> cu 0:::: ""O C: cu ..0 0 co OldDmelladio 'DIGESJ' Old Time Radio No. 143 Winter 2014 The Old TimeRadio Oigesl is printed _BOOKS AND PAPER publishedand distributedby _,.._...... -----·------··----·- --4-· -·--... __.., __ .,.____ - .. - -- RMS& Associates Edited by Bob Burchett We have one of Che htrgest selections in thr USA of out of print MAY16& 11, 2014 books and pa1,cr items on all aspec ts of radio broadcast in~- Publishedquarterly four l11nesa year -----·------·-·- -··-·----- One-year subscriptionis $15 per year Hoo ks: A large assortment of books on th~· history of broadcasting, Single copies $3.75 each Pasl issuesare available.Make checks radio writ ing, stars' biographies. radio show-;. and radio play~. payable to Old TimeRadio Digest. A lso books on hrnaclcasting techniques. social impact l1f ,a Businessa nd editorial office ~phcmcl'a: fi -.;. ri RMS& Associates,10280 Gunpowder Rd Materia l on speci e radio station radio sc pts. 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Fall issue doses June 1 Technical Radio and F.lcctronir,;. lf >ou wish infonnat ion on tra\(·I or Winter issue closes September 1 accommodations, give us a call or vi!>it our web :..ite; ,, ww.t,rqt,ool<~.com. fr(lm Spring issue closes December1 our site you can take a lour <>f our ~hop or lii1 2 Bob 'Ray From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bob Elliott (born 1923)and Ray Gould 1976 they were the afternoondrive hosts ing (1922- 1990) were an Americancom on WOR, doing a four-hourshow. In their edy teamwhose career spannedfive last incarnation, they were heard on Na decades. Their format was typically to tional Public Radio, ending in 1987. satirize the mediumin which they were They were regularson NBC'sMonitor, performing, such as conducting radio or often on stand-byto go on the air at short televisioninterviews , with off-the-walldia notice if the program'splanned segments logue presentedin a generallydeadpan developedproblems , and they were also styleas thoughit werea seriousbroadcast. heardi n a surprisingvariety of formats Radio and timeslots, from a 15-minute series in Elliott and Gouldingbegan as radio mid-afternoont o their hour-longshow announcers(E lliott a disc jockey, and aired weeknightsjust beforemidnight in Gouldinga newsreader) in Bostonwith 1954-55. Duringthat sameperiod , they their own separateprograms on station did an audienceparticipation game show, WHDH-AM, and each would visit with the Pick and Play with Bob and Ray, which other while on the air. Their informalban was short-lived.It came at a time when ter was so appealingthat WHDHwould networkpages filled seats for radio-TV call on them, as a team, to fill in when shows by giving tickets to anyone in the Red Sox baseballbroad casts were rained street, and on Pick and Play the two Characters man-on-the-streetinterviewer , "and win out. Elliott and Goulding(not yet known comicswere occasionallyboo ed by audi Elliott and Gouldinglent their voices to a ner of 16 diction awards," whoseopen ing as Bob and Ray)would improvise comedy ence membersunfami liar with the Bob varietyof recurringcharacte rs and count transmission almostinvariably begins with routinesall afternoon, and joke around and Ray comedy style. less one-shots, creating a multi-layered an "up-cut"with him starting early, before with studio musicians. Some of their radio episodes were re world that parodiedthe real-life world of his microphonewas live, as in "-ly Ballou Elliott and Goulding'sbrand humor of leasedon recordings,and others were radio broadcasting.Elliott and Goulding here". In one of his broadcasts,he was caught on, and WHDHgave them their adaptedinto graphicstory form for publi played"Bob" and "Ray' , the hosts of an discoveredto have started early on pur own weekdayshow 1946. Matineewith in cation in Mad magazine. Their earlier ostensiblyserious radio program.Their pose and was chewedout by the location Bob and Ray was originally a 15-minute showswere mostly ad-libbed, but later "staff' (all voiced by Elliott and Goulding) engineer (Ray) for makingit look as show,soon expandingto half an hour. programsrelied more heavilyon scripts. was a comic menagerieof reporters, thoughthe mistakewas his. (Whenexplaining why Bob was billed While Bob and Ray wrote much of their bookreviewers, actors and all other man • Snappysportscaster Biff Burns("This is first, Goulding claimedthat it was be material, their writers included TomKoch , ner of radio personalities, all of whomin Biff Burnssaying th is is Biff Burnssaying cause "Matinee with Bob and Ray" who scripted manyof their best-known teractedwith "Bob" and "Ray" as well as goodnight") soundedbetter than "Matinobwith Ray routines, and the pioneering radio hu with each other. Almostall of these char • Tex Blaisdell, a drawlingcowboy singer and Bob".) Their trademarksign-off was morist RaymondKnight. Bob Elliott later acters had picturesquenames, as in one who also did rope tricks on the radio "This is Ray Gouldingreminding you to marriedKnight's widow . sketchwhere Bob introducedRay as one • ArthurSturdley , an ArthurGodfrey take-off write if you get work"; "Bob Elliott remind Anotherwriter was Jack Beauvais, who Maitland W. Mottmorency, who then • JohnnyBraddock, another sportscaster , ing you to hang by your thumbs". had performedas a singer for WEEI in replied, "My nameis John W. Norvis. I but with an obnoxious streak They continuedon the air for over four Bostonduring the 1930sand also worked have terrible handwriting." • Kent Lyle Birdley, a wheezing, stammer decadeson the NBC, CBS, and Mutual for some of the big bandsin the 1940s Recurringcharacters p layed by Bob El ing old-timeradio announcer networks,and on New York City stations and 1950s liott included: • Fred Falvy,"do- it-yourself' handyman WINS, WOR,and WHN. From 1973 to • Wally Ballou,an inept news reporter, • One of the McBeeBeeTw ins, either 4 5 Claudeor Clyde. Thesenon -identical ting a cuspidor) twins spokein unison, led by Goulding, • The other McBeeBeetwin, either Clyde and echoedby Elliott. Always interviewed or Claude. As mentionedabove , Goulding by Elliott. would speakfirst , usually trying to trip up • Cyril Gore, a Boris Karloff sound-alike and break up Elliott who often appearedas a butler or door • Charlesthe Poet, who recited sappy man; his catchphrasewas "Follow me verse (parodyingthe lugubrious Chicago down this cor-ree-dor." late-night broadcasterFranklyn Maccor • Peter Gorey,a charactersimilar to Gore mackand , to a lesser extent, the Ernie but with a Peter Lorre-type voice. He Kovacscharac ter PercyDov etonsils) but wouldtypic ally appear as a news reporter, could never get througha whole example reading the same gruesomestor ies of his bathetic work without breaking ("Three men were run over by a steam down in laughter roller today... ") each time he appeared. • Serial characters such as Matt Netter, Bob and Ray wouldalso occasionallypl ay Boy Spot-Welder; failed actor Barry a recordof 'Music' Music! Music!", osten Campbell; crack-voicedreporter Arthur sibly sung by Gorey. Schrank, and all femalero les. Any script calling for a child's voice While originallyemploying a falsetto, would usuallygo to Elliott. Gouldinggenerally used the same flat Ray Goulding's roster of characters in voice for all of his womenchara cters, of cluded: which perhapsthe best-knownw as Mary • Webley Webster, mumble-mouthed MargaretMcGoo n {satirizing home-eco book reviewerand organp layer, whose nomics expert Mary Margaret McBride), reviewsof historicalnovels and cook who offered bizarre recipes for such en bookswere usually dramatized as seafar trees as "ginger ale salad" and "mock lively). "Mary Backstayge"was serialized /.Q., the Mental Banker''was parodiedas ing melodramas turkey."In 1949, Goulding, as Mary, for such a long period of time that it be "Dr. O.K., the Sentimental Banker". • CalvinHoogav in (portrayedby Webley), recorded"I 'd Like to Be a Cow in Switzer came better knownto many listeners Whereas Dr. I. Q. had several assistants a characteri n one of Bob and Ray's soap land", which soon became a novelty hit than the showit lampooned. Another with remotemicrophon es scattered opera parodies and is still occasionally played by the likes soap opera spoof, "GarishSumm it" throughthe audience to select contest • Steve Bosco,sportscaster (who signed of Dr. Demento. Later, the characterwas (which Bob and Ray performed during ants, Dr. O.K. {Bob)had to makedo with off with "This is Steve Boscorounding known simply as Mary