July 31, 2008
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.
July 23, 2008
“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.
July 12, 2008
“Say It With Music” was distributed by the California Department of Employment and features a different orchestra each week with host Bill Ladd. It’s a rare of example of a regionally distributed public service program that would have been heard on local stations during the OTR era.
In program 153, Buzz Adlam and His Orchestra perform “Singing in the Rain”, “That Old Black Magic”, “Ridin’ on Two Flats”, and “Rain”. Adlam, also known as “Basil Adlam”, was a prolific composer, arranger and saxophonist, working with the Phil Harris and Ozzie Nelson bands; he was also producer and music director for the US Treasury Department public service series, “Guest Star”.
There’s some good music here, but the show is filled with technical issues. The strange phasing you hear during the music numbers is part of the original recording and would appear to be a mistracking tape machine; there’s also the bad sound quality of Bill Ladd’s microphone and miscues during the end of the show.
“Say It With Music” is an interesting example of a regional public service program that would have been a major component of the broadcast day for local stations during the classic old time radio era. In this case, the show promotes services from the California Department of Employment and features a different band each week to provide the music.
Program 152 features Lyle Bardo and His Orchestra performing “There’s Going to Be a Great Day”, “Just One of Those Things”, “I Cried for You”, “Should I?” and “Canadian Capers”. The host of the show is Bill Ladd from the Department of Employment.
June 12, 2008
As a special treat, here’s an episode of “Lum N’ Abner” that appears to be uncirculated among otr enthusiasts - “Accidentally Yours” from July 1947, created especially for National Farm Safety Week.
The program was transferred from an original RCA Orthacoustic vinyl transcription disc, matrix number ND7-MM-10097, and was used during the Farm Safety campaign run between July 20 and 26, 1947 by the National Safety Council, Chicago. The other side of the disc contains short segments by various political figures about farm safety that could be used in local farm and news programs.
In the show, Lum and Abner hang up a poster promoting Farm Safety Week and, of course, create many opportunities for accidents in the Jot’em Down Store. Cedric Wehunt and Ben Withers pay a visit.
Chester Lauck and Norris Goff began their run as Lum and Abner in 1932 and the series continued in one form or another until the mid-1950s, appearing on all four major networks during the run of the series. The characters inhabit the mythical small town of Pine Ridge, Arkansas, but Lauck and Goff based them on people they knew growing up in the state.
One of the fun things about the show is that you can hear Lauck starting to break up during one part, where he tosses out some figures on the number of accidents and deaths each year on farms, but he regains his composure and they go on with the recording session.
May 30, 2008
In this part of the world, summertime is upon us. At one time, that meant one thing to many parents - polio.
This post features “Man Against the Crippler”, a half-hour program that dramatizes the story of polio research. It was syndicated to local stations in the summer of 1953 by the March of Dimes as part of their fundraising efforts. The show features Mercury Theater alumnus Everett Sloane narrating and Kenneth Banghart announcing. The style of the show might remind you of “The March of Time”.
The year after this program was broadcast, the first double-blind tests of the Salk polio vaccine would take place on a large scale around the country.
The discs were pressed by RCA. Matrix numbers are E3-KM-5532 and E3-KM-5533.
Syndicated by the March of Dimes in the summer of 1953, this program was used for fundraising for the organization and for reminding parents of ways to help prevent the spread of polio during the summer months.
But, it’s also some great musical entertainment featuring Kostelanetz conducting the Stadium Concerts Orchestra with pianist Alec Templeton.
The discs are RCA pressings, matrix numbers E3-KM-5529 and E3-KM-5530.
May 14, 2008
Continuing from our previous post, here’s another example of the program featuring that hep dj Fred Robbins spinning platters for the US Marine Corp.
This show, matrix WD7-MM-4197, includes songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and others. The series dates from circa 1948.
I have several discs of the show “Music You Like”, a public service program for the US Marines. It’s an early disc jockey program where various hosts would spin popular records of the day; they’re curious as examples of the type of format that would, in a few years, dominate radio and push drama and comedy on the air to the sidelines.
“Fred Robbins Record Shop”, is one of the more fun programs in the series. You can hear some vintage “jive” talk from the dj that was “hep” in the late 40s. Other examples of the series, with dj’s like Woody Herman or Al Jarvis, are a little more traditional with the patter between the platters.
In this episode, matrix WD7-MM-4196, Robbins give a spin to “Boogie Blues” by Anita O’Day, “Can’t Help Loving That Man” by Margaret Whiting and more.
May 3, 2008
Another show in our series of Marine Corps adventures starring William Bendix from 1947-48. This episode looks at Francis De Bellevue, a hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Doesn’t Bendix sound like a New Orleans native in this one?
The original disc has a warp that affects the sound for the first couple of minutes. An Orthacoustic disc produced by NBC’s Radio Recording Division and pressed by RCA, matrix HD7-MM-11941 There’s a pencil notation on the label that is was played on WMIN on 2-1-48.
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