------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 396
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Season's Greetings [ "thomas heathwood" <HeritageRadio@m ]
This week in radio history 25-31 Dec [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Re: Surviving Complete Sponsored A&A [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Space Patrol [ DanHaefele@[removed] ]
OT: This KONG, is Loathesome [ jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns) ]
Re: What's an orchestrion? [ "Candy Jens" <candyj@[removed]; ]
Re: Jack Webb/Peggy Webber [ Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed]; ]
12-25 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 08:27:54 -0500
From: "thomas heathwood" <HeritageRadio@[removed];
To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Season's Greetings
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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO [removed]
Tom Heathwood - Heritage Radio Theatre/Heritage Radio Classics - December
2005
Our Christmas programs are now in full swing at:
[removed]<[removed]
t>
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*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 08:28:18 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 25-31 December
A bit late -- this just in --
From Today's Almanac, 12/23
In 1947, the transistor was invented, leading to a revolution in
communications and electronics.
From Those Were The Days --
12/25
1931 - Lawrence Tibbett was the featured vocalist as radio came to the
Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. The first opera was Hansel
und Gretel, heard on the NBC network of stations. In between acts of the
opera, moderator Olin Downes would conduct an opera quiz, asking
celebrity guests opera-related questions. The program's host and
announcer was Milton Cross. He worked out of the Met's Box 44.
1934 - The Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, was read by
Lionel Barrymore on The Campbell Playhouse on CBS. The reading of the
tale became an annual radio event for years to come.
1937 - Arturo Toscanini conducted the first broadcast of Symphony of the
Air over NBC.
1942 - The longest, sponsored program in the history of broadcasting was
heard on NBC Blue network. The daylong Victory Parade's Christmas Party
of Spotlight Bands was heard over 142 radio stations. The marathon
broadcast was sponsored by Coca-Cola.
12/26
1953 - Big Sister was heard for the last time on CBS. The show had been
on the air for 17 years. Big Sister was the ongoing story of Sue Evans
Miller and her relationship with her big sister, Ruth Evans. Actresses
who played big sister Ruth over the years: Alice Frost, Nancy Marshall,
Marjorie Anderson, Mercedes McCambridge. Little Sister Sue was played by
Haila Stoddard, Dorothy McGuire, Peggy Conklin and Fran Carlon.
1954 - One of radio's most popular programs, The Shadow, lurked around
the airwaves for the last time. Vigilante crime-fighter Lamont Cranston
battled greed and corruption since 1930. "Who knows what evil lurks in
the hearts of men? The Shadow [removed]"
12/27
1932 - Radio City Music Hall, in New York City, opened. It was the
largest indoor theatre in the world. The gala grand opening show was a
six-hour extravaganza that lost half a million dollars within three
weeks. The theatre has since been renovated to recapture its original
decorative charm. An Art Deco cathedral of entertainment, it seats more
than 6,200 people and is still a must-see for those visiting New York.
During the holiday season, audiences continue to get a kick out of
seeing the world-famous Rockettes perform in precision on Radio City
Music Hall?s nearly 10,000-square-foot stage.
1939 - The Glenn Miller Show, also known as Music that Satisfies,
started on CBS. The 15-minute, twice-a-week show was sponsored by
Chesterfield cigarettes and was heard for nearly three years.
1940 - Singer Al Jolson and actress Ruby Keeler were divorced after 12
years of marriage. They had separated a year earlier; but Jolson talked
Keeler into co-starring with him in the Broadway show, Hold on to Your
Hats. She left the show before the opening and then left the marriage.
1968 - The Breakfast Club signed off for the last time on ABC, after 35
years on the air.
12/28
1941 - The Helen Hayes Theater, on CBS, was called the first casualty of
World War II. Lipton Tea dropped sponsorship of the program as it
prepared for shortages in tea imports from India.
12/29
1945 - The mystery voice of Mr. Hush was heard for the first time on
Truth or Consequences, hosted by Ralph Edwards. The feature was intended
as a spoof of giveaway shows. However, the idea was taken seriously and
lasted five weeks before fighter Jack Dempsey was identified as Mr. Hush
-- for a prize of $13,500.
