Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #405
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 11/9/2003 1:59 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2003 : Issue 405
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Lum and Abner and "Wonderful World"   [ Ehutchison@[removed] ]
  A Comedy of Errors?                   [ Wich2@[removed] ]
  Baking Tapes Vs Cd's?                 [ Faulknerian189@[removed] ]
  Red Winds                             [ "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@com ]
  Lum and Abner                         [ "Charles Sexton" <csexton@[removed] ]
  dylan thomas                          [ "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed]; ]
  Re: Lum and Abner- "Wonderful World"  [ StevenL751@[removed] ]
  Great idea. Thanks!                   [ RickEditor@[removed] ]
  Bill Stern vs Paul Harvey             [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
  Wonderful World                       [ "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@com ]
  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK               [ "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed] ]
  Bill Stern and dolls                  [ "George M. Kelly" <gkelly1@[removed] ]
  Abbott & Costello--The Saga Continue  [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
  baking tapes                          [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
  Quiz Show - Twenty Questions          [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Wonderful World!                      [ "Micheal Leannah" <mleannah@charter ]
  Re: "Wonderful World"                 [ Timothy Clough <timothy@[removed]; ]
  Re: Lum and Abner Wonderful world     [ "Greg Willy" <gregw@[removed] ]
  Agnes Moorehead request               [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Bill Stern Disclaimers                [ <fc90030@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:45:48 -0500
From: Ehutchison@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lum and Abner and "Wonderful World"
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To find the origin of this phrase the reader needs to go back to February of
1942 and listen to the story line involving Diogenes Smith.  It is probably
the golden age of the series' 20 year run, and makes for great listening.

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Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:46:16 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  A Comedy of Errors?

From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
  November 9th births

  11-09-1889 - Claude Rains - London, England - d. 5-20-1967
  actor: "Streamlined Shakespeare"; "This Is War!"; "Presenting Claude Rains" <

Dear Ron & Folks-
PRETTY sure that Rains was not in the late 30's "Streamlined Shakespeare"'s,
but rather in the CBS competing Bard series?
BY THE WAY - has anybody found clean, uncut (not truncated re-broad's) copies
of Jack Barrymore's "Streamlined"'s? I spoke to someone (maybe one of the
Gassmans?) years ago, when an NBC cache was [removed]
Anyone care about a really well-done series of plays, by the world's greatest
playwrite, containing the last great work of the man considered one of his
best moden interpreters?

Hmmm?

Best,
Craig W.

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

Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:46:43 -0500
From: Faulknerian189@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Baking Tapes Vs Cd's?
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I hope to God 20 years from now we, those who collect and store name brand
Cds in perfect conditions, shall ever have to worry about "baking tapes."
Baking a cd, of course, will be the perfect ruin.  Perhaps there may be
problems of
which we now, this day, have no conception, but I still believe care of a CD
collection, will produce, 50 years hence, no such problems the reel-to-reels
have had.  However, new things crop up all the time, and I am sure the last
word has not yet been heard about CD formats.  There may someday be new
formats.
And new, unheard-of problems today.  But I was a former reel-to-reel
collector; thus, I am familiar to reel problems over time, and considering
good
quality, high encode Mp3, I wonder how I ever lived without them!  Jim Faulkner

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Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:47:46 -0500
From: "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Red Winds

Bill Murtough made an interesting observation when he recently
posted a comment about the wildfires in California. He said:

......you hear a perpetual goof everytime this situation occurs.
The newscasters refer to the winds from the East which fan the blazes
as Santa Anna winds. Incorrect!  The proper term is Santana which is
a hot, dry wind from the East, a word in native Indian [removed]

I believe Bill is correct about the proper term but perpetual goof is
an understatement.  Right or wrong, they were called Santa Anas
as far back as the 1930's. Raymond Chandler's short story Red Wind
in the January 1938 issue of Dime Detective Magazine opened with
"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot
dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl
your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin [removed] "  This was
also the opening for NBC's first episode of  The Adventures of Philip
Marlowe starring Van Heflin on June 17, 1947 and repeated again
by Gerald Mohr in the CBS series debut on September 26, 1948.

Proof that if you repeat something often enough it becomes accepted
is that recent dictionaries now include the term Santa Ana (winds).

