Subject: [removed] Digest V2009 #177
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 9/16/2009 10:18 AM
To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to:
[removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2009 : Issue 177
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  9-15 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  August Deaths                         [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Bret Morrison botches the opening si  [ John Olsen <jrolsen2@[removed]; ]
  The Value of John Dunning's Work      [ Lance Grider <rangegrider@[removed] ]
  A GLIMPSE OF MEL BLANC AT WORK        [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
  OTR for Kids                          [ "Kathy O'Connell" <kathy@kidscorner ]
  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:29:11 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  9-15 births/deaths

September 15th births

09-15-1876 - Bruno Walter - Berlin, Germany - d. 2-17-1962
conductor: "Salzburg Music Festival"; "Word from the People"; "New
York Philharmonic"
09-15-1878 - William Hard - Painted Post, NY - d. 1-30-1962
commentator: "Back of the News"
09-15-1889 - Robert Benchley - Worcester, MA - d. 11-21-1945
comedian: "Buick Program"; "Melody and Madness"
09-15-1890 - Agatha Christie - Torquay, England - d. 1-12-1976
author: Creator of "Hercule Poirot"
09-15-1894 - Edwin Cooper - Illinois - d. 2-2-1984
actor: "The Eddie Bracken Show"
09-15-1896 - Irene Arledge - d. 7-11-1977
contralto: KFDM Beaumont, Texas
09-15-1896 - Julia Hoyt - d. 10-31-1955
actor: Conducted a fashion program for NBC
09-15-1898 - Dave Belman - d. 10-xx-1982
disk jockey: KONG Visalia, California
09-15-1898 - Gene Arnold - d. 4-12-1954
singer: (the man with a tear in his throat) "National Barn Dance"
09-15-1899 - Dr. Milton Eisenhower - Abilene, KS - d. 5-2-1985
doctor: (Brother of Ike) "Second Seagram's Symposium"; "Meet the Press"
09-15-1901 - Alexander Kirkland - Mexico City, Mexico - d. unknown
actor: "Helen Hayes Theatre"; "Our Gal Sunday"; "Society Girl"
09-15-1903 - Jean Tennyson - Chicago, IL - d. 3-16-1991
soprano: "Great Moments in Music"
09-15-1903 - Roy Acuff - Maynardsville, TN - d. 11-23-1992
singer: (The King of Country Music) "Grand Ole Opry"
09-15-1904 - Sheilah Graham - Leeds, England - d. 11-17-1988
gossip commentator: "Heinz Magazine of the Air"; "Sheilah Graham"
09-15-1904 - Tom Conway - St. Petersburg, Russia - d. 4-22-1967
actor: Sherlock Holmes "Sherlock Holmes"; Simon Templar "The Saint"
09-15-1906 - Kathryn Murray - Jersey City, NJ - d. 8-6-1999
hostess: "Advs. of Ellery Queen"
09-15-1907 - Elspeth Eric - d. xx-xx-1993
actor: Joyce Jordan "Joyce Jordan, [removed]"; Diane Ramsey "Big Sister"
09-15-1907 - Jack Bailey - Hampton, IA - d. 2-1-1980
emcee: "Queen for a Day"; "Truth or Consequences"
09-15-1908 - Penny Singleton - Phildelphia, PA - d. 11-12-2003
actor: Blondie Bumstead "Blondie" Penny Williamson "Penny Singleton
Show"
09-15-1909 - Eric Linden - NYC - d. 7-14-1994
actor: "Hollywood On the Air"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-15-1909 - Frank Richards - NYC - d. 4-15-1992
actor: "I Love A Mystery"
09-15-1911 - Grace Carney - Hartford, CT
actor: Freelance
09-15-1913 - Henry Brant - Montreal, Canada - d. 4-26-2008
composer: "The Eternal Light"
09-15-1915 - Al Casey - Louisville, KY - d. 9-11-2005
guitarist: "One Night Stand"; "New World A' Coming"; "Eddie Condon's
Jazz Concert"
09-15-1915 - John Conte - Palmer, MA - d. 9-4-2006
emcee: "Maxwell House Coffee Time"; "John Conte Show"
09-15-1915 - Phil Brito - Boomer, WV - d. 10-28-2005
narrator: "Moon River"
09-15-1916 - Margaret Lockwood - Karachi, British India - d. 7-15-1990
actor: "A Christmas Carol"
09-15-1919 - Nelson Giddings - NYC - d. 5-1-2004
writer: "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon"
09-15-1922 - Jackie Cooper - Los Angeles, CA
actor: "Campbell Playhouse"; "George Jessel Show"; "Voice of the Army"
09-15-1923 - Arvell Shaw - St. Louis, MO - d. 12-5-2002
jazz bassist: "Floor Show"; "Damon Runyon Memorial Concert"; "Jubilee"
09-15-1924 - Bobby Short - Danville, IL - d. 3-21-2005
singer: Sang on Chicago radio at beginning of his career
09-15-1928 - Cannonball Adderley - Tampa, FL - d. 8-8-1975
jazz saxphonist: "Voices of Vista"

