------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 6
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
More on silent movies and radio [ "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@sbcglob ]
Jerry's podcast [ Jim Beck <jbeck57143@[removed]; ]
Re: Fibber McGee and Molly on TV, bu [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
Fibber And Molly-Television [ "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed]; ]
Request for Information [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
Re: 3D [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
3-D Film Director, Film [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
Jerry's Podcast [ "Jerry Haendiges" <jerryhaendiges@c ]
[removed] Griffith on the radio [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
More on the FOURBLE TABLE [ "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@sbcgloba ]
Tune into Yesterday newsletter [ Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed] ]
reel to reel machine [ "Walden Hughes" <walden1@yesterdayu ]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 23:34:39 -0500
From: "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: More on silent movies and radio
Hi! I wanted to add just a few more comments and thoughts about Hollywood
and radio during the 'silent' film era. I think that Hollywood was able to
take advantage of radio and vice versa, as soon as the sound medium began in
1922 or so. Although at first, not a lot of people had radios in their
homes.
But as I said, Los Angeles radio stations were able to promote the Hollywood
film talent right from the start. I mentioned such luminarires as Douglas
Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, allowing the public to hear what they sounded
like, on KHJ radio, owned by the Los Angeles Times newspaper, which did a
lot of movie adverstising in its pages. Aside from a few juvenile screen
actors who were also featured regularly on KHJ's children's program each
night between 1922-1927, I found a story from the [removed] Times late-1923 about
child star Jackie Coogan being featured on a special KHJ broadcast. An ad
in the April 6, 1924 issue of "Radio Doings" magazine lists the program
schedule for KNX, the "California Theatre Radiophone" station at 810 South
Main Street. The broadcasts mostly featured the 50-piece theater orchestra,
playing music associated with whatever movie was playing that week. And
below the KNX program schedule is an ad for the movie theater.
I found a "Radio Digest" article from November 14, 1925 titled "KFWB, Where
Screen Stars Are Air Stars." Warner Brothers Pictures chief Jack Warner is
quoted in the story about radio and the movies: "There are some who think
that in attaching a radio station to our picture studio, we are fighting our
own interests and creating formidable opposition for ourselves. We believe
the contrary to be the case and are confident we are increasing the number
of our friends and patrons for the entertainment we nightly broadcast,
places us in more intimate contact with the public and increases the
friendly feeling they have for Warner Bros. We are using radio as it is
today--not what it will be tomorrow, although I confidently expect that in
time, the radio and the picture business must join forces permanently to
produce a superior type of entertainment that will combine all the elements
of the stage, the screen and radio."
Interesting and ironic that after 81 years in Hollywood, radio station KFWB
left Hollywood last year for the Wilshire District of Los Angeles, along
with now-co-owned KNX, and that today there are no longer any [removed] radio
stations located in Hollywood!
Someone mentioned Al Jolson this week. A small blurb in "Radio Doings"
magazine of July 30, 1927 says Jolson was then making a movie at Warner
Brothers, "in which the Vitaphone is being used." I suppose this was for
"The Jazz Singer." The small article goes on to say that Al Jolson has sung
only once over the radio, for a Mississippi Valley flood relief fund show.
But, it was believed that he would be heard over KFWB before leaving
California. Somewhere, I have another newspaper story from 1928, which
listed Al Jolson as performing on KFWB radio, as he was in town again to
make a movie at Warners. And again, on March 4, 1929, Jolson was one of
several film stars and other entertainers to help KFWB celebrate its 4th
anniversary on the air.
A new radio station went on the air in Beverly Hills in early
[removed], it was a station that began in 1927, and was sold to real
estate developer Ernest J. [removed]'s debut was filled with Hollywood
greats who made Beverly Hills their new home. The station later became KMPC
in 1930, which years later was owned by Gene Autry.
The silent movie actors of the day also appeared in the newspaper and
magazine print ads for radios, and I have a couple of black and white
pictures of some circa 1925 or so MGM actors posing next to the
battery-operated radios of the day. As talkies came in, a 1929 story
showing movie actress Clara Bow at the KNX microphone, proclaims the
headline "Talkies Lead Movie Stars to Radio; Everyone Wants to Broadcast, It
Appears." And in the trade news of a 1929 radio magazine, a photo ad for
Kolster radios shows blonde actress Ruth Taylor with Buddy Rogers and two
others at the Paramount Studios, as "they tune the KNX Concert Orchestra on
her Kolster set." At that time, KNX radio had moved its radio studios and
offices to the Paramount-Lasky movie studio in Hollywood. Also at the time,
a small 'limited time' radio station, KFVD, moved to the Hal Roach Movie
Studio in Culver City, where it stayed for two years.
