------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 168
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Rosa Rio [ Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed]; ]
Great Gildersleeve Book [ lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed]; ]
Re: NBC's 75th [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
NBC 75th Anniversary [ "rlctm" <rlctm@[removed]; ]
RA files [ Doug Krile <dkrile@[removed]; ]
Streambox Ripper ([removed] or [removed]) [ "Chateau Stripmine" <chateaustripmi ]
costs are a curiosity [ Arcane <arcane@[removed]; ]
RE: NBC 75th [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed] ]
Thank You and mp3 bitrates [ ADeTol1@[removed] ]
Value to the public [ lawrence albert <albertlarry@yahoo. ]
New OTR Newletter [ ilamfan@[removed] ]
1930's historical site [ Tony Baechler <tony@[removed]; ]
OTR commercials [ "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed]; ]
RE: .ra files to .wav [removed] [ Arcane <arcane@[removed]; ]
Frank Fay [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
re Don Rickles, announcer [ John Henley <jhenley@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 20:53:06 -0400
From: Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Rosa Rio
Regarding Rosa Rio, try searching in [removed] and you will find at
least one site that has information on her.
I did not try the other person but there is probably info about him
also.
Below is the site I found that had the most information including
picture.
[removed]
Dick
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 23:03:56 -0400
From: lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Great Gildersleeve Book
A few months ago there was info floating arround about
a new book on the Great Gildersleeve. Any one
remember
how a person can get a copy? Your help will be
greatly
appreciated! Many Thanks!!!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 23:05:51 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: NBC's 75th
A few thoughts on the NBC 75th Anniversary [removed]
First off, I understand that there *were* apparently plans early on to
include a segment on radio -- but for whatever reason, that segment
didn't end up making the final cut: I don't know the full story, but I do
know that Alec Cumming, the researcher for the program, was personally
very interested in seeing radio get its due, and he and I and Mike Biel
had exchanged quite a number of E-mails over the last few months. So
whoever made the final call not to include the radio segment, we should
at least acknowledge that *someone* working on the project tried to get
it on the air. Alec, at least, deserves a salute for trying.
That said, though, I have to say I was disappointed. I'm not surprised
radio got blown off -- NBC has been out of the radio business for nearly
fifteen years, so it's understandable that there might be a feeling of
"who cares?" in treating that segment of their past. But I'm still
disappointed that there was no real acknowledgement of radio -- a passing
mention of Rudy Vallee, a Toscanini kinescope, a news montage, a fast
glimpse of H. V. Kaltenborn, and a Jack Benny clip just don't cut it.
But, again, after having watched the program all the way thru, I'm not
really surprised -- because it really wasn't a "75th Anniversary" program
at all. It was a celebration, primarily, of the big NBC-TV programs of
the past twenty years -- a chance for Cheers and LA Law and Miami Vice
fans to see their old favorites again. Which is fine -- but it might have
been better to simply call it "NBC Salutes The Best of the '80s and '90s"
and let it go at that. There *were* some quality programs on NBC during
those years -- I'll declare for the record that OTR even at its very best
never produced a crime drama as consistently excellent as "Homicide: Life
On The Streets" was at its peak -- and there's no reason why Sunday's
program couldn't simply have come right out and admitted what it was
there to do. *I'd* still have watched [removed]
A few things that did really bother me: The bit of derisive laughter from
the audience during the "Dragnet" clip was unnecessary. Ignoring NBC
Sports' decades of baseball coverage was *inexcusable.* Given the events
of six months ago, the surrounding of 30 Rock with an exploding barrage
of fireworks at the end of the program seemed just a bit tasteless --
especially when we'd seen the WTC Explosion clips not long before. And I
wish someone would, once and for all, hold Lorne Michaels down and twist
his arm until he admits that actors who don't understand comedy should
never attempt to do standup.
A few things I *liked* -- the set was elegant, and so was Howard Shore's
music. And Sid Caesar is still brilliant, with that fast patter-dialect
thing he did toward the end. The best moment in the show, though, was
Caesar apparently nodding off to sleep during Andy Williams' song -- only
to be nudged awake when his companion realized they were on camera. That
alone justified the whole thing.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 23:07:16 -0400
From: "rlctm" <rlctm@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: NBC 75th Anniversary
I haven't written to the digest in a while, but I just have to vent
somewhere about the so-called 75th Anniversary show last night on NBC. I am
in total agreement with Jim Cox and [removed] tape I made of the show is
eraseable!
Who was in charge of this debacle? Poorly written; poorly paced (try no pace
at all) and laced with today's supposedly humorous sarcastic,
self-mutilating cuts and digs at everything the network once stood for.