Paul Thompson

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:35:37 -0500
From: "Charles Sexton" <csexton@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Lum and Abner
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There was a question a few days ago about the use of the phrase "Wonderful
World" on the Lum and Abner show.  It originated with a con man by the name of
Diogenes Smith who came to Pine Ridge in early 1942.  Like the philosopher of
old, he claimed to be searching for an honest man to whom he would give
$10,000.  This got all the towns people to love their neighbors, do good to
their feller men and generally be nicer to the women folk, kids and dogs.  In
reality, Diogenes was part of a counterfeiting gang and the cash prize was
only a ruse to keep the townsfolk from snooping into his real purpose for
being in town.  He constantly greeted everyone with the comment "Wonderful
World,' even after he eventually was found out and was on his way to jail.
Cedric Weahunt liked the phrase so much that he adapted it as his own and
continued to use it for a couple of more years.

Charles Sexton

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Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:36:06 -0500
From: "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  dylan thomas

I know it isn't American radio specifically but you can't forget Under
Milkwood, which was meant to be a radio play specifically.  I could be
wrong on this and probably am, but it is my feeling that the version that
exists (I assume only on vinyl) was done in America.  (Please don't quote
me on that), but it is a very different play.)  Richard Burton also did a
version of it, although I assume that was all in England.  UnderMilkwood
is a very clever play with very subtle humor and some stuff that is out
and out funny and some stuff that is out and out embarrassing these days,
but it is still extremely interesting for all that.  If you can find a
copy, check it out.  I have just heard it on the radio out here (I think
KCRW) but maybe it is on MP3 somewhere.  While I am on the subject, there
is another play starring Alec Guiness called Dylan which is also worth
listening to and on which he does an extremely good immitatioin of Dylan
Thomas, and of course there is A Child's Christmas in Wales which is one
of the best Christmas stories I know.  Kurt

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:36:28 -0500
From: StevenL751@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Lum and Abner- "Wonderful World"

In a message dated 11/8/2003 11:05:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:

A little while ago, I started listening to Lum 'n Abner. Arbitrarily, I
started listening to the
15 minute serial episodes that were from the spring of 1942. Quite
frequently, characters
will say "Wonderful World!" to each other instead of "hello" or "goodbye".

You should listen to the "Diogenes Smith" storyline from February and March
1942, which will give you the explanation.  It's been a while since I listened
to these episodes, but from what I recall Diogenes Smith is a con-man who
comes to Pine Ridge and convinces the citizens that they need to be better
people.
 He uses the phrase "Wonderful World" as a greeting and it catches on.  After
he leaves the characters continue using the phrase for a time, especially
Cedric who is still using it years later.

Steve Lewis

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:37:17 -0500
From: RickEditor@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Great idea. Thanks!
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Gary Smullen wrote:

 To the reader who is interested in listening to his MP3's
and CD's on a
catehdral-style repro, I have an idea. I have several models, and all have a
cassette slot. I use a Sony CD/MP3 player with an auto adapter, which slips
into the cassette slot. Works like a charm.

Thanks, Gary, definitely an option.
rick selvin
philadelphia

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:48:27 -0500
From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Bill Stern vs Paul Harvey

I've heard that Paul Harvey creates his stories in much the
same way that Bill Stern did his, and I've been told that the
endings to his "Rest of the Story" items are pure fiction.

If you'll pardon the pun, is there any truth to that?

Al Girard

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:59:04 -0500
From: "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Wonderful World

Doug Berryhill said:

I started listening to Lum 'n Abner 15 minute serial episodes that
were from the spring of 1942. Quite frequently, characters will say
"Wonderful World!" to each other instead of "hello" or "goodbye".
I was wondering if there was a list member out there who could
explain the significance of the [removed]

Around February 1942 a shady con artist by the name of Diogenes
Smith came to Pine Ridge and initiated the phrase while giving
out "Wonderful World" buttons as part of his quest to find an "honest
man" and reward him with a $10,000 gift which later turned out to be
a big scam. The daily storyline ran several months. Cedric took a big
fancy to the phrase "Wonderful World" never missing an opportunity to
use it and thereby making sure others remembered to use it also.

Paul Thompson

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:59:14 -0500
From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK

Hi friends

Here is this week's line-up for the week of 11-9-03 on my Olde Tyme Radio
[removed] Featuring Tom Heathwood's "Heritage Radio Theatre," Big John
Matthews and Steve Urbaniak's "The Glowing Dial" and my own "Same Time, Same
Station" broadcasts, being broadcast on demand 24/7 in high quality
streaming RealAudio at [removed]

Past archived broadcasts are also available there.

We look forward to seeing you there!

