------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 173
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
This Weekend with Walden Hughes [ BryanH362@[removed] ]
Private Eyelashes [ benohmart@[removed] ]
American Revolution [ danhughes@[removed] ]
Lugosi [ Thomas Biddy <t_biddy@[removed]; ]
Anna Lee on radio [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
Hollywood and Vine [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
5-21 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Gail Gordon [ "William Schell" <bschell@[removed] ]
FDR and Foreign Wars [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
Meat Rationing During WW 2 [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
Inquiry re Mary Green [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
FRANK FONTAINE [ David Phaneuf <david_phaneuf@yahoo. ]
GUNSMOKE AND MATT DILLON [ David Phaneuf <david_phaneuf@yahoo. ]
Nix on Anna Lee [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
Batman on screen and radio [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
ILAM Alert! [ "Scott Eberbach" <saeberbach@earthl ]
"The Home Front" album [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:20:42 -0400
From: BryanH362@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: This Weekend with Walden Hughes
Listen in Friday , Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 pm Eastern / 7:30 pm
Pacific on Yesterdayusa for Walden Hughes weekend OTR program.
Reminder : the program can be heard via the internet by going to
[removed].
This coming weekend the line-up includes :
Friday 5-21-04
Co-host Frank Bresee pulls out an interview with Bret Morrison who of
course played the role of the Shadow for many years. This is to honor
Bret's birthday.
Saturday 5-22-04
A. Walden interviews Sid Ceasar (pre-recorded)
B. An interview with Artie Shaw to celbrate his 94 birthday. The
interview was done last year.
C. a mix of OTR
Sunday 5-23-04
A. talk by Michael Biels
B. Laura Leff presenting Jack Benny. The radio show of 5-16-37 is
presented.
C. a mix of OTR.
D. Interview with Kay Kyser's daughter Kim. Walden and Bill Bragg host the
interview which was pre-recorded.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:21:00 -0400
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Private Eyelashes
Accolades continue to come in regarding Jack French's "Private
Eyelashes: Radio's Lady Detectives." Here's a heads-up on some
upcoming reviews that will appear in your club's newsletters soon:
Stewart Wright, in a review for the next issue of RETURN WITH US NOW,
calls it: "An incredibly entertaining and informative volume that
definitely covers a previously little-known portion of radio."
Dennis W. Crow, in a review for the June issue of the newsletter of RCA
(of Massachusetts), says: "The author organizes his multitude of facts
with a sense of fun and packs his extensive research with memorable
anecdotes."
Barry Weiss, in a review scheduled for publication in RADIOGRAM,
writes: "Jack has been researching the Golden Age of Radio for over 20
years and his efforts have certainly borne fruit in this very thorough
and fascinating work."
Jim Snyder, whose review will appear in the June issue of RADIO RECALL,
"His writing is 'down to earth' with frequent humor. The book is both
fun and informative."
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:21:26 -0400
From: danhughes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: American Revolution
Barry mentioned that he thought only a third of the colonies' citizens
favored the Revolution.
He's right--President John Adams said that a third were for it, a third
were against it, and a third ignored politics and just kept farming or
tending their shops or doing whatever they did.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:21:48 -0400
From: Thomas Biddy <t_biddy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lugosi
I want to thank everyone for the help that was given. Your comments and leads
have increased my enjoyment of OTR and your efforts are very appreciated.
=====
Have a GREAT day,
Thomas
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:22:02 -0400
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Anna Lee on radio
According to RadioGOLDindex, Anna Lee appeared in the following. This is
probably not complete since David Goldin's database indexes only from shows
he has/had in his collection. But it is very helpful especially since one
can search the database by artist as well as program.
[removed]
Soldiers In Greasepaint. November 25, 1943. NBC net.
Command Performance. December 11, 1943. Program #96. AFRS origination.
The Lifebuoy Show. February 10, 1944. NBC net.
The Lady Esther Screen Guild Theatre. December 4, 1944. CBS net. "China
Seas".
Crime Does Not Pay. July 3, 1950. MGM syndication. "The Lady Loves Kittens".
Irene
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:22:12 -0400
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hollywood and Vine
The intersection of Holywood Blvd. and Vine have no significent connetion
with the entertainment industry. Just a major intersection with a
department store on one corner and a drug store on another. The CBS Vine
street theater was about a half block down Vine Street. Hollywood is
just a location, and not a town or village, although Johnny Grant "bills"
himself as the Mayor of Hollywood. (He was a disc jockey at a small radio
station in San Fernando Valley when I originally knew him). The Pantages
Movie Theater where the Oscars were at one time was about a half block
East of the corner on Hollywood Boulevard. Across from Pantages was a
Western Theater which only showed "oaters". Grumman's Chinese and
Egyptian Theaters were at the other end of that strip near Highland.
