------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2006 : Issue 343
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Hindenburg [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
33 1/3 Disc-Welcome Stranger [ "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed]; ]
Marcel de la Brosse [ "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@[removed] ]
John Lair [ mmartini@[removed] ]
Re: Don Juan in Hell [ "Michael Ogden" <michaelo67@hotmail ]
First sitcom? [ Alan Bell <alanlinda43@[removed]; ]
Hearing Loss [ "[removed]" <asajb2000@ ]
Re: Broadcasting OTR from your compu [ Chargous@[removed] ]
"Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Nig [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
Encore [ Rentingnow@[removed] ]
TV to radio [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
Screen Guild Theatre 33 1/3 [ Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed]; ]
Get into the "Zone" [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
Welcome Stranger [ "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@sbcgloba ]
Don Juan in Hell [ Stephen Davies <SDavies@[removed]; ]
From TV to radio [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
Fibber's Closet [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 08:46:03 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Hindenburg
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"Maybe it's much too early in the game/But I thought I would ask you just the
[removed]"
I hope nobody thinks any Loesser of me for quoting that wonderful song, but I
just realised that we're roughly five months away from the 70th anniversary of
the Hindenburg disaster. Admittedly, this lifelong New Jesreyan has never
visited the site in Lakehurst. Does anybody know if there are any
commemorative events in the planning stages for the upcoming 70th?
Hopefully, one of this forum's eminent H'burg historians such as Bill Jaker or
"That Godfrey Guy" Lee Munsick (provided he's all unpacked from his recent
move to Florida) can weigh in on this.
Ether and anon!
Derek Tague
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Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 09:08:02 -0500
From: "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 33 1/3 Disc-Welcome Stranger
Brent"
According to Jerry Haedinges' OTR Show Log, the disc you describe is at
least part of "Welcome Stranger" from "Screen Guild Theater" on
[removed] Barry Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby and Mona [removed]
like you have a nice find in those [removed]
Tim Lones
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 13:48:27 -0500
From: "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Marcel de la Brosse
I was watching White Christmas (1954) the other day and I have a
question about one of the actors.
In one of the early nightclub scenes, Bing and Danny go to a club where
they first see Haynes sisters. IMDB suggests that the Maitre d' was
played by Marcel de la Brosse. His voice sounded awfully familiar. Did
he ever do any radio work?
-chris holm
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 13:48:46 -0500
From: mmartini@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: John Lair
Hi,
It was mentioned in a recent post that a new book is the first one published
about John Lair, founder of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. I wanted to alert
all about two earlier texts that might be of [removed]
"On the Air: the Story of John Lair," (Polly House Publications, 1998) is
written by John's daughter, Ann Lair Henderson. It's a slim, softbound book
(110 pps), but it is fairly interesting with emphasis of John's work
preserving appalachian music history.
"It All Happened in Renfro Valley," (University Press of Kentucky, 1999) is a
great hardbound account (240pps) of the history of Lair's empire beginning in
Chicago in the 1930's. It was written by longtime Renfro comedian Pete
Stamper.
On a different subject, longtime Cincinnati announcer Jerry Thomas has
announced his retirement for the end of the month. I know it's not old radio
per se, but he has worked at Cincinnati's WKRC (550 am) since 1962, which is
an unbelievably long time to be on the SAME STATION.
-Mike Martini
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 13:49:09 -0500
From: "Michael Ogden" <michaelo67@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Don Juan in Hell
Good news for Ken Greenwald: The Laughton-Moorehead-Boyer-Hardwicke reading
of Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell" WAS recorded and released as a 2-LP set in
1952.
The bad news is that it has never been re-released on compact disc. But,
according to OCLC, over 200 libraries in this country supposedly still have
copies in their collections, so hopefully that may include some in the Los
Angeles area.
There's excellent background information on the "Don Juan in Hell" tour in
Charles Tranberg's Moorehead biography I LOVE THE ILLUSION, published by Ben
Ohmart's BearManor press.
Mike Ogden
list.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 13:49:34 -0500
From: Alan Bell <alanlinda43@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: First sitcom?
