------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 01 : Issue 133
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re:Lanny Ross [hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Great! Another Fan heard from. [hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Canned Laughter [hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Dispute away! [hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Ken Weigel [Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
Johnson-Smith Catalogues ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
Shifting Standards ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
New OTR BOOK -- [HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
Help on Some Books, please! [FSHillman@[removed] ]
'LOST RADIO SCRIPTS' ["Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
Ken Weigel ["stephen jansen" <stephenjansen@ema]
Bob & Ray ["Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed]; ]
Ken Weigel [JackBenny@[removed] ]
Bob and Ray [claudianross@[removed] (claudianr]
open message to Sheryll Smith ["Henry Brugsch" <henry@[removed]]
Covering many bases ["Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@worldnet.]
(probably inflated) two-cents worth ["steven kostelecky" <skostelecky@ho]
Re: CROSSOVER SHOWS ["Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@hotmail]
"Tiny" Ruffner [Tom van der Voort <evan@[removed];]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 20:42:32 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re:Lanny Ross
Elizabeth Mcleod posted a nice definitive and comprehensive piece about
Lanny Ross. I had the good fortune to work with him once towards the end of
his career. He was hosting an Early Live TV show on NBC, (The Lanny Ross
Show), and it was being done out of a converted radio studio on the 3rd
floor. I seem to recall it had a small studio audience sitting in folding
chairs.
I was invited to be a guest on his show due to my association with NBC as
co-star of the "Archie" Radio show. It was a brief interview session, and I
truly don't remember much about it, other than I recall Mr. Ross was very
charming and made me feel most welcome. It was in the early '50's, so I must
have been in my early 20's. I remember the event primarily because it was
the first TV show I appeared on.
As Elizabeth stated:
Ross's career was interrupted by military service during the war <snip>
Upon his return, his style was out-of-date and he never approached his former
popularity,
The "crooners" like Crosby and Sinatra were the "in" thing by then, but for
me, Perry Como and Buddy Clark were my particular favorites.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
"Jughead"
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 20:42:34 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Great! Another Fan heard from.
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 08:59:02 -0400
From: [removed]@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Archie Andrews
Late last year I discovered the world of OTR. <snip>
What is even more amazing, is that my 9 year old daughter and 5 year old son,
both love them as well. One particular favourite is Archie Andrews and yet
there are so few episodes floating round. Does anyone know why so few ?
I can shed a little light on that Paul. When we first started the show in
'43, NBC was not recording them for time delay re-broadcast. We had to do
the same show twice, two or three hours later, when it was fed "live" to the
West Coast. I think it might have been a cost cutting measure. Although the
Network had disc recording capabilities, I guess a Saturday morning Kids
show (Sustaining for many years), did not warrant the effort or cost.
(That's an assumption on my part) I was 13 at the time and didn't really
care about those things back then. I just showed up on Saturdays, read my
lines, collected my money on Thursdays and brought the check home to my
parents. I can't state this as fact, but I think we got paid a very nominal
additional fee for the repeat broadcast. I seem to recall it was part of my
contract as a principal cast member.
So, Paul, in those early years that the show was on the air, no episodes
were recorded. But I was amazed to discover that a Digest Subscriber named
Bill Guggiheim (Who I have appointed the "Archie" programs #1 fan), has at
least 40 episodes. but 40 out of over 600 shows is a bit embarrassing I must
admit.
The ones that are around seem to be the one's when we were sponsored by
Swift. (The Cast received lots more money when we were sponsored), so Swift
probably decided to pay NBC extra to record the show for the delayed
broadcast instead of paying us. Possible!!!
Despite being around for
more than half a century, it is still going strong
My God, it is over a half century ago. Was I ever that young?
Unless someone knows of a secret stash ? In which case, point me at them !
I just did! Maybe Bill G. will read this Digest issue.
Thanks again for being a fan. You, (and your Children), obviously have very
discriminating taste in radio programming, particularly one as culturally
stimulating and sophisticated as the "Archie Andrews" show. He He! :)
Tell the kids "Jughead" says Hi!.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 20:42:37 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Canned Laughter
Quite a few knowledgeable people have shed some insight into the
"Sweetening" of laughter on some of the OTR programs. Like I mentioned in an
earlier posting, we were not guilty of doing it on the "Archie" show, but I
did state that if it was done, it probably started in Tinsel Town. It's nice
to be vindicated.