So, there are plenty of examples from the silents to the early talkies of
radio and the movies working together.
Jim Hilliker
Monterey
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 23:36:16 -0500
From: Jim Beck <jbeck57143@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jerry's podcast
You can put iTunes on your computer even if you don't
have an iPod. You might get a message about there not
being an iPod to connect to (or something like that- I
can't remember), but you can ignore it. I've been able
to download several podcasts. I don't know if there
are any podcasts that actually do require an iPod to
subscribe to or download, but iTunes itself doesn't
require one.
However, I don't know if Jerry's doing something
different with his podcasts. I was able to download
August 8, 2006 with no problem. I checked to see if
the remaining ones, until the most recent one, would
download-I would start downloading then stop-just to
see if they would download, and I had no problems
until November 18, 2006. Then they wouldn't download.
I get a message about an unknown error.
Other than that I've had no problems subscribing to
and downloading podcasts without an iPod.
Jim
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 00:12:15 -0500
From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Fibber McGee and Molly on TV, but without
the Jordans
The reason that Jim and Marian Jordan did not appear on TV is simple.
They had absolutely no interest in leaving radio for television.
Al Girard
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 00:12:49 -0500
From: "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Fibber And Molly-Television
Fibber McGee and Molly has become one of my all time favorite radio
shows. I love the Midwestern feel Jim nd Marian gave to their
[removed] far as why they didnt do TV, I have read that NBC pushed for
them to do a TV pilot, but they [removed] as to why:They may have
felt their style of program wouldnt translate well to [removed] Don Quinn
had left by the early 1950's. Plus by the early 1950's neither Jim Nor
Marian Jordan were all that young anymore and they may not have wanted to go
through the extra grind of TV production.
Marion was starting to become ill by the mid 50's and would pass away,
sadly in 1961. NBC, owning the Fibber McGee and Molly property, finally
decided to produce the TV show on their own for [removed] was said
previously, the show was not [removed]'ve seen the first episode on
[removed] Lewis made a passable Molly McGee, but Fibber (Bob Sweeney) was
written all wrong. Was nice to see Harold Peary, but not as Mayor
[removed] should have been [removed]
Jim Jordan did make one TV [removed] 1976 on Chico And The Man
(NBC)..He also did a commericial for AARP (American Association of Retired
Persons)
Tim Lones
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 00:12:59 -0500
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Request for Information
Folks;
Received this request for assistance; please contact Ms. Moore directly.
But I'd appreciate if information could be copied to the list as well, since
this is an area that, excluding the occasional A&A discussions, isn't
generally touched on here, yet one I'd like to learn more about.
Charlie
- ---
From: "Karla Moore" <karla1908@[removed];
I'm co-chair with Joan Valentina, of the AFTRA NY Locals EEO Committee. This
year for our Black History Month program we are focusing on Black Pioneers of
Early Radio as our topic and theme to coincide with 70th anniversary of the
founding of AFTRA's parent/predecessor union, AFRA, The American Federation
of Radio Artists. As you undoubtedly know, AFRA was founded in August 1937 in
New York City by several leading performers in radio, as well as stage,
screen, sound recordings, etc, chief among them was Eddie Cantor. Cantor is
largely credited with steering the idea of an independent union for radio
performers to completion after being rebuffed in his attempts to convince
Actor's Equity and the Screen Actor's Guild, both of which he was a member,
that radio was more than a fad and that performers working in this medium
were artists who deserved union protection.
Anyway, what I'm looking for is likely to be a needle in a haystack: copies
of recordings of early radio programs that featured Black performers such as
John Canada Lee, Gertrude Jeanette, Earle Hyman, Ruby Dee, Juanita Howard,
Paul Robeson and others. Specifically seeking copies that could be borrowed
or rented of any of the programs which John Canada Lee announced or narrated
and radio serials such as "The Story of Ruby Valentine," or variety programs
or serials which featured performers such as Ms. Jeanette. Any leads or
assistance in locating such materials AND/OR New York based scholars or
historians who could facilitate a panel discussion of the period from the
20's - 50's including the social conditions and the significance of
Negro/Black/African American writers, actors, musicians who worked in radio
during this period would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Thanks,
Karla
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 07:49:53 -0500
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: 3D
Larry Moore <Rentingnow@[removed]; commented:
But 3-D is fun particularly when things are
thrown into the audience. If my memory serves
me there was one film - House of Wax?- in which
the director had only one eye. To say the least
there were problems in the shooting of the film.
