Subject: [removed] Digest V2009 #161
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 8/24/2009 11:22 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to:
[removed]@[removed]

------------------------------


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2009 : Issue 161
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  This week in radio history            [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  NBC only in a visual sense?           [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
  8-23 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Re: THE SHADOW actor dates            [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
  Re: stamps                            [ "Irene Theodore Heinstein" <IreneTH ]
  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK               [ Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed]; ]
  Chirp and bong                        [ Michael Muderick <[removed]@ ]
  That ain't Miss Kitty                 [ "Pamela K. Gitta" <wjmtv@[removed] ]
  Favorite [removed]                     [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
  New stamps/opportunity                [ Melanie Aultman <otrmelanie@[removed] ]
  Who knew? Morrison, Archer and Court  [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
  Those who have gone [removed]         [ Wich2@[removed] ]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:15:29 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  This week in radio history

 From Those Were The Days

8/23

1923   Billy Jones and Ernie Hare, The Happiness Boys, were heard on
radio for the first time. The two were billed as radio's first comedians
and were also credited with creating and performing the first singing
commercial.

8/24

1950   The summer replacement radio show for Suspense, titled Somebody
Knows, was heard for the final time. The program offered a reward of
$5,000 for information that led to the solving of crimes. Somebody Knows
began with the introduction, "You out there. You, who think you have
committed the perfect crime that there are no clues, no witnesses
listen. Somebody knows."

8/25

1949   NBC debuted Father Knows Best. The Thursday night program aired
for five years. Robert Young played the role of Jim Anderson, the ever
patient father. The rest of the family included wife Margaret, son Bud
and lovely daughters Betty (the eldest) and Kathy. The family lived on
Maple Street in Springfield.

8/26

1939   Arch Oboler's Plays presented the NBC Symphony, for the first
time, as the musical backdrop for the drama, This Lonely Heart.

8/28

1922   The first paid commercial to be broadcast on radio was heard on
WEAF in New York City. Announcer [removed] Blackwell spoke about Hawthorne
Court, a group of apartment buildings in Queens, New York. The
Queensboro Realty Company, of Jackson Heights, bought what was called
Toll Broadcasting. WEAF, owned by AT&T, sold their block programming,
five one minute programs, one a day for five days, for $50 ($[removed] in
2008*).  plus long distance toll fees. The Queensboro Realty Company
paid $100 ($[removed] in 2008*) for 10 minutes of commercial airtime.
(*[removed])

  From The [removed]

1938    The first degree given to a ventriloquist's dummy is awarded to
Charlie McCarthy  Edgar Bergen's wooden partner. The honorary degree,
"Master of Innuendo and Snappy Comeback," is presented on radio by Ralph
Dennis, the dean of the School of Speech at Northwestern University.

Joe

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:16:10 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  NBC only in a visual sense?

Is anybody familiar with a book edited by Michele Hilmes titled "NBC:
America's Network"?  I've not seen it but the reviews I've read and product
descriptions lavish praise on it for its contributions to television, and
the word "radio" seems to be missing everywhere.  Does this, like so much
else, forget there was something earlier?  Or if radio is included, is it
substantive enough to make the volume interesting and worthwhile to
radiophiles?  Your observations might be welcomed by lots of book-buyers.

Jim Cox

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:16:19 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  8-23 births/deaths

