------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 167
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
5-16 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
WENDY WARREN AND THE NEWS [ "Frosty R. Povick" <frosty@prodigy. ]
Quick as a Flash [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
Re: Easter War Time [ David Phaneuf <david_phaneuf@yahoo. ]
[removed] [ BH <radiobill@[removed]; ]
Blackouts [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Blackouts [ "Bruce Williams" <deltaskipper@hotm ]
Wendy Warren & The News [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
gram scale [ edcarr@[removed] ]
Wendy Warren and the News [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
Amos And Andy Candy Is Dandy [ ilamfan@[removed] ]
This week in radio history 5/16-22 [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Re: Blackouts [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
bill idelson with dick van dyke [ "Louie Johnson" <ljohnson@[removed]; ]
Re: Blackouts [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 19:29:34 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 5-16 births/deaths
May 16th births
05-16-1882 - Mary Gordon - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 8-23-1963
actress: Mrs. Emmett "Those We Love"; Mrs. Hudson "Sherlock Holmes"
05-16-1896 - Margaret Sullavan - Norfolk, VA - d. 1-1-1960
actress: "Electric Theatre"; "Hollywood Playhouse"
05-16-1905 - Henry Fonda - Grand Island, NE - d. 8-12-1982
actor: "Eyes Aloft"; "Romance"; "Suspense"
05-16-1913 - Woody Herman - Milwaukee, WI - d. 10-29-1987
bandleader: (The Thundering Herd) "Wildroot Show"
05-16-1919 - Liberace - West Milwaukee, WI - d. 2-4-1987
pianist, singer: "Stars for Defense"
May 16th deaths
03-29-1890 - Joe Cook - Evansville, IN - d. 5-16-1959
comedian: "House Party"; "Shell Chateau"
04-04-1904 - John Brown - Hull, England - d. 5-16-1957
actor: Digby "Digger" O'Dell "Life of Riley"; Melvyn Foster "A Date with Judy"
12-09-1902 - Margaret Hamilton - Cleveland, OH - d. 5-16-1985
actress: Aunt Effie "Couple Next Door"
--
Ron Sayles
For a complete list:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 19:30:32 -0400
From: "Frosty R. Povick" <frosty@[removed];
To: old time radio list <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: WENDY WARREN AND THE NEWS
Does anyone else remember it that way? None of the
researchers/documentarians I have depended upon, at
least to my recollection, claim that the drama
preceded the newscast. Could it, for whatever the
reason, have been "tried" as an experiment for a brief
time and
dropped? (Still would wonder why.) If so, I'd
venture that it didn'thappen during summertime when a
number of us on this forum were listening every day.
If I'm wrong, I beg a thousand pardons. I'd really
like to know if anybody else remembers the story being
aired before the news at any time.
Jim Cox
I listened to Wendy Warren every day during the summer
when I was a kid, too. I definitely remember the news
first, then Wendy would go off to her "life" after
delivering the news.
I also found this by googling (what did we DO before
Google?):
440 International
Those Were The Days
Archives June 23
1947 - "Wendy Warren and the News" debuted on CBS
radio. The broadcasts continued until 1958. No, the
program was not a newscast, in the traditional sense.
It was a serial -- one of many of the time. The unique
thing about this particular show, however, was that
"Wendy Warren and the News" did utilize a real
three-minute newscast to open the show. The
newscaster, delivering the news as part of the show,
chose not to stay in the entertainment side of radio,
but continued to be a true journalist and a legend at
CBS. That newsman was Douglas Edwards. (NOTE: "...TO
OPEN THE SHOW."
Here's the link if anyone is interested:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 19:30:40 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Quick as a Flash
Hi Everybody,
I would like to find a copy of the show Quick as a Flash. My Aunt would
like to hear a copy of the show. She remembers as a child. Thank you for
any help,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 19:31:10 -0400
From: David Phaneuf <david_phaneuf@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Easter War Time
Richard@lifebuoy wrote:
I was led to believe that here in Great Britain
during WWII the clocks going forward 2 hours was
called "DOUBLE BRITISH SUMMER TIME" and was intended
mainly for farmers to be able to work longer hours in
daylight, thereby increasing food production.
