------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 275
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
What to do with old VHS tapes? [ jhcollins@[removed] ]
THE RAILROAD HOUR book [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Arthur Godfrey T-Bond Kick Off [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Bra Inventor? [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
Cussing radio stars [ Stephen Davies <SDavies@[removed]; ]
9-25 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
"It Pays To Be Ignorant" [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
"Can You Top This?" [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
"You Bet Your Life" [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:16:44 -0400
From: jhcollins@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: What to do with old VHS tapes?
I have hundreds of VHS tapes of OTR-related material which I've
started copying onto DVDs. My question is: what should I do with the
tapes? I'm reluctant to just throw them away. - John Collins
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:22:05 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: THE RAILROAD HOUR book
Bob Cockrum commented:
The book is not without its difficulties, including a number of
typographical errors, such as referring to a radio station as
SGAR in one sentence, followed by another which starts, "At WGAR,
...," making one think the "G-A-R" of SGAR weren't intended
either; did the authors possibly mean one of the stations - WHKC,
WOSU or WCOL - mentioned in a previous sentence? On the same
page, there is a reference to the "Armed Forces Radio Series."
There is a difference between the Armed Forces Radio Service and Armed
Forces Radio Series. The Armed Forces Radio Service (later renamed the
Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) was the service designed to
rebroadcast radio programs to troops stationed overseas, usually recordings
of prior programs broadcast over [removed] networks. The "Armed Forces Radio
Series" refers to programs created and established by the Armed Forces Radio
Service, such as "Mystery Theater" and in reference to the subject at hand,
and as pointed out in the book, original patriotic Army and Navy programs.
Those series are floating about in circulation, including YARNS FOR YANKS,
COMMAND PERFORMANCE, and MAIL CALL.
The profiles of the supporting cast could have been more helpful
if the names were followed by the years of their births and
deaths, just to give the reader a better idea of what stage in
life they entered that of The Railroad Hour. The profiles are
compromised with the formula "born in" and non sequitir, the
funniest of which is, "Born in Piedmont, California, Warenskjold
was the granddaughter of Axel Warneskjold, who invented the Atlas
Diesel engine and was knighted by the King of Norway." To think
that being born in Piedmont could contribute to such success!
There is an old saying when authors write books. No matter how detailed an
author gets with a book, there's a percentage of readers who say the book
has too many details, and had the details been removed, the book would have
been thinner in size and therefore (and most likely) the retail price would
have been cheaper. Then there is a percentage of readers who say it's not
enough details, and complains about them. I personally do not like listing
birth dates and death dates for two reasons. One, unless you can get your
hands on the actual birth certificate and/or death certificate, the dates
found in encyclopedias and newspaper articles can be wrong. Also, if they
are not dead, that makes the book outdated. (Same reason why it's not good
to state what episodes do and do not exist in OTR books - the LUX RADIO
THEATER book is great . . . except that which episodes do not exist is out
of date now.) As for profiles of a supporting cast, often a brief about
their musical accomplishments and various bits of trivia is more fun to read
than an droll encyclopedia-style biography. I personally dislike reading
books that are encyclopedic in nature. I like to be amused and entertained
while I read through the pages.
There are troubles, too, in the episode guide, such as Episode
#36, OKALAHOMA! [sic], which is followed by "Script subtitle:
'Tribute to Franz Schubert.'" Next comes more about Rogers and
Hammerstein, the story and history of "Oklahoma!", only to be
followed by "Songs include: An Sylvia [removed], Fischerweise, [removed],
Ave Maria ...."
What you are referring to is the summer series, THE RAILROAD SUMMER SHOW
that had two titles, as it's pointed about above. The titles of the music
featured in that broadcast, as it is stated in the book, came from the
script itself. During that summer series, each broadcast was primarily
focused on the musicians, in this case Franz Schubert, so his songs were
featured. Oklahoma was the main title on the script, but only a brief on
the broadcast. It was the Railroad's attempt to cover two different
subjects on the same broadcast (hence the reason why THE WIZARD OF OZ was
the subject of the broadcast of Septemebr 5, 1949, but only a few of the
many songs came from the musical.
I don't mean to be overly critical of the authors and publishers
of old time radio books in general. They are doing a great
service in preserving industry history and Americana. But in
fact, this is a problem I've noticed in other special interest
and hobby-oriented books. Much time and effort and love of the
topic is expended in putting these books together, and not a
little money is spent in buying them. Before finally going to
press, someone removed from a book's development needs to do a
final proofing of the document to catch inconsistencies in style
and fact.
Regrettably, a book like THE RAILROAD HOUR had four different proof-readers
(their names are acknowledged in the book's introduction) but regardless of
how many times a book is proofed, there will always be an error that slips
by. I have NEVER read a book in my life that did not have an error in fact
or mis-spelling. Heck, when I wrote the I LOVE A MYSTERY COMPANION, after
three different people proofed the manuscript, the word Uncle Sam was caught
as Uncle San which meant three differerent people missed that error. It was
cuaght before going to print, but it's an example that no matter how many
people proof a book, it's never going to be perfect.
