Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #351
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 11/14/2005 12:03 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 351
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Lord of the Rings on Radio            [ Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@sbcglob ]
  RE:Amos n Andy Music Hall & NBC Chim  [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
  Re: Who played Lee Jones on Dragnet?  [ "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@ea ]
  Ben Robertson and Edward R. Murrow    [ Jodie Peeler <raisingirl@mindspring ]
  NBC CHIMES -- ULTIMATE GAG            [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
  Kids show's sponsors                  [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
  Soap operas                           [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
  11-14 births/deaths                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  WTIC's "The Golden Age of Radio" and  [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed]; ]
  OTR stars on "Lost in Space"          [ <mikeandzachary@[removed]; ]
  Meyer The Buyer                       [ [removed]@[removed] ]

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

Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 23:11:39 -0500
From: Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lord of the Rings on Radio

Tom Barnett wrote:

I have just finished watching all three movies comprising the LOTR Triliogy
(DVDn with extra scenes of course) First, I am struck once again with what a
fablulous movie it is. Knowing that it was inspired by the World War I was
wondering if this ambitious tome had ever been attempted on radio.

"The Lord Of The Rings" was performed twice on BBC Radio. The first
time was as a 13 part serial in 1956, of which no known recordings
survive. The second time was a 26 part serial that aired in two
half-hour segments weekly in 1981; this version was re-edited into 13
hour-long episodes for release on records, tapes, and currently
compact disc.

Sir Ian Holm, who plays Bilbo in the film, played Frodo in the 1981
BBC radio drama.

Michael Shoshani
Chicago

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

Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 23:12:14 -0500
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  RE:Amos n Andy Music Hall & NBC Chimes

Regarding David Ballarotto's comments about Elizabeth McLeod's
book and his liking that she "doesn't take a pot-shot at 'The
Amos 'n' Andy Music Hall,' which is often derided as something
beneath Gosden and Correll." I haven't read the book, but I'd
hope she wouldn't take pot-shots, but give it thoughtful analysis
by herself or others.

I don't mean this as a pot-shot or conclude that the Music Hall
was beneath G&C; I'll simply say that as an 11-year-old listening
to the Music Hall, it was awful. I don't know if it wasn't all
that funny or if what humor there was got lost by the
interruptions of music ... but it just didn't move and it was
hard to stay interested in it. The concept was screwy ... if I
wanted to hear music, that was available during the day from disc
jockeys ... from A&A I wanted comedy with only an occasional
interruption for a word from Rinso.

And echoing Russ Butler's comments on Michael Shoshani's NBC
Chimes Museum ... good stuff. I thought I had learned all there
was from Bill Harris' article, but this really caps it off with
more background and sounds.

bc

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

Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 23:12:36 -0500
From: "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Who played Lee Jones on Dragnet?

In answer to Matthew Bullis' inquiry, the actor in question was Herb
Butterfield.  The role was his exclusively during the Ben Romero years, and
also during the first season of the TV series.

On radio, Butterfield could be heard doing additional parts on "Dragnet",
most notably as the drunk trying to make his way to Pismo Beach ("I love
clams") in "The Big Chance" and the hotel clerk who spots the missing baby in
"The Big Mother" - roles played on TV by Sidney Miller and Ralph Moody,
respectively.

Michael

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

Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 23:14:07 -0500
From: Jodie Peeler <raisingirl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Ben Robertson and Edward R. Murrow

hello all --

I've lurked (with great enjoyment) since my last posting months ago, but
I continue to marvel at the great education I've been getting from our
many esteemed members, including one or two folks who have become good
buddies off-list.  The arrival of a new OTR Digest in my box is cause
for great joy!

I have a request for help -- but first a story a close friend just told
me, based on an old line from a Jack Benny show.  My friend was flying
from Chicago to Detroit on a packed-full Southwest Airlines flight
today.  One of the flight attendants said something about how, if worst
came to worst, they had duct tape and could perhaps stick the two
overbooked passengers to the outside of the airplane.  To which my
friend -- reprising a Benny show line from the 1940s, when Benny and his
entourage were headed to New York on the train, and Benny had to get an
extra ticket -- responded, "No, dear.  I bought the $140 ticket, so I
get to ride inside!"  Which positively broke up the flight attendant
(who probably had no idea where the line originated).  The Jack Benny
program lives!

