------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 405
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Last YTJD episode [ Art Chimes <achimes@[removed]; ]
KDWB [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
Re: John Nesbitt [ Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed]; ]
OTR -- A Philosophical Interlude [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts [ claudianross@[removed] (john ross ]
A little piece of OTR history is goi [ MGiorgio1@[removed] ]
Re: Hans Conried [ Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed]; ]
godfrey talent [ Michael Berger <intercom1@attglobal ]
dubs of 4-track r to r [ vigor16@[removed] ]
The Window w/ Hans Conried [ danhughes@[removed] ]
Re: final YTJD [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
Johnny Dollar - 12/24/61 [ Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts) ]
Classic Radio Baseball Broadcasts [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
The Passing Parade [ "Robert Angus" <rangus02@[removed]; ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ lois@[removed] ]
KEWB Oakland [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
Re: KEWB Oakland [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
The Real Creativity Behind OTR [ "Thomas Barnett" <barnettl@[removed] ]
Today in radio history 10/16 [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Robert C. Bruce [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
New radio spirits Abbott & Costello [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
ROY GLENN [ "Gordon Gregersen" <gsgreg@pacifier ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 23:33:06 -0400
From: Art Chimes <achimes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Last YTJD episode
In response to Jim Kitchen's query, the last Johnny Dollar
episode was "The Tip-Top Matter" which, along with the Suspense
episode entitled "Devilstone," were the last dramatic broadcasts
of radio's "Golden Age" on Sunday night, Sept. 30, 1962.
Regards,
Art Chimes
achimes@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 23:33:16 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: KDWB
KDWB started broadcasting in Minneapolis/St. Paul in the mid-'60s. I was
with WLOL when KDWB pulled off one of the biggest promotional hoaxes in
broadcast history--Formula 63. The plot--Senator Dudley [Hadacol]
LeBlanc returns to radio, ballyhooing his newest 'miracle' product,
Formula 63. The day KDWB signed on, LeBlanc announced, over every radio
station in the Twin Cities, free samples of Formula 63 were available at
a local drug chain, Snyder Drugs. The 'samples' were in a small
toothpaste type box. The hoax --inside the little box was a fortune
cookie type message that read, "The elixir that will bring you happiness
is at 630 on your radio dial, KDWB."
I was the one who 'turned them in' -- in less than an hour every station
canceled the spots. The local ad agency, Fishbein, claimed total and
absolute ignorance. A few days after the fact, our Program Director
remembered hearing an air-check of a DJ at KFWB in Los Angeles. On that
air check was the same promotion, but for Formula 98.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 23:33:44 -0400
From: Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: John Nesbitt
Alison, aka "Merlin," asked about the availability of John Nesbitt's
"Passing Parade" series.
I think she was inquiring about the series of MGM two-reel shorts that were
later re-edited and packaged for television, most of which are now owned by
Turner and air from time to time - in their original full-length theatrical
form - on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM)cable network. I'm not aware of
any current source for the edited-for-televison versions, however.
To keep this firmly in the OTR realm, I did want to mention that there are
a number of shows extant from John Charles Thomas' radio series of 1944-45,
which often featured Nesbitt in "Passing Parade" segments that ran about
7-10 minutes per show. Most of these shows, like a great many wartime
network broadcasts, seem to exist only in edited form from the Armed Forces
Radio Service, but I believe the Nesbitt segments were left pretty much
intact. There are a few shows in our collection and I imagine that many
more are available from various dealers.
Harlan
Harlan Zinck
First Generation Radio Archives
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 23:34:23 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR -- A Philosophical Interlude
Following a notation of radio today, Charlie Summers noted,
ADMINISTRIVIA: Ok, folks, let's stop beating the "modern radio bites"
discussion to [removed]'s instead talk about the days when radio was
king.
Which is a splendid idea. However, it's worth contemplating _why_ radio
was king in those days. It's rather daunting to think that there are
people of voting age who were born after the advent of videotape.
Electronic technology has come so far and fast that for at least some of
the newer aficionados of OTR the idea of a tightly "connected" society
might seem a little alien.
Radio was both an extension of previous entertainment media and something
unique at the time. Prior to radio, there were recordings, and in many
homes, the phonograph was a key entertainment device. Like the
phonograph, radio provided music and the like, but with the advent of
networks, radio did something extra: it linked the nation. The telegraph
before it had _joined_ the nation, but the country still was
regionalized; however, radio extended the connection. The telegraph
could share news, act as an accelerated version of posted mail. But
radio, like the phonograph before it, brought the information into
people's homes. And unlike the telegraph (but like the phonograph),
radio entertained. If it hadn't, it wouldn't have become widespread.
