Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #447
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 11/20/2002 7:05 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

------------------------------


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 447
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  JFK Assassination                     [ "mike ray" <mikeray42@[removed]; ]
  Re: Satellite Radio                   [ "Bob Watson" <> ]
  'secret' sponsors?                    [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
  [removed] Watkins                          [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
  Don't be a Jughead                    [ dltnkt@[removed] (Dennis/Nancy Town ]
  JFK Coverage                          [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
  Graham Newton                         [ wich2@[removed] ]
  Dear Abby                             [ Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed] ]
  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ lois@[removed] ]
  Re: JFK Coverage                      [ "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@hotmail ]
  Re: Film conversions to video         [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
  Thanks Ben                            [ "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@ezlin ]
  Kennedy assasination coverage         [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
  Tape to CD                            [ "Sandra Skuse" <sskuse@[removed]; ]
  Television/no Radio/JFK               [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
  Re: Radio on TV                       [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
  Re:Ian Grieve                         [ "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed]. ]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 16:43:14 -0500
From: "mike ray" <mikeray42@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  JFK Assassination

On Monday Chris Chandler discussed the radio coverage of
The JFK Assassination. I do have to agree, that the radio
Coverage was much better than TV. As one who has researched this topic for
over 30 years I have acquired
A very large audio library about this topic. If you are
Interested in any portion of my over 50 hours of audio JFK
Material please contact me of the digest.
Best regards,
Mike Ray

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 18:44:17 -0500
From: "Bob Watson" <>
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:  Satellite Radio

I finally decided to pluck down the $$$$ for the XM Satellite system last
week.  And I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the service.  Not only
is it very easy to set up in the home, but the audio quality is outstanding.
I'm not sure what the differences are, if any, between Sirius and XM's Radio
Classics channel.  I do know that the channel is announced as "XM Radio
Classics Channel 164" during the [removed]  So that would seem to indicate that
there may be some differences.  Hard to say.  While XM posts a 7 day
schedule of their Radio Classics channel on their website, I haven't found
one on the Sirius website.  Also, I haven't seen any Sirius sets for the
home, while I have my XM receiver hooked up to my home stereo system.  I
also thoroughly enjoy the other services that XM offers, such as the '40's
and '50's music channels and as well as the country stations and the comedy
channels, one of which has snippets of OTR, as well.
I don't regret the purchase at all.
And of course, the usual disclaimer that I am not affiliated with XM in any
form.

Bob

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 19:34:38 -0500
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  'secret' sponsors?

I've been listening to alot of episodes of 'Philip Marlowe' lately.  I've
noticed that nearly every time Marlowe mentions a gas station, it's a
Mobil gas station, and whenever he describes a car, it's usually a Nash.

Did Mobil and Nash pay for these mentions?  Who was paid, if so?  The
writers?  Was this sort of thing common practice?

rodney.

Past Tense Productions
Carrying Old Radio related films, and Hal Roach shorts, for $7 per tape.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 20:18:11 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  [removed] Watkins

George Aust just posted

And while I'm catching up on things I should also mention that while at
the Sperdvac convention we very much enjoyed the performances of Barbara
Watkins in the recreations she performed in. I didn't get to meet her at
the time and I didn't even realize that she is the [removed] that I
read on the digest.

That's the one and only BJ. Watkins. And I second the motion (or is it
"mention"). I too was impressed with her talent. I also had the pleasure of
working with her the prior week at the FOTR convention in NY-NJ.
She performed admirably in even different character roles. A sign of a good
performer is their ability to portray a wide range of characters, (and age,
I might add). And to top it off, BJ is also a noteworthy director. (A bit
stern and dictatorial, but then, one needs to crack the whip when talent
goofs off too much :)  She can play on my team anytime.

