------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2010 : Issue 37
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Memories of Jim Harmon [ Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed]; ]
2-25 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re: How long, oh Lord, how long? [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
Program ad timing [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
"The Old Time Radio Express" Schedul [ Mark Wuellner <mwuellne@[removed] ]
Clark Kent phone booth [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Ron Lackmann [ JayHick@[removed] ]
2-26 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re:Arthur Godfrey and L'affaire La R [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:19:34 -0500
From: Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Memories of Jim Harmon
I first met Jim at his Hollywood apartment (on Hobart near Sunset, I think)
in May 1976, on an annual visit to [removed] I'd read about his Nostalgia
Catalogue ('73), contacted him, and went to his place to buy a copy from him.
There we chatted about OTR and other nostalgia subjects and he showed me
magazine articles he'd written and his collection of OTR premiums. It was
nice of him to spend time with a pure beginner in the OTR and nostalgia
hobby. His book taught me, and reminded me, a lot about the hobby.
A few years later -- he'd moved out to Burbank or somewhere around there and
had bought his first(?) car -- we met again and had lunch at a restaurant in
West Hollywood where we chatted about OTR and where he showed me his
assembled 1930s Three Stooges 'moving picture machine' -- I had asked him to
bring it along and he'd kindly agreed to.
Over the years, I bought some OTR tapes from him, via mail. The next, and
last, time we met was by chance when I spotted him at his table at a
nostalgia and comic book convention near the Shrine Auditorium, I believe.
He was wearing his cowboy hat and Barbara was with him. I think that was the
only time I met her. May Jim rest in peace. My condolences to Barbara.
-- Phil C.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:19:50 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-25 births/deaths
February 25th births
02-25-1879 - Frank McIntyre - Ann Arbor, MI - d. 6-8-1949
actor: Captain Barney "Maxwell House Showboat"; Captain Henry "Showboat"
02-25-1895 - George Schuyler - Providence, RI - d. 8-31-1977
host: "The Negro World"
02-25-1896 - John Parrish - Lindenhurst, NY - d. 4-18-1988
actor: "Alias Jimmy Valentine"; "Life Can Be Beautiful"
02-25-1896 - Victor Bay - Lodz, Poland - d. 10-12-1988
orchestra leader on the CBS network
02-25-1899 - Wini Shaw - San Francisco, CA - d. 5-2-1982
actor: Air Trailers "Good News of 1935 and In Caliente"
02-25-1901 - Zeppo Marx - NYC - d. 11-30-1979
comedian: (Marx Brothers) "American Review"
02-25-1904 - Adelle Davis - Lizton, IN - d. 5-31-1974
nutritionist, author: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy"
02-25-1904 - Marion Claire - Chicago, IL - d. 2-24-1988
singer: "Chicago Theatre of the Air"
02-25-1904 - Warren Parker - Alton, IL - d. 7-31-1976
actor: Jesus Christ "The Greatest Story Ever Told"
02-25-1906 - Warren Hymer - NYC - d. 3-25-1948
actor: "Screen Guild Theatre"
02-25-1908 - George Duning - Richmond, IN - d. 2-27-2000
composer: "Bud's Bandwagon"
02-25-1909 - Berkley Mather - Gloucester, North Wales - d. 4-7-1996
author: "Bird's Eye View"; "Southern Channel"
02-25-1912 - David Roberts - Jacksonville, FL - d. 12-24-1996
NBC staff announcer
02-25-1912 - Richard Wattis - Wednesbury, England - d. 2-1-1975
actor: "Brothers In Law"
02-25-1912 - Wally Ausley - d. 12-19-1994
play-by-play for the North Carolina State Wolfpack
02-25-1913 - Jim Backus - Cleveland, OH - d. 7-3-1989
comedian: Hubert Updike "Alan Young Show"; Chester Fenwick "Sad Sack"
02-25-1914 - John Arlott - Basingstoke, England - d. 12-14-1991
BBC radio cricket commentator
02-25-1915 - Brenda Joyce - Excelsior Springs, MO - d. 7-13-2009
