------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 86
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Lesley Woods [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Cornell Woolrich [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Re: LESLEY WOODS [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
Whistler [ Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed]; ]
Dating 'Adventures of Babe Ruth' [ Jean-Henri Duteau <jeand@telusplane ]
re:next generation [ "Greg Przywara" <gmprzywara@hotmail ]
The Lone Ranger [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
The Ride Back [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
2-24 Birthdays [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
"Phil & Alice"/"Mad Man" Muntz/Bird [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
Cornell Woorich on radio [ "Jim Widner" <widnerj@[removed]; ]
HELP WANTED - (Atlanta) Audio Tech/K [ "Scott L Lindquist" <potluckplayers ]
Cocoanut Grove [ "Tom and Katja" <kattom@[removed] ]
Adventurer's Club [ Osborneam@[removed] ]
Re: Paul Urbahns new crop of fans [ passage@[removed] ]
More on Esther Van Wagoner Tufty [ "Tom van der Voort" <evan@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:31:46 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lesley Woods
Mike Parise asked about radio actress Lesley Woods:
Lesley Woods was another radio pro who played hundreds of supporting and
starring leads on hundreds of radio programs that originated from New York.
Among the programs was INNER SANCTUM MYSTERY, and she felt that, after her
first hundred horror broadcasts from that series, there was no manner of
mayhem she hadn't met. "If I ever find a mysterious man in my room in the
dark of night, I know I'll never scream," she joked with a reporter in 1944.
"I'll just think he's a hangover from Inner Sanctum, turn over, and go back
to sleep."
Despite the businesslike atmosphere of the broadcasting studio, cluttered
with microphones and other apparatus required by radio, Woods remained
completely in character and employed all the arts of acting, such as full
facial and bodily expressions to aid her vocal interpretations. She was a
dynamic, vivacious blonde closely resembling the movies' Veronica Lake. (I
have a couple photos of her and from a man's point of view, she had legs
that went all the way up.) She had blue-green eyes and a light complexion,
and her 5-foot, 4-inch frame tipped the scales at 110 lbs.
Woods was born in Berwick, Iowa, went to St. Joseph's Academy and later
studied at the Goodman School of the Theatre for one year. During her years
on Inner Sanctum she continued studying acting and dancing.
Her first job at the Hollywood Exhibit in the Chicago World's Fair was
followed shortly after by her debut on the stage in summer stock. Later, she
appeared in several Broadway plays, among them "Excursion," "Comes the
Revelation," "Double Dummy," "Love Is Not So Simple" and a plethora of
summer stock.
Sports clothes were her usual attire but the pride of her wardrobe was an
ermine coat. On her very first Sanctum show Woods was to be strangled. To
make her performance more realistic, she grasped her throat tightly in order
to constrict her vocal chords. She died beautifully, but the next day found
her nursing a sore throat. After her initial Sanctum appearance, she was
shot, stabbed, drowned a few dozen times, poisoned, strangled and bludgeoned
without end. One of her most horrifying and difficult performances involved
being clawed to death by a mythical panther. Equally difficult to effect
were the screams of a woman burning to death. "As soon as bigger and better
deaths are invented," mused Woods, "I'll die 'em."
As for her television and movie appearances, check out [removed] and type
her name in for "person search" and you'll probably find some of her screen
credits.
Martin Grams, Jr.
Author of INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES: BEHIND THE CREAKING DOOR - some of the
material above was reprinted from the book.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:32:00 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cornell Woolrich
Kurt Yount asked about radio plays based on Cornell Woolrich stories.
Here's the complete list:
ESCAPE
"Papa Benjamin" 1/24/48 adapted by John Dunkel from Woolrich's "Dark
Melody of Madness" (1935).
"Finger of Doom" 3/19/49 Based on the 1940 short story.
HOUR OF MYSTERY
"The Black Angel" 6/16/46 Adapted from the movie of the same name that was
presently in the theaters at the time which in turn was adapted from the
1943 novel of the same name.
"Phantom Lady" 8/18/46 Adapted from the 1944 movie of the same name that
was adapted from the 1942 novel of the same name.