Yes, I know any "first" is a matter of dispute, but I
wonder if there's a general consensus of what the
first situation comedy was? Just out of curiosity, I
looked at Wikipedia and it claims that it was Sam 'n'
Henry. It also claims that Amos 'n' Andy was the first
network sitcom in 1928--on CBS!! (Aargh) Even if the
network affiliation is corrected, I think it's fair to
say that A 'n' A *serial* wasn't really a sitcom, even
though it had comedic elements to it.
Anyway, I've always thought that while there certainly
were antecedents, perhaps the first really successful
sitcom--at least in terms of audience--was Fibber
McGee & Molly. So, how off-base am I? If you were
writing the Wikipedia entry on situation comedy, where
would it start?
Alan
_________________
Alan/Linda Bell
Grand Rapids, MI
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 13:49:41 -0500
From: "[removed]" <asajb2000@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hearing Loss
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As I understand it, the human ear is already limited by how much of the
available audio spectrum we can hear (oftentimes that means even though we
cannot hear certain frequencies we can "sense" them). As we age, the upper
and lower audible frequencies are not so audible to us and are less-evident
and we hear even less of what is available to us or presented to us in the
form of live and recorded music.
I have experienced in the last few years what some people have expressed
years before - when in a crowd with lots of crowd noise and someone talking
directly to you, you cannot separate the single voice from the many voices;
it is all one thing, all mixed together. I spoke to an audiologist who says
this is due to the human ear maturing and cannot separate or differentiate
the particular elements or parts of audio; it all comes into the ear in one
giant stream and that's how it appears. To those people who dread this and
lament it, the consolation is, it is normal.
Andy
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 14:33:15 -0500
From: Chargous@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Broadcasting OTR from your computer
Broadcasting OTR from your computer is a snap - I use a very excellent AM
transmitter, the AMT-3000. It's about 160-something assembled. I have a
lot of antique radios and I use it almost daily to broadcast to them. Very
excellent reproduction. Frequency is adjusttable by dipswitches, which the
manual spells out how to set for each frequency.
Last night, I listened to my daily installment of the Cinnamon Bear on my
Zenith 7-D-126. I can't wait till the Midwests arrive!
Travis
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:52:52 -0500
From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: "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, and "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands"
with Arnold Dean can be heard at [removed].
Each week we feature three complete shows in MP3 format
for your listening pleasure or for downloading; two "Golden
Age of Radios" and one "One Night Stand." We present new
shows every week or so. The current three programs will be
available on line at least until the morning of December 12, 2006.
Program 16 - July, 1971 - Mary Jane Higby
The first of this week's guests is Mary Jane Higby, Network
Radio Soap Actress, star of "When a Girl Marries" and
author of "Tune in Tomorrow."
In her delightful treatise, "Tune In Tomorrow," which gives
outsiders an introspective look at the performers on radio's
daytime serials, soap queen Mary Jane Higby recalls a
geographical patchwork that offered opportunity for scores
of artists to do their thing in several places throughout the day.
Program 17 - August, 1971 - Hans Conreid
Hans Conreid was a character actor who had successful
careers in radio, television, movies, and the theater. One
of his most popular roles was narrating the original TV
production of Dr. Seuss's "Horton Hears a Who."
But his career in radio is our focus in this program, and
he appeared in countless dramas and comedies. He was
a regular on "My Friend Irma" in 1947 with Marie Wilson
in the starring role. Marie Wilson is, of course, Irma
Peterson. The "friend" narrator Jane is played by Cathy
Lewis (wife of Elliot Lewis, "Remley" on Phil Harris/Alice
Faye Show). John Brown is Irma's boyfriend Al, and
Professor Kropotkin is played by Hans Conreid. Irma's
boss, Mr. Clyde, is played by Alan Reed.
"A One Night Stand with the Big Bands" With Arnold Dean
Program 11 - May, 1972 - George T. Simon
The subject tonight is the third of Arnold's conversations with
George T. Simon, author of The Big Bands and Simon Says:
The Sights and Sounds of the Swing Era, and the foremost
authority on the Big Band Era. He went on to become a
leading expert on the music of the swing era and the big bands.
He wrote several other acclaimed books, including The Sinatra
Report (1965), as well as copious articles, liner notes for
recordings, and occasionally even song lyrics for the likes
of Duke Ellington and Alec Wilder.
In the 1970's WTIC decided that there was a market in
the evening for long-form shows that could be packaged
and sold to sponsors. Two of those shows were "The
Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand with the
Big Bands."
