Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #253
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 7/31/2004 9:10 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2004 : Issue 253
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  7-31 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  "Speak Up America" in 1948            [ "RBB" <oldradio@[removed]; ]
  Dragnet #1                            [ "avpro" <avpro@[removed]; ]
  Burns and Allen log                   [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Attention: Canadian collectors        [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
  Pitchman For Pepperidge Farms         [ StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin ]
  Re: Thumper & Sam Edwards             [ stewwright@[removed] ]
  Re: Does the first Dragnet show surv  [ "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@ea ]
  Burns and Allen and Joe Pasternak     [ Jandpgardner@[removed] ]
  Jackson Beck                          [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
  Jackson Beck's funeral                [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
  For a 9 year old                      [ "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@ya ]
  Jackson Beck Passing                  [ Trinapreston3@[removed] ]
  Re: Burns and Allen Log               [ Natalie <nmclain@[removed]; ]
  Los Angeles Times on Jackson Beck     [ seandd@[removed] ]
  GANG BUSTERS                          [ David Siegel <otrdsiegel@[removed] ]

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 13:51:34 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  7-31 births/deaths

July 31st births

07-31-1894 - Roy Bargy - Newaygo, MI - d. 1-15-1974
conductor: "Jimmy Durante Show"; "Kraft Music Hall"; "Rexall Summer Theatre"
07-31-1902 - Robert E. Griffin - Hutchinson, KS - d. 12-19-1960
actor: Wilbur Ramage "Story of Holly Sloan"; Michael West "Bright Horizon"
07-31-1904 - Billy Hillpot - Red Bank, NJ - d. 2-25-1985
singer: Trade "Smith Brothers: Trade and Mark"; "Camel Pleasure Hour"
07-31-1911 - George Liberace - Menasha, WI - d. 10-16-1983
sideman: Orrin Tucker Band, Anson Weeks Band
07-31-1912 - Chester Stratton - Paterson, NJ - d. 7-7-1970
actor: Carter Trent "Pepper Young's Family"; Hop Harrigan "Hop Harrigan"
07-31-1912 - Irv Kupcinet - Chicago, IL - d. 11-11-2003
sportscaster: WGN Chicago "Chicago Bears"
07-31-1919 - Curt Gowdy - Green River, WY
sportscaster: play-by-play Boston Red Sox

July 31st deaths

03-08-1893 - Victor Arden - Wenona, IL - d. 7-31-1962
conductor, pianist: "American Album of Familiar Music"; "America the Free"
04-30-1909 - Bud Linn - Indianapolis, IN - d. 7-31-1968
singer: (The King's Men) "Kraft Music Hall"; "Fibber McGee and Molly"
06-18-1898 - Carleton Hobbs - Farnborough, England - d. 7-31-1978
actor: Sherlock Holmes "Saturday Night Theatre, Children's Hour"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 13:51:58 -0400
From: "RBB" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "Speak Up America" in 1948

I received a reply from The Tucker Automobile Club regarding to my inquiry
about the weekly radio program they sponsored in 1948.  According the the
Director of The Tucker Historical Collection and Library, it was called
"Speak Up America" heard on 85 American Broadcasting Company stations,
broadcast debut was April 4, 1948.

It was a weekly, 15-minute radio show and contest hosted by John B. Kennedy
and prepared under the direction of Roy S. Durstine, Inc.

Does anyone have airchecks or details of "Speak Up America" - was it an
interview format, perhaps like the popular "Vox Pop" show asking
man-on-the-street opinions in the 1940's? And what was the "contest" on the
show, perhaps giving away a Tucker "Torpedo" automobile prize (the one with
the cyclops headlight, remember?)

I'd like to send back your information to the Tucker Club historian who does
not have any transcriptions, print advertising or scripts of their show.
Thanks for the reply.

=Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 13:52:38 -0400
From: "avpro" <avpro@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Dragnet #1
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Michael J. Hyde asked in the Digest #251 if DRAGNET # 1 exists.  Supposedly it
does and is in the hands of an ABC Sports Announcer.  I contacted him, years
ago, and he said he would dub it off for me.  So far nothing has resulted from
this contact and it really appears he does not have the copy he claims to
have.

The archives at the Los Angels Police Academy does not have a copy of the
broadcast discs and the script either.  Most of the shows in circulation came
from this source years ago.  The discs were eventually turned over to the UCLA
RADIO and [removed] ARCHIVE.  I helped catalog and store them. At the time I was at
UCLA, the university changed the archive title to The Television and Film
Archive and Radio was not abandoned, just put aside and much of the collection
was returned to the original donors.

As I recall, the discs and the script of show #1 were not in the collection
that was given to UCLA.  Most paper was turned over  to the UCLA Library and
was not kept with the discs in the Radio Archive.   If the script did exist,
it would be there.

