------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 150
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: CINCY CON [ "bygeorge" <bygeorge@[removed]; ]
The Cincinnati [removed] [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
First [removed] [ "Patricia Netzer" <patricianetzer@e ]
Re: when did tape become the norm [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
WMBI pipe organ [ ClifSr@[removed] ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Re: Lone Ranger Theme [ Jshnay1@[removed] ]
Charlie Mullen [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Charlie Mullen [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Wild Women [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
OTR movie [ "Nathan Hutchins" <NathanOTR@hotmai ]
Burning otr cds [ Chris & Carla White <cncwhite@ricon ]
Cincinnati convention [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 22:55:52 -0400
From: "bygeorge" <bygeorge@[removed];
To: OldRadio Mailing Lists <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: CINCY CON
HELLO, KIDDIES!
I JUST GOT BACK FROM MY 3RD TRIP TO THE CINCY CONVENTION OF NOSTALGIA
AND OLD-TIME RADIO!
IN A WORD: MARVELOUS!!!!!!
THE HEAVY MAN FROM WEST PLAINS, MO HAD A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE TIME AMONG
PEOPLE I CONSIDER FRIENDS:) KUDOS TO BOB BURCHETT ALONG WITH: DONALD
RAMBLOW, ROBERT NEWMAN, BARBARA NEWMAN, HARLAN("CALL ME HAL")STONE, BOB
HASTINGS, ROSEMARY RICE, AND MANY MORE!
WOW.
I HAD A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH PEOPLE THIS TIME AS I HAVE NOT
BEEN AS RUSHED WITH MY PERSONAL SCHEDULE AS I HAVE FOR THE PAST TWO
YEARS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED. THIS IS THANKS TO MY NEW FRIENDS, JOHN AND
SANDY EDWARDS WHO KINDLY ALLOWED A NEAR STRANGER TO SHARE THE TRIP IN
THEIR AUTOMOBILE. JOHN AND ROBERT NEWMAN APPARENTLY CONSPIRED TO CONVERT
ME INTO A MEMBER OF THE RADIO LISTENERS [removed] WORKED.
MIKE BEIHL AND HIS LOVELY DAUGHTER LEAH WERE A JOY TO SPEAK WITH. OF
COURSE, WITH MIKE, YOU NEVER DO MUCH TALKING; BUT YOU HAD BETTER BE ON
YOUR TOES AS A LISTENER:)(JUST KIDDING, MIKE) BTW, I WANT TO GO ON
RECORD AS SAYING THAT IT WAS MIKE BIEHL, WITH HIS CUNNING WAYS, WHO
PERSUADED ME TO REFER TO HAL AS "HARLAN" IN THE CLOSING CREDITS OF THE
"ARCHIE" [removed] WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SO DEVIOUS ON MY OWN.
SPEAKING OF HAL, MANY OF YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT BUT HE LOOKS A LITTLE
LIKE THE LATE GEORGE C. SCOTT([removed] DO NOT MEAN THAT HE LOOKS DEAD!)
FROM UP CLOSE. HE LOOKS MORE LIKE A SENIOR WILLIAM HOLDEN, THOUGH.
SERIOUSLY, I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT A HONOR IT WAS TO SHARE THE STAGE
WITH YOU AND YOUR FELLOW 'ARCHIE' CASTMATES.
AND IT IS ALWAYS LOVELY TO SEE THE HUGHES FAMILY: DAN, AND HIS
WIFE(WHOSE NAME I CANNOT RECALL EVER) AND HIS DAUGHTER(DITTO). IT IS
WONDERFUL TO SEE AN ENTIRE FAMILY SHARE LOVE OF THE HOBBY.
AND THERE WERE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THERE. GREAT TO SEE ALSO.
WELL, I AM SORRY TO GUSH BUT I AM SO TIRED RIGHT NOW THAT I AM RUNNING
ON PURE ANDRENALINE. SO THAT'S IT FOR A WHILE.
