Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #20
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 1/19/2005 12:48 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 20
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  otr at work                           [ Gayland Darnell <hankie01@[removed] ]
  Listening Habits and Workarounds      [ Mkerezman@[removed] ]
  The Thing Song                        [ PGreco2254@[removed] ]
  Re: Marshall Bullard a widower?!      [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  Listening to OTR at Work              [ Tedshumaker@[removed] ]
  Virginia Mayo and Ruth Warrick        [ Art Chimes <[removed]@[removed]; ]
  not Dum-Dah-Dah, but Boom Boom BOOM   [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  Re: OTR Listening Habits              [ Jodie Peeler <raisingirl@mindspring ]
  Re: Novelty Songs                     [ "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@ya ]
  How I Listen to OTR                   [ Oliver <joliver@[removed]; ]
  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]
  Re: What they REALLY look like        [ "Michael Guccione" <jetbonami@hotma ]
  Elliott Lewis on IMDB                 [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
  Edward McHugh                         [ Clif Martin <martbart@[removed]; ]
  Goodman Ace                           [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]

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

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 15:55:30 -0500
From: Gayland Darnell <hankie01@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  otr at work
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Hi all--

I am the fire chief in a town of about 13 thousand.  I have neither an
assistant chief nor a secretary, so I spend a relatively high percentage of
my time in my office performing administrative tasks ([removed], paperwork).  I
sometimes listen to otr while at work, but certainly don't enjoy it as much
as listening at home.  At work, I am distracted by phone calls and trying to
concentrate on what I am trying to accomplish.  I often listen to a couple of
shows via computer when I go to bed in the evening.  When the programs
finish, I don't have to get up and turn anything [removed]'s very convenient.

I think my favorite series are Jack Benny and Phil Harris-Alice Faye.  I
especially like Franky Remley (spelling?).  On the Jack Benny programs, they
talk ABOUT him, but I have never actually heard him speak on the Jack Benny
Show.  Was he really on the Jack Benny program, or was he ficticious and
created as a real character when Phil Harris got his own show?

By the way, last night I was listening to a Harris-Faye show from the early
50's, and Phil Harris called him Elliott.  I knew that Franky Remley's was
played by Elliott Lewis, but had never heard Phil Harris call him by his real
name on the air.

Love this [removed] for the interesting contributions.

Happy Listening !

Gayland Darnell

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Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 20:22:49 -0500
From: Mkerezman@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Listening Habits and Workarounds
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I used to listen to OTR on Tape and still do occasionally. I principally like
to listen to OTR before or at bedtime. I listened for about a year on the RIO
VOLT CD player until fate intervened when I was stolen out of my car. The
last several years I've listened to OTR on MP3 CDs but since the computer was
in
another room I played them on cheap DVD player hooked to Home Theater.
However, I've found finding the show you want when playing them back on DVD
players
that only display part of filename to be a problem.  I began printing out
numbered list of contents of each cd and storing them in folder until my
folder of
sheets got to be over inch thick. One other problem I had with the DVD player
approach is the way the DVD player would keep playing shows for hours after I
fell asleep since many cds might have between 50 and 100 shows son it.
Recently the solution I've come up with works good for me. When it came time
to buy a
new computer, I put it in my bedroom and wired the sound through the AUX Line
in my Home Theater in same room. I usally dump a few shows ionto my windows
desktop and into Windows Media Player playlist and by setting the Power
Managment settings the computer will play a few shows but after two hours it
will
hibernate and then shutdown by itself - which is usually about the time I fall
asleep (And never hear the end of that Mr. Keen show). Thus, it does play all
night and minizes wear on the equipment. It works for me but may not be for
everyone.

Mike Kerezman
Macomb, Ok

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Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 20:23:11 -0500
From: PGreco2254@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Thing Song
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Hi,
   The thread of the silly songs was very interesting. Mention
was made of the song, The Thing sung by Phil Harris. I remember on one of the
Harris shows, Phil sings "The Thing"
afterward Frankie asks "Curly, just what is the Thing' Phil
whispers in Frankie's ear and then Frankie says,Boy its so simple why didn't
everybody figure it out. Of course we never hear what Phil whispered. I also
remember an interview with
Phil and one of the questions was what was the Thing, Phil
answered that even he never knew, but it sure worked for
[removed]

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Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 20:23:45 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Marshall Bullard a widower?!