actor: "Good News of 1940"; "Stars Over Hollywood"; "AmericanShowcase"
02-25-1917 - Michael Morris - Russia - d. 6-20-2003
writer: "Mr. and Mrs. North"; "Hollywood Story"
02-25-1918 - Bobby Riggs - Los Angeles, CA - d. 10-25-1995
overbearing tennis player: "National Guard Show"
02-25-1921 - Andy Pafko - Boyceville, WI
baseball player: "Quiz Kids"
02-25-1921 - John Wainwright - d. 9-xx-1995
writer: "Death in a Sleeping City"
02-25-1921 - Patricia Ryan - London, England - d. 2-15-1949
actor: Amy March "Little Women"; Claudia Naughton "Claudia and David"
02-25-1925 - Lisa Kirk - Charleroi, PA - d. 11-11-1990
vocalist: "The Henry Morgan Show"
02-25-1927 - Dickie Jones - Snyder, TX
actor: Henry Aldrich "The Aldrich Family"
02-25-1928 - Larry Gelbart - Chicago, IL - d. 9-11-2009
writer: "Bob Hope Show"; "Duffy's Tavern"; "Jack Parr Show"
02-25-1932 - Faron Young - Shreveport, LA - d. 12-10-1996
country singer: "Grand Ole Opry"; "Country Style [removed]"
02-25-1937 - Bob Schieffer - Austin, TX
news correspondent: "CBS News Twentieth Century Roundup"
02-25-1938 - Diane Baker - Hollywood, CA
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
02-25-1951 - Don Poier - d. 1-21-2005
sports announcer
February 25th deaths
02-20-1914 - John Charles Daly - Johannesburg, South Africa - d.
2-25-1991
newscaster, emcee: "What's My Line"; "CBS Is There"; "Columbia Workshop"
03-13-1919 - William Ormond Mitchell - Weyburn, Canada - d. 2-25-1998
radio dramatist: "Jake and the Kid"
03-17-1884 - Frank Buck - Gainesville, TX - d. 2-25-1950
wild animal hunter: "Bring 'em Back Alive"
03-21-1908 - Vincent Pelletier - Minneapolis, MN - d. 2-25-1994
actor: Victor Powell "This is Life"; Robin "Calling All Detectives"
03-26-1911 - Tennessee Williams - Columbus, TN - d. 2-25-1983
author: "Drama Critics Award"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
04-09-1916 - Julian Dash - Charleston, SC - d. 2-25-1974
saxophonist: "Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra"
04-15-1931 - Florian Zabach - Chicago, IL - d. 2-25-2006
violinist: "Arthur Godfrey and His Talent Scouts"; "Here's to Veterans"
05-15-1917 - Wade Barnes - Alliance, OH - d. 2-25-1999
announcer/pianist: WHBC Canton, Ohio
05-24-1905 - Joe Lindwurm - d. 2-25-1992
musician: "The Ipana Troubadors"
06-14-1930 - David Leeson - d. 2-25-1971
writer: "Young Doctor Malone"
07-15-1900 - Ernest Batchelor - d. 2-25-1976
disk jockey: WDAX McRae, Georgia
07-23-1909 - Helen Martin - St. Louis, MO - d. 2-25-2000
actor: "Sears Radio Theatre"
07-31-1904 - Billy Hillpot - Red Bank, NJ - d. 2-25-1985
singer: Trade "Smith Brothers: Trade and Mark"; "Camel Pleasure Hour"
08-08-1885 - Gene Buck - Detroit, MI - d. 2-25-1957
president of ascap: "World's Fair Concert"
08-25-1943 - Bill Holm - nr: Minneota, MN - d. 2-25-2009
writer: "Prairie Home Companion"
09-08-1908 - John Griggs - Chesterfield, SC - d. 2-25-1967
actor: Capt. Randy Claymore of the Confederacy "Roses and Drums"
09-14-1925 - Bill Christy - Seattle, WA - d. 2-25-1946
actor: Franklin Dexter "Meet Corliss Archer"
09-19-1930 - Derek Nimmo - Liverpool, England - d. 2-25-1999
comic actor: "The Dales"
09-23-1907 - Rudd Weatherwax - Engel, Sierra County, NM - d. 2-25-1985
dog trainer: "Lassie"
10-03-1908 - Johnny Burke - Antioch, CA - d. 2-25-1964
composer: "Amos 'n' Andy"; "Kraft Music Hall"; "The Big Show"
11-20-1890 - Otto Tolischus - d. 2-25-1967
correspondent: "Information Please"
12-01-1880 - William Arndt - Mayville, WI - d. 2-25-1957
professor: conducted Bible classes on WFUO St. Louis
12-04-1887 - Louise Ballman - d. 2-25-1970
violinist on experimental station 5ACW Fort Smith, Arkansas
12-09-1903 - Matty Malneck - Newark, NJ - d. 2-25-1981
bandleader: "Campana Serenade"; "Duffy's Tavern"
12-26-1911 - Hal Bourne - Chicago, IL - d. 2-25-2000
musical director: "A Date with Judy"
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:20:02 -0500
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: How long, oh Lord, how long?
