------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 58
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
2-19 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Re: DXing [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
Subject: DX'ing ??? [ "Bill" <nbcblue@[removed]; ]
Re: Subject: Chandu the Magician & J [ Joemartelle@[removed] ]
DXing and clear channel vs. Clear Ch [ <verotas@[removed]; ]
DX-ing [ Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed] ]
the president [ "Walden Hughes" <walden1@yesterdayu ]
DX [removed] [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
Houdini Seance [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
D X ing [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
2-20 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 23:44:20 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-19 births/deaths
February 19th births
02-19-1893 - Cedric Hardwicke - Stourbridge, England - d. 8-6-1964
actor: Sherlock Holmes "BBC Home Theatre"; Winston Churchill "These
Four Men"
02-19-1895 - Louie Calhern - NYC - d. 5-12-1956
actor: "Radio Reader's Digest"
02-19-1896 - Eddie Jackson - d. 7-16-1980
comic: "Jimmy Durante Show"; "Mail Call"; "Big Show"
02-19-1899 - Carl Matthews - Oklahoma Territory - d. 5-3-1959
actor: "The Cuckoo Hour"
02-19-1901 - William Post, Jr. - d. 9-26-1989
actor: John Perry "John's Other Wife"
02-19-1902 - Eddie Peabody - Reading, MA - d. 11-7-70
banjoist: (The Banjo King) "National Barn Dance"
02-19-1902 - Kay Boyle - St. Paul, MN - d. 12-27-1992
writer: "NBC Presents: Short Story"
02-19-1911 - Merle Oberon - Calcutta, India - d. 11-23-1979
actor: "Orson Welles Theatre"; "Stars Over Hollywood"
02-19-1913 - Jack Leonard - NYC - d. 6-17-1988
singer: (Tommy Dorsey's Band) "Meet the Music"
02-19-1915 - Dick Emery - London, England - d. 1-2-1983
comedian: "Educating Archie"
02-19-1915 - Fred Freiberger - NYC - d. 3-2-2003
writer: "Suspense"; "Family Theatre"
02-19-1918 - Fay McKenzie - Hollywood, CA
actor: "Blue Ribbon Town"
02-19-1921 - Chris Gampel - Montreal, Canada
actor: "The Eternal Light"; "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
02-19-1922 - Sandy Becker - NYC - d. 4-9-1996
actor, announcer: Jerry Malone "Young Dr. Malone"; "Backstage Wife"
02-19-1924 - Lee Marvin - NYC - d. 8-29-1987
actor: "Dragnet"
02-19-1937 - Lee Harding - Australia
author: Several of his works adapted for radio
February 19th deaths
02-22-1915 - Jules Munshin - NYC - d. 2-19-1970
actor: "MGM Musical Comedy Theatre"
03-13-1918 - Ina Ray Hutton - Chicago, IL - d. 2-19-1984
bandleader: "Spotlight Bands"
03-28-1922 - Paul Bartell - Milwaukee, WI - d. 2-19-2006
announcer, disk jockey: "Blue Baron Show"; "Fox Club"
04-14-1913 - John Howard - Cleveland, OH - d. 2-19-1995
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Hollywood Hotel"
07-17-1902 - Edward Gargan - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-19-1964
actor: "This Is Your [removed]"; "This Is Our Heritage"
07-27-1877 - Florence Gill - London, England - d. 2-19-1965
actor: "Uncle Walter's Doghouse"
07-29-1892 - Lewis James - Dexter, MI - d. 2-19-1959
vocalist: "The Mobiloil Concert"; "The Revelers Quartet"
08-17-1900 - Quincy Howe - Boston, MA - d. 2-19-1977
newscaster: "Quincy Howe: Comment"
08-17-1912 - Gogo De Lys - Edmonton, Canada - d. 2-19-2003
singer: "Carefree Carnival"; "Little Ol' Hollywood"; "Stoopnagle and
Budd"
08-23-1926 - Eugene Troopnick - Boston, MA - d. 2-19-2003
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
08-25-1904 - Alice White - Paterson, NJ - d. 2-19-1983
actor: Blondie Bumstead "Blondie"
09-05-1892 - Joseph Szigeti - Budapest, Austria-Hungary - d. 2-19-1973
violinist: "Camel Caravan"; "Elgin Christmas Party"; "Concert Hall"
09-23-1913 - Stanley Kramer - NYC - d. 2-19-2001
film director: "Jack Benny Program"; "Stagestruck"
09-30-1905 - Michael Powell - Bekesbourne, Kent, England - d. 2-19-1990
screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-20-1913 - "Grandpa" Jones - Niagra, KY - d. 2-19-1998
country singer, banjoist: "Grand Ole Opry"
12-29-1879 - Billy Mitchell - Nice, France - d. 2-19-1936
aviator: "The World's Most Honored Flights"
Ron Sayles
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:20:28 -0500
From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: DXing
DX is an abbreviation for distance, and it probably had its origin as a ham radio term from
days when international morse code (known as CW, for continuos waves) was a main way of
communicating via radio. Since morse code is essentially a method of spelling with long and
short
tones (dots and dashes), it was expedient to do so with a lot of abbreviations, and so a lot
of easy and
quick terms were created. For example, BCNU for Be Seeing You.
