------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 387
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
(from Elmer) Herb Butterfield [ Elmer Standish <elmer_standish@telu ]
When Radio was Tapes [ Trinapreston3@[removed] ]
Radio Spirits [ Ivan G Shreve Jr <iscreve@[removed] ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Hans Conreid Book [ dltnkt@[removed] (Dennis/Nancy Town ]
DVD Recorders for OTR [ Tom Kleinschmidt <otr1962@[removed] ]
TV Land Salutes "Our Miss Brooks," " [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
Noisy reel to reel tapes [ "George Coppen*" <gacoppen@[removed] ]
Too much advertising [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
CHICAGO LEGEND [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
Ford Bond [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
The last years of "The Breakfast Clu [ "rcg" <revrcg@[removed]; ]
House of Mystery [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Research job for $$$ [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
MP3 PLAYERS [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
EVERETT SLOAN [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
Re: William Conrad GUNSMOKE alert! [ "Jan Willis" <jlwillis@[removed]; ]
Family Portrait with Harry Babbitt [ Ronald Staley <mrvintageradio@earth ]
Cisco Kid [ JJLjackson@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 20:48:36 -0400
From: Elmer Standish <elmer_standish@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: (from Elmer) Herb Butterfield
[removed]
I did a search on 'herb butterfield" [removed]
and came up with 54 hits. Whether any contain the inf
you want, I cannot say but it might be there.
Hope it helps a little, anyway.
===> ELMER
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 21:58:59 -0400
From: Trinapreston3@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: When Radio was Tapes
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Dan ask in the digest about placing in order with Radio Spirits for The radio
series "When Radio Was". I can relate to you on not receiving your order.
In March
I placed in order for "When Radio Was" and didn't receive it either I was
told just like
you that my order was "back order," so I waited a whole month hoping to
receive my
tape order, but I didn't get them. Then to top it off I was charged for
these tapes
I didn't receive. I contacted Radio Spirits customer service through the
e-mail and
they explained that "When Radio Was" is no longer available and that I wasn't
charged for this order. Remember I was charged. I was very upset and
disappointed
with them. I felt cheated and I haven't ordered nothing from them since. I
hope you
can straighten out your order situation with them and that you do not be
charge for
something your never did receive.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 22:18:08 -0400
From: Ivan G Shreve Jr <iscreve@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Mailing List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Radio Spirits
dantrigg422@[removed] spoke his piece:
...Radio Spirits is getting to me. I ordered 50 "When RadioWas" tapes on
7/1/02, paid for fast shipment, and have not received them yet. Then fool
that I am, I ordered the new "Bob Hope" set 9/24/02, and again paid for fast
shipment, and as yet have not received the tapes. When you call them the
only thing the know how to say is that they are back [removed] this an
anomaly, or is anyone else having this problem?"
I've had similar problems like this in the past, only with me it had to do
with an order I placed for some clearance sale items. I placed an order for
5 of their cassette sets (Aldrich Family, Archie Andrews, My Friend Irma,
Life With Luigi and Casey, Crime Photographer) and then received a post card
some 2 weeks later saying that none of those items were in stock. Common
sense told me that it was slightly improbable that EVERYTHING I ordered was
out-of-stock, so I called them and found out that sometimes when their
inventory reaches limited levels their computer will tell them there's no
more of that particular item in stock. The customer service person simply
placed the order again and I ended up getting everything except Archie.
(Sorry, Hal.)
I have found through experience that paying for faster shipment doesn't
guarantee faster shipment. I ordered the same Bob Hope set--only from
[removed] September 22 of this month, opted for the free shipping
and I've just received the set today. That might be an option you could
look into.
Ivan
--
"I know I'm [removed] as long as I make 'em laugh they're not gonna lock me
up." -- Red Skelton
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 09:25:37 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
From Those Were The Days --
1946 - Dennis Day started his own radio show on NBC. Dennis, a popular
tenor featured on The Jack Benny Show, played the same type naive young
bachelor he played on the Benny show. A Day in the Life of Dennis Day
aired for five years.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 09:25:49 -0400
From: dltnkt@[removed] (Dennis/Nancy Townsend)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hans Conreid Book
I just finished reading it and its great though a bit pricey. If someone
would like to obtain a copy of it more reasonably contact me off list.