There was hardly a serious moment in the entire three hours. From the moment
poor old Sid Caesar was made to stagger out on stage and stand in total
silence in the first hour of the show to Martin Short's unbelievable,
surreal antics (hopping on to William Shatner's lap, etc.) to the adoration
given The Golden Girls to Bob Newhart's prominent role(s) in the
[removed] greatest successes were on CBS! I can go on and on. This
show was not produced or written by someone who knows nothing about NBC's
radio history; it was put together by people who simply have zero
entertainment talent and zero knowledge of the network's pre-1980 history or
who even have any respect at all for the very network they were supposedly
honoring. One of the all-time lows in all of network radio or tv history! I
could go on and on with one unreal, psycho-induced escapade after another on
the show.
Jack Benny and Edger Bergen/CM were the only otr stars mentioned at --11:10
[removed] and of course they did the 30-second bit about how he knew the serial
numbers on the money in his billfold found by Edger Bergen. What a tribute
to 60 years of radio!!! Shall I go on? One more? [removed] sixties were
about it as far as going back in TV time [removed] had (superstars)
Barbara Eden and Don Adams aboard, along with Shatner. Don Adams says to no
one in particular: We missed out on sex in the sixties. To which Barbara
Feldon (agent 99) says: NOT ME! to crickets chirping from the [removed]
my [removed] this was one of the better lines!!!
Great move, Johnny Carson! Not showing up and associating with this BOMB
proves your greatness. And Bob, Mr. NBC Hope, I'm sorry you had to watch the
evidence of a total decline of a once-great network happen before your eyes;
and if you were able at age 99 to participate in the show, I'm sure no one
probably even bothered to ask you to; after all, Mr. T and Alf were there to
bring back those warm, nostalgic feelings. I'm going to go listen to Bob or
Fibber and force this out of my mind! Good grief!
Randy Collins
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 23:07:52 -0400
From: Doug Krile <dkrile@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RA files
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/mixed
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was multipart/alternative
If you can live with grabbing them in real time, try Total Recorder from
[removed]
Works great. Simple to use. Just call up ANY online audio file, start the
recorder and you'll have an MP3, WAV or any format you want.
[demime removed an attachment of type text/x-vcard which had a name of Doug
[removed]]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 23:08:37 -0400
From: "Chateau Stripmine" <chateaustripmin@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Streambox Ripper ([removed] or [removed])
Streambox no longer sells or supports Streambox Ripper. Does anyone know
where a copy can be found?
Carl
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 23:13:03 -0400
From: Arcane <arcane@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: costs are a curiosity
***I'm curious as to how you arrived at the cost RSI should be charging.
Did
you factor in royalties to the copyright owners, or did you assume that
rights wouldn't be paid since the shows were on MP3 rather than CDs or
cassettes? I don't see how RSI (or anyone else) could charge $[removed] or
$[removed]
for a 30-hour, 60-show collection and still be able to pay licensing fees to
Norman Corwin and the other rights holders. --Anthony Tollin***
I'm curious to know what kind of percentages the Actors do get from the
retail cost of a CD. Anthony seems to imply that its the licencing fees
that keep the cost of the collection above $[removed]
>From what I was lead to believe it the Artists were paid about a dime for
every ten bucks retail. Has the Industry become more equitable over time,
or is it still the same ol' song??
Hal, do you have a Mercedes hidden in that 5 car garage or yours?? *tongue
in cheek grin*
Len M
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 00:17:10 -0400
From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: NBC 75th
Several comments have been made on NBC's so called 75th anniversary that pretty sum
up my feelings as [removed] It is obvious to the most casual observer that the current
generation of executives (who were raised on Terrible Vision) feel that if they did
not have anything to do with it, it isn't worth mentioning. Someone needs to let
them know that broadcasting did not begin with television. The whole thing look
like it was produced by a bunch of 9th graders.
Bill H.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 00:18:00 -0400
From: ADeTol1@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Thank You and mp3 bitrates
Now, I have just one
more question. What bitrates and sampling frequencies do the mp3 files have
to have to play on a portable mp3/cd player? If you know, contact me.
The RioVolt SP 90 Portable CD Player will play almost any bitrate.
I have used mine to play all bitrates from 24 to 196 kbs.
it plays about 10 hours on 2 AA batteries. you can also plug it into any
stereo amplifier, computer or power speakers. There is also an audio tape
cassette interface which can be used in most car radios.
It also plays WMA files and standard audio CDs
You can get up to fifty hours of recordings at 24 kbs
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 11:18:44 -0400
From: lawrence albert <albertlarry@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Value to the public
The fact the NBC gave little attention to OTR
shouldn't surprise anyone. Outside of the hobby the
sad fact is that OTR is of little interest to the
public at large. To them the whole thing comes down to
the Shadow, Lone Ranger or some other show their
parents told them about. To many of the people who
lived through the era to them "that was then, this is
now."
