------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 21
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Gangbusters Questions [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
greatest entertainer [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
Re: Gangbusters [ Max Schmid <mschmid@[removed]; ]
Film and History [ howard blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
She's a Babe [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
Greatest Entertainer of ALL TIME? [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
OTR in education [ <nemesis@[removed]; ]
Re: AFRS [ Mike Thompson <mthomp86@[removed]; ]
Thanks for Herbert Marshall info [ "Mark L" <resimark@[removed]; ]
Brace Beemer on Sgt. Preston [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
iriver problems [ "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed]; ]
World's Greatest Entertainer [ "Brian Johnson" <chyronop@sbcglobal ]
Re: Generation Gap: Nostalgia vs. Hi [ <orders@[removed]; ]
Jack Benny the Ultimate entertainer [ <orders@[removed]; ]
Jerry Haendiges: Logs to die for [ <orders@[removed]; ]
Jerry Haendiges [ Tony Baechler <tony@[removed]; ]
Gunsmoke cast [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
Wanamaker's in Philly [ "John DiMezzes" <jadm1@[removed] ]
Jake Hess [ "George M. Kelly" <gkelly1@[removed] ]
THE 'TOTAL' ALL TIME GREATEST ENTERT [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
Cincinnati Convention [ KC0PWA - OzRadio <ozradio1@[removed] ]
Wanamakers in Philadelphia [ John Politis <channel1@[removed]; ]
RE:Greatest Entertainer of All Time [ "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed] ]
RE: Greatest Entertainer of All Time [ "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:17:44 -0500
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Gangbusters Questions
Mark Stratton asks if Gangbusters helped catch any fugitives and what
did "by proxy" mean concerning the police who appeared on the show.
A little history is in order here. The FBI was disappointed with the
results of their cooperative efforts with Phillips H. Lord in the 1935
series "G-Man". When Lord began planning "Gangbusters" in 1936, the
Bureau refused to cooperate. Lord retaliated by signing up Col. H. N.
Schwarzkopf, the nemisis of J. Edgar Hoover in the Lindbergh
Kidnapping, as the host. While FBI cases were not public, wanted
posters were so "Gangbusters" gave descriptions of from one to six
different fugitives on each program.
After the series resulted in many fugitive apprehensions, the FBI
lessened its resistance to the program and grudgingly provided more
cooperation, usually in the area of fugitives sought. By the end of the
1940s, CBS was bragging that "Gangbusters" had resulted in the capture
of about 200 fugitives (including one Top Ten Fugitive) and that is
probably close to the truth. On the 14th anniversary episode of
"Gangbusters", J. Edgar Hoover sent a telegram to be read on the show,
admitting: "The clues broadcast on 'Gangbusters' have assisted in many
apprehensions. Therefore be sure to listen carefully when these clues
are given." Rest assured, Hoover never would have acknowledged that if
there had not been a substantial number of resulting captures.
As for "proxy", the practice was typical for almost any Lord
production. He loved to sign up a real person to host or narrate the
show, even though the idea fell flat every time, and a radio actor was
then brought in to impersonate the original "by proxy." Lord did this
with "Gangbusters", and "Sky Blazers" (with air ace Roscoe Turner later
yanked in favor of an anonymous actor) and with "Policewoman" (where
the real Mary Sullivan, while not barred from the show, had her part
reduced to almost nothing.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:17:54 -0500
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: greatest entertainer
Hi everybody,
I would like to add another lady to the greatest entertainer list. I am
very bless to know many of the singers from the Golden days of radio and
Doris Day is consider very underrated as a singer, comedian, ect. Take
care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:18:19 -0500
From: Max Schmid <mschmid@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Gangbusters
At 02:56 PM 1/14/04, you wrote:
From: Mark Stratton <cty57251@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Gangbusters
I've been listening to some Gangbusters shows recently and a question
crossed my mind. Were the descriptions of wanted criminals much help
to the Authorities in their War Against The Underworld?
To Mark or anyone: I received the following inquiry. I haven't listened to
any Gangbusters shows for some time, and I don't know how extensive a run
there is of surviving shows. Can anyone help out with an answer to this?
