------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 378
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Mary sings and heads up, Hal [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
SPERDVAC Convention [ DanHaefele@[removed] ]
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK SCHEDULE for [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
Moon River [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
Anthony Tollin on History Channel [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
Demarco Sisters [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
Voices of World War II--Experiences [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
Radio spirits packaging [ lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed]; ]
Today in radio history 9/29 [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Best & Worse [ "D. Fisher" <dfisher@[removed]; ]
SPERDVAC convention [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
DeMarco - Stone Reunion [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
TLR and VCR audio [ EdHowell@[removed] ]
Black and Blue Dahlia's [ StepToons@[removed] ]
the Black Dahlia [ "" <cooldown3@[removed]; ]
Tom's Closet [ "Thomas Barnett" <barnettl@[removed] ]
Cassette boxes [ "Richard Carpenter" <sinatra@raging ]
Somebody Knows [ "alanladdsr" <alanladdsr@[removed] ]
Six Shooter: Blood Relations and Sil [ "Matthew Bullis" <MatthewBullis@run ]
reel to reel to cassette [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
Lone Ranger and morality [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:22:48 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mary sings and heads up, Hal
Roby McHone asked:
In a lot of the Jack Benny programs, Mary Livingstone sings a song, usually
with Phil Harris or with one of the guests. I really enjoy hearing her
singing voice and style. Does anyone know if she ever made a record. Does
anyone (Laura?) have a list of the Jack Benny programs where she sings.
That's a good question, and I wish I had a good [removed] not YET. It's
long been my intent to overhaul my log with detailed information on each
show. It will get done, but not before our February celebration (as luck
would have it, named the same as the log) "39 Forever".
I think of Mary singing more in the 1930s shows, but that's just a sense.
However, I recently heard a 40s show where she and Phil sub for Dennis.
There's also a television show where she and Bob Crosby (along with Jack at
the end) do a nice version of "How About You". I find her singing
interesting for a couple reasons. The first is that in the 30s, she had this
higher, thinner, almost Helen Kane-ish (sans the Brooklyn accent) voice.
Then by the 50s, it had come down to more of a low alto. I suppose her
speaking voice had changed similarly. However, other female vocalists such
as Helen O'Connell, Kay Starr, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, and Ella Fitzgerald
sang for decades without such drastic voice changes.
The second is that she was singing at all. Mary's stage nerves were
legendary. I personally don't get very nervous if I'm going to speak in
front of a group of people, but singing will give me a good case of the
jitters. Thought I was going to lose some of my pre-Yom Kippur food binge
last year before I was to sing Kol Nidre to my synagogue. Mary was not a
professional singer, and didn't have any apparent aspirations to be one. I
would think that having to sing before one of the largest audiences in radio
would give just that much more stress. But I guess we'll never know for
certain.
I am fairly certain that she never made a record. She did make a movie on
her own ("This Way Please"), which seems to be lost to the ages at the
moment. So I'm not sure if she sang in that one. She did appear in the 1928
Vitaphone short "Bright Moments" as Marie Marsh, opposite Jack. I'm in the
process of getting a copy of that soundtrack, so ask me in a few months if
she sang there.
Hal Stone sez:
OK Lorna, paybacks are hell. I understand you will be at the FOTR Con.
That's right, Hank. I'll be there.
Remind me not to tell you about my encounter with Jack Benny.
Oh, you mean the one where you auditioned for Jack in his hotel room at the
Plaza and he had on a smoking jacket and you didn't get the part? Don't
worry, I won't ask you about it. ;)
--
Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:24:09 -0400
From: DanHaefele@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: SPERDVAC Convention
SPERDVAC's Old-Time Radio convention will be held November 1, 2 and 3 near
Los Angeles International Airport. The location will be the Hacienda Hotel,
525 N. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo, CA. The hotel's number for making
reservations is (800) 421-5900. Registration forms may be obtained on-line
at SPERDVAC's web page: [removed] or by e-mailing us at
SPERDVAC@[removed] or via toll free phone message: (877) 251-5771. There will
be several program re-creations and a dealers' room too. Here's a brief
run-down of the convention plans:
Friday, [removed]:
Registration desk to open at 3:00pm.
30 Minutes to Curtain presents two OTR re-creations from 4:30 to 5:45 PM: A
Date with Judy directed by Barbara Watkins and featuring Hal ("Jughead")
Stone as "Oogie Pringle" and X Minus One's version of Ray Bradbury's classic
science fiction story "Mars is Heaven," again featuring Hal Stone and also
directed by Barbara Watkins. These recreations are FREE and open to the
public.
The social hour will be from 6 to 7. Dinner will be at 7 pm. Herb Ellis
is directing a performance of This is Your FBI featuring many actors who
appeared in the original series.
