------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 403
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Claude Rains Answer [ Robert Fells <rfells@[removed]; ]
JOHN Barrymore as Scrooge [ Robert Fells <rfells@[removed]; ]
1940's Radio Hour [ "Andolina, Joe" <Joe_Andolina@cable ]
12-22 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Tebaldi and Backus [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Richard Aurandt [ "Arthur Funk" <Art-Funk@[removed]; ]
Barrymore as Scrooge [ "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@earthli ]
Favorite Christmas Show [ RadioHour@[removed] ]
Rupert Holmes Article [ seandd@[removed] ]
The Whistler/ Dick Aurandt [ "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed]; ]
OTR/radio reference in Children's Bo [ Melanie Aultman <otrmelanie@[removed] ]
log on Lionel,s Christmas Carroll [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
Billie the Brownie [ "Mark E. Higgins" <paul_frees_fan@a ]
SPERDVAC convention [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ charlie@[removed] ]
Re: Barrymore as Scrooge [ Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed]; ]
More generational difference [ Clif Martin <martbart@[removed]; ]
Re: Favorite Christmas Shows on OTR [ Rich Zahradnik <rich@doverinternet. ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 13:00:51 -0500
From: Robert Fells <rfells@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Claude Rains Answer
The Claude Rains movie that Philip Railsback inquired about is called "The
Unsuspected," which in the film happens to be the name of a radio show that
the Claude Rains character hosts. The film was released around 1948 by
Warners and was directed by Michael ("Casablanca") Curtiz. It turns up on
Turner Classic Movies from time to time. Apparently influenced by the 1944
hit film, "Laura," Claude Rains seems to be playing a retread of the Clifton
Webb character ("Waldo Lydecker," love that name!) from the earlier film.
"The Unsuspected" is an elaborate but unsatisfactory mystery film. Were I a
pundit, I might be tempted to rename it, "The Unsuspenseful." However, when
it comes to Claude Rains, I think he's great just reading the phone book!
Bob Fells
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 13:02:21 -0500
From: Robert Fells <rfells@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: JOHN Barrymore as Scrooge
Since this is the holiday season, let me renew my ongoing quest for any
information on the 1936 broadcast of "A Christmas Carol" that starred
not Lionel, but his brother John Barrymore. Lionel had just begun the
tradition of playing Scrooge on radio in 1934 or '35. Sadly, shortly
before the December 1936 broadcast, Lionel's wife died. John hurriedly
substituted for his brother but as far as I have been able to determine,
no recording of this particular performance has survived.
If anyone has information, I would be grateful to you. Thanks.
Bob Fells
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 13:02:41 -0500
From: "Andolina, Joe" <Joe_Andolina@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 1940's Radio Hour
A bunch of years ago I saw a show at The Westbury Music Fair in Long Island;
a show with Don Wilson & Dennis Day. There was mention of The 1940's Radio
Show in this newsletter. I'm trying to remember if that was the name of that
show back then or not. Anybody else on this list get a chance to see the
show i'm talking about back when? If memory serves me correctly, I don't
think the show was too much b4 Don Wilson passed away.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 13:40:06 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 12-22 births/deaths
December 22nd births
12-22-1862 - Connie Mack - East Brookfield, MA - d. 2-8-1956
baseball manager: "The Shell Show"; "A Tribute to Lou Gehrig"
12-22-1885 - Deems Taylor - NYC - d. 7-3-1966
commentator: "Deems Taylor Music Series"; "Prudential Family Hour"; "RCA
Victor Show"
12-22-1901 - Andre Kostelanetz - St. Petersburg, Russia - d. 1-13-1980
conductor: "Chesterfield Hour"; "Light Up Time"; "Pause That Refreshes"
12-22-1907 - Dame Peggy Ashcroft - London, England - d. 6-14-1991
actress: BBC "Queen Victoria"
12-22-1911 - Bob Guilbert - WI - d. 10-19-1990
actor: Don Winslow "Don Winslow of the Navy"
12-22-1917 - Gene Rayburn - Christopher, IL (Raised: Chicago, IL) - d.