In later years, when I started TV Directing, I was very familiar with
"MacKinzie's", and each operator had their special and unique laugh tracks.
Some were virtuoso's at manipulating the different "cuts". If it wasn't done
judiciously and realistically, it was always obvious to the viewer and/or
listener, and the early Laugh Tracks got a well deserved bad reputation.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 20:42:39 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Dispute away!
Jay Stokes wrote, in reference to my posting about the "Dropout" problem
with 3M VideotapeŠŠ
By golly, we can't dispute Hal!
I say to Minnesota JimŠŠ "Dispute Away" any time your so inclined. To
paraphrase an ole' show Biz expression. We don't care what you say about us,
as long as you spell our name right! And hopefully, say it with smile. :)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 22:00:47 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ken Weigel
I was sorry to read about Ken Weigel. Thanks, Ted for alerting this digest.
Ken's posts go back several years to the digest. He was always distinctly
identified by both the intellectuality of his posts as well as his [removed]
cummings style of type. I don't think I ever saw a capital letter used by ken.
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 23:07:52 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Johnson-Smith Catalogues
David H. Buswell, speaking of catalogues, notes,
I received a Johnson Smith Catalogue in the mail today and it's now
called "Clever Gear You Never Knew Existed." <snip> The JS catalogues
that I remember from those long ago days were packed with practical joke
items ("whoopi cushions," cigarette inserts that would explode, etc.),
many items for the amateur magician and jui jitsu courses.
And they still do. BTW, it's _still_ the Johnson-Smith Catalog. The
"whoopie cushions" are available both in classic and electronic form.
The old practical jokes are there, and magic tricks, and more. They have
ventriloquists dummies, including a regular and deluxe Charlie McCarthy,
to bring an OTR dimension to this discussion. There are plenty of
miniature radios, but I can't find a crystal set (although if you
_really_ wsant one, Edmund Scientific offers one in its Scientifics"
catalog).
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 23:08:05 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Shifting Standards
Speaking of a book, Raised On Radio, by Jerry Nachman, Deric [?] notes,
The book starts out with the author's reference to growing up during
the radio days of the 30s-50s and, before long, we are into radio show
criticism. It seems, a lot of people want to judge OTR with a current
view. <snip> I've been a show collector for almost 15 years, late
bloomer, and read the same diatripe about Amos & Andy and other shows.
His best argument was that a lot of shows had a stereotypical nature and
believableness was impossible.
Well, in the 1950s, Dr. Fredrick Wertham wrote a book, Seduction of the
Innocent, in which he blamed all the troubles of juvenile delinquency on
comic books. Having studied it closely, I've found that he even lied to
make his points ([removed], in the book he shows a jungle scene which he
labeled, "colored people getting tortured," whereas the uncropped panel
makes it clear that the torture victims were Caucasian -- but that would
have destroyed the point of showing the picture). The point is that if
you have an axe to grind, you can sharpen it on almost anything, if
you're selective.
Was OTR Politically Correct? No, but more so than some of the movies of
the period. Does sensitization to the current state affect my
appreciation of OTR shows? Usually not.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 23:08:08 -0400
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: New OTR BOOK --
In reply to Ken Lanza re: a new OTR book - No, I have not received work on
that book, but I can give you a little inside news --
There is another book, this one written by a longtime broadcaster from Boston
(not me!!) who spent the better part of 20 years writing this easy to read
and enjoyable reference work. I am helping him to make certain publishers
are aware that it has been completed. I'll keep you updated.
Hope to have our new HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE series up and going soon too.
Per your requests, we will have 4 more BOB & RAY on CD's coming shortly as
well. Write if interested.
<<Tom Heathwood>> Heritage Radio Classics - Boston, MA
Heritage4@[removed] [removed] 4/30
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 00:49:21 -0400
From: FSHillman@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Help on Some Books, please!