McGoon. Another their stint on National Public Radio in the a single assistant {Ed Sturdley, playedby third, and being thrownout at home",par female characterw as NatalieAttired, a 1980s), recountsthe pett~quabbles for Ray), whoeventually became exhausted odying Joe Nuxhall's signatures ign-off of radio "chanteuse" who, instead of singing poweramong the family memberswho from runningaround the theater. "the old lefthanderrounding third and songs, recited their lyrics to a drumbeat own a lead mine. They also satirized Mr. Othercontinu ing parodies{ both generic headingfor home") accompaniment. Keen, Tracerof Lost Persons with the and specific)included game shows("The • Artie Schermerhorn, anotherinept re Spoofsand Parodies continuingparody, ' Mr. Trace, Keener 64-CentQuestion") , children's shows porter. Sometimespartnered with Wally Spoofsof other radio programswere than Most Persons," which beganwith a {"Mr. Science", "Tippy the WonderDog ", Ballou,often competingwith him, espe anothers taple, includingthe continuing simplep lot that soondegenerated i nto "Matt Netter, Boy Spot-Welding King of cially when employed by the Finley Qual soap operas "Mary Backstayge,Noble total gibberish wherethe dialoguewas the World"}, self-help seminars{ "Dr. ity Network. Wife', "One Fella's Family", and "Aunt concerned("M ister Treat, Chaserof Lost Joyce Dunstable"), and foreign intrigue • Farmeditor DeanArcher Armstead (his Penny'sSun lit Kitchen' (which spoofed Persons," "Thanksfor the vote of treedle, {"Elmer W. Litzinger, Spy"). low, slurring delivery was unintelligible and Backstage Wife, One Man's Family,and Pete") and gunplay ("You. .. You've shot In 1959 Bob and Ray launcheda suc punctuatedby the soundof his spittle hit- Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories, respec- me!.. . I'm. .. dead.") The quiz show 'Dr. cessful networkrad io series for CBS, 6 7 broadcastfrom New York. CBS'spro mind") grammingdepartment frequently supplied • EinbinderFlypaper ("The brand you've scripts promotingCBS' dramaticand graduallygrown to trust over the course sports shows, but Bob and Ray never of three generations") read these scripts entirely straight, and • The United States Post Office ("Makers I would often imitate the charactervoices and distributorsof stamps") .' heard on these shows.Gunsmoke and • The CroftweilerIndustrial Cartel ("Mak YoursTruly, Johnny Dollar werefrequent ers of all sorts of stuff, madeout of every targets,and JohnnyDollar inspired a full thing") ~ fledgedparody, "Ace Willoughby,Interna • Cool CanadianA ir ("Packedfresh every tional Detective." In each installment, day in the HudsonBay and shippedto k- Willoughby(Ray , doing a letter-perfectim your door") personationof JohnnyDollar star Bob • Grime("The magic shorteningthat Bailey) traveledaround the globe in pur spreadslike lard") ~~_, ~ suit of crooks, but gave up when the • The United StatesMint ("Oneof the ~•, ·. .' . crooksfound him and kept beatinghim up. nation's leadingproducers of genuine ~-_, ....._ In additionto parodiesof specificpro U.S. currency") grams and genres,many of Elliott and • Penuche("With or without nuts, the Goulding'ssketches turned on the inher greatestname in fudge") ent absurditiesof reportageand inter • KretchfordBraid and Tassel("Next time viewing. One particularly enduringroutine you think of braid or tassel, rush into your cast Elliott as an expert on the Komodo neighborhoodstore and shout, 'Kretch dragon, and Gouldingas the dense re ford'!") RaY,Audrey Meadowsand Bob in a skit on the Bob and Ray show in 1951. porter whosequestions trailed behindthe The rathergeneric-sound ing "chocolate Cloris Leachmanjoined the cast as a reg adaptedfrom several Vonnegutnove ls informationgiven .[2] Another featured cookieswith white stuff in between" ular, replacing AudreyMeadows who left and stories. (Vonneguthad once submit Elliott as the spokesmanfor the Slow "sponsored"the science-fiction spoof the series to join the cast of The Jackie ted comedymaterial to Bob and Ray.) Talkersof America("headquarters" in Lawrence Fechtenberger, Interstellar Offi Gleason Show on CBS. In the soap Fred Barzyk directedthis WGBH/PBS Glens Falls, New York),whose lengthy cer Candidate(a direct parodyof "Tom opera parodies,the actressestook the production, a science-fictioncomedy pausesbetween words increasingly frus Corbett, Space Cadet'), and "Gerst roles of Mary Backstaygeand Linda about an astronaut-poet'sjourney through trate Goulding.The pair performedboth meyer'sPuppy Kibbles, the dog food Lovely.Expanding to a half-hourfor the the Chrono-Synclasticlnfundibulum. Th is of these sketchesmany times. guaranteed to turn any pet into a vicious summerof 1952only , the series contin teleplaywas first publishedin an edition Their characterknown as "The Worst man-killer· "sponsored"the police-drama ued until September28, 1953. When-.~e that featurednumerous screenshots of Personin the World"(a referenceto New spoof Squad Car 119. The "Tippy the Higgins Boys and Gruber show beganon Bob and Ray and other cast members. Yorkmagazine theatre critic John Simon, WonderDog" episodeswere sponsored The ComedyChannel in 1989, it occa Bob and Ray also hosteda Mark who gave their stage show a negativere by "Mushies," the cereal that gets soggy sionally includedfull episodesof Bob and Goodson-BillTodman game show, The view) was, manyyears later, appropriated even withoutadding milk or cream. Ray's 1951-53shows (along with Name's the Same, which was emceed by MSNBChost Keith Olbermann. Television episodesof Clutch Cargo and Supercar). originally by RobertQ. Lewis. Bob and Commercial Parodies In the early 1950s, the two had their The duo did more televisionin the latter Ray woulddo their typical routines, and Commercialparody was popular a own 15-minutetelevision series , entitled part of their career,beginning with key then play the normalgame of havinga forte with Bob and Ray. A typical show simplyBob & Ray. It beganNovember 26 , roles of Bud Williams, Jr. (Elliott) and celebrity panel try to guess the contest would have such "sponsors"as: 1951 on NBCwith AudreyMeadows as a WalterGesunheit (Goulding) in Kurt Von ants' famousnames. They would always • The Monongahela Metal Foundry cast regular. During the secondseason, negut'sHugo-nominated Between Time end the showw ith their traditionalclos ing: ("Castingsteel ingots with the housewifein the title changedto Club EmbassY,and- and Timbuktu: A Space Fantasy ( 1972), Ray saying, ''Write if you get work.. ." and 8 9 Bob finishing with 'And hang by your of the original SaturdayNight Live cast, son Keillor's AmericanRadio Companyof thumbs.· Bob &Ray, Jane &Laraine &Gilda. It in .,..~, PLAYBILL the Air. His granddaughterAbby Elliott Duringthe late 1950s, Bob and Ray cluded a skit that successfullycaptured ....--....,,....-~--- joined the cast of SaturdayNight Live for were also on radio and televisionas the their uniqueapproach lo humor: They sat the 2009-2010season , the third genera voices of Bert and Harry Piel, two ani in chairs, in businesssuits , facing the au tion to appearon the show. matedcharacters from a very successful dience, nearly motionless, and sang a Manyof their showsare availablefor ad campaign for Piels Beer. Since this duet of Rod Stewart's majorhit "Do Ya listening at The Paley Centerfor Mediain was a regionalbeer , the commercials Think I'm Sexy?' New Yorkand LosAngeles . The Paley were not seen nationally, but even so, the In 1980 they tapeda one-hourpilot for Centerhas such a large collectionof Bob popularityof the ad campaignresu lted in CBS late night with the cast of SCTVtitled and Ray tapes that manyof these re nationalpress coverage.Based on the FromCleveland , a sketchshow staged on maineduncatalogued for years. successof thosecommercials, they locationin Cleveland. The show becamea ~ Honors launcheda successfuladvertising voice cult favorite with numerousshowings at Bob and Ray were inductedinto the over company,Gould ing Elliott Greybar ~ l the Museumof Television& Radio. I~ I NationalAssociation of BroadcastersHall (so called becausethe offices were lo This was followedby a series of spe of Famein the radio division in 1995. cated in the GreybarBuilding). cials for PBS in the early 1980s.In 1982, Books In 1971, Bob and Ray lent their voices Ray Gouldingto ld the New YorkTimes , "II I jB]~!o~AY ~I • Write If YouGet Work.