------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 171
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Chevy-radio film short [ <verotas@[removed]; ]
Ray Erlenborn RIP 1915? - 2007 [ <verotas@[removed]; ]
1915 recordings [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
6-9 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
1931 programs [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
This week in radio history 10-18 Jun [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
That "Museum" (?), w/o a center [ Wich2@[removed] ]
Pepsi jingle [ "Jim Nixon" <ranger6000@[removed] ]
Ray Erlenborn [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
My intro to OTR and Streaming [ "Richard Dimel" <rdimel@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:33:44 -0400
From: <verotas@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Chevy-radio film short
Somehow I missed the initial comment on this. Is it possible to obtain a
copy? Perhaps someone can tell me if, and then how.
Ever since I was in the 6th or 7th grade I have hoped to find a print (now
would be video) of an RCA-NBC film short from the late 40s or early 50s,
about how radio programs were created, broadcast and received.
It traced the program from preparation to performance through the engineering
process to the xmtr and thus to families listening at home. Obviously, all
via RCA equipment. The singing star of the program was John Charles Thomas,
the then quite famous baritone. Obviously the film impressed me (as would
anything then and now about classic <OTR> radio). If anyone can sic me on
that I will appreciate that, too. Or anything else similar.
That singer was referred to by some feckless and un-knowing announcer in a
gaff which appeared in one of the infamous Blooper records. I don't know
whether it was real, re-created or just created by Kermit Schaefer. (Was
Kermit S. by any chance the inspiration for the jolly green midget?)
Anyway, the blooper was the announcer introducing something like, "and now,
we'll listen to the popular singing trio, John, Charles and Thomas.
Get the gong going, Major! Bestus, Lee Munsick
[ADMINISTRIVIA: The short film "Back of the Mike" produced by the Jam Handy
Orginization for Chevrolet is available on the latest Fundraiser disc
available from the [removed] Shop at [removed] -
you'll find it on the 200701 disc under Fundraiser discs. Remember that
_all_ proceeds from every purchase from the [removed] store goes
directly to supporting the mailing lists, blogs, podcasts, websites, and
other OTR stuff here.
I've also put together a quick DVD containing this short and a later one
starring Gale Storm called "How To Go Places," also available at the store.
More info on the fundraiser discs will be posted a little down the line when
I finish the next one. Always running [removed] --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:52:58 -0400
From: <verotas@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Ray Erlenborn RIP 1915? - 2007
Thanks to Derek Tague for informing me about the sad news of the passing of
Ray Erlenborn at 92, as reported by Variety.
The very first time I saw Ray was when he walked into the lobby at an FOTR
convention years back. I thought, "Who is this guy? My God, Emperor Franz
Josef has come back to life!" Ray's magnificent chin adornments were a
trademark in his later years.
With his help, I began to track down videos of appearances in the 1950s in
film, with Red Skelton and on such programs as "You Asked For It", I was
stunned at just how different he looked 40 years before. Much, much more
interesting in his later incarnation! I'm sure Ray would agree.
He also told me that he could be seen as a child of 8 or 9 in the bleachers
during the race in the original film of "Ben Hur". He told me it would be
easy to spot him, because he was wearing a bright red jacket or sweater.
Although I knew that Ben Hur was monochrome, I figured if I ever could spot
him, he probably would stand out, red shirted and all. So far I've not been
able to find him, but I shall continue to look.
Charlotte and I counted ourselves fortunate and proud to be friends of Ray
and his wonderful wife Meridy over many OTR conventions, by phone, letters
and Email. For the past year I did not receive responses and feared the
worst. Now the news that Ray has left us on June 4.
I've told this story before, but it bears repeating. He added so much to
FOTR and other outings before his doctor told him to stop flying. That can
be taken both ways - one, on airplanes. And two, via pratfalls which he was
still doing well into his 80s! We at FOTR finally sadly and appreciatively
but firmly requested that he please stop, much to the relief and thanks of
Meridy.