Funny story . . . I remember attending the Cincinnati OTR Convention last
year and an attendee, not sure his name but I know he's a member of a Cincy
OTR club, picking up a book off a vendor table and after flipping through 2
or 3 pages, put it back on the table and complained that even though it was
published through a University Press, it was a "shoddy piece of junk." He
made references to mistakes in facts and spelling. Another member of an OTR
club told me that the customer was like that all the time. Yet, a short
while later, that same day, he picked up a 700 page book that was so severly
damaged that the pages were almost coming off the spine (retailed $30)
offered at a discount of seven dollars. He bought it without flipping
through the pages and claimed he was pleased with his purchase and made two
references to how good the book was (and admitted he never even read it
yet). I still cannot help but laugh at the mentality when he said to me,
before walking away from the vendor table, (and I quote him word-for-word)
"I don't care how good the book is when the price is right."
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:25:18 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Arthur Godfrey T-Bond Kick Off
I came across a bit of info and I'm curious to know if anyone out there
(Lee?) might know the answer.
Apparently in April (not sure of the year but it had to be between 1950 and
1957), the [removed] Treasury ran into a snarl in a proposed all-network bond
drive known as the Independence Loan. CBS hesitated, but NBC said they were
committed. Supposedly it was on radio AND television, but CBS was holding
out. Arthur Godfrey signed contract emcee the event.
My question is, what year was this and did Godfrey actually emcee as
scheduled?
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:21:26 -0400
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Bra Inventor?
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On Sep 24, 2007, at 6:18 PM, Ron Sayles wrote:
09-24-1905 - Howard Hughes - Humble, TX - d. 4-5-1976
film producer, bra inventor, billionaire: "Howard Hughes Senate
Hearings"
Occasionally I get the idea my ol' buddy Ron is just inserting tiny
details into his daily lists of "births/deaths" just to see if we're
paying attention. Howard Hughes would be a case in point.
Now granted, Hughes was a film producer and most certainly a
billionaire. And yes, while he didn't exactly invent that bra that
Jane Russell was supposed to wear in the movie "The Outlaw," he did
at least design it.
But if one can only use five words to describe Hughes' life
accurately, why waste two of them on "bra inventor" when his other
accomplishments go unmentioned? Hughes was certainly a very
accomplished pilot and holder of several air speed records. Before he
bought and ran TWA, he had already scored success as an aircraft
engineer and builder and the latter occupied most of his later years
before he went off the deep end, physically and mentally.
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>
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Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:22:08 -0400
From: Stephen Davies <SDavies@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cussing radio stars
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from text/html
I was listening to the 10-year Jack Benny testimonial (1941-may-09)
which I must have downloaded from [removed] I guess it was a
sufficient honour that the event was recorded. Altho it was
hosted/sponsored by NBC, it wasn't intended for airing.
At the conclusion, about 1 hour and 15 minutes in, Jack takes the
podium and gives a somewhat rambling speech during which he utters
some simple profanities. It comes as quite a surprise since he was
always so scrupulous with his language and his character was presented
as so mild.
Stephen D
Calgary
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Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:22:18 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 9-25 births/deaths
September 25th births
09-25-1875 - Clyde Fillmore - McConnelsville, OH - d. 12-19-1946
actor: Sam Aldrich "The Aldrich Family"
09-25-1894 - John Howard Lawson - NYC - d. 8-12-1977
screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-25-1895 - Jack Denny - Indiana - d. 9-15-1950
music: "The American Revue"; "The Harry Richman Show"
09-25-1897 - William Faulkner - New Albany, MS - d. 7-6-1962
author: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "NBC University Theatre"; "Short Story"
09-25-1905 - Carl Hoff - Oxnard, CA - d. 10-15-1965
bandleader: "Al Pearche and His Gang"; "Your Hit Parade"
09-25-1905 - Natalie Arnoux - d. 7-15-1997
violinist: KFDM Beaumont, Texas
09-25-1905 - Red Smith - Green Bay, WI - d. 1-15-1982
sportscaster: "Al Schacht Sports Show"; "Bill Stern Sports News"
09-25-1906 - Dimitri Shostakovich - St. Petersburg, Russia - d. 8-9-1975
composer: "Four for the Fifth"
09-25-1916 - Jessica Anderson - Australia
authored at least 10 radio plays in her native Australia
09-25-1917 - Phil Rizzuto - Brooklyn, NY - d. 8-13-2007
sportscaster: "Phil Rizzuto's Sports Caravan"; "Image Minorities"
09-25-1926 - Aldo Ray - Pen Argyl, PA - d. 3-27-1991
actor; "MGM Musical Comedy Theatre"
09-25-1926 - John Ericson - Dusseldorf, Germany - d. 6-18-1972