I am confused about what Craig means when he discusses a Jack Benny
program "one that ran a hair over :30 - and sounded the teeniest bit off
in pitch to me. I suspect someone down the line slowed it on purpose,
assuming it should fill out the half-hour." Why would someone slow it
down on purpose to overfill the time period? More likely it was the
result of someone's lousy tape equipment which recorded or played
off-speed. It is amazing how many OTR collectors and dealers over they
years copied and re-copied recordings off-speed and either didn't notice
or didn't care. The only time it bothered them was when it was too long
to fit onto the cassette.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:20:42 -0500
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Program ad timing
Herb Harrison asked if there any government guidelines about how long shows
should run and were there any limits on how many commercial spots/minutes
were included in the programs?
Although many people mistakenly believe the government restricted the amount
of advertising, with the exception of the "program-length commercial" that
has never been the case. The broadcasters themselves set up a
self-regulation called the National Assoc of Broadcasters Code, and this had
guidelines. Once the FCC proposed setting standards, and they proposed using
the NAB Code guidelines, and the NAB objected and the FCC backed down. But
what the FCC did have was something called "promise vs. performance". When a
station got its license or renewal it would promise programing and
advertising guidelines, and then when the license next came up for renewal
the FCC would compare their promises with a sample set of the station's logs.
The Regan administration did away with the logging regulations, and that did
away with promise vs. performance. In addition, the NAB Code no longer
exists, so there are no guidelines at all. Believe it or not, the Reagan
administration also did away with even the prohibition of the program-length
commercial. It is now legal to have 60 minutes of advertising per hour! It
is now called either "informercials" or "shopping channels"!!
He also asked if stations could take commercial breaks at other places than
was was provided in recorded syndicated shows. In general they could, but
the program probably sounded better if the provided spaces were used. But if
there were commercials already recorded on the disc, those MUST be played.
As for todays TV commercial breaks, even the advertisers hate their excessive
length. It is called "clutter" in the industry, and no advertiser wants to
be in the middle of an ad clutter. But modern radio is worse, much worse.
I've heard ten minute ad clutters. But let me add something. When
commercial television came to Europe in the 50s and 60s after decades of
non-commercial broadcasting, most countries made regulations limiting the
number and placement of breaks. They rather have long but less frequent
breaks. Some countries prohibited breaks in the middle of a program, and
some allowed only one. And some, like Italy and Austria, only allowed one or
two breaks a NIGHT. This created 15 to 25 minute ad breaks at the beginning
of prime time, and sometimes also once in the middle of prime time between
two shows. And you wonder why would anybody in their right mind sit thru
breaks like these. Simple. Their ads were GREAT!!! They were better than
the programs. Some were mini-movies. Some showed a lot of skin, and I mean
A LOT OF SKIN!!! They also developed a technique of "reminder" ads. You
would see an ad, and then a couple of minutes later would be a ten second
clip of it, or perhaps the next chapter in a serial story. You stayed
because you were getting a soap opera. The energizer bunny ads were supposed
to be like this, but stations didn't understand it. They played the two 15
second sections in one 30 second lump instead of separating them into two 15
second spots at the start and end of the break. It's been a while since I've
been in Europe, but I used to LOVE their ad breaks!
