------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 156
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Vic Perrin and interviews [ Larry Gassman <lgsinger@[removed] ]
Fibber Magee [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
Re: A&A's Origins Revisited [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
amos 'n' andy script [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
Radio Listings [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Cincy Convention Review [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Re: Cincy Con [ "James Erskine" <cominghomemag@msn. ]
cincy con [ rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed] ]
April 15, Birthdays [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
National Audio Theater Workshop [ JayHick@[removed] ]
Reel to Reel Tape Recorder [ "Arthur Funk" <Art-Funk@[removed]; ]
Barely OTR [ "Tom Thomas" <tomth@[removed]; ]
Monday & Friday Shows [ Trinapreston3@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:18:31 -0400
From: Larry Gassman <lgsinger@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Vic Perrin and interviews
Earlier it was noted that one web site had Vic Perrin's birth in 1900 and
his death in 1974. Actually the 1989 date is probably correct. I remember
taking a voice-over class with Ron Staley among others in 1981. Vic taught
the class back then. A year or so later, I asked him to be part of a panel
at SPERDVAC, which also included: Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, John Dehner,
Virginia Gregg, and Peggy Webber.
Those of you who may have been there or heard a recording in later years,
know what a terrific afternoon that was.
I miss doing interviews. I know I can't do it on a regular basis, and
eventually when we get back on the air again, this may be a
possibility. But I plan to take Walden Hughes up on his offer to do
several interviews in his time slots for Yesterday USA. I look forward to
doing some radio related interviews when time allows.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:19:36 -0400
From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Fibber Magee
<Regarding the new restaurant in [removed];
I'll bet a Bristol Cream cookie that the "Irish" pub the owner had in mind
was "Duffy's [removed] the elite meet to eat!" (now, sure and begorrah
that sounds "Irish" enough!) The radio talk show the owner named his place
for: "Fibber Magee (spelling) and Molly," was indeed, from his point of
view, talking radio as compared to music radio. Then again, Archie was
talking on the phone a lot! Jackie Gleason's tv pub routine with Mister
Dennehey (Fankie Fontaine) may also have been a recollection. So, what was
the newspaper's review of the new Phoenix pub-restaurant ?
Russ Butler oldradio@[removed]
(with family heritage from The Emerald Isle and Boston)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:20:23 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: A&A's Origins Revisited
On 4/13/03 5:12 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
But I also don't think Gosden and Correll saw Blacks as equals, most people
didn't at the time, and their knowledge about Blacks came mainly from their
knowledge of black performers they met in vaudeville who often promoted
stereotypes themselves because the audience liked it .
Correll and Gosden were not vaudevillians, nor was exposure to black
comedians their primary source of knowledge about the African-American
urban culture of their time. The world portrayed in A&A was, rather,
based on Freeman Gosden's own childhood memories of Jackson Ward in
Richmond, then the commercial and cultural capital of the black
Southeast. The Gosdens lived on East Marshall Street, which straddled the
southern boundary of Jackson Ward, and from his earliest childhood
Freeman saw this complex urban culture, heard its dialects, and knew its
people firsthand. He spent much of his childhood roaming the streets of
the neighborhood, his first job was in a drugstore in the heart of
Jackson Ward, and his closest friend as a child was an African-American
orphan who the Gosdens essentially raised as one of their own children.
Now, I don't mean to assert for a second that this childhood endowed
Gosden with extraordinary insight into the very depths of the
African-American soul -- but it *did* help him to understand that no
matter what color we are, the majority of the problems we face are the
same: we worry about how to pay our bills, feed our families, do our
jobs, run our businesses. There are obviously issues that are unique for
any specific racial group, but no matter who we are, *most* of our
experiences overlap. And it's precisely because racism *was* so prevelant
75 years ago, precisely because *most* whites of his day *didn't*
recognize this, that A&A was such an eyeopener for so many people.
"You would have laughed yourself sick at them. They're so much like darkies.
Not the fresh Northern niggers, but the genuine real Southern darkies, the
good niggers, lazy, happy-go-lucky, strutting themselves out in
[removed] like real life."