Musso Frank's famous restaurant was half way between Highland and Vine.
When I first transferred to CBS Hollywood from New York I lived on
Whitley just off Hollywood Blvd. so remener that part of town being that
I walked to work at CBS at Sunset and Gower. The Palladium Ball room was
next door and Earl Carol's theater restaurant was across the street, both
CBS dance band remotes. Columbia Pictures was diagonally across the
intersection. We usually ate at Brittingham's next door, which could be
interesting when Columbia Pictures was "shooting" an extravaganza and
their extras, all in costume, would also be having lunch there. A
memorable era.
Bill Murtough
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:22:24 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 5-21 births/deaths
May 21st births
05-21-1901 - Horace Heidt - Alameda, CA - d. 12-1-1986
bandleader: "Horace Heidt Brigadiers"; "Pot o' Gold"; "Treasure Chest"
05-21-1904 - Robert Montgomery - Beacon, NY - d. 9-27-1981
actor: "Doctor Fights"; "Suspense"; "This Is War"
05-21-1904 - Thomas "Fats" Waller - NYC - d. 12-15-1943
pianist, singer: "Columbia Variety Hour"; "Saturday Night Swing Club"
05-21-1912 - Lucille Manners - Newark, NJ
singer: "Cities Service Concert"
05-21-1915 - Cathleen Cordell - Brooklyn, NY - d. 8-19-1997
actress: Marion Burton Sullivan "Second Mrs. Burton"; Monica Brewster
"Valiant Lady"
05-21-1917 - Dennis Day - The Bronx, NY - d. 6-22-1988
singer, comedian: "Jack Benny Program"; "Day in the Life of Dennis Day"
05-21-1917 - Raymond Burr - New Westminster, [removed], Canada - d. 9-12-1993
actor: Lee Quince "Fort Laramie"; Ed Backstrand "Dragnet"
05-21-1918 - Jeanne Bates - Berkeley, CA
actress: Teddy Lawson "One Man's Family"; "Gunsmoke"
05-21-1921 - Kitty Kallen - Philadelphia, PA
singer: "Kitty Kallen Calling"; "Harry James and His Music Makers"
May 21st deaths
03-04-1913 - John Garfield - NYC - d. 5-21-1952
actor: "Cresta Blanca Hollywood Players"; "Free Company"; "Treasury Star
Parade"
03-24-1928 - Vanessa Brown - Vienna, Austria - d. 5-21-1999
panelist: "Quiz Kids"
03-29-1888 - Earle Ross - IL - d. 5-21-1961
actor: Judge Horace Hooker "Great Gildersleeve"; J. R. Boone, Sr. "Meet Millie"
04-14-1904 - Sir John Gielgud - London, England - d. 5-21-2000
actor: Sherlock Holmes "Sherlock Holmes"; "Theatre Guild on the Air"
05-30-1911 - Douglas Fowley - NYC - d. 5-21-1998
actor: "Hollywood Hotel"
06-04-1906 - Vinton Haworth (Hayworth) - Washington, [removed] - d. 5-21-1970
actor: Fred Andrews "Archie Andrews"; Michael Shayne "Michael Shayne"
10-06-1907 - Owen Davis, Jr. - NYC - d. 5-21-1949
actor: Allen McCrea "Those We Love"
10-07-1911 - Vaughn Monroe - Akron, OH - d. 5-21-1973
singer, bandleader: "Penthouse Party"; "Vaughn Monroe Show"
10-21-1908 - Tommy Riggs - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 5-21-1967
comedian: "Fleischmann Hour"; "Quaker Party with Tommy Riggs"; "Tommy Riggs
and Betty Lou"
--
Ron Sayles
For a complete list:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 17:41:25 -0400
From: "William Schell" <bschell@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Gail Gordon
My favorite actor on the Fibber McGee and Molly show is Gale Gordon. In my
tapes I find him as the mayor and weatherman. Which was first and why the
change? I have one tape where they dropped the "mayor" before LaTrivia and
it was as if Gail was leaving the show. Thanks
Bill Schell
Magalia, Ca
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 21:41:49 -0400
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: FDR and Foreign Wars
A. Joseph Ross posted
Then again, my father remembered FDR promising not to send American Boys off
to any foreign war.
Your father remembered correctly and FDR kept his word. When the Japs
attacked the USA and when Germany and Italy declared war on this country six
days later, it was no longer a "foreign war".
George Aust
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 21:42:02 -0400
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Meat Rationing During WW 2
Elizabeth remembered her grandfather talking about corruption in
gasoline rationing during the war. That very well may have been the
case. We didn't have a car for the duration instead taking the bus,
train, riding bikes or just walking.