Don Aston
avpro@[removed]

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Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 14:47:44 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Burns and Allen log

John Gardner in the [removed] asked about a Burns and Allen log.
Sandra Weber and Cynthia Clements co-wrote a book for Greenwood Press about
BURNS AND ALLEN entitled GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN: A BIO-BIBLIOGRAPHY
if I recall accurately.
The book is about 400 pages thick.
The book also features a broadcast log for most of their radio appearances,
in a similar fashion of the EDDIE CANTOR book that McFarland published some
time ago.
To date, that book is about as accurate of a radio log as you'll find - the
authors researched through the actual scripts on microfilm at the Library of
Congress, and the scripts contains tons of information.
I know a fella in Canada who has been researching and has a more detailed
log but he hasn't put it out yet - he's still working on it (and has been
for years).
Martin

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 16:30:43 -0400
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Attention: Canadian collectors

  The president of the Metro Washington OTR Club received the below
request from an associate. Our archives reflect nothing on the two
relatives she mentions, nor the program. Are there any collectors in
Canada that can shed any light on this?

Jack French
Editor: Radio Recall
 
"I am trying to find any recordings at all of my grandfather's early
Canadian children's radio show which was supposedly entitled, 'The
Uncle Reggie Show.'  I don't know if this was recorded via the BBC or
the CBC.  My grandfather abandoned my father at an early age and my
father has spent most of his life tracking him down just to develop an
idea as to who he was.  My grandfather changed his name from Reginald
Nash to Reginald Fields.  He immigrated from England in the late
1800's.  He came to New Jersey and then went to Canada, then back to
Vermont where he met an early and tragic demise in the prime of his
life.  Evidently though, he was so well liked and popular the the
governor of Vermont attended his funeral.  I have seen the newspaper
articles and headlines regarding those incidents. 
 
It would be such a blessing and would really complete my father's life
if you could help me to locate some recordings.  Also, my grandmother,
his companion at the time, recorded songs and she was called "The
Canadian Songbird."  Any news or recordings on her would also be
greatly appreciated."
 
Gratefully,
Dawn M. Gaglia
<egaglia@[removed];

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 16:31:01 -0400
From: StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Pitchman For Pepperidge Farms

Maybe I missed it in Sean Dougherty's posting on the Pepperidge Farms
pitchman who took over the role after Parker Fennelly, but I don't
believe the name of the actor was included. He was Charles C. Welch.
Yes, those of us who are good at recognizing voices, even disguised
voices, immediately knew that it was a different actor.  That's one of
the differences between the passive radio listener and the OTR
enthusiast. It was great fun recognizing the voices in different roles.
It still is!

STUART  LUBIN

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 16:31:16 -0400
From: stewwright@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Thumper & Sam Edwards

When I interviewed Sam Edwards at a Radio Enthusiasts Of Puget Sound Showcase
several years ago, Sam was quite specific that he did the voice of the adult
Thumper in BAMBI and that another actor did the voice of the adolescent
Thumper.

You can find another obituary for Sam Edwards in the Durango Herald
[removed]

Signing off for now,

Stewart

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 16:31:40 -0400
From: "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Does the first Dragnet show survive?

".dan." wrote:

If it is the one where a person with a bomb holds the police dept. hostage,
then yes it does.  I heard it on a local radio station and <snip> I recall
the
introductory commentary said it was the first show.

The host got it both right and wrong.  The "City Hall Bombing" episode was
the seventh radio DRAGNET (and also #57, when it was re-performed), but it
was the script used for the very first TV episode in 1951.

A complete description of the first radio DRAGNET's storyline - a case that
takes place in Robbery Division - may be found in my book, "My Name's
Friday," on pages 24-25.  John Crosby's review of the episode appears on page
26.

Michael

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 16:32:05 -0400
From: Jandpgardner@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Burns and Allen and Joe Pasternak
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If you want to find out anything about OTR, this Digest will get you the
answer - and quickly. In #252 I asked about a 'Burns and Allen Show' from the
'Hormel Spam' period with Joe Pasternak as guest. Just over an hour after it
appeared I received the answer from Wayne Boenig. It is from August 8, 1940
and
I find it IS listed in Jerry Haendiges' 'Vintage Radio Logs' under the title
'George Tries out for a Movie', although there is no mention of the guest.
Wayne told me there is a section on the K-Surf website called 'current
schedule' that gives the titles and dates of the shows for the current week
and,
although it is a little hidden, I have now found it and it will be very
useful
for the future. My apologies to K-Surf for saying they did not give the dates
of  the shows they air.
John.

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

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 18:50:54 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Jackson Beck

I remember Jackson Beck as announcer on Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, both the radio and 
TV versions.  He announced the TV version except during its last season, when it was 
sponsored by Kraft, and Ed Hurlihy, who announced the Kraft Television Theater, took over 
as announcer.  

