------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 227
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Godfrey's DC-3 and more [ Lee Munsick <leemunsick@[removed] ]
The Big Clock (1948) [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
re: Programs I Just Don't Get [ "Michael J. Laurino" <mlaurino@[removed] ]
This week in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Re: Gunsmoke questions [ "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@worldn ]
Re: gusmoke questions [ Grams46@[removed] ]
[Approved: ostiei6ifte]Re: gusmoke q [ Grams46@[removed] ]
Re: Gunsmoke Questions (#226) [ "Dennis Mansker" <dennis@[removed] ]
7-11 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Presidential Inaugurals Revisited [ historyvids@[removed] ]
Mr. and Mrs. Cugat questions [ "Bob Watson" <crw934@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:06:47 -0400
From: Lee Munsick <leemunsick@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Godfrey's DC-3 and more
Jodie Peeler asked about Arthur Godfrey's famous Douglas DC-3, which was
indeed tail-numbered N1M. It was presented to him by Eddie Rickenbacker and
Eastern Air Lines, on behalf of a grateful American aviation industry, all
aspects of which Mr. Godfrey promoted for decades. The interior was redone
into arguably the first "Executive Aircraft" with comfortable upholstered
seating, a TV set, and every new aviation electronic and safety device that
came out. These were usually supplied to Captain Godfrey by the avionics
manufacturers, eager for him to try out and discuss. Over the years, he had
perhaps a dozen aircraft. From the time of the DC-3, all had tail numbers
N-something-M. Basically, N1M was on large aircraft, like the Convair which
succeeded the DC-3, up to the G-2, his last large plane, which was often
leased out to other concerns. Rumor has it that that one such concern was
the CIA. For obvious reasons, I can't confirm that. Another number was on
his smaller aircraft, and yet another on his helicopter.
The Arthur Godfrey Memorial Foundation, Inc. did in fact acquire ownership of
what was left of the DC-3, which was basically a stripped fuselage. The idea
originally was to restore it to airworthiness, but that plan was abandoned
when the enormity of cost involved was [removed] would have run into
millions of dollars to make it airworthy and then operate it. The idea then
was to make it into a sort of traveling (on the ground) fund-raiser where it
could be rolled up to Blood Banks and people would receive certificates for
donating blood on Arthur Godfrey's DC-3, or to help publicize events to
conquer Cancer, etc. It was also hoped to acquire one of the Godfrey family
homes in Hasbrouck Heights in New Jersey, where Arthur and his four siblings
spent their childhood. The idea was to use the home as a Godfrey family
museum, and headquarters for the Foundation.
Hasbrouck Heights is just up the hill from Teterboro Airport, which Mr.
Godfrey made famous as the northern terminus of his weekly commutes from NYC
to Leesburg, Virginia. Leesburg Municipal Airport near that suburban
Washington county seat of Loudoun County is called Arthur Godfrey Field, as
pilot and philanthropist Godfrey made it possible for the town to gain the
space for its new location.
Plans for the Godfrey Foundation were also to create an ambitious program to
raise awareness and funds to help the public in understanding any kind of
disabilities, mostly through publicity, at which Mr. Godfrey was so good.
The group lobbied the Postal Service for a commemorative stamp honoring him,
perhaps as part of a set with other broadcast notables like Edward R. Murrow
and William Paley. The committee that decides such things apparently was not
interested, as all that came of that attempt backed with thousands of names
on petitions, was a postcard saying that the request had been received.
Mr. Godfrey enthused and spoke about many valuable undertakings/ It was not
generally known that he himself was severely disabled, due to a horrendous
head-on motor vehicle crash in 1931. He had difficulty walking, was in pain
nearly always, suffered headaches, and later in life a hip replacement
operation to overcome problems from the car crash proved unsuccessful. He
contracted lung cancer, and had one removed. Another cancer on his aorta was
deemed inoperable, but apparently just went away! He lived for two more
decades, and finally succumbed just short of age 80 not to cancer, but to
emphysema.
While he lived, he defied his physicians and continued to fly, loved
horseback riding, learned, promoted and exhibited Dressage ("High School
Riding"), entertained our troops in Korea and Viet Nam (totally without any
publicity), took up to ice skating, enjoyed his own sailing ship, worked on
his active Virginia farm (very much like Ronald Reagan), flew just about
every aircraft in the arsenals of both the [removed] Navy and Air Force, and
capped his varied military career as full "bird" Colonel Arthur M. Godfrey
[removed] Retired, having previously reached the rank of full Commander in the
[removed] Navy Reserve.