Hal(Harlan)Stone
Formerly known as "Jughead" but [removed] "The Raven". :)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 22:01:40 -0500
From: dltnkt@[removed] (Dennis/Nancy Townsend)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Don't be a Jughead

If you have not already ordered Hal Stone's new boo " [removed],
Archie! Re-laax!" You are missing a real treat. I got my copy last week
and its a wonderful read and well illustrated. I enjoy the easy to read
style and those insider tidbits that we all seem to crave. I ordered
mine from the website provided but you might want to try Amazon to get
free shipping. Wherever you get it do get it heck stop by Jug's house
and pick one up. You won't be disappointed. The usual disclaimers apply
except for the 50K Mr Stone has not given me anything for this plug, but
on a serious note you should buy this book for yourself and your friends
that are into OTR they are gonna love it. Dennis

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 22:01:58 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  JFK Coverage

Jim Widner said  "There really wasn't any real major news events for
television pre 1963".  I think he is completely forgetting about the
Cuban missile crisis which was a very major news event that went on for
days. Some of the latter day  films and TV recreations of this crisis
would have you believe that we didn't know how close we were to nuclear
war at that time, but let me assure those who weren't there or were to
young to remember, that we definitely did know and it was a very
frightening time.  TV coverage was quite good as I recall, but of course
nothing like we have today, where everybody has a video camera in hand.
But also I don't think that TV reporting then overplayed the seriousness
of the situation as they would today.
During the assassination coverage we watched CBS TV with Walter
Cronkite. I think he did a credible job.  There was a point when it was
announced that the President was dead, that he took a moment, removed
his glasses and got himself together. I think that made him seem more
human and at one with his audience. At no time did we think the less of
him for that moment.
Sandy Singer said that only NBC carried the Oswald assassination live.
Well that may be but I saw it live and let out a yell as it happened. My
wife came running into the room and she said later that all she could
think of was that Jackie  Kennedy had been murdered too. We usually
watched CBS in those days but it's possible that I had changed to NBC
for that coverage.
I really don't have any memories of radio coverage of the JFK
assassination except that I know that I had the radio on while in the
car. The main thing that comes back is all the car radio antenna's with
the little flags at half mast.

George Aust

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 23:11:24 -0500
From: wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Graham Newton

Jay Hickerson wrote:

George Nester in New York is looking for the address and/or phone number of
Graham Newton who lives near Toronto in Canada.

Dear Folks-
Came across this in a search a while back, & kept it in my favorites; he
seems terrific, if pricey:

[removed]

Best,
Craig Wichman

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 23:12:40 -0500
From: Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Dear Abby

Dan Hughes wrote

I did afternoons at a CBS radio affiliate (WAMA, Selma, AL) in the
mid-70's, and we carried Dear Abby every afternoon.  One afternoon she
sounded like she had lost all her teeth, and from that day on she just
couldn't talk right.  Harry, if you were around then, what is the story
there?  This musta' been 1974 or 1975.

Dear Abby started 1962 and ran through 1974. Her speech was always
strongly Sioux City, Iowa but I am not aware of the phenomenon Mr. Hughes
refers to. Abby was an absolutely dynamite platform speaker but she had
trouble trying to ad lib within the time confines of the show. It was my job
to control that.

Harry Bartell

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 04:52:05 -0500
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, 20 Nov 2002 08:54:00 -0500
From: "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: JFK Coverage

Elizabeth McLeod writes:

I want to draw attention
to the one correspondent in all the JFK coverage who kept his composure
and his professionalism more completely than any other: NBC's TV
co-anchor Bill Ryan.

I pretty much agree. Ryan was remarkably calm compared to Frank McGee and
Chet Huntley. However, it should also be said that David Brinkley seemed his
usual self, and old radio hand Merrill Mueller - who was brought in for a
single New York segment when Huntley left the set - also appeared fairly
calm under the circumstances.

Huntley was clearly too shaken by the events of the
afternoon to broadcast coherently -- and I'd suspect this had much to do
with his early disapperance from NBC-TV's continuing coverage.

Actually, I think Huntley left the set to start writing his script for that
evening's "Huntley-Brinkley Report." (I also must say that Huntley's
commentary on that program was one of the finest editorials I've ever heard,
eerily applicable to today's times as much as it was to 11/22/63.) Note
that, around the same time, Brinkley also leaves the Washington set, to be
replaced by Martin Agronsky, who appears to be fighting back sobs throughout
his appearance.

Ryan was, I
believe, only a local correspondent at this stage of his career,
associated with the local WNBC-TV news staff -- and was only pressed into
service because he happened to be on hand when the news broke.

I recall seeing Ryan in the NBC 1960 election night footage at the Kennedy
Headquarters in Massachusetts, so he did, at least at that point, have a
network job. It is possible, however, that he had since become a local New
York newscaster as you mention.

Some time back, I was informed that an audio aircheck of Don Pardo's first
bulletin about the shooting over WNBC-TV was recently discovered and made
the subject of an NPR documentary piece. Does anyone have any URL for a web
site about it?