Now for my request:  For too long I've put off expanding my doctoral
dissertation on Ben Robertson, who was a correspondent for "PM" in
England during the first years of World War II.  Robertson was a friend
of Edward R. Murrow's as they covered the Battle of Britain together,
and they became close because they were both from the Carolinas (ERM
from NC, BFR from SC).  It was Robertson from whom Murrow quoted the
line, "London is burning, London is burning."  Murrow also delivered a
touching eulogy to Robertson after the latter was killed in a flying
boat accident near Lisbon in 1943 (enroute to his new job as chief of
the New York Herald-Tribune's London bureau).

At any rate, I've come across a few references that state Robertson was
sometimes featured on Murrow's CBS broadcasts from London.  (Murrow was
also said to have ghostwritten some of Robertson's "PM" dispatches, too,
when BR was unavailable.)  Do any of these recordings still exist?  If
so, how might I come across them?  As you can imagine, I'd love to hear
them -- not just for the content of the broadcasts themselves, but
because I'd love to hear what the man sounded like and that would add
another element to my attempt to write about his life.

If any of y'all can help me, I'd sure appreciate it -- feel free to
e-mail me off-list, if need be.

Oh, and since we're discussing Murrow, I finally had a chance to see
"Good Night, And Good Luck," and loved it.  Having read the many Murrow
biographies out there (having started with Kendrick's "Prime Time" when
I was 11 or 12), I know where the liberties were taken with chronology
and history, but I've seen few films that managed to capture an era so
beautifully.  The film's almost like a snow globe that's filled with
smoke instead of snow.  :)

Thanks for your help, everybody -- and thanks for all the good reading
you've given me!

Jodie Peeler

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

Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 23:14:26 -0500
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  NBC CHIMES -- ULTIMATE GAG
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

NBC's staff announcers often enjoyed many minutes of idle time between
official duties. They used these moments to devise practical jokes of
which their counterparts were the objects. Mooning a fellow announcer (in
the studio or from the control room) or setting his news or commercial
copy on fire in mid-read were common tricks by no means limited to the
Merchandise Mart.

Norman Ross Sr. gets credit for the most creative trick, played upon Bill
Kephart in the early 1930's before NBC had implemented the mechanical
chimes. In those days, announcers played the chimes manually. Each studio
was supplied with a small device consisting of three small metal bars
mounted in close proximity to three resonators. When it came time to
identify the network, the announcer would hold the assemblage near the
micrphone, say "This is the National Broadcasting Company" and then
serially strike each of the bars with the tip of a small, hard mallet. If
all went well, the listener would hear the familiar notes G-E-C that
audibly signified NBC. On one occasion, however, announcer Ross secretly
"prepared" the chimes announcer Kephart was about to sound by removing
the bolts that held the three metal bars to their mounting. Moments
later, in anticipation of a network identification, Kephart picked up the
chimes. The metal bars fell to the studio floor with a clatter heard from
coast to coast. Presumably there was no graceful recovery from this
mishap.

[removed]

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  ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 23:14:51 -0500
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Kids show's sponsors

While the cereal companies were frequently the sponsors of kids' shows,
many of these programs had "non-breakfast" sponsors. In addition to
those already pointed out on the Digest, Mutual's "Bobby Benson" while
usually a sustaining show did have two sponsors briefly: Kraft Candy
Company and Adams Chewing Gum.  "Smilin' Jack" was sponsored by Tootsie
Rolls and Wrigley's Gum paid the bills for "Melody Ranch."

"Archie Andrews" was sponsored by Swift's Meat Products.   Before the
Quaker Company became the sponsor, "Terry and the Pirates" had
Dari-Rich and Libby Fruits doing the honors. Different bakeries
sponsored some of the westerns, including "Red Ryder,"  "Renfrew of the
Mouties." and "Tennessee Jed." Libby's Milk (yes, you read that right)
sponsored "Og, Son of Fire" while Jimmy Allen had over a half dozen
different oil companies sponsoring him in different regions. Fleer's
Double-Bubble Gum for one period paid the bills for "Don Winslow of the
Navy." Lever Brothers was one of "Hop Harrigan's" main sponsors.