12/30
1936 - The famous feud between Jack Benny and Fred Allen began. After a
10-year-old performer finished a violin solo on The Fred Allen Show, Mr.
Allen said, "A certain alleged violinist should hide his head in shame
for his poor fiddle playing."
1942 - Mr. and Mrs. North debuted on NBC. Joseph Curtin played Jerry
North and Alice Frost played Pam. A typical Mr. and Mrs. North episode
would find Pam leading Jerry on what seemed to be a wild-goose chase as
they tracked down criminals. Pam always ended up being right and leading
police to the criminals. The theme song for the show was The Way You
Look Tonight. Sponsors included Woodbury soap, Jergens lotion and Halo
shampoo.
12/30
1940 - As a result of a dispute between the radio networks and ASCAP
(the American Society of Composers and Publishers), the radio industry
was prevented from playing any ASCAP-licensed music. The ban lasted for
ten months. An ASCAP competitor, BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) made
giant strides, expanding to include 36,000 copyrights. Many radio
stations had to resort to playing public domain songs, such as marches
and operas, to keep their stations on the air. Even kids songs were
played over and over again until the ban was lifted. One of the most
popular songs to be played was Happy Birthday to You; which was
performed in many different languages just to get past the ban.
1947 - Roy Rogers, "the King of the Cowboys", and Dale Evans were
hitched in marriage. They rode off into that sunset together for over
fifty years.
Joe (A merry Christmas {or insert your holiday of choice here} to
everyone.)
--
Visit my home page: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 09:57:10 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Surviving Complete Sponsored A&A Serial
Eps
On 12/24/05 8:29 AM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
what are the dates of the surviving 15 minutes Amos and Andy shows that were
sponsor and who has them?
There are only a bare handful of complete, sponsored A&A programs known
to exist.
3/24/32 -- the earliest complete Pepsodent program. A very poor quality
dub evidently made from a 33 1/3 rpm Victor Home Recording disc with an
incorrectly-sized stylus. Dave Goldin has a tape transfer of this, but
not the actual disc itself. The location of the disc is unknown. Goldin
released the opening theme music and first commercial on a Radiola LP in
the late 70s, but due to extremely degraded, unrestorable audio quality
the complete recording has never been released.
8/19/36 -- Eighth Anniversary program. Disc in the NBC collection at the
Library of Congress. Goldin issued the program on an LP in 1982.
12/4/36 -- First Friday Night Minstrel Show. (Eastern) Disc in the NBC
collection at the Library of Congress. Goldin issued the program on an LP
in 1982.
12/4/36 -- First Friday Night Minstrel Show. (Western) Disc in the
Correll Family collection. A copy released by the First Generation Radio
Archives.
12/11/36 -- Second and last Friday Night Minstrel Show. (Eastern) Disc in
the NBC collection at the Library of Congress.
8/9/37 -- Amos, Andy, and the Kingfish are on a road trip to Maine. I own
the original Electro-Vox disc for this program. The First Generation
Radio Archives has a transfer done before I acquired the transcription,
and will presumably be released by them at some point.
2/27/39 -- Earliest complete Campbell's Soup program. Special 25-minute
New York World's Fair episode with Grover Whalen. Discs in the Library of
Congress.
4/3/39 -- First CBS program. Disc in the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters
collection. Released on LP by Goldin in 1982.
6/30/39 -- Andy is kidnapped. Original disc in the Library of Congress.
9/21/39 -- Andy prepares for his singing debut. Part of the WJSV
collection. Original disc in the National Archives. High-quality restored
release by the First Generation Radio Archives.
The following two episodes exist in complete form, but have been released
with commercials deleted:
12/24/41 -- Second broadcast of the A&A Christmas program. Original disc
in the Correll Family collection. Released on LP by Goldin in 1982.
12/24/42 -- Third broadcast of the A&A Christmas program. Original disc
in the Correll Family collection. Released by the First Generation Radio
Archives.
There are also a number of fragments dating back as far as 1930, ranging
from about a minute to over 10 minutes in length, but the episodes listed
above are, at present, the only complete, sponsored episodes from the
serial era known to exist. The list, obviously, does not include the
surviving episodes from the 1928-29 chainless-chain era.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 11:12:09 -0500
From: DanHaefele@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Space Patrol
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Happy Holiday season to all!