From John Valentine Sheehan:
In 1945, my grandfather, Lewis J. Valentine, had just retired as NYC Police
Commissioner and was guest expert on Gangbusters. As this was just before
I was born, I never have heard the tapes. Do you have any of them with him
on it by any chance?
John Valentine Sheehan
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:18:28 -0500
From: howard blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Film and History
I have a question for anyone who received the latest issue of the
journal "Film and History"
Thanks,
Howard Blue
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 00:54:36 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: She's a Babe
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In a message dated 1/14/2004 8:20:00 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:
Does anybody have a list of the Jack Benny shows on which she appears? or on
which one she first spoke on?
I'm not sure if this is an exhaustive list, but Babe first appeared on
12-15-46, then 3-25-51, and 4-1-51.
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 00:54:19 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Greatest Entertainer of ALL TIME?
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I haven't been following this discussion closely, but how can you pick the
greatest entertainer "of all time" when we only really know the work of people
since the advent of recorded sound? Maybe Junius Booth or Edmund Kean were
really the greatest entertainer of all time. Greatest entertainer of the 20th
century, that's fine. But of all time? That's like crowning a woman "Miss
Galaxy" when no one other than earthlings is allowed to participate.
(I'm only [removed] in the lighthearted way it's intended.)
--LL
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 00:55:00 -0500
From: <nemesis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR in education
There's a class here in Bakersfield, CA, that's OTR related. The students
write, act and perform all aspects. I'm still researching it and will send
more info when I can.
Linda T.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 00:57:36 -0500
From: Mike Thompson <mthomp86@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: AFRS
Jay wrote:
The reason commercials were deleted was because the
Government did not want
to appear to be endorsing the prodluct.
Sounds logical. I have a collection of "My Favorite
Husband" episodes that I purchased from an old
Adventures in Cassettes catalog years ago, and all of
the Jello references are taken out, so I know what you
mean. I always assumed, though, it was something AIC
did, but it turns out AFRS did it 50 years ago. That
explains a lot (like how the edits of the Jello lines
seem, well, pretty noticable considering how seamless
edits would be with today's technology; but
considering 1950s technology, they were pretty good).
This
allowed us to delete the commercials and insert
government informercials.
Did all of the shows have government infomercials?
Some of those episodes on the My Favorite Husband
collection from AIC contained them, while others did
not. All of the episodes, however, seemed to be AFRS
broadcasts.
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 01:00:00 -0500
From: "Mark L" <resimark@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Thanks for Herbert Marshall info
Hello All,
I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who posted and emailed
me with information on Herbert Marshall's life and family. Through your
assistance, I was able to interview Brad Richards (author of the much
quoted/referenced article), and tonight I had the most wonderful
conversation with Herbert's first daughter, Sarah Best Marshall. I thank you
all ever so much. You can hear the interviews during this evening's 'Third
Thursday' showcase on Herbert Marshall in radio, broadcast on WRVO in
upstate New York. There's a simulcast online at [removed] <-- Click on
'Listen Live'
>From 8pm to midnight EST we'll be playing an interesting variety of
Herbert's performances, a "Behold: Herbert Marshall" sound portrait (a
thirteen-minute adventure through his radio appearances, woven together in
an interesting way), even an explanation of his nickname 'Bart' told by the
man himself.
Again, I really appreciate the [removed] and what a treat it was to see Mr.
Harry Bartell chime in :)
I hope you'll tune in and enjoy a night of appreciation to Herbert's radio
work, the medium he loved most (so says Sarah).
All the best,
Mark Lavonier
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 01:28:10 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Brace Beemer on Sgt. Preston
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 15:56:56 -0500
From: "Albert" <alkb2ng@[removed];
Finally, I recently caught just a part of an episode of Sgt. Preston of
the Yukon, and one of the supporting characters sounded to me exactly like
Brace Beemer. Is that possible? I know that both series did originate at
WXYZ in Detroit, but would the mighty Lone Ranger play bit part on that
"northern western?"
I don't know, but I remember hearing Brace Beemer playing Sgt. Preston himself. Back
around 1954 or so, I was listening to the Lone Ranger on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday,
and at some point I decided to see what was on Tuesday and Thursday. It was Sgt.