Dennis
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 09:27:21 -0400
From: Tom Kleinschmidt <otr1962@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: DVD Recorders for OTR
Stephen Kallis wrote:
But to the OTR collector, they have one major
drawback: consumer-level DVD units can't record. One
of the features of a VCR that helped sell them was
that you could tape anything broadcast (or later,
cablecast) for later viewing. Note that the discussion
of using VCRs in OTR uses has been as a recording
device.
Actually consumer DVD Recorders are all over the place
now. Just visit your local Best Buy or Circuit City, I
think I even saw one at Sears! Pioneer, Phillips,
Samsung, and Panasonic all offer models priced under
$1,000, which while not cheap is about what VCRís went
for when they first came out. I seem to remember
paying about $950 back in 1979-1980 for a RCA VHS
machine. Hitachi even makes a Camcorder that is a DVD
Recorder. Iíve worked with both the Panasonic DMR-E20
and DMR-E30 DVD recorders. The DMR-E30 is the current
model and goes for around $699, but you can find it a
little lower online. I think the other brands are a
little higher priced. If anyone wants details about
the DVD recorders they can contact me off list.
To bring this back to OTR though, I think it was Fred
Berney who mentioned a few months ago that these
recorders might be perfect for OTR, being able to
record 6 hours of quality audio on one disc. Although
the slower speeds will provide a slightly lower
quality on the video(recording only every other frame
according to the manual), the audio is all recorded
the same. I have not used my recorder for this
purpose, but theoretically it could be done. Blank
discs average about $[removed]$[removed] each, but are slightly
less in bulk quantities. Prices on both the recorders
and blank media have dropped dramatically in just the
past 6 months. Iím sure they will continue to drop
further. Of course the negative is that there is no
portable alternative for this format, but for people
who mainly listen to OTR at home, this might be an
option as prices continue to make it more affordable.
Tom
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 09:45:09 -0400
From: Kubelski@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: TV Land Salutes "Our Miss Brooks," "Superman"
I just read in today's New York Daily News
([removed]) that this
week is the 50th anniversary of the television versions of "Our Miss Brooks,"
"Superman," "Ozzie and Harriet" and "This is Your Life." In observation, the
cable station TV Land will be re-running episodes four episodes of "Superman"
tomorrow night* beginning at 9:00 [removed] that should include recently departed
radio actor Jackie Kelk as Jimmy Olsen.
Sean Dougherty
Kubelski@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 11:05:50 -0400
From: "George Coppen*" <gacoppen@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Noisy reel to reel tapes
I purchased twenty nine (29) 7" reel to reel tapes from a gent and when I
tried to record on the tapes I discovered a loud and very annoying squeal.
I think I remember seeing a cure for this problem in the Digest some time
ago but I cant remember what it was. Would anyone that knows how to
eliminate this noise please e-mail me the cure.
Thanks
George
gacoppen@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 11:05:53 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Too much advertising
Today I flipped on my radio at home, something I rarely do, tuned to one
of the national talk services, and--as anticipated--a commercial was
blaring. On most occasions I immediately turn the radio off or tune to
another station. Today I kept it on and began to count the commercial
messages while waiting for the program to resume. I don't know how many
messages had preceded my tuning in but there were nine more before the
host returned, several of those ads lasting 30 or 60 seconds. Has
anybody in that industry ever thought "overkill"?
The host then took a telephone call which was fairly interesting. But I
kid you not. When the call ended in less than four minutes he departed
and a plethora of commercial messages resumed. I turned the radio off as
I have done hundreds of times before. That is, in fact, the number one
reason why I seldom turn it on at home any more.
My experience took me back to something Hill Blackett (partner in the
infamous Blackett-Sample-Hummert advertising agency) wrote in 1932: "The
interests of the advertiser sponsoring the program must, of necessity, be
identical with those of the person who is listening [removed] If an
advertiser is too greedy, and puts in too much commercial talk, it
redounds to his own [removed] It is our experience that people
are willing to listen to a 'commercial credit' for a period of 75 seconds
to a minute and a half, provided this commercial credit itself is
interesting."
Have people's attention spans increased in the last 70 years? I think
not. I'm not that old but I don't think mine has. That's why I don't
waste my time with programming I would otherwise enjoy. For me it's a
constant distraction and impedes going about other tasks rather than
providing the pleasant background (even when not giving it full
concentration) of decades gone by. I know the fortunes of radio today
are tied up in a few megacorporations that don't care about local
listeners. I never realized when a station's disk jockeys were killing
off network radio that the reverie was going to be about the best we
could hope for on commercial radio from then on (with the exception of
the dramatic comeback tries of the 1970s).