August 23rd births

08-23-1869 - Edgar Lee Masters - Garnett, KS - d. 3-5-1950
author: "Cavalcade of America"; "CBS Radio Workshop"
08-23-1883 - Art Van Harvey - Chicago, IL - d. 7-7-1957
actor: Vic Gook "Vic and Sade"; Jeffery Barker "Welcome Valley"
08-23-1897 - Ray Perkins - Boston, MA - d. 1-31-1969
emcee, singer: "National Amateur Night"; "Show of the Week"; "Nickel
Man"
08-23-1902 - Carl Hohengarten - St. Louis, MO - d. 12-3-1968
orchestra leader: "Double Everything"; "Knickerbocker Playhouse"
08-23-1902 - Charles Paul - NYC - d. 9-18-1990
organist: "Kate Smith"; "As the Twig is Bent"
08-23-1905 - Rags Ragland - Louisville, KY - d. 8-20-1946
actor: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
08-23-1906 - Harriet Parsons - Burlington, IA - d. 1-2-1983
commentator: (Daughter of Louella Parsons) "Hollywood Hotel"
08-23-1908 - Natalie Bodanya - NYC - d. 3-4-2007
opera soprano: "The Metropolitan Opera"
08-23-1910 - John Nesbitt - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - d.
8-10-1960
commentator: ""John Nesbitt and the News"; Passing Parade"
08-23-1912 - Gene Kelly - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 2-2-1996
actor: "Cresta Blanca Hollywood Players"; "Star for a Night"; "Suspense"
08-23-1915 - Ralph Amati - d. 6-xx-1980
sound effects: "One Man's Family"; "I Love A Mystery"
08-23-1919 - Olin Tice - Savannah, GA - d. 1-8-1998
announcer: "The Mindy Carson Show"; "The Peggy Lee Show"
08-23-1922 - George Kell - Swifton, AR - d. 3-24-2009
baseball announcer: Detroit Tigers
08-23-1924 - Frank Pacelli - d. 3-7-1997
actor: "Cavalcade of America"; "Sportsman Club"; "War Town"
08-23-1925 - Larry Nunn - Marshfield, OR - d. 10-20-1974
actor: Don Bradley "Glorious One"; Peter Bretn "Brenthouse"
08-23-1926 - Eugene Troopnick - Boston, MA - d. 2-19-2003
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
08-23-1928 - Marian Seldes NYC
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
08-23-1947 - Willy Russell - Whiston, England
writer: "I Read the News Today"

August 23rd deaths

01-10-1883 - Francis X. Bushman - Norfolk, VA - d. 8-23-1966
actor: John Fairchild "Step Mother"; Peter Standish "Betty and Bob"
02-09-1884 - Wilmer Walter - Philadelphia, PA - d. 8-23-1941
actor: David Harum "David Harum"; Andy Agnes "The Gumps"
03-27-1902 - Sidney Buchman - Duluth, MN - d. 8-23-1975
movie writer: "Lux Radio Theatre"
03-28-1897 - Frank Hawks - Marshalltown, IA - d. 8-23-1938
flying ace: "Roads of the Sky"; "Time Flies"
05-16-1882 - Mary Gordon - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 8-23-1963
actor: Mrs. Emmett "Those We Love"; Mrs. Hudson "Sherlock Holmes"
05-20-1899 - Virginia Sale - Urbana, IL - d. 8-23-1992
actor: Martha "Those We Love"
05-28-1928 - Maynard Ferguson - Montreal, Canada - d. 8-23-2006
trumpeter: "Bud's Bandwagon"
06-07-1903 - Glen Gray - Metamora, IL - d. 8-23-1963
bandleader: "Camel Caravan"
06-15-1910 - David Rose - London, England - d. 8-23-1990
conductor: "Red Skelton Show"; "David Rose Show"; "Bold Venture"
07-02-1927 - Brock Peters - NYC - d. 8-23-2005
actor: Darth Vader "Star Wars"; "Earplay"
07-06-1918 - Sebastian Cabot - London, England - d. 8-23-1977
actor: Toussiant Charbonneau "Horizons West"; "Studio One"; "Lives of
Harry Lime"
07-12-1895 - Oscar Hammerstein II - NYC - d. 8-23-1960
lyricist: "Pet Milk Show"
07-26-1883 - Walter Blaufuss - Milwaukee, WI - d. 8-23-1945
composer, conductor, pianist: "Breakfast Club"; "Viennese Ensemble"
08-22-1907 - Sherling Oliver - Kipling, AL - d. 8-23-1971
actor: Dudley Trowbridge "Valiant Lady"
10-13-1919 - Marion Hargrove - Mount Olive, NC - d. 8-23-2003
author: "MGM Theatre of the Air"; "Information, Please"; "March of Time"
10-18-1915 - Reuben Ship - Montreal, CA - d. 8-23-1975
writer: "Life of Riley"; "The Man Who Liked Christmas"
10-23-1911 - Martha Rountree - Gainesville, FL - d. 8-23-1999
co-founder, moderator: "Meet the Press"
xx-xx-1897 - Nan Rae - San Francisco, CA - d. 8-23-1946
singer: (The Clark Sisters) "Eddie Cantor Show"; "Kate Smith"

