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!B Vresb February 2008

!B Vresb February 2008

The Old Time Radio Club Established 1975 !b VreSB February 2008

8th St. Theatre, Membership Information Club Officers

Club Membership: $1 8.00 per year from January 1 President to December 31. Members receive a tape l~brarylisl- Jerry Collins (716) 683-6199 ing, reference l~brary listing and the monthly 56 Christen Ct. newsletter. Memberships are as follows. If you jo~n Lancaster, NY 14086 January-March, $1 8.00: April-June, $1 4; July- collinsif(avahoo.cor~ September, $1 0: October-Decem ber. $7. All renewals should be sent in as soon as possible lo Vice President & Canadian Branch avoid missing newsletter issues. Please be sure to Richard Simpson (905) 892-4608 notify us if you have a change of address. The Old 960 Road R.R. 3 Time Radio Club meets on the first Monday of the 76 Fenwick, Ontario month at 7:30 PM during the months of September through June at St. Aloyslus School Hall, Cleveland Canada, LOS 1CO Drive and Century Road, Cheektowaga, NY. There IS I~Pmeeting during the month of July, and an Treasurer informal meeting is held in the month of August. Dominic Parisi (716) 884-2004 38 Ardmore PI. Anyone interested In the Golden Age of Radio is Buffalo, NY 14213 welcome. The Old Time Radio Ciub is affiliated with the Old Time Rad~oNetwork Membership Renewals, Change of Address Peter Bellanca (71 6) 773-2485 --Club Maw Address 1620 Ferry Road Grand Island, NY 14072 Old Time Radlo Club [email protected] 56 Christen Ct. Lancaster, NY 14086 Membership Inquires and OTR E-Mail Address [email protected] Network Related Items w Richard 0 lday (71 6) 684-1604 171 Parwood Trail All Submissions are subject to approval Depew, NY 14043-1071 prior to actual publ~cat:on. [email protected] Deadline for The Illustrated Press is the Technical Manager I st of each month prior to publication. Bob MCDIVI~~(716) 681-8073 109 Poinciana Pkwy. The Press is the newsletter of the Old Cheektowaga, NY 14225 Time Radio Ckb, headquartered in New [email protected] York State, It is published monthly except for the months of July and August. Contents except where Cassette, CD and Reference Librarian noted are copyright O 2008 by the OTRC. Frank Bork (716) 601 -7234 10 Dover Ct. Send all articles, letters, exchange newsletters, Lancaster, NY 14086 etc. to: The Illustrated Press [email protected] c/o Ken Krug, Editor (716) 684-5290 73 Banner Avenue Rates: Lancaster, NY 1 4086-1 930 Audio cassettes and CDs are $1.95 each and are E-Mall address: [email protected] recorded on a club sumlied cassette or CD which is retained by the member. Rates ~ncludepostage Web Page Address: and handling and are payable in U.S,funds. mernbers.localnet.com/ " robmcd The Illustrated press