--Quoted from Studs Lonigan by James T. Farrell
Farrell obviously didn't listen to the program very closely, or he'd have
noticed that there was actually very little about it that could be
described as "happy-go-lucky" in the period he portrays.
While many commentators have siezed on this quote in attempt to support
their own notions of how people must have responded to the program in its
day, a careful examination of *actual* popular reaction -- fan mail,
reviews, essays, sermons, editorials, all existing in voluminous
quantities from the 1930s -- reveals that the Farrell quote clearly
expressed a minority view. For most listeners who left behind a record of
their response, it was clearly the recognition of universal experience
that set A&A apart from every blackface act which had come before, and
the way in which the characters were genuinely taken to heart by the
Depression generation suggests that there was far more going on for them
than just a recitation of paternalistic "happy-go-lucky darky" cliches.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:18:46 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: amos 'n' andy script
My thanks go out to Ms McLeod for posting that portion of the Amos 'n' Andy
script. It illustrates your point perfectly and showed me, finally, the
difference between the 'sitcom' A'n'A and the earlier serial version about
which you've spoken so often.
But there's just one thing: Did Andy have any luck with that matrimonial
bureau? I was worried for him as he read that first letter!
Mark Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368
[removed]~mkinsler1
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:21:18 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio Listings
Chris Werner brought up some good points about radio listings. If he
doesn't mind, allow me to add a few points.
1. The magazines like RADIO GUIDE and RADIO MIRROR were created for
publicity purposes. The producers and sponsors of the programs got free
advertising by supplying articles and photos to those magazines (and many
times those articles were written by the advertising agency, not the editors
of the magazines). The magazine sold issues as a result. Both parties
profit. Problem is, many times often there were things exagerated (sp?) and
the truth stretched longer than taffy. I have chatted with parties who had
articles and biographies written about them in those issues and many times
they laughed and said "so, that was made up." If an article was found in
the Washington Post or the Los Angeles Times, being newspapers, those
articles were far more accurate to the facts.
2. Radio listings in both newspapers and those radio guides were (and I
quote this big time) "what was intended for broadcast - not what was
broadcast." MANY times programs altered what they were going to dramatized,
pre-empted a script, or presented a different actor substituting. Case in
point, a fellow in Canada went through the New York Times a decade ago or so
and wrote titles and airdates and guest star from the paper for the whole 20
years. Guess what? One out of every four entries had alternate titles
"Wreck of the Train" instead of "The Wreck of the Old '97", etc. or
different cast listing, and so on. Ray Stanich first created an INNER
SANCTUM log using the New York Times as a source (and he even cited the darn
paper in his log as a source) and to this date and ever since then, EVERYONE
who has an episode guide of Inner Sanctum on their web site has reprinted
Stanich's log and not one of them, to the best of my knowledge, has Stanich
as a reference. About one third of the episodes listed have wrong cast, a
wrong title, etc. (My INNER SANCTUM book has all this corrected,
obviously.)
I have never used the newspapers as a source to create episode guides
because they are not accurate. I have used the newspapers to verify why a
broadcast wasn't heard on a particular day (such as Election results or
Democratic Conventions) or verify airtimes but that's about it. I have
broken my rule out of desperation twice, but I explained in both prints
where my source was and that they too should not be taken as the gospel.
3. Lastly with [removed] Derek Tague will vouch for this as he knows the
issues of VARIETY like the back of his [removed] VARIETY is SUPERB when it
comes to creating episode guides. Reason why is simple. They reviewed the
dramas and there is no way anyone can say that such-and-such drama was never
broadcast on a particular date when VARIETY did a review. You can't review
what wasn't done. Their reviews of broadcasts have helped tremendously
varify a script title, a plot description, cast, etc. Only catch is that
for many programs that were weekly and long-running, they only reviewed the
season opener.
In short, enjoy what you read in the trade papers - they are fun but please
treat them with a grain of salt depending on the source. Just wanted to
point those out. By the way Chris, let us know when you get the scans up on
the web - it'll be worth your effort and be highly appreciated by everyone.
Martin Grams, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:22:19 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cincy Convention Review
Well, here I am back at home and trying to play "catch-up" on all the work
that piled up while I was away. As usual, Bob Burchett and Robert Newman
put together a tour de force convention. It is not every day that I can rub
elbows with the stars (Hastings, Stone, etc.) but it is an honor.