11-29-1999
announcer, comedian: "Rayburn and Finch"
12-22-1918 - Frankie Darro - Chicago, IL - d. 12-25-1976
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-22-1921 - Hawkshaw Hawkins - Huntingdon, WV - d. 3-5-1963
singer: "Country Style [removed]"; "Country Music Time"
12-22-1924 - Ruth Roman - Boston, MA - d. 9-9-1999
actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Hollywood Sound Stage"
December 22nd deaths
01-08-1911 - Butterfly McQueen - Tampa, FL - d. 12-22-1995
actress: Oriole "Beulah"; Butterfly "Jack Benny Program"
01-14-1904 - George McCoy - d. 12-22-1976
1930's broadcaster: (Pioneered the radio talk show)
02-15-1908 - William Janney - NYC - d. 12-22-1992
actor: Gary Haven "We are Always Young"; Howie Wing "Howie Wing"
03-25-1887 - Raymond Gram Swing - Cortland, NY - d. 12-22-1968
commentator: "Voice of America"
04-13-1906 - Samuel Beckett - Dublin, Ireland - d. 12-22-1989
writer: "All That Fall"
04-23-1931 - Tom Pettit - d. 12-22-1995
nbc reporter: "Meet the Press"
05-24-1902 - Wilbur Hatch - Mokena, IL - d. 12-22-1969
conductor: "Our Miss Brooks"; "Gateway to Hollywood"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
07-04-1912 - Virginia Graham - Chicago, IL - d. 12-22-1998
talk show host: "Cancer Can Be Cured"; "Weekday Theatre"
08-27-1901 - Al Ritz - Newark, NJ - d. 12-22-1965
comedian: (The Ritz Brothers) "Hollywood Hotel"
09-05-1902 - Darryl Zanuck - Wahoo, NE - d. 12-22-1979
film director: "Jack Benny Program"; "Hollywood Hotel"; "Triburte to Irving
Berlin"
09-05-1907 - Jimmy Wallington - Rochester, NY - d. 12-22-1972
announcer: "Chase & Sanborn Hour"; "Texaco Town/Star Theatre"; "Alan Young
Show"
12-17-1919 - Edward "Shrimp" Wragge - NYC - d. 12-22-1992
actor: "Gold Spot Pal"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 13:56:06 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Tebaldi and Backus
Though neither was a major presence in Olde Tyme Radio, Renata Tebaldi and
Henny Backus recently passed away. This is how is list them.
03-21-1911 - Henny Backus - Philadelphia, PA - d. 12-9-2004
actress: "Romance"
02-01-1922 - Renata Tebaldi - Pesaro, Italy - d. 12-19-2004
lyric soprano: "Bell Telephone Hour"; "Metropolitan Opera
Of interest, Henny Backus is the widow of Jim Backus.
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 13:56:25 -0500
From: "Arthur Funk" <Art-Funk@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Richard Aurandt
Sorry I can't answer Derek Tague's question of whether Dick Aurandt is
related to Paul Harvey but I can tell you that Richard Aurandt was the
composer (and usually conductor) of the theme and background music used for
most of the run of the Rocky Jordan program on the CBS west coast net in the
late 40s to early 50s.
Greetings of the season to all.
Art Funk
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 15:00:33 -0500
From: "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Barrymore as Scrooge
Lionel Barrymore was the obvious first choice to play Scrooge in MGM's
adaptation of "A Christmas Carol", however, he fell and broke his hip on the
set of "Saratoga", which had already been broken once before. In the films
he made in that 1937-1938 period he usually appears seated or on crutches.
Sadly, he was unable to fulfill the demands of the role of Scrooge, and,
reportedly, suggested Reginald Owen be cast in his stead. I always felt that
two of the great losses to film history were John Barrymore not preserving
his performance of "Hamlet" and Lionel Barrymore being physically unable to
play the role of "Scrooge" in "A Christmas Carol." Thank God for radio and
recordings as we modern listeners can still enjoy these great actors and
their matchless recital of Shakespeare's and Dickens' immortal words.
John Eccles, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 16:18:11 -0500
From: RadioHour@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Favorite Christmas Show
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My hands down favorite Christmas show is truth or Consequences. Been
listening to it for years now and it just wouldn't be Christmas without it.
Happy Holidays to all!
Greg
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------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 16:18:31 -0500
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Rupert Holmes Article
This is a good article on what OTR celebrity fan Rupert Holmes is up to these days. He mentions the possibility of the Remember WENN musical again.
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
[removed];Headline=Mystery+of+Rupert+Holmes.+.+.+
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 18:25:16 -0500
From: "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Whistler/ Dick Aurandt
Hi,
The Whistler episode entitled "Stand By for Murder" was re-created on the
Hollywood Egyptian Theatre's "stage" during RADIO GOES TO THE MOVIES in
2002. Matt Johnson's New Frequency did it wonderfully. Also, during that
weekend Barbara Watkins produced/directed 30 Minutes To Curtain re-creations
of Pat Novak For Hire and Supense-"Sorry Wrong Number". Sound effects
maven, Tony Polermo ended the three-day celebration (in which movies
followed the radio shows that they were based on) with a new "sequel" to the
"Maltese Falcon".
No, there was no "Pat Novak" movie, so they played "He Walked By
Night"(featuring Jack Webb).
It's generally agreed that Webb was inspired by this film to create Dragnet.
After the film, I was honored to host an interview with some of Jack's
co-wokers; Peggy Webber, Art Gilmore, Herm Saunders. Also on the panel was
Michael Hayde (Dragnet Fan #2, after me). What a weekend!!!
