------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 445
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
[removed] Births [ ABCDiehl@[removed] ]
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK [ "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed] ]
Re: Products advertised on OTR [ Lou Genco <lgenco2@[removed]; ]
12-15 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Australian Sound Archive [ "Ian Grieve" <ian@computerambulance ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
surprise swear words [ Mike Sheets <msheets@texarkanacolle ]
Breakfast Club Family Album [ "Arthur Funk" <Art-Funk@[removed]; ]
12-16 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Radio Writer Edward Hale Bierstadt [ "Michael L. Henry" <mlhenry@[removed] ]
Expressions used on OTR - Blackhawk [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
Got my fingers crossed! [ ilamfan@[removed] ]
RE: INFORMATION PLEASE (Thank You Ma [ OTRDSIEGEL@[removed] ]
Smilin' Ed [removed] [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
DVD too good to be true [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:35:05 -0500
From: ABCDiehl@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: [removed] Births
I Enjoy Ron Sayles lists of births and deaths but I'd like to add one for
[removed]
and it's Bob Barker, longtime host of "The Price is Right," who turned 80 on
the 12th.
Barker's first job in radio was at a station in Palm Beach, Florida. He
spent a
year there, then moved to Los Angeles and within a week, he was hosting
his own radio program, The Bob Barker Show. He made his debut in 1956 on
national
television as host of "Truth or Consequences. Ralph Edwards, the show's
originator
had sold the show to NBC as a daytime strip but he had not chosen a host. He
had auditioned other hosts in Hollywood and New York for weeks but when he
heard The Bob Barker show on his car radio, he knew he had found the right
man for the job. Edwards has said "he sounded like Jack Benny doing audience
participation." I interviewed Barker last year and he told he that he hopes
to go on forever as host of "The Price is Right." Asked how he wanted to be
remembered, he said "you mean on my tombstone? Have your pets spayed
or neutered!"
By the way "Truth or Consequences," the radio show debuted on NBC in 1940,
hosted by Ralph Edwards. Bud Collyer was the show's announcer who went on
of course to be a TV game-show host himself in the 1960's. The radio series
moved to CBS radio in 1951.
Bill Diehl
ABC Radio Network
New York
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:35:16 -0500
From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK
Hi friends
Here is this week's line-up for the week of 12-7-03 on my Olde Tyme Radio
[removed] Featuring Tom Heathwood's "Heritage Radio Theatre," Big John
Matthews and Steve Urbaniak's "The Glowing Dial" and my own "Same Time, Same
Station" broadcasts, being broadcast on demand 24/7 in high quality
streaming RealAudio at [removed]
Past archived broadcasts are also available there.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Jerry
Here's this week's lineup:
SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges
Christmas Special - Part 1
CAVALCADE OF AMERICA
Episode 724 12-25-51 "The Day They Gave Babies Away"
Stars: Bobby Driscoll
FAMILY THEATER
Episode 148 12-14-49 "The Other Wise Man"
Stars: Jeff Chandler
Host and Narrator: Otto Kruger
Author: Henry Van Dyke
DENNIS DAY SHOW
Episode 13 12-25-46 "The Boy Who Sang for a King"
Stars: Dennis Day, Barbara Eiler, Bea Benaderet, Dick Trout and John Brown
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
1949 78 record album (Decca 9-73)
Stars: Ronald Colman
---------------------------------------------------
HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood
Due to a problem with the Post Office, this week's Heritage Radio Theatre
program is not yet available. However, once it arrives, this will be the
Line-up:
Christmas Special - Part 1
1. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - "The Happy Prince" (1945) stars:
Bing Crosby and Orson Welles.
2. A NEW YEAR'S WISH from Franklyn MacCormick (1948)
3. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL "Lullaby Of Christmas" (1949) stars:
Gregory Peck.
4. "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" (1947) stars: Lionel Barrymore -- an
alternative version to the 1939 version.
5. THE LONE RANGER 12/24/48 ABC "Christmas For Sandy"
Stars: Brace Beemer and Johgn Todd with Fred Foy.