I can only relate it as my mother-in-law told it to
us. Unfortunately, she died in 1996, so I have no way
to delve deeper into her memories of that time. I'm a
50's Baby Boomer, and American, so I have no first
hand knowledge of what happened in Great Britain. I
assume that she couched it in current terms (already
it was 35-40 years after the events occurred, when she
told us about it, so she was well "Americanized", by
that time). She called it double daylight savings
time, but it could very well have been termed 'British
Double Summer Time'.
Whether it was primarily for farmers or for lights in
the cities, I don't know. I only know that, as my
mother-in-law described it, it was to avoid lights on
as targets.
I would assume that the effect would be the same,
whether for farmers or for factories, small country
stores, or larger urban markets -- more daylight in
which to conduct commerce and labor. Certainly the
cities would be more the prime targets than rural
areas.
A further purpose comes to mind, and that is the
conservation of power and fuel for the war effort.
As I said, I did not live during that era, and my one
main source of information is now gone to her eternal
reward, so I'm conjecturing as to purposes and effects
beyond what she told me. Then too, though she lived
through those perilous times in Great Britain, it is
quite possible her perception of the reasons for the
double daylight savings is not accurate either.
D W Phaneuf
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 19:31:48 -0400
From: BH <radiobill@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: [removed]
[removed] writes:
I've often wondered about wartime blackouts. Here Phaneuf is referring to
English cities, but didn't they have blackouts in the US too? Was it just
coastal cities?
Yes, there were blackout drills here in the US as well and not limited
to coastal [removed] I was very small but I remember when we lived near
Army Camp Barkely near Abilene TX, every so often there would be a
blackout drill and military personell from the Camp would come by and
order us to either extinguish our lights or pull the shades.
As a side note, when I was in the first grade in 1946, our school room
was one of the old barracks buildings from the Camp. The school had
burned down the year before.
Bill H.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 19:35:25 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Blackouts
Chris Holm ask, concerning World War II,
I've often wondered about wartime blackouts. Here Phaneuf is referring to
English cities, but didn't they have blackouts in the US too?
Speaking from first-hand experience, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, at
the Army fort where we lived, things were blacked out, if we had to be
outside at night, we used flashlights with several layers of blue
cellophane over the lens. After the attack, wives and children were
often transported by a bus to a makeshift bomb shelter for the night. We
would walk along the sidewalk in the direction of the shelter, and a bus
(with shielded lights) would travel at about twice walking speed. As it
passed, our mothers would toss us onto the bus, then hop aboard
themselves. I can close my eyes and visualize that blue circle of light
on the sidewalk from my mother's flashlight while we walked. It didn't
show much, but probably helped us from stumbling over anything left on
the sidewalk.
I suppose that the faint blue glow was effectively invisible to any
overflying pilots.
FWIW, soldiers were told that the red glow from the end of their
cigarettes could be seen by a pilot from several thousand feet.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 21:53:01 -0400
From: "Bruce Williams" <deltaskipper@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Blackouts
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from text/html
As a child I spent the first few war years in Vallejo, CA. We lived
about two/three blocks from the Mare Island Straight and had a great
view of Mare Island. Whenever an unidentified plane came around we
would have an air raid warning where the whole city was blacked out
and nothing moved except emergency vehicles and Air Raid Wardens on
foot. The vehicles had headlights with all but a little slit covering
the light. For some reason I recall that the city pulled the plug on
the electricity and we used candles for light. One of my fond
memories of Kindergarten was that we were tought how to put out
incendiaries and the times we hudled under the building for practice
air raids. This was probably 41-42.
Later in life I worked with people in San Diego who lived/worked there
during the war at the Aircraft plants. The whole area where Lindberg
Field is was under camaflouge (SP) netting to hide the factories.
We listened to a lot of OTR at that time. The main difference is that
it was New Time Radio.
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 23:10:23 -0400
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Wendy Warren & The News
RE: Wendy Warren & The News - as discussed by A. Joseph Ross, Esq., et al,
and Jim Cox - The format from 1947 to 1958 was always the same - with Doug
Edwards doing a 3-min. newscast followed by
a Wendy Warren report "from the women's world" - the news segment closed,
and we heard Wendy leave the radio studio and enter the soap-opera fantasy
world for the next (approx.) 8 minutes.
