------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 250
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
REPS convention [ Fred Korb <fkorb@[removed]; ]
CB Promo [ Don Strong <donsplace@[removed] ]
Re: Jack Benny and other topics [ "Mary Anne Morel" <morel@planetmail ]
FS OTR programs on 7 inch reels [ "Ellsworth Johnson" <eojohnsonww2@a ]
Radio Spirits [ "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed]; ]
NICKODELL'S IN A DREAM [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
The Shadow's Shrevvy [ "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed]; ]
Temple Of Vampires [ "Scott Eberbach" <seberbach@earthli ]
Re: Comics who Stayed at NBC [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
happy trails [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
Re: ILAM: The "complete", original T [ StevenL751@[removed] ]
Pete Novak, Blues For Hire? [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Re: OTR drinks [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
Moe Shrevintz [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 16:17:32 -0400
From: Fred Korb <fkorb@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: REPS convention
Hello, fellow readers:
I just returned from Seattle, WA after spending 2 days on board
Amtrak's "Empire Builder" back to Chicago. Prior to my return, I spent 3
of the most pleasurable days of my life at the REPS convention. This
convention, my first, by far, is the best run, most well organized
convention I have ever attended. I have attended FOTR many times as well
as Cincinnati many times. The REPS convention, is mainly run by local
members of REPS who volunteer there services for the convention. I
believe that I heard the number 45 mentioned as how many volunteers
contributed to the convention. The other conventions are great in their
own ways, but I felt more comfortable at REPS than at the others.
Mike Sprague and company did a super job of making sure everyone knew
what was going on where, when, and how. Not a beat was missed during the
whole 3 days.
The dealers room, though small, was a delight. There were some
dealers that I have seen at the other conventions, but my favorite
dealer in the room was Hal Stone (Hi!, Hal). Hal has a new book coming
out in a few weeks and he was there to promote it. He also did a superb
job of acting and some ad libbing whenever possible. The actors and
actresses that were there compiled hundreds of years of combined talent
and I truly admire them for their persistence to this day. It was great
chatting with them all. I was especially pleased to meet Christopher
Conrad (William Conrad's son) during the 3 days with the culmination of
a brunch with the actors and actresses in Chris's photo studio. The
performance of Dragnet combined with the superb sound effects direction
of Ray Erlenborn, we got a chance to be part of the presentation. The
visitors were given individual sound effect parts and were called upon
to do them, some not quite on cue, but none the less entertaining.
After the brunch was over, we had a chance to have our picture taken
with the stars on a backdrop set. I had one done and it is now framed on
display, on my gallery wall, in my studio at home. It is a much
treasured item for me and a perfect culmination to a wonderful
convention. I look forward to attending next year, if all works out and
I might even torture myself to 2 days on the train out to Seattle and 2
days back to Chicago. I say torture because sleeping at regular times is
nearly impossible on a train traveling at 80 miles an hour along bumpy
track. It feels like you are in turbulence on an airplane, in an
earthquake, and a small row boat in a storm at sea all happening at the
same time and never ending, but it was an experience I will never
forget. I met some very fine folks on the train and enjoyed both trips
entirely.
I could say more about the convention, but believe me, if you did not
attend, you missed the greatest showcase to date. If you ever have the
chance to attend, you will not be disappointed in any way.
Thanks Mike and all the members of REPS in Seattle for not disappointing
me in any way.
Fred Korb - Secretary (ORCATS)
Oldtime Radio Collectors and Traders Society
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 16:18:05 -0400
From: Don Strong <donsplace@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: CB Promo
Once again, due to the efforts of Dennis Crow, I've been able to give
back to the Digest in a very small way.
I've set up a new page with the Cinnamon Bear promo audio as well as the
Maybeland maps available for download. The URL is:
[removed]~[removed]
Please don't blame Mr. Crow for the relatively poor audio quality; the
tape he provided was of the highest quality. Unfortunately, in order to
be able to fit the audio file into my allotted storage space I had to
encode it at a very low bitrate. Still, it is listenable, and something
is better than none - unless you are an archivist.
I hope all of you who are Cinnamon Bear fans enjoy it, and if there are
enough requests, I may be able to split it into multiple files and post
in segments on a rotating basis.