LUX RADIO THEATRE
"Phantom Lady" 3/27/44 Adapted from the 1944 movie of the same name that
was adapted from the 1942 novel of the same name.
"Deadline at Dawn" 5/20/46 Adapted from the movie of the same name that
was presently in the theaters at the time which in turn was adapted from the
1944 novel of the same name.
MOLLE MYSTERY THEATRE
"Dreadful Memory" 11/30/43 Adapted from an unidentified Woolrich story.
"The Death Rose" 9/26/44 Adapted from the 1943 story.
"Nightmare" 11/28/44 Adapted from the 1941 story "And So to Death."
"Deadline at Dawn" 1/30/45 Adapted from the 1944 novel.
"After-Dinner Story" 3/20/45 adapted from the 1938 story.
"Marihuana" 2/26/45 based on the 1941 story.
"A Death is Caused" 10/12/45 based on the 1943 story "Mind Over Murder"
"Leg Man" 10/19/45 based on the 1943 story
"Post Mortem" 11/23/45 based on the 1940 story
"I Wouldn't Be In Your Shoes" 12/14/45 Based on the 1938 story.
"Dime a Dance" 1/11/46 Based on the 1938 story.
"The Mathematics of Murder" 2/1/46 based on the 1944 story "What the Well
Dressed Corpse Will Wear".
"Last Night" 2/22/46 based on the 1940 story "Red Tide"
"Silent at the Grave" 8/9/46 based on the 1945 story.
"Nightmare" 8/30/46 repeat performance of 11/28/44
"The Men in a Furnished Room" 9/27/46 based on the 1941 story "He Looked
Like Murder."
"Black Alibi" 10/11/46 based on the 1941 story
"Blackmail" 1/24/47 Based on the 1937 story "Face Work."
"The Bride Wore Black" 2/7/47 Based on the 1940 story.
"The Orphan Diamond" 3/7/47 based on the 1942 story "Orphan Ice."
"Dime a Dance" 3/14/47 repeat performance of 1/11/46
"Chance" 7/18/47 based on the 1942 story "Dormant Account."
"Silent as the Grave" 8/29/47 repeat performance of 8/9/46
"The Earring" 3/5/48 based on the 1943 story "The Death Stone"
"Silent at the Grave" 7/13/48 repeat performance again
MURDER BY EXPERTS
"Nightmare" 2/19/51 based on the 1941 story "And So to Death."
NIGHTMARE (Peter Lorre series)
"If I Should Die Before I wake" 8/25/54 based on the 1937 story.
PRESENTING BORIS KARLOFF
"Three O'Clock" 11/30/49 based on the 1938 story.
"The Night Reveals" 12/14/49 based on the 1936 story.
RADIO CITY PLAYHOUSE
"Wardrobe Trunk" 4/4/49 based on the 1936 story "Dilemma of the Dead Lady"
SCREEN DIRECTOR'S PLAYHOUSE
"Night has a Thousand Eyes" 2/27/49 based on the 1948 movie of the same
name which was based on the 1945 story.
SCREEN GUILD THEATRE
"Phantom Lady" 9/11/44 based on the 1944 movie of the same name, which was
based on the 1942 story.
SUSPENSE
"The Night Reveals" 3/2/43
"Last Night" 6/15/43
"The White Rose Murders" 7/6/43
"The Singing Walls" 9/2/43
"After-Dinner Story" 10/26/43
"The Black Curtain" 12/2/43
"The Night Reveals" 12/9/43
"Dime a Dance" 1/13/44
"The Black Path of Fear" 8/31/44
"You'll Never See Me Again" 9/14/44
"Eve" 10/19/44
"The Singing Walls" 11/2/44
"The Black Curtain" 11/30/44
"Library Book" 9/20/45
"I Won't Take a Minute" 12/6/45
"The Black Path of Fear" 3/7/46
"Post Mortem" 4/4/46
"The Night Reveals" 4/18/46
"You'll Never See Me Again" 9/5/46
"They Call me Patrice" 12/12/46
"You Take Ballistics" 3/13/47
"The Black Curtain" 1/3/48
"Eve" 1/24/48
"Nightmare" 3/13/48
"Deadline at Dawn" 5/15/48
"If the Dead Could Talk" 1/20/49
"Three O'Clock" 3/10/49
"The Lie" 4/28/49
"The Night Reveals" 5/26/49
"Momentum" 10/27/49
"Angel Face" 5/18/50
THIS IS HOLLYWOOD
"The Chase" 11/9/46 based on the 1946 movie, which was based on the 1944
story "The Black Path of Fear."
