------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 350
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
This week in radio history 12-19 Nov [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
"The Original Amos 'n' Andy" [ "David Ballarotto" <balla@earthlink ]
Sponsorship [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
Hercule Poirot [ Art Chimes <[removed]@[removed] ]
Huttons -Oops [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
Benny stamp makes the papers [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
Lord of the Rings (on Radio?) [ "Barnett, Tom L" <[removed]@acs ]
NBC Chimes Museum = = [ RBB <oldradio@[removed]; ]
The year of two Thanksgivings [ Richard Carpenter <newsduck@[removed] ]
Jack Carson - no respect [ Rutledge Mann <cliff_marsland@yahoo ]
11-13 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
XM causes a search [ Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@earthlin ]
Hercule Poirot on OTR [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:44:15 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 12-19 November
From Those Were The Days --
11/14
1921 - KYW radio, Chicago, IL broadcast the first opera by a
professional company. Listeners heard Samson Et Dalila as it was being
performed at the Chicago Auditorium.
(From Today in History at the NY Times -- In 1922, the British
Broadcasting Corp. began its domestic radio service.)
11/15
1926 - Network radio was born. Twenty-four stations carried the first
broadcast from the National Broadcasting Company. The program was a gala
4 1/2-hour broadcast from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
11/18
1307 - The story of William Tell shooting the apple off of his young
son's noggin is said to have taken place on this day.
(If it hadn't been for Tell there would have been no opera, if there had
been no opera there would have been no overture, if there had been no
overture the Lone Ranger wouldn't have had the theme music we know. <g>
--ed)
Joe (that's a joke son, I say that's a joke).
--
Visit my home page: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:44:59 -0500
From: "David Ballarotto" <balla@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "The Original Amos 'n' Andy"
I just finished reading Elizabeth McLeod's book and want to echo what
others here who've read it have said, and highly recommend it to anyone
thinking about getting it for themselves or an OTR fan for the upcoming
holiday season. Since we only know of a few surviving episodes of the
serial version of the show, it was very informative to read more about the
show in its now less-familiar form, and to read the script excerpts which
are used quite heavily to give the reader a look at the show as it relates
to its criticisms and controversies over the years. While the focus is on
the serial, the parts about the later sitcom format are fair and balanced,
too. The shift in the spirt of the characters is explained quite well and
put into context with the other shows on the air at the time. Maybe that
explains why I personally feel the show was particularly well done during
the Rexall years. The Pittsburgh Courier's attempted boycott is also
looked at in fresh new detail and again puts into context the boycott and
the publisher's motives.
I also like the fact that she doesn't take a pot-shot at "The Amos 'n'
Andy Music Hall," which is often derided as something beneath Gosden and
Correll. The few shows in circulation seem to show not only an interesting
attempt to keep the franchise alive during a time when radio was changing
(not to mention giving Amos a larger role again), but also take Gosden and
Correll back to a setting where they seemed more comfortable: alone in a
studio.
The appendix at the back of the book looking at the show's ratings over
the years and putting the numbers in context is also especially valuable if
you want to know when the show had its largest audiences.
If the debate over which books are indispensable ever ignites again on this
list, this book and Melvin Ely's "The Adventures of Amos 'n' Andy" should
be on the list if you want a good look at a chapter of broadcasting history
that is clouded by controversy.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:45:33 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Sponsorship
The scholarly Elizabeth McLeod, responding to the question about
sponsorship, quoted the NBC & CBS ad revenues, classified for industry in
1940,
1. Foods/Beverages ----------$21,156,602
2. Drugs/Toiletries -------- $18,459,526
3. Tobacco Products --------- $8,256,260
4. Soaps/Household Products - $7,568,395
5. Automotive --------------- $3,903,597
6. Petroleum Products ------- $2,977,443
Whereas Jim Cox notes,
Well, if you really wanna know ... did ya ever
hear of "cigarette operas," "cereal operas,"
"automobile operas," "food and bread operas," or
"pharmaceutical operas"? I really don't think so!
Actually, "Soap Operas" are a special case, aimed at women -- housewives
-- doing domestic chores, most involving saponified products -- washing
clothes, dishes, and dirty surfaces. And the genre has transferred to
television, though shortened to "the soaps."
Interestingly enough, a short-lived soap opera, Sweet River, starred Ed
Prentiss, who played Captain Midnight for most of its 11-year run.
Nobody was immune.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:49:03 -0500
From: Art Chimes <[removed]@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hercule Poirot
MJ's son (digest 349) wants to know if the adventures of Agatha Christie's
creation Hercule Poirot have been dramatized (or dramatised) for radio.
The BBC broadcast a number of Poirot stories, mostly as short-run series, on
Radio 4 beginning with The Mystery of the Blue Train (6 parts starting Dec.
1985 )and ending with Taken at the Flood (5 parts ending Nov. 2003). This
according to a published online log
([removed]).
