------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2006 : Issue 6
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Johnstone was John Dawson [ DanHaefele@[removed] ]
The Greatest Performer [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
LP restoration [ RBB <oldradio@[removed]; ]
Changing Times-On TV [ "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed]; ]
the question of sound restoration [ Rutledge Mann <cliff_marsland@yahoo ]
births and deaths [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
developments in turntables [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
Re: Re: The Chief City Slicker [ Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed]; ]
Some thoughts about an art form (OTR [ DOORBELLONE <doorbellone@[removed]; ]
Controversial Dolnick to speak [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
The Gildersleeve Age Conundrum [ Froggievilleus <froggievilleus@yaho ]
A DIFFERENT KIND OF OTR REFERENCE BO [ "David S. Siegel" <otrdsiegel@veriz ]
The Phantom [ Robert Griffin <[removed]@wmic ]
Re: Gildersleeve [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
This week in radio history 8-14 Janu [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
the dark [ "robert phillips" <phillips@[removed] ]
REcording from LP's [ "Roger Keel" <rlkeel@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 23:02:15 -0500
From: DanHaefele@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Johnstone was John Dawson
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Buck,
Jack Johnstone was hiding an important fact from you. He sometimes
wrote under the pen name John Dawson. (He told me this when I interviewed
him for SPERDVAC.) Announcer Hugh Douglass told me that Johnstone was using
his wife's maiden name. I don't know if he was remembering correctly or not
since I never questioned Johnstone about it.
E. Jack Newman wrote under his own name and I can't fathom either
man using the other's work. Can you give an example of two shows with
exactly (or nearly) the same story and different authors?
Dan Haefele
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 23:02:45 -0500
From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Greatest Performer
A few years ago the People's Choice Awards voted Tom Hanks
as the greatest entertainer of all time. I was astounded at that choice,
as I wouldn't have even considered him. Then, last night as I
watched Larry King, I saw a rally in New York, where the MC
was proclaiming Howard Stern as the greatest radio performer of all time.
Again, I disagree.
My questions to the forum are:
A: In your estimation, who was the greatest entertainer of all time?
B: Who would you say was the greatest radio entertainer of all time?
There certainly were some multi-talented people who could be
considered for the honors. I can think of Bob Hope, who was in
vaudeville, radio, movies, night clubs and war zones. Others who
you might consider are Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Al Jolson,
Red Skelton and Danny Kaye.
I think this could make for some intersting speculation and discussion.
Al Girard
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 01:33:13 -0500
From: RBB <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: LP restoration
<<<Pete Appleyard asked about recording programs from LP's>>>
There are several computer programs that will eliminate the hiss and
surface noises of LP's, one that is highly recommended by many users is
GOLDWAVE - a digital audio editing program that offers a trial version
before buying.
Their web site with more info is [removed] and it is easily
downloaded online. There is more you can do with this program, of
course, eliminating pop and hiss is just one feature.
The LP's should be cleaned manually before attempting the restoration
process, fast forward and then reverse cassette tapes before undertaking
the transfer procedure to loosen them up. Consider making a digital
transfer to CD's rather than to cassettes, and practice using a
"re-writable" CR-RW's if you make mistakes.
A Google search for information on LP (vinyl) restoration and transfer
will come up with more options and techniques as will others on this
list, perhaps. One company that does it all for you to transfer your
collection on LP's, cassettes, 8-track, DAT, etc. to CD's is Memory
Lane Productions in Hollywood CA at this web site:
[removed]
(Disclaimer applies, no personal interest in these recommendations)
=Russ Butler oldradio@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 01:33:33 -0500
From: "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Changing Times-On TV
I had never known Changing Times as a radio program, but risking Charlie's
wrath (kidding!) for delving off topic a bit Changing Times, In my memory
was a 15 minute filler TV program for the aforementioned Kiplinger's
[removed] did run on weekend TV through much of the 60's and early
70'[removed] my area on WJW-TV 8 Cleveland afternoons before Cleveland Indians
Baseball "Dugout Interviews" Pre-game shows. Actually. you could call it an
early form of "Informecial"
Tim Lones
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 01:35:45 -0500
From: Rutledge Mann <cliff_marsland@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: the question of sound restoration
I love digital technology and the amazing things it
can do, but I'm not so hot on the relatively recent
(since 2000 or so) trend of cleaned shows. Don't get
me wrong, I like a cleaned show when it's done right,
but sometimes, especially shows with more than a
little surface noise, the artifacts sound or leftover
sound are far more distracting than the original
surface noise. To give credit where credit is due,
people using the CEDAR (especially the latest
generation CEDAR) technology have been doing a pretty
good job. Although comically overpriced, CEDAR seems
to be the best cleanup software/hardware. They get a
generally free pass on this issue. But even CEDAR and
the best done restoration jobs can leave a digital
noise patter, expecially the older CEDAR. The newer
one seems to be better at that. For example, the
First Gen people did a great job on the Cinnamon Bear
set.