-- [removed] (donsplace@[removed])
"Prevent truth decay - study the Bible daily"
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 16:20:31 -0400
From: "Mary Anne Morel" <morel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Jack Benny and other topics
Greetings, everyone:
Delurking long enough to ask a question about Jack Benny. The radio station I
listen to that plays OTR programs apparently has a limited number of JB
episodes, because it has aired the I Can't Stand Jack Benny contest umpteen
times--most recently last night. The show is always funny, of course, but
does leave the listener wanting to know more. There must be more episodes of
this gag than just one!
Can a knowledgeable OTR fan elaborate on this a little? Was this an actual
contest that people could send their comments to (in 50 words or less,
because, as one of the cast members pointed out, 25 words wasn't enough)? Did
this running gag stretch through the weeks or months, and how did it end?
To switch the subject, there has been some discussion in the last week or two
about Joseph Cotton and a radio play involving a medical condition that
simulates death. The unfortunate victim ends up on a gurney in a dissecting
room about to be embalmed. I listened to that program on air recently, but am
pretty sure it did not feature Cotton (sorry, I don't remember the actor's
name). Perhaps the script was used more than once?
Finally, I am currently reading an engaging new biography of Gregory Peck by
Gary Fishgall (although the copyediting/proofreading is sloppy [removed] Agnes
Moorehead comes out Morehead) that mentions some of Peck's radio work of the
1940s. I hadn't realized the actor was so prolific in this regard,
appearing--according to the author--in 10 radio plays in 1946 alone. Does
anyone know if either The Keys of the Kingdom (Academy Award Theatre, August,
1946), Gentleman's Agreement (Lux Radio Theatre, 1948), The Yearling (Lux
Radio Theatre, January, 1948) or The Man Who Came to Dinner (CBC radio drama,
aired Dec. 25, 1949)is available on cassette tape in the open market? Or
online?
Finally, I plead guilty to ignorance of a program called Academy Award
Theatre. Was this a long-running series, and which network carried it?
Thanks for any feedback, and isn't it refreshing to read a Hollywood
biography that actually talks about OTR, even if only sporadically and
through the narrow focus of its star subject?
Mary Anne Morel
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:06:06 -0400
From: "Ellsworth Johnson" <eojohnsonww2@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: FS OTR programs on 7 inch reels
My Father started earning his living in radio sales and service in 1923---I
joined him in 1936. More later re my experiences. We had a radio/electronic
store in Spokane, Wa. for 40 years, downtown. I joined OTR recently.
I have approx 40 reels of OTR programs on 7 inch reel to reel tape. 1/4
track. 1800 ft. reels play about 6 hours. 1200 ft. reels play about 4 hours.
All were acquired approx. 30 years ago from McCoys Recording of Pasco,
Washington who possessed the largest collection I ever was aware [removed] desire
to dispose of the collection. due to my age which is now 83. email me your
interests and I will respond with what I may have that you may like. I
have all sorts of programs. Lux radio theatre, The Adventures of Sherlock
Holmes, Amos and Andy, Jack Benny Show, I Love A Mystery, Suspence, Fibber
McGee and Molly, Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street, Gulf Screen
Guild, Frank Sinatra/The Old Gold Show, Harry Lime-- to name a few.
I will sell one or more reels at a time. Ellsworth Johnson
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:06:48 -0400
From: "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Radio Spirits
I do not want to start another Radio Spirits and Carl Amari controversy but
comments have been made about the new organization. I have purchased radio
shows from [removed] as well as other venders over the years. Recently I
purchased two sets from Radio Spirits, OTR Master Detectives, and The New
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with John Stanley and Arthur Shirley. The
first set was perfect, but the Holmes set was terrible. It was tecnically
unlistenable ( if there is such a word). I e-mailed Radio Spirits as I
purchased the sets on-line and they came back and said they would replace
the set. Two weeks later, they did. I just received the new set and it is
up to their usual high standard. I do not own stock or have any relation
with the company or with Mediabay. To me their customer service was
outstanding.
John Southard
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:08:05 -0400
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NICKODELL'S IN A DREAM
In a message dated 7/3/2002 4:45:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:
Aww, George [removed] you missed the REAL Nickodell's! It was the first
one, tucked away on a little street in Hollywood where we hung out with all
the radio people in the 40's and into the early 50's. The Nick's to which
you refer was the larger, less intimate one on Hollywood Blvd, next to KHJ.
Lois, I'm surprised by this obvious mistake. I was not aware there were
two Nicks, but the one I used to go to for many years was the one and only
Nickodell's next to KHJ on Melrose.