Dick Bertel had interviewed radio collector-historian
Ed Corcoran several times on his radio and TV shows,
and thought a regular monthly show featuring interviews
with actors, writers, producers, engineers and musicians
from radio's early days might be interesting. "The Golden
Age of Radio" was first broadcast in April, 1970; Ed was
Dick's co-host. It lasted seven years. "The Golden Age
of Radio" can also be heard Saturday nights on Walden
Hughes's program on Radio Yesteryear.
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 1971, 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.
Bob Scherago
Webmaster
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:53:28 -0500
From: Rentingnow@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Encore
The series in NYC is "Encore". They do about 4 productions a year.
Sometimes their productions are a bridge to a Broadway production.
"Wonderful Town"
(a wonderful production" and "Apple Tree" (Fair production) are a case in
point. Live audio recordings of these performance are regularly posted in the
newsgroup which features musicals. Search for the group "musical". There is
another group in NYC that does readings with scripts. We went to one which
was a Maxwell Anderson play. They just do reading. Doesn't even have some of
the fancy footwork one might see in Encore [removed] is the website
for
Encores. Notice they are doing Sondheims "Follies". Hardly a rarely
produces musical.
[removed]
The binary groups were mentioned previously in another posting. They are
undoubtedly well hated by the dealers as they are a relatively free source of
OTR programs. As mentioned the quality can vary and the dates might not be
exact. It is good for those who want just the programs and aren't doing
research. There is a discussion group also but the discussions don't seem to
be as
serious as one will see in this group.
Larry Moore
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:53:57 -0500
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: TV to radio
Re Ken Piletic writing about TV shows going to radio ...
I seem to recall that the quiz show "Two for the Money" with Herb
Shriner was on both TV and radio. I don't know if they debuted at
the same time or whether they were actually simulcast, but I
remember listening to it before ever seeing it on a neighbor's
TV.
Also, about the summer of 1955 the "$64,000 Question" came on
television ... we didn't have a TV then, either ... and that fall
for a couple of months it was simulcast on CBS Radio. I remember
when we finally got a TV in '56 and seeing the show and thinking,
"Wow, so that's what's happening when the music is playing." -
which was, the ol' IBM card sorter was spitting out the questions
or the "isolation booth" was being moved from upstage forward for
the contestant to get into.
Bob Cockrum
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:54:56 -0500
From: Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Screen Guild Theatre 33 1/3
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What you have, according to "Jerry Haendiges Radio Log" is Catalog Title
98251A "The Screen Guild Theatre" of 10/14/48 Episode 391 "Welcome Stranger"
starring Bing Crosby, Barry FitzGerald and Mona [removed] emanated from
Hollywood and the sponsor for those years was "Camel' cigarettes.
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:55:23 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Get into the "Zone"
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My pal Ken Piletic posted:
This means that there are at least THREE radio programs that started on TV and
then
went to radio. Just backwards of many programs that went from Radio to TV.
Previously
I thought there were only two. There may be more - anybody aware of any
besides:
HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL; TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET; and MY LITTLE MARGIE
How about the recent Carl Amari-produced THE TWILIGHT ZONE, first a TV show in
several incarnations?
Or would that be [removed] at least on a different trajectory thirty=plus
years after the fact?
Nah, our buddy Craig Wichman acted in a few of these newer "Zones." Let's
count it.
"That's about the size of it."
Derek Tague
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:54:36 -0500
From: "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@[removed];
To: "The Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Welcome Stranger
To answer Brent Pellegrini question:
"Welcome Strange" was a novel in the late 30's or early 40's about a younger
doctor filling in for an older Dr. who is on vacation, in a small town.
Young Dr. meets a girl so he sets an office, and stays in town. The older
Dr. doesn't like the idea. In a 1947 movie Barry Fitzgerald [the older one]
goes so far that he operates on himself to remove his appendix using a
[removed] than allowing the younger Dr. operate on him. Bing Crosby is
the young [removed] In the end the Doctors are friends.
Crosby and Fitzgerald were such a big hit in "Going My Way" a story of older
priest being replace by a young priest. That Hollywood recast them in
another older vs. young situation.
