------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2009 : Issue 230
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Mid 40s term question - sibilanc [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
"Good Old Watson" [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
Born 100 years ago in December [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
12-1 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re: sibilance and sibilants [ "Bill Jaker" <bilj@[removed]; ]
Dr Watson [ Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed]; ]
Holmes for the Holidays [ Wich2@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:17:12 -0500
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Mid 40s term question - sibilance
Henry Howard asks if the term sibilance
would have been known or used in the mid 40s given the limited bandwidth of
audio at the time, as well as the smooth response of the ribbon mics
Once again I must dispel the myth that audio bandwidth was limited in the
40s, or the 30s for that matter. Western Electric Wide Range Vertical
Recording, used by World Broadcasting System among others, had a frequency
response beyond 13 KHz by 1933, the main trunks of network telephone lines
topped 10 KHz by the early 30s and were approaching 15 HKz in 1934, the
stations in the new expanded 1500-1600 KHz band were required to have
response exceeding 10 KHz in 1934, Armstrong's FM transmission had a 15 KHz
response in 1937, and some fancy radios made by companies like Scott could
take advantage of all this. And while the beloved ribbon mics might be
considered "smooth" now, the RCA 44A had response to 15 KHz. when introduced
in 1932.
Considering all this, sibilance was occasionally a problem, especially
considering splattering with mis-tuned receivers, so the term was in common
usage. So by all means, do not "incorrectly correct this actor. Keep in
mind that LIVE performance in those days was not electronically augmented,
and actors were trained to P R O J E C T, and sibilance is an important part
of intelligibility. And beyond all this, in the early days of recording when
it was done acoustically with a horn, the sibilant sounds were very difficult
to record, and this made them all the more important to emphasize, even to
exaggeration.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:19:26 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "Good Old Watson"
David Rogers asks about some chronology in "The New Adventures of
Sherlock Holmes" in terms of Watson's marital status.
Not to worry. Even if the script writers were scrupulous in
following the chronology of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, they could still
wander into confusion. Doyle did not re-read his stories to make sure
that accuracy was paramount in terms of time lines, names and places.
Cranking out the Sherlock Holmes stories was virtually effortless for
him; he completed one story standing under a tree when a rain shower
had interrupted his cricket game.
Doyle even forgot John Watson's name in one story and had his first
wife call him "James." And that Jezail bullet that struck Watson in
the Battle of Maiwand, which shoulder did it hit? Maybe the right,
maybe the left?
As to the time periods of his first marriage and his second, script
writers are free to pick any times they wish. It certainly wouldn't
have made any difference to Doyle.
It is the many inconsistencies in the Sherlock Holmes stories that
have resulted in the cottage industry of Sherlockian research, trying
to explain all these puzzles in a logical manner.
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:19:33 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Born 100 years ago in December
12-03-1909 - Dana Suesse - Kansas City, MO - d. 10-16-1987
composer: "Good News of 1938"
12-06-1909 - Lyn Murray - London, England - d. 5-20-1989
conductor: "Chesterfield Presents"; "Your Hit Parade"; "Ford Theatre"
12-07-1909 - Arch Oboler - Chicago, IL - d. 3-19-1987
writer: 'Lights Out"; "Adam and Eve skit on Bergen/McCarthy"
12-08-1909 - Elaine Melchior - NYC - d. 10-22-2002
actor: Ardala Valmer "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"
12-09-1909 - Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. - NYC - d. 5-7-2000
actor: "Silent Men"; "This Is War"; "We Care"
12-12-1909 - Karen Morley - Ottumwa, IA - d. 3-8-2003
blacklisted actor: "War Town"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-12-1909 - Louis G. Cowan - Chicago, IL - d. 11-18-1976
producer: "The Quiz Kids"; "Murder at Midnight"
12-14-1909 - "Symphony Sid" Torin - NYC - d. 9-21-1984