Once a part of the old RKO studios, but by the time I was there it had
been sold to Desilu. It was my favorite for lunch when I was on the lot at
Paramount and there was a back door from the lot you could use and be almost
unseen as you stepped down into the dark and cool clatter of lunch and
deal-talk and found your way to a large booth with circular red leather and
dark wood.
Let the lunch begin! I gotta get back to the set!!
Sigh! Oh well.
Today, at the Northeast corner of Melrose and Gower you can still see the
globe that was once held the magnificent RKO tower with its lightning bolts
flashing at the opening credits of their films.
Tower gone, globe painted pink like the stucco walls, Paramount nearby
with the dreaded parking lot were once Nickodell's welcomed the greats, the
near-greats and the ingrates. They all dined and wined there in the hope of
working on the lot in a picture.
I still miss it.
Musso-Frank is still on Hollywood Blvd. though, maybe that's what you
meant Lois. It has it's share of Hollywood glamor still intact and in fact is
the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, founded in 1919, just in time to be the
meeting place of all the silent movie folk and just down the street from the
renovated Roosevelt Hotel.
Hope ya liked the tour folks. It's a great town!
I just don't wanna live there anymore.
Love New York.
<A HREF="[removed],+Michael+C.">
Michael C. Gwynne</A>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:08:20 -0400
From: "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Shadow's Shrevvy
It is the Shadow that had a taxi driver named Shrevvy. He was also in the
pulp novels of the Shadow by Walter Gibson. In "The Shadow Scrapbook" in an
article on the Shadow's agents, the taxi driver is named Moe Shrevnitz or
"Shrevvy" for short.
John Southaed
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:09:01 -0400
From: "Scott Eberbach" <seberbach@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Temple Of Vampires
Hi jh!
Yes! that is too much to hope for! In a nut-shell DO NOT by this [removed]
bought this 2 LP set back in the mid 1970's only to discover that it was
even shorter than the version I had bought from another dealer. That
version, you guessed it, was missing episodes 8-15, and 18 as well.
There is, however, a *complete* Temple Of Vampires out there. In 1989 a
bunch of actors under the direction of Bud Carey, a California DJ, and with
the assistance of Jim Harmon they recreated the missing interior episodes of
Temple Of Vampires. Mr. Harmon provided recaptulations for the first seven
episodes as well. The recreations were sandwhiched between the originals
for a *complete* version of the story. This is an extremely solid
[removed] only real drawback is the fact that actors don't really sound
anything like Russell Thorson, Jim Boles, and Tony Randall, yet, is better
than having that 8 episode break just as things are starting to cook!
If you have the first seven episodes along with 16, 17, 19, and 20 you could
go to the following web-site and pick up the recreated episodes in MP3
format:
[removed] this is Brian Misiaszek's unofficial
ILAM web-site. Here you will find a lot of information about ILAM as well
as those recreations. Hope this helps!
Best [removed]
Scott
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:09:08 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Comics who Stayed at NBC
On 7/3/02 4:46 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
When CBS made its talent raid on NBC for stars like Jack Benny and Amos &
Andy, were there any shows that CBS tried to get that decided not to leave
NBC? Did CBS try for Fibber McGee & Molly?
NBC made preemptive efforts to hold onto what major comedy programs it
had left during 1949 -- and it was at this time that they signed Fred
Allen to a long-term contract and purchased "Fibber McGee and Molly"
outright, buying all rights to the program from the three-way partnership
of Jim and Marian Jordan and Don Quinn. I believe Bob Hope also signed a
direct contract with NBC around this time.
Allen had definitely been approached by CBS, but he had, under doctor's
orders, already made the decision to retire from his regular weekly
series at the end of the 1948-49 season. He signed the NBC contract,
expecting to be used in the future as a guest star and "added
attraction," without the hassle of acutally assembling his own program.
(His stint on "The Big Show" was a result of this contract.) The Jordans
were happy where they were, and with Quinn having left the series to
write "Halls of Ivy," it was as good an excuse as any to sell the program
to the network and get a nice tax break in return.
I'm surprised Hope didn't jump when he had the chance -- during the early
forties, NBC had twisted its corporate hands in frustration over the
style of humor on his program, and there's evidence in the NBC files that
network officials actually considered framing up a fake protest against
"lewd comedy" in hopes of intimidating Hope into falling in line -- or
forcing Lever Brothers into dropping his show. Although Hope's program
was the highest-rated show on the air at the time, certain people at NBC
seem to have deeply disliked him, and would have been more than happy to
see him blackballed.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:10:20 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: happy trails
It's maybe 1952 and we're washing dishes in our Cleveland Heights apartment,
listening to the yellow plastic Emerson that sat atop the little
refrigerator. Roy Rogers had just finished up the show, and he and Dale
Evans were signing off with their signature song, "Happy Trails." Only this
time, they'd sold out:
Happy Dodge to you
Until we meet [removed]
I don't think I'm recalling this incorrectly. I know I wasn't a big fan of
Roy anyway, either on radio or tv, and I recall thinking that this was going
a bit too far.