--------------------------------------------------
THE GLOWING DIAL with Big John and Matthews and Steve Urbaniak
Spending the HOLIDAYS with Jack Benny and the Gang
THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM
NBC 12/11/1938 “Christmas Shopping In New York”
THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM
NBC 12/24/1939 “Christmas Open House At Jack’s”
THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM
NBC 12/22/1940 “Christmas Shopping – Rochester’s Missing”
THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM
CBS 12/7/1952 “Addressing Christmas Cards”
THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM
CBS 12/20/1953 “Cactus Christmas Tree”
-----------------------------------------------------
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or requests for upcoming
shows.
Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed];
[removed] The Vintage Radio Place
Largest source of OTR Logs, Articles and programs on the Net
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:36:32 -0500
From: Lou Genco <lgenco2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Products advertised on OTR
On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:12:47 -0500, Philip Chavin wrote:
You can see images of several packages of products that were promoted by
sponsors on old-time radio on a fine website titled The American Package
Museum.
If your memory was stimulated by that site, and you want to hear some
of the commercials broadcast on OTR, or see some of the contemporary
print media ads for various products advertised on OTR, take a look at
Danny Goodwin's OTR Commercials page, "Selling Stuff During the Golden
Age of Radio". That page is located at one of your favorite spots on
the OTR / WWW dial, [removed] . Here is a shortcut to Danny's
material:
[removed]
--
Lou
THE WWW site for "Old Time Radio": [removed]
** No HTML-Formatted email, please! **
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:37:55 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 12-15 births/deaths
December 15th births
12-15-1888 - Maxwell Anderson - Atlantic, PA - d. 2-28-1959
writer: "Free Company"; "Keep 'Em Rolling"; "O'Neill Cycle"
12-15-1907 - Bob Hawk - Creston, IA - d. 7-4-1989
quizmaster: "Take It or Leave It"; "Thanks to the Yanks"; "Bob Hawk Show"
12-15-1915 - Margaret Hayes - Baltimore, MD - d. 1-26-1977
actress: "Silver Theatre"
12-15-1918 - Jeff Chandler - Brooklyn, NY - d. 6-17-1961
actor: Michael Shayne, "Michael Shayne, Detective"; Philip Boynton, "Our Miss
Brooks"
December 15th deaths
01-28-1909 - Arnold Moss - Brooklyn, NY - d. 12-15-1989
actor: Philip Cameron "Against the Storm"; Reed Bannister "Big Sister"
03-01-1904 - Glenn Miller - Clarinda, IA - d. 12-15-1944
bandleader: "Moonlight Serenade"; "USO Matinee"
05-21-1904 - Thomas "Fats" Waller - NYC - d. 12-15-1943
pianist, singer: "Columbia Variety Hour"; "Saturday Night Swing Club"
06-03-1904 - Jan Peerce - NYC - d. 12-15-1984
singer: "Music Hall of the Air"; "A & P Gypsies"; "Golden Treasury of Song"
07-01-1899 - Charles Laughton - Scarborough, England - d. 12-15-1962
actor: "Three Ring Time"; "Columbia Presents Corwin"; "Blue Ribbon Town"
08-02-1905 - Myrna Loy - Raidersburg, MT - d. 12-15-1993
actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-13-1885 - Harry Hershfield - Cedar Rapids, IA - d. 12-15-1974
comedian: "Stop Me If You Heard This One"; "Can You Top This?"
12-05-1901 - Walt Disney - Chicago, IL - d. 12-15-1966
actor: Mickey Mouse "Mickey Mouse Theatre of the Air"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:38:10 -0500
From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Australian Sound Archive
G'Day folks.
The Australian Sound Archive, Screensound, is in trouble. The Government in
their wisdom decided to merge the semi Government Screensound with the
Australian Film Commission. Because of the way it is set up they decided
that it couldn't just be a merger so the AFC is taking over Screensound.