The idea was to capture the 12 NOON (Eastern Time) listener's with
a brief newscast and then keep them listening to CBS with a quick transition
back to their steady diet of soaps. CBS admitted the news was a
"cowcatcher", but it was a valid report and well done by one of their ace
newsmen. No -
the newscasat was never at the end of the program. <<Tom Heathwood>>>
Heritage Radio Theatre. 05/15
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 00:30:34 -0400
From: edcarr@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: gram scale
hi
since i started doing my own transcriptions i have come
upon a problem that is driving me crazy, repeats in
shows, i don't think i have enough weight on the arm
but i can't figure out what the gram is, is there anyone
who can put me in touch with someone who sells a
gram scale (its not for rolling, smoking, its not the name
of anyone on here) it's for measuring weight on a tone
arm, i need to know when i reach 5 grams, i tried the
internet but most don't look like what i want, i need, i
believe something that looks like the scale of justice
any help?
thanks ed carr
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 11:36:36 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Wendy Warren and the News
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 13:16:00 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
For the life of me, I can't figure this one out. We were listening to
Wendy Warren virtually every day all summer long during that period while
my mother prepared lunch and served it and never recall anybody other than
Douglas Edwards delivering the news headlines immediately followed by
about a one-minute "news report from the women's world" given by Wendy
(actress Florence Freeman) starting at straight up 12 o'clock.
Well, I don't know exactly when I listened, but I don't think it was the
summer, but more
likely an off-day from school, in the fall of 1954. And I seem to think was
later than noon,
eastern time.
It's also possible, of course, that I'm simply remembering it wrong. I have
a damn good
memory for this stuff, but it's not perfect. I'd be very interested if this
could be verified
definitively one way or another.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210 lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 11:37:31 -0400
From: ilamfan@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed] (OTR Bulletin Board)
Subject: Amos And Andy Candy Is Dandy
Last issue Elizabeth wrote about A & A licensed products: "in the
confectionery field the exclusive licensee was the Williamson Candy
Company of Chicago, best known as the makers of O'Henry. Williamson's
"Amos 'n' Andy" brand chocolate-coated vanilla wafer bar was sold from
1930 to 1937."
Dang if this didn't make me laugh out loud, it struck me as SO FUNNY!
Chocolate-coated vanilla wafer bar! Maybe there were 2 bars in each package
(1 Amos, and 1 Andy)? Maybe the wrapper was a taxicab yellow? Or checkered?
Maybe an open top on the package (Fresh Air)?
One more of the many, many things that may have been considered
acceptable in it's time, but seem terribly WRONG in today's "politically
correct" society.
IMAGINE, a couple of VANILLA wafer bars, trying to pass themselves off
as CHOCOLATE! It doesn't matter that they might taste [removed] doesn't
matter that we like them so much that we even add an intermission in the
middle of dinner to eat them, this is just WRONG, and should be STOPPED!
It's just not fair to the REAL chocolate bars.
Well, I thought it was funny, anyway. Made me Chuckle. Hey, isn't that
another candy?!?
Was there ever any goofy ruckus like this, that went on about the A & A
candy bar?
Stephen Jansen
--
Old Time Radio never dies - it
just changes formats!
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 11:37:43 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 5/16-22
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
From Those Were The Days --
5/17
1938 - The NBC Blue network presented Information Please for the first
time. The show was moderated by Clifton Fadiman.
5/18
1942 - David Harding, Counterspy was heard on the NBC Blue network for
the first time.
5/19
1921 - The first opera presented in its entirety over the radio was
broadcast by 9ZAF in Denver, CO. The opera, "Martha", aired from the
Denver Auditorium.
5/20
1933 - Charlie Chan was heard for the final time (in this series-ed) on
the NBC Blue network after only six months on the air.
5/22
1955 - Jack Benny signed off his last live network radio broadcast after
a run of 23 years. (His show continued in re-runs for a while longer -ed).
Joe
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 11:38:54 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Blackouts
I guess I'm reasonably qualified to answer Chris Holm's question about
blackouts.
I was 10 years old when WWII started. When the Country mobilized, we went
into all sorts of Wartime conditions. Food and gas rationing, tin and metal
collection drives promoted by the Boy Scouts, making bandages at Local Red
Cross centers. Etc.
Among other wartime activities was the institution of Air Raid safety
precautions and procedures.
