------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 410
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Dragnet [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
Quinn the Eskimo [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
snapshots: Art Carney (1918-2003) [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
11-13 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re: Bob Burns [ wa5pdk@[removed] ([removed] L.) ]
Looking for program [ "Caldwell, Wayne" <b-caldwell1@[removed] ]
Art Carney OTR article [ otrdude@[removed] ]
Art Carney's Radio Career [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
Art Carney Dead at 85 [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
CD Longetivity [ "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@cfai ]
Voice of Firestone [ jef <jefolson2000@[removed]; ]
Red Skelton [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Accessing Jack Benny Programs [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
Baby it's cold outside [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
More on MP3 Out Of Order [ "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@cfai ]
RE:A&C title (OT) [ [removed]@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 13:39:28 -0500
From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Dragnet
Mulling over ABC-TV's cancellation of "LA Dragnet," Jim Cox wondered:
Does that mean the successful two-man team from last season was better than
the current plethora of investigators? Or maybe last year's show was truer
to its roots?
I wouldn't exactly call the previous season "successful." After the
premiere (which rated a [removed]), Dick Wolf's "Dragnet" lost audience until it
dropped down to about [removed], usually coming in second for its time slot, and
around #60-ish for the week. Yet compared to this season, when the rating
was never better than [removed], there was more life in Jack Webb's original
format. Frankly, I believe Wolf was set up for failure - he received a
mandate from ABC to make the show more youth-friendly, then they scheduled
it at a time when the target audience generally isn't watching TV!
Incidentally, as I pointed out in MY NAME'S FRIDAY, Webb pretty much spent
most of 1954 & '55 trying to persuade NBC to do what ABC did: promote Joe
Friday and reduce his on-screen time. Of course, Webb's agenda was to play
Pete Kelly, believing that the feature film version would catch fire at the
box office, so that NBC would buy a "Pete Kelly's Blues" TV series.
Obviously it didn't work out that way, since "Pete Kelly's Blues" wasn't the
resounding success he (and Warner Bros) was expecting. After that, Webb's
main interest in "Dragnet" was to grind the episodes out as quickly and
cheaply as possible. No surprise that he dropped the radio show around this
time as well.
Michael
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 14:34:44 -0500
From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Quinn the Eskimo
Anthony Quinn played Inuk the Eskimo, not Nanook (that was a 1920's
documentary featuring a real Eskimo), in the 1959 film THE SAVAGE
INNOCENTS.
This film spawned Bob Dylan's song THE MIGHTY QUINN ("Quinn the Eskimo").
---Dan
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 15:06:14 -0500
From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: snapshots: Art Carney (1918-2003)
"Forget it, Carney won't do interviews," those words from an OTR friend
rang in my ears for months. Nevertheless back in 1998, I wrote him a
letter explaining how I was very interested in his work on the radio
series, The Man Behind the Gun. A month passed, and I did not receive a
reply, even though I had included a standard SASE. So I wrote a second
letter. Two months later, he had still not answered. One day while
taking a break from interviewing an actress in in her large and elegant
Greenwich Village apartment, she asked asked me who else I had been
interviewing. In replying, I mentioned my frustration regarding Carney.
I also told her that someone had given me his unlisted number, but I was
reluctant to call.
"I know him well," the actress remarked. "Call him and tell him that I
referred you to him." The next morning, at 10:30 I did as she suggested.
Mrs. Carney answered. "Hello, I'm working on a book about radio during
WWII and I've written a couple of letters to Mr. Carney about this. I'm
calling now on the recommendation of Madeleine X, may I speak to Mr.
Carney?"
In a few minutes, Carney was on the phone. I repeated most of what I had
told his wife. Unfortunately I think, probably from nervousness at
finally speaking to the great "Nawton," I forgot to mention that his
friend had referred me to him. "I'm sorry, I don't do interviews,"
Carney told me by the time I got to my fourth sentence. But somewhere
from the back of my brain I pulled out an old journalist's trick. "Mr.
Carney could I ask you two quick questions? "Okay, I guess so," he
replied. And I was on my way. Both of his replies constituted good little
stories and I was able to incorporate them into the finished book. One of
them concerned his efforts to learn an Australian accent for a role on
The Man. Briefly, the gist of his story is that he had learned that an
Australian worked in a travel agency near the studio. Curious to find
out how authentic his accent sounded, he visited the Australian, had a
conversation with him, and apparently was excepted as a fellow Aussie.