Some of these were apparently released commercially by the BBC, format and
current availability unknown. I believe some may have been recently
rebroadcast on BBC Radio 7 ([removed]).
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:49:27 -0500
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Huttons -Oops
Well, my face is a bit red from confusing Betty Hutton with Barbara Hutton.
I'm a bit more familiar with 1940s actresses than with 1940s heiresses. But
then, in 60 years I wonder how many people will be able to identify Paris
Hilton? Thanks to all who set me straight.
And, while I'm here, thanks to whoever pointed out the Edison recordings
page here a week or so ago. I've just been listening to an episode of "Seth
Parker", Philip H. Lord's first series, from 1929. This and the other
rarities from the late 1920s are available at
[removed]
This stuff has much greater historic value than entertainment value, but its
fascinating nonetheless.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:49:39 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Benny stamp makes the papers
Hi folks,
I'm happy to say that the Benny stamp campaign is starting to generate some
media publicity. Don't forget to come to [removed] and sign the
petition, and find out other ways you can support the effort!
[removed]
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:50:08 -0500
From: "Barnett, Tom L" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Lord of the Rings (on Radio?)
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
I have just finished watching all three movies comprising the LOTR Triliogy
(DVDn with extra scenes of course) First, I am struck once again with what a
fablulous movie it is. Knowing that it was inspired by the World War I was
wondering if this ambitious tome had ever been attempted on radio.
Then I noticed the character of Aragorn from LOTR in Ron S.'s most recent
list.
Did LOTR ever become an OTR or newer radio series?
Ciao
- -------------------------
Tom Barnett, PMP
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 23:49:38 -0500
From: RBB <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: NBC Chimes Museum = =
Congratulations to Michael Shoshani for the new website, The NBC Chimes
Museum - what a terrific presentation of information!! An
excellent body of work with contributors this list would recognize.
Kudos all!!
When I was an NBC Page at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago in the late
1960's, they had a set of chimes in one of the announcing booths. I used
to set up the announcer's cue book pages, one day I asked Tom Mercein
when he entered the booth to give the station ID ("This is WMAQ in
Chicago"), or the system cue ("NBC Chicago") why the manual chimes were
still there. He replied "they were for the announcers to play a little
tune waiting for the program to end!" Then he returned to the
announcer's lounge to wait for the next station break.
I would watch the staff announcers pace themselves from the announcer's
lounge to the announce booth on the other side of the
19th floor. Some would stride casually, (Mercein and Gregg Donovan),
one might be reading a script (George Stone), others often hummed (Gus
Chan, a Latin-jazz melody, of course, he did an afternoon jazz show
called "Rio Rhythms") as they walked through the lobby past the elevators.
Rich Samuels has a chime story to trick an announcer on his website
about NBC and The Merchandise Mart studios:
[removed]
"Norman Ross Sr <wls/1941[removed];. gets credit for the most
creative trick, played upon Bill Kephart in the early 1930's before NBC
had implemented the mechanical chimes. In those days, announcers played
the chimes manually. Each studio was supplied with a small device
consisting of three small metal bars mounted in close proximity to three
resonators. When it came time to identify the network, the announcer
would hold the assemblage near the microphone, say "This is the National
Broadcasting Company" and then serially strike each of the bars with the
tip of a small, hard mallet. If all went well, the listener would hear
the familiar notes G-E-C that audibly signified NBC. On one occasion,
however, announcer Ross secretly "prepared" the chimes announcer Kephart
was about to sound by removing the bolts that held the three metal bars
to their mounting. Moments later, in anticipation of a network
identification, Kephart picked up the chimes. The metal bars fell to the
studio floor with a clatter heard from coast to coast. Presumably there
was no graceful recovery from this mishap." Thanks, Rich.
=Russ Butler oldradio@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 23:50:04 -0500
From: Richard Carpenter <newsduck@[removed];
To: Old Radio <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The year of two Thanksgivings
Listening to old time radio can be educational. The
other night I was listening to a 1939 Jack Benny show,
during which there were several mentions that there
would be two Thanksgivings that year. An Internet
search informed me that the reason was because
President Roosevelt had, by proclamation, changed the
date of Thanksgiving from the last Thursday of the
month to the fourth Thursday. This did not sit well
with some states because President Lincoln had begun
the tradition of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday; as
a result, some people held steadfast to that date.
I myself am celebrating two Thanksgivngs this year
because I was in Canada on Oct. 12, the date Canadians
celebrate Thanksgiving. One turkey dinner down and one
to go!
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 01:57:59 -0500
From: Rutledge Mann <cliff_marsland@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jack Carson - no respect
I was doing a transcription of Jack Carson AFRS, which
I had gotten from Australia, which isn't funny in
itself, but the note on the sleeve (an Australian had
written back then) said "of doubtful entertainment
value." Ouch! It wasn't all that great, but it was
bearable.