We who love the hobby and value the work are really a
select group, but few in number by comparison to the
population and we are, by and large, outside the
demographics desired by the advertisers and show
business executives of today. To them and the public
OTR is a dinosaur whose fossils are nice to look at
(hear) once in awhile but don't make a big deal of it.
They just don't care.
Sadly but realisticly
Larry Albert
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 11:19:45 -0400
From: ilamfan@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed] (OTR Bulletin Board)
Subject: New OTR Newletter
Hello, all!
I've had this idea brewing in my head for a while
now, and I wonder what the rest of you think of it.
I have enjoyed many OTR newsletters over the years
(although lately, this list has taken the place of most
of them) - there is something to be said for a printed
newsletter with articles and some pictures, arriving in
the mail with your name on it. I'm sure there are still
plenty of OTR fans without computers out there, who
greatly enjoy a good fanzine/newsletter every once in a
while.
However, the one thing that I always found lacking
in these magazines about OTR was actual OTR itself. I
always thought that there should be an audio supplement -
something to listen to, as a companion piece to the
newsletter.
There were sometimes entire articles I would only
skim over, mainly because I had none of the described
shows in my collection.
Today, with the proliferation of mp3 files, many of
us have more shows in our collection than we could hope
to listen to (if I listen to an hour every day, I will
have at least 24 years before I will have to hear any a
second time!). A newsletter could also help one decide
which series to dig into, or which shows of a series are
the most worthwhile listens.
My idea for my OTR newsletter is this: to have
reviews sent in by readers (ideally both pro and con) of
a specific OTR episode, and collated/edited, with a well-
researched series/creator/actor overview, and some sharp
artwork, too. In addition, all contributors would vote
on the next OTR episode to be reviewed - the winning
episode would be included on audio cd with the
newsletter.
So actually, the cd included is to be *listened* to
now, and then it's reviews *read* about next issue. A
succesive link in the chain, to keep the audience
interested, and the newsletter going. Too many of them
are dying out.
I think that with the wonderfully diverse group of
OTR fans now, this could be very enlightening -
including viewpoints from those who grew up with radio
drama, those just discovering it, those who are familiar
with the technical aspects of audio, radio
professionals, and so on.
So what do you think? I always thought that seeing
my name in print was a real charge. Everybody enjoys
having their opinion heard, and how hard is it to listen
to a show and then dash off a few paragraphs? Not too
hard, even with snail mail.
Of course, no CBSRMT or NIGHTFALL, etc etc because
of copyright issues, but I'm sure that there are plenty
of shows that are just fine to include.
Please feel free to email me at ilamfan@[removed] if
you have any suggestions or would like to contribute. I
would really like to go forward with this idea, I think
it has great potential. Who's with me?!?!?
Thanks in advance for any and all feedback (both
pro and con!).
Stephen Jansen
--
Old Time Radio never dies - it just changes formats!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 11:21:03 -0400
From: Tony Baechler <tony@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 1930's historical site
Hello all. I thought some of you might find this interesting since it
deals with radio and culture of the 1930's.
1930's FrontPage
[removed]~1930[removed]
"The 1930s in America: history, film, photography, radio, popular
culture and more."
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 11:21:27 -0400
From: "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR commercials
I'll throw my hat into the ring and nominate the commercials that were so
blatantly worked into Duffy's Tavern dialog by announcer Joe Moran. I just
listened to the episode in which Archie thinks he has bought the patent on
electricity, and is going to hire Joe to sell stock. Archie asks Joe to name
something everybody uses and nobody can live without, and Joe's first guess
is Vitalis. He then turns a discussion of smart investing into a completely
non-sequitur pitch for Vitalis.
I find this type of advertising strangely endearing. Unlike modern "product
placement" techniques, which are meant to be subliminal, the OTR inline ads
seem to be done in the spirit of knowing they weren't fooling anybody. I
think it demonstrate a more respectful attitude toward the listener, or the
assumption that the listener was at least halfway intelligent.
Doug Leary
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 12:19:27 -0400
From: Arcane <arcane@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: .ra files to .wav [removed]
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
I would like to applaud James Grey for his accurate appraisal of .ra files
and of the Tantalus-like fate that should await the RealAudio developers on
their demise.
But I still believe those stories unfortunate enough to have been recorded as
.ra files still have a justifiable existence. Even with their mediocre
quality they fill a void in that they do provide a collector with the
opportunity to at least HEAR the story.