Today's New York Times obituary of Mr. Carney mentions that he considered
himself a shy person. But in any case, I was grateful to him first for
the little interview, and secondly, and more broadly, for his
high-quality acting--not just as "Norton" which of course, is what made
him so famous, but also for his radio and film work. The kid from Mount
Vernon, New York made good and I remember him fondly.
Howard Blue
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 15:06:21 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 11-13 births/deaths
November 13th births
11-13-1903 - Conrad Thibault - Northbridge, MA - d. 8-10-1983
singer: "Show Boat"; "Packard Hour"; "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round"
11-13-1913 - Alexander Scourby - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-23-1985
actor: Herbert Temple "Young Widder Brown"; Philip Cameron "Against the Storm"
November 13th deaths
04-29-1915 - Donald F. Mills - Piqua, OH - d. 11-13-1999
singer: (The Mills Brothers) "Mills Brothers Quartette"
05-29-1892 - Mario Chamlee - Los Angeles, CA - d. 11-13-1966
singer: Tony "Tony and Gus"; "Arco Birthday Party"; "Swift Garden Party"
06-29-1893 - Alma Kitchell - Superior, WI - d. 11-13-1996
singer, commentator: "Melody Hour"; "Brief Case/Streamline Journal"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 16:19:15 -0500
From: wa5pdk@[removed] ([removed] L.)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Bob Burns
I have a little page featuring Bob Burns which includes some
interesting stuff about his career in Old Time Radio. I am old enough
to have caught his broadcasts when he was a regular on the Bing Crosby
show. He started his own program in the early 1940's. If you want to
check it out, go to [removed]
Regards to all my OTR friends,
Ralph
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 16:19:22 -0500
From: "Caldwell, Wayne" <b-caldwell1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Looking for program
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I am looking for a program called
The Dickey bird staring Art Carney
Can anyone help me with info on it?
Thanks
Wayne Caldwell
[removed]
oldtimer@[removed]
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Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 16:23:34 -0500
From: otrdude@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Art Carney OTR article
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Here is an article that discusses Art Carney's radio roots from Radio Recall,
June 2003
[removed]
Andrew Steinberg
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 19:39:24 -0500
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Art Carney's Radio Career
Most of the obituaries of Art Carney contained little data on his
illustrious radio career. Many of his fans were impressed with his
successful television work, which had all but obliterated his
microphone accomplishments.
The June 2003 issue of RADIO RECALL contained a detailed synopsis of
Carney's radio days in which he played everything from a talking fish,
"Red Lantern", on the juvenile adventure, "Land of the Lost" to
impersonating FDR on "March of Time."
You can view this article by scrolling to the RADIO RECALL section of
the website of the Metro Washington Old Time Radio Club at
[removed]
Jack French
Editor
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 19:39:36 -0500
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Art Carney Dead at 85
Art Carney's obituary from today's New York Daily News can be found here:
[removed] .
David Hinckley, as usual, finds time to include reference to Mr. Carney's
radio work. He would like to write a little more on the subject so if
anyone on this list has a more complete log of Mr. Carney's radio work
please send it to me and I'll pass it along.
Thanks,
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 19:40:41 -0500
From: "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CD Longetivity
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I was at WAL MART today and saw a different grade of cds I had not seen
before. Its called CD-R Pro by Maxell. It runs $[removed] for ten pack. The
packaging promises
(or advertises) these cds for ARCHIVING purposes with three layer coatings to
protect data for long-term storage. I don't know myself how good these cds
actually are but perhaps Maxell has been following the digest discussion on CD
longevity.
Mike Kerezman
Macomb, Oklahoma
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 20:13:37 -0500
From: jef <jefolson2000@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Voice of Firestone
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Anyone out there have the sheet music for the Voice of Firestone theme? (Or
even the exact title and composer would be helpful. I know it was a
Firestone-can't remember which one.)
Also thanks to those who are helping me research Nan Dorland.
Jef"Marley in So. Cal. " Olson
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Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 22:04:33 -0500
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Red Skelton
The advertisers in early radio loved to name their programs after themselves
([removed] The A&P Gypsies, The Voice of Firestone, The Lucky Strike Program
(with Jack Benny), Maxwell House Coffee Time (with Burns and Allen), The
Ford Show (with Dinah Shore), The Kraft Music Hall (with Bing Crosby), etc.,
etc., etc. Names were used interchangeably and altered frequently. The
public might know The Al Jolson Show as (for example only) The Packard Hour
or The Eveready Hour or The Lifebuoy Program but they knew, after all, it
was really about Al Jolson and his guests. Sponsors acquired extra mileage
with their advertising by having their names appear in the titles of their
programs, both on the air and in the newspapers. Publicity was as important
then as now.