-- A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed] 15 Court Square, Suite 210 lawyer@[removed] Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 19:33:49 -0400 From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; To: <[removed]@[removed]; Subject: Jackson Beck's funeral X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain Thanks to my friend Kevin Scullin, a known NYC modern-audio drama actor & good friend/protigi of Jackson Beck, I was extended an invitation to Mr. Beck's funeral last night (Thursday. 07/29). It was a small affair held in the Rose Room of the Greenwich Village Funeral Home on Bleecker Street in NYC designed for family, close friends, fellow Masons, poker playing pals, and fellow actors, particularly those active in the unions. In attendance OTR-wise were Arthur Anderson (best known for "Let's Pretend' and the "Mercury Theatre of the Air") and his lovely wife Alice; FOTR fan favourites and union officers Martha Greenhouse and Ruth Last; OTR historian/re-creation director & Baker Street Irregular William "Bill" Nadel; actress Corinne Orr (of "Theatre Five" & "CBSRMT") ; the aforementioned Mr. Scullin; and another one of Jackson's protigis, Jeff David. The service started out informally with Jackson's son Leslie Winter noting that the only type of service Jackson requested was a simple and brief Masonic service which consisted of prayers and invocations, which, all-in-all, lasted about ten minutes. Various family members said a few things, but the keynote (if that's the right word for this occasion) speaker was Jack's friend/colleague Jeff David, who delivered the words he had written in honour of Mr. Beck for an upcoming issue of an AFTRA industry newsletter. I choose at this time not to recount everything Mr. David said last night being that I wish not to steal his proverbial thunder, especially before his AFTRA piece sees print, and also because there's still hope that Jeff will attend this autumn's FOTR convention as part of the "Tribute to Jackson Beck" panel to be hosted by Anthony Tollin, the last person to direct Jack Beck in an OTR re-creation ("The Adventures of Superman" at FOTR 1998), which has just been added to the precedings. A more publicised memoriam is tentatively planned for the fall. Although no date has been set yet, it has been suggested to family and friends of Jackson thatthey might consider planning it around the time of the Friends of Old-Tome Radio convention in nearby New Jersey so that Mr. Beck's legions of fans might be able to attend [a similar memoriam/tribute was staged for Jack's good friend Lon "Nick Carter, Master Detective" Clark, who had died about twi weeks prior to FOTR 1997]. I learned a lot abou "The Voice" last night from both Jeff David and others who spoke, and I'd very much would like to share some of what I heard with you. Before he decided to pursue an acting career full-time, Jackson had a job as a runner at the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Supposedly, young Jackson witnessed a man falling from a window and landing at Jackson's feet. The Crash of 1929 was on and Jackson decided being on Wall Street was not the job he wanted. Persistence paid off for Beck as he made a map of mid-town Manhattan and the locations of agents, radio stations, and advertising agencies. He kept comprehensive notes pertaining to each place visited, the time and date of each visit, and what was said. Within months sometime in 1930, Jackson landed his first [removed] continued to be employed for the next 68 years. By 1937, Jackson had worked in "the unregulated vineyards of radio" in which ad agencies held absolute power over the fate and underpayment of struggling radio actors. Inspired by the foundings of the American Federation of Musicians in 1896, Actor's Equity in 1013, and the Screen Actors' Guild in 1933, Jackson worked tirelessly for an radio actors' rights and advocacy union which was to become AFRA, the American Federation of Radio Artists (which later became AFTRA in the 1950s when AFRA merged with TVA--Television and Variety Artists). AFRA boasted more than 2,000 members by the end calendar year 1937. Folks who might have heard the legend that Jackson was so old and so present-at-the-creation that his AFRA membership card number was "2" might be surprised to learn that this is no joke [akin to "so-and-so is so old, his Social Security number is '3'!"]. Jeff David recounted the story how a more swift-footed "son-of-a-b---h," to use Jackson's phraseology, beat Jackson to the front of the union hall. In the 1970s, AFTRA presented Jackson Beck with its highest honour--a Lifetime Achievement Gold Membership Card. No matter how big a "star" or a "giant" Jackson became, he was always ever-conscious of the plight of the working actor and never stopped fighting for the betterment of the lives of the union's lowliest members. In a 1990 article printed in the NYC-area newspaper "Newsday," Jackson was dubbed "Mr Radio"--akin to Milton Berle's "[removed] Television" sobriquet. Harvey Shearer, an advertising executive who lived in the same building as Jackson, regaled the crowd of aboutt 50 mourners with stories rooted in a twenty-plus year friendship with Jackson Beck. Mr. Shearer played cards with Jack every Tuesday night for many years and asserted that Mr. Beck was a lousy card-player--"the one thing he couldn't do well!" Jack's last voice-over account was for Revlon. One of the spots he recorded during "his last day in the studio" circa 1998-99 was for "little Caesar's Pizza. Jack lost his wife Berenice in 1986. Jackson Beck was buried this morning, Friday, July 30th, 2004, at Mount Hope Cemetery in Brooklyn next to his actor father Max Beck's grave, which is part of a fifteen-lot family plot originally purchased in 1890. He had just celebrated his 92nd birthday last Friday the 23rd. Ironically, according to OTR historian Joe Mackey, today is the 67th anniversary of the founding of Jack beck's beloved cause--the American Federation of [Television and] Radio Artists. I can think of no greater a lasting legacy. Too saddened for an irreverent sign-off, Derek Tague *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear *** *** as the sender intended. *** ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 20:24:54 -0400 From: "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@[removed]; To: [removed]@[removed] Subject: For a 9 year old Sci-fi OTR for a 9 year old? Isn't it obvious? Lights Out CHICKEN HEART! Recently I was at a family gathering where I had several youngsters absolutely fascinated with CHICKEN HEART. They couldn't believe the Chicken Heart actually destroyed the world at the end. "That's just the end of the first part, right? They're gonna kill it in the next episode?" "Nope," I had to tell them, "that's all. The Chicken Heart ate up the whole world!" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 20:47:58 -0400 From: Trinapreston3@[removed] To: [removed]@[removed] Subject: Jackson Beck Passing X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain Hello! Out there, I am writing to let everybody know that another radio actor has passed away. Jackson Beck known for several radio voices including Cisco Kid and the announcer for Superman. I read this in my city's newspaper today. If anyone needs to find the article you can go to [removed] I read this under newspaper obituaries. I am very sad to hear that some of the best loved radio actor's are passing away. It's like losing someone you know. I am only in my early 30's, but I feel radio programs were a very good form of entertainment and you had some of the best actors on them without seeing who they were. I would like to send my condolences to Mr. Sam Edward's family. I felt he was great actor also. I loved him as Dexter on Meet Corliss Archer and episode of Suspense. Mr. Edwards and Mr. Beck will live on through radio. Trina, *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear *** *** as the sender intended. *** ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 08:26:52 -0400 From: Natalie <nmclain@[removed]; To: [removed]@[removed] Subject: Re: Burns and Allen Log
I am trying to date one of their shows that was aired on the
K-Surf website this week. The shows on this site are in excellent sound
but, for
some reason, they do not give the dates of the shows. This one with George
and Gracie has 'Hormel Spam' as the sponsor, so is on a Monday night from
the
period  July 1940 to March 1941. The guest is Joe Pasternak,