musical "Honeymoon Lane." While on Broadway Kate found her new role to be more of a bflooa than a singer. Although she performed in many gmd musicals she was unhappy with the direction in which her Gareer was Kate heading. Many performers, including Bert Lahr, would chide her about her weight and appearance. She was more or less being cast for her size rather than her voice, Smith Things changed for the better when Columbia Recards VF Ted Collins, longtime partner and manager, put her & on the radio In 1931. She had one of the most popular 'God Bless shows on the air and began recording hit after hit. In 1938 Irving Berlin was mked to write a patriotic song. America" kRer not corning up with anything he recall4 an old sang he wrote back in 1918 while atationed on Long Island. That song was rejected and he threw it in hie by trunk. Me later dug it out and gave it to Kate Smith to TOM CHERRE sing. Shortly aRer the war started in Europe she pre- miered "God Bless America" on her radio show and the Like many of us, I watched the recent Ice Bowl game and phones never stopped ringing. During World War I1 waa very pleased with the way Runan vansang Kate Smith was credited with selling over 600 million 'W Bless America." He is a fine sinar- and did the dollars worth of war bonds, She also recorded over 2000 song proud, but I'm sure none of you will disagree that songs, 19 of them being million aellere. At that time Kate Smith and only Kate can captivate an audience Crwby was the number one male vocalist. Kate won the with that strong Bense of emotion and patriotism. Back choice for best female vocalist. in the 1970s her populari'ty soard to new heights with nnother generation when she perform4 at The Officials at the Spectrum noted that when the National Spectrum for the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Anthem was played there was movement, noise and a lot finals. She was like a god luck charm, the Flyers having of disrespect. When Kate sang "God Bless Arneria" won a lot more games when she sang in person or when eveqwne was quiet and respectful. To make a case in her recording was played, Aa Kate would say "It ain't point I did DJ music for a number of years back then. At begun till the fat lady sings." many wddings, dances and parties I often closed with "God Bless America" and many, many times people My earliest recollection of Kate Smith goes back to the would form a circle hold hands and join in the singing. early 1950s when she had her afternoon W show. I And thia was way before 9-11. I still get a cM1 every tine would usually catch her closing theme song "When The I hear a recording of Kate Smith singing that song. Moon Comes Over The Mountain." I would kid my mom Ining Berlin said chat this wan his favorite song and it using the high falsetto and make wise cracks about would give Kate Smith immortality. He was so right. Kate's huge size. I realize Z was wrong and never appre- They skill play it at ciated her for what she was, but then again I was a little the 7th inning squirt. Now I believe she was a truly remarkable person. stretch at Yankee Stadium.ThaC'6 She was born Kathryn Elizabeth Smith in Washington something good to DC in 1907. As a young girl she sang in church choirs be said for Mr. and fbr community events. When she was only eight Stein~brenner. We years old she was presented with a medal by General were tdyblessed to Pmfiing for entertaining the troops ~tationedin the have her bestow her Capital area. By the time she was fifteen Kate won just immense talents on about every amateur singing contest there was in the us. Kate Smith who dty. Her only dream was to be a Broadway singer. Her never marrid, did parents were agaiM her in her bid to be a singer and of diabetes in 1986 at &r hi& school she enrolled into Nursing College. the age of 79 in However, she was offered a week's engagement on the Raleigh, North same billing with Eddie Dowling so she quit school and Carolina. God Blese never looked back again. This Id to the part of "Wny America and God Little" in Atlantic City and then on to the Broadway Bless Kate Smith. Illustrated &ess 3 The following radio shows pr~mieredin 1948: Zhe &W 1948 in %aim 1. The Phil Harris Alice Faye Show for Rexall 2. Life with Luigi By JERRY COLLINS 3. Our Miss. Brooks 4. Straight Arrow 5. .Jeff Regan The Top events of I948 included: 6. Th? Hallmark Hall of Fame I. Baseball's great,est hero Bahc Ruth died from cancer. teams and 2. The Berlin Blockade led to the Berlin Airlift. The following individuals won cham- pionships in 1948: 3. The Marshall Plan begins its aid program to Western Europe. I. The Clev~lsndIndians defeated the Boston Bravcs World 4. In one of the greatest upsets in Att~ericanpolitical in six garnes to win The S~ries. Stwe Van scorrd only touchdown the history Harry Truman defrated Thomas Dewey. 2. Buren the as 5. CBS introducecl the 33-113long playing vinyl Philadelphia Ea~lesdefeated the Chicagr, Cardinals 7-0 record. in a bllnding snowstorm Tor The NFL title. 3. St. Louis Uliiveraity won the NIT title with a 66-52 6. Mohandas Gandhi wa~fatally shot by a Hindu fanatic. victorv over NYU before 18,491 fans at the Garden. 7. Congress created the House Cot~itnittee on Un- Ed Macauley led the winners with 23 points. American Activities as another "Red Scare" begins. 4. Kentucky defeated Baylor 58-42 to win the NCAA gnmc was fans, Swn they began their it~t'nmousinvestigation of the title. The played before 16,174 the "Hollywood Ten." second smallest crowd of the season at Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats were led by Alex 8. Margaret Sanger, a leader in thr US birth control movement, helps in the establishment of th~ Grr17.a with 14 points and Ralph Beard with 12 International Plann~dParenthood Committc~. poi~lts 5. It was a hitt~r'syear in baseball. Although Joe 9. Orville Wright and DW Grifith, two great inrlova- DiMaggo hit 39 homeruns alotlg with 155 tors and pioneers, both die in 1948. RBI's and Ted Williams batted ,369with a slugfing per- 10. Edwin H. Land introduced an instant camera, the .355 Polaroid Land Camera. centage of ,615, it was Lou Boudreau with a batting average that was named the American 11. The Civil Air Patrol was established. League Stan Musial is the Yational League 12. The Supreme Court ruled that religious education MVP. MVP with a batting average of ,376,a slugpng per- could tiot be taught in public schools. centage of ,702, 39 humeruns, 18 triples, 46 doubles 13. Alfred Kinsey, a biology professor at the University atid 131 RBI's. of Indiana, published a book on human male sexual behavior. 6. Eddle Arcaro rode "Citation" to racing's Triple 14. Toast of the Town hosted by Ed Sullivan premieres Crown. 7. Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open as his way to being on CBS televiaion. golrs top money winner at over $32,000. 15. Candid Camera Premiered on television. 8. Thc Toronto Maple Leafs dominated the 1917-48 16. The movie "Hells Angels." hockey season with a 32- 15-13 rcgdar season led to the increased popularity of the Harley- record. They concluded the season with a four-game Davidson Motorcycle. swyep of Detroit for the Stanley Cup. 17. Nestles Qu~cli,Scrabble, Ilia1 antibacterial soap and 9. .Joe Louis continued as heavyweight champion, V8 vegetable juice all hit thr market. although Jersey Joe Walcott gave him a tough fight 18. Professional wrestling debuts on prime-time net in August. Other top fighters wpre Gus Lesnevich work television (Dumont). (LHW). Tony Zale IMW), Rocky Graziano (MW), 19. Fornler Japanese Prime Minister, Tojo and six Marcel Cerdan (MU.'). Ray Robitlson (WW),Ike other Japanese wartime ufficials are executed for Willian~s[LW) Sandy Saddler (FW) and Willie Pep war crimes. I FW) 20. The 1940 artd 1944 Olymplcs were cancelled. The Olympics were resumed it1 1948 in London. Top movies of the year: 1. Thp Treasure of Sierra Madre The Cost of Lici~~gfor 1948: 2. Key l,argo 1. Average income - $2,933 3. Easter Parade 2. First Class Stamp - $.03 4. Hamlet 3. Admiral TVlphonogmph/radio - $549.513 5. Johnny Belinda 4. Buick Roadmaster - $2,900 6. A For~ikmAffair -Tile lllustrnt~clPress