	Jerry

Here's this week's lineup:

SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges

HOUSE OF MYSTERY
8-3-47  "A Gift from the Dead"
HOST/STORYTELLER: John Griggs as "Roger Elliott - The Mystery Man"
ORGANIST: Al Fanelli

BEAU BRUMMEL
1932  Audition Show  "The Duchess' Stolen Letter"
Stars Hanley Stafford as Beau Brummel

LUX RADIO THEATER
Episode 732  1-29-51  "Treasure Island"
Stars: James Mason and Bobby Driscol and Nigel Bruce
Host William Keighley
---------------------------------------------------

HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood

KRAMP HOLIDAY RECIPE
"The Heritage Loaf for July 4th"
A spoof on the old Kraft TV recipe show

THE FRANK MORGAN/FANNIE BRICE SHOW
"Frank is in Time Magazine and Snooks Is In a School Play"

SUSPENSE
CBS 10-11-45    "Beyond Good and Evil"
Joseph Cotten stars in this superb thriller

FIVE MINUTE MYSTERY
Syndicated   "Did Son Kill Father?"
--------------------------------------------------

THE GLOWING DIAL with Big John and Matthews and Steve Urbaniak

STRANGE WILLS
Syndicated    Episode 27    "The Silver Buckles"

DICK COLE
Syndicated    Episode 7   1942    "Laura Gets Jealous"

BUNCO SQUAD
Audition    4-20-50    "The Case of the Bookworm"

THE HUNTERS
CBS Audition    11-29-48    "You Take Ballistics"

COCA COLA TOP NOTCHERS
NBC    3-19-30    "Ty Cobb Interviewed"
-----------------------------------------------------

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or requests for upcoming
shows.

            Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed];

  [removed]  The Vintage Radio Place
  Largest source of OTR Logs, Articles and programs on the Net

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:59:30 -0500
From: "George M. Kelly" <gkelly1@[removed];
To: OldRadio Mailing Lists <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Bill Stern and dolls

1. I'm sure most of you have seen Woody Allen's take off on Bill Stern in
Radio Days?
2,  I did an otr presentation yesterday at a local church, and one of the
ladies present, said some time in the 40s she bought her daughter an Amos
and Andy doll.  Any information about such a doll would be appreciated.

George Kelly

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:00:08 -0500
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Abbott & Costello--The Saga Continues

fc90030@[removed] made a motion on the floor:

With all the comments about Abbott & Costello movies for MGM I haven't
seen a word about, "Rio Rita," which was certainly an MGM production or,
"The Time Of Their Lives." which was a huge class A success.

If Universal continues with their plan--assuming that there is a plan, of
course--of releasing more Bud & Lou product to DVD, I'm sure it's only a
matter of time before "The Time of Their Lives" hits the DVD rack.  (If we
exclude "It Ain't Hay," due to its legal limbo status, "Time" would be in
the next batch of eight Universal vehicles.)

But you are correct that I was remiss in mentioning the MGM A&C films--in
addition to "Rio Rita," they are "Lost in a Harem" (my personal favorite of
the MGM bunch--Pokomoko!) and "Abbott & Costello in [removed]"  If these
three make it to DVD, it will no doubt be through Warner Brothers Home
Entertainment, since they have been responsible for releasing much of the
early MGM films (though not nearly enough, I can assure you).

Let's face it Bud & Lou made their best films  earlier rather than later
in their [removed];<

I certainly won't argue with that.  The early films do capture the duo at
their best, probably due to the fact that movie-making at that time was a
new and exciting experience for them.  Later on, they became kind of jaded
and bored with making movies--I believe the great Buster Keaton once
remarked that Bud and Lou's approach to filmmaking (while at MGM) was "When
do we show up and what's the story about?"  Still, one could make a strong
case that there was still life in the A&C product even after those early
movie hits--I think "A&C Meet Frankenstein" (1948) and "A&C Meet the
Invisible Man" (1951) are two of their very best.

Ivan
----
We've moved! OTR Ramblings and Musings at Thrilling Days of Yesteryear:
[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:00:42 -0500
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  baking tapes

In our previous episode:

Many Thanks to all.  Baking tapes to remove squeaks works.  I am now able
to listen and enjoy my former squeaky reel tapes.

Transfer them very soon to whatever media you prefer, because they won't
remain squeakless for long.