Food rationing however, I was more familiar with. Meatless Tuesday
although coming relatively late in the war was observed in our house as
well as meatless Friday( My grandfather was a devout Catholic). I also
remember that there were horsemeat stores that popped up all over. There
was one near us but I don't know if they were a chain or not. I do
remember that they advertised that the meat was USAD inspected. The one
near us was a small storefront outlet and was ususally quite busy. I
would think that the fact that these stores existed proved that meat
rationing was working at least to some extent. By the way, I would go
there to buy meat for my new puppy. We cooked the meat and I remember
the smell was pretty awful and if it tasted anything like it smelled I
don't know how people ate it.
We had chickens and sold eggs for I think 29 cents a dozen. We did quite
a business but many people didn't want our eggs because we had Rhode
Island Reds and their eggs are brown.
I also remember sugar rationing. In our house we had table sugar and we
had canning sugar. The later was not rationed(or you could get plenty of
it with your stamp) but when we ran out of table sugar the canning sugar
was not touched. We had to wait until the next ration book to get more
table sugar.
The canning sugar was kept in a tin cannister on top of the refrigerator
and one time at age eight or so I slammed the fridge door shut and was
conked on the head with sugar canister which dumped all over the me and
the floor. I still remember the fear I felt, for I was sure I was in big
trouble, but amazingly it was decided that it was not my fault.
George Aust
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 23:26:13 -0400
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Inquiry re Mary Green
A fellow Sherlockian in Washington, DC, Peter Blau, is trying to locate
heirs of Mary Green, who died about 1990. She was the widow of Denis
Green, who with Anthony Boucher, wrote the radio scripts for
"Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" in the 1940s.
If you have any leads for Blau, please contact him off-list at
<pblau@[removed];
Thanks,
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 23:28:38 -0400
From: David Phaneuf <david_phaneuf@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: FRANK FONTAINE
Was listening to July 12, 1952, Gunsmoke episode and
during the commercial break the Frank Fontaine Show
(Sunday Nights on CBS Radio) was advertised.
Wasn't Frank Fontaine the lovable drunk, Crazy
Guggenheimer, on the Jackie Gleason TV show?
I have vague recollections from my childhood watching
these old black-and-white varieties which usually had
a brief episode of "The Honeymooners", along with
other comedic and song routines, and often a visit of
the Great One with Crazy. Seems to me in my dimly
shadowed memories that Crazy usually moved from
drunken revelry to beautiful song. Wasn't this Frank
Fontaine?
I've never heard of any Frank Fontaine shows, are any
of these still extant and available for purchase?
Or perhaps on the net anywhere?
D. W. Phaneuf
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 00:33:29 -0400
From: David Phaneuf <david_phaneuf@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: GUNSMOKE AND MATT DILLON
Been listening to [removed] a tremendously done
series, IMHO, with William Conrad as Matt Dillon.
I've a question and an observation.
First the question: my set of recordings includes
several audition programs, same script, different
actors. What exactly were the audition shows? Were
they to sell the program to the sponsors and networks?
Or were they simply to audition different persons for
the lead roles? I used to think the former was true,
but now leaning more toward the latter explanation.
Now for my observation: Having grown up with James
Arness as Matt Dillon on TV, at first I found William
Conrad's characterization offensive and hard to
swallow. He was harsh, and hardened, and raw-natured.
At times, downright mean, hot-headed and
quick-tempered. The casting of James Arness, on the
other hand, protrays a much softer Matt Dillon for TV.
Visually, Arness looks more the part of an old west
marshall than Conrad. But his characterization is more
easy-going and "lovable" (for want of a better word)
than that given by Conrad.
To be honest, I'm liking Conrad portrayal far better
than Arness's -- his characterization seems more what
the old wild west would have required.
I find OTR's Gunsmoke to be wonderfully acted and
extremely believable.
D. W. Phaneuf
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 06:17:28 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Nix on Anna Lee
Natalie McClain writes:
I know that she [Anna Lee] appeared on Jack Benny's shortwave broadcast
that was aired
from Ibelieve Cairo. Did she ever appear on Jack Benny's regular show?
Nope. Others from the Benny USO shows, like Larry Adler and Martha Tilton,
did appear on Jack's show, but Anna Lee was not one of them. Sorry!
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 10:12:47 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Batman on screen and radio
David Rogers commented that some of the language of the BATMAN 1943 matinee
serial made him kinda cringe. At the time the serial was considered
"politically correct." But today's standards (and fear of impending
lawsuits), Columbia/Sony won't release it in the complete form because of
the slang featured in the dialogue.
