------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 01 : Issue 154
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Frank Hemingway on the Roy Rogers Sh ["Gordon Gregersen" <gsgreg@pacifier]
Local TV news connection with OTR so ["greg przywara" <orsonwelles@jvlnet]
Re: Love in Bloom ["Steven Lewis" <lewis@[removed]]
Suspense-Escape ["Harry Bartell" <bartell@[removed]]
Bob and Ray Boring???? ["Ed Kindred" <kindred@[removed]; ]
Perplexed [otrbuff@[removed] ]
The Goon Show - 50th Anniversary ["Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed]; ]
Re: The Goons on NBC [Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed]]
Re: MP3 files [Ed Foster <erfoster@[removed]; ]
Re: Social Diseases On The Air [Joe Mackey <wmackey@[removed]]
Mutual [ChibiBarako <cvc@[removed]; ]
AUSTRALIAN RADIO ["Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed]]
AUSTRALIAN OTR ["Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed]]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [lois@[removed] ]
WOTW SCRIPT ON THE INTERNET ["Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 11:47:13 -0400
From: "Gordon Gregersen" <gsgreg@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Frank Hemingway on the Roy Rogers Show
The end of the second paragraph of my posting to issue #153 was messed up,
somehow.
I'm repeating the entire posting below:
On May 17, Michael Berger shared his recollection of Frank Hemingway. I too
remember
hearing Hemingway's news broadcasts for Folger's Coffee. When I was a young
boy,
around 1950 or 1951, my father would listen to Hemingway's news program
before bedtime
on many evenings.
Not so well known, however, is another facet of Frank Hemingway's career.
During
the two Post Cereals sponsored seasons of the Roy Rogers Show (1951-52 and
1952-53),
Frank Hemingway was the narrator of the exciting action adventures that Roy,
Dale,
and Roy's sidekick Jonah Wilde (played by Forrest Lewis during 1951-52) or
Pat Brady
(1952-53) would get into. If you listen to a Rogers episode from these years
and
have the patience to wait for announcer Art Balinger to get through a final
Aunt
Jemima Pancake syrup commercial(yes, they were a sponsor too), you'll finally
hear
Balinger read the cast list and Frank Hemingway will be included among the
players.
On a couple of occasions, Larry Chatterton or Rye Billsbury substituted for
Hemingway.
When Dodge began sponsoring the RR Show in January of 1954(with announcer Lew
Crosby),
the action adventures continued (Roy, Dale, Pat Brady), but Hemingway was
gone as
there was no separate narrator used on the show.
Does anyone know what Hemingway did after 1953? Tel____n?
Gordon Gregersen
Portland, Oregon
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 12:19:03 -0400
From: "greg przywara" <orsonwelles@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Local TV news connection with OTR soap?
Encountered a real OTR moniker while watching a local TV newscast last night
(Madison,WI ABC affiliate WKOW). Anyone recall a 1940s soap called "Wendy
Warren and the News"? Well, so help me, there was a reporter by that name
doing a "Health Minute" last night on the ten o'clock news. Coincidence or
more proof that OTR isn't as much of a dead medium as many people would like
to think?
Check out my new and improved trading website (cd-rom and cassettes) at
[removed]
Sorry, no Wendy Warren clips old or new.
Greg Przywara
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 13:01:11 -0400
From: "Steven Lewis" <lewis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Love in Bloom
4:00 pm RALPH RAINGER CENTENARY -
Ralph Rainger was born a century ago and died young, in 1942. In his
short career he was responsible for many memorable songs, from Libby
Holman's "Moanin' Low" to Crosby's "Please" , Hope's "Thanks for the
Memory", and Benny's "Love in Bloom". We'll hear those and others.
Let's hope we won't hear Benny's version of "Love in Bloom." Odd that in
fiddling the song to death it became more associated with Jack than with the
fellow who originally made it famous -- Bing Crosby, for whom it became a
No. 1 hit in 1934. The story of "Love in Bloom" can be found here:
[removed]
Steven Lewis
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 13:01:30 -0400
From: "Harry Bartell" <bartell@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Suspense-Escape
Rodney Bowcock, Jr. makes an interesting comparison between Suspense and
Escape. As a player on both shows, it was almost always more exciting to
play Escape. The scripts were not subject to such a rigid formula and were
frequently based on world-famous short stories. There was also, it seemed to
me,a different attitude in the studio including the sound men and the
engineers as well as the actors. Harry Bartell
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 15:16:53 -0400
From: "Ed Kindred" <kindred@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Bob and Ray Boring????
It is interesting to hear that contemporaries found Bob and Ray boring. I
think their delivery was extremely understated as if they were totally
bored and dettached from their subject matter while delivering the most
outrageous and deliciously humorous statements. The content of their
material totally carried the day while being delivered in a totally deadpan
fashion.