For the life of me, I don't understand why. We were so remote from the
Pacific and Europe, that the enemies planes of that period didn't have the
range to reach us. I think it's possible that the Government instituted a
system of neighborhood Air Raid Wardens just to give [removed] Citizens a sense
of urgency and seriousness about the War, so they would support the War
Effort to a greater degree. For example, Raw materials conservation,
purchasing War Bonds, savings stamps, putting up with shortages, working in
Armament factories, etc.
I can speak with a fair degree of authority about Air Raid Wardens. My
father was one. I remember he wore a gray painted helmet, like the World War
One style, with the word WARDEN painted on it in black, And an arm band that
read "Air Raid Warden". I don't remember how much of the immediate
neighborhood he was responsible to patrol, but probably no more than a few
blocks. His job was to make a brief nightly patrol, making sure that all the
homes in our residential area had their blackout curtains drawn, and no
lights were visible from the street.
As for automobile traffic, it was obviously limited at night. But automobile
headlights were modified for Blackout purposes. The top half (or top two
thirds, were painted black. That left a narrow slit on the bottom for
illumination. And one drove very slowly.
Then two, numerous Air Raid sirens were set up around the community. so
everyone was in earshot of the warning, in case of an air raid. We would
occasionally have had Air Raid drills, and Air Raid siren tests.
My Father also worked in a factory that made pontoons for naval flying
boats. He then took a job with the forerunners of the Navy [removed]"s
(Construction battalion) and went to Iceland as a grade foreman to build an
airfield for military planes in Reckvyck (Spelling). On the way home, their
transport ship was torpedoed and sunk. He was rescued by a British
destroyer. Although he was too old to enlist, he did his part for the war
effort. I was proud of him.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 13:37:04 -0400
From: "Louie Johnson" <ljohnson@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: bill idelson with dick van dyke
I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned this already, so I guess it's
up to me.
On the recent CBS special Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited, they actually
brought back
the very talented Bill Idelson, Rush Gook of Vic and Sade, to reprise his
role of Herman Glimsher,
nerdy boyfriend of Sally Rogers. He only had a few lines, but was included
in the group as they sat on
the Petrie's sofa. It was great to see him smile.
I recently found a very good piece about his writing career and
comedy-writing workshops,
and it includes a recent photo:
[removed]
Since he's fixed in my mind as the eternally 14 year old Rush Gook, my
reaction at seeing him
as he is 60 years later reminded me of a Bob & Ray routine in which they
reunite a brother and sister
who haven't seen each other in 45 years. After exchanging minimally-polite
hellos, there's a pregnant
pause and the sister says matter-of-factly "You've changed."
Anyway, for all the Vic and Sade fans who'd like to catch a glimpse
of Bill Idelson as he is
today, the Van Dyke special will be rerun on Tuesday, May 18 at 9 pm (EDT)
on TVLand. If I recall
correctly, his first appearance occurs about 25 minutes into the program.
Apperson Jackrabbit, Hudson Terraplane, Henry [removed] [removed] all them cars,
Louie Johnson
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 16:48:47 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Blackouts
Chris Holm asks how people and vehicles got around during the WW II
blackouts. There is an interesting report from Edward R. Murrow early in
the blitz that discusses how much he likes cigarettes, not only to smoke
but because they act as warning lights as people walk thru the blacked out
city streets. He said that years ago in the countryside he "walked bang
into a cow" and ever since had wished man and beast could have "running
lights" at night.
The great Gracie Fields also recorded a song "Crash! Bang! I Want To Go
Home" about the subject. The record starts out with her going Ohh and Ohh
as she trips along the street telling people to get out of the way until
after two loud beeps she says "Ooohh, sorry, I had no idea you were a bus!"
And from memory, these are close to being the words of the song:
Oh what a great big black out.
How can I make my track out?
How can I make my shack out?
Crash! Bang! I want to go home.
I collided with a tailor,
a soldier,
yes, and then a sailor.
And if I every get home
I will never want to roam.
Oh, stumbling along life's byway
Stumbling along the highway,
Oh I never can find my way,
Crash! Bang! I want to go home.
(Talking) Where are the lights of London town?
Somebody's gone and turned them down.
Turned them off, I ought to say.
Everybody's lost their way.
Singing the blackout ditty,
Somebody must take pity
And light up the great big city,
Crash! Bang! I Want to go home.
This was reissued in the 1970s on a World Record Club LP called "Britain
Can Take It."
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #167
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