Ham radio operators who try to work long distances are called DXers, and working long
distances is DXing. Short wave listeners and broadcast band listeners also call the hobby of
receiving radio stations that are a long distance away, as DXing also.
As a note of interest, one of the best DX listening events I ever experienced was hearing
both ends of a conversation between a ham at the North Pole, and a ham at the South Pole.
Now THAT's DX!
Al Girard
VE6OA
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:20:49 -0500
From: "Bill" <nbcblue@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Subject: DX'ing ???
Is there anyone else here who doesn't know what DXing is? Sorry to be
dense on the subject, but I just haven't heard this before. Thanks in
advance.
DXing is a term used to describe the tuning in or listening for distant
signals, or in the case of ham radio, communicating with distant stations.
In the very early days of radio, radio enthusists would use their crystal
sets or tube regenerative receivers and attempt to tune in the most distant
(DX) station they could. This gave bragging rights down at the local radio
club if you pulled in the most distant stations on your receiver. There are
broadcast band DXers, short wave band DXers, and even TV band DXers. The
whole idea being to see what is the most distant station one can receive.
The term also applied to early telephone exchanges and stood for "Distant
Exchange".
Bill H.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:21:27 -0500
From: Joemartelle@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Subject: Chandu the Magician & Jason
Robards, Sr.
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In response to Larry Kohl question of "when did Jason Robards, Sr play the
role of Chandu The Magician?"
Here's the scoop, from those two radio stalwarts, Frank Buxton and Bill
Owen and their book, Radio's Golden Age, from Easton Valley Press-1968
edition.
According to the duo, and supported by checking out page 67 of their book,
YES INDEED, the dad, Jason Robards, [removed] Junior, was first at the mike to
play the role, of Chandu, followed in order by Gayne Whitman, Howard Hoffman,
and Tom Collins.
Another great actor was also featured in the series, Olan Soule.
Good luck with your book! I'm pleased to see our friend, Ben, at BearManor
is supporting your efforts. He's a GREAT guy and has been there for me too,
with my forthcoming book, Radio Pro:)
All my best and God Bless
Joe Martelle
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Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:25:02 -0500
From: <verotas@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: DXing and clear channel vs. Clear Channel
I'm sure the asker re the meaning of DX will be flooded with replies, but
DXing but the term started simply as an early, avid radio listener that would
dial all over seeking new stations to add to his list, usually at night. I'm
not sure, but think it means 'Dial Crossing', which is logical. Kind of a
second cousin to the amateur radio shorthand 'CQ' which meant seeking another
'ham' with whom to converse. To figure it out, just say 'CQ' aloud. Oddly
enough, if I ever knew, I have forgotten where the term 'Ham' in that sense
came from - perhaps someone can lucidate me? Perhaps a Cockney hamateur?
With the ref to Clear Channel, I think it might be good for newer listeners
to realize that there is a world of difference between the meaning of 'clear
channel' in the original sense discussed here - high-power AM stations with
very large allowable listening areas. - and the more recent corporate sense.
One has to give them nerve, I'll say that. Perhaps better I should say
'gall', or chutzpah, chutzpa , utzpah or hutzpa. I'll come back to that.
It reminds me of the old joke of the prisoner convicted of murdering his
parents, pleading for clemency from the judge because he was an orphan. But
I digress --
For example, clear channel stations on the [removed] EAST coast (say in NYC) were
on frequencies (like WOR's 710 KC and most of the other big network
flagships) where no other station had that dial setting until one got to the
WEST coast, far enough away so the two would not interfere with each other.
Of course, in the middle of the country - especially at night when AM
traveled much farther - when a confused listener could well get both signals
at once. As Benny Kubelsky was wont to say - "Yikes!"
The difference I speak of is THAT meaning of 'clear channel' as opposed to
the huge corporation called Clear Channel which now operates something like 4
million stations all with the same program at the same time, often operating
several stations with precious few employees in the same towns across our
nation supposedly in direct competition with each other. Here in little Vero
Beach FL it's something like 4 or 5.