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
-- Is there anybody here who is happy with today's television programs'
commercial breaks (especially the syndicated ones), when you can make a pot
of coffee, or vacuum the floor, while you're waiting for the show to resume?
;-)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:21:00 -0500
From: Mark Wuellner <mwuellne@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: "The Old Time Radio Express" Schedule - Sunday,
7:00pm EST
Please join us this Sunday, February 28th from 7:00-8:00pm EST for more great
old time radio & discussion on "The Old Time Radio Express."
This week:
The Six Shooter, "The Coward" from September 27, 1953
Dark Fantasy, "The Demon Tree" from December 5, 1941
Stream us live at [removed] or download the show after the fact
at [removed].
Mark Wuellner
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:22:07 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Clark Kent phone booth
Because of the proliferation of cell phones and the disappearance of
phone booths, if Clark Kent were around today where could he change
into his Superman persona?
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:22:12 -0500
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ron Lackmann
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
We just lost a good friend, author and orignal committee member of FOTR.
Ron Lackmann passed away yesterday. I have no more details at this time.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:22:18 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-26 births/deaths
February 26th births
02-26-1875 - Emma Dunn - Cheshire, England - d. 12-14-1966
actor: "The Eveready Hour"
02-26-1887 - William Frawley - Burlington, IA - d. 3-3-1966
comedian: Fred Mertz "I Love Lucy", "Hallmark Playhouse"; "Hollywood
Hotel"
02-26-1888 - William Lynn - Providence, RI - d. 1-5-1952
actor: Casper Milquestoast "The Timid Soul"; Mac "Tillie the Toiler"
02-26-1891 - Alan Bridge - Pennsylvania - d. 12-27-1957
actor: "The Eddie Bracken Show"
02-26-1891 - Josef Bonime - Vilna, Poland - d. 11-8-1959
conductor: "Death Valley Days"; "Echoes of New York"
02-26-1898 - Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader - Wilson County, TN - d. 3-19-1988
fiddler: "Grand Ole Opry"
02-26-1900 - Jean Negulesco - Craiova, Rumaina - d. 7-18-1993
film director, screenwriter: "Screen Director's Playhouse"; "Lux Radio
Theatre"
02-26-1903 - Donald Baker - Ontario, Canada - d. 6-26-1989
organist: WOR Newark, New Jersey
02-26-1906 - Madeleine Carroll - West Bromwich, England - d. 10-2-1987
actor: "The Circle"; "NBC Radio Theatre"; "Stage Door Canteen"
02-26-1907 - Hal Fimberg - d. 4-6-1974
writer, director, producer: "Abbott and Costello"; "Spike Jones"
02-26-1911 - Warren M. Lewis - d. 3-28-1997
producer: "Silver Theatre"; "Stars Over Hollywood"
02-26-1912 - Dane Clark - Brooklyn, NY - d. 9-11-1998
actor: Perry 'Quiz' Quisinberry "Passport for Adams
02-26-1914 - Robert Alda - NYC - d. 5-3-1986
singer: "Rudy Vallee Presents the Drene Show"
02-26-1914 - Roy Maypole - d. 7-4-1976
creator, writer: "Heart's Desire"; "Stepmother"
02-26-1915 - Eddie Gallaher - Washington, [removed] - d. 11-26-2003
disc jockey: "Moon Dial"; "On a Sunday Afternoon"
02-26-1916 - Dick Dunham - NYC - d. 11-24-1989
announcer: "Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters"
02-26-1916 - Jackie Gleason - Brooklyn, NY - d. 6-24-1987
comedian: "Jackie Gleason-Les Tremayne Show"
02-26-1916 - Peter Brough - West London, England - d. 6-3-1999
ventriloquist: "Educating Archie"; "Navy Mixture"
02-26-1918 - Theodore Sturgeon - Staten Island, NY - d. 5-12-1985
science fiction writer: "Beyond Tomorrow"; "X Minus One"; "Future Tense"