THANKS,
RANDY STORY
[removed]
FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THOSE NOT AWARE OF IT, CHARLIE SUMMERS IN NOT A
SHORT, BALDING MAN IN HIS LATE 70S AS I IMAGINED HIM TO BE. NO INDEED.
HE IS A YOUTHFUL LAD WITH DARK, CURLY TRESSES.
[removed]
NO ONE THAT I ASKED AT THE CONVENTION COULD GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT
THE ARTIST DON SHERWOOD, WHO DID DRAWINGS/ HISTORIES OF OTR PROGRAMS FOR
PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS 'GOOD OLD DAYS'. CAN ANYONE HELP ME OUT HERE?
[ADMINISTRIVIA: No, actually Charlie Summers is a short, balding man with
salt-and-pepper tresses, who only _acts_ like a cranky curmudgeon in his late
70's. --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 23:51:56 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Cincinnati [removed]
Folks;
Just got back from the Cincy con with cards-full of photos to get on the
website, bags-full of stuff from the dealer's room, and a head-full of
memories I need to sort out.
But the one thing I wanted to mention was how grateful I was to everyone
who made this "newbie" feel right at home. I've been to a bunch of FOTR
Conventions in Newark, but this was my first Cincy con, and everyone
connected with or attending the convention was extrordinarily supportive and
helpful, even when I was practically falling asleep at the Friday night
recreation.
I got to hook up with old friends (Jim, Ken, Harold, Bob, and boatloads of
others), "meet" many folks I know well from here but haven't spoken to in
person before (Randy, Mike, and lots, lots more), and share some time with
people who didn't even know this list existed before I spoke with them (gee,
I didn't think that was possible!). Folks were helpful enough to explain to
me where I could find a specific bottle of sparkling wine, where the best
steak was (which I passed on this year to avoid falling asleep in my baked
potato but plan on enjoying next year), and where the geese were in the
parking lot so I could get a picture. Everyone took extrordinary care of my
wife, Annie, while I was busy running around hitting award-winners with
tripods, and the only negative comment I received about the OTR Digest was
that Elizabeth doesn't post often enough (how could I argue with that?). I
bothered everyone I could find with pictures of my three-year-old daughter
(I'm such a geek that instead of carrying photos, I carried a SmartMedia card
with pics and a short movie file), and annoyed pretty much _everyone_ with
the flash from my camera.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that guy in the funny hat who
finally introduced me to his better half. Dorothy, please explain to him that
I do NOT need curlers, that's just how it grows. Like he should talk?
I slept too little and enjoyed too much. Thanks to everyone there!
Charlie
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 23:52:49 -0400
From: "Patricia Netzer" <patricianetzer@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: First [removed]
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Hi everybody!
I am doing weekly readings of plays and original material in [removed] Since I have
outstanding actors on my hand, it has been very successful and I would like to
'expand' to OTR. Anybody living in this area with production experience
wanting to develop this with me? Am grateful for any comments that might help
get me started in the right direction.
Thanks!
Patricia
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 09:01:37 -0400
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: when did tape become the norm
From: Eric J Cooper <ejcooper2002@[removed];
I know that ABC allowed Bing Crosby to use magnetic tape circa 1947,
but I was wondering when the networks stopped using discs for
transcribing and switched to tape. Was it over a long period of time
or a relatively short one? Eric Cooper
The answers that have been given so far (while I was away at Cincinnati)
didn't really answer the question, since Eric says he DOES know about
Crosby's use of magnetic tape, and the recorded repeats of the Bell
Telephone Hour that Dr. Ross mentions were not necessarily on tape.
I've given some of this info in more detail in postings a while ago, but
in the Spring of 1946 ABC began delaying ALL of their programming one
hour for areas that did not switch to Daylight Saving Time. There had
also been West Coast time zone delays via recordings on NBC Blue and CBS
as early as 1940. Thus the folklore about Crosby's desire to pre-record
his program is not the full story. What he wanted to do was EDIT the
program. EDITING was the stumbling block, not pre-recording.