Collecting OTR stories in mp3 format is analogous to book collecting. Some of
us can only afford or obtain pocket book versions of the stories while
others, with more dedication to their hobby ( and more $$$$) can gather first
editions and other memorabilia. Poorly recorded stories, such as those made
from .ra files, or even heavily worn master discs merely fill a gap in our
collections which will be replaced with better versions as they are made
available to us.
Perhaps the immortal words penned by Thomas Gray three hundred years ago will
act as testimony to such files.
" Nor you, ye Proud, impute to these the fault,
If Mem'ry o'er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fetted vault,
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.'
A poor copy is preferable to a non existent copy, in my opinion.
Len M
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 14:32:00 -0400
From: leemunsick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Frank Fay
Frank Fay was a long-time hit, and a huge favorite on Broadway with
"Harvey". It was said, as sometimes happens, that he truly made the role
his own.
When it was decided to film this hopping-good play about a 6' 3-1/2"
rabbit, the powers-that-be brought from the Broadway cast Josephine Hull,
Victoria Horne and Jesse White. All outstanding, award-winning character
actors.
A veteran of many film roles, Jesse White would become familiar many years
later as the bored washing machine service man in those unsoapy
commercials. He was succeeded in that role by Gordon Jump, who had lost
his job as manager of WKAP. I believe Jump today is still frittering away
time in the Maytag service room.
The makers of the 1950 "Harvey" did not bring on Frank Fay, then considered
to be the embodiment of Elwood P. Dowd. Perhaps because of the drinking
problem alluded to in an earlier posting.
Whatever the reason, there was a loud, tall hare and cry from playgoers,
whose ears became pink with rage at the idea of any un-Fay Dowd. Perhaps
the only critic not hopping onto that bandwagon was Harvey himself,
referred to in the play as a pookah. I'm not sure of that spelling, as I
do not have a long-eared Webster's handy.
But we ear that the generation of Fay fans is gone. Ask anyone who has
ever seen the film "Harvey". I dowd you'll find a soul that can imagine
any consort for Harvey other than Jimmy Stewart, who certainly made tracks
in the role which had now became his own.
Oddly, I don't recall theatre goers being hopping mad when author/star
Howard Lindsay did not reprise Father Day in the movie of his "Life With
Father".
This brings up a variation on the old canard. "Once I had one [removed]
look!" Two Dowds!
I shall part with a wiggle of my nose, and a fond "Lettuce leaf now".
Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 14:32:15 -0400
From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: re Don Rickles, announcer
Dick Fisher, providing info about The Whisperer, noted:
Announcer was Donald Rickles (25 min Sunday 5:00 - 5:30 PM NBC [removed]
Surely the announcer Donald Rickles is NOT the beloved Don Rickles of TV
fame (or is it).
No, he's not the same, but I'm glad to have him brought up - any of us
who might have watched NBC tv during the 1960s probably heard his
voice several times a week, and I hadn't thought of him in a long time.
Don, sometimes Donald, Rickles was an NBC staff announcer who
was very active at the same time that Don Rickles of standup fame
was reaching his peak - and they may well have worked on the same
shows. I can remember hearing DR the announcer give his name pretty
often, and it always got my attention.
I may be wrong about this, but I _think_ that Don Rickles' is the voice
you hear at the end of many 1950s-era NBC radio shows, giving the plug
"Three chimes mean good times on NBC!"
Here's his Variety obit, from the issue of Feb. 27, 1985 - a man of
no small achievement in his field:
"Donald N. Rickles, 57, staff announcer with NBC for nearly 35 years,
died Feb. 10 [1985] in Glendale, Calif., of a heart attack.
"Rickles began announcing at the age of 11 for KPBS, a Portland,
Ore., public school AM station station, and was the chief announcer
of his college radio station, KUSC-FM, the USC channel. At 15 he
was an announcer at KGW-KEX Portland and also worked in the same
capacity at KVAN Vancouver.
"He joined KIEV Glendale as an announcer in 1949, and in 1950 went
to NBC Radio in Hollywood as a staff announcer. Over the years with
NBC-TV he was announcer for many network programs such as 'The
Dean Martin Show,' 'Coke Time with Eddie Fisher,' 'The Tennessee
Ernie Ford Show,' 'Sanford and Son,' 'The Flip Wilson Show,' also
worked many shows with Bob Hope, and was on Johnny Carson's
'Tonight' show, doing sketches and voiceover work.
"Rickles at one time was a newscaster, the 11 [removed] anchorman for
KNBC. He was president of the Los Angeles chapter of AFTRA from
1976 to '77.
"He is survived by his wife, a daughter and grandson."
John Henley
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #168
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