rand’s esoteric otr

In this episode of the classic NBC science fiction series “X Minus One”, a group of human traders at a far planetary outpost deal with an alien population that can control the characteristics of their offspring.

“If You Was a Moklin” was originally broadcast on June 12, 1956; the version heard here is an excellent condition copy broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service as program 77 in the “X Minus One” series.  It was transferred directly from a set of AFRTS vinyl transcriptions.

The episode was written by Murray Leinster and adapted for the series by Ernest Kinoy.  The program stars Joe Julian, Patricia Weil, Karl Weber and Ralph Camargo.

This really is “X Minus One” at its best - great little stories that focus on the characters and use just the right touch of humor with the sci-fi element as a backdrop and motivator of the plot.  It’s frustrating to me how the sci-fi genre has become centered on all kinds of quasi-technical gobbledygook or new age mysticism and quack philosophy in recent years, rather than using a sci-fi theme or setting to create good storytelling.

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We dive again into our circa 1947 syndicated series, “Choose a Song Partner, from Eugenia Price Productions and featuring vocalist Don Moreland singing tunes based on clues given by host Beryl Vaughn.  The show also includes organist Adele Scott and is sponsored by FormFit Life Bras and Life Girdles.

In program 6, the songs include “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now”, “The Martins and the Coys”, “How Sweet You Are” and that old novelty tune, “The Sheik of Araby”.

The program was transferred from an original Columbia vinyl transcription, matrix number YTC 4624.  More of these are on the way periodically over the next few months.

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Here’s another episode of the popular Treasury Department public service program that ran for many years.  Program 444, originally broadcast the week of September 25, 1955, features Eartha Kitt backed by John Conte and Harry Sosnick and the Savings Bond Orchestra.

In the show, “Grenada”  and “Thine Alone” are performed by Sosnick and the orchestra and Eartha Kitt lends her unique voice to “C’est Si Bon”.  She also does another number that I won’t reveal here - I’ll just let you listen to the show and be surprised by it.  It’s not something you’d associate with Kitt’s exotic image.

The program was transferred from an original Treasury Department vinyl transcription.  There’s great sound in the show - a true hi-fi recording in near mint condition.

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With Presidential candidate Barack Obama visiting Europe and the Middle East, it seemed like a good time to once again delve into a program that highlights how media in the US depicted foreign countries in the past. “Ports of Call”, syndicated circa 1935-36, was produced by the Philip J. Meany Advertising in Los Angeles and mastered at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. The program is similar in style to the popular CBS radio network show “The March of Time” that dramatized current events in a magazine format.

In this episode, we visit the exotic land of Persia, and are treated to three thousand years of the country’s history in a brisk half-hour. Highlights include the development of early religious philosophy of Zarathustra (and, yes, an announcer intones, “Thus spake Zarathustra!”), Mohammed, the story of Scheherazade and the Thousand and One Nights, and British conflicts over oil exploration as Persia sought to become more Western, but independent from European influence. Of course, Persia became Iran in 1935, so this show likely pre-dates that change.

“Persia” is a previously uncirculated episode of the series. The Old Time Radio Researchers group has episodes at archives.org of the show, certifying it as complete, but I believe other episodes may turn up since the series is rather obscure. (Program 33, “New Zealand”, previously posted on the blog, is another not in the archives.org set.)

This program in the series uses a different theme than two other examples I previously posted in the blog; I suppose the excerpt of the “Nutcracker Suite” sounded more exotic. The show was transferred from an original blue Flexite pressing by Columbia, matrix numbers RR2328 and RR2329; the label doesn’t indicate an episode number.

If you’re interested in exploring more about how the US viewed other countries, check out my friend Sean Martin’s blog, High School Musicals - The Origins, which looks at musicals written especially for performances in schools and local light opera companies.  His current entry, helpfully enough, is The Belle of Baghdad.

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“Guest Star” was a series with hundreds of episodes released to radio stations in the 1940s and through the early 60s to promote the sales of US Savings Bonds.  The program is more well-known for musical guests, but, on occasion, an actor or comedian would be given a turn at the microphone.