September 15th deaths

01-20-1896 - Rolfe Sedan - NYC - d. 9-15-1982
actor: "Escape"; "Suspense"; "Mystery in the Air"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
01-25-1922 - Raymond Baxter - Essex, England - d. 9-15-2006
broadcaster for the BBC
02-06-1927 - Smoky Burgess - Caroleen, NC - d. 9-15-1991
sportscaster: "Sports Report"
02-09-1930 - Garner Ted Armstrong - Portland, OR - d. 9-15-2003
preacher: (Son of Herbert W. Armstrong) "Plain Truth"; "The World
Tomorrow"
02-17-1914 - Larry Douglas - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-15-1996
actor, singer: "Here's to Romance"
03-01-1914 - Barrett Deems - Springfield, IL - d. 9-15-1998
jazz drummer: "Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra"; "Louis Armstrong's All Stars"
03-06-1916 - Virginia Gregg - Harrisburg, IL - d. 9-15-1986
actor: Helen Asher "Richard Diamond, Private Detective"
03-10-1898 - Bert Bacharach - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-15-1983
columnist: "Letters to Your Serviceman"; "Men's Corner"
03-23-1915 - Louis Quinn - Chicago, IL - d. 9-15-1988
actor: "Studio One"
04-24-1905 - Robert Penn Warren - Guthrie, KY - d. 9-15-1989
author: (All the King's Men) "NBC University Theatre"
06-05-1922 - Gordon "Specs" Powell - NYC - d. 9-15-2007
jazz drummer: "Music 'Til Midnight"; "All-Star Sextette"
06-18-1913 - Johnnie Neblett - Mississippi - d. 9-15-1946
announcer: "Bargain Counter"; "Tin Pan Alley"
06-25-1920 - Frances Lafferty - New Jersey - d. 9-15-1999
actor: "Ladies Home Journal"; "Mr. District Attorney"; "Myrt and Marge"
06-29-1915 - Leo Diamond - NYC - d. 9-15-1966
harmonica player: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy"
07-07-1911 - Joan Perry - Pensacola, FL - d. 9-15-1996
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
07-24-1919 - Jerry Wayne - Buffalo, NY - d. 9-15-1996
vocalist: Lover "Happy Island"; "Your All-Time Hit Parade"
08-14-1911 - Ken Nordine - Chicago, IL - d. 9-15-1993
announcer: "Armstrong of the SBI"; "The Breakfast Club"
08-20-1908 - Andre Baruch - Paris, France - d. 9-15-1991
announcer, disc jockey: "Your Hit Parade"; "Kate Smith Program"; "Myrt
and Marge"
09-25-1895 - Jack Denny - Indiana - d. 9-15-1950
music: "The American Revue"; "The Harry Richman Show"
10-02-1921 - Edmund Crispin - Chesterham Bois, England - d. 9-15-1978
author: "The Moving Toyshop"
10-05-1904 - John Hoyt - Bronxville, NY - d. 9-15-1991
actor: "Robard "Shorty Bell"; Escape"; "Suspense"
11-11-1906 - Harry Holcomb - Malta, OH - d. 9-15-1987
director, narrator: "Curtain Time; "Dr. [removed], The Mental Banker";
"Moon River"
11-26-1891 - Anne Nichols - Dales Mill, GA - d. 9-15-1966
writer: "Abie's Irish Rose"
11-27-1899 - Silvio Coscia - Milan, Italy - d. 9-15-1977
co-principal horn: "Metropolitan Opera Orchestra"
12-13-1915 - Mark Stevens - Cleveland, OH - d. 9-15-1994
actor: "This Is Hollywood"; "Cavalcade of America"; "Suspense"
12-xx-1879 - Gertrude Bondhill - Cincinnati, OH - d. 9-15-1960
actor: Dal Tremaine's Mother "Arnold Grimm's Daughter"