TONIGHT'S BEST STORY
"The Night Reveals" 4/16/40 based on the 1936 story.
Sorry if I didn't list story origins for the SUSPENSE episodes, something
came up so I had to speed through this list. The list above represents
every Woolrich story done on radio - according to Francis M. Nevins'
award-winning book FIRST YOU DREAM, THEN YOU DIE. Nevins went through the
entire Woolrich estate so this info is defintive and to the best of my
knowledge, there were no other Woolrich adaptations done on radio (even if
other programs had similar titles like "Nightmare" and "Angel Face".) For
the record, Woolrich NEVER wrote any radio scripts himself - his stories
were always adapted into radio scripts by other writers.
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:32:49 -0500
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: LESLEY WOODS
In a message dated 2/23/03 4:04:20 PM, [removed]@[removed]
writes:
I would appreciate any information on Lesley Woods, She was Mary Wesley
with
Chester Morris on the 1944 Radio program "Boston Blackie", with Staats
Cotsworth in "Casey Crime Photographer" 1940's, "Bulldog Drummond" 1944 and
also some soap opera's. I would like to know if she is still living, what
other Radio, TV or movies was she in?
***Lesley also co-starred as "the lovely Margot Lane" opposite Bret Morrison
during the 1945-46 season of THE SHADOW. Lesley was a good friend of Bret's
from Chicago radio days, and often went horseback riding with Bret in Central
park on Sunday afternoons before the broadcast. As far as I know, Lesley is
still with us. She recreated her role as The Shadow's "friend and companion"
in THE SHADOW cast reunion I directed at the 1986 SPERDVAC convention. She
also was a regular for several years on television's FALCON CREST, performing
alongside Anne Archer. Back in 1939, Lesley had co-starred with Anne's
father John Archer in CBS' GATEWAY SUMMER PLAYHOUSE, the sommer season of
GATEWAY TO HOLLYWOOD summer series which serialized John's 1939 RKO film,
CAREER. There are vintage photos of Lesley Woods in my GAA booklet THE
SHADOW: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND (accompanying THE SHADOW CHRONICLES) and the
historical booklets for RSI's THE SHADOW'S GREATEST RADIO ADVENTURES and OLD
TIME RADIO'S GREATEST DETECTIVES 40-show [removed] Tollin***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:32:56 -0500
From: Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Whistler
Am I not correct in thinking that there was a whistler back east as well?
It seems that I heard some shows from the east, specifically New York.
I could b wrong, because I am now and my memory is going, but I do seem
to remember some programs from New York. Right or wrong would be
appreciated. Kurt
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:33:16 -0500
From: Jean-Henri Duteau <jeand@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Dating 'Adventures of Babe Ruth'
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out the date for the 'Adventures of Babe Ruth'
episodes that are circulating on mp3. They carry dates on them of 1934 but
that just isn't right. They're sponsored by the American Navy and have
various Navy personnel who've served in both world wars.
The only episode that I actually have is about Dusty Collins and how Babe
Ruth saves him from himself. If anyone has information on this program,
I'd be grateful.
Jean
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:33:33 -0500
From: "Greg Przywara" <gmprzywara@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: re:next generation
Another worthwhile thing to look into when the Jack Armstrong runs out are
the "Storytime Classics" tapes from Radio Spirits. These are OTR adaptations
of great kid's books like "Treasure Island" and "Pinocchio" that hold up
amazingly well today with both kids and adults.
Also if the kids like [removed] Lewis, there are stellar BBC productions
available of the Narnia books.