1. The Naked City over 75 boob in the Club's Library that also had to be 2. A Gentleman's Agreement moved. Also 4 file size boxes of reference material, 3 3. The Farmer's Daughter boxes of blank cas~~ttesand cassette cases, all jamed 4. A Double Life into my minivan and brought to my new home. That's 5. Miracle on 34th Street not all, now came the job of carrying them one by one 6. 1 Remember Mama into the bawrnent. Then stacking them in numerical order to be placed on tlie racks when the paint dryed. ThFauorit~ songs of 1948: 1. Button and Bows My thanks and the Club's thanks go to Don, Ben and 2. 011a Slow Boat to China Ben's dad. 3. My Darling, My Darling P.S I forgot Ben's dad's first name. Well what can I say? Popular television shows of 1948 When you get to be my age, sometimes you forget things. 1. Texaco Star Theater (Milton Berle) By the way what did you say your name was ? 2. Toast of the Town (Ed Sullivan) 3. Candid Camera (Allen Funt) 4. Camel Newsreel Theater (John Cameron Swayzr! 5. Studio One 6. Philco TV Playhuuse @q "mm;'fr"m 7. Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts 8. Chesterfield Supper Club (Perry Como, Mailbag The most popular books of 1948 included: Hello Ken, 1. The Big Fisherman As usual, loved the December IP, especlully the arfi- 2. The Naked and the Dead cle on Red Barber. When I was a kid growtng tip tr~the 3. Crusade in Europe Bronx the radio was our entry to the world. AY I wulked 4. The Gathering Storm alorig the strr,ef oil l~itdowswere open due to the sum- 5. Roosevelt and Hopkins mer heat. li'r ht.ard the I:OLC~Sof Rcd Barber and Me! Allen conting rrur~ttllr ~rpartrr~~nts.They told us what was happening on thr field Then aper Red retired he was stcll hmi-ci eoply Friday on Public Radio for 5 min- utes with Bob Edwurds. How wonderful it was. Take care, Alan GLaser