In program 443, dated September 18, 1955, we hear Vincent Price in a short drama called “Portrait by Cupid” that involves a talented painter, counterfeiting and, of course, love.  It’s not the best-known or best work in Price’s long career, but it’s fun to hear him in this setting.  The fifteen minute format didn’t allow for much character or plot development, so the script is a little simplistic; that’s probably why they didn’t try this format often for the series.

The show, in near hi-fi quality, was transferred from an original Treasury Department transcription in almost mint condition.  This comes from a period when the discs were pressed extra-thin - if you saw it and you were a knowledgeable record collector, it might remind you of RCA’s “dynaflex” albums from the 1970s.

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Another entry in the series “Choose a Song Partner” syndicated circa 1947 by Eugenia Price Productions and sponsored by Formfit Life Bras and Life Girdles.

Host Beryl Vaughn offers clues to songs performed by singer Don Moreland and organist Adele Scott.  Songs on program 5 include “Rose of Juarez”, “Foresticato” (performed solo by  Adele Scott), “Supossin’ I Should Fall in Love With You” and “Nellie Nie”.

The show was transferred directly from an original Columbia vinyl transcription, matrix number YTC 4611.

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Another entry in the series “The Sports Answer Man”, syndicated by Sherman Productions circa 1945-46.  The show features sports announcer France Laux and was transferred from an original red vinyl pressing done by Disco Recordings, St. Louis.

The questions include topics such as the origins of baseball’s spring training, whether a player can own a major league ball club, systems for beating the horses and others.  In the feature story, Laux gives the highlights of that memorable year in sports, 1906.

This is the last show I have from this series in my collection.

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“The Whistler” is a popular otr mystery anthology series that was on CBS for several years. Here we offer an Armed Forces Radio Service version of a show that’s in circulation in its network version; this particular AFRS version of the program survives in remarkable condition and is near hi-fi in quality.

AFRS program 211, “Borrowed Byline”, was originally broadcast January 27, 1952 on CBS. The story concerns a reporter who is drawn into a scheme involving deception and murder in Hong Kong. A small part of the show might sound familiar - if you listen closely around the six minute mark, they use a library sound effects recording of boat sounds in a harbor; it’s the same record used in the Welles broadcast of “War of the Worlds” where the announcer is on top of the “broadcasting station” and the killer gas envelopes the city.

The show was transferred from an original Armed Forces Radio vinyl transcription.

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Note: This program may be offensive to some listeners due to racial stereotyping themes.

Our surreal quarter hour of gospel music, yodeling, Blackface comedy and laxative commercials returns with another episode of “Southland Echoes”. The series was syndicated circa 1949 by the Nelson Chesman Company of Chattanooga, Tennessee and sponsored by Black Draught Laxative and Cardui for Women.

In program 49-18, the Homeland Harmony Quartet sing “Wayside Wells” and “I’m Gonna Cling to the Cross ‘Till I Die” and the Jones Sisters give us “I Hate to See You Go” and “My Mother’s Watlz”. Blackface comedians Jam-up and Honey perform a routine that compares math to marriage.

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Note: This program may be offensive to some listeners due to racial stereotyping themes.

Another episode of “Southland Echoes”, a weekly quarter hour program of music and comedy syndicated to stations serving hillbilly audiences circa 1949. The program was syndicated by the Nelson Chesman Company of Chattanooga, Tennessee and sponsored by Black Draught Laxative and Cardui for Women.

The Homeland Harmony Quartet performs “I Love My Savior, Don’t You?” and “Lord Lead Me on”. The Jones Sisters do a nice yodeling tune, “Down at the General Store”, and “Two Little Overall Girls”. Jam-Up and Honey contribute a routine about buying a car.

Some shows in this series have an odd technical problem in the form of a brief drop out that is in the transcription disc; in this show, the drop out is heard in the opening theme song. This isn’t a problem with the MP3 file.

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