Here's a Space Patrol question (really, three questions) some Digesters
may be able to assist us with. SPERDVAC has acquired Armed Forces Radio
transcriptions of three Space Patrol shows with no titles indicated. I am
hoping that by supplying these details one or more readers may recognize
them.
Looking through the program titles on Jerry Haendiges' listings hasn't
answered
our questions. The descriptions follow:
AFRS # 34 (not to be confused with the 34th network broadcast): Rex Scranner
is after a fellow named Rackman (because of some stolen Amplitron) so he
arranges an accident which causes damage to Commander Corry's ship, then
offers
his own space ship as a temporary replacement because Corry and Happy are on
their way to a meeting on Jupiter. Rackman spots Scranner's ship and
attacks, nearly killing Corry and Happy.
Announcer's introduction (probably AFTER the opening commercial on the
network version): "Commander Corry and Cadet Happy, in their space battle
cruiser
Terra V, are headed toward Jupiter where Buzz is to hold a conference with
the governor of that giant planet. But they've just received a message
concerning a wanted bandit ship reported in the area and Buzz has changed
vector to
head toward Jupiter's third moon."
AFRS #97 (Could this be "Formula for Crime" aired 8-21-1954?)
Gant Conlin steals Formula G-3K (developed by young female researcher Martis
Randall) because, under it's influence, people will perform actions against
their better judgment.
Announcer's introduction to the action: "Are you in the market for Jupiter
Jade? Are you trying to locate a set of Martian silverware? Do you need a
pair of horns from a Venus water buffalo? Then, one visit to the office of
Interplanet Procurement Corporation will solve your problems. At least, so
is
the claim of Eric Zankor, president of the firm. If you ask Mr. Zankor what
channels he uses or what methods he employs to obtain these out of the
ordinary items, he will smile mysteriously and murmur something about trade
secrets."
AFRS #98: When a half million credits are offered for information leading
to the identification and discovery of Terrana, Milton Kroy is fed false
information to mislead our heroes in the Space Patrol.
Announcer's post-commercial introduction to the action: "Commander Corry
has recently learned an appalling fact. The United Planets are under threat
of
attack by enemy forces from another solar system called Terrana. Agents
from Terrana are mingling undetected among the citizens of ten planets,
gathering information. These agents have even succeeded in recruiting
members of the
solar system to act as spies for Terrana!"
Before SPERDVAC transfers these shows from disc to CD for members to
enjoy, we would really like to be able to include the correct title and
original broadcast date. Anyone able to help or supply a lead?
Dan Haefele
_DanHaefele@[removed]_ (mailto:DanHaefele@[removed])
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*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 13:56:29 -0500
From: jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OT: This KONG, is Loathesome
Well, maybe not so off-topic, considering the effort the film takes,
recreating 1930s New [removed]
"Beware, This Loathesome KONG"
Just about the only thing of interest in the new KING KONG is that Jack
Driscoll, the famous tale's hero, is now a New York playwrite, working
with the [removed]
But--
Carl Denham is now a prick; Captain Englehorn is no longer a willing
[removed]
Truth be told, Naomi Watts gives a nice [removed]
But this is one of the LONGEST three hours you will ever spend in a
movie theatre.
The filmmakers have made that juvenile's mistake of confusing ugliness
with veracity, and this is a MOST unpleasant movie. A sense of wonder,
has been replaced with dread.
(And whatever you do, do not take young children. Even for those raised
on the harshest of video game imagery could well have nightmares, for
years, from the grostequeness, of certain scenes.)
KONG, once a template, of direct, elegantly simple storymaking, is now a
story where ultimately, all of the characters--within the framework of
the story--act stupidly, in a screenplay with no regard for interior
logic, or its [removed] Even had the film been cut down to two
hours--virtually every action scene goes on far too long--this still
would have been a mean, little picture.
This would all be bad enough, but the film ultimately also makes fun, of
the original.
Who at Universal Studios could have thought that any of the majority of
folks seeing this film would want to see something that they've loved,
for decades, mocked?