Yes, the initial 46-47 season of Philco Radio Time was recorded and
EDITED using lacquer discs, but this was a method that had been
fine-tuned to perfection for five years by the engineers of Armed Forces
Radio, so it was not as difficult to do as you might imagine. Crosby
did invest in Ampex following demonstrations of tape by Jack Mullin, but
ABC was using mostly Stancil-Hoffman tape machines for the time delays
starting in 1948. Although tape had been used to master and edit the
Crosby program starting with the Oct 7, 1947 program, the tape was
always dubbed to disc for broadcast until May 1948 when ABC finally
allowed the original tape to be used for the broadcast. This coincides
with the start of using tape recorders for the Daylight time delays.
But to answer Eric Cooper's REAL question, the use of tape continued to
be introduced gradually. CBS was also starting to use tape in their
major cities in the late 40s, and I have a recording of a documentary
from 47 or 48 which mentions that it is their first use of tape inserts
of on the spot interviews. Although tape became more common, stations
and networks continued to also use lacquer-coated discs for recording
studio inserts and preserving programs throughout the 50s. In fact, NBC
continued to use discs for their archive preservation copies as late as
1965--even if the show had originated on tape! They would dub the tape
to disc, preserve the disc and erase the tape.
But tape was very widely used by 1952. I think that is when "Gunsmoke"
was switched over to tape mastering--and believe me, the sound of this
program from those master tapes is astonishing! On the other hand, WGN
Chicago was still using lacquer discs for their on-air playback of
commercials as late as 1970. They were one of the last stations using a
separate operator for turntables--he would be a member of the musician's
union!--and almost every commercial and jingle on the station would
begin with a couple of seconds of scratchy "cue-burn".
So there is not one definate answer. There was an excellent [removed]
dissertation written at Northwestern University in the mid-80s on this
topic, but I can't locate the details right now. The author told me
that it was written as a follow-up of my dissertation which had been
focused on the introduction of pre-tape recording methods.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 09:01:54 -0400
From: ClifSr@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WMBI pipe organ
On her Sunday night ":Heartsong" program, Ruth Dinwiddie played a recent
recording of the 1930's WMBI Kimball organ, suggesting that it is possibly
the last remaining playable radio station pipe organ in its original
location. Can anyone substantiate or dispute that? I have heard of at least
one other radio station that has a working pipe organ but it's not original.
Clif Martin
Muskegon, Michigan
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 09:02:02 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
From Those Were The Days --
1940 - The first all Chinese commercial radio program was broadcast over
KSAN radio in San Francisco, CA. Later, KSAN would become a pioneer in
playing "underground rock" music which, to many, must have sounded like
Chinese, [removed]
1946 - Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg arrived at WEAF radio in New York
City with an entertaining morning show called, Tex and Jinx. WEAF later
became WNBC and then WFAN SportsRadio 66.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 09:02:20 -0400
From: Jshnay1@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Lone Ranger Theme
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I don't know how much trivia one can assimilate on one's lifetime, but:
In a review in the current issue of Gramaophone magazine, a British journal
that reviews and writes about classical music, it is mentioned that Leonard
B. Smith, a band irector, who "gained renown as a cornet soloist and the
Goldman band" later became well-known to radio listeners. "More than a
million listeners each week heard Smith play the opening fanfare from
Rossini's William Tell Overture at the start of the popular Lone Ranger radio
series."
Just thought I'd pass it along.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 12:20:55 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Charlie Mullen
Spence Asked;
The Baltimore Sun had an obit the other day for a Charles Mullen who had
become chair and CEO of American Tobacco, but who back in 1942 began a career
in radio that included "a starring role in the radio version of the comic
strip 'Archie.'" He died April 14, with no other details.
Hey, Hal. Did you know the gentleman? Was he in the cast when you were
there? Can you add anything to this?
Yes. Charlie and I were very close when we worked together on Archie, and
stayed in touch (infrequently) over the intervening years.