Saturday, Nov. 2:
Book panel from 10:30am to 11:30am. Howard Blue will discuss World War II
broadcasts.
Lunch break of 11:30am to 1:00 pm.
The afternoon recreation is scheduled from 1:00 pm to 2:45pm. The amateur
group "As Time Goes By" will cast a production of The Mysterious Traveler
1947 story "Five Miles Down" featuring members of the audience.
Convention-goers who harbor a secret wish to be a radio performer may get the
opportunity to star in a radio show.
Saturday afternoon we are presenting a "KFI Remembered" panel with people
who worked at the west coast clear channel station long affiliated with NBC:
Newcomb Weisenberger and John Carver (engineers), personality Chuck Cecil
(schedule permitting), and hopefully, some surprises. The KFI panel is
scheduled from 3:00pm to 4:30pm.
The social hour will be from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.
Dinner will be at 6:00pm. Recreation following the dinner is scheduled to be
the pilot episode of The Third Man. Joe Leahy plays Harry Lime and the cast
includes Gladys Holland and Lawrence Dobkin. Greg Oppenheimer is the
producer-director.
Sunday, Nov. 3 Brunch:
Scheduled for 9:00 am. Carleton E. Morse Remembered
Many of the original cast members of Carleton E. Morse's radio drama series
will participate in this session. First, a rehearsal of a One Man's Family,
Book 72, Chapter 12, "A Touch Of Christmas Spirit" show originally broadcast
Dec. 18th, 1949. Then, a panel discussion on CEM's methods of production and
direction on his many shows.
Tyler McVey will appear as Jack Barbour. The cast will include Barbara
Fuller, Jean Rouverol Butler, George Pirrone and Conrad Binyon. SPERDVAC's
convention will conclude about 11 am.
We hope to see many of you there!
Dan Haefele
SPERDVAC Board member
DanHaefele@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:24:13 -0400
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK SCHEDULE for Week of
9/29/02
Here's the lineup for programs starting Sunday 9/29/02 at:
[removed]
New shows start every Sunday for 1 week in streaming audio 24/7
HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood
1. ESCAPE - CBS - 11/15/49 "Three Skeleton Key" stars: Elliott Reed,
Harry Bartell and Bill Conrad.
2. QUIET PLEASE - MBS - 9/18/48 "The Thing on the Fourble Board"
with Erenest Chappell.
3. THE COLGATE SPORTS NEWSREEL with BILL STERN - NBC - #353
1945. Guest: Dinah Shore.
SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges
1. DIMENSION X - NBC - 7/21/50 "Beyond Infinity"
stars: Les Damon and Linda Stavisky.
2. X MINUS ONE - NBC - 6/26/56 "Wherever You May Be"
stars: William Redford, Patsy O'Shea and Jack Morrison.
3. FUTURE TENSE 7/27/73 "Born of Man & Woman" and
"Dr. Eitar's Experiment" From local Radio: WMUK, Kalamazoo, MI
4. THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS BBC 2/21/60 Episode 2 -
"A Light In the Night" stars: Patrick Barr, Monica Gray and Gabriel
Blunt.
Enjoy -- Tom & Jerry
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:24:24 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Moon River
I have an acquaintance who tells me that "Moon River", the long running
music and poetry show heard on WLW Cincinnati, was originally an hour long,
then cut to a half hour, and eventually became a 15-minute show. It was 15
minutes when I listened to it and can find no information about it ever
having been longer. Can anyone help?
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:24:30 -0400
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Anthony Tollin on History Channel
a short note:
I was watching the premiere of a 2-hour documentary on the History Channel
this evening titled "Evolution of Science Fiction" and our very own Anthony
Tollin was one of the interviewee speakers.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:24:46 -0400
From: Jer51473@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Demarco Sisters
<PRE>AS hal said, they were real dolls and were very good singers. I never
could
understand why their popularity didnt grow much more on radio and records.
Btw hal, she wasnt making eyes at you, she was just very interested in why in
the world would anyone wear such a ridiculus hat.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:25:17 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Voices of World War II--Experiences From the
Front and at Home
I received this request to add as a link to my web site. This is an
excellent example of the web in action as a source for furthering education
of the audio/radio history of World War II. It does require the Flash 6
plug in to your browser and it will tell you if you already have it
installed and helps you get it, if you don't. I accessed this site with a
56K connection, so it doesn't require a faster connection. I might point
out that the Marr Sound archives at the University of Missouri are among
some of the best including the donated recordings from Dave Goldin.
"I'm writing to pass along a project I've been working on that may interest
you. It's called "Voices of World War II--Experiences From the Front and at
Home." Designed as an audio-driven online exhibit, the site was developed
at the Marr Sound Archives (part of the Special Collections Department at
the University of Missouri at Kansas City), and strives to replicate the
experience of "witnessing" World War II and resultant world events via
radio. The site can be accessed at the following page: "
[removed]
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:25:29 -0400
From: lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio spirits packaging
Hello Everyone-
I agree with Bob Becketts assement of Radio
Spirits new packaging. It's a major pain in the butt!