Dear Editor: By FRANK BORK I foitnd Torri Cherre's article on Barton Yarborough uery enjoyable, although I iuav piizzled by his opening paragraph. Iiow could Yarborough be considered a About=a 3 months agu in early Novcmbrr I mowd la my "poor choice" for tile role of Sgt. Ben Romero? The role new home in Lancaster, NY. A crluple ul' WPR~Pl~tcr I was created for him! was ready to move the Club's Libmry, well just some of As I wrote in my book, Jack Webb wanted it. 50 large boxes of reel-to-reel tapes. Bob McDivitt, Yarborough to portruy his "Dragnet"par1ner.He'd Dick Olday, yes that's 'I'he Sinister Dick Olday of the old worked with hint on "Escape" and "Jeff Rega11" and days. Wow has he ever changed. Bob, Dick and myself believed they would work well together; as Peggy acted as Supervisors, while Dick's son did 9R4 of the Webber told me, Yarborough brought "o good conlmst work. Well after all we just couldn't let him do every- with Jack." Yarborough was clearly a Texan, so hozu thing now could we ? dues a Texar~become a Los Angeles cop? Well, he nlust live in L.A. - so the question is, why? Perhitps kc has or The Radio Club's thanks and mine go to Bob and Dick. had family living in the area, and decided he wanted to Plus a very special thanks t:) Dick's son. settle there. How is it that there would bc fan~ilyin hotl~places - what's the link? Mexico, of cotrrs~. On Novcmber 15th, Don Boyack, Ben Bookhagen and Ergo, Sgt. Romero is a Texan of .Wexican descent, which Ben's father helped me move 54 hoxes containing well wus ~rrrntionetJin at least one of Ben and Joe's sidebar over 60OU Radim Cassettes. That's not dl, there were conversatiorra. Also. Mr. C'herre's statcnz~ntthat JOFFrrduy's fulure 19~eGmnd Ole Opry has been broadcast every Saturday partners "rteuer equal~dthe rank of Sgl. Bcn Ror?lero" night over Nashville-based station WSM since is untrue The partrrer rmrnediately follou~rr!gRontero November 28, 1925, milking it the nation's oldest contin- was Sgt. Ed Jncobs, portray~dby Barney Phcllips. Thr uous radio program. l,en WSM joined the fledgling rank of fulrrru porlners changcrl srrnply bet-ause the National Broadcasting [:urnpuny in 1926, the WSM Rarn LAPD ceast-d pni:.lng Dctectr~.e-S~rgour~ts Dance reached a regional listening aitdiellce. On Sincerely, Dccenlber 8, 1928, thp program followed an NBC pro- Michael J. Hqydv gram of grand opera from Nrw York. Host George Hay author, MY N.4.1fE'S FRIDAY: TAc L:riultthorzzed but annourlced to listenere that they were now to hear True Story of DRAGNET and thr Filtns of Jack Webb ''gr~ndole opry" . . . and thr real is histoy,. (also n rrienlht-l-of /Ire M~ti-~p~/tl~?lLVosl~tngton Old- T~tneRaclc~ I'lrrh) As the Opry grew, WSM had an unant~cipatedproblcm accolnmodating the drsirfss of listeners to attend the weekly l~ruadcasts.Tickets were distributed by inaur- ance salestnen working fur the station's parent compa- BEING THERE: ny. A specially-constructed radio studio was quickly out- grrjwn, and the program moved to several venues during Collecting Radio Broadcast the 19:10s. I"tc~rnJune 1936 until Julv 1939, the show was hrozrdcsst from the 3500-seat ~ixie~abernacle on Admission Tickets Fatherlitnd Street in east Nashville. It was during this By RICK PAYNE (All Righls Reserved ZIIU6, per~odthat Hay Acuff joined the Opry cast, and during this period that the music shifted to featuring vocals Drtr~rtgthe golden age of radlo, nelwvr/ls and sportsol-s over it~strutr~rntals.The ticket style pictured above was ini.itzd the general public to attend hue perfomatlrcb ~f used dutitlg that run. t~iurl,~popular prvgmrns. Fur the performers, th~yrrs- grrce of the studlo audience provrded encuumgrrrt~rli, Eventually, the residents of thc area protested so loudIy laugl~terand appreclatlorl. For the audlerice, Lhv crprrl- about tho diari~ptioncaused by the broadcasts that the erice was an unforgettable opportr~rlity to see lhetr show was forrrd to move to the smaller 2000-seat War favortf~e~ttei-ta~nrrs at work. Tirkels from some broad- Meinorial Auditorium. It was there that the program casts sur-ciue today . . . waitirg for coll~ctorshke rn~ went national for Pril~ceAlhert Tobacco in October 1939. In 1943, '1'11~Grand Ole #pry moved to the leg- Radio providrd thc primary sourcc of falnily entertain- endary Ryman Auditorium, where it continued until program from ment, and it WAS inev~tablt:that pro~~-ranlmingwould 1974. Today, the or~yinates Opryland reflect the rur:il bis~.of Amrrica. Then, as now, people USA. embraced country and westerti-ttietned shows. They reflect cure Anwriran v:~lues. . :I spirit of being good EIGHTH STREET THEATRE ~leighhorswith humble upbringing, and exemplifying :r:. Wabamh Avr. Chirmro T.tmphanm Hwrton 6dM that an average guy with desire attd talent can rise to ------.- - - dizzying heights of fame. That's tk,~At~~~rican dream.