I'm trying to locate copies of "WYXIE Wonderland" and also Fran Striker's
account of his father's work on "The Lone Ranger," "His Typewriter Grew
Spurs." I was wondering if anyone had copies of each of these to sell.
Please e-mail me directly: FSHillman@[removed]
Thanks very much, and a hearty Hi-Yo Silver to all.
Fred Hillman
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 00:49:19 -0400
From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 'LOST RADIO SCRIPTS'
In answer to the posting about the lost radio scripts, some time ago,
Hello Again had an offer from SPERDVAC script library that they would give
their dupe scripts to any club or individual who would care to contact them.
I immediately contacted them and they sent me over 100 dupe scripts, some
are gold mines of scripts. Such "lost shows" as Let George Do it * Crime
Classics * Academy Award Theatre * Meet Corlis Archer * [removed] President *
Railroad Hour * The Line-Up, etc.
If you would like a complete listing of this one-of-a-kind script
listing, contact me at the email above, and I will be most happy to send it
to you. Most of the more familiar shows are included in that batch and are
autographed by the donor [removed] Phil Harris, Verna Felton, etc. and contain
personal liner notes and corrections by the individual who had the script.
I was really amazed at the wealth of information contained in these scripts,
and the number of lesser-known shows - like the poster said that should be
recreated.
Owens L. Pomeroy
Co-founder
Golden Radio Buffs Of Md, Inc.
<[removed];
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 00:49:17 -0400
From: "stephen jansen" <stephenjansen@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Ken Weigel
So sorry to hear of the death of Ken Weigel. His OTR detective
parody/tribute "The Farther Adventures Of Crimebuster" in the NARA News was
some of the funniest stuff I've ever read, full of both blatant and subtle
humor, OTR inside jokes, and just a joy to read. The "Crimebuster" scripts
were my favorite parts of the Nara News. He will be greatly missed.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 08:40:06 -0400
From: "Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Bob & Ray
Hundreds of Bob & Ray recordings are available on Napster.
Doug
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 08:40:07 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Ken Weigel
I wanted to thank Ted K. for posting information about Ken Weigel's passing.
Ken had been a member of the IJBFC since the mid-80s, and I regularly
corresponded with him at that time. I still have a tattered and
heavily-taped box that logged tens of thousands of miles between California
and Indiana for his frequent orders from our tape library. He was a
delightful individual, and I treasure having known him.
I appreciate the Digest as a forum for information about OTR *and* the people
who love it today.
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 09:11:55 -0400
From: claudianross@[removed] (claudianross)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Bob and Ray
If Gerry is listening, a couple of familiar Bob and Ray bits are to be found
on the excellent Canadian web site, [removed]. Lots of good
stuff besides B&R,too. Better hurry though because this site will be closing
on May 17th. Shame. Maybe if more people tuned [removed]
[removed] Weber
the Canadian
in Germany.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 10:40:28 -0400
From: "Henry Brugsch" <henry@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: open message to Sheryll Smith
Sheryll, I keep getting mail from you, but none of mine seems to be reaching
you.
Can you contact your net provider, and ask if for some strange reason, they
are blocking blueyonder fromtheir dns look ups?
Thanks.
Iam not ignoring you, and do want tostay in touch
regards
--
MAILTO:HENRY@[removed] [removed]
g0gku/k1hbj phone: +441562820090
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 12:14:35 -0400
From: "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Covering many bases
Been away for a few days and thought I'd add my 2˘ to a few topics floating
around:
Neal Ellis wonders: "Does anyone know of there are any radio or TV
broadcasts of the Indy
500 available prior to 1970?"
I don't know about specific broadcasts but if anyone had them it would be in
the archives of ESPN. It's ESPN Classic channel has found that whole
telecasts of sporting events are REALLY hard to come by. The holy grail of
TV sports is a copy of Super Bowl I. No known copy exists even though it was
broadcast by BOTH NBC and CBS (as a side-by-side, not a simulcast.)
But the Indy 500 has long been an ABC property and ESPN/ABC Sports is
virtually the same thing these days.
Bruce Wilson pondered: "Is Suspense overrated?"
