------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2006 : Issue 137
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
5-17 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
More on Houdini [ "Don and Kathy Dean" <dxk@ezlinknet ]
Short Series [ "erest@[removed]" <erest@bel ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ charlie@[removed] ]
Lew Anderson - Clarabell [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
Subject: J. red MacDonald [ "Bill Harris" <nbcblue@[removed]; ]
Dick Van Patten radio bio [ "Walden Hughes" <walden1@yesterdayu ]
Radio Shows That Died Young [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
It's Higgins, Sir [ "Mike Hobart" <zines50@[removed]; ]
Short Series [ Jeff Weaver <jweaver@[removed]; ]
Race Car Shows [ "Karen Lerner" <[removed]@[removed] ]
over too soon [ Grams46@[removed] ]
The Six-Shooter [ JimBourg@[removed] ]
Long Life [ "Barbara Harmon" <jimharmonotr@char ]
Maurice Randall [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
DISC-COVERY [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
In defence of J. Fred McDonald [ jim taylor <bettylouson@[removed]; ]
Radio Programs that should have last [ jim taylor <bettylouson@[removed]; ]
ART happenings [ jjljackson@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 00:33:58 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 5-17 births/deaths
May 17th births
05-17-1878 - Conway Tearzle - New York NY - d. 10-1-1938
narrator: "Streamlined Shakespeare"
05-17-1890 - Philip James - Jersey City, NJ - d. 11-1-1975
conductor, composer: "Bamberger Little Symphony"; "Wellsprings of Music"
05-17-1902 - Fausto Cleva - Trieste, Italy - d. 8-6-1971
conductor: "NBC Symphony Orchestra"; "Metropolitan Opera Auditions"
05-17-1903 - Artie Auerbach - NYC - d. 10-3-1957
actor: Mr. Kitzel "Jack Benny Program"
05-17-1905 - John Patrick - Louisville, KY - d. 11-7-1995
writer: "Theatre Guild On the Air";"Lux Radio Theatre"
05-17-1906 - Carl McIntire - Ypsilanti, MI - d. 03-19-2002
evangelist: "Twentieth Century Reformation Hour"
05-17-1907 - Horace McMahon - South Norwalk, CT - d. 8-17-1971
actor: "Crime Does Not Pay"
05-17-1908 - Joe Grant - NYC - d. 5-6-2005
writer: "Lux Radio Theatre"
05-17-1911 - Maureen O'Sullivan - Boyle, Ireland - d. 6-23-1998
actor: "Dreft Star Playhouse"; "Family Theatre"
05-17-1918 - Birgit Nilsson - Vastra Karup, Skane Ian, Sweden - d.
12-25-2006
singer: "The Metropolitan Opera"
05-17-1920 - Harriet Van Horne - Syracuse, NY - d. 1-15-1998
newspaper columnist: "Advs. of Ellery Queen"
May 17th deaths
01-08-1903 - Roger Bower - NYC - d. 5-17-1979
announcer, emcee: "Can You Top This?"; "Stop Me If You Heard This One"
01-09-1886 - Arthur "Bugs" Baer - Philadelphia, PA - d. 5-17-1969
writer: "The Eveready Hour"
01-15-1922 - Thelma Carpenter - Brooklyn, NY - d. 5-17-1997
singer: "Eddie Cantor Show"
02-26-1920 - Tony Randall - Tulsa, OK - d. 5-17-2004
actor: Reggie York "I Love A Mystery"
03-11-1903 - Lawrence Welk - Strasburg, ND - d. 5-17-1992
bandleader: "Lawrence Welk Orchestra"
03-15-1877 - Montague Love - Portsmouth, England - d. 5-17-1943
actor: "Screen Guild Theatre"; "Suspense"
05-29-1897 - F. Hugh Herbert - Vienna, Austria - d. 5-17-1958
writer: "Meet Corliss Archer"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
07-06-1910 - Alexander Kendrick - d. 5-17-1991
correspondent: "Years In Crisis"; "As Europe Sees the Marshall Plan"
07-10-1877 - Caroline Crockett Ellis - d. 5-17-1963
actor: Mary Ward "Travels of Mary Ward"; "Caroline's Golden Store"
07-26-1921 - John de Lancie, Sr. - Berkeley, CA - d. 5-17-2002
principle oboist: "Phildelphia Symphony Orchestra"
12-06-1898 - Gunnar Myrdal - Gustafs, Sweden - d. 5-17-1987
1974 nobel prize winner in economics: "United Nations Today"
12-18-1910 - Abe Burrows - Brooklyn, NY - d. 5-17-1985
writer: "Abe Burrows Show"; "Danny Kaye Show"; "Duffy's Tavern"
12-28-1923 - Andrew Duggan - Franklin, IN - d. 5-17-1988
actor: "Hollywood Radio Theatre"; "Voice of the Army"; "Top Secret"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Birthplace of Ralph Hermann
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 00:34:13 -0400
From: "Don and Kathy Dean" <dxk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: More on Houdini
I've enjoyed reading the posts on the digest regarding
Harry Houdini. I was in the Appleton, Wisconsin area
from January 1988 to October 1996. This is where
Harry Houdini spent his early life. He was born Erik
Weisz in Budapest, Hungary on March 24, 1874. His
father Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weisz brought his impoverished
family struggling to become established in America. Their
name had been changed from Weisz to Weiss by
immigration officials upon their arrival in the United States
[removed] Mayer Weiss was to serve as rabbi of the German
speaking Zion Reform Jewish Congregation in Appleton, WI.