·The Best of Bob to the children'stelevision program The just keepshappening lo us. I supposeeach & Ray Copyright 1975by RobertB . Elliott Electric Companyin a pair of short ani new generationnotices that we are there." and RaymondW. GouldingForeword mated films; in one, explainingopposites, Bob and Ray also appearedon The Ed bookscollecting rout ines featuringsome of Copyright1975 by RandomHouse , Inc. Ray was the 'writer of words", first for ele Sullivan Showseveral limes in the late their signaturecha racters and routines: • Gillespie, Dan Bob and Ray and Tom. vators, then doors, finally faucets. The 1950sand early '60s; guestedon the Write If YouGet Work: The Best of Bob & Albany: BearManorMedia other, illustratingwords endingin -al, had JohnnyCarson and DavidLetterman Ray (1976; the title referencedGoulding 's • David Pollock BobAnd Ray, Keener Ray as "Lorezothe Magnificent"who can showsthroughout the 1970sand '80s; usual sign-off line), FromApproximately ThanMost Persons, ApplauseTheatre & read mindsand who tries to read a word providedvoices for the animated1981 Coast to Coast.· It's The Bob & Ray Show CinemaBooks . 2013 in Bob's mind, that he thinks is an -al special B.C.: A SpecialChristmas, and (1983), and The New! Improved!Bob & word such as "hat", "bat", "rat', "cat", madeguest appearanceson episodesof Ray Book (1985). The team also recorded "mat", etc. (Turnsout , it wasn't; Bob's The David SteinbergShow, Happy Days, audiobookversions. Along with the audio word was actually "Columbus".) and TrapperJohn , MD.. booksand numerouscollections of radio In 1973, Bob and Ray createdan his Other media broadcasts, Bob and Ray have recorded toric televisionprogram that was broad Elliott and Gouldingstarred in a pair of severalalbums , includingreco rdings of -..._ cast on two channels: one half of the two-manstage shows: The Twoand Only their stage performancesThe Twoand studio was broadcaston the New York on Broadwayin 1970, and A Night of Two Only and A Night of TwoStars , Bob and PBS affiliate WNET,and the other half of Stars at CarnegieHall in 1984.They also Ray on a Platter,and Bob and Ray Throw the studio was broadcaston independent did extensive work in radio and television a Stereo Spectacular. station WNEW.Four sketcheswere per commercials,and enjoyedsupporting Gouldingdied on March24, 1990. formed, includinga tug of war that served roles in the feature films Cold Turkey Elliott continuedto perform, most notably Monitorpublicity shot of Bob and Ray with as an allegoryabout nuclear war. The two (1971)and Author! Author!(1982). with his son (actor/comedianChris Elliott) Miss Monitor (Tedi Thurman).All three parts of the programare availablefor In 1960, Bob and Ray publisheda chil on the TV sitcom Get a Life, on episodes made extendedstays at the NBCstudios viewingat the Museumof Television& dren's book basedon some of their char of Newhart, Lateline and Late Night with in order to do hourly live appearances Radio. acters and routines,Linda Lovely and the DavidLetterman , in the films CabinBoy throughoutthe weekendon Monitor, which In 1979they returnedto nationalTV Fleebus. (also with son Chris) and Quick Change, could explain why they were groupedfor for a one-shotNBC special with members The duo also collaboratedon three and on radio for the first seasonof Garri- this promotionalphoto. 10 11 meatsfor his portabledelicatessen. Jerry /JA14~ ~•14,.~ ~~ ~,/flll, by Ezra Stone & also arrived early, becausethe theatre is ...Wel don Melick ~y~ ,,t,a,,..,, his natural element and he stays away from ii no longer than necessary.H ad his ~7~ -7we lappingba throombelong inevi tably and rapid professionalprogress not been Whatever glamoura ttaches to the entirely to whoeverfi rst managedto lock frozen by the government, the movie his neighbor's means accessto t. theatre,none of it is wastedb ackstage. of i going public might now be as familiar The furnishings of the dressingr oom One trip throughth e dingy entrails of an with his histrionic gifts as it is with the outwardlyg littering playhousehas kept consistedchiefly of a sink which served way John Garfieldhandles a cigarette. only an ornamental purpose,being com many a stage-struck girl projecting her tal Jerry was alwaysconceiving and trying pletely obstructed by a senile chaise entsover a stove insteadof over footlights. out "sensational"bi ts of businessfor his lounge,and a full-lengthm irror whose In one of the theatreson our tour we role in Angels Weep, a play RalphNel crackeds ilvering enabled one to see at a had to literally clean out our dressing son had written while on furlough, which ance how he would ook as gsaw quarters with a shovel. Had we changed gl l a ji severalof us were rehearsingi n our puzzle.The mirror was flanke on eit costumesi n the accumulation of ashes d her spare time. side by built-in drawers,one set of which and garbagew ith which we were freely He'd pop up from his dressingtable was preventedfrom openingfarthe r than provided,our summersailor whites would and go out into the hall in order to make quickly have passedfo r Navy blues. Mir two inchesby the subsequentlyinstalled an unquestionably sensational entrance- radiator. The other set was accessible rors were proppedon gas meters, and without pants and with dabs of make-up only with a corkscrew or screwdriver, if anyoneforgot where he was and stood polkadotlingh is face and smearedon his the pull knobs havinge vidently been do up straight, he'd conk his head on a drain hands. Jiggy Robin would slouch in at nated to the scrap drive. pipe. There was only one latrine to serve about a quarter of eight, don the horn This being Christmasweek I had compli over three hundred men. In the Army,one The architect must have had a quaint rimmedg lasses and droopy drawershe cated li in our alreadyoverstuffed cubi standsin line for everything. delusion that actors have no use for wore in the openingselectee number, fe cle by festooning five hundredgree ting Detroit's Shrine Auditorium,where we wardrobe spaceor wall hooks. We had to and in less than five minutesbe the bane cards from the ceiling sprinkler system. were playing throughthe holidays, was string sash cord from the upperdoor hinge of all other participantsin a crap game And huge eame basket fru from fairly typical. We'd have had more leben in one cornerd iagonally acrossthe room down the hall. a st r of it srauminside a submarine or tank. I ette to a vertical steam pipe. The barri As orchestraconductor , Rosie Rosen the musicalconductor of "The Aldrich shareda dressing room about half the cade of pants and overcoatswhich hung stock's audience-sidewas the back of Family," Jack Miller and his wife, sprouted size of a Pullmansmoking compartment therefromafforded even more "semipri his head, so his make-upprepara tions ludicrouslyfrom the sink. Windows ills with four other fellows; Its two windows vacy" than the connectingba th. Once I consisted only of ineffectiveattemp ts to ,.,. were lined with cookies, candies, and vari had been hermeticallysea led by an was making up on the port side of the plaster down his cowlick. It was his habit ous bulky gifts from well-meaningfriends overzealous painter. clothesline when the assistant stage man to dash in at 8 :40, brush past Bob Ober who had forgotten I was traveling govern There were two doors so arranged that ager poked his head in the door on the reich in the corridor as he made his ment style with two barracks bags and a shouldt hey be opened simultaneously,all starboard side, demandingmy where rounds chanting"PLACES M INSTREL brokenback. But all this contributedsuch occupants of the room would be trapped abouts. Before I could answer, Jerry STAND'"and fling his overcoatover the a homeyf eeling that I felt a hotel room and compressed into one corner. But this Jaroslow yelled, "Haven't seen him!" and I precariouslyweighted clothes line. With would be drab by comparison at this sea was only a theoretical danger since a per had to beg Jerry to go easy on my clocklike regularity the cord broke, and son of the year. So I movedinto the petually wrinkled rug immobilizedb oth eardrums, whichas ii happenedw ere two dozen garmentswere dumpedon dressing room with the Christmascards doors. One door led to the hall, a capital separatedfrom his vocal blast only by a the floor, too late for us to stop and sort and fruit cakes. idea, and the other gave accessto a pair of pants. them. Our quick -costumechanges be For two weeks I achieveda fellow feel semiprivate showerand toilet. The privacy I usually arrived first, then Gary Merrill tween scenes had the delightful informal ing with WinthropAmes , Henry Irving, and was