Ron

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:29:24 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  August Deaths

Deaths in August

03-27-1914 - Budd Schulberg - NYC - d. 8-5-2009
writer: "Free World Theatre"; "The New Theatre"
xx-xx-xxxx - David P. Kogan - d. 8-6-2009
co-writer, producer, director: "Mysterious Traveler"
07-07-1911 - Ruth Ford - Hazelhurst, MS - d. 8-12-2009
actor: "Mercury Theatre"; "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
06-09-1915 - Les Paul - Waukesha, WI - d. 8-13-2009
guitarist: "Les Paul and Mary Ford Show"; "Rhubarb Red"
12-02-1916 - John Bentley - Birmingham, England - d. 8-13-2009
singer, announcer: Radio Luxembourg
10-26-1912 - Ed Reimers - Moline, IL - d. 8-16-2009
announcer/actor: "Dr. [removed]"; "This Changing World"
12-14-1922 - Don Hewitt - NYC - d. 8-19-2009
producer: "Further Details with Robert Trout"
06-02-1934 - John E. Carter - Chicago, IL - d. 8-21-2009
singer: (The Dells; The Flamingoes) "Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party"
02-22-1932 - Ted Kennedy - Brookline, MA - d. 8-25-2009
[removed] senator: "Meet the Press"
11-08-1927 - Chris Connor - Kansas City, MO - d. 8-29-2009
jazz singer: Claude Thorhill's Orchestra
07-28-1935 - Simon Dee - Manchester, England - d. 8-29-2009
disk jockey "BBC Light Programme"

Ron

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:29:38 -0400
From: John Olsen <jrolsen2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Bret Morrison botches the opening signature of
 The Shadow

I was listening to the Shadow episode "The Trail of the Knifer" from
February 20, 1949 and was puzzled by the opening signature line that
Bret Morrison botched. The organ music swelled upward as usual. Then, at
the same moment as always, the volume dropped so Morrison could speak
his opening lines, "Who knows that evil lurks in the heart of men?" But
there's no Morrison.  No voice of The Shadow.  The organ music continues
at low volume until finally after a delay Morrison speaks, "The Shadow
knows!" and then there's the famous laugh.

Has anyone ever heard a reason for this?  Did he rush in late (ala Orson
Welles) and miss the opening line?  Did he have a coughing spell,
off-mike and miss his cue?  Does anyone have a clue?  Or is this one
mystery which will remain unsolved?

(Don't say, "Only The Shadow knows." I know we're all thinking it, but
restrain yourself.)