In all his glory, Ray would be resplendent standing behind the SFX setup high
on the performance stage, behind all the actors. I should say "other
actors", because Ray was certainly an inveterate and veteran actor. He would
mug, spew truly funny remarks, and seemed to glow with vitality equaling the
red aura of his beaming face and shiny pate. Always a great addition to any
venue, always loving the attention and the laughter, as did we all.
During most OTR outings, there are always any number of fluffs, most of which
simply add to the immediacy and closeness to the audience, that loved it
all. At least once per convention, Ray would be standing next to his
associate - very often our other late friend Barney Beck, or Bob Mott.
Erlenborn and Mott made up our very own special "Bob & Ray". Ray would find
just the exact moment to stand up, quickly survey the room, beam out in his
benevolence, and exclaim, "There's nothing like a well-rehearsed show - and
this is nothing like a well-rehearsed show". Always brought down the house.
Some years ago, Ray and Meridy moved into the Motion Picture and TV Fund home
in Woodland Hills, California. I can just imagine all those wonderful actors
and crew people sharing wonderful stories and happily laughing at all the
combined memories. I wish I could have been there to record it all.
Bob Lynes made wonderful artwork with the name "Bob and Ray" and their
likenesses, and I have my own T-shirt thus adorned with all the memories
that evokes. I found a permanent marker pen and the two sound effects
veterans proudly signed their names next to their faces. Thanks to Bob and
Ray and Bob!
One time I slipped into a closed rehearsal session to observe a circle of
performers working through a re-creation script. Ray sat with his back to
the door, and thus to me as I entered. Most everyone was absorbed in the
task at hand, and I think only Arthur Anderson looked up at me. I crept up
behind Ray. Just as he was reading a line, I leaned over and laid a big,
noisy kiss on the top of that marvelous shining bald head. He never missed a
beat or a syllable - just went right on as if nothing happened. I decided
then and there that his years of participating from the sidelines in all
those studios in days of yore, he had developed eyes in the back of his head.
Our prayers and hearts go out to Meridy. Our fond memories of Ray and Meridy
and their friendship, will burn brightly with us as long as we live. Good
friends, truly wonderful, gentle man and woman. Thanks for all the great
effects of every kind, Ray!
Gratefully, Charlotte and Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:53:11 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 1915 recordings
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Robert Angus reminded the group that there were cylinder recordings made by
Charles Apgar in 1915 of the code transmissions from the Sayville, Long
Island, Telefunken station. I've known about them for many decades and had a
long discussion of them in my [removed] dissertation thirty years ago. I didn't
mention them in relation to the Museum of Broadcasting because they have never
claimed to have them, and, strictly speaking, these recordings are of
point-to-point transmissions, not broadcasts. (The intentions of a
transmission determine their status, not whether multiple people could hear
them. Your cordless phone transmissions are not broadcasts even though people
with scanners might be able to hear them.)
Ironically, with the organization's changes of names from "Broadcasting" to
"Television & Radio" to "Media", the recordings might not have fit the
original designation but now they DO qualify! Since the recordings consist of
beeps, buzzes, and whistles, I don't think they would be big draws to the
Paley Center where they seem to mainly have people interested in seeing things
no more rare than the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Actually, if the Paley Center
does manage to get a copy of the recordings, I think they would consider them
important only in bringing the age of their earliest recording back a few more
years closer to 100.
For this group, which is a bit more historically minded, I will mention why
these recordings really are important. They show that even prior to
broadcasting, even back into the early 1890s, there always had been the
technology available to make recordings of radio transmissions and broadcasts.