This can mean up to 80% job losses. I can be scathing of Screensound from
time to time and there are no doubt some staff there who give Screensound a
bad name, but overall the organisation is doing its job and we do at least
see some releases of Australian Radio Shows from the Golden Era.
However, the takeover of Screensound by AFC will see the loss of experienced
Sound Staff and I cannot see how the Sound side which is treated as a poor
cousin now, will be any better off under ownership of the Australian Film
Commission.
[removed] This is a site set up by the
union involved and includes petition and also a quick and easy method of
protest direct to the Minister responsible for this decision. Please read
the articles and newspaper reports on the current situation that are linked
to from the site. If you are against this takeover, please lodge a protest
letter via the link.
I have no connection to Screensound other than as a member of the community
which accesses the materials. But to have access restricted even futher as
proposed, will have a large impact on those of us documenting Australian
Radio from the 1920's.
Ian Grieve
Moderator
Australian OTR Group
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:38:32 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
From Those Were The Days --
1949 - After a decade on radio, Captain Midnight was heard for the final
time. Put your secret decoder rings (sic)* away now, kids.
Joe
* WE know they were actually [removed]
--
Visit my homepage: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:38:41 -0500
From: Mike Sheets <msheets@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: surprise swear words
I have missed a few mailings due to net problems, so forgive me if this
has already been mentioned. One of the running gags on the Jack Benny
Show was Jack's irritation at the Sportsman Quartet concerning the
Lucky Strike commercials. At the end of one show, he fires the quartet,
so the next show has Jack worrying about replacing them. Don comes up
with the idea of using Dennis (after all, Jack was already paying him)
and adding three other vocalists. One of the other three was Bing
Crosby. During on of the numbers, Bing's voice broke on a high note and
he interjected, "Who the hell picked picked out this key- Dennis Day?".
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:39:38 -0500
From: "Arthur Funk" <Art-Funk@[removed];
To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Breakfast Club Family Album
In Digest 443 Tas Richardson inquired if anyone has a copy of the 1942
Breakfast Club Family Album. Well, I have one and was looking through it
just last Saturday night. I got it several years ago on eBay but have
thumbed through it only twice. I was disappointed when I got the book
because I had hoped it would be from the late forties when I was a listener
every summer and on any school days I could arrange to be home.
I marched around our breakfast table. I was thrilled each morning to hear
some "Fiction & Fact from Sam's Almanac." I loved the boisterous Aunt
Fannie and was amazed to learn years later that she was the pretty young
woman I had watched on my neighbors' TV on Kookla, Fran & Ollie. And I
would very seriously and quietly stand by the radio as Don McNeil would
encourage us "Let us all pray, each in his own words, each in his own way,
for a world united in peace." Good memories.
I'll have to give it a more careful read since Tas points out that Jim &
Marion Jordan had been early regulars.
Regards and best holiday wishes to all,
Art
Art Funk
Art's Militaria
MacDill AFB Exchange [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:40:58 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 12-16 births/deaths
December 16th births
12-16-1892 - Cameron Prud-homme - Auburn, CA - d. 11-27-1967
actor: Governor Bradley "Little Herman"; David Harum "David Harum"
12-16-1898 - Lud Gluskin - NYC - d. 10-13-1989
conductor: "Hollywood Showcase"; "Amos 'n' Andy"; "Advs. of Sam Spade"
December 16th deaths
01-25-1874 - Somerset Maughan - Paris, France - d. 12-16-1965
writer: " Somerset Maughan Theatre"
07-29-1906 - Thelma Todd - Lawrence, MA - d. 12-16-1935
comedienne: Series with Zasu Pitts
08-02-1886 - Cesare Sodero - Naples, Italy - d. 12-16-1947
conductor: Series of condensed operas on WEAF New York
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:45:08 -0500
From: "Michael L. Henry" <mlhenry@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio Writer Edward Hale Bierstadt
I am assisting a professor at the University of Maryland who is doing
research on the radio writer Edward Hale Bierstadt. Dunning lists him as a
writer for the SHADOW. Any information about his radio work, his non-radio
work, and biographical information (birthdate, deathdate, education, etc.)
would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your assistance.
