,

Chadwick Jenkins

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 22:04:19 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Today in Radio History 10/9

  From Today in History --

In 1935, "Cavalcade of America" was first broadcast on radio; the CBS
show featured some of Hollywood and Broadway's most famous stars in
leading roles in the half hour radio dramas.
  Joe

--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 23:46:05 -0400
From: BRC Productions <platecap@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  CBS Myst Theater article & Tech Guide III

Here's an update regarding Ed Cole's reprint article on CBS Radio Mystery
Theater:

On on-line copy will be available within a few days at [removed].
It will also be re-printed in the "ANCIENT HISTORY" section of A Technical
Guide  to Old-time Radio, Recording & Audio Production ([removed] OTR's Tech
Guide III) to be released shortly.

We hope to have a special convention version ready in time for the FOTR
convention in Newark.  I had expected a much more modest publication, but it
is looking like a 50-70 page booklet.

The cost will be $10 and ALL proceeds will go to help our friends in need in
New [removed], the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Best,
Bob Burnham, BRC Productions
[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 01:16:57 -0400
From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Tokyo Rose

Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; asked:

I've heard people speak of a women who broadcasted
under the name of "Tokyo Rose" during  WW II.  What
was here real name?

Her name was Ikuko Toguri also known as 'Orphan Ann'. She appeared
on a program called the 'Zero Hour'.

Did her efforts aid the Japanese during  this
time.  What was her purpose in their wartime effort?
Was it just  to spread propaganda?

The broadcast were aimed at the US forces in the Pacific, she
would play American music and taunt American troops by saying
things like, "I wonder who your wives and girlfriends are out with
tonight? Maybe with a 4F or war plant worker making big money
while you are out here fighting and knowing you can't succeed."
The idea was to bring down moral among US troops. She had a husky
and sexy voice and yes she spread a lot of propaganda.

Bill Harris

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

Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 04:52:00 -0400
From: lois@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

A weekly [removed]

For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over four years, same time, same channel!

Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
"Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........

and Me

Lois Culver
KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
and widow of actor Howard Culver

(For more info, contact lois@[removed])

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

Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 10:17:23 -0400
From: Dan Riedstra <[removed]@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Louella Parsons on Radio

Donna Halper wrote:

I am asking this of every collector and OTR fan that I know:  The BBC
called me to ask if I knew whether either Hedda Hoppa or Louella Parsons
might have any living relatives, or any people who knew them-- they are
about to do a radio documentary on gossip columnists in the 30s and
40s.  Also, were there any recordings/transcriptions of these two
highly-rated ladies, both of whom were around during Radio's Golden Age in
addition to writing for magazines and newspapers?  I know that one of them
did a regular radio show during the 30s, and the other was a guest on a
number of shows-- have any of those recordings (if they were recorded)
survived?

Louella Parson was guest on "The Burns & Allen Show" on 11/14/1946. I have a
copy of the program and I'm sure it is wide circulation.

 There is also an old book on both Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper that I
picked up at an OTR convention. Sorry but I don't have the name of the book
handy. I do believe though that it discusses each woman's style and possible
interactions between the two columnists.

Dan

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

Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 10:17:45 -0400
From: Michael Henry <mlhenry@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Legacy of WOTW

For those who are fans of the "War of the Worlds"
broadcast, Andrew Schneider of the Metropolitan Washington
Old Time Radio Club will be giving a WOTW presentation for
the October meeting this Friday night (10/12). He will
examine the nature of fear and the power of radio by paying
particular attention to the many WOTW remakes that have been
performed all over the world for the last 60, often with
similar similar.

The Metropolitan Washington Old Time Radio Club meets at:
The Trinity Episcopal Church
2217 Columbia Pike (corner of S. Wayne St.)
Arlington, VA
Meeting starts at 7:30pm
Admission: FREE
All are welcome.

-Mike Henry

Metropolitan Washington Old Time Radio Club
and
Library of American Broadcasting

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

Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 11:18:52 -0400
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Three guys at a [removed]

If you believe that "three guys at a mike" does not make good radio drama,
try listening to episodes of Quiet Please.  Ernest Chappell played lead on
these shows, sometimes with only one or two other actors.  There may be one
show in which he is the only actor.  The organist made the music and some of
the sound effects -- on the organ.

Ted Kneebone
1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
OTR:  [removed]

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

Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 16:40:09 -0400
From: ORCATMD@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Duffy's Tavern Log

Elliot Ferber asked about obtaining a copy of Duffy's Tavern log.  I got mine
from Martin Grams at the Cincinnati convention.

Mike

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #329
*********************************************

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