At it's heyday in the 1930s and early 19405, the show Thc Novcmb~r16, 1941 show aired from his Flying A was brilliantly marketed to create a personal bond Ranch in Berwyn, Oklahoma . . . where city officials ofi- between audience and performers. WLS and priilcipal cially changed the name of the town to , sponsor Alka-Seltzer offered a 1,remendous number of Oklahoma. This 1942 ticket is for a broadcast frotn photographs, yearbooks, autograph albums and song- Cleveland, which elected nnt to change its name. books as premiums. Listcncrs took a personal interrst in the romance and eventual marriage of performers Lulu Helle and Skyland Scotty. National Barn Dance was a COLUMBIA SQUARE PLAYHOUSE springboard for the careers of Gene Autry: Fat Buttram, 6 121 SUNSET BLVD. - HOL t Y WOOD SEPT. the Hoosier Hot Shots, , George Gobel and countless others. A broadcast originating from thc 1933 "UNDER WESTERN SKIES" Johnny Mack Btown Chicago World's Fair drew :I crowd of uver 35,000 peo- 1939 Tho Toxar Rsngsn + ple! M:30 p.m. + and Doors Close Ruth Holloway & National Barn Dance originated from Chicago's 1200- at 355 p.m. , OlllORaJ UNDER 12 YEARS WILL NOT BE ADMITWO 1 seat Eighth Street Theatre on Saturday nights from 1931 to 1957. Over three million people paid to attend Gene Autry wasn't the first movie cowboy to host his the broadcasts after long waits for tickets. They received own radio series. Buck Jones hosted a 1937 series called beautiful souvenir program booklets. Despite that, I've Hoofbeats for Grape-Nuts Flakes. Tom Mix, of course, never found a full ticket from a broadcast. 'I'he best I can never personally performed on radio's 2'0n1Mix Ilulsfon offer is the 1937 stub and original envelope pictured Straight Sl~.ootersprogram. And Ken Maynard starrcd in above. I'm at a loss as to why the 10 PM show cost 20 a syndicated serics called Tales ofthe Diamond K in the cents more than the 730 show. 1930s.