-Michael Henry
Library of American Broadcasting
mlhenry@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:45:18 -0500
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Expressions used on OTR - Blackhawk
Hi Gang -
Several issues back someone started a thread about the various
expressions used in lieu of cuss-words on OTR programs. Before
this topic goes away, I have a question about one such expression.
The juvenile serial "Blackhawk" had characters from various countries
who banded together as the "Blackhawks" to fight crime and criminals
(if I remember correctly). One of the characters was from either France
or Canada.
He used the expression "Sacre Bleu !" whenever anything unusual happened.
Since this was in the late fortys or early fifties, it couldn't be anything
"dirty",
but to this day, nobody has been able to tell me what it means. I asked
some French-speaking friends, and they translated the phrase to "Sacred Blue"
in English.
This doesn't mean anything to me. Sacred Blue what? Does anybody know
what the expression means (besides Sacred Blue)? Does anybody remember
Blackhawk?
By the way, I have not yet checked Jay's most recent supplement, but none are
shown circulating in his big book. Anybody have any "Blackhawk" shows for
trade?
Happy Taping - Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois
kenpiletic@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:45:33 -0500
From: ilamfan@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed] (OTR Bulletin Board)
Subject: Got my fingers crossed!
Hullo, everybody!
I listened to the GREAT WBAI recreations of "First Nighter" and "Lights
Out" last night (Sunday) - I lucked out and got to hear them, even though I
tuned in late.
What I REALLY wanted though, was a copy of the Lights Out
recreation "Brain Wave"...I do have the "First Nighter" show ("For Pete's
Sake") taped, but I wasn't as lucky with Lights Out.
If anyone out there has the Lights Out recreation, could you please
contact me? I NEED to make a trade for this [removed] was really done WELL
(kudos to the Gotham Radio Players - great vocal talents! Nice
production!). SOMEBODY out there must have a copy of the show - can you
please help me out?
I've got my fingers crossed - THANKS!
Stephen Jansen
ilamfan@[removed]
--
Old Time Radio never dies - it
just changes formats!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 09:28:19 -0500
From: OTRDSIEGEL@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: INFORMATION PLEASE (Thank You Martin
Grams)
If you are one of the lucky (or SMART) radio fans who have read any of
Martin's previous books (Suspense, The CBS Radio Mystery Theater, Inner
Sanctum, Have Gun Will Travel, etc.) you already knOw that Martin Has the
unique ability to research a radio program's history in a most thorough way
and writes with a style that makes the reader thirst for more.
I have said it before and, considering Martin's prolific output. will
probably say it again, his latest volume, a 246 page wonderful study of the
intellectual radiO quiz program INFORMATION PLEASE, should most definitely be
added to your collection.
I know that there are lots of OTR fans whO are devoted to either one
speciAl program or to one special category Of programs. If that describes
you, I urge you to consider widening your horizons with the aim of exposing
yourself (no pun intended) to other kinds of radio programs. There is
probably no better way Of doing so than reading a valuabLe portrait of one of
radio's primier proGrams for thinkers, INFORMATION PLEASE. (By the way,
Martin's earlier book, INVITATION TO LEARNING, is another such winner.
My combined Christmas and New Year's wish is that Martin continues to
produce these wonderful radio program studies and that I am able to continue
to enjOY reAding them.
Dave Siegel
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 09:29:34 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Smilin' Ed [removed]
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hi Gang:
Last winter here on the Digest, my pal James Altenburg asked the
question if OTR personality/TV kiddie show host Smilin' Ed McConnell was
related to Lulu McConnell of "It Pays to Be Ignorant." Well, I couldn't
ascertain any familial bond but the discussion led to a well-received article
I wrote about the "Ignorant" cast which was first made available here and
then later adapted for Jack French's "Radio Recall" newsletter.