He was a friend of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt who personally ordered
Mr. Godfrey's reserve Naval commission, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, who for a
while wanted Mr. Godfrey to become part of his administration. Godfrey's
friend "General Ike" decided instead to leave him where he was on the air
every weekday, where he provided a wonderful forum for ideas good for the
country. General Curtis Lemay told me in an extensive interview for my book,
"If it hadn't been for Arthur Godfrey, there would have been no Strategic Air
Command"!
All this shows that probably due to his several brushes with death, Mr.
Godfrey lived each day to the hilt, and encouraged his huge enthusiasm for
many things, which he shared with his devoted audience. With such parameters
in his personal condition, it's not surprising he had down days along with
the up ones. These in part caused unfortunate activities which the media
began to publicize, calling him a mean tempered, vitriolic, nasty old man
wrecking the lives of the cast members on his show.
At the very least, that picture is hugely exaggerated, in many cases the
result of outright lies. He was not a heavy drinker (his strange rolling
gait caused by the hip problems caused reporters to say he was drunk). He
was not an anti-Semite. How could he possibly have been, in the industry in
which he was a major part, owned and controlled almost entirely by Jewish
persons? Many of the personnel on both sides of the microphones and cameras
on his shows were Jewish.
He did not fire Julius LaRosa. Julie begged for months to be released from
his contract, which Mr. Godfrey finally and reluctantly did, spending the
quarter-hour final segment of his morning show lauding the young singer.
Alas, LaRosa had hired an unscrupulous agent who promptly called a news
conference and depicted Mr. Godfrey as this nasty old millionaire picking on
this poor w'il kid. All lies.
But back to the intended use of the DC-3, Jodie. The blood certificates
would be similar to the ones Mr. Godfrey signed along with the head of the
American Red Cross, and gave to his donating listeneers in the 1940s, through
his organization "GAPSALS" - the "Give A Pint Save A Life Society". Over
many years, the Red Cross would appeal to Mr. Godfrey when blood supplies
became low, especially right after WWII when there were many new uses for
blood, but patriotic Americans figured the war was over and so stopped
donating. Whenever Mr. Godfrey broadcast an appeal (often by himself
donating on the air, both radio and TV), blood donations skyrocketed to the
point where the Red Cross had to ask him to stop for a while, as they
couldn't handle the influx! After some period, the cycle would start over
again.
I'm sure it is not known how many pints of blood were thus received. He got
me started, and because I forgot often, I regret that I missed opportunities,
but still over the years squeezed out about 200 pints. I'm sure there were
many others who topped that. This is undoubtedly impossible fully to gauge,
as not all donors would identify their motivation. But it could well have
been in the millions of donations over the years, certainly hundreds of
thousands. Consider that at the peak of his popularity in the early and mid
1950s, Mr. Godfrey's audience was said to be 80 million fans. This was day
after day. Generally, the only broadcasts in that league even today are
things like international soccer matches and the like, and those are
worldwide broadcasts. Mr. Godfrey's, by the way, were truly international,
as his programs were carried in Canada as well as around the world on the
AFRS. But the 80 million ratings referred to the [removed]
For a number of reasons not directly related to its mission, the organizers
of the Godfrey Foundation had difficulty firing up and maintaining momentum.
The plans for the aircraft and for Hasbrouck Heights were put on hold. The
two major instigators for personal reasons moved away from the metropolitan
New York and Washington areas where they lived. Then 9-11 slammed even the
largest charitable and research drives, so it wasn't a good time to create a
new appeal. While their interest continues, it's feared that their plans
will not come to fruition, certainly not on the scale they hoped. Time, as
many of us may recall, marches on. The numbers of those who personally
remember Arthur Godfrey diminish daily, just like the World War Two veterans
included in their midst.
Thanks, Jodie Peeler, for remembering, and giving me this opportunity to
share with you and other readers here.
Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:00:02 -0400
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Big Clock (1948)
Sometime back, a faithful Digest-er mentioned that the trailer for the 1948
noir The Big Clock (starring Ray Milland and Charles Laughton) tied "radio's
outstanding theater of thrills" ([removed] Suspense) in with the picture.
Universal has just released Clock on DVD and the disc contains this trailer,
which showcases producer-director Anton M. Leader alongside star Milland.
Oh, and the movie's pretty good, too.
