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The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2013 : Issue 35
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
OTR Books and Books On OTR [ skallisjr@[removed] ]
Re: The Top 10 Books on OTR [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
Bing Crosby song [ Larry Jordan <midtod@[removed] ]
rare OTR recordings [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Unit 99 Vs. Nightwatch? [ "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@run ]
rare OTR Recordings part 2 [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
More OTR Books [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
This week in radio history 24-30 Mar [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Re: Truth or Consequences [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
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Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:54:26 -0500
From: skallisjr@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR Books and Books On OTR
Recently, there's been a discussion on which are " The Top 10 Books On
OTR. One can argue which books provide the most detail, the widest
scope, or the most detailed minutae about various "programs, networks, or
personalities.
But there's another area of OTR books preserving the stories presented in
OTR programs, or their extensions.
It's worth reminding that in the 1940s, a number of OTR stories were
novelized, mostly by Whitman Publishers, which provided "novelized"
versions of old shows, mainly adventure serials. The /Jack Armstrong/
show had a couple of Better Little Books, reprising /The Mystery of the
Iron Key/ and /The Ivory Treasure/. Tom Mix had his adventure with /The
Horde of [removed] Captain Midnight had two adventures contending
against The Barracuda, an archcriminal, and had a reprise of the first
adventures, where he was recruited to lead the Secret Squadron. Although
a small sampling of some shows survived more than a half century,
transcriptions of most of the older shows have been lost.
Additionally, there are books concerning OTR. The late Jim Harmon's /The
Great Radio Heroes/ provide a nostalgia trip for those who listened to
the old broadcasts as they aired. To any of us who lived through that
era, Harmon's book is a real treasure.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
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Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:54:48 -0500
From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: The Top 10 Books on OTR
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
On Mar 17, 2013, at 11:18 AM, Tom Barnett wrote:
1. On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, John Dunning (1998)
2. The Jack Benny Show, Milt Josefsberg (1977)
5. The Great American Broadcast: A Celebration of Radio's Golden Age.
Leonard Maltin (1997)
*Honorable Mention*
The Shadow Scrapbook, Anthony Tollin
I strongly second Tom Barnett's recommendations. John Dunning's book (along
with JAy Hickerson's ULTIMATE LOG)is the best reference overview of OTR. Jilt
Josefsberg's THE JACK BEENY SHOW is a fabulous remembrance of JB by one of his
top scriptwriters (the one who wrote the "Your money or your life" line). And
Leonard Maltin's GREAT AMERICAN BROADCAST is a fabulous collection of personal
anecdotes from the radio professionals themselves ... and a great read!
One slight correction: While I was "Contributing Editor" and co-writer of THE
SHADOW SCRAPBOOK, it was Walter Gibson's book, not mine. I only wrote six
chapters, including the main OTR historical chapter and program log. But
Walter also wrote a wonderful chapter about his personal participation in the
development of the MBS revamping ... and Walter was a superbly entertaining
storyteller.
And a new, EXPANDED and REVISED edition of THE SHADOW SCRAPBOOK will be coming
out next year, with a lot more material ... and even a lot more by Walter
Gibson himself. The original edition was published 34 years ago, and a lot
more has been discovered since then. For example, Margot Stevenson's
involvement with THE SHADOW radio broadcasts (and that she had inspired the
character of Margot Lane) was unknown back then. Since THE SHADOW SCRAPBOOK
was published, I've acquired Frank Readick's and Bret Morrison's personal
scrapbooks and photo archives, as well as the art files of George and Jerome
Rozen. I now own 28 lobby cards from the 1931-32 Universal two-reelers. And a
number of photos have materialized that were buried in boxes in Walter's home.
And quite frankly, my Shadow radio log was highly praised when it came out,
but it's obsolete now since a lot more information has been discovered since
then like the 1934 WMCA SHADOW radio audition (scripted by Gibson and
featuring the pulp Shadow and Harry Vincent and Cliff Marsland) and the 1935
MacGregor & Sollie transcribed serial starring Carl Kroenke. The original
edition didn't include photos of Shadow artists George Rozen, Tom Lovell, Edd
Cartier, Paul; Orban, Modest Stein, Jack Binder or Bob Powell; the new edition
will correct this shortcoming. There will be many more vintage photos of
Walter Gibson from the years when he was writing the pulp novels, photos of a
lot more members of the Shadow radio casts, expanded recollections of
performing on THE SHADOW radio series from Orson Welles, Margot Stevenson,
Bill Johnstone (whom I interviewed after the Scrapbook was published), John
Archer, Bret Morrison, Grace Matthews, Trudy Warner, Ken Roberts, Andre Baruch
and final SHADOW announcer Ted Mallie. There will also be expansions to some
of Gibson's chapters in his own words, photos of the mansion Walter lived in
as a child, which became the floor plan and facade whenever Gibson described
Cranston's New Jersey mansion. And yes, there will be a considerable expansion
of the sections on premiums and collectibles, and the 1960s-to-today Shadow
revival. It's not going to be the same old SHADOW SCRAPBOOK.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:54:59 -0500
From: Larry Jordan <midtod@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Bing Crosby song
A couple of years ago I heard Bing Crosby sing a song on a radio show
that was broadcast on Sunday nights on XM/Sirius radio. It was called
"You Belong To My Heart."
I realize there are a couple of recorded versions of this available
on iTunes, featuring Xavier Cugat backing Bing, and even one in which
Crosby sings in Spanish. I have listened to both of these and don't
feel either of them are as good as the RADIO version. Crosby sings in
an earlier style that is different than the way he later evolved as a
singer.