I think sometimes we forget what an assembly line-type job writing and
performing a weekly show can be. OTR was cleaner (in terms of sex), less
politically-correct, and more personality driven than today's TV but it's
season was a LOT longer. And we don't hear a lot of the schlock. Most of us
only listen to the top of the line series to begin with.
And finally J. Alec West streamed on-line about radio stations pulling their
webcasts and wondered what the RIAA had to do with it. In a previous life I
was a production manager at a local TV station. Every year the program
manager and I would review our local content logs because there were
different fees connected to BMI/ASCAP music for use in commercial production
vs programming production. But the bottom line is that most people reach a
level of comfort with the status quo and fight change. The AP and UPI tried
fighting radio in the beginning for fear that it would put newspapers out of
business. Broadcasters have fought with cable casters and now the networks
are fighting with their own affiliates. The content providers to radio were
slow to react to the web's evolving capabilities and it will be worked out
one way or the other. I suspect that several companies will arise to channel
the webcasts for a yearly fee, much in the same manner that Major League
Baseball is now controlling all it's own internet broadcasts regardless of
market.
Brian Johnson
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 12:37:13 -0400
From: "steven kostelecky" <skostelecky@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: (probably inflated) two-cents worth on Nachman
Just a quick note about Deric's post regarding Nachman's book. We have been
through this on the Digest before and I'm not going to open a can of worms
(here it comes) but, I think we have to acknowledge the fact that everyone
enjoys otr in their own way. Some of us will look at it critically, that is,
exploring the shows using our knowledge of that period, as well as that of
our own, to get a greater understanding of what we are listening to. Having
said that, I have found that most of us are willing to suspend that critical
capacity to simply enjoy the shows--both are valid ways of enjoying otr and
both are worthy of discussion and, I think, have a place in the Digest. I
know I enjoy reading everyone's posts here and think there is room for
divergent opinions--as long as we don't become a debating society.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 14:51:00 -0400
From: "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: CROSSOVER SHOWS
"David Phaneuf" <dphaneuf@[removed]; asks:
It seems to me that I heard "Hitchhiker" was performed both on Suspense and
on Escape?
Is this right?
Not sure about Escape, but I know Orson Welles repeated it on The Mercury
Summer Theatre. (Of course, "The Hitchhiker" also crossed over into "The
Twilight Zone," but that's another medium.) He also repeated "The Apple
Tree" on that series as well a few years after doing it on The Lady Esther
Program.
If so, what other "crossover" shows were there? Did they crossover to
other
networks as well? That seems a little strange to me, as I assumed that a
particular episode would have been "owned" by the program that produced it.
I believe rights for most stories that appeared on anthologies were
purchased for a limited number of productions, then reverted back to the
author. If I'm correct about this, all Welles would have had to do would be
to pay Lucille Fletcher the permission money for an additional radio
production, much as Rod Serling did for his TV production.
As far as crossing over from one network to another, I would guess the Amos
'n Andy annual Christmas episode would qualify; it was first produced in a
15-minute version on CBS, and thereafter incorporated into the half-hour
Christmas week episodes on both CBS and NBC.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 20:56:47 -0400
From: Tom van der Voort <evan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "Tiny" Ruffner
Here's a little more information on "Tiny" Ruffner to augment
Elizabeth McLeod's posting. It is taken from 'Radio Personalities',
published in 1935 by Press Bureau Incorporated.
"Edmund Ruffner of Crawfordsvile Indiana, finished his education at
the University of Washington. training his voice at an early age, he toured
the country for seven years and spent three in Los Angeles.
"After two seasons in operetta, in 1927 he became an NBC announcer
in New York, later joining the Judson Radio Corporation as assistant to the
president . In 1929 and 1930 he placed twenty programs on the air.
Following an executive position with Erwin Wasey, he was appointed director
of the Benton and Bowles radio department, with three important
programs--Maxwell House Show Boat, Fred Allen's Salad Bowl and the Diamond
Crystal series.
"Recently the six foot-five "Tiny" has become popular in the
Palmolive Beauty Box Theatre."
Tom van der Voort
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #133
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