Ivan
----
OTR Ramblings and Musings at Thrilling Days of Yesteryear:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:05:02 -0400
From: "Michael J. Laurino" <mlaurino@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: re: Programs I Just Don't Get
evantorch kvetched about six programs, including:
1) Abbot and Costello-- a thousand redundant variations of What's On
First?
No, What's on second; Who's on first.
(Obviously, the thousand times you've heard it weren't enough!)
5)The Third Man---what a tragedy; Orson Welles in a broadcast with super
canned sound effects, contrived endings from nowhere and none of the Harry
Lime villainy.
But it does: The whole program is Harry's villainy -- Remember (as those
of you know who saw the movie 'The Third Man'), that Harry Lime liked to
make up stories in which he was the hero. Now, who narrates the stories on
the series? And are you foolish enough to believe what he tells you?
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:05:11 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history
From Those Were The Days --
7/11
1944 - The Man Called X, starring Herbert Marshall, debuted on CBS.
7/12
1934 - The first appointments to the newly created Federal
Communications Commission were made. The governing body of the American
broadcasting industry was first served by seven men named as commissioners.
1946 - The Adventures of Sam Spade was heard on ABC for the first time.
7/14
1957 - Funnyman Stan Freberg debuted a new weekly comedy program on CBS
beginning this night. The Freberg show only lasted a short time and that
newfangled contraption, television, was blamed for the show's quick demise.
7/16
1934 - NBC Red network premiered the musical drama, Dreams Come True. It
was a show about baritone singer Barry McKinley and his novelist
sweetheart.
Joe
--
Visit my home page: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:06:00 -0400
From: "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Gunsmoke questions
Pardon my skepticism, but are we dealing
with a little revisionism here?
No Deric, We Are Not dealing with a little revisionism here.
In some cases, collectors did not record commercials. In this way they
could get more shows on a reel of tape. Here is additional information on
the sponsorship of GUNSMOKE.
SPONSORSHIP
1. In the Gunsmoke series, can anybody tell me if there was a sponsor
from the beginning of the series. The MP3 disk I have doesn't have any
for at least the first 50 eps. This seems strange. I thought Post Corn
Flakes and L&M cigarettes sponsored the program.
GUNSMOKE was sustaining (unsponsored) until episode 31 (episode title-
Fingered 11/21/1952) which had commercials for Plymouth.
It was sustaining from episode 32 (episode title - Kitty 11/29/1952)
until episode 76 (episode title - Kitty How To Kill A Friend 10/03/1953)
when Post Cereals started a 13 week period of sponsorship which lasted
through episode 88 (episode title - The Guitar 12/26/1953.)
It was sustaining again until episode 116 (episode title - Hack Prine
07/05/1954) when Liggett and Myers (L&M, Chesterfield) took over sponsorship
which lasted until episode 246 (episode title - Beeker's Barn 12/23/1956.)
After Liggett and Myers pulled their advertising, GUNSMOKE was
sustaining again for a few months until it picked up multiple sponsors each
episode in the summer of 1957. As many of the surviving episodes are from
Armed Forces Radio and Television Broadcasts (which had commercials replace
with Public Service announcements) for the Spring and Summer of 1957, it is
hard to pin down an exact date when sponsorship was resumed. GUNSMOKE was
basically under sponsorship from that time for the remainder of its run.
KITTY'S EMPLOYMENT
2. In the Gunsmoke series, where did Miss Kitty Russel work? In one
episode, I have her at the Texas Trail. In another, she works at the
Alfraganza, and most eps have her being part owner of the Long Branch.
Not sure if she held a job at the Long Horn.
Kitty was employed at various Dodge saloon,
She first worked at the Texas Trail.
In episode 134 (episode title - Smoking Out The Beedles 11/06/1954)
Kitty is now working at the Alafraganza. She mentions she got tired of the
Texas Trail.
In episode 137 (episode title - Cooter 11/27/1954) Kitty is at the
Long Branch. Kitty mentions that she plans on staying at the Long Branch
"for a while."
In episode 218 (episode title - Daddy-O 06/10/1956) Kitty has just
bought a half-interest in the Long Branch. When this script was re-used for
a new production, episode 462 (episode title - Daddy-O 02/12/1961) Kitty
is the sole owner of the Long Branch.