I had posted in the OTR Digest about this once before and some fan
was kind enough to send me an mp3 of the radio version, but
unfortunately that was when I was using a previous computer, which
has since crashed! So I lost it.
I'm wondering if somebody out there has the Bing Crosby RADIO version
of "You Belong To My Heart" (as broadcast from the XM/Sirius show)
that they would be willing to share with me? It is a superior version
and one of the all-time prettiest songs I think Bing ever did!
Thanks,
Larry Jordan
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:55:10 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: rare OTR recordings
In finishing a book project (ten years in the making), I am seeking copies of
the following radio programs. If anyone has a copy of any of the recordings
listed below, can you please contact me off list? I will be more than glad to
include a "thank you" to you in the book and if anyone can supply at least a
dozen of these recordings, I can arrange for the publisher to send you a
complimentary copy of the book when it is published in June or July.
Many thanks in advance,
Martin
mmargrajr@[removed]
GOOD NEWS OF 1938 (September 8, 1938)
THIS IS NEW YORK (December 11, 1938)
Everything for the Boys (October 3, 1944)
Rudy Vallee Presents the Drene Show (September 16, 1944)
Command Performance (April 22, 1944)
White House Correspondent's Dinner (supposedly March 4, 1944)
Radio Hall of Fame (January 30, 1944)
The Texaco Star Theater (January 9, 1944)
The Elgin Company's Second Annual Tribute to the Armed Forces (November 25,
1943)
The Kraft Music Hall (October 28, 1943)
What's New? (September 4, 1943)
Paul Whiteman Presents (August 29, 1943)
The Kraft Music Hall (August 12, 1943)
The Kate Smith Show (December 11, 1942)
Tribute to President Roosevelt (April 15, 1945)
Radio Hall of Fame (February 25, 1945)
The Hollywood Democratic Committee (recorded October 8, 1944)
The Seventh War Loan Memorial Day Program (May 30, 1945)
The Sealtest Variety Theater (March 17, 1949)
The Sealtest Variety Theater (January 6, 1949)
Mail Call (March 21, 1945)
Mail Call (June 27, 1945)
Command Performance (May 26, 1946)
Command Performance (March 23, 1947)
Symphony Under The Stars (August 5, 1948)
Command Performance (August 15, 1945)
Jubilee (recorded on February 5, 1945)
Command Performance (recorded on October 7, 1944)
Command Performance (March 13, 1942)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:54:33 -0500
From: "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Unit 99 Vs. Nightwatch?
Has anyone who has listened to many episodes of both shows come up with any
big differences between the shows? Both Unit 99 and Nightwatch are enjoyable
to me.
Thanks a lot.
Matthew
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Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:55:19 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: rare OTR Recordings part 2
Almost forgot four recordings that should have been on the list.
DUFFY'S TAVERN (June 8, 1945)
DUFFY'S TAVERN (June 7, 1946)
DUFFY'S TAVERN (January 7, 1948)
DUFFY'S TAVERN (May 4, 1949)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:55:48 -0500
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: More OTR Books
Here are two more books on OTR which are interesting:
"Raised On Radio" by Gerald Nachman
"Don't Touch That Dial!" by J. Fred MacDonald
They both have some interesting stories and facts about
the days of OTR.
Kenneth Clarke
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:55:56 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 24-30 March
From Those Were The Days
3/24
1932 Belle Baker hosted a radio variety show from a moving train ... a
first for radio broadcasting. The program originated from a Baltimore
and Ohio train that chugged its way around the New York area. The
broadcast was heard on WABC in New York City.
1935 After a year as a local show from New York City, Major Bowes'
Original Amateur Hour was heard on the entire NBC network. The show
stayed on the air for 17 years. Later, Ted Mack took over for Bowes and
made the move from radio to television.
3/25
1943 Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore premiered on network radio. The
pair replaced the popular Abbott and Costello following Lou Costello's
heart attack. Durante and Moore stayed on the air for four years.
3/27
1943 Blue Ribbon Town was first heard on CBS.
3/28
1941 Louella Parsons hosted Hollywood Premiere for the first time on
CBS. The gossip columnist introduced famous guests who appeared in
dramatized stories.
1944 WQXR in New York City, owned by The New York Times newspaper,
banned singing commercials from its airwaves as of this day.
Understandable, since the station has always been the classical music
voice of Manhattan and there aren't many classical singing commercials.
3/29
1932 Jack Benny appeared on radio for the first time. He agreed to
join then newspaper columnist, Ed Sullivan, on his interview show.
1937 The serial, Our Gal Sunday, debuted. The question, "Can this girl
from a small mining town in the West find happiness as the wife of a
wealthy and titled Englishman?" was asked each day for next 22 years.
3/30
1936 The serial Backstage Wife made a move across the dial from the
Mutual Broadcasting System to NBC. Once there, the program continued to
air for the next 23 years.
1945 The Dreft Star Playhouse was heard for the final time. The show
had been paying up to $3,000 per week ($35,948 in 2010 dollars) to
attract name talent.
1946 Academy Award was heard for the first time. The first dramatized
story was titled, Jezebel and starred actress Bette Davis.
Joe
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:56:56 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Truth or Consequences
A Joseph Ross asked --
1940 Truth or Consequences was first heard on radio. Ralph Edwards
<snip>
But I don't see how it could be called a quiz show. The questions
were riddles, designed to be impossible to answer, leading directly to
the contestant's "consequence."
Seems to me quiz shows did ask questions which needed answers and
riddles are questions in a sense which need an answer. :)
Joe
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2013 Issue #35
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