   Rodney Bowcock wrote --

In the 12/28/1950 episode, Marshall Bullard announces that he is a
widower, and has been for 7 years.  I distinctly recall hearing Mrs.
Bullard on at least a few occasions in earlier seasons.  Is this just
one of those OTR things that never get explained?

   This leads back to the missing Mrs Gildersleeve.
   Listening to a program from early November 1942, a few days ago,
Gildy mentions that as he ages he's sorry he never married.
   Maybe he was have a middle age moment and forgot the Missus in
Wistful [removed]  :)
   Joe

--
Visit my homepage: [removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 20:23:57 -0500
From: Tedshumaker@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Listening to OTR at Work

I listen to tapes on a walkman. Currently Atom Man vs. Superman and Frank
Sinatra, while working in a cabinet shop. So much better than listening to
the same songs being played 3-4 or 5 times a day.

Ted

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

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 21:34:01 -0500
From: Art Chimes <[removed]@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Virginia Mayo and Ruth Warrick

These fine actresses best known for their work on screens large and 
small but with significant OTR credits have just died.

Ruth Warrick is noted in most of the obits as being "best remembered" 
for having played in TV soap "All My Children." Well maybe by the great 
unwashed. But for me and anyone else with an ounce of sense, if you're 
one of the stars of "Citizen Kane," that is automatically the thing you 
are best remembered for. I believe she was the last major player to 
survive from Orson Welles's 1941 classic. (You can draw a straight line 
from "War of the Worlds" and his other New York radio work to the 
hands-off deal he had with RKO pictures.) Warrick's OTR credits range 
from Mercury Theatre, of course, right on up to the CBS Radio Mystery 
Theater. 
([removed],+Ruth&ArtistNumber=30015) 
She died Saturday at age 88.

Virginia Mayo, who died Monday at 84, was known for her good looks and a 
range that made her equally at home in drama ("The Best Years of Our 
Lives") and comedy ("The Girl From Jones Beach," with Ronald Reagan). 
Her OTR work includes several "Lux Radio Theater" broadcasts. 
([removed],+Virginia&ArtistNumber=34748).

Regards,
Art

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

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 21:34:58 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  not Dum-Dah-Dah, but Boom Boom BOOM

Several have wondered what "The Thing" was.  It's not the income tax, and
although I don't know the full list of what was shown on the "Garroway At
Large" that  Stephen A. Kallis, Jr. referred to,  I am surprised that Dave
Garroway would not have included what I am sure "The Thing" was.  Perhaps
he wasn't as introspective in 1950 as he became in his later years.
Although Phil Harris and the songwriter, Charles Randolph Grean, often
insisted that they had no ideas personally as to what "The Thing" was, to
me it has always seemed obvious.

Consider the year the song was popular -- 1950 -- and what was going on at
that time.  The Cold War was heating up.  We had just spent a great effort
keeping Berlin supplied and free with a lengthy airlift.   We were gearing
up in Korea.  Joe McCarthy was waving his "list".  That list might have
scared some people, but not ALL people.

No, our biggest fear -- The Thing that we ALL feared most of all -- was  .
.  .  The Atom Bomb.

THAT, was The Thing.

And it fits if you change the article from "a" to "the."

"I discovered The Atom Bomb right before my eyes."

It does take a bit of rationalization to figure the line "I picked it up
and ran to town as happy as a king" but everywhere else in the song it make
sense.  Including St. Peter telling him to "take it down below".  When I
hear that line I am reminded of "The Investigator" where the Joe McCarthy
character sends all the great thinkers of history "from Up Here, to Down
There." Of course, when he himself gets sent Down There, he gets booted
out.  And then also remember Irving Berlin's anti-war song of 1915 "Stay
Down Here Where You Belong" where the devil tells his son not to go up to
Earth because things are worse there than in hell.

Michael Biel   mbiel@[removed]

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

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 22:21:59 -0500
From: Jodie Peeler <raisingirl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: OTR Listening Habits

hello all --

This is an interesting thread.  I fear I'm at an unfair advantage
because, teaching mass communications as I do, I'm able to listen to OTR
(and view old television programs) in my office while I'm working or
maintaining office hours.  Many's the day I've whiled away the hours
listening to an hour of "Monitor" (courtesy Dennis Hart's wonderful
site), or today I was re-watching NBC-TV's coverage of Nov. 22, 1963 via
EarthStation 1's Real Media files.  Or I've played bits and pieces of
the Sept. 21, 1939 aircheck on my tape player, or even used it in class
from time to time.

