Subject: [removed] Digest V01 #129
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 4/27/2001 12:10 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                      The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                         Volume 01 : Issue 129
                   A Part of the [removed]!
                           ISSN: 1533-9289


                           Today's Topics:

 CANNED LAUGHTER IN OLD TIME RADIO    [sfx-meow@[removed] (Ray Erlenborn) ]
 Richard Crenna                       ["Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl]
 Lanny Ross?                          [Mike Sheets <msheets@[removed];  ]
 The $[removed] Question ....            ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
 Canned .... ?                        ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
 Jerry and Jimmy                      [Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed]]
 Canned or Live Laughter              [hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];    ]
 Re: The $64 Question                 ["David Phaneuf" <dphaneuf@[removed]]
 HELP, I CANT' GET IT OUT OF MY MIND! ["David Phaneuf" <dphaneuf@[removed]]
 Lost Suspense?                       ["Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self]
 The Tooth Fairy                      ["Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self]
 mysterious traveler                  ["Edwin Ortiz" <eddieo396@[removed];  ]
 Radio Guide's rural readers          ["Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed];    ]
 The ol Desert Rat, Ed Kindred        ["Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed]]
 Archie Andrews                       [[removed]@[removed]        ]
 Sam Edwards Question                 [GEORGE WAGNER <gwagneroldtimeradio@]
 Fw: Fiorello LaGuardia               [Leonardo De =?iso-8859-1?Q?S=E1?=  ]
 is Suspense overrated?               ["Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb.]
 Audience Reaction                    [William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];]
 "A Technical Guide to Collecting OTR [Chad Palmer <chadpalmer@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 15:03:43 -0400
From: sfx-meow@[removed] (Ray Erlenborn)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CANNED LAUGHTER IN OLD TIME RADIO

I began augmenting "Audience Reactions" in the thirties, using ascetate
recorded
transcriptions on two Ampex machines at KNX/CBS, Hollywood, One
recording had 15 mnutes of continuous laughter and the
second machine had 15 minutes of continuous applause. When a track came
close to running out, I simply reset the tone arm back to the outside
edge of the record. Before we started doing recorded west coast feeds,
We would "SWEETEN" each show "LIVE" while it was on the air.
As time went on we augmented our capabilties by adding a second tone arm
to each machine for the purpose of playing added tracks on the inside of
the record recorded with "chuckles" "hilarious laughter", etc. Now we
were operating four playback arms and four volume "potentiometers" to
achieve the sweetening process.
It was when audio tape arrived during this period that one of our sound
technicians, Charlie Douglas, engineered an audio tape, "continuous
loop" machine with multiple loops which his people used exclusively, but
would become the
forerunner of the Mac Kenzie multiple playback cartridge machine which I
modified for "canned laughter" to be used on Red Skelton and CBS' other
TV Comedy shows.
Because "Red" did a lot of pantomime during his "Silent Spots", I was
able to record most of the uncontaminated with dialogue, laughter and
applause audio tape tracks needed for the operation of the "Mack"
cartridges.
Any questions???  Ray Erlenborn

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 15:03:47 -0400
From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Richard Crenna

I'm posting this on the OTR Digest because I
don't have Greg Shreeve's email address.  He
told me he saw Larry Dobkin on the "Judging
Amy" TV show, but said he was much more
interested in Richard Crenna.  I certainly am,
too.  But I wanted to tell Greg that I saw a
broadcast of "A Date With Judy" (with Richard
Crenna) back in the very early '50s on one of
my many visits to Hollywood (while in the navy).
I recently learned that Crenna is only a little older
than I am, but he certainly is a fine actor and does
a lot of film/TV work.  My comment about Dobkin
stemmed from my love of the "Gunsmoke" radio
show.

Harry Machin, Jr.

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 18:18:38 -0400
From: Mike Sheets <msheets@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lanny Ross?

Please excuse my ignorance.  In Elizabeth's recent posting of  the "Star
of Star"s" from 1934-35, I recognized all of the names except for  Lanny
Ross.  Help!!

Mike

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:07:29 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The $[removed] Question ....

Ken Lanza points out, anent Take It Or Leave It's "$64 Question,"

$[removed] in 1940 translates to $[removed] in the year 2000!<<

Shucks!  If someone offered me $[removed] as a top prize, I'd compete for
it, notwithstanding shows with higher jackpots.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:07:32 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Canned .... ?

David Jewett, speaking of audience reaction, asks,

Did classic comedy radio shows use canned laughter?<<

Many played before live audiences.