I don't have a Burns and Allen log but I checked The New York Times
and on Monday, August 5, 1940 in their Today on the Radio Column, it
lists Joe Pasternak, Film Director, guest.

Hope this helps,
Natalie

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 08:28:55 -0400
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Los Angeles Times on Jackson Beck

The Los Angeles Times waited a few days but probably produced the best
obituary of Jackson Beck of all.

The reporter spoke to several sources, including our own Tony Tollin thanks
again to yours truly.  I was surprised none of the other obits mentioned
Jackson's role in founding and leading AFRA/AFTRA, for example.

As a bonus, the online times provided a link to [removed], the Friends of
Old Time Radio Convention homepage, with sound clips of Jackson (for those
who have Macromedia - when I tried to test I got stuck in an endless
download).

Except for David Hinckley in The Daily News, this was also the only obit that
mentioned Jackson's devotion to old time radio conventions.  My understanding
is that he missed only a single FOTR from 1976 to 1998, but then again, like
Charlie, I wasn't there.

The link follows.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

[removed],1,[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 12:04:40 -0400
From: David Siegel <otrdsiegel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  GANG BUSTERS

Friday's mail brought me my copy of Martin Gram's latest (and by it's size)
largest contribution to the history of vintage radio in America:  GANG
BUSTERS The Crime Fighters of American Broadcasting.
     I will not pretend to have read the entire 690 page opus over night. I
will, however, affirm that I have studied the  book's format and can attest
to it being rich in terms of providing a 277 page detailed episode guide
to  1008 broadcasts (with few exceptions) from  July 20, 1933 to November
27m 1957.
This section alone is worth the price of the book BUT there is much much more.
     Martin includes a guide to the TV episodes, biographical information
about Phillips H. Lord, the program's creator and GANG BUSTERS on the big
screen. Much is written about the influence  that the program had on
contemporary crime fighting. Fans will certainly recall the WANTED
bulletins that closed each program.
     I could go on and on but I would rather get back to my copy of the
book which I'm most eager to finish.
Dave S.

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #253
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