Does it ever make sense, to insult your audience?
There's also a problem with digital special effects that I first noticed
with VAN SMELSING:
Just because you can now do virtually anything, doesn't mean you should.
The action still has to be BELIEVABLE. Even the most graphically-juiced,
adenoidal cebrebrum can innately sense what's just impossible.
(As in SPIDER MAN 2, when poor Aunt May is bouncing along the side of
that building--just a wee bit much, for any old lady to [removed])
And special effects, as always, are meant to serve THE STORY.
The recreations of 1930s Manhattan are fascinating, and it's fun to see
46th and Broadway as it once might have been. (There's also a vaudeville
montage, in the beginning of the film, as well as some other surprising
evocations of the Depression-era theatre scene.) But I have no
faith--Pepsodent billboard, or no--that these scenes are any more truly
faithful, than the rest of the [removed]
(Besides, these parts will be easily glimpsed, as a Netflix rental, or
on cable.)
There's also a very disturbing question that this movie's rave reviews,
raise:...
The audience I saw the picture with, as best can be judged, was
uniformly bored. (Have you ever been at a major adventure film, where
people kept splitting, to go to the mens' room?) I've heard similar
reports, from [removed]
Can this many critics, be bought?
This season, do yourself a favor, and instead of spending three hours
with this travesty, just watch the original, twice.
Jim Burns (James H. Burns)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 14:14:23 -0500
From: "Candy Jens" <candyj@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: What's an orchestrion?
An orchestrion is a music player, similar to a player piano but using
several instruments - a drum and a horn, plus a mechanism that sounds like
a honky-tonk piano - thery're enclosed in a case, about the size of a large
armoire. There are paper rolls with tunes.
There is an orchestrion in the Jim Thorpe, PA home of Asa Packer, founder of
the Lehigh Valley railroad and Lehigh University. The Lions have daily
tours, including a demonstration of the instrument. It's said that when the
family went South for the winter they carted the thing with them on the
train (it's well over 8 feet tall with sides of glass, so it was a dificult
job <g>.
Hope this helps!
Candy
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 20:41:50 -0500
From: Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Jack Webb/Peggy Webber
My 11-year-old son likes cop shows, so I downloaded the very first
Adam-12 [removed] Jack Webb [removed]
I kind of knew by the voices that these
folks were somehow associated with oldtime radio in
some way and then the names are very familiar.
We can thank the educated ear and kind heart of the late Jack Webb
for employing a great number of OTR performers on both DRAGNET and
ADAM 12. Peggy Webber (Ma Friday), one of his remaining stock company
members, has that same kind of loyalty to veteran actors of her
acquaintance. If you live in the [removed] area, you can see and hear her
group--Calif. Artists Radio Theater--at the Beverly Garland Hotel in
the San Fernando Valley. I've had the honor of having Peggy and CART
perform my original plays, and they're the best.
Jordan R. Young
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 08:49:39 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 12-25 births/deaths
12-25 births
12-25-1886 - Kid Ory - LaPlace. LA - d. 1-23-1973
dixieland jazz trombonist: "This is Jazz";"Radio Almanac"; "Here's to
Veterans"
12-25-1889 - Nat Shilkret - Queens, NY - d. 2-18-1982
conductor: "Eveready Hour"; "Music That Satisfies"; "Palmolive Beauty
Box Theatre"
12-25-1893 - Belle Baker - New York, NY - d. 4-29-1957
actress: "The Eveready Hour"
12-25-1893 - Robert L. Ripley - Santa Rosa, CA - d. 5-27-1949