His tenure proved short, however and after a life of hardship
he died on October 5, 1892. The museum in Appleton has
a huge ongoing exhibit of Harry Houdini. If you're a Houdini
fan and ever in the Appleton area, it's well worth the time to
stop and visit.
Don Dean - N8IOJ
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 00:34:22 -0400
From: "erest@[removed]" <erest@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Short Series
Will Rodger's Jr. had a series, "Rodgers of the Gazette" about a small
town newspaper publisher. It had the same nostalgic feel as Halls of
Ivy. Makes you dream of living in such as town. The mayor of the town
was Parley Baer.
Rob
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 02:12:00 -0400
From: charlie@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!
A weekly [removed]
For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio. We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!
Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!
For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:24:07 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lew Anderson - Clarabell
Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 19:11:10 -0400
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
Remotely OTR-connected: Brian Gari has just informed me off-list
that latter-day Clarabelle from the "Howdy Doody" show, viz. Lew
Anderson, has just died. "Howdy Doody" was once a radio programme.
details to [removed]
There actually is an OTR connection. Anderson was initially a member
of the band on Bob Smith's daily mid-morning radio program on NBC.
After Bob Keeshan, the original Clarabell, left, Bob Nicholson
(better known on the show as J. Corneleus Cobb), took the role
temporarily. Two years later, he said, "I thought you said this was
temporary." So they picked Anderson because he was the right size.
Anderson was also an accomplished jazz musician. He played Clarabell
from about 1954 or 1955 on. He was the one who said "Goodbye Kids"
on the last show. He appeared again on the 1976-77 revival show, the
1987 40th anniversary show, and in many personal appearances in the
1980s and '90s with Buffalo Bob.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210 Fax [removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:24:43 -0400
From: "Bill Harris" <nbcblue@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Subject: J. red MacDonald
Frank McGurn said:
Also did a Google search on
"Don't Touch That Dial" it is available for $[removed]
Check [removed] for used copies at reasonable prices.
Bill H.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:24:55 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <walden1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Dick Van Patten radio bio
Hi Everybody,
I am working on a interview project and I need to find radio shows that Dick
Van Patten appeared on. I know he had a running role on Duffy Tavern, and
appeared on Theater Guild. Any help would be appreciated. Take care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:25:45 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio Shows That Died Young
During World War II, I was in elementary school. Occasionally, I'd be
home in bed from a cold. During those times, 1943-1944, I'd occasionally
hear the opening of a soap opera,.Sweet River. The beginning sounded
like a traditional spiritual song, with a male voice singing, "Sweet
River," with the "sweet" drawn out to the equivalent of three syllables.
As a youngster, I paid no attention to the plot. Years later, I learned
that one of the stars was Ed Prentiss, the voice of Captain Midnight
himself.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:26:38 -0400
From: "Mike Hobart" <zines50@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: It's Higgins, Sir
Kathy Hammel commented on 'a 1951 summer show called "It's
Higgins, Sir". Very funny family sitcom about a regular
American family that inherits the family silver from a
lofty British relative along with a butler (Higgins). I'd
sure have liked it if there had been more than the 13
shows.'
That surprised me. I remember as a child watching a Stanely Holloway
sitcom "Our Man Higgins" (1962). I had no idea, then or now, that it was
based on a radio show.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:26:03 -0400
From: Jeff Weaver <jweaver@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Short Series
I just like Box 13 as a short series that should have gone on longer
as well as Dr. Kildare and Have Gun, Will Travel. I love both the TV
show and the Radio.