Another point in the growth of radio was that since radios could tune to
more than one frequency, competition developed. Rival stations, and
eventually, rival networks developed. The result? Radio created a
consciousness that transcended regionalism. People from coast to coast,
from northern border to southern border simultaneously shared
experiences, heard common messages, and heard important news as it broke.
By the mid 1930s, radio had evolved into the primary entertainment
medium for the majority of those living in the United States.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 23:35:59 -0400
From: claudianross@[removed] (john ross weber)
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Does Lee Munsick (or any other Godfrey fan) remember an episode of the Talent
Scouts show in August (I seem to [removed]) of 1955 hosted by Jack Paar. On
this particular show , my favourite bluegrass band,Don Reno, Red Smiley and
The Tennessee Cut-ups appeared, and finished last. It is still my humble
opinion that the snide remark that Jack Paar made as he introduced the band,
helped them to to their ill deserved last place finish. Was it a baton
twirler who edged them out? Are there any audio or kinescope recordings in
circulation?
If so, please assist me in obtaining same.
John Ross Weber
Munich
Germany
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 23:36:06 -0400
From: MGiorgio1@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: A little piece of OTR history is going away
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
I just read in a roundup of advertising columns (I work for an ad agency)
that Unilever has announced that they are planning to reduce their brand
lines from 1600 to about 400, and eventually to 200, to be able to
concentrate on selling their most popular products. Among those going away
are former Lever (as in UniLever) Brothers sales champs as Lux Soap and
Lifebuoy. Guess the Hollywood glamour girls and the sufferers of [removed] will
have to look elsewhere in the future.
Michael Giorgio
Waukesha, WI
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 00:02:15 -0400
From: Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Hans Conried
Paul Fornatar asked about Hans Conried in an episode titled "The Window"
possibly from Suspense.
The episode is from Suspense but is titled "The Thing in the Window"
broadcast 19 Dec 1946 with Joseph Cotten and Hans Conried. The story was
redone on Suspense 27 Jan 1949 with Robert Montgomery.
Gerry Wright
ZoneZebra Productions
San Francisco
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 00:02:27 -0400
From: Michael Berger <intercom1@[removed];
To: otr <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: godfrey talent
What might be more do-able is a complete list of all the regular
"talents" that appeared on the prime years of the Godfrey Show.
In the late 40s early 50s, he had a lineup that included just
about every type of singing talent you could imagine, including
Hale-loke [SP?], tenor Frank Parker, soprano Marian Marlowe, the
Irish lass, Carmen Quinn; the African-American quartet, the
Mariners; a female trio, the McGuire Sisters, a female quartet,
the Chordettes, and on and on. Can't think of any show, radio or
TV, with the possible exception of Steve Allen's original Tonight
show, that had this much varied talent on tap, on a regular
basis.
Michael Berger
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 00:02:47 -0400
From: vigor16@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: dubs of 4-track r to r
Hi all,
I couldn't think of a more resourceful bunch of folks to go to with this
one. I have some old real-to-real 4-track recordings that are recorded
on 5 and 7 inch reels. I would like to find out if they can be converted
to CD or cassette. They are transcriptions of a period in my life. I
was quoted $[removed] per hour by a fellow who's out of the biz these days.
They are not professional material at all so I don't know if I can afford
that. I would like to know if there are any folks that dupe this kind of
stuff. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you all for any guidance in
this matter. Bye for a while.
Deric
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 00:03:58 -0400
From: danhughes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Window w/ Hans Conried
Paul, I think this is what you are looking for:
[removed];comment=episode
---Dan
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 00:04:16 -0400
From: Ga6string@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: final YTJD
Let me join Don Shenbarger in saying that the last episode of Yours Truly,
Johnny Dollar is a good one. I definitely enjoyed Mandel Kramer in that role,
although many people can't see past Bob Bailey (whom I agree was THE J.
Dollar). I also enjoyed the music in the last episode, which is edgy, a la
Twilight Zone -- definitely not something you'd have heard in the early days
of the series, but quite fitting and entertaining, nonetheless.
Bryan Powell
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 01:29:24 -0400
From: Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Johnny Dollar - 12/24/61
One note says the program was preempted by
a Bing Crosby special. Is there a show for
12-24-61 that was never broadcast but maybe
exists?