actually more than semi, as the over- checkedin laden with bread, cheese, and ity of a rummagesale. David Belasco, who lived in apartments 12 13 right in the theatresthey owned.That has after the performanceand join my father, alwaysseemed to me the supremefulfill mother,sister, and a few friendsjust in ment for an actor. I slept in the battered time to turn out the living room lights and chaiselongue in the tiny dressingroom look out over the bay as the tug boat whis in which I had a 20% equity. And each tles salutedthe zero hour. night, after all the other boys had gone, I The door to our dressingroom was reveledin the luxuriousfeeling of •own• closed and blocked. I put my shoulderto ing' a theatre. the practicallybulging door and shovedin, As I walkeddown the corridor after our pinning Jiggy and Chet O'Brienagainst New Year'sEve performanceto our the wall but not interruptingtheir heated dressing-room-by-day-my-apartment-by argumentover the last poker hand. My night, I caught trenchantsnatches of con four room mateswere all in ah~adof me, versationas they floated out the open and so were four of the other b9ys. Gary doors. Merrill, half-dressedand with a~ icing of "Last New Year'smy band was booked make-upstill decoratinghis hairline, was into the Plaza!" dividing the night's canteenprofits with his "Youknow I gave a concertin- Rio a perspiringpartner , Meister. Rosiewas year ago tonight." samplinga new clarinet JohnnyMince 'Happy New Year!" had just gone in the red for. Jaroslow, for "Boy, was I plastered!' once rememberinghis pants, was look "Anybodyneed razor blades?" ing in vain for them. After accusingthe en "The Cardinal said he'd reserve a tire assemblageof hiding them, he discov good seat for me at midnightmass. I ered nearsightedJiggy had them on but hope it hasn't slipped his mind." didn't know it "Where'smy other sock? Oh, hell, I'll A knockon the door and a timid 'May wearonet" we come in?" announcedsome ushers "It was quite dull at the RainbowRoom who wantedmy autograph. a yearago, but I wish I werethere tonight." "Youhave our permission," I called, "I'll fade you ten!" "but you'll also need a shoehorn."I man The reminiscencessent my thoughts aged to open the door a crack and they whirling back to other New Year's Eves. I slippedin the programsone at a time. I didn't share the sentimentsof the voice countedthem as I signedand passed that wishedit were in a night club. Of all themback , "One. .. two ... three ... four ..." nights in the year December31 is the last "Here's a fifth!" someonecalled through one I'd pick to go night-clubbing. It isn't the door, and a bottle of Scotchappeared my idea of fun to pay a king's ransomfor on the end of a brawnyarm. "Autographit a few drinks, a paper hat, and a tin horn, with your lips, Ez," said the disembodied \"'"a" in order to look silly while you get your voice I recognizedas belongingto Burl eardrumssplit and your drinks jostled on Ives. It was an untouched,full bottle. Burl your shirt front in the kind of crush that's was giving me the honor of starting it be availablemuch cheaper in a subway. fore he took his own drink. But he couldn't "Autographit with your lips," said the voice UsuallyI've been workingon New Year's see the parchedmob that was closeted Eve and would hurry home to Brooklyn with me. 14 15 WhenI pried the door open again far went into the little black box? and again I enoughto return Burl's bottle, it had been asked for long distance, '' The Life of '' drained.' Happy N ew Year!"we chorused R~ "Hello, Mother?" The past wasn't alwayssuch easy living for star William Bendix throughthe crack. For answerwe heard a "Yes,Ezra . I thoughtyou'd call tonight. string of profanityexploding down the We'reall up in your room." RADIOp lays some sttangetricks in length of the hall like a bunchof firecrack Then I spoke in monosyllablesto Dad castingits heard-but-not-seencharacters , ers, climaxedby the angrycrash of the and Miriam, and Mothercame back on yet it has nothingon fate as a freakish empty bottle in a wastecan. ) the line for her usual last word. It was just casting director. Actually,radio did quite an Graduallythe roombegan to clear with midnight. I could hear the boat whistlesin appropriatejob in assigningbig , amiable an exchangeof· Good Night's" and J " New Yorkin one ear and the Detroit William Bendixto the fictional role of hard "HappyNew Year's."At ten minutesof street noise in the other. muscled, soft-heartedRi ley. It was fate that twelve-I was the only one left still "Happy New Year," I shouted. incongruouslycast the harsh-voiced dawdling listlessly, strippedto the waist, "They just turned on the Statueof Lib Herculesas-a real-life Cinderella' as I removedmy make-up.The din of the erty lights," Motherannounced exc itedly, Twoyears ago, Bill was virtually un old year'sdeath rattle drifted up from the 'the first time since war was declared!It's knownto national audiences.It was JUST street and mademe restless.Without beautiful-theonly lighted object in the last year he proved himself to be a big stoppingto put on a shirt or wipe the cold harbor!" time movie star. This year, he becamea Yanksand Giants. creamoff my face, I jumpedup , ran "I wish I could see the old girl lit again," radio star in "The Life of Riley," his first JUST 13, the husky kid wangleda job downstairs,and cut across the stage over I said. regular air series. as turnstile boy ( for 50c a game, plus free the footlights and up the aisle of the de In the dark I could see her, guarding But the Cinderellastory goes back admission) at the Polo Grounds, then serted auditorium. the inner harborin glowingglory . I could much further. Less than ten years ago, Bill headquartersfor both teams. Next year, I thoughta bit enviouslyof the five see the dancingreflection of the moon in was one of the great armyof unemployed. havingquit high schoolforever, he was thousandpeople who had so recently the bay,a tugboatpuffing past, the dark Like manyother small businessmen of promotedfrom clubhouseboy to general packedthe emptyseats. Most of them shaft of the Cities ServiceBuilding tower those depressiondays, chain store man mascot. were either home by now or trying to beat ing above the other shadowson the ager Bendixfound himself out of work-and Rememberthe day home-runking the New Yearthere . But then, so was I, in horizon, on relief. Unlike most of the others, he took Ruth was rushed to Sr. Vincent's Hos a way. "With your voice right here in your own a strangeway our Bill Bendixbecame an pital practicallyperishing from indiges \ I reachedthe darkenedlobby, groped room, it's almost as if you were home, actor. tion? Well, Bill was the muscularyoung my way to the telephonebooth, sent a Ezra, seeingthe New Yearin with the rest It's a queer quirk of fate that takes a Mercurywho went out and got the Babe nickel clanginginto the assetsof AT. and of us," Mothersa id. man from a store full of groceriesto a 30 hot dogs, 12 bottlesof pop, 8 bags. of T., and asked for long distance. Then the operatorbroke the spell. stage full of hams and, finally, to an air peanutsand ?? chocolatebars! I got New York, but Sara wasn't home. My three-minutefurlou gh in Brooklyn show sponsoredby the AmericanMeat In That wasn't what trumpedthe Bendix Oh. well. I wasn't either. So another nickel was over. stitute. But Bill, who loves to talk-particu careerin diamonds,however . larly about his early strugglesand his It was Motherwho firmly vetoedthe EZRA STONR attractivewife-doesn't give fate the credit. bid he got to go Southfor spring training. ) He swears he owes it all to Mrs. Bendix. In the ensuingyears , he did have his in Acting was far from the New Yorker's nings at semi-proball but also tried out as ) thoughts, when he was a lad. His heart be a file clerk, office boy , hole-digger and longedto baseball.And , though he spe pole-planterfo r a telephonecompany, ~~~~ cializes today in portrayingBrooklynites, it football player and also as football coach. 7 P. M. , WIBA dial 131-0 wasn't the Dodgerswho filled his dreams. His nose had been broken three times FM DIAL 10 1. 5' Born in mid-Manhattan,schooled there when he decidedto marry TheresaSetf Nae NETWORK and in the Bronx,he tagged along with the fanotti - just in time to save what was left 16 17 of his profile. The pretty brunettewas no TheatreGui ld's productionof William new infatuation(Bill had knownTess for Saroyan's 'The Timeof YourLife .