Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #244
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 8/12/2005 12:10 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

------------------------------


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 244
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Fear on four                          [ "Marcus Antonsson" <[removed] ]
  Who's on First genesis                [ "karl tiedemann" <karltiedemann@hot ]
  RE: Doc's Name on Gunsmoke            [ "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed] ]
  RE: el-cheapo DVDs                    [ "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed] ]
  Dollar DVDs                           [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  OTR DVD                               [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention     [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  FURTHER FACT, NOT FICTION             [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
  Re: William Tell Overture" by Spike   [ "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@ea ]
  Spike Jones - horse race              [ Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed]; ]
  "Three Skeleton Key"...sort of        [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
  shows to ipod                         [ <cooldown3@[removed]; ]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 10:39:26 -0400
From: "Marcus Antonsson" <[removed]@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Fear on four

Hi all,
I'm trying to find a complete collection of this BBC-show on audio cds or
cassettes. No mp3's please. If anyone wants to sell or trade for those
shows. Please contact me off list. I'm ready to pay for shows in good sound,
also for shipping.

Regards:

Marcus Antonsson
Sweden

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 12:01:53 -0400
From: "karl tiedemann" <karltiedemann@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Who's on First genesis

In his book, MORE FUNNY PEOPLE, Steve Allen speculated that the origins of
Who's on First, which are indeed lost in time, might have lain in a
cross-talk exchange about Chinese immigrants, and he imagined a dialogue
along these lines:

So Hu gets off the boat first.
That's right.
What's right.
No, Hua gets off second!
So, he-
No, no-Hee isn't even on the boat.

And so on.  As Allen observed, this explanation would at least make sense--
in a way that the eventual routine never really did.

I believe Wheeler and Woolsey also did a couple of routines of the same
general sort ([removed] "Watt Street") years before Bud and Lou met.

Although I haven't heard the Shell Chateau episode, I assume the team doing
the proto-Who's o n First was Howard and Shelton.  They're certainly the
ones who did it on a Fleischmann Hour from, I think, 1933.  (If anyone could
remind me of the exact date on that, I'd be much obliged.

                          Karl Tiedemann

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 13:56:37 -0400
From: "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  RE: Doc's Name on Gunsmoke

It's all so long ago, and when I listen to Gunsmoke on CDs or some OTR show,
I can't place the episodes into any kind of timeframe for their original
broadcasts, but I seem to remember that when I was listening to the original
shows, for the first year or two, Doc was simply "Doc," and he not only
didn't have a first name, he didn't even have a last name. I seem to
recollect some kind of feeling of surprise the first time I heard the name
"Adams" attached to Doc's name. Does anyone out there know for a fact whether
or not Doc's surname (Adams) was aired during the first couple broadcast
years?

Thanx,

 B. Ray

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:00:04 -0400
From: "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  RE: el-cheapo DVDs

I've bought a few of the TV show "compilations" DVDs that Jack French
mentions at my local '99 Cents Only' stores here in California. There
is quite a selection to choose from, including some OLD theatrical
movies. My guess is that either their copyrights lapsed, or that they
were sold way-back-when. I assume that the DVDs are available
nationwide in this chain's stores. (Usual disclaimers apply.) 

Sad to say, the "99 Cent Only" chain is not nationwide. They exist in some
southern and central California markets, Las Vegas, I think Phoenix and
Dallas. What strikes me as a pale imitation, "Dollar Tree," is truly
nationwide, at least I've seen their stores in just about every weird,
offbeat location I've visited. They may carry these DVDs too, but for a penny
more than "99 Cents Only." Also, in the El Lay area, and hopefully
nationwide, Wal-Mart carries many of these DVDs. Moreover, the last time I
was in one of their stores, I found some OTR CDs in the display next to the $
DVDs.

 B. Ray 

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:05:39 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Dollar DVDs

Jack French wrote:
While the original copyrights had obviously expired on these
movies and TV shows, it did not stop PC Treasures from slapping their
own copyright date of 2004 on the copies I have.

Almost all companies that specialize in selling strictly public domain
material put some form of copyright notice and/or FBI warning on their
packages and in the video itself.  The FBI warning, if one reads closely,
merely reminds the purchaser who reads the warning that the FBI investigates
the illegal duplication of copyrighted motion pictures.  Said warnings don't
usually state that the material itself contained on the DVD is copyrighted,
it's just a reminder of one of the FBI's tasks involved to eliminate piracy.
  The copyright notice listed on DVD packages are usually for the packaging
which is copyrighted, and doesn't usually state that the film is
copyrighted.  It's the purchaser's assumption that the films are
copyrighted.  In fact, any companies like Alpha state "package design and
summary, copyright 19--".  PC Treasures never copyrighted the films, they
just copyrighted their menu screen and packaging.