disk jockey specializing in jazz. Worked for several New York stations
12-17-1909 - Murray Brody - d. 6-16-2004
producer: KOH Reno, Nevada
12-18-1909 - George Fisher - d. 12-9-1987
hollywood reporter: "Hollywood Whispers"; "Hollywood Gossip"
12-19-1909 - Ed Auxer - d. 8-21-2004
disk jockey: WSBT South Bend, Indiana
12-22-1909 - Patricia Hayes - London, England - d. 9-19-1998
actor: Henry Bones, boy detective "Children's Hour"
12-22-1909 - Robert Barr - Glasbow, Scotland - d. 1-30-1999
radio writer: "To Tell You the Truth"
12-23-1909 - Maurice Denham - Beckenham, England - d. 7-24-2002
actor: "Return of Sherlock Holmes"
12-25-1909 - Mike Mazurki - Tarnopol, Austria - d. 12-9-1990
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-28-1909 - Olan Soule - La Harpe, IL - d. 2-1-1994
actor: Sam Ryder "Bachelor's Children"; Kermit Hubbard "Joan and Kermit"
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:19:40 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 12-1 births/deaths
December 1st births
12-01-1880 - William Arndt - Mayville, WI - d. 2-25-1957
professor: conducted Bible classes on WFUO St. Louis
12-01-1885 - Frazier Hunt - Rock Island, IL - d. 12-24-1967
newscaster: Weekday morning newscast on Mutual
12-01-1886 - Rex Stout - Noblesville, IN - d. 10-27-1975
author: (Creator of Nero Wolfe) Debunker of Axis Propaganda "Our
Secret Weapon"
12-01-1892 - Charlie Bachman - Chicago, IL - d. 12-14-1985
football coach: "Football Predictions"
12-01-1892 - Harry W. Conn - d. 6-8-1960
writer: "The Jack Benny Program"
12-01-1896 - Ethel Shutta - NYC - d. 2-5-1976
singer-comedian: "Jack Benny Program"
12-01-1896 - Ray Henderson - Buffalo, NY - d. 12-31-1970
composer: "Music for Millions"; "Cue Magazine Salutes ASCAP"
12-01-1898 - Cyril Ritchard - Syndey, Australia - d. 12-18-1977
actor: "Best Plays"; "United States Steel Hour"; "NBC Star Playhouse"
12-01-1899 - Tom Shirley - Chicago, IL - d. 1-24-1962
actor, announcer: Sam Aldrich "Aldrich Family"; Advs. of the Thin Man"
12-01-1900 - Ted Hammerstein - d. 10-6-1973
emcee: "The Hammerstein Music Hall"
12-01-1904 - Jean Paul King - North Bend, NE - d. 8-21-1965
annoucer: "Clara, Lu, and Em"; "Music of the Haydns"
12-01-1904 - Jimmy Lytell - NYC - d. 11-26-1972
bandleader, clarinetist: "Cavalcade of America"; "Songs by Morton
Downey"
12-01-1910 - Alicia Markova - London, England - d. 12-2-2004
ballerina: BBC Interview
12-01-1911 - Randy Merriman - Minneapolis, MN - d. 10-27-2005
actor: "Doctor [removed]"
12-01-1911 - Walter Alston - Venice, OH - d. 10-1-1984
baseball manager: "Tops In Sports"
12-01-1913 - Mary Martin - Weatherford, TX - d. 11-3-1990
singer: "Lifebuoy Health Soap Program"; "Good News of 1940"; "Kraft
Music Hall"
12-01-1915 - Johnny Johnston - St. Louis, MO - d. 1-6-1996
singer: "Rhapsody in Rhythm"; "Club Matinee"; "Duffy's Tavern";
"Breakfast Club"
12-01-1917 - William Tracy - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 6-18-1967
actor: Roosty "Roosty of the AAF"
12-01-1918 - Thomas Hayward - Kansas City, MO - d. 2-1-1995
singer: "Serenade to America"; "Name Speaks"
12-01-1920 - Mary Wells - Omaha, NE - d. 8-14-2000
actor: "John Steele, Adventurer"
12-01-1932 - Heather Begg - Nelson, New Zealand - d. 5-12-2009
opera singer: "Die Walkure"
12-01-1933 - Lou Rawls - Chicago, IL - d. 1-6-2006
singer: "Here's to Veterans"
12-01-1939 - Dianne Lennon - Los Angeles, CA
singer: (The Lennon Sisters) "Music on Deck"; "Voices of Vista";
"Guest Star"
12-01-1939 - Noel Jones - Dublin, Ireland
authored radio plays
12-01-1941 - Ian (David) Slater - Queensland, Australia
writer: ""Black Lion"
December 1st deaths
01-21-1909 - Sid Raymond - NYC - d. 12-1-2006
actor: "X Minus One"
01-25-1908 - Stephane Grapelli - Paris, France - d. 12-1-1997
jazz violinist: "Saturday Night Swing Club"; "Jazz Alive"
02-03-1895 - Nick Kenny - Astoria, NY - d. 12-1-1975
columnist, songwriter: Reader of inspirational verse
02-14-1915 - Irving Gordon - Brooklyn, NY - d. 12-1-1996
scripted Abbott and Costello's "Who's On First" routine
02-16-1915 - Carlotta Dale - Ardmore, PA - d. 12-1-1988
vocalist: "Music for Moderns"; "Rhapsody in Rhythm"
03-11-1915 - Dan Donaldson - St. Louis, MO - d. 12-1-1991
announcer: "Kitty Keene, Inc."; "Ma Perkins"
03-17-1910 - Molly Weir - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 12-1-2004
actor: Tattie McIntosh "It's That Man Again"; Aggie "Life with the
Lyons"
04-22-1932 - Bill Bircher - d. 12-1-1988
disk jockey: WTNJ Trenton, NJ; WBCB Levittown, PA
05-03-1906 - Anna Roosevelt - Hyde Park, NY - d. 12-1-1975