He was quite a character when a young man. (He was 18 when we first worked
together). He was very gregarious and incredibly "up-beat".
A little know fact. After Bob Hastings replaced Charlie, (Charlie was
drafted into the Army, around the time that Bob Hastings was getting
discharged from the Air Force), there was one other time during the run of
the Archie Show that Charlie appeared once more in the role of "Archie". It
may have been because Bobby was sick one week, but I don't recall the
details.
NBC decided, that instead of giving Charlie the "Archie" role back when he
also was eventually discharged, they honored their commitment to returning
servicemen and kept him on the payroll for the same money that Bob Hastings
was being paid, and used Charlie on other NBC programs to "earn his keep".
When Charlie married, and was raising a family, he realized he needed to
find another career that would generate more income. He became a route
salesman for Lucky Strikes (and American Tobacco co.) in the Brooklyn area.
Because of Charlie's extremely gregarious and likable personality, he became
one heck of a salesman for that company, and rose in the ranks over his many
years with them. (His "Show Business" background certainly helped win him
friend and customers). Charlie ended up being the Big Kahuna at American
Tobacco Company. Chairman of the Board.
Wow! I knew him when! :)
When Charlie retired as CEO in 1992, I was invited back to Stamford Ct. as a
"surprise guest" at the big retirement bash they threw for him at a theatre
in that town. They did a sort of "This is your Life" show about him, and I
was asked to do a scene with Charlie where we reprised our "Archie" and
"Jughead" roles. Charlie, Always a big ham, (I say that affectionately)
fell right back into character.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the life of my old acting
buddy, his Biography was published recently. The title: "The Last
Renaissance Man" (The Life of Charles Harold Mullen). written by Robert
Lockwood Mills, Published by Rutledge Books, Inc.
As far as the book that I'm writing about those days, I'm right at the point
in the narrative about the period when he played "Archie", and the fun we
had together. (With pictures of us doing the program). Charlie and I had
many phone conversations over the past year so he could refresh my memory
and fill in any gaps. He had a steel trap mind and remembered things,
places, and names that I had totally forgotten about.
He will me missed by the many people whose lives he touched over his multi-
faceted career. In retirement, Charlie got back into acting (like I [removed]
big ham) and was having a ball performing with a local Little Theatre group.
Now, He's got the angels chuckling.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 12:22:02 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Charlie Mullen
Spence Asked;
The Baltimore Sun had an obit the other day for a Charles Mullen who had
become chair and CEO of American Tobacco, but who back in 1942 began a career
in radio that included "a starring role in the radio version of the comic
strip 'Archie.'" He died April 14, with no other details.
Hey, Hal. Did you know the gentleman? Was he in the cast when you were
there? Can you add anything to this?
Yes. Charlie and I were very close when we worked together on Archie, and
stayed in touch (infrequently) over the intervening years.
He was quite a character when a young man. (He was 18 when we first worked
together). He was very gregarious and incredibly "up-beat".
A little know fact. After Bob Hastings replaced Charlie, (Charlie was
drafted into the Army, around the time that Bob Hastings was getting
discharged from the Air Force), there was one other time during the run of
the Archie Show that Charlie appeared once more in the role of "Archie". It
may have been because Bobby was sick one week, but I don't recall the
details.
NBC decided, that instead of giving Charlie the "Archie" role back when he
also was eventually discharged, they honored their commitment to returning
servicemen and kept him on the payroll for the same money that Bob Hastings
was being paid, and used Charlie on other NBC programs to "earn his keep".
When Charlie married, and was raising a family, he realized he needed to
find another career that would generate more income. He became a route
salesman for Lucky Strikes (and American Tobacco co.) in the Brooklyn area.
Because of Charlie's extremely gregarious and likable personality, he became
one heck of a salesman for that company, and rose in the ranks over his many
years with them. (His "Show Business" background certainly helped win him
friend and customers). Charlie ended up being the Big Kahuna at American
Tobacco Company. Chairman of the Board.