My missus, who is far more skilled than I at web-surfing, located the
internet location of the company who produced the DVDs I have:
<[removed]>  Since all of their
offerings are replicated on [removed], she has a sneaking suspicion
that PC Treasures may be an unadvertised Amazon subsidiary.

PC Treasures is not an Amazon subsidiary.  They are a company in Michigan
that has begun the recent craze of offering public domain material in cheap
packaging and price to make a quick buck.  Their products have been sold in
Radio Shack and Sears in the last two or three months.  PC Treasures, like
many other companies, sign up on [removed]'s Publishers Advantage program
to have their products sold on Amazon, but Amazon has nothing to do with the
manufacturing as much as Sears and Radio Shack.

There are five major companies that specialize in selling public domain
movies on DVD.  I say major as defined as being able to mass market, mass
produce, and have a major distribution for said items.  They prefer to deal
with public domain material not just because of legal issues, but so they
are not required to pay residuals or royalties to anyone for the duplication
and/or sale of such titles.

1.  VCI - a large company in Oklahoma that is owned by Blair & Associates.
They distribute a large amount of DVDs at higher prices than it's
competition, and on occassion work out a licensing deal with a producer to
offer a copyrighted program, release small independant pictures, and on a
few occassions, offer copyrighted material, claim it's public domain and
wait till they receive a C&D order before ceasing the sale of their items.
Pros: They do come out with a large precentage of public domain goodies with
the price.
Cons: They lower their price in half after a few months so if you wait you
can save money but if it's one of those few titles that get removed, you
have to grab it while you can.
Fred Shay, who attends the FOTR Convention and is part of the planning
committee (if I am not mistaken), has supplied a few cliffhanger serials to
them in the past.

2.  Genius Entertainment - operated by Johnson Doan, located in Salonas
Beach, CA.  They are the big people who are responsible for releasing those
2-disc DVD sets sold in stores like Walmart and Best Buy (you know, those
2-DVD set, 14 half-hour episodes of Red Skelton type sets for $[removed]).  They
are also the same company responsible for releasing the dollar DVDs you find
at the Dollar Tree chain, whose recent releases have been the old Tom and
Jerry Van Bueren cartoons, Betty Boop, Here's Lucy, and other public domain
titles.  The ones you get at the dollar store are labeled Movie Classics and
unless you knew they came from Genius, anyone would assume it's a different
company.  Which is what a lot of companies have been doing recently, using
different logos making consumers think it's a different company when in
reality, it's the same company selling the same titles under different
packaging.
Pros: their quality is generally good, and for a buck, what the heck.
Cons: They offer the same titles you get in those 2-disc sets for $[removed] so
if you shop, you save $.
Also, they have begun releasing two-hour DVDs in the same Dollar Tree chain
instead of hour-long DVDs so if you waited in the past and hesitated buying,
check them now as you might get twice as many cartoons or shows for half the
price.

3.  Alpha DVDs.  They need no introduction, Steve (I know him personally) is
a nice guy and does his research to release strictly public domain material.
  He's won in court so he knows his stuff.  Puts out the 5 DVDs for $[removed]
price.  Alpha's initial offerings were the common public domain material
that's been floating about for some time, the Mr. Wong and Dick Tracy
movies, etc.  The past year or two has had them releasing more obscure
titles, a LARGE percentage of those titles being the same that Sinister
Cinema has offered for the last few years for $[removed] per DVD.  In fact, if
you have a Sinister Cinema catalog and browse through, you'll find at least
one fourth of their inventory is now available through Alpha (without SC's
annoying logo in the corner).
Pros: great packaging and for the most part, you're getting a bargain for
$[removed]  Even if you think $[removed] is too much to pay for a DVD, would you
prefer $[removed] plus postage?
Cons: the titles they have been putting out are getting more circulated.
One company just put out a 3-DVD set for $[removed] offering 10 Sci-Fi films and
they are the same titles offered by Alpha.  Companies specializing in public
domain material are keeping a close eye on Alpha.

4.  Sinister Cinema.  Get one of their catalogs, it's worth the price.  Not
everything is public domain, but 99% of what they offer is.  Great source
and reference guide if you know your material.  As usual, though, never
assume just because a company offers a lot of public domain material in
their inventory doesn't mean it's all public domain.  But if you are
knowledgable enough to know whether Prisoner in the Middle (1974) or Valdez
is Coming (1971) is in the public domain or not (one is and one is not and
the reason is SIMPLE), then their catalog is magnificent.