Pretty much all the Superman shows are available by now and can be obtained
on Mp3 CD's from Jerry Lindstrom (his email is
vaultkeeper@[removed]
I have preadolescent sisters who LOVE old time radio so if you need more
recommendations feel free to email.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:37:10 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Lone Ranger
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 17:12:28 -0500
From: bruce dettman <bdettman@[removed];
The Lone Ranger, Sheena, The Shadow, Doc Savage etc. etc. Just awful and
in most cases violated the very idea and essense of these original
characters. I know there are people who want to see these characters live
on and perhaps change gracefully with the times but for the most part I
cringe when I see plans to update and revive these characters. Watching
that Lone Ranger remake with Klinton Spillsbury was like having a root
canal for me.
I may be a minority of one, but I didn't think the Clinton Spillsbury Lone Ranger was that bad.
I liked the book better than the movie, and there were ways I thought the movie could have
been a lot better, but I really didn't think it was all that bad. My biggest complaint was that it
reverted to the style of 19th century novels and didn't get the Lone Ranger into the mask and
riding Silver until about halfway through.
By the way do you know the definition of an intellectual?
A guy who can listen to the William TellOverture and never once think of
the Lone Ranger.
I always say "Hi Yo Silver!" at the appropriate moment.
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 18:33:29 -0500
From: oldpdb@[removed] (Paul Barringer)
Why keep Tonto's name and change The Lone Ranger's name?
It seems gratuitous to me. I've seen such things done before, and I never like it. Sometime
in the mid-1990s, a comic-book company tried to come out with a revival of Tom Corbett,
Space Cadet. They changed Captain Strong's first name from Steve to Calvin, and they said
that Astro's name was Link Deever, but he was known as Astro because that was the name
of his character in the academy's most popular role-playing game. The latter, I could accept
as an updating (He can't be called a Venusian any more, now that we know how
uninhabitable Venus is!). But the worst one was making Dr. Joan Dale Tom's girlfriend
instead of Captain Strong's.
Why change the profession of the Lone Ranger from Texas Ranger to a law
student?
This at least has some precedent in the Clinton Spillsbury movie, where he was a lawyer.
Love interest? well ok, I'll go along with that if tasteful.
You mean the LR and Tonto aren't a couple?
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210
lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:37:34 -0500
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr."
<iscreve@[removed];
To:
[removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Ride Back
MGM/UA will be releasing this wonderful Western--written by GUNSMOKE scribe
Anthony Ellis and based on the June 28, 1952 broadcast--on DVD this May
20th.
It stars William Conrad as a sheriff who is on a mission to Mexico to pick
up a wanted man (Anthony Quinn) and take him back to the States. A taut,
underrated little gem, this film will retail for $[removed]
I finally got to see this movie a few years ago on TCM and was amazed at how
good it was. If the OTR time machine is in working order, I'd like to stop
by and get a copy of the radio broadcast on which it's based. :-)
Ivan
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:37:43 -0500
From: Joe Mackey
<joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net
<[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
>From Those Were The Days --
1942 -- It was an historic day in radio broadcasting, as the Voice of
America (VOA) signed on for the first time on this day. The worldwide,
shortwave radio service, a department of the United States Government,
continues to beam a variety of programming around the globe under the
auspices of the United States Information Agency (USIA).
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:37:49 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-24 Birthdays
If you were born on February 24th., you share birthdays with:
1890 - Marjorie Main - Acton, Indiana
1895 - May Singhi Breen - New York City
1914 - Zachary Scott - Austin, Texas
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:12:36 -0500
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: "Phil & Alice"/"Mad Man" Muntz/Bird Book
Hi GanG;
I saw over the week-end an ep of "I Love Lucy" wherein "Little Ricky"
acquires a pet puppy, which he names "Fred" after his de facto uncle "Fred
Mertz" explaining that he always named his pets after people he liked.
Some of his other pets included parakeets names "Phil and Alice" and a
pair of turtles called "Tommy and Jimmy"(more than likely named for the Dorsey
Brothers).
The kid had good [removed] the writers did, at least.