Signing off for now,
Stewart
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:07:09 -0400
From: Grams46@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: gusmoke questions
vigor16@[removed] writes:
The law has been on the run from revisionists since the trashed 1968
Chicago convention which liberals hold up as a great moment in history.
this is not the place for criticism of liberals or conservatives or mugwumps.
peace from kathy
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:06:33 -0400
From: Grams46@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: [Approved: ostiei6ifte]Re: gusmoke questions
1968 Chicago convention which liberals hold up as a
great moment in history.
this is not the place for criticism of liberals or conservatives or mugwumps.
peace from kathy
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 17:00:24 -0400
From: "Dennis Mansker" <dennis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Gunsmoke Questions (#226)
vigor16@[removed]:
The law has been on the run from revisionists since the
trashed 1968 Chicago convention which liberals hold up as a great moment in
history.
This does not seem to me to be an appropriate comment for this list. There
are plenty of other political/history/etc. lists and newsgroups that you
could post this to, but I think that it is especially important in this
already-polarized election year that we all play it close to the vest and
try to refrain from this kind of thing. I've seen other lists get destroyed
by exactly the kind of infighting that comments like this can create.
Just my two cents, anyway.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 17:00:32 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 7-11 births/deaths
July 11th births
07-11-1888 - Dr. Lyman Bryson - Valentine, NE - d. 11-24-1959
moderator: "American School of the Air"; "Invitation to Learning"; "People's
Platform"
07-11-1892 - Thomas Mitchell - Elizabeth, NJ - d. 12-17-1962
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Cavalcade of America"
07-11-1906 - Harry Von Zell - Indianapolis, IN - d. 11-21-1981
actor, announcer: Bill Smith "Smiths of Hollywood"; "Burns and Allen"
07-11-1914 - Tommy Bartlett - Milwaukee, WI - d. 9-6-1998
emcee: "Welcome Travlers"
07-11-1922 - Bernard Punsly - NYC - d. 1-20-2004
actor: (The Dead End Kids) "Texaco Star Playhouse"
07-11-1922 - Gene Evans - Holbrook, AZ
actor: "Family Theatre"
July 11th deaths
01-18-1899 - Lucille Wall - Chicago, IL - d. 7-11-1986
actress: Portia Blake "Portia Faces Life"; Belle Jones "Lorenzo Jones"
05-22-1907 - Lord Laurence Olivier - Dorking, England - d. 7-11-1989
actor: "Biography in Sound"; "Document A/777"; "Hour of Mystery"
06-12-1893 - Evelyn Varden - Adair Oklahoma Territory - d. 7-11-1958
actress: Dorothy Stewart "This is Nora Drake"; Mother Malone "Young Dr. Malone"
09-26-1898 - George Gershwin - Brooklyn, NY - d. 7-11-1937
pianist, composer: "Music by Gershwin"
09-27-1918 - James McCallion - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 7-11-1991
actor: Stephen Dallas "Stella Dallas"; Sydney Lawrence "One Man's Family"
12-10-1889 - Ray Collins - Sacramento, CA - d. 7-11-1965
actor: Doc Will Hackett, "County Seat"; member of The Mercury Theatre
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 01:30:22 -0400
From: historyvids@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Presidential Inaugurals Revisited
Thanks to all of you for your replies about the 1925 & 1929 Inaugural
addresses, I appreciate the information.
Now I know this part of my query is a bit off-topic for this list but I
have a similar question that sort of ties in, and I'm hoping one of our
resident broadcast historians can help me out.
I'm aware that the 1949 Inaugural was the first one to be televised, but
what was the first actual inauguration ceremony to be televised in
COLOR? I know NBC holds the claim to fame for televising the 1961
Inaugural Parade in color, but no mention is made of the Inaugural being in
color before that, or in that year.
Specifically, does anybody know when the first inaugural was televised by
CBS in color? Was it 1961, 1965 or earlier/later?
Feel free to direct replies to me individually.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 11:43:31 -0400
From: "Bob Watson" <crw934@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Mr. and Mrs. Cugat questions
I was browsing around the RadioGoldindex and came across a This is My Best
broadcast from Dec. 4, 1945 titled "Happily Ever After" which is described
in the listing as a forerunner of "My Favorite Husband", only without
Lucille Ball. This version apparently started Robert Young and Louise
Allbritton. I seem to remember somewhere hearing yet another version of
"Mr. and Mrs. Cugat", this one starring, I think, either Constance Bennett
or her sister, Joan Bennett. Is my memory playing tricks on me?? If not,
when was this other version broadcast?? And how many versions of the story
were broadcast before it was purchased as a vehicle for Lucille Ball??
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #227
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