emcee: "Colonial Beacon Light"; "Baker's Broadcast"; "Believe It or Not"
12-25-1899 - Humphrey Bogart - New York, NY - d. 1-14-1957
actor: Slate Shannon "Bold Venture"; "Stars in the Air"; "Streamlined
Shakespeare"
12-25-1902 - Barton Maclane - Columbia, SC - d. 1-1-1969
actor: "Thirty Minutes In Hollywood"
12-25-1902 - Louis Jackobson - d. 8-xx-1978
producer: "Mortimer Gooch"
12-25-1904 - Gladys Swarthout - Deepwater, MO - d. 7-8-1969
singer: "Palmolive Beauty Box Theatre"; "Prudential Family Hour";
"Voice of Firestone"
12-25-1906 - Anne Stone - d. 9-25-1980
actress: "Those We Love"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-25-1907 - Cab Calloway - Rochester, NY - d. 11-11-1994
band leader: "Quizzical"
12-25-1907 - Matt Brooks - New York, NY - d. 11-25-1990
writer: "The Eddie Cantor Show"
12-25-1908 - Helen Twelvetrees - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-13-1958
actress: "The Campbell Playhouse"
12-25-1909 - Mike Mazurki - Tarnopol, Austria - d. 12-9-1990
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-25-1911 - Larry Menkin - New York, NY - d. 7-18-2000
writer: "The Sparrow and the Hawk"
12-25-1912 - Tony Martin - Oakland, CA
singer: "George Burns and Gracie Allen Show"; "Tony Martin Show"
12-25-1913 - Candy Candido - New Orleans, LA - d. 5-24-1999
comedian: "Sealtest Village Store"; "Jimmy Durante Show"
12-25-1914 - Peter Kalischer - d. 7-5-1992
news correspondent: "Muhammed Ali vs. Sonny Liston"
12-25-1915 - Richard Wilson - McKeesport, PA - d. 8-21-1991
actor, writer, director: Co-founded The Mercury Theatre with Orson
Welles
12-25-1916 - Oscar Moore - Austin, TX - d. xx-xx-1981
guitar: "The King Cole Trio"
12-25-1918 - Maritta M. Wolff - Grass Lake, MI - d. 7-1-2002
novelist: (Whistle Stop) "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-25-1924 - Rod Serling - Syracuse, NY - d. 6-28-1975
writer, host: "Zero Hour"
12-25-1932 - Mabel King - Charleston, SC - d. 11-9-1999
actress: "Camel Rock and Roll Party"
12-25-1944 - Kenny Everett - Liverpool, England
disc jockey: "Kenny 'n' Cash Breakfast Show"
Christmas Day deaths
01-25-1910 - Portland Hoffa - Portland, OR - d. 12-25-1990
comedienne: (Wife of Fred Allen) "Fred Allen Show"
01-29-1880 - W. C. Fields - Philadelphia, PA - d. 12-25-1946
comedian: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
04-08-1908 - Tito Guizar - Guadalajara, Mexico - d. 12-25-1999
vocalist: (Isham Jones Band) "Duffy's Tavern"; "Hollywood Showcase"
04-16-1889 - Charles Chaplin - London, England - d. 12-25-1977
actor: "Dodge Brothers Hour"
05-30-1896 - Russ Brown - Philadelphia, PA - d. 12-25-1993
singer: "Ben Bernie, The Old Maestre"; "The Joe Penner Show"
06-07-1917 - Dean Martin - Steubenville, OH - d. 12-25-1995
singer, comedian: "Martin and Lewis Show"
07-26-1935 - Walter Winchell, Jr. - New York, NY - d. 12-25-1967
radio news writer
08-30-1906 - Joan Blondell - New York, NY - d. 12-25-1979
actress: Mary Vance "Miss Pinkerton, Inc."
09-04-1898 - Agnes Ayres - Carbondale, IL - d. 12-25-1940
actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-19-1905 - Betty Garde - Philadelphia, PA - d. 12-25-1989
actress: Peggy O'Neill "O'Neills"; Kate Mason "Maudie's Diary"
09-27-1917 - William Orr - d. 12-25-2002
actor: "Hollywood Theatre Group"
10-29-1894 - Jack Pearl - New York, NY - d. 12-25-1982
comedian: Baron Munchausen "Baron and the Bee, Jack and Cliff, Jack
Pearl Show"
12-07-1918 - Hurd Hatfield - New York, NY . d. 12-25-1998
actor: "Best Plays"; "Crime Does Not Pay"
12-22-1918 - Frankie Darro - Chicago, IL - d. 12-25-1976
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-28-1914 - Lee Bowman - Cincinnati, OH - d. 12-25-1979
actor: Jonathan Kegg "Life in Your Hands"; George Cooper "My Favorite
Husband"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #396
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