The crowd was friendly as usual. I got to socialize with Rodney Bowcock,
Charlie Summers of the Digest, Ted Davenport, Barry Hill, George, Fred and
Ellen, and all of the hundred plus people I chat with on the phone and
e-mail every week. (It's also nice to be able to put a face to a couple
e-mails now.)
In the past years when I lived with my parents my mother would always say
"and just what did you bring back now?" and I usually tried to incorporate
some of my new found treasures in my clothes bag (stopped that when a
rehearsal recording of YOU BET YOUR LIFE got washed). Living by myself now
proves a luxury - I can bring back tapes and books and magazines and a
couple lobby cards without anyone asking "why?" as if they don't understand
my obsession.
I have observed that first-time attendees from last year returned again this
year so it shows just how much fun the convention can be. I didn't get the
opportunity to chat with everyone I wanted to (didn't get a chance to grab
dinner at Hooters) but the late evenings with friends till 2 in the morning
(both nights) was welcome. Vacation at its best. If anyone reading this is
within travel distance of Cincinnati, Ohio, even half a day's drive, I
recommend they attend next year. I'll bet dollars to donuts you will return
every year after.
Congrats on a job well done Bob and Robert!
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:36:46 -0400
From: "James Erskine" <cominghomemag@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Cincy Con
As a first timer to the Cincinnati Con, I found it a very laid back and
pleasant venue. Wonderful folks, nice dealers room, fun recreations.
The only incident that had me and a couple other first time attendee friends
scratching our collective heads was an out of place comment made by the
gentleman introducing the Saturday afternoon recreation of "Boston Blackie"
(a very well done performance, I might add).
He said, as his introductory remark, something to the effect:
"I hope you all have said NO to MP3s and yes to cassettes forever!"
That IS a paraphrase, but the sentiment is identical. It was the first thing
he said when he got to the mic, then he jumped right into the subject of the
recreation at hand. I have no idea what prompted a statement like that in
front of the assembled crowd, but thought it was oddly out of place and not
a little tacky.
I wonder what might happen to a genuine MP3 dealer if he ever sets up at the
[removed] would he be mobbed, or mauled?
Yours Truly,
kylistener
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 12:37:16 -0400
From: rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: cincy con
Can't say enough good things about the convention this year! I don't think a
single person had a complaint about the new location, and rightfully so.
It's comfortable and big. We now have plenty of room to grow. Hal, Bob and
John were very gracious and entertaining, as was Leo Jordan (Jim's nephew)
who spoke for a bit on Friday evening.
The convention weekend always goes so quickly. I'm sad that it's over.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 15:02:33 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: April 15, Birthdays
If you were born on the 15th of April, you share your birthday with:
04-15-1903 - John Williams - Chalfont, St. Giles, Bucks, England
04-15-1915 - Hans Conried - Baltimore, MD - d. 1-5-1982
04-15-1924 - Neville Marriner - Lincoln, England
04-15-1933 - Roy Clark - Meherrin, VA
And thank you Mr. Bartell, I have duly recorded your birthday on my list.
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 16:33:10 -0400
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: National Audio Theater Workshop
Sue asked me to post this. Many of you know about this already. Jay
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Shelby Pierce (617) 497-6578 or spierce@[removed] <mailto:spierce@[removed];
Sue Zizza - Exec Director
(516) 483-8321
Suemedia1@[removed]
Administrative office:
115 Dikeman Street
Hempstead, NY 11550 (516) 483-8321 phone; (516) 538-7583 fax
Location recording and voice acting to be featured at June 2003 audio theatre
workshop
Students will head out of the classroom and into the wilderness, collecting
sounds for the 2003 National Audio Theatre Festivals audio theatre workshop.
The workshop introduces students to the skills needed to participate in the
growing audio theatre entertainment industry. Industry leaders come to
Missouri to teach the workshop, which runs from June 14-20, 2003, at
Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains.
