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The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2016 : Issue 66
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
October issue: RADIO RECALL [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
Re: Bing Crosby and magnetic tape [ A Joseph Ross <joe@[removed] ]
Re: Halloween shows [ Radioclass <radioclass@[removed] ]
This week in radio history 9-15 Octo [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
OTR Collection [ Norman Brickman <nbbb2@[removed]; ]
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Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:38:57 -0400
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: October issue: RADIO RECALL
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
A new editor will be taking over duties after the April 2017 issue and hebs
well known to the OTR community. Martin Grams, Jr, diligent OTR researcher,
prolific OTR book author, respected blogger, and linch-pin of the Mid-Atlantic
Nostalgia Convention is our new editor. He promises to maintain the same
excellent content, attractive graphics, timely OTR book reviews, with updates
on future OTR conventions and events.
October issue leads off discussing a superb but obscure program, Black Moon
Mysteries, produced as a regional show by WFBR in Baltimore. Karl Schadow has
unearthed a pile of background information despite the absence of audio copies
or scripts, and he hopes future investigations will remedy that situation
regarding this mystery, horror series that Variety once boasted was bone of
the best thingsb from local broadcasting.
Another great researcher, Stewart Wright, returns to these pages with the
second script summary of a missing episode of the excellent series, Voyage of
the Scarlet Queen, setting forth all the details from their September 4, 1947
program, The Dead Man and the Boac Idol.
Bear Manor Media has just released two more books of interest to OTR fans and
they are covered in this issue. Ryan Ellett reviews for us, Red Channels, the
Bible of Blacklisting, written by Jason Hill. Ellett points out this book
offers some unique insights and perspectives of that era. Next up, Elva Diane
Greenbs biography of her father, Eddie Green, finally gives us the complete
story of this talented performer on stage, film, vaudeville, and network
radio. In his review, Edgar Farr Russell III points out that many OTR fans
only know Green from his role as Eddie on Duffybs Tavern so they are in for
a real treat, learning about Greenbs show-biz triumphs in other venues.
SAG/AFTRA magazine, which should know better, recently termed Ma Perkins:
historybs first soap opera. Since at least a dozen soaps preceded Ma in
1933, the article resulted in an Open Letter to the Editor, which is reprinted
in this issue, correcting this error.
Prominent OTR collector, historian, and author, David S. Siegel died September
20th and a lengthy obituary sets forth his many accomplishments for which he
was admired by the OTR community. Dr. Joe Webb, who as a teen-ager first met
David in the early 70s, also explains to our readers why David was such a
respected collector of vintage radio.
The magazine, Movie and Radio Guide once published a two page cartoon spread
of Hollywood, featuring stars of film and radio in the 40s. This panorama is
reprinted in this issue and readers are encouraged to find their favorite
radio personalities.
All this. plus letters to the editor and news of upcoming OTR conventions,
cruises, and other such events. To view articles from previous issues, point
your mouse at <[removed] <[removed];> and if tempted to join
the club, a membership form can be downloaded there also.
Jack French Editor
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
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Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:39:06 -0400
From: A Joseph Ross <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Bing Crosby and magnetic tape
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 22:29:40 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 2-8 October
1947 A small Northern California company got a major boost from Bing
Crosby. The first show recorded on tape was broadcast on ABC. 'Der
Bingle' was so popular, that his taped show promoted wide distribution
of the new magnetic tape recorders that would become broadcast classics
the venerable Ampex 200.
The story as I understand it was that Bing Crosby managed to break
network radio's rigid rule against pre-recording anything by taking his
show to ABC, which was a new and struggling network. Getting a big star
like Bing was important enough to them that they were willing to let
Bing pre-record his show, at first by transcription. This smoothed the
way for Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life" to pre-record when it started
on ABC. When magnetic tape came along, Bing suggested to ABC that they
get some tape equipment. ABC expressed concern about the financial
stability of Ampex, so Bing bought stock in the company to the tune of
$50,000. That settled, ABC also bought tape equipment for Groucho's show.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] | 1340 Centre Street, Suite 103 | Newton, MA 02459
[removed] | [removed] | [removed]
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Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:40:15 -0400
From: Radioclass <radioclass@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Halloween shows
Anne Walker
Ozzie and Harriet Oct 31, 1948 Ozzie visits the "Haunted House"
The Shadow Oct 31, 1937, The Three Ghosts
Inner Sanctum Oct 31, 1949 Corpse for Halloween
Fibber McGee and Molly, Oct n24, 1939 Gildersleeve's Halloween Party
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Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:40:22 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 9-15 October
10/9
1935 Cavalcade of America was first broadcast this very day. The CBS
show featured some of Hollywood and Broadway's most famous stars in
leading roles in the half hour dramas. Thomas Chalmers narrated the
stories about obscure incidents and people in American history. The
orchestra was led by Donald Voorhees. The show aired from 1935 to 1953,
changing from CBS to NBC in 1939; with one sponsor for its entire
duration. The DuPont Company introduced its slogan on Cavalcade of
America ... "Better things for better living through [removed]"
1943 ABC presented Land of the Lost. The opening phrase for the show
was, "In that wonderful kingdom at the bottom of the [removed]" This
children's adventure fantasy serial took the audience underwater where
the main characters, Isabel and Jimmy, were guided by their friend, a
red fish named Red Lantern and played at first by Junius Matthews and
later, by Art Carney. Land of the Lost found a large audience and
remained on the air until 1948.