Some one DJ in East Eyewash is heard via automatic computerized programing
(so much fun when it gets screwed up!) on hundreds of stations all at the
same time. So much for any real local public service. Okay, so I
exaggerated at 4 million - maybe it's only 4 thousand (heh heh). Which IMHO
to the original and until fairly recent FCC 'reasoning' was 3,993 too many.
Think back to ruling on NBC's Red and Blue Networks, and the limits on
station holdings .
I think there are 4 or 5 "competing" news outlets in NYC all programmed by
the same personnel from the same newsroom. Yikes again - but this time from
yours truly, a former print and broadcast newsman who fears for our nation.
Big Brother is not only listening - he's forcing us to listen to him -
everywhere.
Sadly, Lee Munsick
[ADMINISTRIVIA: Comments should go directly to the poster; ClearChannel
didn't exist in the 1920's-1960's. --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:32:54 -0500
From: Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: DX-ing
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Penne asks what DX-ing is. This was listening to short wave radio back in the
old days before the internet ! I listened for years to the old propaganda
stations from Eastern Europe, such as Radio Moscow, Radio Prague, Radio
Warsaw etc. Hindsight is a great thing of course, but how I wished I'd taped
some of those programmes for [removed] !
Graeme Stevenson, Scotland
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:10:39 -0500
From: "Walden Hughes" <walden1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: the president
Hi Everybody,
in answering a question in the last OTR digest about if the presidents were
big fans of OTR. I understand that president Roosevelt would listen to
the radio. I put together the Sinatra family OTR collection of frank work.
Nancy Sinatra JR. told me that her Dad recall the time when he went back to
the white House, and president Roosevelt pulled him aside and ask him what
going to be the number one song this week on Your Hit Parade. Frank was the
male star on the show at the time. The Truman library does have coppies for
sale of Harry radio broadcast, and I interviewed Margaret Truman about her
days in radio. She enjoyed radio very much, and fred Allen was a very big
help to her in working with an audience. She forgot until I reminded her
that she work with Jimmy Stuart on Screen Director Playhouse on Jackpot.
Take care,
Walden
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:30:49 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: DX [removed]
Penne asked what DXing is. Sorry I didn't explain this. I think it is a
ham radio term for "distance listening." At sundown it is possible to pick
up AM radio stations hundreds+ miles away, depending on where you live. I
have spent my life in the northcentral states of South Dakota, Nebraska,
Minnesota, and Illinois. Commonly, I have been able to receive stations in
Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, Des Moines, Omaha, Fargo, Oklahoma,
Dallas and Ft. Worth, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Chicago, New Orleans,
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New York and Rochester, Atlanta, Nashville, and
several other cities many miles from Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Sometimes the signals are good enough to record off the air. Even if not,
it is fun to listen to these faraway places! Speaking of faraway places, if
you have a short wave receiver, you might be surprised at the countries you
can receive. But that's another [removed]
Ted Kneebone / 1528 S. Grant St. / Aberdeen, SD 57401
[removed]~stmarkch/
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:55:54 -0500
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Houdini Seance
A company called The Magic Station has a CD of the 1936 Houdini seance.
I've never done business with them, so I can't comment further.
Here's the URL:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:41:54 -0500
From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: D X ing
The question was asked "what is DX ing"
In the olden days when radio was young, people who had antenna that,
pulled in radio station from long distances especially at [removed] If
they a station several states way they would send a post Card to the
radio station and tell what they herd and what time they heard the
station , and what was playing and where the listener was and when he
heard the [removed] radio station would send, by mail, a verification
that the listener really heard the station.
In those day the post card cold be addressed to call Letters of the
station and the town and State. no Zip code or street address. The
post office would deliver the mail to the station.
I guess that DXing was a hobby, to see how man radio signals you could
collect., and from how long distances the radio satiation was from you.
This info. is from my memory, so if any one know more I hope thy fill
in my blank spots.