Shows that I wish would have lasted even longer would have to be One
Man's Family, 27 years still seems short for such a great show. I
never tire of the program, I do wish some new episodes would turn up
though.
Jeffrey
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:32:49 -0400
From: "Karen Lerner" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Race Car Shows
Hi all,
Someone asked me today if I could find them any OTR shows about race cars. I
haven't heard any. Does anybody out there have any suggestions?
Karen Lerner
Radio Spirits, Inc.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 11:39:15 -0400
From: Grams46@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: over too soon
i would love to hear more episodes of "the six shooter". a one year run
(1953-19540 was simply not enough for this fine series.
according to john dunning in his book "on the air":
"despite stewart's great prestige, the show was largely sustained.
chesterfield was interested, but stewart declined, not wanting a cigarette
company
to counter his largely wholesome screen image."
peace from kathy
support our troops; end the war
john 3:16
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 11:40:34 -0400
From: JimBourg@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Six-Shooter
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Seems I remember something about James Stewart not wanting a cigarette
company as a sponsor and effectively pulled the plug on the show himself.
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Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 11:41:39 -0400
From: "Barbara Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Long Life
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When it comes to a longer life, I certainly would have wished it to Frankie
Thomas, although he lived a very full life. There are not many people who
have had a long career in movies, then TV, and all the while, in radio.
Then to go on to have a life as a successful author of fiction is quite an
accomplishment. I would particularly like to praise the letter of Bobb
Lynes on the subject of Thomas' passing. It was far batter than my
comments on the subject, and Bobb is supposed to be the artist, not the
writer.
The other matter I would like to comment on is a hoped-for
longer life for certain radio programs. Both of my choices concern my two
"hobby horses".
"I Love Adventure" should have lasted longer than a mere 13
weeks. While it may not have been as compelling as the serialized
adventures of Jack, Doc and Reggie on "I Love a Mystery" it offered much of
the flavor of the original incarnation of their exploits. The early
episodes about the "Twenty One Old Men of Gramercy Park" offer some of
Carlton E. Morse's most beautiful command of language, and of course they
returned the two most important actors to their original roles, Michael
Refetto and Barton Yarborough. The half-hour format also allowed Morse to
present a genuine short story - a mood or character piece not possible in
the serial format. Each one of these stories, even the contracted-out to
other writers ones, is a little jewel. Even one full season of 39 weeks
would have been great, much less two or three or four years of it.
Of course, one might say if the half-hour version was on, that
would preclude the serial "I Love a Mystery".
Not in the perfect world of my imagination. There was one program that was
on simultaneously as a Monday thru Friday 15 min. serial, and a half-hour
Saturday night complete story. That was Dick Tracy, a fun show but of
course not of the quality of the Carlton Morse series. I would have liked
to have heard "I Love a Mystery" daily for a quarter hour, and then heard "I
Love Adventure" as a complete half-hour story on the weekend. Well, I can
dream.
The other series I would like to have had last longer was
"Curley Bradley, the Singing Marshal". It was not quite Tom Mix but it was
close enough for me to wish it had gone on longer. When Ralston
sponsorship left and took the name "Tom Mix" with them, Curley Bradley
continued as the mystery-solving marshal in a sustaining, or non-sponsored
show.
Of course, I would have liked it to be frozen in time as it originally
appeared, with Leo Curley (one Mike Shaw) as Red Rivers, and Forrest Lewis
(formerly Wash) now as "Positive" and many other characters. Those two fine
actors had to leave Chicago where they were down to only the Singing Marshal
drama to go to Hollywood. And I would have liked the show not to really go
overboard on the non-violence theme. Tom Mix never shot to kill, but the
Singing Marshal would not even draw his gun on a crook. Curley told me that
he had seen a letter to the producer, Curley's wife, Mary Affleck, from the
original writer of the Tom Mix series, who did not write the Singing
Marshal. He said "You have ruined one of the most carefully constructed
characters in radio." If not a total ruin, the Singing Marshal became less
than Tom Mix. But even with its faults, the series was much better than
such programs that replaced it, such as Wild Bill Hickok. Curley made an
excellent TV pilot of Singing Marshal, now owned and copyrighted by me, as
are several radio episodes but it never made it to series.
In 1975, I produced several radio episodes of "Curley Bradley,
[removed] Marshal" very similar to the Singing Marshal. They must have been
pretty good. Numerous MP3 dealers are still selling them.
JIM HARMON
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Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 18:34:16 -0400
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Maurice Randall
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Got the following from a lady in Arlington, VA. Anyone in upstate NY
that can help her?