10/10
1932 Two of radio's earliest efforts at soap operas were heard for the
first time. Judy and Jane, sponsored by Folger's Coffee, and Betty and
Bob, sponsored by General Mills, had listeners glued to their radios
into the early 1940s.
1933 Dreft, the first synthetic detergent, went on sale. Ten years
later, Dreft was the sponsor of The Dreft Star Playhouse.
1937 The Mutual Broadcasting System debuted Thirty Minutes in
Hollywood. 48 sponsors shared the cost of the program that aired in 72
cities nationwide. It was the first Mutual co op radio show. George
Jessel and Norma Talmadge starred. Music was provided by the Tommy
Tucker Orchestra.
10/11
1936 Professor Quiz aired for the first time. It was the first
national quiz show on radio and lasted until 1948. Guests asked
Professor Quiz (Dr. Craig Earl) questions. If they were able to stump
the prof, they collected a $25 prize. ($432 in 2015 dollars). Professor
Quiz announcers were Robert Trout and Arthur Godfrey. Sponsors included
Kelvinator refrigerators, Teel Shampoo and Velvet pipe tobacco.
1948 One of radio's last premiering soap operas, The Brighter Day,
happened this day in Three Rivers. The show centered around the Dennis=
and their extended family. It's interesting to take a look at the cast
and see which names are still recognizable, like Hal Holbrook and
William Redfield. Some of the sponsors are still around, too: Ivory Soap
flakes, Blue Cheer detergent and Hazel Bishop lipstick. The soap opera
lasted for six years on radio.
10/12
1937 The longest running detective show debuted. Mr. Keen, Tracer of
Lost Persons lasted until 1955. Three different actors played the title
role, Bennett Kilpack was Mr. Keen the longest, and Arthur Hughes saw
the final show. Phil Clark also played the part. There were many more
than three sponsors Anacin, Kolynos toothpaste, BiSoDol antacid
mints, Hill's cold tablets, Heet liniment, Dentyne, Aerowax, RCA Victor
and Chesterfield cigarettes. Some are long gone, some are still around,
some don't advertise on radio anymore, and some are not allowed to.
10/13
From [removed]
1930 Groucho Marx made his radio debut introducing Heywood Broun on
WABC, the New York affiliate of CBS.
10/14
1934 Folks had clean hands for 21 years beginning this day. The Lux
Radio Theater was heard on the NBC Blue [removed] and nearly every
famous Hollywood star over the next three decades appeared on the
program. Lux Radio Theater adapted novels, Broadway plays and Hollywood
films into radio's favorite dramatic series.
From NYT Today in history
In 1943, the Radio Corporation of America completed sale of the NBC Blue
network to businessman Edward J. Noble for $8 million;
($110,788,473 in 2015 dollars) the network was renamed the American
Broadcasting Company.
Joe
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Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:40:30 -0400
From: Norman Brickman <nbbb2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR Collection
I used to collect Old Time Radio episodes, in particular for 3 programs
that I will mention below. I believe a few of the episodes might be
rare, and in general I would appreciate advice on what I should do to
ensure the preservation of the 3 sets, such as where to donate them.
The episodes are in mp3, 22/11 format, which I find quite normal for
listening to but by today's memory standards is pretty compressed. A
half-hour program takes about 7 MBytes of storage.
-) The Eternal Light. 719 episodes.
-) Cavalcade of America. 759 episodes. I have a few episodes that I
used to see referred to as not being available.
-) The Halls of Ivy. A personal favorite OTR program. I only have
87 out of what I think was a total of 109 broadcasts. 6 or 7 of
the 87 I obtained from a collector who converted from his wire recorder
to cassette tape and as far as I know he only gave them to me. The
quality suffers, but still very listenable and I don't believe they are
otherwise available.
Thank you
Norman
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End of [removed] Digest V2016 Issue #66
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