02-26-1919 - Mason Adams - NYC - d. 4-26-2005
actor: Larry 'Pepper' Young "Pepper Young's Family" Ned Scott "Jones
and I"
02-26-1920 - Antony Kearey - London, England - d. 9-16-1997
producer: "The Shetland Wildcat"
02-26-1920 - Michael Pate - Sydney, Australia - d. 9-1-2008
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
02-26-1920 - Tony Randall - Tulsa, OK - d. 5-17-2004
actor: Reggie York "I Love A Mystery"
02-26-1921 - Betty Hutton - Battle Creek, MI - d. 3-11-2007
singer: "Radio Almanac"; "Radio Hall of Fame"; "[removed] Steel Hour"
02-26-1921 - Clarice Blackburn - San Francisco, CA - d. 8-5-1995
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
02-26-1922 - Margaret Leighton - Barnt Green, England - d. 1-13-1976
actor: "Variety Playhouse"; "Pocket Theatre"
02-26-1926 - David Frankham - Kent, England
actor: Andy Barbour "One Man's Family"
02-26-1928 - Fats Domino - New Orleans, LA
singer: "Guest Star"
02-26-1928 - John Ewart - Melbourne, Australia - d. 3-8-1994
actor: "Snow White"
02-26-1932 - Johnny Cash - Kingsland, AR - d. 9-12-2003
singer: "Grand Ole Opry"; "Louisiana Hayride"
02-26-1933 - Godfrey Cambridge - NYC - d. 11-29-1976
actor: "Voices of Vista"
February 26th deaths
01-09-1920 - Betty Roche - Wilmington, DE - d. 2-26-1999
singer: "Duke Ellington and His Orchestra"; "Spotlight Bands"
02-20-1900 - Paul Conlan - Indiana - d. 2-26-1980
writer, director: "Abbott and Costello Show"; "The Signal Carnival"
03-15-1919 - Lawrence Tierney - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-26-2002
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
03-28-1915 - Joel Murcott - d. 2-26-1978
writer, director: "Tales of the Texas Rangers"; "Yours Truly, Johnny
Dollar"
04-29-1896 - Harry McNaughton - Surbiton, England - d. 2-26-1967
actor, panelist: Higgins "It's Higgins. Sir"; "It Pays to Be Ignorant"
07-05-1903 - Hester Sondergaard - Minnesota - d. 2-26-1994
actor: (Sister of Gale Sondergaard) "Columbia Presents Corwin";
"Studio One"
07-20-1943 - Wendy Richard - Middlesbrough, England - d. 2-26-2009
actor: Anne Marie Rat "Cat's Whiskers"; "Dad's Army"
08-14-1870 - Harry Lauder - Edinburgh, Scotland - d. 2-26-1950
singer: "Sir Harry Lauder"; "The Fourth Christmas"
08-28-1908 - Genevieve Rowe - Freemont, OH - d. 2-26-1995
singer: "Gay Nineties Revue"; "Songs America Loves"; "An Evening with
Romberg"
10-28-1896 - Howard Hanson - Wahoo, NE - d. 2-26-1981
conductor, composer: "New York Philharmonic"; "ASCAP World's Fair
Concert"
11-29-1913 - Harry Bartell - New Orleans, LA - d. 2-26-2004
actor: Archie Goodwin "Advs. of Nero Wolfe"; "Adv of Sherlock Holmes";
"Gunsmoke"
12-10-1889 - Arthur Vinton - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-26-1963
actor: Killer Kane "Buck Rogers"; Commissioner Weston "The Shadow"
12-26-1900 - Charles Perry - NYC - d. 2-26-1967
producer, sports announcer: WHN New York
xx-xx-1855 - Adelaide Fitz-Allen - d. 2-26-1935
actor: Old Nancy, the witch of Salem "The Witch's Tale"
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:23:40 -0500
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re:Arthur Godfrey and L'affaire La Rosa
As a follow-up to my previous answer to Michael Hayde who was asked about a
song about Godfrey and La Rosa which used the word "Humility" which I
dentified as "Dear Mr. Godfrey" by Ruth Wallis on Monarch Records 3005. We
have now located a posting of the record so you all can hear it. It is track
8 here:
[removed]
Let me give credit to Ken Field who sent me a link to a sample of the record
[removed]
which I traced back to:
[removed]
which led me to the full recording at the first URL.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2010 Issue #37
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