And "Skippy" was sponsored, not by Skippy Peanut Butter as one might
guess, but by (ugh) Phillips Magnesia Toothpaste.

Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL

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

Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 07:41:46 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Soap operas

Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:45:33 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];

Actually, "Soap Operas" are a special case, aimed at women --
housewives -- doing domestic chores, most involving saponified
products -- washing clothes, dishes, and dirty surfaces.  And the
genre has transferred to television, though shortened to "the soaps."

Now that there are far fewer women staying home in the day doing domestic chores as their 
main occupation, I wonder who the audience is now for "soaps."  And I wonder how much of 
their sponsorship is still soap products.
 
Interestingly enough, a short-lived soap opera, Sweet River, starred
Ed Prentiss, who played Captain Midnight for most of its 11-year run.
Nobody was immune.

And another short-lived television soap opera, "The Clear Horizon," starred Ed Kemmer, best 
known as Commander Buzz Corry of Space Patrol, as an Air Force captain and astronaut.  
It aired from July 1960 to March 1961, then returned from February to June 1962.  The case 
also included Ted Knight, better known as newscaster Ted Baxter on the Mary Tyler Moore 
Show, and an actor named Jimmy Carter, not to be confused with the President of the same 
name. 

Kemmer also, for many years, played a lawyer on "As the World Turns," and Don Hastings, 
who played Captain Video's sidekick, the VIdeo Ranger, was in the same law firm.