No doubt he was unable to fully appreciate it,
but it probably wasn't too great a handicap; 3D
only works up to about 12 feet away; depth beyond
that is inferred by other indications we pick up
as we grow beyond infancy: relative size,
atmospheric perspective, convergence, etc. So the
scenes where things are thrown at the viewer,
corpses fall at you, sharp things are jabbed at
your eye, etc., are almost essential for people
to even notice the 3D. I recall once my family
taking my great-grandmother along to an early 3D
movie. We thought she would be amazed. She had
come to East Tennessee from North Carolina as a
young girl in a covered wagon and the world had
changed greatly since then. Unfortunately the
effect of the 3D movie was lost on her. She
refused to wear the glasses the theater supplied
saying that she already had glasses of her [removed]
couldn't seem to make her understand she needed
the polarized kind.
Though your eyes can only perceive depth to about
12 feet, some photos have been taken wherein
depth is perceived at a much greater distance.
This is done by placing the two cameras (or two
shots with a single camera) more than the
standard two inches (as I recall) apart. By
placing the shots a hundred feet apart or so one
can see depth between mountain peaks miles away.
I've seen an old photo of New York around the
late 20's. It was no doubt taken from the same
plane at two locations far removed from one
another. The depth within and beyond the
buildings, going way out into the countryside, is
striking and puzzling; our brain knows there's
something wrong with this picture.
Years ago I got very interested in 3D and decided
to use a 3D cover sheet with my resume, figuring
prospective employers would at least have to pick
it up and take a look through the glasses I
provided. I didn't get that many art jobs thereby
- or any other way I ever came up with - but you
can see the results at
[removed] (you'll need some
red and blue 3D glasses). The ironic thing is
that a few years ago I lost my left eye; my
doctor said it was probably the boxing. So I can
no longer see this, or anything else, in 3D.
Except on OTR in the pitch darkness. I still have
one good eye, but none to spare, making the
preservation of OTR all the more important to me.
Others on this list can relate better than I the
importance visually-impaired people place on
stories seen only by the mind's eye.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 07:50:38 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 3-D Film Director, Film
Larry Moore motes, anent 3-D films,
But 3-D is fun particularly when things are thrown into the audience.
If my memory serves me there was one film - House of Wax?- in which the
director had only one eye. To say the least there were problems in the
shooting of the film.
The film in question is Homdo, starring John Wayne, which was directed by
John Ford. This film was shot in color, and was shown over standard
television using a two-color process some time in the 1980s. Viewed
without the glasses, it was acceptable as a standard color film; with the
glasses, it was a 3-D film.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 08:50:45 -0500
From: "Jerry Haendiges" <jerryhaendiges@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jerry's Podcast
Kurt wrote,
Subject: Jerry's podcast
In the beginning Jerry's podcasts were standard mp3 files. Apparently you
can only use Itunes to get them, which puts those without ipods out in the
nether darkness. It is really cold and quiet out here! Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Our Podcast versions of our long-running Same Time, Same Station
broadcasts have always been and still are in standard mp3 format. We use
iTunes because our research indicates it is the oldest, largest and I feel
best service of its kind. It was our intention to get programs out to the
largest audience possible. To access our new Site and go directly to iTunes
go to [removed] and click on "Click here to subscribe to the FREE
podcast in iTunes". I think the popularity of iTunes is exemplified in the
fact that we had over 1500 subscribers within two weeks of launching our
OTRPod Site.
Although the term "Podcast" refers to an iPod player, you do not
need to have an Apple iPod to download or listen to the programs. Any mp3
player will work. You do, however need to install the iTunes software on
your computer. Although this is Apple software, it does not require an
Apple computer. I works just fine on a PC. The software is quick and easy
to install. Once the software is installed, you can easily listen to or
download any of the programs in mp3 format. iTunes, the software and our
broadcasts are all free with no obligations and no spyware.
Although you don't need to subscribe to iTunes, I recommend you do
so. We are using the email addresses from the subscriptions to notify
subscribers of changes and special offers in our new subscription based mp3
download Site, RadioMP3s. We feel this is an exciting new venture for us
that will allow people to download our high-quality programs at
[removed] which, heretofore have only been available on our CDROMs
at [removed]
We are investigating alternates to iTunes, but to date, we have only
received two complaints from people who either didn't like or didn't know
how to use iTunes. On the other hand, we have had several messages
complimenting us on the [removed] commenting on the quality of
the programming. I would certainly like to hear from any of you who use
alternate programs and please tell us why you feel they are better. Again
we have no problem with adding additional delivery methods in the future if
the need is there.
If you have any questions or requests, please feel free to contact me.