• The Voice of The Listener play was a hit and so was the burly 'chap 21 years, since their families had been Fromthe readersof TUNEIN magazineOctober , 1944 next-doorne ighbors), but she soon per who enactedPoliceman Krupp. From then on, Tessdefinitely wasn't the only suadedhe r blond, 22-year-oldbr ide WEEPNO MORE, MY LADY North" a nunberof times and still do not one who believedBendix was an ac or groom to settle down under steadier t . Dear Editor: believe that gangstersride throughthe Finally.the moviesbeckoned. Mos t of workingconditions. Why don't writers of the soap opera, streets shootingeverybody in sight-or Bi s' first scenescame to res on the cut Bill became, successively, clerk in a ll t "YounqDr. Malone," do somethingto that officers of the law are 'flat headed New JerseyA. & P. managerof a National ting-roomfloor . But, meanwhile, Hal cheer Mrs. Maloneup a bit? She is al and thick skulled.' Roachhad looked him over and decided chain store, and proudpapa of a daughter ways bawling-I admit she is just about B. B. Boston, Mass. namedLorraine. Came the depression, that here was just the chap to handlet he the best crier in the business, but it I I I I I . I I I I I e I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I. I I and Bill was our of a job. Oneday in1935, not-so-slick "city slicke~•role he'd envi would be a relief to hear her laugh TUNE IN TELEVISES he came home from poundingthe pave sionedfor a McGuerinsof Brooklynse occasionally. Dear Editor: ments lo find that Tess-whohad staunchly ries. He promptlysigned Bill to a nice 7- Maybet he sponsorwould let her sing It certainly was a pleasent surpriseto see refused to take the baby and go home to year contract which has becomeeven a commercialnow and then. Even that all the TUNE IN editors taking part in a her parents - had appliedto the relief nicer as option-and-revisionti me came would be preferable to hearingher cry televisedqu iz show.As a steady reader of agency. round. Only three of the streamlined4 - all the time. your magazine,I had becomealmost as That was too much. Bill would rather reelers were finished when Roachwent Thenthere is "PortiaFaces Life." I feel curious about you peopleas I am about have croonedballads in a honky-took- into service as a Colonel, but Bendix so sorry for that poor woman! For the love the radio headlinersyou write about.And which is JUSTabout what he did next. At has been playingpretty muchthe same of Walter, why don't they leave her face it, you lookedlike a bunchof good scouts, on least, he took to warblingand emceeing kind of role loan to other studios. Usu once and for all, and get it over with? I do too. Do it again sometime. in various local night clubs, where he also ally, he's a wise-cracking, bravebut not not see how she can stand muchmore. MARYALEXA NDER New York, N. Y. functioned as unofficialbouncer , Bill was too-brightMarine from Brooklyn.One of Anyhow, I can't SUSANGORDO N worth his 5' 1O" 186 poundweight in the very few exceptionswas his recent El Cerrito, Calif. AMERICA'S No.I gold, when it cameto scaringoff drunks stellar performancein EugeneO'Ne ill's ...... and deadbeats.This first trial of his tal "The HairyApe ." FREDWAR ING QUIP ents still didn't cash in sufficiently to keep Nothingcould be further from the real Gentlemen: MASTER ~• Bendixfrom landingon the WP.A., where Bendixcharacter . Back in grade school, In answerto Mrs C. L. E.'s lament,I he dutifully countedthe cars crossinga young Bill averaged94 .6 - secondhigh see by the papersthat Fred Waring'sex bridge near Newark-untilthe ever-cheer est in {he whole district. Today,co-wor k pectedback on the air again real soon. ful Tess,encouraged by his night-club ers descnbethe 38-year-old star as He and his Pennsylvaniansore muchtoo work, went co the FederalTheatre Project "shrewd," "foxy,"" not easily fooled."They good and much too popular to stay off the and had him transferredto the entertain also freely use such adjectives.as "lov air for long. ROBERTBURTON ment field. able," "cooperative," "easiestguy I ever Brooklyn,N . Y. is hack on the a ir For months, it was Tessand Tessalone workedwith," ...... SUNDAY NIGHTS who believedin Bill's -future as an actor. A real family man, he enjoys taking his MYSTERIES0. K. be ginning Eventually, however,the theatrical tyro 13·year-old daughterto prize fights and Dear Sirs: OCTOBER 4th won himselfregular assignmentsin no ball games, treats her so much like a son I believe that the letter by Broderick less than six Broadwayplays-all flops , but that Tessi s afraidthey' re raising a tom boy. Morris in the July TUNE IN was an in- rich in the professionaltraining he badly He also likes to climb into somefancy pa sult to the youtho f America. Just because needed, jamas, crawl into bed and read adventure radio thrillers try to be entertainingdoesn't Thencame that historic night in No stories, work crosswordpuzzle , and keep mean that the listenersget crazy ideas vember, 1939, when he openedin the up with the latest baseballscores . from them. I have heard "Mr. and Mrs. 18 19 cute little Daisy, their silver-haired,highly independent 'purebredmongre l' terrier, to augmentthe mouthsth ey had to feed. Of course this placed them smacki n the mainstreamof contemporaryAmerica of the day, along with everyoneelse clawing their way out of The Great Depression. Daisy was a life-force unto herself, eventually bearingquintuple t pups of her by Dee Neyhartfrom the Digital Deli 2012© CWIC '10UN~ own during the mid-1930s, appropriately namedafter the famousCanad ianDionne to see his heir apparentconnected with a Background Quints--Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie, Blondie Boopadoopand Dagwood girl of Blondie'sclass in any permanent and Yvonne. way And yet as Dagwood ardor for Bumsteadentered popu lar culture in the . 's 1938 broughtthe first in a twelve-year 1930s. A semi-tragic love tale in the clas Blondieincreased , he ultimately stepped succession of twenty-eight highly popular The FamilyBumstead circa 1950 sic, almost Shakespeareanmold , the over that imaginaryline betweenClass 'Blondie' feature films: story of how 1920s'ftapper' Blondie and Love and commitedhimse lf to catch • 1938 Blondie Naturally, King Features, Chic Young, Boopadoopand the eldest son of railroad ing--andho lding--the love of his life, irre • 1939 BlondieMeets the Boss the Blondiefi lms and the BlondieRad io tycoonJ. Bolling Bumsteadgot together spectiveof the circumstances. • 1939 BlondieTakes a Vacation featuresworked hand in glove throughout is as mucha tale of the post Great De The couplewere ultimately 'married' on • 1939 BlondieBr ings Up Baby this sametwelve year period. Cross-in pressionyears as the timelesstales of February17 , 1933. Predictably, J. Bolling • 1940 Blondieon a Budget dexes and promotionsbe tweenthe comic love and romancebetween the classesof Bumsteadimmed iately disinheritedDag • 1940 BlondieHas ServantTrouble strip, comicbooks, featurefilms and any Age- Past or Pressent. wood, vowing to cease all supportfor his • 1940 Blondie Plays Cupid Radio series' all workedto promote The fair-haired Miss Boopadoopwas a lifestyle and turninghis back on the young • 1941 BlondieGoes Latin Blondiethroughout the U.S, Canadaand flapper in every senseof the word, from couple. But Dagwood, true to his heart, ut • 1941 Blondiein Society internationally. the spit-curls to the strappy heels, Blondie terly disregardedh is father'sestrangemen t • 1942 BlondieGoes to College was a dancin', playin', singin' free-spiritof in favor of his devotionto the one woman • 1942 Blondie'sB lessed Event the 20s. YoungMaster Bumsteadwas by he knew he'd alwayslove--Mrs Blondie • 1942 Blondiefor Victory no meansher only beau-far from it. BoopadoopBumstead . • 1943 It's a GreatLife BlondieBoopadoop was almostinfamous Naturally, this tale of love triumphant • 1943 FootlightGlamour for the numberof eligible beausshe overclass was an instanthit withAmerica 's • 1945 Leave It to Blondie dated with scandalousfrequency . Dag newspaper readers--which in those days • 1946 Life With Blondie wood Bumsteaddidn't stand muchof a was just about anybodywith a nickel in • 1946 Blondie'sLucky Day '11-tt c:on t inujng ad¥cn tu rc..ic of • 1946 Blondie KnowsBest th e, First Family of t.he chanceof catchingher for good until their their pocket. The rest is American Pop Funnie- 6-- Blondi c, Dag:\.vood, Creator,Murat BernardYoung d iscovered Culture history. Havingpassed t heir 75th • 1947 Blondie's Big Moment AJcxandct"- ..C o Qk.i«t; and Dais yr- f('OO;), their h ome- that the wild flapper-girlimage wasn't Anniversaryas a coupleand soon ap • 1947 Blondie's Holiday co you r h o n1e • 1947 Blondie in the Dough playing too well out in the hinterlandso f proachingtheir 80th Anniversaryas sepa TONIGHT Great Depression-strappedAmerica. rate characters,the Bumsteadshave more • 1947 Blondie'sAnniversary • 1948 Blondie'sReward WABC 7:30 P . M. So it was that Youngdecided to give than proventheir endurance,having strad • 1948 Blondie'sSecret the couple a chance. Dagwoodbecame dled two centuries already. on the air for • 1949 Blondie's Big Deal her primary suitor, much to the intense In the five years followingtheir mar • 1940 Blondie Hits the Jackpot displeasureof Dagwood's father who, riage, the Bumsteadsadded cu te little CAMEL • 1950 Blondie's Hero contentto see his young swaindai ly with Alexander' Baby Dumpling'Bumstead to cigarettes • 1950 Bewareo f Biondi?. girls of Miss Boopadoop's sort, was loathe their young family.They'd also adopted 20 21 1k L r eom· Stri. Cha \-~~ the program.There was only one answer energy and strength.Popeye slowed rl/ /fl .