Comments for rand's esoteric otr

Comment on The Works Progress Administration Presents - 1938 Series, Pgm 53 by Steve Kostelecky

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:29:16 +0000

This piece is gorgeous! The fidelity was great and the government message gave a wonderful idea of the goals of the program. Harry Newton Redman’s composition, steeped in American folk music, fit right in with the WPA. Thanks, Rand.

Comment on Front Page Drama - Pgm 144 by Steve Kostelecky

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:11:48 +0000

Thanks again, Rand, for posting this show. I love anything from the 30s–so little is available and it is always interesting historically to see the difference between 30s and 40s programming. I’m especially looking forward to listening to the WPA project transcriptions you have posted.

Comment on Special Command Performance - AFRS Fourth Anniversary by Mike

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:12:25 +0000

Thanks much for posting this and all your excellent work on this site! I am a big fan of 40’s music and radio, and Command Performance and Bob Hope are two of my favorite things! The quality of the recording is outstanding, and your documentation is excellent. I hope you don’t mind if I share your site with other OTR lovers.

Mike

Comment on The Works Progress Administration Presents - 1937 Series, Pgm 10 by Razzilla

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:51:42 +0000

One of these days some type of recording is going to HAVE to come out with Anna Russell’s “Potted Met” routine on it…

Comment on The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946 by Razzilla

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:49:02 +0000

I read in Anna Russell’s autobiography “I’m Not Making This Up You Know” that Paul Boomer was Anna’s agent at the time… and she suggested that they use his name for it… The first time she actually heard it…she was in Dallas and they were selling bootleg recordings of it… This probably makes it one the most famous of the pirate recordings out there today…if not THE most famous…

Comment on The Bea Kalmus Show - January 13, 1960 - WMGM, New York - excerpt by James F. ("Jim") Sehl

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:22:32 +0000

I’ve recalled with fondness from time to time one evening in the fall of 1960 when my sister informed me she would take me to a New York night club where I’ll be interviewed by a famous New York radio personality. After graduating from a small South Jersey high school in 1958, I went into broadcasting and worked in the Philadelphia market. The idea of being on radio in New York City, even for a few short minutes, was very exciting to me. So…I went to this NYC night club (I guess, from reading your article, it must have been Silverman’s International) and there I was introduced to Bea Kalmus. Bea and I talked a bit off-mic where she made the decision that she would interview me as an up and coming actor (I had told her early-on that I was in high school musicals and did a couple of college plays during on semester at Glassboro State College). And so that is what happened, she interviewed me, Jim Seal (that’s how she had my name written), aspiring actor. The whole thing lasted about fifteen minutes and I quickly developed great respect for Bea’s interview skills. Of course that all took place almost fifty years ago…but I’ve never forgotten and the name “Bea Kalmus” has always been with me. And I have my older sister, Betty, to thank for this wonderful memory of mine. Of course I must thank “Google” for making this all possible…and also a big thanks to “Rand” for having the Bea Kalmus piece available on the web. Jim Sehl, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 8/20/2008.

Comment on Suspense - AFRS Pgm 30 - Wet Saturday by Mike Stevens

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:45:48 +0000

Thanks for this.

Comment on The Whistler, AFRS Pgm 211, Jan 27, 1952 - Borrowed Byline by Jim Widner

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:08:48 +0000

Hi Randy, Thanks for an excellent example of what radio probably sounded like in the recording studios of the networks. Of course, when it went out over a radio, there was the additional environmental additions of static, etc. But this is a fine example to young fans of old time radio who never had an opportunity to be in an audience, or in a recording studio when these dramas were broadcast.

This one is truly ear-popping!

Comment on The Adventures of Frank Farrell - Audition Program by Jim

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:06:28 +0000

Thanks for another rare one Randy. It’s much appreciated. I will be posting it on Old Time Radio Times Past along with your web address.

Comment on Suspense - AFRS Pgm 30 - Wet Saturday by Dr. OTR

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:40:10 +0000

I highly recommend reading John Collier’s short story collection “Fancies and Goodnights,” which contains a number of macabre yet droll stories (akin to Roald Dahl). A number of these were adapted for radio, including “Wet Saturday”, “Back for Christmas”, and “Evening Primrose.” I haven’t read this book for 6 years or so — may have to pick it off my bookshelf.