actor: "Stars On Parade"
09-25-1929 - Ronnie Barker - Bedford, England - d. 10-3-2005
comedian: "The Floggits"
09-25-1931 - Barbara Walters - Boston, MA
commentator: "Monitor"
09-25-1943 - Lee Aaker - Inglewood, CA
actor: Rusty "Rin-Tin-Tin"
09-25-1951 - Mark Hamill - Oakland, CA
actor: Luke Skywalker "Star Wars"
September 25th deaths
01-03-1892 - Marion Davies - Brooklyn, NY - d. 9-25-1961
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "How I Made Up for the Moview"
01-03-1917 - Jay Sommers - NYC - d. 9-25-1985
writer: "Lum and Abner"; "Joan Davis Time"; "Alan Young Show"
01-14-1863 - R. F. Outcault - Lancaster, OH - d. 9-25-1928
writer: Buster Brown based on Outcalt's comic strip
01-31-1913 - Maurice Manson - d. 9-25-2002
actor: Reverend McArthur "One Man's Family"
03-23-1912 - Francis DeSales - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-25-1988
actor: Bill Weigand "Mr. and Mrs. North"; Parris Mitchell "King's Row"
04-11-1909 - Sylvia Picker - NYC - d. 9-25-1981
actor: Suzy "Box 13"
04-13-1923 - Don Adams - NYC - d. 9-25-2005
comedian: "Kraft Music Hall"; "A Salute to Humble Howard"
05-03-1906 - Mary Astor - Quincy, IL - d. 9-25-1987
actor: Mary Christmas "Merry Life of Mary Christmas"
05-05-1912 - Bret Morrison - Chicago, IL - d. 9-25-1978
actor: Lamont Cranston/Shadow "The Shadow"
05-29-1909 - Dick Stabile - Newark, NJ - d. 9-25-1980
bandleader: "Martin and Lewis Show"
08-11-1891 - Helen Broderick - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-25-1959
actor: (Mother of Broderick Crawford) "Shell Chateau"
08-17-1900 - Gregory Abbott - d. 9-25-1981
narrator: "Believe It or Not"
09-23-1897 - Walter Pidgeon - East St. John, New Brunswick, Canada -
d. 9-25-1984
actor: "Hollywood Calling"; "Screen Guild Theatre"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-30-1895 - Lewis Milestone - Odessa, Russia - d. 9-25-1980
film director: "Screen Director's Playhouse"
09-xx-1880 - Eva Condon - d. 9-25-1956
actor: [removed] Wiggs "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch"
10-03-1873 - Emily Post - Baltimore, MD - d. 9-25-1960
commentator: "Emily Post"; "Right Thing to Do"
10-16-1924 - Robert Hall - Rochester, NY - d. 9-25-1967
actor, host: Britt Reid/Green Hornet "Green Hornet"; "Music 'til Dawn"
11-04-1906 - Bob Considine - Washington D. C. - d. 9-25-1975
announcer: "Fred Waring Show"; "Sports Broadcasts"
11-17-1897 - Frank Fay - San Francisco, CA - d. 9-25-1961
actor: "Jack Oakie's College"; "Rudy Vallee Show"
11-26-1905 - Emlyn Williams - Mostyn, Flintshire, Wales - d. 9-25-1987
actor: "Columbia Presents Corwin"
12-04-1903 - Cornell Woolrich - NYC - d. 9-25-1968
writer: "Radio City Playhouse"; "Starring Boris Karloff"
12-25-1906 - Anne Stone - d. 9-25-1980
actor: "Those We Love"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
xx-xx-1909 - Bob Waldrop - Eureka, CA - d. 9-25-1963
announcer: "John's Other Wife"; "Forever Tops"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:01:45 -0400
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "It Pays To Be Ignorant"
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I've often heard the show "It Pays To Be Ignorant" as a dumbed down
version of another OTR show, "Information Please". I can surely
understand why, considering that the "Information Please" panel was
always challenged to provide correct answers. I can't understand how
"It Pays To Be Ignorant" could be compared to "Can You Top This",
however.
Another OTR Fan,
Kenneth Clarke
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Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:01:16 -0400
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "Can You Top This?"
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The premise of "Can You Top This?" was that jokes were to be sent
in by radio listeners, which would be read by Peter Donald and then
rated on a laugh meter based on the response of the audience to it.
The ratings were from 1 - 1000, like a batters average. Prize money
would start at $11, and $2 would be subtracted every time one of the
panelists topped it. If none of the jokes were topped, the contestants
would receive the total $11 and a generous supply of the sponsors
product (Colgate Dental Creme). If the joke was topped, they'd receive
(according to the shows I have) a joke book and whatever amount of money
was earned by them.
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Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:07:07 -0400
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "You Bet Your Life"
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Although I have no knowledge of any of Ernie Kovacs programs
currently in circulation, I do happen to have an eps of "You Bet Your
Life", which starred Candice Bergen and Groucho's daughter Melinda.
Since the girls were much younger than the usual contestants, he
asked two adults to come out of the audience to assist them. Candice
was assisted by her father Edgar Bergen and Melinda was assisted
by Ernie Kovacs, since Groucho was the emcee of the program. As I
recall, they did quite well.
Another OTR Fan,
Kenneth Clarke
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End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #275
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