-~ ie '- • ru.;ac,- Wheatenareplaced sp inach as Popeye's down the streetcar. It took a few seconds, 1 strengthening food. At the beginning and 4):?"'~ -- ·,,.i,,, ~-- Cha"-flesDiet For but Popeyemanaged to completely derail I / Z,f',r-)i)1~ ,. • end of each broadcast, there were the the stree approachedthe busy 1 tcar beforeit lJl__l.;~,.!>~QJ Radw Show byDannyGoodwin usual Wheatenacommercials narrated by intersection. It was a scary moment, but announcerKelvin Beech. While Beech 11'1 'It, ~; . ): V the good news was nobodywas hurt ! 1 'fl- ) "IA/h t . h. d' t \1.(~~ ,7 ;.,;;< ~ ~~ vv1 ea ena 1s 1s !e, madeWhea tena soundso good, the small except Popeye'sfeet that felt the heat o,. y Jo "C . he asksyou to try_it fry in the listening audience were wonder from the friction of slowing the streetcar ing how it would be involvedin the story. ~':'- 1~:: _' with Popeyethe sailor man." down. In the enclosedsound c lip, Olive, Although Wheatenagave Popeye ~ \..,. '\ \•""', ;;. '::::- - Wimpy,and Matey planned a picnic. They supe human trength on the ogram I I \ 1.,S-4"?._.~!,. : rough, mean sailor who loved to stir up r s pr , trouble-and to beat the starch out of boardeda streetcarthat was going to the the makersof the cereal doesn't promise Radio was magica media the s. Th had reputation a l for Popeye. city limit is streetcar a the same result to everyonewho eats it. children who heard it during its golden The characters and the stories on the of going fast. On this trip, it was a little Eating Wheatenaat breakfasttime sup age. Just like the adults had their favorite radio programwere similar in content to TOO fast. With somesharp curves com plied the energy neededto get the day off programs, the small fry also had theirs. the comic strip- with one noticeableex ing up, the streetcaroperator tried to slow in the right direction. For the most part, these programsfea ception. In the comic strip, when Popeye it down, but the brakesjammed . After the Wheatenaworked out very well in Pop tured the children's favorite comic strip was completelyout of gas, he always streetcar hit a truck in the tracks, the eye's stories on the radio. Good thing the characters. Not only could they read had a can of spinach in his shirt. He had driver was thrown out. The conductor sponsorwasn 't somethingthat was NOT about them in the Sundaynewspaper, the enough strengthto pop the can open and of the streetcar showedhis bravery by to be eaten. Workingthat into the story children could hear them live and in per pour the contentsi nto his mouth.In split voluntarily jumping off. It was Olive, might be very interesting son over the airwaves. One of the comic secondspeed , Popeyehad the strength Wimpy, and Mateyon the speeding strip characters is the subjectof this article. of 10 men (amazingstuff that spinach). streetcar by themselves.In a nutshell, it On Tuesday, September3, 1935, the In no time at all, Popeyewhipped the didn't look very good for the trio. stationsof NBC's Red Networkdebuted daylightsout of Bluto, won Olive's heart With the streetcargathering more the first episodeof POPEYETHE {for the moment), and everyonel ived speed, Popeyecame to the rescue. He SAILOR. It was a serial programheard 3 happily ever after---until the start of a stood in the middle of the tracks, bracing times a week (believed to be Tuesday, new story in next week's comic strip. himself to stop the streetcar.Th is may not Thursday, and Saturday)at 7:15 PM. If spinach was the sponsorof the necessarily be the smartest thing Popeye It was the story of Popeye, who was all Popeyeradio show, ii wouldbe the per or anyoneelse could do. The speeding Navy from head to toe-complete with fect fit. During the 1930's, there were streetcarcontinued i ts deadly pace. It ap the grizzled accentof an "Old Salt." His makersof cannedfruit and vegetables peared Popeyewas headed to the ship in girlfriend (for the most part) was Olive (including spinach), but none of them the sky. Miraculously, Popeye wasn't hit Oyl, who adoredPopeye , but also had came forward. by the streetcar, but he was hangingon somethingof a fickle nature. Popeye's For a radio program to survive on the to the opposite end for dear life. friendwas J. WellingtonWimpy , or "Wimpy" air, it was very importantto have a spon The streetcarwas now approachinga as he was referred to by his friends. His sor. Wheatenawasn 't spinach, but it was busy area of the city. Somethinghad to love was hamburgers- and LOTSof the sponsorof the Popeyeradio program be done- and fast. Matey started cook them {too bad McDonald'sdidn't sponsor {if you're not familiar with Wheatena, it ing someWheatena . Popeyesaid that in this program). Matey was a young boy was a hot wheatcereal). As you already order to stop a fast movingstreetcar , not who was adoptedby Popeye.Swee' Pea know, the sponsorcalled the shots on the to mentionheavy , he needed3 bowls full was a baby left on Olive's doorstep. Last radio programthey sponsored, so the of Wheatena.Popeye devoured the but certainly not least was Bluto, a big, trick here was to involve Wheatenai nto Wheatena. In split secondspeed, he had 22 23 THE SHERIFF cellence. The story line was serious-the ries catalogcontains a dozen of these Old 1lme Radio Radio westerndramas often had a law of world of the late 21st century is controlled fine drama for you. Series Rewiews ficer as the featuredcharacter. THE by an oppressive,violent force called Do SEVENFRONT STREET by Bill Kiddle SHERIFF(aka DEATHVAL LEY DAYS) minion. The practice of freedomhas been The real estate agentstell us that "loca was an anthology that centeredaround crushedand only a small band of rebels tion is location"and the producersof SEXTONBLAKE (BBC) the exploits of "Mark Chase",a World War seek the answer to the secret that will end SEVENFRONT STREET , a mysteryan "Don't let the namefool you." SEXTON 2 vet who returns home to his post as the tyranny. The story is built into thology,tr ied unsuccessfullyto establisha BLAKE,one of the most famousdetec Sheriffof CanyonCounty California. episodesthat never quite connect, and mystery/adventureaddress at a water tives in English entertainmenthistory, was "Sheriff Chase"a bachelor, uses modern the acting and direction nevermeets front dive. Kennth King was the narrator a far cry from a timid characterwho might crime-flightingtoo ls includingpychology STARWARS quality. host of this short-livedseries heard over be a caretakerof church property.On the and a personal bankroll to rehabilitateex SGT PRESTONOF THE YUKON Mutualon Thursdaynights at 8:00. The contrary, back in 1893 authorHenry Blyth offeners.The program, heard for six years, Loversof adventure, those who enjoy the only episodein the series to survive was createda lurid-brawlingcharacter who 6/29/45to 9/14/51over ABC on Friday exploits of the Canadian Northwest titled 'The Sheik', and it was broadcast many indicate "ranks secondonly to nights at 9:30, was best knownfor it's MountedPolice and their faithful sled October2 , 1947. "Sherlock Holmes"in detectivefiction sponsorTwenty Mule TeamBorax. An in dogs working in the snow-encrusted THE SHADOW popularityover a span of a century. terestingside note-Olyn Landick(a male) Yukonregion , had a special program.For Walter Gibson(aka MaxwellGrant) cre SEXTONBLAKE came to the BBClisten played the part of "CassandraDrinkwater " 17 years, between1938-1955 ,SGT PRE ated for pulp fiction the character of THE ers in 1967,and with WilliamFranklin (Cousin