Was Roy sponsored by Dodge, and did he and Dale indeed mangle "Happy Trails"
for the sponsor?
On the other hand, I just saw a 1948 publicity photo of Dale Evans.
Drop-dead beautiful woman. Occurs to me that on the TV show, I liked Dale
better than any of the other characters. Makes sense, considering my later
interests. 8-)
M Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 740 687 6368
[removed]~kinsler
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:10:38 -0400
From: StevenL751@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: ILAM: The "complete", original TOV?
In a message dated 7/3/2002 4:45:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:
Is anyone familiar with the Radiola double LP version of "Temple of
Vampires"? The jacket claims to have the "complete story" (although edited
down to under two hours), as heard on the Mutual Network, Jan. 2-27, 1950.
Could this recording include excerpts from the missing episodes 8-15 and
18, or would that be too much to hope for?
Nope, sorry to disappoint, but it's too much to hope for. What the Radiola
double LP includes is:
Side 1: Episodes 1, 2, and 3 (first part)
Side 2: Episodes 3 (conclusion), 4, and 5
Side 3: Episodes 6, 7 (partial), and 16
Side 4: Episodes 17, 19, and 20
Of course all the repeated openings, closings, and episode recaps have also
been edited out. What remains almost seems like a continuous story, even the
large gap in the middle isn't really all the obvious.
Steve Lewis
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 19:42:35 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Pete Novak, Blues For Hire?
>From "Those Were The Days," Joe Mackey cited,
1951 - Jack Webb switched from his Dragnet role of Sgt. Joe Friday to
that of Pat Novak in Pete Kelly's Blues, which debuted on NBC radio. The
program aired for the summer.
Actually, Pete Kelly's Blues and Pat Novak For Hire were separate and
distinct shows. Pete Kelly's Blues was set in the Prohibition era, had
some good jazz and a lot of color. Kelly was a musician and hand leader.
Dunning noted it premiered on 4 July 1951, running to 19 September of
the same year.
Pat Novak For Hire was a 1946-1947 item, derived from the detective
pulps. It was moody, dark, and filled with colorful similes. Pete Kelly
was an antihero.
I love both of these shows.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 20:15:01 -0400
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: OTR drinks
Ga6string@[removed] wrote:
advertisement mentioned that the drink was now available in a big, new 12
ounce bottle, so that you could enjoy two -- that's right, two!! -- servings
per bottle.
Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed]; responded:
In any case, us kids couldn't afford the "premium" drinks: Coke, 7-Up &
Pepsi sold for 7 cents each, plus 2 cents deposit, while Nehi, Royal Crown
The Pepsi jingle I remember, long before drinking a Pepsi was regarded as
"sociable" or "modern," only promised us a bargain and a drink that "hit the
spot." As I remember it, it went:
Pepsi Cola hits the spot!
Twelve full ounces: that's a lot!
Twice as much for a nickle, too!
Pepsi Cola is the drink for you.
I can't honestly say I remember the "Nickle Nickle Nickle Nickle, trickle
trickle trickle trickle," part; that I got from hearing OTR in recent years.
I assume from the jingle that coke came in a six ounce bottle. As the
original poster mentioned, a far cry from today's gluttonous society wherein
every food must be "upsized" if we are not to feel cheated.
But the soft drink I really miss is Grapette; it was perhaps even smaller
than Coke, but even as a child I recognized the taste of real grape juice,
and occasionally would choose the quality of Grapette over the quantity of
Nehi.
Of course, the signature drink of the day was Orange Crush, with real bits of
juicy oranges, the flavor protected by its special brown glass bottle. I
still have an unopened bottle, but it doesn't look too appealing anymore.
Lumps of things in there besides real bits of juicy oranges.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 23:14:13 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Moe Shrevintz
Moe "Shrevvy" Shrevnitz was a cab driver on the "Shadow." He was basically
there for comic relief and he was played at various times by Alan Reed, Keenan
Wynn, Everett Sloand and Mandel Kramer. He drove Lamont Cranston and Margo
Lane to their various misadventures.
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #250
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