THE COLUMBIA BAOAOCASIIMG SYSTEM But in 1939, Johnny Mack Hrown headlined the short- WGAR STUDIOS wzlived musical varicty series Under Westarn Skies un CLNEUND. OHIO *cg, CBS. As halfl~ack,he had led thc 1926 Alabama football ;=- B team to a national championship and memorable Rose APRIL DOUBLEMINT GUM ~00 PRESENTS >? nY Buwl victory. From 1927 to 1966, he appeared in nearly <+ 2 150 western films. At the time of the radio scrics, hc was GENE AUTRY -9, starring in B-westcrns for Universal. In El -i 12 MELODY RANCH Sun5AY ,-3 8:30--,:I5 p.m. Daom do= a.m. 1842 There's very little information on the series, which last- ed only 15 weeks. The final broadcast was on October 6, After his early 1930s appearances on National Barn 1939. I have no reason to believe that Johnny Mack sang Dance, Gene Autry headed west and became the most on the show, but we'll have to await the discovery of a popular singing movie cowboy of the decade. He held surviving transcription to be sure. His singing voice was that ranking until he enlisted in the Army Air Corps reportedly dubbed in his only screen attempt ("Drifting during the war, when assumed the mantle of Along" in 1946). He usualIy relied on others to carry thc "King of the Cowboys." Gene returned after the war and tunes in his oaters. built a powerful financial and broadcasting empire. He remains the only entertainer with five stars on the CBS RADIO NWORK Hollywood Walk of Fame . . . representing his success in SATURDAY radio, films, television, records and live theatrical per- COLUMBIA SQUARE OCTOBER z formances. 41 21 SUNSET BLVD, - Itudlo C 22 The Gene Autry radio program, officially know11 as BRISTOL MYERS Prcrtntr 1955 Melody Raneft, debuted on CBS in January 1940. Gene Ur JIMMY WAKELY 730.8 p.m. was joined by fellow Nationnl Barri Dance veteran Pat -J wlfh Doon Close 4 Buttram, his co-star for many films. The Chicago-based THE THREE RAYS at 7:lOp.m. William Wrigley Company sponsored the program for Ch1ldr.u Ween8 & 12 wlll h odrlttrd witb adulh the complete run through 1956. One of those singers that Johnny Mack Hrown relied on Melody Ranch usually originated from Columbia Square in the movies was a youngster discovcrcd by Gene Autry. in Hollywood, but occasionally aired from other loca- Young Jimmy Wakely was performing in Oklahoma City tions due to Gene's many personal appearance tours. when Autry heard his country music trio and invited ,-Tlzr ilk [st,-ccted hess