Cassie)as a regular memberof STONOF THE YUKON(aka CHAL SHADOW, a mysteriousfigure who was cast in the title role,our hero sets forth to the cast. LENGEOF THE YUKON)was a popular in a battle againstthe forces of evil. Little solve a series of not-so-bafflingmysteries SECRETCITY programdevo ted to the creed that "Moun did this authorrealize at the time that his assistedby his two friends: "Sgt Tinker" Sometimesinteresting genres fail to mix ties always get their men."The series, characterwould become one of radio's (a Cockneypo lice officer) and "Paula and the product, like a home-madean created by TomDougall, was aired out of most enduringheroes. to capture the Day" his lovely secretary. gelfoodcake, faills in the pan. SECRET WXYZ, Detroit. For the first nine years the minds and hearts of radio listeners for a SHADOWOF FU MANCHU CITY, a juveniile detectiveser ial, heard programwas heard in a 15-minuteformat. quarterof a century, from 7/31/30t o British pulp fictor writer Rax Rehmerwas over the Blue Networkfor elevenmonths , Later, in 1947, the programwas ex 12/24/54. By 1937, the fourth season, greatly influencedby the Boxer Rebellion between11/03 /41 an 8/25/42, never pandedto one half hour. RadioMemories "the Shadow'had a well-definedpersona in China(1900) and midst racial tensions quite reacheda level of popularitywith a has an excellentcollection of this show in "Lamont Cranston",wealthy man he invented "the ultimatevi llain"-a Chi pre-teenaudience. This quarter-hour listed unfer CHALLENGEOF THE about-town, played first by OrsonWelles nese mastercriminal of utold wealth, drama heard daily at 5:15 starred Bill YUKONwhich has Jay Michaelcast in (then by severalothers). He had a secret intelligence and accult powers,whose ldelsonas "DetectiveBen Clark" who, the title role. .._identity and the powerof invisibility that goal was world conquest.I n the summer with his mechanicfriend "Jeff Wilson", SF-68 •struck terror into the hearts and mindsof of 1939,just weeksbefore the outbreakof tried to solve the strange"doings " of a fig Radio, the "theatre of the mind" was the all criminals. Radio Memorieshas a ex WorldWar II in Europe, THE SHADOW ure knownas "The Stranger"in long-va most effective and least expensive outlet cellent collectionof episodesfrom this OF FU MANCHUreturned to radio in cant mansion for sciencefiction dramas. During the outstandingradio drama. a quarter-hour,three times a week format. SECRETOF DOMINION 1950'smany excellentsci-fi programs SECONDHOLMES The series, syndicatedby RadioAssoci Over a spanof severaldecades , FLASH were heard over the networksin the US., "Old traditions die hard" and the imageof ates, boastedH anley Staffordand Gale GORDON,BUCK ROGERS , and DIMEN but by 1960 all were gone as radio bowed the immortal 'Sherlock Holmes' continued Gordon(both of later comedicfame) in SIONX all provided radio listenerswith out to TV in the production of good home to burn brightly in the mind of Grant the roles of "Inspector NaylandSmith" interestingga lactic voyagesinto new entertainment.In 1968, English-speaking Eustacewhen he wrote SECOND and "Dr. Petrie", the two "defendersof realms in lime and space. Unfortunately, listeners to radio in SouthAfrica were HOLMES,a new series of programs, WesternC ivilization" againstwhat SECRETOF DOMINION,a reasonably treated to an excellent series of 18 half broughtto the BBC'sRadio 4 in early was called "the Oriental peril." Interesting well produced13-episode story, never hour science fiction dramas,sponsored 1983. Thesewere humorouscases o f de of a type! quite reacheda high level of dramaticex- by a local laundry product RadioMemo - tective "Stamford Holmes•, grandsonof 24 25 SherlockHo lmes. Peter Egan was cast in SILVEREAGLE during the decadeof 1937-1947.During who usedhis powersof detectionand his the title role and JeremyNicholas played According to an old adage"all good things the early years of the series, top-flight ability to understandpeople to solve his faithful companion"Dr. Watson." In come to an end" and SILVEREAGLE, an Hollywoodfi lm talent made their way to crimes. First, Jeff Chandler, and later Stacy this mini-series"Stamford," a reluctant early evening"family" adventure series, the SILVERT HEATREsoundstage under Harris, were cast in the title role. Betty Lou consulting detectivein our modernage , is was one of the last of it's genreto come to the very capabledirection of Conrad Gersonwas also a featuredplayer. The often bored with mundameacts of crime ABC, between7/05/51 and 3/10/55. The Nagel. Well worth the listening! programsponsored by SeabrookFarms , and "Watson"has to spur him on to reach program,sponsored by GeneralMills, was PRIVATEEYE was heard on Sundayafternoons for a few the levels once achievedby the grandfa the story of' Jim West' A CanadianNorth "Steve Mallory"is just anotherde tective months,b etweenMarch 16 and Decem ther. All good fun! west MountedPol icemanwhose exploits who tries to be a SAM SPADEclone and ber 21, 1952. SHERLOCKHOLMES earnedhim the nameof "Silver Eagle." fails. PRIVATEEYE , a half-hourcrime Sir Arthur ConanDoyle"s immortaldetec Veteranradio actor, Jim Ameche,was drama,never advancedbeyond t he audi tive, SHERLOCKHOLMES was one of cast in the title role and his side-kick •Joe tion stage.A rocky script, that was a bit radio's most belovedcharac ters. For over Bideau"was played first by Mike Romano too cute to pass for Spilllane, and some 60 years, between1930 and 1993, the and later by Jack Lester. Other featured shakyacting provedtoo muchof a liability. adventuresof the great Victoriansleuth charcterswere "InspectorAngyle" and PRIVATE FILES OF REX SAUNDERS were recreatedfor listening audiences "Doc" (playedby ClarenceHa rtzell). A Rex Harrison,well-known i nternational both here in the Statesand in the UK. In good half-hourdrama. star of stage and screen, linked up with the 1940's Denis Greenand Anthony SILVERSKY (BBC) producerHiman Brownfor an interesting, Bouchercreated for radio a new series of MostAmericans associate Manchester , yet largely unsuccessful,c rime drama nu; Q U.J\KER. OATS COMPA.NY 8RINGS YOU Holmesadventures that were broadcast Englandwith gritty factories titled PRIVATEFILES OF REX SAUN on Mondayevenings at 8:30 for Petri and the beginningof the Industrial Revolu DERS.The program, sponsoredby RCA ''1hatBre1,rsterBoy Wine. This series make Basil Rathbone tion. However;in 1980 Victor, a home entertainmentgiant, was and Nigel Bruce householdnames. a dramacompany in that fair city pro heard over NBC for three short months, ' Radio Memorieshas an interestingcollec ducedan interesting90-minute betweenMay 2 and August8, 1951, when tion of SHERLOCKHOLMES tapes in radio productionfor BBCTHEATRE. " Sil it held down the 8:30 prime time slot on cluding those of: Conway/Bruce;Gielgud/ ver Sky" was recordedin Wednesdaynights. The show's failure to Richardson,Hobbs/Shelly; Stanley/Sh irley stereo(Do lby) soundand aired on win a a place in the Fall Lineupmay have and of course Rathoneand Bruce. 9/09/80.The story is an original been due in part to its genre. "Rex Saun SILENTMEN sciencefict ion melodramaabout a dis ders" was introducedas "radio's newest DouglasFairbanks Jr.swashbucking hero gruntledEnglish scientist who man of mystery"but he was cut in the attemptsto travel back and forth in space, mold of the famousBULLDOG DRUM of dozensof Hollywoodfilms, shed some ~= -=-e of his macho, romanticpersona when he but ends up collidingwith MOND.Even the opening soundeffects playedthe roles of different US govern a secondt ime capsulepiloted by a lovely were those used for over a decadein the ment agentseach week in SILENTMEN, womanwho is also on a old Mutualcrime drama. Radio Memories Digi~al "transcribedstories of the undercoverop time-spacem ission, but from another has a dozen of the episodesin the series erations of the special agents in every world. Veryinte resting! for your serious consideration. Deli. " - branchof the federal government."This SILVERTHEATRE PRIVATEFILES OF MATTHEWBELL 0 . short-livedprogram , directed by Mr. Fair InternationalSi lver Companyand 1847 Police Surgeonsl ead a very demanding nline banks, was heard over NBC as a sustain RogersBrothers, two of the best- known professional career. THE PRIVATEF ILES "Wherethe GoldenAge of Radio ing feature on Sundays,and later on namesin silverware,sponsored THE SIL OF MATTHEWBELL was a largely un Meetsthe DigitalAge " Wednesdays,between 10 /14/51 and VERT HEATRE,an interesting anthology successful effort by