My wife couldn't stand them and I couldn't get enough of them.
Ed Kindred
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 15:41:37 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Perplexed
There has been some very good discussion on what happened to the Mutual
Broadcasting System carried in this digest in recent days. I have
enjoyed reading it and once again marveled at the generous sharing of so
many knowledgeable folks who contribute to this forum from their
expertise and experience so that all of us may benefit.
Last year I completed a book manuscript on network radio's grand finale,
the last complete decade of what is traditionally considered the medium's
golden age, the 1950s. As that project drew to a close, it appeared to
me that no one -- as far as I could discover -- had offered a
comprehensive treatise on what transpired in network radio after 1960
until the present day. As a consequence, believing that to be of
inestimable value to both present and future generations, I launched a
thorough investigation, tracking down what network radio had to offer its
listeners in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It may surprise some
that there was a whole lot more besides The CBS Radio Mystery Theater,
adventures under the Sears and General Mills brand names, plus a few
other features and news on the hour. There were literally dozens of more
shows, in fact. I added them all in a final chapter in that book.
Near the end I explored in depth how MBS and NBC segued into Westwood One
(including walking down the long pathway of Mutual's many owners before
Westwood came into the picture). What happened to those once
distinguished and powerful networks is a revealing piece of American
communications history. The ongoing ABC and CBS services were also
presented in depth.
I have been itching to say, naturally, to all the inquiries and
observations in recent days, "Go look it up in my book!" Alas, the
completed manuscript, while contracted for, is languishing at the
publishing house, gathering dust daily as it has been for months. I wish
I could tell you when to expect this most intriguing volume. The truth
is, I have no idea. I can hardly cry over it, however, for the same
publisher has been holding yet another contracted for and completed
manuscript from me on OTR for one year in July. While this is part of
the publishing game (and much of my life's career was invested there), it
certainly would simplify a lot now to be able to point to a resource that
could immediately fill in so many gaps for so many questioners so often.
Hang in there. I'm assured there will be release dates yet.
In the meantime, can you blame me for looking at other publishing
alternatives to speed up future projects?
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 16:37:55 -0400
From: "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Goon Show - 50th Anniversary
Following Bhob Stewart's mention of a US tribute to Sir Harry Secombe,
founder member of the Goons, those who can listen to BBC Radio 2 online at
[removed] will be interested to read that on Tuesday 29th May,
between [removed] and [removed] GMT Radio 2 has a Goon Night. The timetable is
[removed] introduction
[removed] Spike Milligan's favourite episode "The Fear Of Wages" from March 1956.
[removed] Comedian's Goons - Today's comics pick their favourite Goon Show clips.
[removed] At Last the Go-On Show - a revised repeat of the documentary
celebrating the 40th Anniversary.
[removed] Just Before Goonrise - 50's scriptwriter Denis Norden (who with the
late Frank Muir created many classic comedy series of the 50's) looks back
at comedy on the radio during the years following WW2 and traces the early
broadcasting careers of the Goons members.
[removed] The 50th Anniversary Cardboard Replica Goon Show - ten years in
preparation, recorded March 2001, "rescues some of Spike's best Goon Show
scripts which would otherwise remain unperformed and unread. Uses original
band arrangements." Stars Harry Secombe's son Andrew and several well known
actors including Christopher Timothy from the James Herriott TV series All
Creatures Great & Small. Also features Lance Ellington who I presume is Ray
Ellington's son.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 17:56:01 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: The Goons on NBC
On 5/22/01 10:52 AM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
Despite WHRB's claim that in 1961 it was "the first American radio
station to run the Goon Shows" (see below), I persist in my belief that
NBC carried THE GOON SHOW in the summer of 1953 or 1954. I would be most
appreciative if someone can confirm my memory of this with specific
details.
NBC indisputably ran the Goon Show as a regular weekly feature during the
1955-56 season, Thursday evenings at 830 EST. The Library of Congress
holds NBC recordings of the following episodes as broadcast by the
network -- original BBC airdate is in parentheses, as listed in the NBC
files.
10/18/55 (9/29/54) -- The Whistling Spy Enigma
1/5/56 (12/14/54) -- Dishonoured
4/12/56 (4/3/56) -- Pevensey Bay Disaster
5/31/56 (2/7/56) -- Tales of Old Dartmoor
While NBC retained only these four episodes in its Central Files, it can
be safely presumed that the series ran continuously from at least October
thru May. A complete listing of exactly which episodes were aired when
could be assembled by consulting the NBC Master Books at the Library.
