Visit our Club's web site at www.mwotrc.com VOLUME 31 AUGUST 2014 NUMBER 4 Kathleen Hite: Radio Writer Pioneer By Stewart Wright © 2014 Kathleen Hite traced her roots to nationally aired series, The Adventures of Philip pioneering family members who helped settle the Marlowe. West. She was a pioneer in her own right, Sometime in late 1950 or early 1951 , becoming the first West Coast-based woman CBS Kathleen Hite made a major career decision: she radio script writer. After penning approximately decided to leave her position as a CBS staff 200 radio scripts, she would become a highly writer/editor and then become a freelance radio successful writer for television. writer. Freelancing was a more risky proposition, Hite was born June 17, 1917 and raised in but paid far better. She could write for any of the Kansas. She credits her ambition to become a networks and could earn as much as $450.00 per writer to her grandmother who told wonderful script as opposed to less than $100.00 as a staff stories about Kansas and the West in the 19th script writer. century. Other family members, including her Hite's first major free-lance assignment father and grandfather related additional was to pen the scripts for the 1951 summer run of narratives about their adventures in the West Norman Macdonnell's Philip Marlowe series. It involving prospecting, mining, and ranching. was the beginning of a collaboration that would These stories provided background for her radio span more than 20 years and continue into the and later, television scripts. new medium of television. The Marlowe scripts Upon graduation from the University of were the first of Hite's 109 scripts and adaptations Wichita in 1938, Hite worked as a continuity writer that she wrote for radio shows directed by for NBC affiliate KANS in Wichita. She decided to Macdonnell. Only John Meston and Les try to become a network radio script writer. In Crutchfield wrote or adapted more scripts for 1943, she moved to California and got a job with Macdonnell. CBS. She remembered at that the time, "CBS had a policy against hiring women writers so I hired on as a secretary. I figured once I got inside the building I could destroy them from within .... I badgered the head of the writing department until he gave me a chance to write." Within a year she became the first woman ~ ~ - staff writer at CBS. She wrote scripts for CBS Through 1960 Hite would supply scripts West Coast Network series such as Fact or for other Macdonnell radio series such as The Fantasy, One For The Book, The People Next Judge, Escape, The Lux Summer Theatre, Door, The City, The Ghost Walks, and The Private Rogers of the Gazette, Romance, and Suspense. Practice of Dr. Dana. In 1950 she was promoted Additionally, Hite penned scripts for 28 of the 40 to script editor of the regional network's most broadcasts for MacDonnell's Fort Laramie and 7 prestigious series: The Whistler. Two months (continued on pg. 4) later she also became the script editor of the 1 RADIO RECALL, a journal of the MWOTRC is published 6 times yearly. Deadlines are 15th of each odd-numbered month. Opinions expressed are those of the author, not necessarily those of MWOTRC. Permission to reprint given upon request, with permission of author. Advertisement rates : $ 90 for full page; $ 65 for 3/4 page;$ 40 for 1/ 2 page; $ 25 for 1/4 page. Contact Editor for requirements. MWOTRC may be contacted through its business address: P. 0 . Box 638, Walkersville, MD 21793-0638 or by contacting any of the below listed club representatives: *Pres: Fred Berney, 8379 Inspiration Ave, Walkersville, MD 21793, 301-845-7103 <[email protected]> * V.P: Jeff Whipple, 6154 Roxbury Av, Springfield, VA 22152, 703-451-2661 , <[email protected] > - *Treas: Michael Hayde, 7618 Somerset Ln, Manassas, VA 20111 , 703-331-0714 <[email protected] > • Membership: Jeff Whipple, 6154 Roxbury Av, Springfield, VA 22152, 703-451-2661 , <[email protected]> * PrintNideo Library: M&M Bush, 6437 Fifth St, Alexandria, VA 22312, 703-354-7852, <[email protected]> *Audio Library: Rebecca Jones, P.O. Box 638, Walkersville, MD 21793-0638 <[email protected]> *Editor: Jack French, 5137 Richardson Dr, Fairfax, VA 22032-2810, 703-978-1236, <[email protected] > * GRTR: Mark Anderson, 10275 Old St. Augustine Rd. Apt. 1024, Jacksonville FL 32257 <[email protected]> * Webmaster: Robert "Bob" Bybee, Ethan Terrace, Stuart, FL, <[email protected]> *Archivist: Michael Hayde, 7618 Somerset Ln, Manassas, VA 20111 , 703-331-0714 <[email protected] > . MWOTRC was created in 1984 by Jim Burnette (1945-2001 ), our President Emeritus. Annual dues $20 to locals and $ 1 5 to others, and seniors. Regular meetings are held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbia Pike and