When you spend the kind of money you have to with them
they should at the very least make a packaging
container that will hold the tapes in place!!
If anyone connected with Radio Spirits is reading
this "Go Back To The Old Style Packaging-Please"!!!!
Lynn
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:25:40 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history 9/29
From Those Were The Days --
1920 - Radios for 10 bucks! That's what Joseph Horne Company's
department store in Pittsburgh, PA was selling. The radios were
advertised in The Pittsburgh Sun for $10 and up. One could get a
ready-made radio in a box with headphones and tuning knob. This way, one
could do away with the Quaker Oats round box and the cat's whisker wire.
1930 - "This is Lowell Thomas." Those words were spoken for the first
time as a young Lowell Thomas made his debut on CBS. He replaced Floyd
Gibbons on the nightly (6:45 [removed]), 15-minute newscast. Thomas, who
started as a reporter for the New York Daily News (at age 19), was heard
on the radio for the next 46 years.
1930 - "Ba, ba, ba, boo. I will, ba ba ba boo ... marry you!" 'Der
Bingle', better known as Bing Crosby, America's premier crooner for
decades, married Dixie Lee.
1940 - Double or Nothing, a quiz show, was first heard on the Mutual
Radio Network. Each time contestants answered questions correctly, their
winnings would double -- from $20 to $40 to the big payoff of $80. If
they gave an incorrect answer, they were gone! Nobody bet on long how
long the show would last. Good thing. It kept going for a dozen years.
Among the sponsors: Feen-A-Mint, Chooz breath candy and Campbell's soup.
1946 - Mystery fans remember when The Adventures of Sam Spade debuted on
CBS this Sunday night. (It had aired in the summer of 1946 on ABC on
Friday nights.) The Adventures of Sam Spade, with Howard Duff playing
Spade, became a big hit in the Sunday night radio lineup. And now a word
from our sponsor: "Use Wildroot Cream Oil, Charlie ... it keeps your
hair in [removed]"
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:25:49 -0400
From: "D. Fisher" <dfisher@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Best & Worse
I've found this thread kinda interesting. Me? I love 'em all. Oh, sure,
they're not all great & some are not even particularly good but I still I
love to hear them. I was fortunate to have grown up in the era & to have
even worked in Broadcasting as a Director in the 50's & 60's at all three
networks, CBS then NBC & finally at ABC before leaving New York to open up
my own station here in Vermont. I've been collecting since about 1968 & I
still enjoy listening to some of the first shows I collected even though
with over 7000 shows it is starting to get pretty hard to listen to many of
them more then once, but I have heard all of them at least once. I must say
though, that unless the show is pretty rare if the quality isn't really good
I probably will toss it once I've heard it.
I have a feeling that many of the listeners in my age bracket (I'm 70) enjoy
the shows more because of the nostalgia value then whether or not they are
good or bad.
Don Fisher
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:26:00 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: SPERDVAC convention
I'm pleased to announce that Conrad Binyon has been added to the cast of X
MINUS ONE "Mars Is Heaven" to be performed on Friday afternoon Nov. lst at
4:30 pm by 30 Minutes to Curtain, now in our 20th year of producing new
radio drama. Conrad AND Hal, together!!! For convention registration
information and forms, see [removed]
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:26:22 -0400
From: Kubelski@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: DeMarco - Stone Reunion
Ann DeMarco is listed as a returning guest to Friends of Old Time Radio in
Newark this year, as is Hal Stone, so if we see Hal hanging around in the
back of singer's panel on Saturday, we'll know why.
Warning Hal - last year she brought her husband. They were at the time still
a performing duo. Others on the list will no doubt remember better than I
the status of the other sisters, but I believe three have passed and one
other is alive but retired.
Sean Dougherty
Kubelski@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:26:39 -0400
From: EdHowell@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: TLR and VCR audio
Re The Lone Ranger, I just watched a "Legend of the Lone Ranger" in which
during one stagecoach ride the girl was sitting beside an Indian in one scene
and next time she was shown, there was a white man beside her and no Indian
in the coach. This scenario changed back and forth several times and finally,
when the stagecoach was held up, it was only white people who got out of it.
Re VCRs for audio recording, for a long time here we have used a VCR to
record the Art Bell Coast-to-Coast show and everything has worked out
perfectly. We wore out one VCR this way and we miss it because it had a
switched AC receptacle into which we plugged the radio's power cord. By
programmig the VCR to start at a certain time it also started the radio.