Frank McGurn
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:21:36 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-20 births/deaths
February 20th births
02-20-1874 - Mary Garden - Aberdeen, Scotland - d. 1-3-1967
singer: "The Metropolitan Opera"
02-20-1888 - Muriel Starr - Montreal, Canada - d. 4-19-1950
actor: Susan Leighton "Amanda of Honeymoon Hill"
02-20-1890 - "Prince" Michael Romanoff - Lithuania - d. 9-1-1971
restaurant owner: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
02-20-1893 - Russel Crouse - Findlay, OH - d. 4-3-1966
panelist: "Information, Please"; "Transatlantic Quiz"
02-20-1900 - Paul Conlan - Indiana - d. 2-26-1980
writer, director: "Abbott and Costello Show"; "The Signal Carnival"
02-20-1906 - Gale Gordon - NYC - d. 6-30-1995
actor: Mayor LaTrivia "Fibber McGee and Molly"; Osgood Conklin "Our
Miss Brooks"
02-20-1906 - Jack Jackson - Horsley, England - d. 1-15-1978
disc jockey: "Record Round-Up"; "Rooftop Rendezvous"; "Cabaret Crusie"
02-20-1906 - Richard Himber - Newark, NJ - d. 12-11-1966
bandleader: "Studebaker Champions"; "Your Hit Parade"
02-20-1907 - Nadine Conner - Compton, CA - d. 3-1-2003
singer: "Show Boat"; "Kraft Music Hall"; "Bell Telephone Hour"
02-20-1909 - Barry Wood - New Haven, CT - d. 7-19-1970
singer, host: "Million-Dollar Band"; "Your Hit Parade"
02-20-1911 - Paul Tripp - NYC - d. 8-29-2002
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
02-20-1913 - Tommy Henrich - Massillon, OH
sportscaster: "Tommy Henrich Show"
02-20-1914 - Dick Post - St. Louis, MO
announcer: "Scattergood Baines"; "Tony Wons"
02-20-1914 - John Charles Daly - Johannesburg, South Africa - d.
2-25-1991
newscaster, emcee: "What's My Line"; "CBS Is There"; "Columbia Workshop"
02-20-1919 - Dick Wesson - Idaho - d. 1-27-1979
announcer: "Space Patrol"
02-20-1925 - Robert Altman - Kansas City, MO - d. 11-20-2006
writer: "A Man Called X"
02-20-1928 - Elroy Face - Stephentown, NY
pitcher: "Tops In Sports, The Elroy Face Story"
02-20-1929 - Amanda Blake - Buffalo, NY - d. 8-16-1989
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Escape"
02-20-1937 - Nancy Wilson - Chillicothe, OH
singer: "Here's to Veterans"; "Spots for the National Guard"
February 20th deaths
01-07-1910 - Joe Bigelow - d. 2-20-1976
writer, producer: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
01-29-1917 - John Raitt - Santa Ana, CA - d. 2-20-2005
actor, singer: "MGM Musical Comedy Theatre"
02-12-1884 - Alice Roosevelt Longworth - NYC - d. 2-20-1980
daughter of Theodore Roosevelt: "Information, Please"
02-14-1906 - John Goldwater - NYC - d. 2-20-1999
Created "Archie"
02-24-1885 - Chester Nimitz - Fredericksburg, TX - d. 2-20-1966
admiral of the Navy: "Navy Day Program"; "We the People"; "This is
the Navy"
03-13-1914 - Bob Weiskopf - Chicago, IL - d. 2-20-2001
writer: "The Fred Allen Show"
04-07-1897 - Walter Winchell - NYC - d. 2-20-1972
news-gossip caster: "Lucky Strike Dance Hour"; "Jergens Journal"
05-10-1882 - Thurston Hall - Boston, MA - d. 2-20-1958
actor: Jim Hanvey "The Townsend Murder Mystery"
06-01-1898 - Edward "Cookie" Fairchild - NYC - d. 2-20-1975
conductor: "Johnny Presents Ginny Simms"; "Eddie Cantor Show"
06-12-1902 - Al Donahue - Dorchester, MA - d. 2-20-1983
bandleader: "Al Donahue and His Orchestra"; "Matinee at Meadbrook"
07-08-1882 - Percy Grainger - Melbourne, Australia - d. 2-20-1961
composer: "Prudential Family Hour"; "The Pause that Refreshes."
07-31-1919 - Curt Gowdy - Green River, WY - d. 2-20-2006
sportscaster: play-by-play Boston Red Sox
09-04-1928 - Dick York - Fort Wayne, IN - d. 2-20-1992
actor: Billy Fairfield "Jack Armstrong/Armstrong of the SBI"
09-22-1904 - Clarence Nash - Watonga, Oklahoma Territory - d. 2-20-1985
actor: (voice of Donald Duck) "Mickey Mouse Theatre of the Air"
10-07-1905 - Andy Devine - Flagstaff, Arizona Territory - d. 2-20-1977
actor: Jingles P. Jones "Wild Bill Hickok"; Mose Muich "Lum and
Abner"; "Jack Benny Program"
11-08-1913 - Robert Strauss - NYC - d. 2-20-1975
actor: Doc Prouty "Advs. of Ellery Queen"; Pa Wiggs "Mrs. Wiggs of
the Cabbage Patch"
11-14-1910 - Rosemary De Camp - Prescott, Arizona Territory - d.
2-20-2001
actor: Nurse Judy Price, "Dr. Christian"
xx-xx-xxxx - Hugh Barrett Dobbs - d. 2-20-1944
actor: Captain Dobbsie "Ship of Joy"
Ron Sayles
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #58
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