Thus it is possible that ANYTHING could have been recorded. The German
manager of the station stated that this was impossible, and his quote about
this on the front page of the NY Times is rather funny. But there is more to
these recordings, including the real reason why the station manager tried to
downplay the possibility of recordings. The transmissions themselves were
recordings. They were magnetic wire recordings of Morse code messages that
were speeded up for transmission with the intention for the German receiver to
record them at high speed on a similar wire recorder and slow them back down
for decoding. Apgar's spring wound cylinder recorder could be slowed down
while playing, and then it became obvious that the high pitched buzzing was
really standard code. This was not a new idea. Edison had been working with
a mechanical disc recorder in 1876 attempting to do this very same thing. It
is said that when Edison played the code recordings at high speed the high
pitched sound gave him an idea that sound could be recorded on a similar
machine.
So there were many intersecting aspects of the Apgar recordings. Off the air
sound recording, magnetic recording and playback, and compression and
expansion of recordings like Edison had attempted. But I'm not sure what the
Paley Center would do with the recordings because to them they would not be
very entertaining.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:53:16 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 6-9 births/deaths
June 9th births
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LES PAUL, FROM THE CITY OF MY BIRTH
06-09-1890 - Leslie Banks - West Derby, England - d. 4-21-1952
actor: "Theatre of Romance"
06-09-1891 - Cole Porter - Peru, IN - d. 10-15-1964
composer: Theme for "My Friend Irma"
06-09-1900 - Fred Waring - Tyrone, PA - d. 7-29-1984
conductor: "Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians"; "Pleasure Time/
Victory Tunes"
06-09-1903 - Marcia Davenport - NYC - d. 1-15-1996
auther: "Lux Radio Theatre"
06-09-1905 - Martha Boswell - Kansas City, MO - d. 7-2-1958
singer: (The Boswell Sisters) "The Boswell Sisters"; "Woodbury Soap
Show"
06-09-1908 - Robert Cummings - Joplin, MO - d. 12-1-1990
actor: David Adair "Those We Love"; "Cavalcade of America"
06-09-1910 - George Bryan - NYC - d. 6-27-1969
announcer: "Helen Hayes Theatre"; "Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts"
06-09-1910 - Joseph Julian - St. Marys, PA - d. 3-11-1982
actor: Sandy Matson "Lorenzo Jones"; Archie Goodwin "Advs. of Nero
Wolfe"
06-09-1912 - Don Forbes - Camrose, Alberta, Canada - d. 11-28-1995
newscaster, announcer: "The Richfield Reporter"; Ten-Two-Four Ranch"
06-09-1915 - Les Paul - Waukesha, WI
guitarist: "Les Paul and Mary Ford Show"; "Rhubarb Red"
06-09-1922 - George Axelrod - NYC - d. 6-21-2003
writer: "Midnight in Manhattan"; "Grand Ole Opry"
06-09-1926 - Mona Freeman - Baltimore, MD
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Suspense"
06-09-1929 - Nancy Ashbaugh - Rochester, NY
writer: "The Story of Bill Adams"
06-09-1934 - Dick Orkin - Williamsport, PA
comedian: "Chickenman"; "Tooth Fairy"
June 9th deaths
01-11-1910 - Betty Miles - Santa Monica, CA - d. 6-9-1992
actor: Millie Anderson "A Day in the Life of Dennis Day"
02-06-1903 - Claudio Arrau - Chillans, Chile - d. 6-9-1991
classical pianist: "New York Philharmonic"; "Music America Loves Best"
02-07-1812 - Charles Dickens - Portsmouth, England - d. 6-9-1870
author: "A Christmas Carol"
02-17-1912 - Clifford Evans - Senghenydd, Wales - d. 6-9-1985
Producer and director on Welsh radio
03-18-1905 - Robert Donat - Manchester, England - d. 6-9-1958
actor, poetry reader: "Justice"; "Monte Carlo"; "Reader of Poetry";
[removed] Steel Hour"
05-30-1888 - James Farley - Crassey Point, NY - d. 6-9-1976
post master general: "Information Please"
05-31-1931 - Barbara Whiting - Los Angeles, CA - d. 6-9-2004
actor: Judy Graves "Junior Miss"; Mildred "Meet Corliss Archer"
06-08-1921 - Alexis Smith - Penticton, British Columbia, Canada - d.