Ron

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:16:57 -0400
From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: THE SHADOW actor dates

on 8/22/09 11:18 PM, [removed]@[removed] at
[removed]@[removed] wrote:

The first non-Bret Morrison broadcast with John Archer and the last one?
The first and last Stephen Courtleigh broadcast?
The date of the broadcast that Bret Morrison took it up (again) after
Courtleigh?

John Archer debuted as The Shadow on the September 24, 1944 broadcast ("The
Ebony Goddess"), and ended his season-long run on April 15, 1945 ("The Case
of the River of Eternal Woe").

Steve Courtleigh and Lesley Woods debuted as Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane
on September 9, 1945. (Note: Contrary to earlier published announcements,
Margot was voiced by Lesley Woods from the season opener, not Laura Mae
Carpenter!) Courtleigh was replaced by Bret Morrison by October 28, 1945,
and possibly a week or two earlier. If I had to hazard a guess (since the
recordings don't appear to survive), I'd suggest October 21 (since the
scriptwriter and some production personnel were replaced at that time),
though it's possible the casting may have lagged behind a week or so.
--ANTHONY TOLLIN

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:17:20 -0400
From: "Irene Theodore Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:  stamps

Jack French mentioned the new stamp series recently issued:

A stamp collector friend of mine brought my attention to the new
series of stamps that the USPO just brought out. Each sheet features
20 "TV Early Memories" shows or characters. Most of them began on
radio, including The Lone Ranger, Dragnet, Lassie, Perry Mason, Ozzie
& Harriet, Burns & Allen, Dinah Shore, and Red Skelton.

Two TV shows are among the stamps which had spun off a radio version:
Howdy Doody and Hopalong  Cassidy.

Another way of purchasing stamps is online at the USPS website.  I usually 
buy special stamps that way since I've been disappointed more than once 
after standing on line at the PO only to be told they were out or that they 
had only a few.

This is the link to the "Postal Store" page where "Early TV Memories" can be 
found.

[removed];storeId=10052&productId=10006094&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10000003&top_category=10000003&categoryId=10000068&top=&currentPage=0&sort=&viewAll=N&rn=CategoriesDisplay&[removed]

I just ordered a pane of 20 and the S&H was $[removed]  (It used to be free 
shipping!)

Irene

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:17:25 -0400
From: Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK

Hi Friends,

Here is this week's schedule for my Olde Tyme Radio Network. Here you
may listen to high-quality broadcasts with Tom Heathwood's "Heritage
Radio Theatre," Big John Matthews and Steve "Archive" Urbaniak's "The
Glowing Dial" and my own "Same Time, Same Station."  Streamed in
high-quality audio, on demand, 24/7 at [removed]
Check out our High-Quality mp3 catalog at:
[removed]
=======================================

SAME TIME, SAME STATION

SCREEN DIRECTOR'S PLAYHOUSE
Episode 1    1-9-49    "Stagecoach"
John Wayne, Ward Bond, Clair Trevor Program Was Known As "NBC
Theater-Screen Director's Assignment" Till 7/1/49

FIBBER MCGEE & MOLLY
Episode 230    1-9-40    "Gone With The Wind"
NBC Johnson's Wax
Stars Jim and Marion Jordan