The SUSPENSE broadcast of December 17, 1961 includes an announcement in
the closing credits that the series will be pre-empted the following
week by A CHRISTMAS SING WITH BING. As SUSPENSE and JOHNNY DOLLAR were
running back-to-back, both shows would presumably have been replaced on
Christmas Eve by the Crosby special.
Randy
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 10:36:15 -0400
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Classic Radio Baseball Broadcasts
Still celebrating my Giants going to the Series I've been looking to buy
some commemorative items and came upon this item at the MLB website.
Major League Baseball is issuing cds of classic radio broadcasts from the
1930s to the present, each game on 2-3 cds at $[removed] There is the
following disclaimer:
<<please note: many of these broadcasts were originally preserved onto vinyl
and are over 50 years old, so the audio quality does [removed] but the
historical significance & baseball action does not!>>
You can listen to a sample: 10/2/49: Boston Red Sox @ NY Yankees--Mel
Allen and Curt Gowdy calling the 9th inning of the regular-season clincher.
If anyone is interested you can check out their website for details.
[removed];pn=55&sid=34935
~Irene
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 10:37:05 -0400
From: "Robert Angus" <rangus02@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Passing Parade
On one of the summer replacement shows he did for Johnson's Wax, John
Nesbitt told the story of Treditsch Lincoln, a spy who worked for and
double-crossed just about every bad guy in the early years of the 20th
century. I have never found any reference to this character anywhere else
and wonder if Nesbitt made it up or was using a pseudonym (tlo protect the
guilty?). In some respects, Richard Sorge comes close, but I'd still like
to learn more about the real Treditsch Lincoln, if there was one.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 10:37:14 -0400
From: lois@[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 five years, same time, same channel!
Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
"Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........
and Me
Lois Culver
KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
and widow of actor Howard Culver
(For more info, contact lois@[removed])
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 12:06:14 -0400
From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: KEWB Oakland
<Elizabeth posted the Warner Brothers' only radio station was KFWB in Los
[removed];
I worked at KEWB 910AM in Oakland when it was owned by Crowell-Collier
(publishers of encyclopedias, and other books). I understood that the
Warner Brothers sold it to CC, who also owned KDWB in Minneapolis/St. Paul
and KFWB in Los Angeles in the same purchase transaction. Several of the
DJ's went from one property to the other ("Emperor" Bob Hudson, for
instance) to boost ratings
if one station or the other needed a spike in sweep periods with the same
Top-40 format centrally programmed on all three, CC stations.
Question: If Warner Brothers did not own the other two stations, why would
"WB" be in their call letters (much like stations carrying the WB [Dub-a-you
Bee] television network today.)?
Russ Butler oldradio@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 12:26:57 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: KEWB Oakland
On 10/16/02 11:46 AM Russ Butler wrote:
I worked at KEWB 910AM in Oakland when it was owned by Crowell-Collier
(publishers of encyclopedias, and other books). I understood that the
Warner Brothers sold it to CC, who also owned KDWB in Minneapolis/St. Paul
and KFWB in Los Angeles in the same purchase transaction. Several of the
DJ's went from one property to the other ("Emperor" Bob Hudson, for
instance) to boost ratings
if one station or the other needed a spike in sweep periods with the same
Top-40 format centrally programmed on all three, CC stations.
Question: If Warner Brothers did not own the other two stations, why would
"WB" be in their call letters (much like stations carrying the WB [Dub-a-you
Bee] television network today.)?
There was a "Warner Brothers" station licensed to Oakland in the
mid-twenties, but this station had nothing to do with *the* Warner
Brothers. The station, KLS, was originally licensed to one Stafford A.
Warner and his brother E. A. Warner, and I've not found anything to link
them to the movie-business Warner family. The station evolved into KWBR
in the mid-forties, and later became KDIA.
KEWB was never owned by any set of Warner Brothers -- it was founded in
1922 by the Oakland Tribune with the call letters KLX. The station
continued under this call sign until 1959, when Crowell-Collier bought it
and changed the call to KEWB, perhaps to harmonize with KFWB. It's now
KNEW.
KDWB had no ties to the Warners either -- it went on the air in 1949 as
KCOW, and adopted the KDWB call in 1959, in connection with the
Crowell-Collier purchase.
I haven't thought of Emperor Hudson in years, but I used to listen to him
every morning over WITS (nee WMEX) in Boston circa 1978-79 -- and
especially remember being late for school one morning because the Emperor
and sidekick/newsman Nick "Czar Nicholas" Mills spent the entire show
trying to get thru a person-to-person phone call to Idi Amin in Uganda.