6-9-1993
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Stars in the Air"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
06-13-1909 - Anna Sosenko - NYC - d. 6-9-2000
friend and agent to Hildegard
07-16-1902 - Andrew Stone - Oakland, CA - d. 6-9-1999
film writer: "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-05-1918 - Allen Ludden - Mineral Point, WI - d. 6-9-1981
host: "Mind Your Manners"; "College Bowl"
10-26-1888 - Pat Barnes - Sharon, PA - d. 6-9-1969
emcee: "The Pat Barnes and Barbara Show"
12-12-1908 - Hank Ladd - Chicago, IL - d. 6-9-1982
actor: Beetle "Phil Baker Show"
12-27-1910 - Harry Saz - d. 6-9-1994
director: "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge"
Ron Sayles
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:53:28 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 1931 programs
I'm somewhat surprised that no one has commented on the newly discovered
transcriptions that were aired earlier this week. They've been discussed
elsewhere on the net but not here.
In case you missed my post on the Digest, please go to [removed] and click on
Audio archives and listen to our show from earlier this week. You'll find it
under Something's Happening with Roy of Hollywood, part A, Tuesday, June 5,
2007 12:03 am. We played transcribed programs from 1931, discovered last
year and not aired for the past 76 years! The sound quality is incredible.
They are like a time capsule, the pace of most of the shows is fast, with
different types of music heard on the same show, and the commercials are so
much fun, especially on the Marmola programs.
I'd love to hear your comments on this true treasure trove of early
recordings.
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:53:34 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 10-18 June
6/10
From [removed] --
1909 - An SOS signal is transmitted for the first time in an emergency
when the Cunard liner SS Slavonia is wrecked off the Azores.
From Those Were The Days --
1924 - The first political convention on radio was presented by NBC.
Graham McNamee provided coverage of the Republican National Convention
from Cleveland, OH.
6/12
1947 - Sergeant Preston of The Yukon went national for the first time.
The show, with the Canadian Mountie and his trusty dog, King, continued
on the radio until 1955, beginning on WXYZ Detroit in 1938. Sgt. Preston
was created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, who also created The
Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet.
1955 - The first network radio show to be produced with no script, The
University of Chicago Round Table, was heard for the final time on NBC.
The program was the first network radio program to win the coveted
George Foster Peabody Award.
1955 - "This is Monitor, a weekend program service of NBC Radio," was
heard for the first time. Notables such as Bill Cullen, Ed McMahon, Hugh
Downs, and Dave Garroway recited this line. It was a network cue to NBC
radio stations across the nation who carried the long form news,
entertainment and variety broadcast from New York City. Stations and
listeners who were "on the Monitor beacon" were entertained for six
hours or more each Saturday and Sunday night for nearly two decades.
NBC's Monitor was one of the last live network radio programs on the air.
6/13
1944 - The wire recorder was patented by Marvin Camras.
6/14
1922 - A [removed] President was heard on the radio for the first time.
President Warren G. Harding dedicated the Francis Scott Key Memorial and
was heard on WEAR in Baltimore.
1950 - Harold Peary played the leading role of The Great Gildersleeve
one final time. Willard Waterman took Peary's place in the role.
6/15
1936 - Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler starred in Burlesque on the Lux Radio
Theatre.
6/17
1942 - Suspense, known as radio's outstanding theatre of thrills,
debuted on CBS. The program kept millions of loyal listeners in suspense
for the next 20 years (and three months, for the purists <g> -ed)
Joe
--
Visit my homepage: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:54:32 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: That "Museum" (?), w/o a center
Dear Folks-
I should start by saying that what Max Schmid has always spoken of as "THE
MUSEUM OF TV (and radio)" has been decent to me; they approached us to place
our shows in their Archive, and then invited us to produce two there live:
THE
SPECKLED BAND, and GOOD FRIDAY, 1865.