Preston, and Brace Beemer was playing the part. Later, someone else played Sgt. Preston.
From what I've read since, I suspect that the later episodes with someone else paying Sgt.
Preston may have been repeats of earlier episodes.
It was quite common for one actor to play more than one role on a radio drama, and since
Brace Beemer was part of the company, it's quite possible that he played other parts. What
was the date of the episode? Could it have been from before Brace Beemer started playing
the Lone Ranger?
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210
lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 01:28:39 -0500
From: "Kurt E. Yount"
<blsmass@[removed];
To:
[removed]@[removed]
Subject: iriver problems
I just wanted everybody to know that the Iriver CD/MP3 player I loved has
broken. The equalizer button has locked in the IN position so programs
will not play in the correct order. This was by far my favorite player,
and its death is sadly lamented, especially since it is out of warrantee.
I am just letting everybody know because the way it broke, the button
remaining pushed in, came as both a sad surprise and a shock to me. I
just thought you should know, in case you have one of those machines. I
do not want to say "go thou and do likewise". Kurt
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 01:34:22 -0500
From: "Brian Johnson"
<chyronop@[removed];
To:
<[removed]@[removed];
Subject: World's Greatest Entertainer
I love these subjective questions (since we can all make fun of one
another's judgments and tastes and still nobody is either right or wrong!)
As much as I respect Elizabeth, our own radio diva and star of BBC4, I beg
to differ on her "four way tie between Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Judy
Garland, and Elvis Presley."
Every performer on that list faded from the public favor and struggled at
one point or the other.
Jolson was tops in live theatre but was box office poison by the time Warner
Brothers and Ruby Keeler got done with him. The Columbia biopics revived his
career substantially but, unfortunately, he would have very little time to
enjoy it. Sinatra needed "From Here to Eternity" to resurrect his career.
Judy's struggles are well documented and her one shot at TV lasted a single
season. Even Elvis had to have a "Comeback" special.
Crosby was "King of All Media" for 30 years and his fade in the 1960's
seemed self-styled. After many bouts with kidney stones and four unruly sons
I think he was more than happy to slip into semi-retirement and enjoy his
second family. Bing had his "electrifying" days with Whiteman and then found
the niche that Jack Kapp and Carroll Carroll help devise for him, which is
why he probably lasted as long as he did.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:36:00 -0500
From:
<orders@[removed];
To:
<[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Generation Gap: Nostalgia vs. History
Can anyone think of other references that younger people might not
understand.
I'm one of the younger folks at 39 - yes, that's my real age. I still have a
lot of fun with trying to figure out some of the references in OTR. My
favorite so far is from the Jack Benny Show. The stock market was starting
to recover from the "Great Depresion" in the mid to late 1930's, but in '37
or '38 it took a dip backwards again. Jack and Rochester are decorating the
tree and Jack says "Get the star for the top of the tree, Rochester."
Rochester replies, "The one with three points on it?" Jack says, "That star
had 5 points on it last year!" Rochester replies, "It's like everything else
it went down a couple of points this year." What a great timely joke! It
fit's the season and the year!
Zongo out
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:36:10 -0500
From: <orders@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jack Benny the Ultimate entertainer
The only person that I think about when talking about the best of all time
is Jack Benny. Over 20 years on radio and 15 on TV. Loved by everyone that
ever met him, or so it seems. His movies weren't the best, but they were
better than folks think. He just blows me away! Simply the best!
Zongo out
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:36:33 -0500
From: <orders@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jerry Haendiges: Logs to die for
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With all this Jerry bashing going on, I just had to chime in. HIs logs are
amazing. They have helped my collecting of otr more than any other single
reference. His site is wonderful. I would love it if he had his shows
available in MP3 format, but he doesn't, and that's OK. He has one of the
largest collections anywhere, and the services he offers are way more labor
intensive than just burning a CD. I think folks with a ton of shows like he
has should be encouraged to charge whatever they think is reasonable for their
time. He really isn't set up for buying whole collections, but more for
filling in holes in an existing collection. My 2 cents.