The campus is in the Ozarks, near the Mark Twain Forest, which will provide
the audio backdrop for The Irish Wilderness: A Sonic Exploration. The piece
is a collaborative effort of the Rev. Dwight Frizzell, Jim Metzner (producer,
Pulse of the Planet), and Tom Lopez (producer, Ruby and Jack Flanders). The
production will be included in a live performance at 7:30 [removed], Friday, June
20, in the West Plains Civic Center. Tickets $[removed] for adults and $[removed] for
students and seniors and can be purchased in advance or at the door the
evening of the performance from the Civic Center box office.
Among NATF's other instructors will be voice actor Reathel Bean, who most
recently appeared in the Broadway production of Our Town with Paul Newman.
Bean is best known to audiophiles as Chick Bowdrie from the Louis L'Amour
series for Bantam Audio. His film credits include Dancer in the Dark and
Almost Famous, and TV credits include Law and Order, Ed, and Third Watch.
Bean will teach master voice acting classes.
WHEN : The workshop runs from June 14-20, 2003; the live performance
will be held 7:30 [removed], Friday, June 20, and will lead off the West Plains
Old Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival.
WHERE: The West Plains Civic Center and the campus of Southwest Missouri
State University in West Plains, Missouri - the heart of the Ozarks.
WHO: Anyone can attend. Students represent a range of ages and
backgrounds, and no prior involvement in audio theatre is necessary. A
limited number of scholarships, in the form of fee waivers, are available for
those who need financial assistance. Contact Sue Zizza at (516) 483-8321 to
apply.
COST: Participants who register by May 15 pay $375; after May 15, $425.
Low-cost lodging is available in the Southwest Missouri State University
dorms, along with discounted room rates at area hotels.
TO REGISTER: More information and the registration form is available at
the NATF website, [removed] <[removed];.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 16:56:06 -0400
From: "Arthur Funk" <Art-Funk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Reel to Reel Tape Recorder
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Someone donated an Akai model 2000S to our church. We have no need of it and
I've been asked to see if anyone on this list would like to purchase it. I
have no idea of its value so I'll be guided by what offers we receive. If you
are interested, please contact me privately at Art-Funk@[removed]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 18:53:58 -0400
From: "Tom Thomas" <tomth@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Barely OTR
>>Isn't that what Elizabeth's April 1 posting was all
about - a starting point for one's imagination?
I'm a newcomer to this list, *and* catching up on my
reading, so sorry this is a bit late. I'd just like
to put in my two cents which is that I've never
understood the appeal of pranks and jokes when it
involves deceiving someone. Such things are all
dangerous to one degree or another. I don't
understand why people could feel proud at making
someone else feel like a fool.
There are a number of assumptions and generalizations in your observation,
some of which I agree with, but none of which really applies to the subject
here. I agree that some pranks and jokes, whether using deceipt or not, are
thoughtless, cruel and even dangerous. But I disagree that all pranks and
jokes fit into this category. I wouldn't try to change your mind in this
respect, but I would invite you examine your last sentence, that says, "I
don't understand why people could feel proud at making someone else feel
like a fool." That is a strong assumption you have made about Elizabeth's
intention - that she wanted to make the readers feel like fools, and
further, that she was proud of having done so.
Were you not new to the list, you would be aware of the extensive,
authorative postings that Elizabeth supplies. What strikes me about the
style and content of her writing, beyond the scholarship, is the calm,
even-handed view she brings to her writing. I can tell an Elizabeth post
halfway into the first sentence. It sets a tone that allows her to engage
the reader with insightful discussions on all manner of subjects. There is
an underlying kindness and humanity that pervades all of her posts. Whether
the question or observation is from a beginner or an old hand, if she
responds, she does so with dignity, interest and generosity.
I don't know Elizabeth, except through her posts. But based on what you
have said in your post, about the things you *don't* like, this list is one
that you *will* like. Welcome, and I suspect that you'll look forward to
Elizabeth's posting as much as I do.
Kindest Regards,
Tom Thomas
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 21:08:32 -0400
From: Trinapreston3@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Monday & Friday Shows
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Is there anyone who knows the names of the otr shows that sustain Monday and
Fridays nights during the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's? Is there any websites
that you can printout the actual times, days of the week of otr shows?
Trina,
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #156
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