Derek (Ether-Man)Tague asks "who is Dick Aurandt?" Yes, he was related to
Paul Harvey(Aurandt), the famous ABC newscaster. Cousins, I believe.
Aurandt was a very busy organist/musician in Hollywood radio in the 40s &
50s. Maybe as busy as Rex Koury or Lud Gluskin! Many shows featured his
musical talents; Philip Marlowe, Voyage of Scarlet Queen are only 2 that
come to mind without doing research. Lotsa credits, I'm sure.
Bobb
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:17:02 -0500
From: Melanie Aultman <otrmelanie@[removed];
To: OTRDIGEST <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR/radio reference in Children's Books
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There is a brief mention of an old radio in the children's book _Miss Opal's
Auction_.
Susan Vizurraga, Henry Holt, 2002 illustrated by Mark Graham
Abstract: As the contents of Miss Opal's house are auctioned off before she
moves to a retirement home, Annie recalls all the things they did together,
from baking cookies and making ice cream to listening to ball games on her
old radio.
"...Next the auctioneer picked up the big radio with the wooden case that
Miss Opal listened to for gospel music and the morning farm report. On
Saturdays she'd let me tune in the baseball game,..."
Those familiar with [removed] Rey and Margret Rey of Curious George fame might be
interested in _Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World_. Houghton Mifflin,
2000 Though written in l937 when the Reys lived in Paris, it was published
posthumously in 2000.
Abstract: In search of new stories for his radio program (on WONS [snow
backwards]) Whiteblack the penguin sets out on a journey and has some
interesting adventures.
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------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 22:25:59 -0500
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: log on Lionel,s Christmas Carroll
Hi Everybody,
it would be fun if some one could put together a log on Lionel berrymore
appearances in the Christmas Carrols broadcast. It seems that he did some
on his own show Mayor of the
Town others as a special broadcast, or a guest shot on a normal series.
Take care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 07:44:01 -0500
From: "Mark E. Higgins" <paul_frees_fan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Billie the Brownie
Just a quick reminder that on Friday, Christmas Eve, members of the
Milwaukee Area Radio Enthusiasts ([removed]) will be presenting a live
reenactment of an episode of Billie the Brownie, using the original
script from November 27, 1932. The 15 minute program will be part of
Ron Krauss' show on WTKM, Hartford, WI, (1540 AM, [removed] FM, and
broadcast over the internet on [removed]), between 9:45 and Noon
([removed]). Ron's show will also feature clips from the original shows,
discussion of the history of Billie the Brownie, Mi-Tek the Eskimo, the
Schusters Christmas parade, etc, as well as listener call-in and
comment. It should be fun to relive a part of Milwaukee's Christmas
tradition from 1932 until 1955, and we invite everyone to tune in and
share it with us.
Mark Higgins
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 07:44:12 -0500
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: SPERDVAC convention
Hi,
Did ANYONE take any photos of my Horn Blows at Midnight recreation at the
Saturday night banquet? I don't have ANY. Please let me know if you can help
provide one/some.
Thanks,
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 07:44:33 -0500
From: charlie@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!
A weekly [removed]
For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio. We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over six years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!
Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!
For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 07:45:01 -0500
From: Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Barrymore as Scrooge
From: <adf3@[removed];
This may be slightly off topic, but I have always been curious as to why MGM
cast Reginald Owen as scrooge in their 1938 film version of "A Christmas
Carol" instead of Lionel Barrymore who was under contract to the studio.
Did Barrymore ever portray Scrooge on film or television?
Reginald Owen was also under contract to MGM--for some 16 years--and
may have simply been available when Barrymore was not.
Jordan R. Young
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 10:45:01 -0500
From: Clif Martin <martbart@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: More generational difference
How about some comments from both those who heard radio's "golden era" first
hand and fans who came along later. Seems to me that in the days before
hi-fi, stereo and digital sound came along, the story was the thing and music
and sound effx were just there to help the story along, not what we listened
for. I find some new time radio, such as the ZBS shows, irritating because
those brilliantly recorded, on location sounds jump out at me and actually
jar me out of the story reverie that I was in. It's a distraction from the
story rather than an enhancing of it for me. A lot like DVD movies where
the music and sound are so much louder than the dialogue that I'm cranking
the volume up and down. I'll bet our younger members, born into the
audiophile age, will say they love those movies and new time radio shows
precisely because of the great, speaker rattling sounds coming from all over
the room. We can't get into each other's world.
Clif Martin
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 11:25:08 -0500
From: Rich Zahradnik <rich@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Favorite Christmas Shows on OTR
I'd have to say that my favorite Christmas program was the "Amos and Andy"
episode where Andy worked as a department store Santa
Is it true that in this episode a girl asks Andy/Santa for a doll
her own color?
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #403
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