Anyway, while doing some microfilm research at the NY Public Library
for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, I chanced upon a programme review
of an early Ed McConnell radio effort from the "Radio Reports" page from the
Wednesday, May 13, 1931 edition of (weekly) VARIETY. Enjoy!
"SMILING ED" McCONNELL
Songs
Commercial
WMAQ, Chicago
This nimble-fingered, soft-voiced, entertainer provides a one-man show and
it's one of the best, regardless of numbers, going on the air out of Chicago.
His personality is remarkably well adapted to radio. A natural easy,
infectious delivery has the bounce and verve which gets a chortling and
pleased hearing in the middle west.
McConnell quietly chides himself along the way and is devoted to a homey
Main street-like native humor that on the radio, and particularly on behalf
of a company making new rugs from old odds and ends, is trebly valuable. He
talks prairie language.
Further violets may be presented for his successful negotiation of
sentiment without descending or deteriorating into synthetic molasses.
Mixed with and into his programs are semi-evangelistic hymns. But---shades
of Cotton Mather---hymns of real melody, light, not ponderous, gay with life,
not heavy with gloom. He jumps from patters about Hades, sinners, and the
devil in a Chautauqua pretty-pretty anent the "Royal Telephone" to heaven.
Then into old time pop numbers. Here a confidential talk about marriage (not
a recitation) would make the Ludlow street calaboose grow pensive.
McConnell's value to his rug company is not the least notable for the fact
that he does the commercial spiel himself. There is no breaking in by a
cultivated Oxford accent to tell about floor coverings. Almost making the
"copy" read like he was conferring a favor, not plugging a sale. McConnell's
neighborly salesmanship makes the conventional radio propagandist seem, by
contrast, a mere money grubber with no feeling for "service" apart from
profit.
The east knew one such performer who radioed for a tooth paste and
eventually became vice-president of the company who's product he was
heralding. They are rare ether prizes.
Land.
BLACKFRIARS QUARTET
Campus Glee Club
WMAQ, [removed]
It's me, again. It took me some doing to forego my usual British
spellings such as "programme" and "neighbourly" in order to preserve the
integrity of the original review. That "who's" in the last line instead of
the correct form "whose" almost made me sic [sic].
Taking into account Smilin' Ed's background of hymn-singing leads me
to believe that the catch-phrase "Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy!" really
isn't as dirty as it sounds.
Yours ever in the ether!
Derek Tague
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*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 09:32:43 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: DVD too good to be true
Richard commented:
Old-time radio fans who are also old-time movie and TV show fans might be
interested in a current offer from Lifestyle Fascination (with which I am
in no way affiliated). For $29,95 each (plus that pesky postage), the
company is selling DVD sets of 50 classic movies and 100 classic TV shows.
<snip>
I've ordered the movie set myself, and am hoping the offer is as good as
it sounds.
I took a look and the sets appear to contain purely 100% public domain
films. Although the price is nice, the quality leaves something to be
desired. A friend of mine at work purchased this same set and brought it to
work for me to check it out. Turns out they compressed the shows on DVD.
You don't get four half hour TV shows on one DVD, you get 9, 10, 11 shows on
each DVD. An example is like cramming 14 TV shows on one VHS video at the
slowest speed. The quality on the DVDs is not superb so you get what you pay
for. DVDs have the same problem as videos. If you put more than two hours
of material on a DVD, the quality starts breaking up and especially after
four hours the quality is noticable. I experimented by putting six hours of
shows on a DVD once and the quality was digital looking and annoying. Just
an FYI.
Incidentally, those same public domain films have been released on DVD (one
movie per DVD, three TV episodes per DVD, etc.) by many companies including
Alpha, Oldies, and Madacy and those go for as low as $[removed] a piece. If
anyone checks online auctions you can find these same titles being offered
(often) at .99 cents per DVD and those are SP speed quality.
Fred Berney, on this digest, can vouch for the quality in slow speed on DVDs
because there is still that myth that anything put onto DVD is excellent
quality regardless of how much you put on a disc.
Martin
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #445
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