They actually got his secretary -- but I finally had to leave and never
heard what happened after [removed]
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 14:36:05 -0400
From: "Thomas Barnett" <barnettl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Real Creativity Behind OTR
What does every one think about this. When you listen to your favorite OTR
show - yes the Actor/Actress is bringing the story to life for your ears. . .
.
But where did that story or idea that so entertains us originate, Usually in
the mind of the wrtier(s)
THe world of Jack Benny and his cast was a wonderful world in which I still
enjoy spending some time in (when I can) But the writers of that show were
phenominal (including Jack Himslef)
Arthur Q. Bryan very imaginative, what are some others we would nominate for
honors??
Let's hear from the list?
Tom Barnett
Stone Pocket Journal
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 20:25:16 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history 10/16
>From Those Were The Days --
1939 - Radio listeners welcomed The Right to Happiness on the NBC Blue
network. The 15-minute radio drama turned out to be one of the
longest-running radio shows of its kind. It moved over to CBS in 1941,
then back to NBC in 1942. Fourteen years later Right to Happiness
returned to CBS where it stayed until its last days in 1960. The show
had what seemed like a cast of thousands. It just took a lot of
different radio actors to play the continuing roles over a 21-year
period.
1945 - Barry Fitzgerald starred as Judge Barnard Fitz in His Honor, the
Barber, which debuted on NBC.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 20:25:39 -0400
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Robert C. Bruce
Elizabeth mentioned Robert C. Bruce as a narrator and announcer for Warner
Brothers.
Indeed, perhaps the most enjoyable privately produced tape series I have,
is Robert C. Bruce's MY LIFE AS A THIRD BANANA THRU THE GOLDEN YEARS OF
RADIO AND BEYOND.
It was recorded in 1991. The blurb on the back cover of the two tape
collection describes Bruce's career in show business. "Robert C. Bruce,
during his fifty years in radio, television, and pictures, narrated over
500 pictures and network radio programs, and acted in over 4,000 radio and
television broadcasts out of New York and Hollywood. In his LIFE AS A
THIRD BANANA THRU THE GOLDEN YEARS OF RADIO AND BEYOND, he describes the
unusual, humorous, exciting and dangerous experiences of his life-time in
four forms of show business--- stage, radio, television, and [removed] ."
Bruce's voice can still be on over 60 Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny and Porky
Pig cartoons as the narrator. He wrote the scripts for the early television
series, "This Is the Life," and produced and directed over 350 films.
I have no idea how one can order this collection, but as I recall Bruce
advertised in one of the OTR club magazines. Perhaps someone on the list
will be able to suggest how you can obtain a copy. Anyone interested at
all in radio history would benefit from listening to Bruce's recounting of
his career.
Dennis Crow
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 20:25:57 -0400
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: New radio spirits Abbott & Costello set
Does anyone here have the new Radio Spirits set of Abbott & Costello
shows? I was wondering if the episode selection is good and if the
quality is nice. I have very few episodes of the show and would like
some good examples of it in my collection.
rodney.
Past Tense Productions
Carrying Old Radio related films, and Hal Roach shorts, for $7 per tape.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 22:36:48 -0400
From: "Gordon Gregersen" <gsgreg@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ROY GLENN
On October 8, Art Funk inquired as to the identity of the actor playing the Congolese
man in the 14 May 1950 episode "Congo Copper" of Rocky Jordan.
The Congolese character "Jethroe" was played by Roy Glenn (1914-1971), veteran African-American
actor.
Glenn was busy in motion pictures and television, as well as radio. He was a member
of both the radio and TV "stock companies" of Amos & Andy, and was in at least 43
movies (per IMDB). I'm confident that our Elizabeth can tell us more of Mr. Glenn's
career.
I've heard that Glenn was the voice of Kelloggs' "Tony the Tiger" before the role
went to Thurl Ravenscroft. Does anyone known whether this is T or F ?
In my collection of OTR cast and player lists, I find Roy Glenn appearing in the
following radio series:
Amos & Andy, many appearances
Pete Kelly's Blues: role of "Augie" 7/4/51
Broadway's My Beat: three appearances
CBS Radio Workshop: six appearances, including the star of "Sweet Cherries in Charleston"
episode
Richard Diamond: role of "Little Cheeva" 3/23/51
Tales of the Texas Rangers: "Uncle Joe" 12/31/50, "Chad" 4/1/51, "Joe" 8/24/52
Crime Classics: "Bartender" in "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln"
Gordon Gregersen
Portland, Oregon
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #405
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