There are lots of clues. For example, you sometimes hear what seem like
the voices of children laughing wildly at jokes or comments that would
certainly be way over the heads of kids. As if the audience laughter
doesn't fit the content. <paragraph space> And sometimes the laughter
just seems way to robust for the gag or [removed];<

Well, for some programs, the audience was "warmed up" before the show
started.  Also, signs were held up or lit up cueing the audience to laugh
or applaud.  I was in the audience of a locally produced radio show where
we were all prompted as how to react, and we went along with the gag.
So, "live" or not, the reaction was ... [removed] manipulated.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:07:33 -0400
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Jerry and Jimmy

With all due respect to George Wagner, who discusses actors in Speed
Gibson, et al., his comment that there is tentative agreement that the
actor who played in Jerry of the Circus is the same actor who was the
co-lead in The Cinnamon Bear, is perplexing.

I am unclear as to who the partners of this  "tentative agreement"  are.

My friends in the Cinnamon Bear Brigade believe  that Jimmy Barton's voice
and Jerry's voice have nothing in common, and hence, are not played by the
same actor.   We have debated this for years and have never reached any
conclusion about  who played Jimmy Barton.  We are constantly searching.
I encourage George to place the shows side by side and perhaps he'll hear
the differences in tone, inflection, etc. Too bad we can't do a vocal DNA
and settle the question once and for all.

Dennis Crow

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:07:35 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Canned or Live Laughter

Subject:  Canned laughter?

David Jewett askedŠŠ

 Did classic comedy radio shows use canned laughter?

The more I listen, the more suspicious I become.

I'll bet Elizabeth knows the answer regarding Amos and Andy shows, and I'll
bet there are others who have information on this to contribute as well.
"Jughead" from "Archie" for example.

David, I'm in awe of the fund of knowledge that comes from Elizabeth, so she
may have more on the subject than I can offer. I can only speak from my
personal experiences of the 13 year span that I was most active in NY Radio.

All Variety and Comedy shows that I appeared on always had a "Live" Studio
audience. I know of no instances whereby other programs utilized "Canned"
laughter. I can't speak for West Coast origination's, but I'll betcha'
that's where canned laughter for TV sitcoms originated.

And if the laughter wasn't canned, was it perhaps "juiced up"
electronically?

Again, not to my knowledge, but it's possible that a Director may have had
the engineer "goose" up the level on the overhead audience mikes if he felt
it added to the hilarity of the moment. (Or lack of it).

There are lots of clues. For example, you sometimes hear what seem like the
voices of children laughing wildly at jokes or comments that would certainly
be way over the heads of kids.

I think I posted a comment along those lines in an earlier digest. Actors
can be Hams. (duh!) And to some, audience laughter is an opiate. You would
be amazed at the slapstick or sight gags we would sometimes employ to get a
laugh. Any given line of dialogue might not warrant hearty laughter, but a
facial expression ("mugging" we called it), or "slapstick" body movement,
could cause laughter from the "live" audience that the listener at home
might not comprehend, or understand what caused it.

As if the audience laughter doesn't fit the content.

By George, I think he's on to something!

And sometimes the laughter just seems way to robust for the gag or line.

Right on, Dave. And now you know why! At least in my experience.

Regards, "Jughead"
Hal(Harlan)Stone

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:24:57 -0400
From: "David Phaneuf" <dphaneuf@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: The $64 Question

Okay, I can't [removed] can anybody tell me how to get back to 1940?

Last issue, Joe wrote:
According to [removed] inflation counter, $64
would be $[removed] today.
 BTW, this is a great site for figuring prices then and now, or as of
2000 anyway.
 Joe

Dave Phaneuf

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:25:01 -0400
From: "David Phaneuf" <dphaneuf@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  HELP, I CANT' GET IT OUT OF MY MIND!!!!!

I made the mistake of buying a whole set of "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar", at
the Cincinnati OTR Convention.  And now that doggone theme song is stuck in
my head.  But the thing that is really driving me nuts is where else have I
heard it?

I thought at first it might have been the "Perry Mason" TV show theme, but
then that finally came to mind after nearly a week of pondering and I
realize that's not it.  I've only listened to one or two YTJD episodes
before this, and so I don't think I'm "recalling" it from that.

So can anyone tell me:   What's the title of the theme song?  Who wrote it?
And, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, was it used on some other show?  Otherwise,
would someone PLEASE just shoot me and put me out of my misery?

Dave Phaneuf

PS -- I did score one on my daughter the other day -- after listening to the
opening and closing theme played for five consecutive episodes, it's driving
her nuts, [removed] but for different reasons.  Can't understand why, when
they listen to NSYNC and BRITNEY SPEARS and other pop groups, over and over
and over again, why they can't take a harmless OTR themesong over and over
and over again!