Red Skelton's first series was known as Avalon Time (Jan. 7, 1939-Dec. 20,
1939) over NBC Blue for Avalon cigarettes, manufactured by Brown &
Williamson Tobacco Co., Louisville, Ky. Some of his other series were so
named--and announcers might be ad libbing and refer to the series as "show"
one time and "program" the next. No big deal, except for the purists
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 22:31:27 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Accessing Jack Benny Programs
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Kurt Yount writes:
There is at least one person listening to Jack Benny in its entirity. Is
there a best place, or most reputable, to obtain the Benny catalog on
MP3? Does the Jack Benny fan club have one they support above others? I
have never gotten heavily into Jack's show, but I am now finding them
more interesting. Thank you. Kurt Bee
[removed] catching up on old Digests. We support our own audio
library, and I have made a rule of not promoting one vendor above others.
Shokus
Video voluntarily offered a 10% discount on Benny purchases to IJBFC members.
But we have just about everything in circulation radio-wise, so members can
have low-cost access to Benny programs.
To see our listing, go to [removed], then Programs, then IJBFC
Library. There are a series of links at the bottom of the page that display
our
full holdings.
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 23:34:04 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Baby it's cold outside
The Anthony Quinn Eskimo movie Roby McHone of Fairbanks, Alaska has been
looking for is "The Savage Innocents" from 1959 or 60. I also have often
thought of this film but the only time I've ever seen it was over 30 years
ago in a film class at Northwestern. It was during the era when serious
film educators would not dream of viewing a film in any other way than
projecting an actual film print on a screen. It was shown as an example of
effective use of the ultra-wide screen of original CinemaScope, and our
professor made sure that he was sent a real original anamorphic CinemaScope
print. I was surprised to see when I just looked this film up that Peter
O'Toole had made his film debut in this, because I have long likened the
visual imagery of this film to O'Toole's "Lawrence of Arabia." Both of
them make good use of the broad expanse of nothingness with the horizon
stretching horizontally across the immensely wide screen. Alas, just like
very few of us OTR collectors can have access to original discs, so do most
film enthusiasts have to resort to tapes, LaserDiscs and DVDs. As such,
these two films can only properly be seen in a full letterboxed format, and
it appears as yet nobody has gotten around to restoring the Quinn film. So
you'll just have to settle for listening to the rock song "The Mighty
Quinn."
By the way, the name of Quinn's character apparently was Inuk, not Nanook.
In one of those Northwestern film classes we had seen the REAL Nanook in
the original silent documentary "Nanook of the North." Much of the Quinn
film is based on the original documentary, so the confusion is natural.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 09:15:24 -0500
From: "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: More on MP3 Out Of Order
I tried a little experiment tonight. I had a CD of QUIET PLEASE (88 shows)
that I burned about two years ago. This particular cd when played on my APEX
DVD player plays the mp3s out order. The CD has the files burned out order.
Upon looking at the CD using NERO's info toolkit I discovered I burned this
CD September 10, 2001 using Adaptec Easy CD Creator [removed] The filenames are
in a format of
Quiet Please 470608 Nothing Behind the Door.
I copied the files from this CD to my Hard disk. Without renaming ANY of
them, I re-burned them to new blank CD using NERO burning software
and wholla my APEX DVD player now plays the QUIET PLEASE mp3s in order.
The puzzling facts is that the original CD was burned w/ EZ-CD Creator [removed]
was burned w/ IS0 9660, Joliet, Mode 1 Data CD. Nero is set w/ the
same settings yet does not burn the cd out of order. I do not know why this
is. However, I stay with what works for me.
Mike Kerezman
Macomb, Oklahoma
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 12:45:40 -0500
From: [removed]@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE:A&C title (OT)
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Okay, okay, I know. This is a radio list and not an old movie list, but with
all the talk about Abbott & Costello, I'm reminded of a matter that has
troubled me for some years now. I can't find the movie with the immortal
routine, "POKO MOKO! POCO MOKO!!!??? Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by
inch . . .," whereupon this madman attacks Lou (kinda loses something in the
translation, doesn't it?). The gag even spilled over into their next movie
or two. Can anyone supply the title?? Please?
Thanx,
[removed]
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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #410
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