Joe Salerno
Video Works! Is it working for you?
PO Box 273405 - Houston TX 77277-3405 [removed]

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:08:16 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Quiz Show - Twenty Questions

In the midst of cleaning a file gathering dust on my kitchen table, I came
across a broadcast log for a radio quiz show called TWENTY QUESTIONS which I
compiled a long time ago.  Although the early episodes was known to be a
family affair, the series usually employed a guest panelist ranging from
Broadway actors, Hollywood actors and famous singers (examples: Illona
Massey, Ezra Stone, Helen Musselman, Richard Widmark).  I'm tweaking the
details so the log can go up on the internet for everyone to read but I do
have a question I'm hoping some expert (or fan of the quiz show) can help
answer.

For a number of consecutive years, the last broadcast of the Christmas
season that didn't surpass the holiday (December 23, December 19, December
22, etc.) featured Santa Claus as the guest.  No joke.  Somehow someone was
on the series playing the role of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.  My question is
this.  I haven't been able to find anything, even among the Van Deventer
letters that reveal who played Santa.  Does anyone know who played Santa
Claus?  Same person every year or a different person each holiday?

Martin Grams, Jr.

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:08:27 -0500
From: "Micheal Leannah" <mleannah@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Wonderful World!

To answer the question about Lum and Abner characters saying. "Wonderful
world!" to each other as a greeting, this began when the character Diogenes
Smith came on the scene. Diogenes posed as a man with a lot of money who was
looking for a truly good person in Pine Ridge to whom he could bestow his
fortune. He had everyone saying "Wonderful world" instead of hello or
goodbye as a way of showing they were mindful of being caring and
benevolent. Laters, after they discovered he was a fraud, most tried to
forget about him, but Cedric Weehunt could not. He continued to say
"Wonderful world" by force of habit. I am sure when you hear those words
uttered, they are coming from the lips of Cedric.

Michael Leannah
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 12:18:25 -0500
From: Timothy Clough <timothy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: "Wonderful World"

<snip>
I was wondering if
there was a list member out there who could either
explain the significance of the catch-phrase
"Wonderful World" to me, or at least direct me to the
episode dates that I could listen to which would
provide the explaination.
<snip>

-FIBBERMAC-

The best date to start, I believe, is February 3, 1942. This is the
episode where Diogenes(sp?) Smith is first introduced to the folks of
Pine Ridge.

I just finished listening the Diogenes Smith episodes, and am currently
listening to the "after-effects". The whole story is great, and I hope
you (and anyone else) enjoy it.

Timothy Clough

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 15:00:58 -0500
From: "Greg Willy" <gregw@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Lum and Abner Wonderful world

That storyline begins on Feb 3, 1942 with the arrival in Pine Ridge of the
character Diogenes Smith, an old man who carries a lantern and greets
everyone with "wonderful world!".  This refers to his striving to create a
Eutopia on earth by promoting honesty and kindness.  His sincerity is soon
called into question but even after his departure from the scene this
greeting continues to be used by some of the characters, especially Cedric,
the most simple of the group.  This storyline is a favorite of many.  I
think the sophisticated, poetic musings of Diogenes interacting with the
simple, honest folk of  Pine Ridge is the best radio I have ever heard.  I
hope others will give it a listen who have not heard it.

Greg

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 15:01:59 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Agnes Moorehead request

I was recently contacted by a fellow who is interested in Agnes Moorehead's
radio appearances.  Seems he's working on a project involving Moorehead and
is looking for copies of any recordings he can get that features Moorehead
(Mayor of the Town, Mercury Theater, The Shadow, etc.)  I just mailed him a
broadcast of the Phil Baker Show and a lot of SUSPENSE broadcasts but my
collection of Moorehead radio appearances isn't justice.  If any charitable
souls know of Moorehead recordings in their collection and would be kind
enough to send some copies to him, I will be more than welcome to forward
his mailing address. I myself would like to see him accomplish a great task
of listing the hundreds of radio shows Moorehead starred or co-starred in as
a reference.
Martin Grams, Jr.
mmargrajr@[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 15:02:19 -0500
From: <fc90030@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Bill Stern Disclaimers

It seems as if those who are upset about Bill Stern's stories and
fables aren't listening closely to the opening of his shows.  The
announcer refers to Stern as, "...the formost collector of sports
stories SOME HERESAY, SOME LEGENDS, SOME TRUE, but
ALL so interesting we'd like to pass them on to you."

I listened to them as a kid but that was enough of a disclaimer for
me to know they might not be true.

It wasn't till many years later that I learned the meaning of his
closing line, "That's the three oh mark for tonight."
Frank Coopersmith
                                  -30-

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #405
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