What I'm talking about is generally the non-cedar
stuff. I've heard some good and even great jobs, but
I feel that if a show is VG+ sound grade or less, it
should be left in its raw state. One of the biggest
sins of all is editing something else into a program,
especially AFRS programs with fake commercials, or
AFRS with the music fill cut out - I hate that! Or
worst of all, fake stereo - luckily not many do that.
Take A Day in the Life of Dennis Day, for example, the
ones I've heard at least, came from a point when the
discs had deteriorated to very poor condition and the
shows I've heard have alost every example of the
different sound problems. I don't know of anyone's
ever attempted to clean that series, but that's a
perfect example of a show that should be left alone,
assuming there's not a better condition ET set out
there.
Swish, any irregular and often-occuring sound
patterns, and the "chhh" noise are most of the
culprits on leftover sound. I think anything with
those noise patterns should be left raw. Glass-based
discs are one culprit. Cleaning up is mainly good for
reducing tape hiss, or certain patterns of clicks and
pops.
I listen to OTR mainly on headphones, so digital
artifacts show up immediately. They can be somewhat
masked by speakers, unless it's really bad.
Don't misunderstand me, cleaning up is great when it
sounds good, but a lot of shows should be left alone,
or at least, very conservatively dealt with.
And please, always keep a raw transfer, technology is
always improving and someday there might be something
that can take out all the difficult noises without
artifacts.
When I go outside my own collection of discs and reels
for OTR, I try to find people with raw digital .wav
transfers of discs or a very clean reel source, such
as Ed Carr (is Ed ok? - I can't find his website
anymore and I haven't heard from him in a long while).
As not to clutter up the Digest, I invite any
interested person to email me directly, as I'm
curious to see opinions on this issue - especially
opinions on the best non-CEDAR software (the price is
prohibitively high) for cleaning, especially for tape
hiss.
Trav
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 01:36:05 -0500
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: births and deaths
I realized this evening that I have been a fairly faithful reader of Mr
Sayles births and deaths list.
I have noticed that, for some reason, most of the performers listed seem to
have had fairly long lives. Perhaps that's because most of them were
already fairly established performers by the time they got jobs in radio. I
suppose that's why the birth dates all seem to be clustered around
1890-1910.
I also find myself looking for really old birth and death dates. I mean,
Tom Mix was born in 1880 and died in 1940, and that is way back when.
M Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 01:36:36 -0500
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: developments in turntables
In a discussion of new products featured at the Consumer Electronics Show on
NPR, the fellow mentioned that you can now buy a phonograph turntable that
has a USB output: it apparenlty digitizes your records as it feeds them to
your hard drive. It has a 78 rpm setting, costs $[removed], and comes with a
copy of the audio-processing program Audacity, which is free anyway. As
they say in technical literature, No Further Information Is Available,
though I imagine a Web search might help.
M Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 09:17:17 -0500
From: Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Re: The Chief City Slicker
With dozens of compilation CDs in release, videos, tribute bands, and
radio and TV rebroadcasts of his shows, Spike Jones is hardly a
forgotten name. And musical parody is hardly a thing of the past--Dr.
Demento wouldn't have a show if that were true. In fact, the [removed]
Times mentioned a new musical humorist only yesterday, and compared
him to a certain City Slicker.