But yes, what is happening now is another wrong step by an organization that
started out on the wrong foot.
Ol' Bill was no hater of ego-stroking; so I imagine that wherever he is,
he's not bothered by the big PALEY in the new title. But I do seem to recall
that he truly loved the medium in which he made his bones, so a falling
further
and further away from the Radio touchstone makes no sense. And, as Michael B.
pointed out, just how wide is the "Media" in their new Center, anyway -
Painting & Sculpture, too?
(I can tell you that even within the belly of the beast, the new name landed
with a resounding thud.)
True, it was never the "go-to" Museum it should have been; due largely to
hamfistedness on their part, compounded by that old bugaboo we've discussed
here often - collectors who are not willing to part with programs that, as
dear
departed Harry Bartell used to remind us, they don't really own anyway.
But I've always thought that the Muzeem's biggest missed bet was as
Cheerleader/Omsbudsman for the Audio form. They had the clout, the money,
and the
connections to put together, in effect, a "TCM" of Classic Era radio, to be
what
that venue is for Classic Era film.
What if, early on, they had committed to acquiring and restoring pieces that
still had a present cache? Perhaps then, partnered with NPR in a regular
[removed]
"National Public Radio [removed] "Treasures from the Vaults," produced by
the Museum of Television and Radio! -
" - This week: John Barrymore, the greatest Shakespearian actor of our age,
in the works of The Bard!"
" - In association with Warner Brothers' SUPERMAN RETURNS, in theaters now,
we bring you Bud Collyer and Jackson Beck in "The Adventures of Superman!"
"- This Independence Day, join us for "Cavalcade of America," starring Basil
Rathbone as George Washington!"
" - It's classic comedy this week, with an 'audio short' from Laurel &
Hardy, a Popeye 'audio cartoon', and then Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert
in Lux
Radio Theater's "It Happened One Night!"
" - As Election Day approaches, we will present to you moments with
Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to John Fitzgerald Kennedy!"
You get the point. This could've become that priceless thing, A Brand -
ezpanding, then, maybe even to a retail CD line. A rising tide raise all
boats,
and starting as they did when things like CBSRMT, the Sears show, and ZERO
HOUR were just fading, they could've kept the embers burning - even, I
honestly
believe, fanned them.
Damn.
-Craig Wichman,
-Quicksilver Radio Theater
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:54:59 -0400
From: "Jim Nixon" <ranger6000@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Pepsi jingle
All this chatter about the Pepsi jingle reminds me of when I was a lad and
we had an old 10-inch 78 rpm recording of a Scottish folk song called, "John
Peel" that I used to listen to. It went, "D'ye ken John Peel, with his coat
so gay, d'ye ken John Peel at the break of [removed]" etc. Then I heard the
Pepsi jingle for the first time and exclaimed, "They've stolen John Peel's
song!"
My dad assured me that there was something called the public domain, and
like the William Tell Overture, modern radio could use old music without
being sued.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:55:19 -0400
From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ray Erlenborn
What a wonderfully kind and generous man Ray Erlenborn was. I
am so happy that the he enjoyed a long and happy life with his
wife, Merridy. I have known Ray for almost as long as I have
been a SPERDVAC member. Ray always stood ready to help out at
our conventions, as well as at the conventions of many other OTR
groups. And, when he did appear, it was not just as a sound man.
His antics onstage were so enjoyable, and his talents were so
varied that one cannot say that he was "just a sound man".
His wonderful personality, great talents, and his unique antics
will be missed greatly.
Stuart Lubin
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:55:46 -0400
From: "Richard Dimel" <rdimel@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: My intro to OTR and Streaming
My brother and I became huge OTR fans back in the early 1970's, when WDBQ AM
in Dubuque, Iowa aired shows every Sunday Night from 7:00 to midnight.
Now, thanks to the Internet, we can listen 24/7 to streaming OTR from:
[removed]
[removed]
[removed]
If anyone knows of more streaming sites, please let us know.
Thanks!
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #171
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