LUX RADIO THEATER
Episode 727    12-25-50    "The Wizard of OZ"
Stars: Judy Garland, Hans Conried, Herb Vigran, Edwin Max, Herb
Butterfield, Betty Lou Gerson, Noreen Gammill, William Johnstone, Ruth
Perrott, Gil Stratton, Charles Smith, Charles Woolf, Jay Novello, Marion
Richman, Edward Marr, Norman Field and David Light
==================================

HERITAGE RADIO THEATER

TRUE DETECTIVE MYSTERIES
(MBS) 1/1/50 "The Inhuman Monster"

ESCAPE
(CBS) 6/7/48 "Second-Class Passenger"

LASSIE
(NBC) 11/26/49 "The Chaplain's Dog"
====================================

THE GLOWING DIAL

  Silver Theater - "Danger Lights"
originally aired December 12, 1938 on CBS
Starring: Clark Gable, Paula Winslow, John Conte announcing.
Sponsor: International Silver Company

Theatre of Romance - "Casanova Brown"
originally aired November 13, 1945 on CBS
Starring: Henry Fonda.
Sponsors: Colgate, Halo Shampoo

Encore Theater - "Green Light"
originally aired June 25, 1946 on CBS
Starring: Robert Young, Pedro de Cordova, Frank Graham announcing.
Sponsor: Schenley Labs, Inc.

Academy Award Theater - "Suspicion"
originally aired October 30, 1946 on CBS
Starring: Cary Grant, Ann Todd, Hugh Brundage announcing.
Sponsor: E. R. Squibb & Sons

Camel Screen Guild Theatre - "Call Northside 777"
originally aired October 7, 1948 on NBC
Starring: James Stewart, Pat O'Brien, Richard Conte, Michael Roy announcing.
Sponsor: Camel Cigarettes
==================================

If you have any questions or request, please feel free to contact me.

      Jerry Haendiges

      Jerry@[removed]  562-696-4387
      The Vintage Radio Place   [removed]
      Largest source of Old Time Radio Logs, Articles and programs on
the Net

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:17:34 -0400
From: Michael Muderick <[removed]@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Chirp and bong

FWIW, the bong at the head of the hour was/is just that - a signal of
time.  The chirp on the other hand was/is used to signal either station
operators or automation systems to switch from network to local.   Some
networks use sub-audible tones to trigger automation.   Thus, the chirp
is not necessarily, and probably rarely heard at the head of the hour.

mm

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:15:52 -0400
From: "Pamela K. Gitta" <wjmtv@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  That ain't Miss Kitty

Yesterday, I listened to the Gunsmoke episode "The Lynching." Georgia Ellis
is in the credits as always, but I'll eat my ten-gallon hat if she really
did play Kitty in that ep.

Kitty isn't in it for long, but she has an emotional scene with Matt and she
gets pretty shrill. That's what got me seriously doubting it was Georgia.
The glamourous Miss E. doesn't chew scenery.

I've poked around in the places I know to poke, and can't find any evidence
that someone else stood in for her. Does anyone know who she was?

Pam

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:12:23 -0400
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Favorite [removed]

Steve Atlas has suggested that we identify favorite OTR programs. He was
talking about religious programs, but my all-time favorite episode of a
program was the Jack Benny show featuring Frank Fontaine, April 9, 1950.
Jack gives a panhandler (Fontaine) 50c!  In Jack's dream Fontaine gives
imitations of stars of the day.  Dennis Day does Ronald Colman.  If I want
to start my day with a laugh, I play this cassette.

If we are interested in religious programs, I would suggest listening to the
Bradbury 13 program called "The Man."  It was on NPR in 1984.  Bradbury
possibly did not intend this program to be religious or spiritual, but
that's what I call it.  I don't know if Wyllis Cooper intended some of the
scripts for "Quiet, please" as religious, but some of them are based on
Biblical themes and characters.  And for beautiful music I wish I could
still hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir program.  I am told it is still on
the air, but I need a satellite dish.  And the longest-running drama program
is "Unshackled" -- enjoying 59 years of continuous programs from Pacific
Garden Mission. No local station carries this, so I have to download them
from the internet.