Daughter of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. On her mother's programs
05-08-1921 - Sy Shaffer - d. 12-1-2005
trombonist: "Arthur Godfrey time"
05-18-1900 - Joyce Barthelson - d. 12-1-1986
pianist: KGO Oakland, California
05-21-1901 - Horace Heidt - Alameda, CA - d. 12-1-1986
bandleader: "Horace Heidt Brigadiers"; "Pot o' Gold"; "Treasure Chest"
06-09-1908 - Robert Cummings - Joplin, MO - d. 12-1-1990
actor: David Adair "Those We Love"; "Cavalcade of America"
07-20-1923 - James Bree - England - d. 12-1-2008
actor: "Sergeant Musgrave's Dance"
08-27-1925 - Carter Stanley - Stratton, VA - d. 12-1-1966
bluegrass singer: (The Stanley Brothers) "Farm and Fun Program"
09-16-1925 - Charlie Byrd - Chuckatuck, VA - d. 12-1-1999
jazz guitarist: "Voices of Vista"
10-31-1916 - James Broom-Lynne - London, England - d. 12-1-1995
writer: "Charlie and Duke"; "Return Visit"
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:22:08 -0500
From: "Bill Jaker" <bilj@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: sibilance and sibilants
Henry Howard asked:
Given the limited bandwidth of audio at the time, as well as the smooth
response of the ribbon mics, I don't believe sibilance would have been a
problem, and the term would not have been in common usage.
Can anyone shed some light on this before I incorrectly correct this actor?
During radio broadcasting's first decade the carbon mics that were found
in most studios did have a problem turning sibilant sounds fuzzy. By the
1930s the improvements in both audio pickup, transmission and on the
receiving end made the human voice sound more natural.
I remember hearing a program will confirm this: On one of Jean
Shepherd's magnificent 1960-era Saturday morning programs on WOR/New York,
veteran announcer Phil Tonkin came in to give the headlines and weather and
stayed for the next half-hour, swapping old radio stories (and I wonder if
there's a recording of this anywhere in circulation).
Tonkin told about the time that Norman Ross -- Nawhmann Rahss, he of the
golden pear-shaped tones -- had a program of poetry recitations. It was
usually live, but one day Ross had to leave early and recorded his poems
with accompanying organ music on a glass transcription disk. Shortly after
he left, someone dropped the disc and it shattered into pieces.
There was panic at WOR but Tonkin came to the rescue. "I know where his
script is, and the organist is still here, and," then rolling out his
pronunciation, "I can do a perfect imitation of Nawhamnn Rahss."
So at the scheduled time, Phil Tonkin went on the air, "This is Nawhmann
[removed]" and repeated the program perfectly.
He was feeling pretty good about it but when he returned to his office
the phone was already ringing.
"Vehrry fuhnnny, [removed]"
Phil Tonkin explained the circumstances to him and Ross calmed down a
bit, allowing Tonkin to ask, "You knew it wasn't you, but how did you know
it was me?" According to Ross the giveaway was in Tonkin's sibiliants. A
good actor or announcer can rework his vocal qualities, but unless it's a
broad change you can't really vary the way you say an "S".
So you can correct the actor but it probably won't make much of a
difference.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:22:33 -0500
From: Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Dr Watson
David Rogers wrote:
Is The New [removed] between the first and second wife?
Having released over 80 of the original THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
radio shows, I believe I can answer that.
As part of releasing the shows, I listened to them many times.
Each episode was "based on an incident in a Sherlock Holmes story."
Thus, Denis Green and Anthony Boucher (the script writers) would set their
stories anywhere in the world of Sherlock Holmes.
Some of the stories were set before, during, and after the first and second
wife.
The scripts did not follow a chronological time table.
It did not matter, as the Sherlock Holmes radio show was fun to listen to, no
matter what time period it was set in.
Ken Greenwald
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:23:04 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Holmes for the Holidays
From: david rogers <david_rogers@[removed];
Subject: Dr Watson's Wife
David, I would expect the situation in radio was the same as that in the
prose - an indeterminate mess.
-Craig "sometime Sherlock" Wichman
(Our BLUE CARBUNCLE is syndicated again this Yule; ask your local
stations!)
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2009 Issue #230
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