I just finished reading the latest issue of the First Generation Radio
Archives on-line newsletter and took a particular interest in a piece they had
about early Los Angeles area TV pitchman Earl "Mad Man" Muntz. Help me out
here, fellow etherites, was Muntz the one who popularized the catch-phrase
"Tell ya what I'm gonna [removed]," which showed up in many a Warner Bros.
cartoon of that era?
Here at Talking Books, we're actually recording a "bird book"...and I just
can't stop thinking about Wallace Wimple. To me, that famous "bird book"
schtick from Fibber McGee & Molly NEVER stopped being funny. It's not up there
with "Si-Sy-Sue," but it's definitely in the Top-Ten of all-time recurring
running gags.
As somebody who has always appreciated well written humour, I'd like to
posit this query to the readership: "What OTR comedy routine never stops being
funny?"
Yours in the nitrous oxide,
Derek Tague
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:13:04 -0500
From: "Jim Widner" <widnerj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cornell Woorich on radio
Kurt Yount asked:
"First of all, I have to apologize. I think that is how his name is
spelled, but I haven't seen it for a while. Has anybody put together a
list of radio work by Cornell Woolrich/William Irish?z'
Mine will probably be only one of several responses.
There is a list that was published in Francis Nevin's book on the life
of Cornell Woolrich called (I am doing this from memory because I am at
work) "First You Die" The book is formidable but excellent in its
completeness. He lists every production that used the works of Woolrich
under his different pseudonyms both on radio, television and film up to
the time he published the book.
I don't believe there is any on the web. If you need a copy of the
listing, let me know via private email.
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:13:42 -0500
From: "Scott L Lindquist" <potluckplayers@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: HELP WANTED - (Atlanta) Audio Tech/Keyboard
The Pot Luck Players, Atlanta's only Old Time Radio Theatre company is
looking for someone to do audio tech for our (recreations) radio shows for
live audiences. He/she would be cuing music from CDs and tapes, setting up
mics and running the show. (there is some pay)
We are also looking for someone to play keyboard for our OTR radio shows.
This person should be very adept at improvisation on the keyboard and be able
to assist the Music Director with finding recordings of music and other sound
effects, if they can't be recreated live. (there is some pay)
If you're in the Atlanta area, and are interested, please contact Scott
Lindquist (678-923-4898)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:14:58 -0500
From: "Tom and Katja" <kattom@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Cocoanut Grove
Hi Listers:
Recent events have prompted discussion of the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston
in 1942, where 492 people died.
I understand local radio stations broke into regular programming that night
with news bulletins, etc.
Does anyone have any audio of these?
Tom Z.
Wolfeboro, NH
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:15:16 -0500
From: Osborneam@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Adventurer's Club
I've noticed in Jay Hickerson's wonderful bible that he
notes the program "Adventurer's Club" with Ken Nordine
has 15 programs circulating. So far I've found 12. I'd like
to arrange a trade (on cassette) for the three I lack.
Note, this is NOT "The World Adventurer's Club". This show
was broadcast on CBS from 01/11/47 to 01/03/48.
Contact me off-list, please.
Arlene Osborne
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:15:27 -0500
From: passage@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Paul Urbahns new crop of fans
David Kindred wrote:
I'm not sure what to play for them when the Jack Armstrongs run out.
If any of you have some suggestions for shows appropriate for
children their ages, I'd love to hear of them.
My son (age 10 at the time) loved the BBC's Journey Into Space series.
There's 3 of them, "Operation Luna", "The Red Planet Mars" and "The
World In Peril", all totalling 53 half hour episodes. They're serials,
so it'll keep 'em waiting for the next episode :-).
Frank
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:15:47 -0500
From: "Tom van der Voort" <evan@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: More on Esther Van Wagoner Tufty
To supplement Donna's response to Dan's inquiry, Esther Van Wagoner
Tufty had a news program titled
'Washington Scene' on WWDC in the District of Columbia in the early forties.
Three examples can be found on the extremely useful RadioGOLDINdex.
As I recall from my years on 'The Hill', her son used to visit Senator
Proxmire's office lobbying for an efficiency in government organization.
Tom van der Voort
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #86
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