5.  Platinum Disc in Wisconsin.  Rumored to have been purchased by another
company recently, they were for a spell releasing public domain titles (and
technically are still doing so) for cheap prices in Best Buy and Walmart.
They were acquiring sublicensing with companies to have permission to sell
10 of the Blondie films and 40 of the Hoplaong Cassidy films on DVD so not
everything they offer is public domain.  Also, they have offered titles like
Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies with the original theme song audio track
removed and replaced with banjo music and similar music so they could avoid
copyright issues when it came to the show's music.  Hence, you don't get the
actual film uncut without some alterations.

Goodtimes Home Video has done the same - they released Felix, Betty Boop,
Popeye and Superman cartoons on DVD with added sound effects to the sound
track, which in my opinion is butchering the quality of the original films.
Be cautious!  There are other companies like Diamond, Madacy, etc. that
release a lot of public domain material, I just listed a few.

As much as everyone gets hyped up about the dollar DVDs (I've seen them at
conventions go awol over the stuff), it should be noted the following: many
companies get their prints from other companies.  When one company came out
with 12 DVDs of ONE STEP BEYOND, another company came out with the very same
episodes in the same order.  When VCI came out with 13 episodes of Annie
Oakley and 13 episodes of Jim Bowie, each as a 2-DVD set, Platinum came out
with the very same episodes, in the same order, also on a 2-DVD set and with
similar packaging but they are two different companies.  The quality will
vary from print to print.  Some companies don't care to go to the trouble of
getting restored or remastered prints for their releases, they just figure
that as long as the quality is good enough to pass muster, whose going to
complain since the price is cheap enough?  Also, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the
public domain companies are extremely limited to what they can offer.  Burns
and Allen and Jack Benny may be on DVD now, but they only have a handful of
episodes of each show that they can offer.

I met a man at the Cinevent convention in Columbus back in May who insisted
that if he had to pay more than $[removed] for a DVD, he felt he was getting
ripped off.  Fine to do if that's the budget he wants to work with.  But he
spent 25+ minutes in front of me and a friend of mine compalining and
griping that titles he saw on dealer tables were $[removed] a piece, $[removed] a
piece, 3 for $[removed], etc.  Even when my friend and I explained that some
titles will NEVER be available on DVD for less than $[removed] because of
copyright and other issues, he felt it was all the dealers' fault that they
were not catering to his price.  As my friend said after the compaliner
left, "even if he was sold DVDs for $[removed] he'd probably not be content
because he couldn't get it for $[removed]"

Fred and Ellen Berney of Satelitte Media (who are responsible for the video
taping of the FOTR convention every year and will be there this year)
transferred from 16 mm masters, a ton of PERRY MASON TV episodes, many with
their original network commercials from the early sities and trailers for
next week's episodes.  Even if CBS decided to release those episodes to DVD,
they wouldn't be that complete so what the Berney's sell on their DVDs (for
$[removed]) is a bargain.  Just an example that even if it isn't commercially
available or if it was, dealers sometimes offer better for the price.

Lastly, the reason some companies are able to sell DVDs for $[removed] is simple.
  They get them printed overseas in China.  A friend of mine does that.  He
flies to China once a month, shakes hands, hands them glass masters, etc.
They mail him by the tens of thousands, DVDs pressed, full color case and
even shrink wrapped - all for .22 cents a piece.  He then sells them to
retails chains for .60 cents a piece, and the stores sell them for $[removed]
He may only be making pennies, but when he's selling 250,000 copies of each
title and has over 60 different titles, one month's worth of work and
distribution can mean paying his children through college.  He even told me
many of the DVDs are so cheaply made he's not certain whether they would
hold the test of time more than 2 or 3 years.

Overall, a buck isn't bad if you are buying a DVD, but remember they are
limited to what they can sell, and shop around, you can usually find cheaper
if you know where to look.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:07:47 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  OTR DVD

I was going to mention this today so it is a coincidence that I'm making
another posting on the same subject on the same day.

As of August 12, Finders Keepers is being relocated.  I received a couple
phone calls the past 24 hours.  My sister is no longer involved with the
mail order business.  The new web-site is
[removed]

Also note that certain titles are selling out.  The Great Gildersleeve
movies are no longer available and yes, we're sold out of Charlie Chan
titles.