Mutualto provide a 5/28/52. Manyof the dramashad a strong of light-weight original dramasbroadcast new crime drama that focusedupon post-war,Co ld War focus. on Sundayevenings over CBSat 6:00 the exploits of a dedicated medical man www.digitaldeliftp.com 26 27 10/30/43# 300 The Tell-Tale PRIVATEFILES OF REX SAUNDERS RADIOMEMORIES total collection is now available Bullet C18036 05/16/51Done To Death throughAUDIO CLASSICS ARCHIVE ®. Makechecks C02057 11/06/43# 301 A Date To 05/30151Shallow Graves payable to Audio ClassicsPO Box 347Howell,Ml Remember C1803706/06/51 Plan In The Killer's Mind 48844-0347(517) 545-7577Telephone/ Fax 11/13/43 # 302 BelatedRevenge 04/13/51Game With Death $3.50 per tape $5.00shipping 11/20/43# 303 ReturnTo The (Audition) Crime C1803805/02/51 Lady With Hate In C18470 12/07/48Murder P lot 11/27/43# 304 King Spots Her Heart BOB AND RAY 1 Murder 05/09/51A Shocking Sijll Life C18701 08/27/48Tex & The Happy 12/08/48Bil l Collector C0205812 /04/43 # 305 Self Defense C1803906/13/51 A Trip ToThe Death MountainBoys C1762208/08/49 Insult ing Bill Green Or Murder House 06/22/51Roll Call 09/21/49Name The Band 12/11/43 # 306 By HookOr 06/20/51Mu rder Deep In A C20473 08/31/48Bob Is Ill C1762310/21/49 Organ On The Fritz By Crook Killer's Mind 09101148Bob Returns 10/22/49Makers Of Iron Tablets 12118/43# 307 The Eleventh C1804006/27/51 Murder C20474 09/02/48Modern Radio C1860610/26/49 Sings "Let's Harmonize" Hour 07/04/51The FeminineMind Commercials 10127/49Student Assembly For 12/25/43# 308 MurderIn ABC's ConcernedW ith Murder 09103148A Trip To Clinton's Arbor Day C020590 1/01/44 # 309 No EscapeFor C1804107/11/51Murder lsASilent Clothes C1762411/14/49 Monday July 4th A Murderer C20475 09/08/48Kidding The Musicians Broadcast Companion 01/08/44# 310 RevengeI n 07/18/51 Until Death Do Us Part 09/09/48The Gay N inetiesShow 06129/59F irst For CBS The Yukon SHERLOCKHOMES Rathbone Bruce C20476 09/11/48Trans cribed For Broad 06/30/59Mus ical Typewriter & 01/15/44# 311 ForgeryAnd 8972 04/09/45#17 The Viennese cast At A More ConvenientTime C1847103/22/5 1 How To Make An Egg C1 4 Murder Stranger 10111148Ray ReturnsFrom Roll (18 Min. only) 03/24/5 adies Mornng Program 01/22/44# 312 Macbeth's 04/23/45#176 The Notorious Vacation 1 L i 7625 07/01/59Camp Counselor BloodyKnife CanaryTra iner C17621 09/15/48Wonderful Special C1 C0206001/29 /44 # 313 Wolf Pack 09/16/48Electrician Made A 07/02/59 Sportsaphone C1897304/30/4~177 The Unfortunate 07/ 03/59Camp Cavalry 02/05/44 # 314 CabinOn Tobacconist Mistake Yesterday 07/06/59Movie Crit ic The Trail C20477 10/12/48 ColumbusDay 05/07/45#178 The Purloined C1762607/07/59 Our Fella Thursday 02/12/44# 315 Lady Luck Claim 10/25/48Politica l Broadcasts Ruby 07/09/59 LaughMedicine 02/19/44# 316 As A Man C1897 4 09/03/45# 182 The Limping C20478 10/26/48The Red River Porter 07/ 10/59 PheffernickStadium Thinketh housePromotion Ghost 07/13/59Char lie Chu C0206102/26/44 # 317 The Hannagan 09/10/45# 183 Col. Warburton's 10/27/48Winne r OfThe Bob & CHALLENGEOF THE YURON Brothers Madness Ray Contest C0205509/11 /43 # 293 A Swill O' 03/04/44 # 318 The Great C18975 09/17/45#184 The Out Of Date C20479 10/28/48How To Have Fun On Gunpowder Dog King Murder Halloween 09/18/43# 294 King's Ransom 03/11/44# 319 The Vallera 09/24/45#185 The Eyes Of 10/29/48Fan Mail 09/25/43# 295 MurderOn Diamond Mr. Leyton C20480 10/30/48 DinnerAt The Latin Train Time 03/18/44# 320 (MISSING)Paul C1897610/01/45#186The ProblemOf Quarter 10/02/43# 296A Previewed Matthews Thor Bridge 11/08/ 48 Vocal Impersonator Confession C0206203125/44 # 321 King Meets 10/08/45#187 The MysteryOf AuditionsFor The Show C020561 0/09/43# 297 Attempted SoapySm ith The Vanishing Elephant C20481 11/09/48B ill GreenWins Contes t Manslaughter 04/01/44 # 322 A Pack Of Bacon C18977 10/15/45 #188 The ManorHouse 11/10/48 Crosby'sCom ing 10/16/43 # 298 LanternRock 04/08144# 323 Edward Carson 10/22/45#189 The Great Gandolfo C20482 11/13148Sam Shovel 10/23/43# 299 The Ring On 04/15/44# 324 The Plaid Coat 10/29/45 #190 Murder In The 11/15/48The WHDHSa les Office His Finger Moonlight 28 29 C19055 11/12/45# 192 The Speckled C09193 10/07/48Mary's Surprise BOB HOPE RENTALLIBRARY Band 10/14/48The Great Weiner C18116 09/27/38Firs t PepsodentShow 'The GoldenAge of Radio" maybe over, 11/19/45 #193 The Double Zero Roast 10/04/38w/Oliv ia DeHavilland but they are not forgottenand are collect C19056 11/26/45# 194 The Accidental C09194 10/21/48The Babysitter C18117 11/01/38 w/MarthaRaye able. Youcan join our rental library, Murderess 10/28/48Sticky Situation 11/08/38w/Chico Marx receivea catalog and can again hear 12103/45#195 Murder In The C09195 11/04/48 The New Hat C19724 11/22/38 # 9 ClosingTheme Only those favorite forgottenp rograms from Casbah 11/11/48 Toy Repair 05/06/41#33 Frances Langford the past. If you are younger and never C1905712/10/45 #196A Scandal C09196 11/18/48Grab Bag Sale 03/19/46 #27 GovernorOf Ohio heard the fascinating radio broadcast In Bohemia 04/07/49Bli nd Date C17841 12/20/38w/Penny Sing leton, world of drama,comedy, westerns, and 12/17/45 #197 The Second C09197 04/14/49Shortstop Arthur Lake sciencefiction, you can now discoverand Generation 04/21/49 First Date 03/07/39w/Judy Garland collect these programs.We offer the best C19058 12/24/45#198 The Night Before C09198 04/28/49 First Impressions C18118 04/11/39 w/Jackie Coogan, soundingprograms on cassettestha t you Christmas 05/05/49Home r's Anniversary Betty Grable can listen to at homeor on the go. Listen 12/31/45#199 The Iron Box C09199 05/13/49Sp ring Fever 03/11/41 w/DizzyDean on your Walkman or your automobile's C19059 01/07/46#200 The Murderer Ice FishingFor Fruitcake C17842 01/28/4 1 w/Basil Rathbone cassettedeck and let talk radio be a thing In Wax C09200 ModelAi rplane Race 04/15/41 w/HeddaHopper of the past. Drive time will be more 01/28/46#203 The Demon Mothe~sDay Dinner C18119 04/01/41w/Kate Smith enjoyable Barber C09201 SchoolPicnic 11/09/43w/Jane Wyman QUALITY/ COST C18516 01/21/46The Telltale Pigeon The Cross CountryRace C17843 06/03/41 w/HumphreyBogart All cassetteprograms in this catalogare Feathers C15437 02/21/52 The DebateTeam 10/13/42w/Bette Davis of superior sound.We will offer complete 02/04/46The Indiscretion Of 11/23/52Las t Turkey For C17844 01/05/43 w/Rita Hayworth listing of each series in future editions of Mr. Edwards Thanksgiving 02/09/43w/Dorothy Lamour , our rental catalog, including programs SF-68 (SOUTH AFR ICAN) AMOS 'NANDY Paulette Goddard, VeronicaLake that may contain some sound problems C16193J enny With Wings C02557 10/08/43Andy 's New Wife C17845 09/28/43w/Orson Welles for those advancecollectors that would Homecoming 10/15/43The Maestro 12/28/43w/Cary Grant ke to include ll ogramsava lable pro C16195The Castaway C02558 10/22/43Courtroom Catas trophe li a pr i , C17846 01/04/44w/Gary Coope r gfcfmswith sound oblemswill be clearly The New Wine 11/05/43The LockedTrunk's pr 02/08/44w/Ginger Rogers markedwi th an astensk. For now, how C16197The Will Secret C17847 02/29/44w/Lum & Abner ever, you can receivea complete listing of Watchb ird C02559 11/12/43 Matrimonial Mishap 01/30/45w/Edward G. Robinson your favoriteser ies by writing to RADIO C16192Wanted In Surgery 11/19/43Turkey Trouble C18120 01/02/45w/The Andrews Sisters MEMORIESand reques ch ngs. RoutineExe cise C02560 11/26/43Man's Best Friend t su listi r 02/27/45w/Frank Sina tra C16962A Sound Of Thunder 12/03/43Candy For Caroline For the cassettesliste d in this catalog, C18121 05/29/45w/Herber t Marshall, C-90 Greenville'sPlane t C02561 12/10/43Bookends & Babies you will find nothing but the most Bing Crosby ROD STEELESer ial 12/17/43The Marriage favorable sound,and here is the best 03/05/46w/Dav id Niven (South African) Counselor information, price. Eachcassette rentsf or C14866 02/02/45From Naval Training ust $1.00 ach sth. Write today for C16196The Death Dust C02562 12/31/43 New Year's Eve-1943 j e plus Center In Memphis morede ailed mation RADIO C-90 Space Cow 01/07/44Mak ing Sapphire Proud t infor to 12/17/48Doris Day The Cage C02563 01/14/44 Orchids& Violets MEMORIES. Visit our web site C14864 10/23/45Me l Blanc,F rances THE ALDRICHFAMILY 01/21144 Charles Boyer's Valet Langford C162061 1/20/44McCa ll's Bike C02564 01/28/44Wind Fall 12/18/45Lt CommanderWayne www.radiomemories.com 01/25/45Church & Chocolate 02/04/44Missing Person's Morris C0919206/24/48 Summer time Blues Bureau C14865 11/27/45Peg Ryan 09/16/48 A Quiet Night At Home 12/04/45Herbert Marshai l 30 ::\1