My favorite music programs were the NY Philharmonic-Symphony orchestra and
the NBC Symphony.  But if I had to name my very favorite one it would be the
"Cities Service Band of America" program, Paul LaValle, director.  A friend
has send me several of these programs.

I didn't have a favorite soap opera, quiz or game show.  Well, maybe "The
Quiz Kids" was one.  I did listen occasionally to the afternoon soap "Tena
and Tim", when I happened to be sick and home from school.

Ted Kneebone. 1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401. Phone: 605-226-3344.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:13:05 -0400
From: Melanie Aultman <otrmelanie@[removed];
To: OTRDIGEST <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  New stamps/opportunity

In Digest #160, August 23, 2009, Jack French mentions the new set of
stamps featuring early TV shows/characters, many beginning on radio.

When my 30-something postmaster mentioned he didn't know much about
Burns & Allen, I located some DVDs of ten of their TV shows to loan
him.  Don't know if he will eventually go for some radio shows, but
it's a start.  These stamps can serve as a jumping off point.

In the last weeks I've also loaned DVDs of Jack Benny to an interesting
end.  the person's mother wanted to watch as well.  THEN he took a DVD to the
electronics store where he works and played one of the shows.  He said he had
to stop becaue people were paying too much attention to the Benny show.  I
said, "The employees?"  "No," he responded, "the customers!"

Melanie

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:14:51 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Who knew?  Morrison, Archer and Courtleigh

Does anyone know the Shadow broadcast dates of ....

The first non-Bret Morrison broadcast with John Archer and the last one?
The first and last Stephen Courtleigh broadcast?
The date of the broadcast that Bret Morrison took it up (again) after
Courtleigh?

... ponders Joe Webb.

My "Radio Crime Fighters," which devotes more than five of 333 pages to the
man "who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men," has the ability "to
cloud men's minds" and is a "wealthy young man about town" [gee, didn't he
ever deal with any women?], provides this detail:

Bret Morrison filled the lead role from September 26, 1943 to April 16,
1944, and from October 14, 1945 to December 26, 1954.

In between, the break was filled by John Archer from September 24, 1944 to
April 8, 1945, and by Steve Courtleigh from September 9 to October 7, 1945.

Oh yes, and "Radio Crime Fighters," with more than 300 added crimebusters
profiled, can be ordered now at big savings for shipment soon -- $[removed] in 
softcover
edition as opposed to $55 originally in hardback.  Morrison and one of the
prime Margot Lane ladies, Gertrude Warner, are included among the
photographs found there.

[removed] or 800-253-2187

Jim Cox

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:16:31 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Those who have gone [removed]

 From: "Donald" <alanladdsr@[removed];
 Subject:  Jack  Bivans

He was most giving of his thoughts and memories
with a rich  recall of Chicago radio in the 40's.

Don, I believe I recall him  telling a story at FOTR, about going to an
ORPHAN ANNIE broadcast and having his  illusions ruined by seeing the lead and
thinking, "hey - she's an OLD LADY!!!"  (I recall Jack as seeming a very
nice sort; he gave me contact info for the  possibility of my doing an
UNSHACKLED with him if I was out Chicago  way.)

 From: PURKASZ@[removed]
 Subject:  DONALD BUKA

His  dog, I believe he said a Chihuahua, was not well and he was
eager to  get back to his apartment in New York.

MG, though I never got to meet her because she was indeed ailing  when we
rehearsed at Don's, I think you're in the wrong kennel, size-wise;  I think
she was a german shepard, or suchlike big doggie. (And from the way Don
spoke of her, one of the great loves of his life.)

Folks, if you'd like to see & hear a great FOTR turn of Don's, get the
copy of PLOT TO OVERTHROW CHRISTMAS from Fred Berney. I recall it as a really
stellar show, in fact one that, with a bit of polish, could've been a great
NPR  pickup - and Mr. Buka's gleeful Nero, just dandy.

-Craig

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2009 Issue #161
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