It seems that this particular BATMAN serial (of the two filmed) is one of
the few film adaptations of DC Comics' characters that DC's parent company,
Warner Bros., doesn't have the video release rights to. Who does? Columbia
Pictures, whose parent company is Sony, straight from the land of sushi and
[removed] Japan. During the big Batmania revival of 1989 (courtesy
of Tim Burton whose Nicholson-Keaton offering was released through Warner),
Sony decided to release the serial on VHS (this was the Goodtimes Home Video
2 tape set, I believe), but since the original version of this serial was
laced to the brim with wartime, anti-Japanese propaganda, Sony decided to
alter it somewhat. Check out the first chapter for some unintentionally
hilarious re-dubbed [removed], if ya get a chance to see an unaltered
version of this thing, you'll notice there's a good 3 to 4 minutes missing
from the first chapter, mostly a voiceover proclaiming in no short words
Japanese people of the time to be almost less than human.
The uncensored version is popularly sought after, and SCARLET STREET
magazine featured a lengthy article listing all the differences between the
censored and uncut prints. The article appeared in one of their early,
early issues (the same issue that featured the article offering all the
"suggestions" that appeared in the comic books that Batman and Robin were
secret "lovers."
If anyone has ever been meaning to seek out the BATMAN serial, make sure
it's the uncensored print. As for the radio series, there were unaired
pilot recordings made, and the character of Batman (and Robin) appeared on
the SUPERMAN radio serial numerous times, apparently as a cross-over in an
attempt to see if children would enjoy a stand-alone radio series, but there
never came to be a regular radio series of BATMAN, sadly.
Course, you have to remember that SUPERMAN was big during the forties and
fifties, and Batman was not the same Batman he is regarded today. Back then
he was more of a man in a suit fighting silly comic heroes. SUPERMAN kicked
butt in the comics during the 1940s so even if Batman would have made it to
a radio series during the 40s and 50s, it would not be exactly the same
Batman we watch on the big screen today. Heck, the matinee serials as cheap
as they appear, was just about what Batman was depicted during the 40s.
[removed] Comics did authorize the Batman character to appear in a number of LP
releases during the 1960s, audio dramas featuring Wonder Woman, Green
Lantern, etc. Those recordings do exist and float about in circulation.
Martin Grams, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 10:56:32 -0400
From: "Scott Eberbach" <saeberbach@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: ILAM Alert!
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hi Gang!
Here is some interesting news that I feel that I have to share with all and
especially all the ILAM fans hungering for more. Apparently Ted Davenport has
aquired 7 more episodes to "Temple Of Vampires" bringing the total up to 18
out of 20 episodes. I subscribe to "Ted's Journal" and here is part of the
message I recieved:
Of all the players on I Love a Mystery over its' decades long runs on many
networks was Tony Randall, who was included in the 1949-1953 Mutual final run
of the [removed]
The future "Odd Couple" icon at first auditioned for the roles of Doc Long in
the series. He was tapped as Englishman Reggie York, a role, which he played
until York, was written out of the series near the end of "I Love a Mystery's"
many years on the air. The Mutual series was actually a re-read of the
scripts, which had been done in Hollywood so many years ago on [removed] and
[removed] (These were done in New York)
One series of 15-minute "ILAM" programs with Tony Randall was "Temple of the
Vampires".... which aired January 2nd-January 27th, 1950. 18 of the 20
episodes have been discovered and are available on 5 audio cds. Our regular
price is $[removed] including shipping and handling. If you order before
Midnight, May 22nd, your total cost is only $20.
Just dial 1-877-94Radio (1-877-947-2346) to place and order, or write: Radio
Memories at: 6317 Eastwind, San Antonio, Texas 78249. The programs will be
rushed to you by priority mail.
I sent an e-mail to make sure this was accurate and not a typo and the
gentleman who handles "Ted's Journal" assured me that the total is now 18 out
of 20. I called the number and placed my order. An associate of Ted's took the
order and told me that these were newly discovered (perhaps either recently
unearthed or released.) He told me that he had no idea how Ted got them. I
replied that I really didn't care how he got [removed] was so glad that 7 more
of the 9 missing episodes will now be available to ILAM fans.
Best [removed]
Scott
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 13:36:53 -0400
From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "The Home Front" album
Jim K. has mentioned the audio cassette album titled "The Home Front"
(1938-1945). I just thought I'd humbly alert Digesters who intend to
acquire the album to the following: Despite the title of the album, a very
large portion of it is devoted to [removed] home front events, including much
material on The Battle Front(s). (And when the Rosemary Clooney version of
"You'll Never Know" is anachronistically played, you might wanna pretend
you hear instead the 1943 recording of the song by Dick Haymes or Frank
Sinatra, for instance.)
-- Phil C.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #173
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