Jerry Haendiges
Jerry@[removed] 562-696-4387
The Vintage Radio Place [removed]
[removed] [removed]
Largest source of Old Time Radio Logs, Articles and programs on the Net
[ADMINISTRIVIA: Ok, I think we've hashed this out enough now. There is a
legitimate "other side of the coin" view of iTunes, but I will not get into
it here - contact me privately if you're interested in balancing this opinion
with the reverse. Otherwise, this discussion has gone about as far as
necessary on the Digest, I think. --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 08:38:48 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: [removed] Griffith on the radio
Over a period of time I downloaded a number of radio columns from the
Chicago Daily Tribune by Larry Wolters who served as the radio and TV
columnist from 1929 until 1965 when he retired. I had always found his
column as another good source for radio researchers especially about the
great Chicago radio years. I recently started to read them to perhaps find
some interesting items to share with the OTR newsletter group. Trivia and
a lot more.
In the first column I recently read I was surprised to find a timely
reference to [removed] Griffith, whose name had come up in recent newsletters.
This information may have already been provided to the OTR newsletter, since
I am missing a few newsletters (and other mail I should have received, but
that's another story).
from the Chicago Daily Tribune, Jan 1, 1933
"David Wark Griffith, dean of motion picture directors, has turned his
talents to radio and will make his debut on a 24 week series at 6:15 [removed]
Tuesday over [removed] of Hollywood life are to be presented by the
cinema genius."
Some other items:
"'Milligan and Mulligan' a new detective sketch goes on the air over W-G-N
at 10:15 tomorrow night [Jan 2, 1933]. ... 15 minutes every night except
Sunday." Stars were Don Ameche as Ed Milligan of the Milligan Detective
Agency and Bob White [Dr. Petrie of Fu Manchu, Rin Tin Tin] as Mickey
Mulligan, his goofy assistant."
"Hendrick Willem Van Loon said something in this sentence: 'American radio
needs less body building food for infants and more brain building food for
adults.'"
Al Jolson, in town for a week told Larry that he was still frightened by the
microphone, said his favorites were Ben Bernie, Fred Allen, "whom he regards
as one of the rare original jokesmiths on the air", March of Time, Jessica
Dragonette, Sisters of the Skillet and added that Amos 'n Andy was still the
best.
Musical radio performers/programs mentioned:
Frank Black's singing violins
Comedy trio "Three Public Enemies"
Lighthouse Serenaders, a dance orchestra, of 12 blind men
Wendell Hall, the Red Headed Music Maker
Phil Ohman and Victor Arden
Harriet Cruise of 'the tear-stained voice'
Charlie Agnew, his orchestra and singing young men
That's All Folks,
Irene
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 13:27:52 -0500
From: "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@[removed];
To: "The Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: More on the FOURBLE TABLE
I recorded "The Thing on Fourble Table" in 1984 and hadn't heard until a few
day ago when I read, in OTR DIGEST, how great it is. Well I didn't like it
in 1984 and I still don't like it in 2007.
"Dennis Crow asks: "When did "The Thing on the Fourble Board" become so
highly regarded; when did its reputation start to build, and more to the
point, why?"
To answer is question it's a matter of opinion, likes and dislikes. I read
John Dunning's "On The Air" he called "Quiet Please" an under heard dark
fantasy. It was on at various times and various day, Sunday afternoons,
Monday nights from 1947 to 1949.
Ernest Chappell was a real pro he was the announcer on Campbell Playhouse,
The Big Story, Adv. of Ellery Queen and other network programs. A great
radio Voice. If the show is so great why didn't last in a regular time slot
and [removed] listeners didn't like it. Never had a Sponsor .
If the Madam Patricia, professional writer, had written her review, as she
did in OTR 4, Quiet Please would still be on the [removed] But not for me.
The opinionated Frank McGurn
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 13:29:02 -0500
From: Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Tune into Yesterday newsletter
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Readers of the OTR Digest in the UK might be interested to know that Issue 49
of Tune into Yesterday is now available from the Old Time Radio Show
Collectors Association.
The new edition includes articles about how the BBC monitored German radio
domestic coverage of the Nuremberg Trials in 1946, disc restoration,
archiving OTR on mp3, and the earliest surviving recordings from AFN London
1943 - 45.
OTR recordings are also available to hire for members.
The newsletter costs [removed] pound ( cheques payable to ORCA ) and is
available from:
John Wolstenholme, PO Box 1922, Dronfield, Sheffield, S18 8XA
Graeme Stevenson ( Editor - TIY Newsletter )
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 13:29:15 -0500
From: "Walden Hughes" <walden1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: reel to reel machine
Hi Everybody,
we are in the process of transferring high quality reel to reel on to audio
cd that will be shared in the OTR hobby. We are trying to find good
working reel to reel machine to continue this project. Please contact me
off list, if you can help. Take care,
Walden Hughes
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #6
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