-- A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed] 15 Court Square, Suite 210 Fax [removed] Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 07:41:53 -0500 From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed]; Subject: 11-14 births/deaths November 14th births 11-14-1881 - Clayton Hamilton - New York, NY - d. 9-17-1946 writer: "Radio Guild"; "Great Playe"; "Brownstone Theatre" 11-14-1900 - Aaron Copland - New York, NY - d. 12-2-1990 composer: "Document A/777" 11-14-1901 - Morton Downey - Wallingford, CT - d. 10-25-1985 singer: (The Irish Thrush), "Morton Downey Show"; "Songs by Morton Downey" 11-14-1904 - Art Hodes - Nikoliev, Russia - d. 3-4-1993 jazz pianist: "Eddie Condon's Jazz Concert"; "This Is Jazz"; "WNew York, NY Jazz Festival" 11-14-1904 - Dick Powell - Mountain. View, AR - d. 1-2-1963 actor: Richard Diamond "Richard Diamond, Private Detective"; Richard Rogue "Rogue's Gallery" 11-14-1905 - Wilbur "Budd" Hulick - Asbury Park, NJ - d. Unknown comedian: "Stoopnagle and Budd"; Mortimer Meek "Meet Mr. Meek" 11-14-1906 - Mercer McCloud - d. 1-20-1993 actor: Fran Cummings "Second Husband" 11-14-1908 - Joseph McCarthy - Appleton, WI - d. 5-2-1957 despotic senator: "Meet the Press" 11-14-1910 - Rosemary De Camp - Prescott, Arizona Territory - d. 2-20-2001 actress: Nurse Judy Price, "Dr. Christian" 11-14-1914 - Court Benson - Vancouver, Canada - d. 2-5-1995 announcer, narrator: "Tennessee Jed" 11-14-1914 - Haila Stoddard - Great Falls, MT actress: Sue Evans Miller "Big Sister" 11-14-1914 - Ken Carson - Colgate, OK - d. 4-7-1994 singer: (Lustre Cream Shampoo commercial) "Day in the Life of Dennis Day" 11-14-1915 - Martha Tilton - Corpus Christi, TX singer: "Fibber McGee and Molly"; "Meet Me at Parky's"; "Curt Massey-Martha Tilton Program" 11-14-1916 - Sherwood Schwartz - Passaic, NJ writer: "The Bob Hope Show"; "The Great Gildersleeve" 11-14-1919 - Veronica Lake - Brooklyn, NY - d. 7-7-1973 actress: "Exploring the Unknown"; "Request Performance" 11-14-1920 - Irving Ravetch - Newark, NJ writer, adapter: "Escape" 11-14-1920 - Johnny Desmond - Detroit, MI - d. 9-6-1985 singer: "I Sustain the Wings"; "Philip Morris Frolics"; "Songs for Sale" 11-14-1924 - Phyllis Avery - New York, NY actress: Peggy McNutley "Meet Mr. McNutley" November 14th deaths 01-26-1907 - Eddie Ballentine - Chicago, IL - d. 11-14-1995 orchestra leader: "Don McNeill's Breakfast Club" 02-04-1889 - Walter Catlett - San Francisco, Ca - d. 11-14-1960 actor: "This Is Your [removed]"; "Escape"; "Campbell Playhouse" 02-07-1915 - Eddie Bracken - Astoria, NY - d. 11-14-2002 comedian: "Eddie Bracken Show"; Dizzy Stevens "Aldrich Family" 02-14-1916 - Eddie Arcaro - Cincinnati, OH - d. 11-14-1997 jockey: "Pabst Blue Ribbon Sport of Kings"; "Tops In Sports" 02-27-1894 - Upton Close - Kelso, WA - d. 11-14-1960 commentator: "Events and Trends of the Week"; "Close-Ups of the :News" 04-04-1896 - Robert Sherwood - New Rochelle, NY - d. 11-14-1955 playwright: "Free Company"; "Cavalcade of America"; "Screen Guild Theatre" 04-08-1916 - Carl Cotner - Indiana - d. 11-14-1986 steel guitar: "Gene Aurty's Melody Ranch" 05-19-1870 - Wright Kramer - Somerville, MA - d. 11-14-1941 actor: Walter Jamison "Showboat" 05-28-1912 - Violet Dunn - d. 11-14-1982 actress: Peggy O'Neill "The O'Neill's" 09-01-1904 - Johnny Mack Brown - Dothan, AL - d. 11-14-1974 actor: "Straight Arrow" 10-02-1911 - Jack Finney - Milwaukee, WI - d. 11-14-1995 writer: "Cloud Nine" 10-12-1909 - J. M. Kholos - d. 11-14-1998 producer: :The Zero Hour" 10-15-1908 - Robert Trout - Wake Country, NC - d. 11-14-2000 commentator: "Headlines & Bylines"; "Robert Trout with the News Til Now" xx-xx-1874 - Floyd Buckley - d. 11-14-1956 actor: Popeye: "Popeye the Sailor" -- Ron Sayles Milwaukee, Wisconsin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 09:56:38 -0500 From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed]; To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed]; Subject: WTIC's "The Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands" The latest "Golden Age of Radio" programs with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran, can be heard at [removed]. Starting this week, we will also feature another WTIC program, "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands" with Arnold Dean. In the coming weeks we will feature three complete shows in MP3 format for your listening pleasure or for downloading; two "Golden Age of Radios" and one "One Night Stands." We present new shows every week or so. These three programs will be available on line at least until the morning of November 21st. Golden Age Program 86 - "Glenn Miller, Part 2" (This program was never aired on WTIC - it is reconstructed based on interviews conducted by Dick Bertel in 1971) Glenn Miller - the War Years. Miller's military service as the leader of the famous Air Force Band is recounted by Ray Eberle, Paula Kelly and Ray McKinley and illustrated by his many radio broadcasts of that period, including "I Sustain the Wings". Golden Age Program 87 - Lowell Thomas, Jack Benny, Ann Elstner Lowell Thomas, Jack Benny, Ann Elstner (This program was never on the air at WTIC - it is reconstructed based on interviews conducted by Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran) ----- Lowell Thomas was a man ahead of his time: the first roving newscaster, a film maker through