It brings to mind that this is one of many shows that
seems to get ignored. Alan Young is another, but it's
actually pretty good. Jack Kirkwood's in the same
overlooked boat too.
The disc had a warp (which was noted back in '44 on
the sleeve,) which makes the first part of track 2
impossible to track right even with a GE VR-I. The
warp was barely even noticeable to the eye, yet even
the heaviest cartridge wouldn't stay on, even with
coaxing.
Speaking of obscure shows, I dug up my master reel of
a presently uncirculated Green Hornet (Serve IN
Silence (part 1 only). And a short program "The
Lion's Roar with Col. Stoopnagle. Good thing I found
it as the glass disc is very thin and cracked and I
didn't want to have to take another dub off it. I'll
post them on
[removed] (usenet)
when I dub them. Since most of the Hornets exist,
there's probably a cleaner copy in existence, when and
if they come into circulation one day.
Trav
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 11:07:40 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 11-13 births/deaths
November 13th births
11-13-1850 - Robert Louis Stevenson - Edinburgh, Scotland - d. 12-3-1894
author: "Mercury Theatre of the Air"; "This Is My Best"
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"
11-13-1913 - Helen Mack - Rock Island, IL - d. 8-13-1986
producer, director: "Beulah Show"; "Affairs of Ann Scotland"
11-13-1917 - Robert Sterling - Newcastle, PA
actor: Michael Shayne "Michael Shayne"
11-13-1932 - Richard Mulligan - New York, NY - d. 9-26-2000
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
November 13th deaths
03-03-1924 - Barbara Jean Wong - Los Angeles, CA - d. 11-13-1999
actress: Judy Barton "Cinnamon Bear"
04-09-1906 - Antal Dorati - Budapest, Austria-Hungary - d. 11-13-1988
conductor"; "CBS Symphony Orchestra"
04-14-1917 - Valerie Hobson - Larne, Ireland - d. 11-13-1998
actress: Guest Contestant "One Minute Please"
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"
06-13-1903 - Jack Fulton - Philipsburg, PA - d. 11-13-1993
singer: "Ben Bernie, The Old Maestro"; "The Kraft Music Hall"
06-29-1893 - Alma Kitchell - Superior, WI - d. 11-13-1996
singer, commentator: "Melody Hour"; "Brief Case/Streamline Journal"
07-25-1901 - Lila Lee - Union Hill, NJ - d. 11-13-1973
actress: "Fleischman's Yeast Hour"
09-15-1908 - Penny Singleton - Phildelphia, PA - d. 11-13-2003
actress: Blondie Bumstead "Blondie" Penny Williamson "Penny Singleton Show"
10-08-1904 - Wally Brown - Malden, MA - d. 11-13-1961
actor: "The Jack Kirkwood Show"; "Joan Davis Time"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 13:12:16 -0500
From: Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: XM causes a search
This is only a bit off topic, as it involves Frank Parker of early NBC and
later CBS fame with Arthur Godfrey. Indirectly, at least.
As is my wont, I listen to XM Channel 4 (1940s stuff) while at my computer,
and often elsewhere, in the car, etc. Also the radio channel, Sunny (24) and
various others.
This Sunday morning they started to play what I would swear was a Frank
Parker recording, with the sound of 1920s or 30s (despite being the 1940s
channel). I went to see what it was, and the artist listed was Jacques
Renard. He sounds exactly like Frank Parker. I ran a search and found a
Victor VE record for sale recorded by M. Renard, and as it's about the same
timing, I thought perhaps it might be Parker using a pseudonym for some
reason. Now I wonder if Frank knew about Renard and how alike they sounded.
Wish I'd known of this in my visits with Frank. Drat!
Further searches indicate apparently that is not the case. Renard recorded
for Victor and Brunswick in the early 1930s at least. He directed a 1980s
French film about the Resistance in WWII. His IMDb list runs from 1984 into
2005. IMDb shows the name Jacques Renard as two listings, one as director,
one as singer, but could be the same person or even pere et fils.
The singer Jacques appeared in a 1932 film called "Rambling 'Round Radio
Row", so apparently he was in this country at the time. This was one of at
least eight made 1932-1934 with the same title, some with numbers after.
He's not alone in thus appearing on the silver screen via this series - so
does practically every other singer, budding movie star, comedian and so on.
These look like wonderful films to acquire. Does anyone know if any exist,
and if so how one can purchase them?
I hope I can receive a positive answer from someone more familiar with such
activities.
My wife Charlotte and I loved seeing so many old and new friends at FOTR. On
the platforms, in panels, wonderful re-creations, out in the halls. Wasn't
that something!
Many thanks. Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:36:14 -0500
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hercule Poirot on OTR
In answer to your question regarding Hercule Poirot on
OTR, John Dunning mentions that there was such a program.
Although I can't provide you with specifics (dates, names,
sponsors and times), I do have some recordings of this program
in my personal collection.
Another OTR Fan,
Kenneth Clarke
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #350
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