Wow! I knew him when! :)
When Charlie retired as CEO in 1992, I was invited back to Stamford Ct. as a
"surprise guest" at the big retirement bash they threw for him at a theatre
in that town. They did a sort of "This is your Life" show about him, and I
was asked to do a scene with Charlie where we reprised our "Archie" and
"Jughead" roles. Charlie, Always a big ham, (I say that affectionately)
fell right back into character.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the life of my old acting
buddy, his Biography was published recently. The title: "The Last
Renaissance Man" (The Life of Charles Harold Mullen). written by Robert
Lockwood Mills, Published by Rutledge Books, Inc.
As far as the book that I'm writing about those days, I'm right at the point
in the narrative about the period when he played "Archie", and the fun we
had together. (With pictures of us doing the program). Charlie and I had
many phone conversations over the past year so he could refresh my memory
and fill in any gaps. He had a steel trap mind and remembered things,
places, and names that I had totally forgotten about.
He will me missed by the many people whose lives he touched over his multi-
faceted career. In retirement, Charlie got back into acting (like I [removed]
big ham) and was having a ball performing with a local Little Theatre group.
Now, He's got the angels chuckling.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 12:22:25 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Wild Women
George Aust opined:
In reading the various posts about the Cincinatti convention over the
past few weeks it sounds like there is going to be alot of drinking
going on. How about wild women? Haven't heard anything about them?
Just got back from the Convention. Had a Wonderful time. Sorry to disappoint
you, but all that talk about drinking and partying going on was all just
"Hype".
As for "Wild Women", I brought my own. My lovely wife Dorothy. The only
thing that turns on those conventioneers are discovering some hard to find
copies of their favorite programs. They get high on "audio", not "booze"
Gosh I wish I were going!
Make your res now for next year, George.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 12:42:32 -0400
From: "Nathan Hutchins" <NathanOTR@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR movie
They have been playing I think on AMC a movie called Radio Days. I just
wondered if anyone knew anything about it. Whether it is something you would
recomend. The tv guide says it is about the influences of radio in the
thirties and forties. Just curious.
Nathan
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 14:11:37 -0400
From: Chris & Carla White <cncwhite@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Burning otr cds
Hi,
I will probably sound pretty silly asking this but I just wanted to know if
anyone knows anything about burning otr mp3 files onto cds? I know that a
lot of otr collectors and sellers know how to do this and I have a
pretty large collection of otr mp3 files that I have downloaded off of the
internet and I wanted to know how to burn them onto cds. If anyone knows
how to do this please contact me.
Thanks,
Bryant White
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 14:13:35 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cincinnati convention
First off, a tip o' the hat to Bob and Robert, who put on the Cincy
convention this year. I attended what appeared to be the largest attendence
at the OTR dinner Saturday evening, in what's been years. The crowd was
funny (Hal Stone is a trip - love ya) and I came back with two boxes of
cassettes - I'll finally listen to Nightfall after all the recommendations.
My father used to run conventions for other people (even ran one of his own
for many years) and I have a pretty good idea what all goes into such a
project - if Bob and Robert slept during the convention, I'll be
[removed]
If anyone wasn't able to attend this year, check out the photos that will no
doubt be posted on the web. They won't do justice compared to the friendly,
funny, and enjoyable crowd that came by and showed up. (Congradulations Ted
on your award!)
Lastly, George Aust wrote:
In reading the various posts about the Cincinatti convention over the
past few weeks it sounds like there is going to be alot of drinking
going on. How about wild women? Haven't heard anything about them? Or is
that hush hush? How about the party hats and the practical jokes that go
along with the drunks?
There were wild women - must have been a college or university somewhere
cause Friday night, across the hotel parking lot, there was what seemed like
a bus load of college girls dancing and singing. The ratio of men to women
was wonderful - if you're a man. I know that's walking off the tightrope a
little from the subject, but overall, the convention wasn't all men. Many
women attend the convention, all OTR fans . . . come by next year George -
I'll buy you a drink.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #150
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