Jordan R. Young
"Spike Jones Off the Record"
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 09:18:26 -0500
From: DOORBELLONE <doorbellone@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Some thoughts about an art form (OTR) which
many of us carry in our STAGE OF THE MIND
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Fellow fun seekers of the 30's and 40's, it is soooo good to read these OTR
pages and to "return with us now to those daze of [removed]" Each
entry in this corner of the mind takes about 5 minutes to read since there is
the necessary time to reminise after reading the contributor's words and
reminders.
My wife is 29 years younger, so a majority of our friends were in diapers
when we were avidly catching every word and laugh of the Atwater-Kent.
therefor, it is rarely possible to sit down and re-live the oh-so-real
adventures/humor/mystery/stories which are locked in almost-lost crevices of
the mind.
Louis Armstrong once replied to the question of what is [removed]"if you
have to ask, you will never know!" It is similar for people who did not
experience those days of yesteryear!
I have to go now and shine my Captain Midnight decoder rings and badges.
anyone want to exchange some secret messages?
enjoy the memories, good conversation, good health and lots of fun with
loved ones,
Captain Audio
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 09:18:49 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Controversial Dolnick to speak
Controversial Jed Dolnick will speak at the next meeting of the
Milwaukee Area Radio Enthusiasts. (MARE)
Jed Dolnick will be the guest speaker at the next open meeting of the
Milwaukee Area Radio Enthusiasts (MARE) on Sun., Jan. 15, at 2:00 PM
in the Community Room G-110 at the Mayfair Mall (lower level), 2500
N. Mayfair Road.
Jed Dolnick hosted an old time radio show on Sunday mornings for
several years on Radio Station WUWM and later, WYMS. Jed will talk
about his career and some background on his old time radio program.
It should should also be noted that Jed was one of the founders of
MARE in 1975.
If you live in or near Milwaukee, please stop by. The meetings are
open to the general public.
Ron Sayles
President Milwaukee Area Radio Enthusiasts
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 09:21:28 -0500
From: Froggievilleus <froggievilleus@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Gildersleeve Age Conundrum
Hi All,
In a previous posting, Richard Carpenter wrote:
[removed] One puzzlement: As I recall, Marjorie got older, married, and had
children, while Leroy remained a pre-adolescent. An amazing feat.
Leroy, towards the end of the series did start to
mature a little, discovering girls. But he was never
in any rush. He was too busy with schemes of his own
and keeping Unc on his tows.
Also, I would like to note that Marjorie actually
became younger for a while. During the first season,
she seemed older to me, about in her late teens,
almost 20ish to me. Then somehow during the summer
hiatus, she became a 16ish again. And after
digressing in her age, she did mature to become a
lovely wife and mother.
Reading the various posts about Gildy has been most
interesting. For me, The Great Gildersleeve is in my
top 5 favorite shows of all time. I listened to it a
lot when I was overseas for a few months a few years
back. Being in Italy where English was a luxury to
hear, listening to Gildy and company really made me
feel great. And it made me long for Kraft too. :)
BTW: I do not recall when in the series this
occurred, but toward the end of one season, it was
mentioned that although Gildy would be on his summer
vacation, there would be a Summerfield Music series
during the summer and that some of the Gildy gang
would be part of it. Does anyone have any info about
this series and perhaps have copies of it?
Many thanx,
Elizabeth G.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 11:30:57 -0500
From: "David S. Siegel" <otrdsiegel@[removed];
To: OTR DIGEST <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A DIFFERENT KIND OF OTR REFERENCE BOOK
I'm pleased to report that "A Resource Guide to the Golden Age of Radio:
Special Collections, Bibliography, and the Internet" is at the printer and
should be available for shipping on or about January 24th.
This very different OTR reference book, while co-written by me, is really
the brain child of Susan, the lady who has attended FOTR Conventions with
me for the past dozen or so years and who also happens to be my wife.
Bitten by the bug that has affected so many of us OTR fanatics, Susan
decided that scholars writing about popular culture during the 40 year
period that marked radio's golden age as well as OTR collectors and
enthusiasts needed a comprehensive resource that would identify the
libraries and other institutions that held the scripts, recordings,
contracts and personal papers of thousands of professionals who worked in
the industry during its most productive years. More information would be
uncovered, Susan believed, and more books and articles written, if only
there was a reference that would serve as a road map to the right sources.