The coolest thing about it all isn't that the college gives me a nice
office with a fast Internet connection and a nifty computer on which to
play these files.  The coolest thing is that if anybody comes in and
wants to know what I'm doing, I can legitimately say I'm doing research
in my field!  (I'll get back behind the curtain before the rotten
tomatoes start hurling my way.)  ;)

As for commercials, station breaks, etc., I'm always delighted when
they're left in and disappointed when they're edited out.  Recordings of
old broadcasts are like time capsules to me, and the more complete they
are, the better a job they do at transporting me back to when they were
brand-new.  Sometimes I find the commercials, station breaks and all
else to be more fun than the programs themselves!  But I'm weird that
[removed]

Jodie Peeler

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

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 23:20:55 -0500
From: "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Novelty Songs

Whoever was asking about "One Meatball" should definitely listen to the February 20, 1945 episode
of "Jubilee" for a jazzy duet version by Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman and Eddie ("Eddie the
Waiter")Green.   Eddie was such a fantastic comedian (and musician/composer) that even though his
singing part is small, he absolutely steals the song.   And as an added bonus that episode of
"Jubilee" also gives you one of Eddie's hilarious stand-up routines about a visit from his
mother-in-law. 

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

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:40:52 -0500
From: Oliver <joliver@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  How I Listen to OTR

I've enjoying reading about how other people listen to OTR.

As for me, I like to listen "up-close" to a real radio, playing a broadcast
signal.  I do this by transmitting FM throughout my house using a Crane
Digital FM transmitter, selling for about 80 bucks through Amazon.  From my
MP3 collection of CBSRMT I can send it to my various radios and it sounds
just like the old days.  Makes me feel like I'm in broadcasting again!

The transmitter requires some internal adjustments to maximize the
transmission range, but a reviewer on the Amazon site explains step-by-step
how to do it.

Joe Oliver

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

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:46:45 -0500
From: charlie@[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 six years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!

Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!

For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!

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

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:47:25 -0500
From: "Michael Guccione" <jetbonami@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: What they REALLY look like

I'm still waiting to find a photo or video appearance of Elliot Lewis--I
can't wait to see what Frank Remley looks like!

You'll find one at this site:

[removed]

Came across it a couple of weeks ago, was doing a search on the husband and
wife teams in radio including radio writers Craig Rice and her husband
Lawrence Lipton (somehow that doesn't sound right), Lipton being better
known as a Beat Poet in the [removed] area and author of the Holy Barbarians.

Let us all know if he's up to snuff in your mind's eye-

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

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:47:47 -0500
From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Elliott Lewis on IMDB

I looked up Elliott Lewis on the International Movie Database (IMDB), and
what they have on him is quite a mess.  They say his real name is Frank
Remley, and he sometimes used the stage name Elliott Lewis!  They have
several Jack Benny TV show appearances listed, but I think those were the
real Frank Remley rather than Elliott.  I'd like to straighten out their
info and send them a correct version, but I need help because I'm not an
expert on him.  For example, they list his birth/death dates as Oct 23,
1901 - Jan 28, 1967, and his birthplace as Michigan.  Does anyone know if
that is Elliott Lewis, or the real Frank Remley?

Here's the listing:

[removed]

Thanks for any [removed]

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

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:48:03 -0500
From: Clif Martin <martbart@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Edward McHugh

There are probably a few fellow theater organ freaks in this group who joined
me in  rushing to download WTIC's great interview with Rosa Rio. Her loving
tribute to gospel singer Edward McHugh brought back wnderful memories.  Every
time I heard the words of the theme song ..."If I have wounded any soul
today" I'm transported back 60 years and I still hear that voice in my head.
Are there any known recordings of that program?

Clif Martin

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

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:36:53 -0500
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Goodman Ace

       I frequently hear about a show starring Goodman
Ace and his wife Jane called "Easy Aces".  Didn't these
two people also star in a series called "Mr. Ace and
Jane"?  Maybe this was the same series, but with an
updated name?  Does anyone know for sure?

Another OTR Fan,

Kenneth Clarke

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #20
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