A radio version was broadcast on "Screen Guild Theater" on 10/14/48 [before
Tapes]sponsored by Camel Cigarettes on Thursday evening. With Crosby &
Fitzgerald and on "The Lux Radio Theater" on 4/5/54 with Fitzgerald & Gary
Cooper in Crosby's role.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:57:35 -0500
From: Stephen Davies <SDavies@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Don Juan in Hell
I remember listening to G. B. Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell" on LPs borrowed
from my public library. Ken G. witnessed this cast: CHARLES LAUGHTON,
CHARLES BOYER, DAME JUDITH ANDERSON AND TYRONE POWER.
The version I heard (Columbia OSL 166 (OL 4611-4612) [1952]) was from a
couple of years later and had Charles Laughton, Charles Boyer, Agnes
Moorehead and Cedric Hardwicke, calling themselves the First Drama
Quartette. I don't know where it was recorded.
Stephen D
Calgary
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 17:58:21 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: From TV to radio
On Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at 08:18 AM, Ken Piletic wrote:
There are at least THREE radio programs that started on TV.
Previously I thought there were only two. There may be more - anybody
aware of any besides: HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL; TOM CORBETT, SPACE
CADET; and MY LITTLE MARGIE
Willikers! I conducted a seminar on this very topic about 5 years ago
at FOTR Newark. In those days, Ken not only attended, but also taped
every presentation, including mine. So in case he can't find that video
in his attic, I'll refresh his memory.
First off, let's eliminate the TV shows that were simulcast as radio
[removed] would include "Two for the Money", "George Gobel Show",
"Meet Mr. McNultey", "Alan Young Show" among others.
But of those that were a television series first and then spawned a
radio show later (sometimes with a different cast) there were at least
eight. Ken has already mention three, above. Another five were "Tales
of Tomorrow", "Hopalong Cassidy", "What's My Line?", "Howdy Doody", and
"Wild Bill Hickok." (There is some indication that "I Love Lucy" may
have also gone this route, but I haven't confirmed this yet.)
For those of you eager to know more about these shows, I'm currently
working on an article for Nostalgia Digest Magazine which will cover
this topic in great detail.
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 18:02:50 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Fibber's Closet
On Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at 08:18 AM, Bill Harris wrote, in
answer to Ted's question:
I can't remember what video I saw this on as it was some time ago, but
it
was about radio sound effects and it showed the sound effects man doing
Fibber's closet. He had an assortment of pots, pans, and other items
stacked
on the steps of a ladder that looked to be about six feet tall. When
the cue
came for Fibber to open the closet, the sound guy started knocking
stuff off
the ladder, kicking them around a bit.
Obviously this routine changed over the many years Fibber was on the
air, determined by which sound crew was doing this in which NBC studio.
And we must also remember that what NBC (or any other network) released
in their publicity shots of the sound effects crew may or may not an
accurate representation. I've got a photo of WOR Mutual's "sound crew"
supposedly taken during a live show and there are four very attractive
young ladies posing with sound effects. In another Mutual pix (this one
from Chicago) Bob Cline, soundman on the "Tom Mix" show is seen in
swimming trunks, splashing around in a small tub, to imitate the sound
of a body in water. This is pure nonsense; no sound man stripped down
to his trunks to create this sound. Fully clothed, he merely used a
plunger in a small container of water.
Specifically on Fibber's closet, I suspect NBC fudged a little on this
too. Bob Turnbull's classic book "Radio and TV Sound Effects" (1951)
has an undated photo of soundman Bud Tollefson on the verge of "opening
Fibber McGee's Closet." Seen clearly on a four step platform are
several items, including a large packing trunk, four bowling pins, a
bat, a set of club clubs, wooden box with household tools, wicker
basket, and and a rug beater.
Was this set-up actually used for a live show? [removed] probably
not. Four bowling pins, when tipped over, could roll around the studio
floor for several minutes and would be tough to control or retrieve.
The truth may be found in an item that they used to demonstrate years
ago at the Chicago Museum of Radio & TV. NBC had donated this item,
termed "Fibber's Closet," and it consisted of a large sealed metal
drum, filled with assorted junk, and mounted on a wooden frame. A large
handle was attached by which one could spin the drum at any speed, thus
producing the required sound, being able to stop it on cue, and no
stray materials would be rolling around the studio floor.
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #343
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