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 21:23:26 -0400
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lost Suspense?

I could've sworn somebody at the Cincinnati OTR convention told me that
there were only *nine* missing Suspense shows.  Maybe somebody could
clarify that, but I'm positive that's what I was told.


Rodney

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 21:23:28 -0400
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Tooth Fairy

Does anyone have any information about the Tooth Fairy?  Like when did it
air, where did it air, how many episodes etc.  I recently bought a set of
the first 166 2-3 minute episodes, but the set ends with Newton Snookers
(AKA The Tooth Fairy AKA The Molar Maruader)  traveling to Washington DC
on his MolarCycle to meet with the President about holding the annual
Tooth Rangers Convention at the White House.  Does anyone know where I
can get the rest of the episodes?

As per usual any help is greatly appreciated!

Rodney

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

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 23:17:12 -0400
From: "Edwin Ortiz" <eddieo396@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  mysterious traveler

Hi to all otr fans i have a question in regards to the mysterious traveler
shows. the jerry heandiges log has the show til death do us part 11-11-48
unavailable yet the jay hickerson book say the show is available doe anyone
know of a dealer that has the show for sale. Or is the jay hickerson book
wrong please answer and thanks again

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 08:53:27 -0400
From: "Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Radio Guide's rural readers

Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed]; wrote:

What makes the contest most interesting is the fact that it drew heavy
participation from rural listeners -- a segment of the audience totally
ignored by the ratings services then in use.

I have a feeling Radio Guide had a disproportionate circulation in rural
areas.  I recall seeing, in late 1930s editions, listings that included
shortwave relay frequencies for the shows that NBC and CBS were feeding that
way (possibly to Latin America, and/or as a backup for the AT&T lines).

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 08:56:54 -0400
From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  The ol Desert Rat, Ed Kindred

"Bill Murtaugh's mentioning of Dick Gilbert brought pleasant memories of a
long gone youth. Back in the early 50's while I was a pearl diver at a root
beer stand"

Boy oh Boy!  You Americans make things difficult for us colonials.  What
sort of job is "a pearl diver at a root beer stand"

Root beer, well I know what that is (I thought so anyway) we call it Ginger
Beer.
Pearl Diver, yep we have them too.

But how do you get the two together?

We tend not to keep pearls in our Ginger beer and even if we did, the
bottles are too small for diving.

Perhaps the clue is in the name of "The Desert Rat", well Root or Ginger
Beer would be pretty handy in the desert, but I don't know about Diving in
the desert.  So I think my error must be in my understanding of a Pearl
Diver.  I don't think I will speculate on that one, I will just wait for the
answer in a future edition of the Digest.

This digest is a great place to learn more than just OTR and I look forward
to its arrival each day.  Believe me for one as young as I am,(snicker, no
camera on this machine) who did not live through the Golden Age of Radio, I
certainly appreciate the reminicences of those who did and the well
researched information from Elizabeth.  Keep it up and pass it all on.

Ian

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 08:59:02 -0400
From: [removed]@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Archie Andrews

Late last year I discovered the world of OTR.  I've always liked audio shows
and was ecstatic to discover the huge volume of shows available.  At the age
of 37, I'm not quite old enough to have heard any of these shows first time
round, yet I really enjoy them.  What is even more amazing, is that my 9
year old daughter and 5 year old son, both love them as well.  We happily
listen to a range of comedies when out in the car.  Their favourite is "My
Favourite Husband", but they also like "The Life of Riley", "Ozzie and
Harriet" and other such shows.

One particular favourite is Archie Andrews and yet there are so few episodes
floating round.  Does anyone know why so few ?  Despite being around for
more than half a century, it is still going strong (in the comic book
version at least).  Yet there seems to be no more than a handful of episodes
from the radio show.  If I look at an equivalent show, The Aldritch Family,
whilst it seems to have been very popular at the time, it is no longer being
produced.  But there are far more OTR episodes of Henry available than there
are of Archie.  Unless someone knows of a secret stash ?  In which case,
point me at them !

By the way, I just watched the first Aldritch Family film (What a Life).
Whilst it's entertaining enough, it's a little disappointing that it strays
so far from the radio show.  On Radio, Henry is an intelligent, loveable,
but accident prone teenager who is a definite member of the local community
and who has a best friend who's not quite so intelligent !  Yet in the film,
there is no best friend and Henry comes across as a loner who is not quite
so intelligent.

Has anyone else watched TV or big screen re-creations of their favourite
shows, only to be a little disappointed at the "Creative License" used ?
Somehow, some of the innocence of the OTR shows seems be lost in the
process.