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
+ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am researching my great-grandfather, Maurice Randall (1869-1941). He
was a radio actor on WGY radio in the 1920s and the first Santa Claus
on radio. He also was on the first dramatic television broadcast in
1928, [removed], there is a
picture of him at the bottom. I doubt whether anything was recorded of
those early radio broadcasts, but it would be fantastic to find a
recording of him. I'm interested in photos, scripts, people who worked
with him, anything. Thank you for any help or leads you can offer.
Marianne Meyers <hdettmar@[removed]
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Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 18:36:23 -0400
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: DISC-COVERY
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The proverbial estate sale a few years ago yielded yet another transcription
find and this one seems almost impossible to get info on so I am hoping
someone out there might be able to help.
The estate was an opulent one in Bedford, New York.
A description:
Two eight inch one-sided lacquer discs. They are copies of one another I
think.
The labels say they were made at Audio-Scriptions Inc of 1619 Broadway,
New York NY, Circle 7-7690.
They were made for a broadcast for WOR on 6/20/1942.
Under 'Name' it says, Harry W. Fowler.
Title - "American Eagle Club."
If anyone can enlighten me it would be great.
If they of any interest to anyone for a collection, please write me.
Love a good mystery so anything anyone knows please help.
Thanks.
Michael C. Gwynne
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Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 18:37:19 -0400
From: jim taylor <bettylouson@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: In defence of J. Fred McDonald
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May 16, 2006
Dear old time radio digests readers:
I am writing this posting in defense of J. Fred McDonald.
His book "Don't Touch That Dial" was an excellent overview of radio's golden
age. I would place Mr. McDonald in the top rank of broadcasts historians
along with John Dunning and Jim Cox.
I would recommend his book to any one who wanted to learn about OTR. Unlike
Sam Slate and Joe Cook's book "It Sounds Impossible 1963, an Eric Bar now's
The Golden Web 1968, Mr. McDonald had actual recordings of old time radio
broadcast which gave readers a better understanding of the time in which
these programs aired.
In addition, Mr. McDonald explores the various types of radio programs.
I believe that most readers who visit this site would place "don't touch That
Dial far above Gerald Nachman's book "Razed on Radio" which to a vintage OTR
collector was a hatchet job. At least Mr. McDonald liked the programs.
I would also recommend Mr. McDonald's other book Television and the Red Menace
The Video Road to Vietnam.
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Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 18:37:42 -0400
From: jim taylor <bettylouson@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Radio Programs that should have lasted longer
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May 17, 2006
Dear Old Time Radio Digest Readers:
In regards to radio programs which should have lasted longer.
Hear It Now is on the list.
So is Fort Laramie
I would also include The Marriage, and The Couple Next Door.
And Monitor which would be great for the radio of today
And many others I could Name.
All of them one hundered times better then any thing on radio today.
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Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 18:38:47 -0400
From: jjljackson@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ART happenings
I'd like to share a couple of things that American Radio Theater will
be doing this spring and summer.
Coming up, in three days, on May 20, Jimmy Lydon will be coming to
town, to direct NY actor Jeff David and the ART actors in "The
Director's Notes: a Radio Production Workshop". The idea is to take an
OTR play, "The Affair of the Evil Angel" (from Silver Theater), start
out in the morning with the cold read, then the director's notes,
second read, dress rehearsal and final recording, all according to the
stop-watch. We'll also have interviews with both of our guests.
At the end of the summer, Sept 16-17, we will be putting on ART's
second Radio Studio: Airtime and Feedback. My apologies to Martin
Grams, who will be putting on his Nostalgia convention that same
weekend.
However, the Radio Studio isn't a convention, but more of a family
reunion. Joining ART's actors will be Ivan Cury, Jean Rouverol, Cliff
Carpenter, Dave and Joan Parker, Kevin O'MOrrison, Barbara Fuller,
David Van Meter and Esther McVey.
On Saturday, we'll be working on two OTR shows, probably Bobby Benson
and The Whistler. We plan to have a phone interview with Jim Shean,
writer of Bobby Benson, as well as other interviews.
Sunday is our "non-OTR" day. We will be recording an original play,
called "Second Strike of Lightning", and possibly a second one (science
fiction in content). We'll have some fun with Dad's Army--having
everyone trot out their British accents. We plan to end the weekend
with a Luau, during which we will have people read "chicken-skin"
stories from Hawaii.
If anyone wants more information, please contact me at
JJLjackson@[removed]. We'll be posting on our web-site, which is
[removed].
Joy Jackson
American Radio Theater
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #137
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