Wayne St, Arlington, VA the 2nd Friday evening of every month, except Jun and Dec_, when meetings are held Saturday noon at a local restaurant TBA. UPCOMING OTR EVENTS August 10-17, 2014 Second Annual Radio Spirits Cruise with Greg Bell : Booking has started for this cruise leaving out of Port Canaveral on August 10, 2014 to the Caribbean, touching ports in Coco Bay, St. Marten and St. Thomas. Old Time Radio events, games, re-creations (with passengers playing roles and doing live sound effects.) Average cost per person$ 1450. Learn more from the cruise newsletter and you may go to their official website at <http://www.cruisingwithgregbell.com> for more information and pictures from 2013 cruise. September 18-20, 2014 Ninth Annual Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention Hunt Valley Wyndham, Hunt Valley, MD. A myriad of panels, movies, celebrity appearances, seminars. Topics include TV's Maverick and Cheyenne, movies of Buffalo Bill and Frankenstein, plus sock-hop and drive-in movie. Dozens of vendors with pop-culture items for sale. Abbott and Costello impersonators will entertain you. Meet celebrities: Connie Stevens, Lana Wood, Angela , Veronica Cartwright and George Lazenby AKA "James Bond" plus more to be announced soon. (Connie Stevens thinks she can talk Robert Conrad into coming.) More details at: <http://midatlanticnostalgiaconvention.com> September 27-28, 2014 Tom Mix Western Heritage Weekend Downtown Dewey, OK. Free admission: Parade, cattle drive in Main Street, mock gunfights, live bands, western games, and Tom Mix look-alikes. "Cowboy and Indian" re-enactments, and more! Every Straight-Shooter has to make this pilgrimage to Tom's town at least once. All details at: www.travelok.com/listings/view .profile/id.18618 November 14, 15,and 16, 2014: SPERDVAC Convention Holiday Inn -Burbank Media Center, 150 E. Angeleno, Burbank, CA 91502. (Minutes from Disney Studios, Warner Brothers & Universal Studios.. .. .free shuttle to Bob Hope Airport) Dozens of prominent guest stars, some of whom will be in re-creations and panels. OTA authors present for autographs. More details to be announced. Point your mouse at <www.sperdvac.org> 2 . ~.a VV Voiceof the r Listener Dear Mr. French, Dear Jack, I'm a long time subscriber to RADIO RECALL A friend of mine asked me to help and I used to attend FOTR Newark. I never see any identify an western song from (probably) replies to the questions asked in Letters to the a cowboy radio series. She recalls Editor. Where do I find this information? Please something like "Ridin', ropin', all day in give me the address of Frank Rosin, editor of Air the hot sunshine" or something similar. Check for REPS. Remember, she's trying to think back a Harold Feinstein loooooong time! Can you help? University Hgts, Ohio Henry lckces Arlington, VA Dear Editor, Is it OK to reprint articles from Hi Mr. French, RADIO RECALL in our newsletter ? I Issue #41 of Fadeaway is out and I 've sent usually write one or two articles myself you a hard copy. The "Letters to Editor" column but get little help from our own members. has some reader comments about your "Bobby I would appreciate very much if you can Benson" article (which appeared in Fadeaway let me know. Thanks a bunch # 40) you might be interested in reading. Print Tom Cherre, Editor: copy should arrive Monday or so. The Illustrated Press Bob Jennings Cheektowaga, NY Oxford, MA Dear Mr. French, Dear Jack- Thank you for Rob Farr's review of our Orson Just got the June 2014 issue: A great Welles book, which appeared in June 2014 RADIO RADIO RECALL! H certainly does our RECALL. It is an excellent, scholarly piece. This club's 30th anniversary a great honor. review has been posted on the Bear Manor Media Many thanks to you. blog. We appreciate your efforts at mutual Ken Neal promotions. Kerrville, TX David Menefee Bear Manor Media Dear Jack, Regarding Amanda Bruce's inquiry about Dear Editor Robert Maxwell, please forward to her the I just wanted to send a thank you note attachment enclosed. She should also examine for your club's web page containing Gary Grossman's 1976 Superman book. (I'll loan information on radio history and other her my copy.) communications Cort Vitty My school kids at Yosemite Park have Davidson, MD had some fun "end-of-the-year projects" to do, including a timeline of technology Dear Editor, and broadcast communication! We've Thanks for our first issue of RADIO been looking for resources to cite and RECALL. We enjoyed the 30th your web pages helped my students a Anniversary luncheon and look forward to great deal. attending the July meeting. Mrs. Kathy Miller Margaret and Bill Harris Yosemite, CA (via email) All letters must be signed, but name withheld if or1glnator so specifies.