After almost a year of research her efforts have uncovered
-- 2,300 Special Collections in academic and public libraries, historical
societies, museums, corporate archives and privately held collections.
-- 1,400 Bibliographic citations grouped into 54 subject categories
-- 100+ non commercial research oriented Internet sites
-- A comprehensive Index that integrates all 3,800 listings and which can
be searched by program, person or subject/genre.
The book sells for $[removed] plus $5 for media mail shipping and handling or
$[removed] for priority mail and can be ordered from our web site,
[removed] or by calling us at (914) 245-6608. We accept
Visa and Mastercard.
If you've ever dreamed of writing about a favorite radio program or
entertainer this book should be on your shelf. If your budget is limited
you should encourage your local library to order a copy.
More information about the book is available at our web site,
[removed]
Dave Siegel
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 13:40:54 -0500
From: Robert Griffin <[removed]@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Phantom
As a kind of coda to the Phantom discussion, it might of interest to
friends of old time radio that there was a record produced by MGM
Records in 1967 that provided a dramatization of two of Lee Falk's
stories. It was titled "The Official Adventures of The Phantom and
Mandrake the Magician" (#CH-1041), and featured: (Side One) "The
Phantom and The Astronauts and The Pirates"; (Side Two) "Mandrake and
The Return of the Cobra." Jason Beck was the narrator with a cast
that included Lon Clark, Boris Aplon, Bret Morrison, Geroge Petrie,
Elaine Hyman and Bob Dryden.
The record was very well done and makes one a bit sorry that
something similar wasn't serialized during the golden age of radio.
Bob Griffin
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 13:41:16 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Gildersleeve
Re: the Hal Peary/Willard Waterman Gildy's, I recall a line from the
first show that Waterman did. He remarks that after his summer vacation
he felt "like a new man" to which Leroy replies, "You look like a new
man too" and the audience howls. :)
Joe
--
Visit my home page: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 14:05:03 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 8-14 January
From Those Were The Days --
1/10
1943 - The quiz show, The Better Half, was first heard on Mutual this
day. The program brought four married couples to compete in stunts
involving traditional concepts of 'manhood' and 'womanhood'.
1/11
1947 - Amazing Mr. Malone (aka Murder and Mr. Malone) starring Frank
Lovejoy, debuted on ABC.
1/12
1926 - Sam 'n' Henry debuted on WGN in Chicago, Illinois. The show's
name was changed to Amos 'n' Andy with the voices of its creators,
Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll.
1932 - Ed Sullivan joined CBS radio in a program of gossip and interviews.
1/13
1906 - Hugh Gernsback of the Electro Importing Company advertised radio
receivers for sale for the low, low price of just $[removed] in Scientific
American magazine. The first ad selling the gizmos guaranteed reception
of about one mile.
1910 - Enrico Caruso and Emmy Destinn were heard via a telephone
transmitter; rigged by DeForest Radio-Telephone Company to broadcast
from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
1/14
1927 - Jack Benny married Sadye Marks.
1939 - The program, Honolulu Bound, was heard on CBS. Phil Baker and the
Andrews Sisters were featured on the program.
Joe
--
Visit my home page: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 18:05:54 -0500
From: "robert phillips" <phillips@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: the dark
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/mixed
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
The program "Lights Out" broadcast a show on 12 / 29 / 1937 titled "The
Dark". Does anyone know where I can get a complete version of this program.
If not, a copy of the script.
RIP
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 18:49:02 -0500
From: "Roger Keel" <rlkeel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: REcording from LP's
I have a number of radio shows that are on LP records and have been trying
to put the shows on cassette tapes. Sounds easy but how does one get rid
of the hisses, pops, scratch clunks etc or in other words the noisy sounds
that records make??
I use a freeware program called Audiograbber. You can get it a [removed] or
direct from [removed] It lets you use your computers audio card to
input audio from your cassette deck or turntable and will convert the song
or audio to an MP3 file. You have to purchase the filters to clean the sound
separately, but they are well worth the cash. If you want to use your
turntable you have to connect via the tape out jacks of your amp. as most
stand alone turntables have no built in amp.
There are quite a few other similar programs available, but I like this one.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #6
*******************************************
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]
To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed]
or see [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]