I imagine that there may be comments due on such transfers as The Life of
Riley, Our Miss Brooks, The Shadow and if we really want to be controversial
how about Superman and Batman !

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 08:59:04 -0400
From: GEORGE WAGNER <gwagneroldtimeradio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Sam Edwards Question

     Jan Bach mentions a fact previously unknown to me
- that Sam Edwards played in "Speed Gibson." I hadn't
realized that Edwards appeared in radio as early as
1937-1938.
     That's probably because Edwards continued to play
totally convincing late-adolescent and youngish man
leads on DRAGNET and GUNSMOKE right up to the mid- to
late 1950s.
     So it occurs to me that I really know few if any
biographical details about one of my favorite radio
(and early TV) actors.
     Can anybody give me some details here?
     Thanks!

     George Wagner
     GWAGNEROLDTIMERADIO@[removed]


[ADMINISTRIVIA: Mr. Edwards can _still_ perform a totally-convincing
late-adolescent and youngish man, as anyone who's seen him perform at the
FOTR Con can attest.  --cfs3]

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 08:59:01 -0400
From: Leonardo De =?iso-8859-1?Q?S=E1?=  <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Fw: Fiorello LaGuardia

Can anyone supply me the exact date and details of New York mayor Fiorello
LaGuardia's reading of the Sunday comics (was it just Dick Tracy?) on the
radio during a newspaper strike? Thanks.

Leonardo De Sá

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 11:27:43 -0400
From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  is Suspense overrated?

Hello all,
Allow me to post a thought here.  Many people feel that Suspense is the best
anthology/mystery series that aired on radio.  This would seem to be
supported by the audience of the time and the fac tthat the program lasted
20 years on radio.  Still, am I the only person who feels the program is a
bit overrated?  I say this for several reasons.  One is that the program is
known for using famous Hollywood and New York stars in the lead roles to
attract listeners.  While a lot of these stars were good at acting on radio,
(Agnus Moorehead, Jimmy Stewart, Vincent Pryce, Richard Widmark, etc), more
of them weren't.  Also, I often find the plots a bit far-fetched,
particularly in the earlier years between 1942 and 1947.  I will admit that
the show seemed to take a step up when Autolite took over sponsorship and
Norman McDonnel took over the director's chair.  Still, overall, I think
there are better offerings out there for mystery and adventure.  I have
always felt that Escape was a superior show to suspense, because it belongs
completely to the radio [removed], musicians, directors and sound
effects men.  I also think The Whistler was a great show, again for the same
reasons.  What a shame this series never was successful as a national show.
I don't want to give the impression that I am down on Suspense.  There are
quite a few good broadcasts.  Shows like, "The House in Cypress Canyon,"
"Sorry Wrong Number," and "Murder on Mike," are excellent examples.  I just
feel that there are better programs out there.
Just my two cents.
RyanO

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 12:51:07 -0400
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Audience Reaction

First, replying to Dave Jewett's question about "canned" laughter.
Laughter and applause, "audience reaction",  was live in radio days. The
recorded reaction came with pre-recorded TV syndication when directors
could make their shows appear funnier and better accepted by "zapping" in
audience reaction even though they were being taped on sound stages with
no audience present, leading the listening audience to accept the shows
as funny and entertaining.

My old friend and top CBS-Hollywood engineer, Charlie Douglas, developed
a machine with which he could pretty well imitate live audience. He used
excerpts of live audience reaction. It was uncanny. I do not know how
widespread it's use became. I was with him when he brought it to New York
for a Red Skelton origination.

Many thanks to Steve Kallis for catching my error on my 4/46 posting
about Telco lines. I said that the upper frequency limit was 8000 KC. It
should have been 8000 cycles. My only excuse is that it was nearing the
cocktail hour here at the Murtough mansion on the banks of the St. Lucie
River and I was not functioning at my best.

BILL MURTOUGH

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

Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 13:56:04 -0400
From: Chad Palmer <chadpalmer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "A Technical Guide to Collecting OTR"- Still
 around?

I've heard about a book or booklet called "A Technical Guide to Collecting
OTR" for many years now, and in fact there is a reference to it in several
articles at [removed].  They also mention two more books on
collecting OTR by Bob Burnham.  Does anybody know if any of these books or
either the booklet I mentioned first are still out there anywhere?  While
i'm sure they're pretty dated by now, It'd make for fascinating reading I
would imagine.  Any chance of finding a copy?

Thanks,

Chad Palmer

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #129
*******************************************

Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
  including republication in any form.

If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
   [removed]

For Help: [removed]@[removed]
To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]

For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
  in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]

To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]

To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]