them to join his new Melody Ranch ser~rsin 1940. Hc Tin) Sperlcrr wrote the song (tlotably "Cool Water" and stayed with the show until 1942, but was quickly s~gn~d "Tumbling Turt~hleweeds"1, and brothers Karl and to appear in movies and to record western and popular Hngh Farr routlded out the original lineup. music. He proved to be one of the best . . . a11d one of the last . . . of the singing cowboys. The Sons of the Pioneers were regular performers un radio. At least 200 performancrs of The Lucky-U Ranch CBS carried The Jimnty Wakely Show frcm 1953 to aired on ARC and, later, the hlutual-13on Lee network in 1956. By this time, he was known as the Binc C'roshy of the early 1950s. The ticket pich red nbovc dates to 1952; country music for his laid-back style. Thy agr of thc George Putnarn was the announcer, while Hetty Taylor was over, but Jimmy Wakely's succcss was an c-arly performer in Disneyland's Golden eventually earned him admission to the Wpstrrn Music Horseshoe Revue. Hall of Fame. Len Slye, of course, left the group in 1 937 tu make west- ern films for Republic Studios as Roy Rogers. Nevrr COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM COLUMBIA SQUARE PLAYHOUSE abandoning his musical ruots, Roy frcquently perfor~r~ed blpl SUNSET BOULEVARD - HOLLYWOOD THy::yD*'I with thc Sons of the Pioneers on film and recordings in later days. Although The Roy Rogers Show aired fron~ STUDIO PHILLIPS 66 DEALERS PRESENT ' 1944 to 1955, 1 have never seen a ticket. If you hnvr. 1960 plcase email me! C THE REX ALLEN SHOW 10.10:30p,m, WITH Doors Clors THE SONS OF mr PIONEERS at 9:45 p.m. CI MUTUAL-DON LEE BROADCASTING SYSTEM SATURDAY - CHILDREN UNDER TWELVE WILL HOT BE ADMITTED N JUNE19 5515 Melrose DONAve. LEE PLAYHOUSEHollywaod, Calif. CU4 . - Hex Allen had the distit~ctiot~of t~takingthe last of the 1948 BAKERS OF WEBER'S BREAD IAYL~GHT singing wcstcrn n~ovicsin 1951. Like Gene Autry, he Pt#~.bt SAVING ' had first made his mark in ('hicago on the National "ALL STAR WESTERN THEATRE" TIYE Born Dance progratn. He tnndc his tirst film in 1950. Rex St4rfinq ,:,,+. BaP.M. 01 Allen was yfted with a wonderful voice, and later in life KHJ Fey Wllll and thm llldm of tk. Xrplo 5q.. 000A5 CLOSE he provided tlarratiot~for tnatly episodes of the Walt ~DMITDUE CH~LDRENUNDW 12 WILL NOT BE ADMI~O ':I5 Di~ncytelevision programs.

Hc returned to radio In 1950 for Tiit, Rex Allen Show. Jack Dalton created a western group called Thc Ridcrs The progam aired regionally f'rot~tC'olurnbia Square in of the Purple Sage in 1932, and they erijoyed a brief run Hollywood until 1952. As if he didn't have a pleasant of success on LA station KFI until 1934. In 1942, bari- enough snund on his own . . . he was joined by the great- tone and songwriter Foy Willing created a new version of est western vocal group of all time! the group for the LA-based radio series Hollywood Barn Dance. Like the Sons of the Pioneers, descendants con- tinue to perform to this day although Foy Willing's TUD. American Broadcasting Co., Inc. group only lasted ten years. They joined Hoy Rogers for tULY A.B.C. STUDIOS 1539 NORTH VINE - HOLLYWOOD a series of films when Republic balked at the Pioneers' RANCH m asking price, and also performed in films Tor Jinlt~ly 22 LUCKY-U Wakely, , Tom Tyler and Charles STAB1116 STUDIO The Sons of the Pioneers rn Starrett. C WIT^ lz:~~ GEORGE PUTNAM - BETTY TAYLOR On radio, they starred in the All-Star Wpstrrt~Theatrc, a P.w Doon Open 12 Heen - bmn Elm 1 t:t5 P.M. series of wcstcrn melodramas hroadcast on the Mutual network from 1946 tc~1948. They were part of the regu- The Sons of the Pioneers are a legend in their own right lar rn~lof Th? Roy Rog~rsShow d~~rirtgthe late 1940s as . . . a musical group that redefined western harmony wel!. while performing continuously for 74 years. They debuted in 1934 on Los Angelcs station KFWB (operat- The 1948 episode seen In person by this ticket's original cd by Warner Brothers Studios). Len Slye, an Ohio-bred ownrr involves thr tantal~zitlgtale of liow Fily attd the singer with a unique yodeling style, solight other per- band allnust froze to d~athwhen ~tws 1% degrees in formers to create a new brand uf music. It required long the shade: according to Dav~dGold~t~'s website. [ can hours of careful harmonizing to attain the right sound, never adequately thank historians like David hr prc- but proved to be unforgettable. Pioneers Bob Nolan and srrv~nginformation! The glustmted Press