NBC aired other transcribed British imports during the mid-fifties, as a
cheap way to offer quality programming, including the Harry Alan
Towers-produced "Scarlet Pimpernel," "Theatre Royale," and "Sherlock
Holmes," but the Goons and "Journey into Space" (aired during the summer
of 1956) were apparently the only BBC transcriptions imported by NBC
during this period.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 18:19:11 -0400
From: Ed Foster <erfoster@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: MP3 files
"John Sloan" <jdsloan@[removed]; asked:
I'm new to the list, tend to ask simple questions, but still enjoy the old
radio shows. I saw the note in the last digest asking about MP3 files of
the "Let's Pretend" shows. Are shows available as MP3 files? If so, who
offers them?
Several usenet newsgroups: [removed] and
[removed], make available OTR shows in the MP3
format. You could make a request in either of those newsgroups for
someone to post some "Let's pretend" shows.
--
--
Ed Foster
erfoster@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 21:42:54 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <wmackey@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Social Diseases On The Air
But while OTR-era radio wasn't exactly filled with a constant stream
of broadcasts about VD, neither did it totally ignore the subject.
Syphilis was considered "the great scourge" of the early 20th century:
it was a national epidemic during the 1910s, with infection rates reaching an
all-time high during World War I. This crisis led to a full-scale
educational campaign against the disease, which continued thru the 1920s
and 1930s.
This was also the reason for blood tests for prospective brides and
grooms once there was a effective blood test developed in the '30s. (My
mother was a lab tech at the time and did a lot of the testing in our
area.)
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 00:04:07 -0400
From: ChibiBarako <cvc@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mutual
WGN in Chicago was still a Mutual affiliate in the late 60's or early
70's when I was growing up. My stars, I didn't think I remembered that
much about it, but I *do* remember "Pye Chamberlain, Capitol Hill". (I
always wondered why he had such a weird name!)
IIRC there's been a change since -- part of the Mutual sale? -- and WGN
is now using ABC News.
Cynthia
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 00:04:05 -0400
From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: AUSTRALIAN RADIO
Al Hubin wrote:
I thought someone (probably Ian Grieve) mentioned
that a book called "Australian Radio Series 1930s to 1970s"
had been published by Screensound and could be ordered
from its web site ([removed]). However, I went
all over that site without finding any sign of such a book. Did
I misunderstand something?
It is more likely I didn't explain myself properly. That book exists and is
a part of the "Collection Guide Series" put out by Screensound.
I didn't search for it on their site I just picked up the telephone. If you
are unable to find it on their site even with that little extra information
I supplied, just e-mail them with the details. If you have no luck then
e-mail me directly and I will chase it down for you.
I don't know the cost for shipping but the book cost me $[removed] which is a
little over $[removed]
Ian Grieve
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 00:39:34 -0400
From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: AUSTRALIAN OTR
John Southard jsouthard@[removed] writes:
My name is John and I have been reading the Digest for a year now and enjoy
it very much. My background is in teaching history at high school and
college level. I have been collecting OTR for about thirty years. I recently
purchased a MP3 CD on E-bay of the Fat Man radio program. I knew immediately
from the music and the voice that this was not the Fat Man program I knew.
The lead actor was not J. Scott Smart. I believe it is the Australian
version. That is all right because there are few of the Smart programs
available. What I would like to know is who played Brad Runyon in Australia,
and did they use American scripts?
G'Day John,
Tough question. I don't know yet. All the Australian books I have, fail to
mention
The Fat Man at all. Yes there was an Australian version and most of the
available Fat man shows are the Australian versions. Once again I plug
Gordon (the scifiguy) who says that the Australian 50's series is based on
the 1946-51 [removed] series. It is unknown, for sure, whether shows were based
on the [removed] scripts, but it is highly likely and the series probably ran for
52 30m episodes in Australia. Gordon lists 35 available episodes. I am not
sure how many I have.
I am collecting the series at the moment and will let you know what I find
out. As the Screensound book does not mention the show it means it is not a
part of their collections that have been documented.
Whilst quite a few of the Australian actors that were in a lot of these
series are such that I can recognise their voices sometimes, I haven't
listened to The Fat Man due to my quirk of wanting to collect the early
episodes and listen from the beginning wherever possible. I will just have
to have a listen to this series in the next day or so.
Due to e-mail problems with our provider I may have missed some requests for
assistance in Australian OTR, if so, please repeat your requests.
Ian Grieve
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 04:52:00 -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 four 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, 23 May 2001 01:12:27 -0400
From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WOTW SCRIPT ON THE INTERNET
I just completed a search engine on the internet, and found a gold mine of
scripts available for print out for performing and among them is War Of The
Worlds. It has about 50 of the most popular shows: A & A, Dragnet, Suspence,
Fibber McGee & Mollie, Jack Benny, etc. There is also a page that explains
about the copyrights, and in particular, War Of The Worlds. According to
the information given, When Howard Koch, who wrote the radio script was
alive, he allowed non-profit organizations to do the radio play without
charge. Read it for yourself at <[removed]; I hope this
helps any one who wanted to produce this show.
Owens Pomeroy
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #154
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