Anyone who was kind enough to put a link from their site to our site (Ivan,
etc.), please note the change.  First time in seven years we've changed the
name of the web-site's URL.
Thanks!
Martin

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:09:48 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention

A few subscribers of the OTR Digest are already aware of this by phone
conversations, but due to the fact that there is no nostalgic convention for
Old Time Radio being held in Maryland annually, the MANC has been founded
and established for such a purpose.

The MANC (Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention) has been signed and is a done
deal with the Four Points Sheraton in Aberdeen, Maryland (right off an exit
off I-95).  25 minutes from Baltimore, 85 minutes from Washington DC, 2
hours and 30 minutes from Newark, NJ, 2 hours from Harrisburg, PA and 1 hour
and 10 minutes from Lancaster and York, PA.

The dates are September 15 to September 17, 2006. Informal gathering and set
up is September 14.

(Note: next year, not this year).

The intention is to have an event every hour, on the hour.  An event does
not have to fill the entire hour, but an hour max if possible.

The reason I am posting this is because I have been put in charge by
Michelle to arrange for events to be held at the convention and the schedule
is as follows: Friday and Saturday, one event every hour from 9 am to 10 pm
except from 5 to 7 pm for a dinner break.  Sunday 9 am to 2 pm.

This is the first time the MANC will be holding a convention, which is
supposed to be a cross between old movies, old TV shows and old radio shows.
  A mailing list has been designed and phone calls made to ensure that at
least 125 people will be attending minimum (and this is before any marketing
has been established!).   There are already plans to feature an original X
Minus One radio drama on stage, an Amos and Andy recreation on stage, and a
1930s vaudeville performance complete with ukelele (sp?) and ventriloquist
act for the stage performances, as well as a couple one on one interviews
with Hollywood actors.  Tentatively scheduled is Julie Newmar and Yvonne
Craig (Anne Francis is a hopeful).  Other than these events, the schedule is
VERY free so any authors who want to discuss a subject (OTR related would be
welcome), or anyone wanting to have a panel discussion with friends on stage
about a nostalgic subject is welcome.  Events will be placed on the schedule
on a first come, first serve basis.

So anyone who wants to propose an event or panel, please drop me a line by
phone or e-mail and I'll work it into the schedule.  Michelle said she wants
to start marketing the convention starting the first of September so the
more events she can list the better it will look.  She wants to list them on
the web-site by September 1 also.  So please, if you think you might be able
to attend the convention and are within travel or driving distance, and want
to host or participate in an event, volunteers are welcome.

Martin
mmargrajr@[removed]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:10:03 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  FURTHER FACT, NOT FICTION

ABC's Breakfast Club originated from
NBC's Studio A, the studio that actually floated, in the Merchandise
Mart--there is a marvelous WebSite re the old studios. Both networks were
on the 19th floor, probably a throw-back to the days of NBC Blue, ["This
is either the Red or Blue NBC radio network."], a famous system cue
blooper.

[removed]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:10:26 -0400
From: "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: William Tell Overture" by Spike Jones

Jim Nixon asks:

What was the name of the horse that wins the race in Spike
Jones' version of the William Tell Overture.  Is it "Beetle Bomb", "Feedle
Bomb", "Feetle Bomb", or, less likely, "Fetal Bomb"?

I believe it's none of the above - Winstead "Doodles" Weaver, who takes the
lead on this and other Jones & the City Slickers records, had an alias within
the group: Professor Feetlebaum.  He's called that in the Jones/Slickers
release "Happy New Year" ("This is myyyy New Year's resolution!"), which was
the flip side of "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)."

Michael

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:10:39 -0400
From: Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Spike Jones - horse race

I always thought the horse on the "Wm. Tell Overture"
comedy record was named "Feedlebaum".

-- Phil C.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:10:47 -0400
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "Three Skeleton Key"...sort of
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

Hi Gang:

I see there's a new Kate Hudson film out  called "The Skeleton Key." I imagine
that somewhere in this vast country of ours that this film might just end up
playing in Theatre 3 in some mutti-plex or another. So if anybody with a
digital
camera  in the next few days happens to see a Highway marquee that actually
reads "3: Skeleton Key<"  would you kindly take a photo for us? Thanks in
advance.

Yours ever so grateful in the ether,

Derek Tague

  *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
  ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:11:05 -0400
From: <cooldown3@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  shows to ipod

I have used "windows commander" a freeware/shareware program to speed the
process of retitling, and have stored the shows on a set of external drives
so they will be easy to replace/reinstall.

30 gigs will be precious little space for the complete archiving of your
shows, and if they are not backed up someplace you risk losing them.

Cheers,
Patrick

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #244
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