Fortunately, as with most solid state radios, we had no drift.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:27:27 -0400
From: StepToons@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Black and Blue Dahlia's
Kenneth writes:
"The Blue Dahlia Murder Case"? I don't remember ever
hearing about it, but seem to recall there was a "Black Dahlia
Murder Case" during the 1920's or 1930's.
Maybe there was a Radio Broadcast of Raymond Chandler's "THE BLUE DAHLIA"?
This is a classic Chandler script that was written for screen and not taken
from one of his novels.
- Step
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:36:30 -0400
From: "" <cooldown3@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: the Black Dahlia
In the digest number , Kenneth Clarke wrote
Should anyone know where I can find some further info
on "The Black Dahlia Murder Case", please let me know.
Sere is the life and death of Elizabeth Short, The Black Dahlia.
[removed]
Patrick
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:34:57 -0400
From: "Thomas Barnett" <barnettl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Tom's Closet
Hello all,
The fall cleaning continues and as I prepare for an upcoming job move I am
letting go of some OTR material. Please let me know if interested at
barnettl@[removed]
Lot #1 "The Uncollected Bob Crosby" 2 LPs highlighting 1941-42, and 1952-53.
This is Bob Crosby and his Orchestra.
I am also including an LP of GENE KRUPA & BUDDY RICH. ($2)
Lot #2 Radio ReRuns book shelf album of 11 cassettes. This album allows
cassettes to be snapped inside and features Jack Benny shows / appearances.
($3)
Lot #3 (7) OTR LP's Several of these are from the RADIOLA company of several
years back and are in excellent condition. ($3)
Burns and Allen - Two 1941 Broadcasts
Burns and Allen - Collection of Vaudville routines
I Love Lucy / My Favourite Husband - 2 Shows
THE SHADOW - 2 Broadcasts (5-11-47, 1-16-44)
War of the Worlds - Nice gatefold LP of the broadcast
Fibber McGee and Molly - Two complete shows
Golden Days of Radio - Jack Benny and F. Knight Vol .2
All of these would have to have shipping added (nominal due to their being
recordings) Email me and let me know.
Tom Barnett
barnettl@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:35:11 -0400
From: "Richard Carpenter" <sinatra@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cassette boxes
Let me second the motion regardiing the new Radio Spirits cassette boxes
-- the tapes tumble out whenever you open the case. Because I play these
cassettes in my car, I have had to resort to keeping the tapes in two bags,
one for the cassettes I've played and the other for yet-to-be played shows.
How could Radio Spirits have Ok'd that design? Surely even a brief test
would have told them something was askew.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:35:24 -0400
From: "alanladdsr" <alanladdsr@[removed];
To: "OTR message" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Somebody Knows
I am humbled by Harry Bartell's correction on my declarative statement that
Robson directed the series. Dunnings book states it was Jack Johnstone and
Mr. Bartell was there and knows it was and I'm just plain wrong. But, to
think that for a minute or so in
time Harry Bartell was reading something I had written and wrote back is a
distinct thrill.
I was also wrong about the "Blue Dahlia" as Mr Clarke pointed out. It was
the "Black" Dahlia that was presented on the series that John Dunning played
on his otr show in Denver in the 80's. I was thinking of the Alan Ladd film
by that name. The Black Dahlia case was around 1947, concerned a woman found
in Hollywood dismembered. Never solved but articles have been written ever
since by those who care about such things.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:35:50 -0400
From: "Matthew Bullis" <MatthewBullis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Six Shooter: Blood Relations and Silver
Threads
Hello, in my series, Blood Relations and Silver Threads are the same file.
Can anyone send Silver Threads along via e-mail? The story that is the same
is of George and his sister Viola, so the Silver Threads should be something
altogether different.
Thanks a lot.
Matthew
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:40:45 -0400
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: reel to reel to cassette
Bob wrote:
I am currently (as I type this), also transcribing a set of video tapes to
cassette. The local jazz station broadcast a series of Artie Shaw
recordings,
with personal notes by [removed], 13 hours over two days.
My response: You are right to transfer them to some more stable medium if
they were recorded at SLP speed. At these slow tape speeds there could be
significant tracking problems if you tried to play them on another machine,
so get them to a better storage medium (I'd do CDR myself) while the machine
of origin is still in good shape. Some day you will replace it, and assuming
you can find a VHS, it might not track nearly as accurately. I speak from
experience. I tape off the radio in abstentia using a VHS HiFi machine
frequently.
Joe Salerno
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 21:40:39 -0400
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Lone Ranger and morality
Patrick writes:
Am I the only one here who sees the Lone Ranger as a 'morality play'?
Heck no Pat! I have long regarded the Ranger as a morality play, and
effective ones at that. Unlike many radio shows where the bad guys lose, in
TLR the good guys win. There is a difference.
Joe Salerno
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #378
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