the 1920s, a radio presenter in the 1930s, an adventurer who wrote more than 50 books, he was heralded as the father of 'Cinerama.' Born in 1892, Lowell Thomas started out as a reporter for the Chicago Evening Journal. He had a flair for making ordinary stories exciting. ----- Jack Benny was among the most beloved American entertainers of the 20th century. He brought a relationship-oriented, humorously vain persona honed in vaudeville, radio, and film to television in 1950, starring in his own television series from that year until 1965. The comedian grew up in Waukegan and went on the vaudeville stage in his early teens playing the violin. The instrument quickly turned into a mere prop, and his lack of musicianship became one of the staples of his act. Benny's first major success was on the radio. He starred in a regular radio program from 1932 to 1955; Benny's radio program spent most of its run on NBC. In 1948 he was lured to CBS, where he stayed through the remainder of his radio career and most of his television years. ----- Based on the novels by Olive Higgins Prouty (1882-1974) , Stella Dallas was a working-class heroine that was suddenly rich after marrying Stephen Dallas; her strong love for her daughter Laurel is the primary theme of the series. Stella hung out on NBC until 1955 with Anne Elstner in the title role for the entire run. "Stella Dallas" was "A continuation on the air of the true-life story of mother love and sacrifice, in which Stella saw her own beloved daughter, Laurel, marry into wealth and society, and realizing the difference in their tastes and worlds, went out of Laurel's life." "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands" With Arnold Dean Artie Shaw - Part 1 This premiere show (on this website) is the first of two parts: Arnold Dean interviews and plays the music of Artie Shaw. In the "Big Band Era" there was no bigger star in the music universe than Artie Shaw. The jazz clarinetist and bandleader's rendition of Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" was one of the best-known songs of the 20th century. Shaw's recording of "Begin the Beguine" sold millions. Arnold Dean is one of the few who are still employed at the WTIC. He has been a member of the WTIC family since July 1965 and in July 1998, he celebrated his 50th Anniversary in broadcasting. Arnold Dean began his love affair with the big band era in his pre-teen years and his decision to study the clarinet was inspired by the style of Artie Shaw. When he joined WTIC in 1965 he hosted a daily program of big band music. In 1972, encouraged by the success of his daily program and The Golden Age of Radio series, he began monthly shows featuring interviews with the band leaders, sidemen, agents, jazz reporters, etc. who made major contributions to one of the great eras of music history. The series concentrated on the 1936-1946 period, the great decade for the big bands. However he also traced the history of jazz through 20's and into the 70's. During those programs Arnold frequently played recordings from his own collection which he describes as "small but selective". In the 1970's Dick Bertel created The Golden Age of Radio for WTIC in Hartford, CT. The idea came to Dick after he interviewed radio collector- historian Ed Corcoran a few times on his radio and TV shows. "The Golden Age of Radio was first broadcast in April, 1970; Ed was Dick's co-host. For the next seven years the program featured interviews with actors, writers, producers, engineers and musicians from radio's early days. Each show featured excerpts from Ed's collection. "WTIC's Golden Age of Radio" can also be heard Saturday nights on Walden Hughes's program on Radio Yesteryear. Bob Scherago Webmaster ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 09:56:56 -0500 From: <mikeandzachary@[removed]; To: [removed]@[removed] Subject: OTR stars on "Lost in Space" I've been slowly going through a collection of LOST IN SPACE DVDs. I'm about halfway through the second season now, and I've come across at least three OTR stars in guest-starring roles: Gerald Mohr, Mercedes McCambridge, and Hans Conried. More may show up in later episodes. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 09:57:24 -0500 From: [removed]@[removed] To: [removed]@[removed] Subject: Meyer The Buyer I know that has been written that Meyer The Buyer was a syndicated show in the mid-30s featuring Harry Hershfield. A year or so ago i recieved copies of the newspaper comic strip from a comic collectors whoi said it was his understanding, Meyer was probably a local NY show aired over one station. When Hershfield's contract expired and he went to another NY station, Meyer did not go with him. The comic strip was published in a New York newspaper and lasted longer than the radio show. Does any of the newspaper researchers on the OTR Digest have evidence that Meyer The Buyer aired outside of New York in the 1930s? If it was syndicated this series will probably have to go down as one of the few syndicated series were no episodes have survived. Thanks! Paul Urbahns Radcliff, KY -------------------------------- End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #351 ********************************************* Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved, including republication in any form. 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