Individual listeners today simply don't matter to those profitable
enterprises. They bombard us with every ad they can sell. (Where's the
FCC when you need it?) Even though I'd enjoy some of those commercial
programs today, it's not worth the effort to keep turning the thing off
every few minutes.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 11:06:32 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: CHICAGO LEGEND
Did you know Phil Lord when you worked in Chicago radio?
Yes, he was legendary in Chicago -- lived at the old Croydon Hotel, a
short walk to the AFRA office, Wrigley Building and Trib Tower.
And what about my "Archie" Co-star. Jane Webb?
She did a lot of [removed]
Sandy
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 11:14:10 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ford Bond
We've been absorbed in the Weather Channel this week as I'm sure some of
you have, hoping our friends in the deep South fare well with Lili. I
have been intrigued by the fact that one of the weather authorities who
appears regularly is constantly introduced as "Dr. Lyons." I don't think
I had thought of those two words together since the staccato-voiced
announcer Ford Bond appeared on all those Hummert series (Manhattan
Merry-Go-Round, Backstage Wife, American Album of Familiar Music, Stella
Dallas, Waltz Time, Young Widder Brown, American Melody Hour, Lorenzo
Jones and so many more) extolling the virtues of Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder.
Oddly enough, there was also a Lyons Tooth Paste (without the good
doctor's name preceding it) in the vast stable of Sterling Drugs
healthcare commodities. Anyway, I couldn't listen to the weathercaster's
comments without thinking of Ford Bond (or, as Bob and Ray termed him,
Word Carr). I could still hear those commercials resonating in Bond's
distinctive delivery.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 13:21:17 -0400
From: "rcg" <revrcg@[removed];
To: "Otr Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The last years of "The Breakfast Club"
This morning I spent an hour or so reading through portions of John
Dunning's excellent OTR Encyclopedia. I found myself at the lower end of the
alphabet and read through the information concerning the Breakfast Club. It
was a lengthy and excellent write-up but, understandably, did not say
anything about the last years of the program. During the last four years of
the program I worked in the broadcast industry in Chicago, though not for
ABC, and I well remember those times.
Since the last broadcast of the show was in 1968, its' run far surpassed
what most of us consider to be the end of the OTR era. As such, it was,
often, treated like an annoyance that many ABC affils wished would simply go
away. I recall that for approximately the last 6 or 7 years of its' run, the
official title of the program was changed from the Breakfast club to "The
Don McNeill Show". This was done because most ABC affils that still carried
the program had relegated it to an afternoon or early evening time slot.
Morning air time had become too lucrative and revenue generating for
stations to air a network show that would severely limit said revenue. They
certainly can't be blamed for taking that action. I recall hearing the
program in one city at 5PM. Obviously the title of Breakfast Club was now
inappropriate. Of course, all of the programs' faithful, long standing
listeners still called it by its' original name.
In Chicago WLS, the ABC O&O, was top rated and making money hand over fist
by playing top 40 music and, like other O&Os, had received permission from
ABC to drop the show. The only outlets for the program in the very city
where it was broadcast from were a couple of low power suburban stations
that transmitted a weak, hard to receive, signal. I talked to several people
in Chicago who thought that the program was no longer being broadcast.
In some ways it was a sad ending to a program that always produced programs
of good quality and good taste. Yet, with the radically changing face of
radio, it was inevitable.
Gunner
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 15:49:25 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: House of Mystery
Does anyone know if there are any partial existing broadcast logs of HOUSE
OF MYSTERY? I recently returned from a libraryt hat had many scripts from
the series, with titles, airdates, episode numbers, cast, etc. so I figured
if there are any floating about, a partial log that is, I could add to it
(keeps from having two partial logs floating in circulation).
They can e-mail me direct.
martin
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 16:00:31 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Research job for $$$
I am looking for someone who has access to the Birmingham Public Library in
Alabama. They have something on microfilm I need, and I am willing to pay
anyone willing to go there and dig up the info - shouldn't take more than an
hour or two to copy the pages off microfilm. I'd be willing to pay copy
fees and extra for taking the time to do so. The library staff there is
giving a runaround and it's been three weeks now, and they are hesitant on
looking up what I need off microfilm because of "staffing issues" and the
fact that I am not a resident of Alabama.