when some of the greatest entertainers in the wrjd MUTUALDON LEE BROADCASTING SYSTEM SATURDAY DON LEE PLAYHOUSE JUNE 4 were just coming into their own. You can email requests and comments to me at -!

helems STUDIO CALIFOINIA DAYLIGHP "HOOSIER HOT SAOTSrr,, TIME , 9:15 trr A New Comady Vadely Show KHJ with Anim Gordon 9:45 P.M. 01

There's a great line contained in a website dedicated to the history of the Hoosier Hot Shots. To quote Wayne Daniel: "ITSpike Jones is the man who murdered music, the Hoosier Hot Shots firat beat the victim to a pulp, making it ea~iafor Jones to deliver the lethal blow."

The Hot Shots rose to fame on WLS, hosting several pro- grams of their own as well as being regular headliners on R',tionaE Bum Dance. They had free rein to define their act; one member explained "What we have to sell is an act called stupid."Jn any went, they were wildly popu- lar and toured throughout the Midwest for years. This ticket is from their 1950-51 series on the Mutual net- work

ADMIT ONE TOMMY RIGGS IS BACK

MI3 PducUon Otlrlru~lugmt He's on the air with brainchild Betty Lou WSM after two years in the Navy JhMUP & HONEH- mNIE PMRL - KAY CARLISLE "" ' JOE MAC pH--N - THE OLD TIMERS QUARTElTE She's only an imaginary little tyke, but a set of trick made Let's close with this heavily-worn souvenir of Riuerboul vocal wrchs and a sharp sense of humor have Betty Lou almost as flesh-and-blood as the little girl next door. Revels, another of the many programs presented by Her creator, Tommy Riggs, discovered his voice "trick" Nmhvjllek WSM.Station program director Jack Stapp of talking a little girl at Brown University. was the driving force behind this cousin of the Grand like Ole Opry, and obviously used the opportunity to engage He was quarterback school's varsity football team. Opry talent in many showa, on the One day while in the locker rmm, he suddenly pitched his voice to that of a little girl. Riuerbwl Revels was prduced in 1941, and the ticket reveals that it would have been attempting to fill a pro- "You should have seen those brawny fmtball players gram gap after the Opry program. Jamup & Honey was jump back into their shower staIls," Tommy laughed. a blackface comedy act performed by Bunny Bim and "They all thought a girl was ooming through the door. It Honey Wilde, and Minnie Pearl was . . . well, Minnie took quite a while to convince them it was only a voice Pearl. We can't pin it dmto a specific date, but it trick." remainn a rare relic of a lost show. That practical joke proved to be Tommy's start in show There were so many other country-western themed pro- business. Hc apped on midwestern atations after grarna, it seems a shame to leave them behind. But graduation rrom Bmwll and in 1936 was "discovered"by , , Bob WiEls and the Rudy Vallea. Later headlined his own show until Playboys, Hank Penny, , Patsy Monbna and he called into the service. After receiving his Navy dis- others will have to wait For n future edition as we bring charge, he got comeback chance as a summer this session to a close. his replacement for the Ginny Simm Show. In our next article, we're going to focus on tickeb from IAMcle originally pu blhW September 19461 the 1930s . . . the early days of network programming Illustrated &ess 9 The Old Time Radio Club 73 Banner Avenue Lancaster, NY 14086- 1 930

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