John

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:31:48 -0400
From: Lance Grider <rangegrider@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Value of John Dunning's Work

I can assure Michael Biel I wasn't being at all sarcastic: Regardless of how
mandatory John Dunning's On the Air is for serious OTR fans, I find $75 for a
single book expensive. I find $50 for a single book expensive. I find $24 for
a single used book expensive. If Michael's personal pecuniosity in the
present economy makes such purchases piffle, then I pop my peruke to his
possibly superior purview. But I bet most fans agree with me.
But these are subjective issues: what is objective, and what Michael
apparently does not disagree with, is that Mr. Dunning's tome, essential as
it is, is nevertheless wrong when it reports that Bud Collyer's identity was
kept a secret until 1946. Mr. Dunning is to be saluted for his contribution
to the cause; but he is not infallible.
Lance Grider

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:52:54 -0400
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  A GLIMPSE OF MEL BLANC AT WORK

I may have told this story before but all this talk  about the great Mel
Blanc has rocketed me back to my days as a fledgling actor  studying with Jeff
Corey in Hollywood.
Jeff had a small studio  rental at an amazing and
 delightful office complex called "Crossroads of the World" on Sunset
Boulevard just East of LaBrea.
It's still there and I go  by when I am back in town just to walk the
grounds which are still much like the  neighborhood was back in the 20s when
Chaplin built his studio which later  became A&M Records.
The theme was 'Gingerbread House'  with that roofing and imaginative window
structure. Much of LaBrea below Sunset  is like that and my first house was
on Formosa Street which used to be the  Chaplin dressing rooms for the
actors and extras.
So the  whole area is haunted by early moviedom.
Anyway Mel had a  small office there with his name on the door just across
from Jeff's studio . It  was just an antique door and a big window with the
blinds usually shut when I  would walk by at night after workshop.
One afternoon at  rehearsal I walked by and noticed the blinds open so I
stopped and peered  in.
There he was!
Sitting at his  desk facing a woman sitting opposite with a small child on
her  lap.
I could hear nothing but knew instantly by the jaunty  look on his face and
the spluttering tongue that he was doing either Sylvester  or Daffy for
this child who was laughing hysterically and rocking on his  mother's lap.
She was laughing too.
I stood there for a few minutes watching the master work.
Magical afternoon at The Crossroads.
I don't know if  anyone has seen this but I have framed on my office wall
the two-page centerfold  color spread published in both Variety and The
Hollywood Reporter the day after  Mel's death.
It moved me so much I had to have it with me  forever.
It shows on the left everyone of the characters  he gave voice to. They are
standing, all of them, hands folded, looking down.  Saddened.
On the right side is a microphone on a stand and  a yellow spotlight
illuminating where he would have been  standing.
One word above all those  [removed]
"SPEECHLESS"
I would  be glad to send a jpeg if anyone wants to see this stunning
tribute.
And yes, it's true. I drove by his tombstone last  March and it really does
say,
"That's all  folks."
Mel we miss ya daily.
Especially around four o'clock in the afternoon when the cartoon parade
begins  on TVs across the [removed]
Oh and I just  [removed]
I was at my TV watching Daffy defy Nazis at  4:15 one afternoon when I
lived at the Hollywood Tower in late 70s and the phone  rang.
It was Marlon Brando who called looking for a mutual  friend. As we chatted
I could hear the Warner Brothers cartoon music in the  background. "The
Merry-Go-Round Broke Down,"
I said, "Are  you watching cartoons man?"
He replied, "Every day. Every  day."
Thanks Mel.
    Next [removed] Mantan Moreland [removed]  tuned.
Michael C. Gwynne

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:48:31 -0400
From: "Kathy O'Connell" <kathy@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  OTR for Kids
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

In response to the request for suggestions on OTR for a school group.  When
I taught an annual summer course on radio production for kids at the
University of Pennsylvania, I used a lot of my otr collection.  The most
popular choice (by a large margin) was "Our Miss Brooks."  There are some
aspects of school life that transcend generations, I guess.  Listening to
the show led to a lively discussion about the ability of radio to paint
individual pictures in our brains, and I asked the kids to tell me what the
characters looked like based on their voices.

kathy o'connell| host / kids corner | wxpn

  *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
  ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:12:01 -0400
From: charlie@[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 nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!

Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!

For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2009 Issue #177
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