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:54:13 -0500
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Film conversions to video

I was the one who had contacted Lee a while back. I've already emailed him.

Fred
For the best in Old Time Radio Shows [removed]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:54:32 -0500
From: "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Thanks Ben

A big "Thank You" to Ben Holland for his memories of WLAC
and sharing their website. That brought back so many memories
to me. Gene was the one I listened to many nights back in the
early 50's. Sure would have been nice if someone would have
recorded some of those programs. Would love to hear them
again. Their website was great. I read it with great interest.
Don Dean

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:55:16 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Kennedy assasination coverage

Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 19:44:30 -0500
From: "Robert W. Paine" <macandrew@[removed];

CBS, I have read (from the words of Walter Cronkite) wasn't even able to
 get a live picture on the air for around twenty minutes. The cameras were
in another area, and needed to be warmed up. 

The A&E Network re-ran the NBC coverage a few years back, and it was striking what little 
technology they had.  They didn't have any live coverage until Air Force One landed in 
Washington.  For awhile, they couldn't even patch a phone call into the on-air audio.  Frank 
McGee was on the phone, repeating what the on-scene reporter was telling him, a few words 
at a time.  Then they tried to get a small battery-operated amplifier onto the phone receiver, 
but they never got it to work.  And, of course, it was in black and white, with none of the 
graphics we're used to today.  

Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 20:53:43 -0500
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];

Personally, I think it was the Vietnam war and the events of 1968 that
really brought television news into the modern coverage we see today.

Well, it was certainly during the Vietnam war that TV began to have the technology for on-
scene coverage, both camcorders and the news being televised in color.

-- A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed] 15 Court Square, Suite 210 lawyer@[removed] Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:55:59 -0500 From: "Sandra Skuse" <sskuse@[removed]; To: <[removed]@[removed]; Subject: Tape to CD On November 18th, in reply to an enquiry about copying from tape to CD, "KDK" (kdkalit@[removed]) said:
I use Roxio's product, EZ CD Creator 5.  Some people have problems
with it but I  haven't with either Win98, Millenium, or XP Pro.

I can tell you that one problem is the size of the software which it uses. I
have a fairly low-spec, elderly computer, which just doesn't have the disk
space for what I understand is almost 100 megabytes of software program.

If I install that, I'll have no room left to do anything else on the
computer! If anybody could suggest some CD-writing software that hogs a
little less space, I for one would be very grateful.

Sandra

Sandra Skuse & Stephen Poppitt
Jimmy Clitheroe: The Kid Himself [removed]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:52:49 -0500
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Television/no Radio/JFK

Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; writes, in part:

ust as Pearl Harbor was rather chaotic in its "live" event coverage, so
too, the Kennedy Assassination was chaotic as television just wasn't
prepared for such an event. They had to put together fast breaking news -
remember, Kennedy was killed, a couple of days later, Oswald is killed,
then the funeral of Kennedy. It was all very, very fast in terms of the
events. They did not have the technology to handle it.

Still, the TV coverage was astounding for us viewers who didn't know about
the technical problems involved.
Remember, we were used to network news "teasers" like "Killer Earthquake In
New Mexico - Film at Eleven!"...
We didn't know that the studio news folks were frantically waiting for the
airplane to land that carried the rolls of film that documented the event -
hoping that the pictures would match their "teaser hype"!
Now we have instant satellite pictures, with four "analysts" in a studio
describing what we [removed] and it still looks like "hype"!

Herb Harrison

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:56:44 -0500
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Radio on TV

Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; implored:

 HELP! I've been having a dialogue on e-mail with one of TV's biggest
 entertainment people about the idea of my coming on his show to talk
 about "WORDS AT WAR" my new [removed] he has posed the following problems:
 "The problem you will run into -- everybody in tv is trying to attract a
 young audience. Another problem -- what do you show when someone is
 playing a clip of a radio show?"

I haven't had the pleasure of reading your book, but I hazard a guess
that most of the sound clips will be news reports, not dramas.
Therefore, the otherwise excellent idea of staging a reenactment with
actors and sound effects men, an image I, for one, have always found
compelling, doesn't seem appropriate (if you  ARE focusing on radio
dramas of the day with war or propaganda themes then, of course, it
would be great).