Zongo out again
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:37:29 -0500
From: Tony Baechler <tony@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jerry Haendiges
Hello. Just to let you know, Terry Salomonson also works on the honor
system, at least with me. I explained my problems (though not as detailed)
and he had no problem with letting me pay after I received my orders. He
sends me an invoice and I send him a check. I only had one problem with
him and I did not pay until corrected CDs were received. He also does one
free CD for every 10 purchased if you pay his regular price of
$7. However, if you join his membership plan (NOT required) the regular
price drops to $5, or $4 for specials. If you buy from his monthly
specials as a non-member, his price is still $5. He explains all this much
better on his site. Have a look. I recommend him.
[removed]
I also recommend Radio Memories. I only bought from Ted once because he
still primarily does cassettes and just cannot beat Terry's CD prices.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:37:46 -0500
From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Gunsmoke cast
Parley Baer told me that the way he found out that he had not been cast
to play Chester on the TV version of Gunsmoke was by reading an article
that gave the TV cast list in Variety. Fifty years later he was still
incensed that nobody had the decency--or the guts--to tell him in person.
---Dan
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:38:37 -0500
From: "John DiMezzes" <jadm1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Wanamaker's in Philly
Lee Munsick commented:
"Philadelphians used to get together friends with "meet me at the clock
at Wanamaker's", but as I recall there was no such ticker in New York."
I believe that Philadelphians wanted to meet "at the eagle," not the clock.
As a matter of fact, I have a mug that says that very thing. The eagle was
and is a large sculpted piece resting on the main floor of the store (now a
Lord and Taylor).
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:39:14 -0500
From: "George M. Kelly" <gkelly1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jake Hess
When I was growing up during the fifties, gospel music was very popular
on the radio and in concert. Though I was never a fan, it was inescapable
if you listened to the local station, WELO, and was often the only event to
attend on the weekend. In our area, the two most popular quartets were the
Blackwood Brothers and The Statesmen. The Blackwood Brothers had nice
voices, but were proper and sedate during their performances while the
Statesmen led by pianist Hovie Lister and lead singer Jake Hess shouted,
shook and shimmed around the stage.
In his pre Colonel Parker days, Elvis Presley always named Jake Hess as
his major influence, and Jake sang at Elvis's funeral in 1977. I am
convinced if you want to discover how Elvis developed his style of singing
find a video of a performance by the Statesmen quartet during the late 40s
and early 50s.
Jake Hess died on January 4, 2004.
George Kelly
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:39:35 -0500
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: THE 'TOTAL' ALL TIME GREATEST ENTERTAINERS
Better get a complete dictionary and look up the words, entertainer,
entertainment and showmanship.
Sinatra ONLY sang well. His acting left A LOT to be desired--listen to
some of his OTR shows--couldn't read lines worth a damn. Crosby was a
MUCH finer 'entertainer', as was Danny Kaye, but
Jolson, Garland, Sammy Davis Jr., and Liberace DID IT ALL, and, did it
all with greatness.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 09:39:46 -0500
From: KC0PWA - OzRadio <ozradio1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cincinnati Convention
Does anyone have the dates/times for the 2004
convention in Cincinnati? I can't find anything posted
anywhere.
Thanks,
Ryan Ellett
OzRadio
=====
KC0WPA
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 13:03:38 -0500
From: John Politis <channel1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Wanamakers in Philadelphia
It was "Meet me at the eagle," not the clock. And they do still have
organ concerts, but the store is now Lord & Taylor's. The paper
reported a lot of controversy this holiday season about the store
gradually cutting back on its famous long-time Christmas light show
John Politis
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 13:04:01 -0500
From: "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE:Greatest Entertainer of All Time (V2004
#20)
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The "Greatest Entertainer of All Time" argumement should mayhaps be added to
the list of taboos that includes religion, politics, and sex. There are as
many opinions as there are people who give them. So instead of trying to
state the name of the GREATEST, I'd like to at least nominate a few folks
whose names I haven't seen here, but who really ought to be included in any
list of nominees:
Jack Benny
Fred Astaire
John Wayne
Edwin Booth
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 13:04:09 -0500
From: "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: Greatest Entertainer of All Time -- MEA
CULPA (V2004 #20)
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How could I possibly have left out, in my recent reply --
Jean Shepherd
Gabriel Heatter
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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #21
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