Please contact me off the list - the researcher will get the opportunity to
see something rare and worthwhile - it won't be boring.
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 16:02:37 -0400
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: MP3 PLAYERS
Many thanks to a lot of folks who wrote me with info regarding their
experiences with mp3 players.
I wonder if anyone has any experience with this little gem I found on
line. Seems perfect for the traveler.
<A
HREF="[removed];iMainC
at=14&itemID=2775&iSubCat=366&iProductID=2775&sSearch=&itemType=PRODUCT">
Magellan's Travel Supplies</A>
Seems too good to be true so I wrote them and they assured me it would
play all bitrates or my money back.
Looks kind of cool too and I, like the idea of the external speakers and
the 'bass' control.
Lemme know.
Gwynne
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 16:15:16 -0400
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: EVERETT SLOAN
Dennis:
You are too kind. Including me in the list of actors who may have worked
with the great Everett Sloan.
I'm afraid he died before I was in the movie biz.
I was on radio then in Honolulu but I still recall the day he died
because I was at my mother and father's new home in Toronto.
I had been summoned back from the Islands due to her being hospitalized
and in ill health.
On the evening of August 6th, 1965, my father and I were awaiting the
news of Mom's battle with cancer. We were watching the 11 o'clock news when
the announcer reported the bulletin of the discovery that Everett Sloan,
depressed because he thought he was going blind, had committed suicide in
Beverly Hills.
My father said at that moment, "He was your mother's favorite actor." A
moment later the phone rang, it was the doctor. There was a long silence from
my Dad and I knew.
She had just passed too.
Oddly still, Mr. Sloan and I shared the same birthdays.
<A HREF="[removed],+Michael+C.">
Michael C. Gwynne</A>
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 16:57:35 -0400
From: "Jan Willis" <jlwillis@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: William Conrad GUNSMOKE alert!
Anthony Tollin wrote:
THE RIDE BACK is debuting on The Western Channel this month,
beginning thisThursday evening at 8pm EST, 7pm Central. It's a 1957 film
produced by and starring William Conrad <snip>
and this film is as close as we'll ever get to seeing William Conrad
portraying Matt Dillon onscreen. It should be interesting.
Thanks for mentioning this.
It IS, indeed, an interesting movie! With some unexpected moments, for
people who might think it's going to be a typical Western.
I've always thought THE RIDE BACK's deserving of a major rediscovery, as
it's one of the best character-driven Westerns of its era.
Although his lawman here, Chris Hamish, is a different man from Matt
Dillon, with different abilities, Conrad brings the s-a-m-e intensity and
depth to this role as he did to Dillon on the radio.
Fine writing by Ellis, nice camerawork by Joseph Biroc, too.
Seeing it for the first time, years ago, reminded me that Conrad had the
acting qualities that made him the only real Matt Dillon there is, for my
money, on radio or television.
(Seeing him onscreen, from 1957, also made me feel that Conrad,
physically, would've been just f-i-n-e as TV's Dillon.)
Anyone who can't catch it tonight should take advantage of one of its
encores this month, at:
[removed]
Y'know, I've got it on tape already (from one of its rare
once-every-other-year airings on TCM), yet I'll be there tonight watching
it, just for the thrill of seeing William Conrad saddling up in prime time.
I suspect that joining the Westerns Channel rotation is the biggest national
exposure the film's received since its release.
Jan Willis
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 16:58:03 -0400
From: Ronald Staley <mrvintageradio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Family Portrait with Harry Babbitt
I have been looking for the morning show Family Portrait with Harry
Babbitt from 1951/52. The reason:
I know Colgate Palmolive Peate Company sponsored the show, and there is a
singing commercial for Veto Spray Deodorant on there.
I have been looking strictly for singing colgate spots for years. Anyone
got any to talk about.
Write privately or online, your choosing.
I am glad to be back on the list, at least for now.
I will have a lot to say in up and coming; some agreeable, some not so--but
I speak from experience.
Ron staley, mrvintageradio@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 16:58:17 -0400
From: JJLjackson@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cisco Kid
I'm sure that a number of people know this off the top of the head. I've been
wandering through Internetland searching for the answer.
Surely the Cisco Kid had a real name. When he introduced himself to
senoritas, did say he was The Cisco Kid? Or is he really Francisco de la vega
[removed]
And how did he get the name to begin with?
Joy Jackson
Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #387
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