On the other hand if this is a talk show such as Tonight, then the
guests could look at what we looked at when listening to radio on
those occasions when the whole family was able to relax and sit
around the radio: each other. If the clips are long enough and
dramatic enough to stir some emotions in the listeners - the last
broadcasts from Corregidor come to mind - studies of the faces of
yourself, Jay, Kevin and various audience members reacting to the
anguish of those moments long past, summoned once again into the
present by the magic of archaic recording devices, could be moving to
the viewing audience as well. You'd not want the usual middle distant
shot where Jay and his guest are both within the frame but, rather,
close-ups. It might be good if the studio lights could be dimmed; I
recall Jay did a program during the California brownouts where
ostensibly flashlights were used for the lighting.

Certainly a table radio of the day would be a useful prop; you could
pretend to tune in the clips, turning the dial through static and
fragments of comedies, dramas and commercials of the day until you
"find" the news broadcast you're seeking. Perhaps the studio lights
could be low enough for the amber glow of the dial to show, though
you might have to artificially augment the feeble dial light. With
the studio lights dimmed powers of imagination would be heightened.
Of course, you could still suggest people shut their eyes or just,
"Turn out your lights. Yes, turn them out." They'd have to turn the
Brightness control on the tv all the way down too, of course. Then
you could do the occasional closeup of the radio. Or maybe you could
have a montage of photos of interesting old radios, though I think
that might distract from the content of the sound clips you would be
playing.

Alternatively, you could use photos appropriate to the news event,
assuming you could clear copyrights. Ken Burns with his Civil War
series and others - did you see the reconstruction of the London
After Midnight movie done with stills that someone here alerted us
to? - has demonstrated how dramatic still photos can be with artful
pans and dollies (zooms). And the audience is familiar with phoned-in
war correspondence where we hear the newsperson's voice and see only
a still photo of them. Of course, if any of the principles involved
in the news item are still alive, maybe you could locate them and
bring them along.

There also is a site that someone else here called to our attention
with brief film clips of old radio shows in progress, the sound
engineers at their controls, etc. I believe many of these may be in
the public domain. I think I bookmarked that site, if you need it. I
don't know how you would work these in with the particular sound
clips you intend to use, but I'm sure it could be done: studio
broadcasts could show long shots of announcers or casts on stage, too
far away to see that the lip movements don't synchronize. Field
correspondents' voices would probably work well over archival war
footage. Any of those measures would, of course, involve a bit of
extra work.

As to attracting a young audience, I'm not sure where I saw it and I
won't swear to it, but I seem to recall reading that 40% of the fans
of OTR are in their 20's or younger, no doubt largely due to the
internet. Of course, that's not the same as saying that 40% of young
people are into OTR, but it does show that it is not of interest ONLY
to those who lived it, and that OTR is bringing history to life for a
lot of youths who might otherwise have found it dry and remote.

Well, that's off the top of MY head. I'm sure you'll get better ideas
from those here who have actually worked in the medium or actually
done reenactments. I trust you'll give us further details in time for
us to catch your appearance.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 08:59:09 -0500
From: "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:Ian Grieve

In issue 442 Martin Grams Jr wrote:

Ian Grieve - where are you?  I have something to e-mail you, something
you'll love, but my e-mails are kicking back and I have been waiting for you
to post something so I can send it to you with your newer e-mail address.
Seems I'm using an old one that doesn't work.

I have not gone anywhere Martin, I tried emailing you directly but didn't
get a reply and your "something you'll love" has me busting.  My email is
working, getting hundreds a day at both addresses, Hal writes everyday
trying to get me to encourage the Australian Government to make purchase of
his book compulsory.  Sorry Hal they are scared it is only a couple of years
to re-election.  I did hear however that the weapons inspectors entering
IRAQ will be taking copies with them and word is that Sadam is taking the
threat seriously and war will be avoided :)  Pity it wasn't out in time to
send to Bali.  I will leave it there as Hal hasn't enscribed my copy yet :)

To get me to Post, you only have to ask a question on Australian OTR.  There
is an Ultimate Inner Sanctum distribution being put together in the [removed] and
the Australian Collectors were approached and are working on supplying the
Australian episodes that have never been circulated before.  Last month I
put a couple of hundred previously uncirculated shows of various genres out
there in mp3, thanks to the generosity of the Australian Collectors.  The
audio versions are being retained by the Collectors for trading but the mp3
versions were made available for enjoyment and education.

Ian Grieve

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #447
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