Comment on The Whistler, AFRS Pgm 211, Jan 27, 1952 - Borrowed Byline by Kliph

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:26:27 +0000

Where did you obtain your amazing collection of OTR transcriptions? Your sidebar description seems to indicate you made them - but surely i’m interpreting that wrong.

Comment on X Minus One - June 12, 1956 - AFRTS Pgm 77 - If You Was a Moklin by Jim Blackson

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:52:38 +0000

Thank you. I always to hear great X Minus One stories!

Comment on Gilbert and Sullivan - Yeoman of the Guard, Sept 16, 1944 by Razzilla

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:05:06 +0000

I found no records of this one through the Met archives…so I know this is another one of those…

Comment on Ports of Call - Persia by Bingo

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:36:31 +0000

Do you ever post anything that’s NOT a find?! I enjoy this series, and have been listening to it for a while, now. A new episode is excellent news. Thanks!

Comment on Sports Answer Man - Pgm 25 by Bingo

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:25:36 +0000

These people should’ve copyrighted their name. Thirty years later, they could have sued everybody and made a mint.

Comment on The Whistler, AFRS Pgm 211, Jan 27, 1952 - Borrowed Byline by D Fries

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:22:39 +0000

Wow, how nice to hear such a pristine recording of one of my favorite old radio shows! Thanks so much for posting all these great shows!

Comment on Rocky Jordan - AFRTS Pgm 7, The Nile Runs High by Bob

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:47:43 +0000

From the 3 September 1955 Hayward (CA) Daily Review Video Notes column by Ellis Walker:

… Still other tricks up the CBS radio sleeve. President Art Hayes likes the idea of five-a-week 15-minute shows so well that he’s auditioning seven new dramatic series for production in Hollywood. Under consideration are “Johnny Dollar,” “Dr. Dana,” “Captain Courage,” “Girl from Paradise,” “Rocky Jordan,” “I Cover the Waterfront” and “Blues in the Night.” …

Comment on Rocky Jordan - AFRTS Pgm 7, The Nile Runs High by randsesotericotr

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:57:09 +0000

Steward Wright did an in-depth comparison of this “Rocky Jordan” recording with the original 1949 CBS network version. He found some interesting differences and offers up some possibilities about its origins. — rand

Randy,

I was going to send you the information regarding Rocky Jordan that is contained in Harry McKenzie’s book “The Directory of Armed Forces Radio Service Series.” However, I noticed that some one had already sent it to you.

I have listened to both the “uncirculated” show from your site and the 09-18-1949 CBS West Coast version of “The Nile Runs High.” (I used the best quality copy in my collection of the 09-18-1949 broadcast, from the First Generation Radio Archives set, for comparison.)

I made five audio clips of various portions of each of the two shows to more easily compare voices and dialog. (I can send you the clips on a CD if you want them.) I noticed the following items of interest.

ACTORS: There are some different actors in the two shows DIFFERENT actors playing these roles of Shuffa - the dying boatman, Shadrack - the thug, and the Registrar of Boats.

The SAME actors played the following roles in both the 1949 and 1956 shows: Rocky, Cpt. Saabya, El Kihira, Malak, and Ferada.

DIALOG: There are also many dialog differences. Examples: Rocky’s encounter with Shadrack and Jaba at the phone booth.

At Malak’s cotton warehouse 1956: Rocky asks for “Mr. Malak” 1949: Rocky asks for “Malak Bey”

Final dialog 1956: Saabya says, “Will you join me for coffee, Jordan?” 1956: Saabya says, “Jordan, Will you join me for coffee?”

Theories: It is possible that the show on your site could be a rehearsal recording for the 1949 broadcast in which some different actors were used than appeared in the actual broadcast. However, there are also the dialog differences through out the two shows to consider and the two vastly different openings between the two shows.

Or, it could have been a test disk to try a new opening.

Or, it could be an undiscovered audition disk for the 30-minute, weekly Jack Moyles 1947-50 CBS West Coast run.

Or, it could be a previously unidentified audition show for a proposed 1955 resumption of the Rocky Jordan series.

Or, it could a be totally new production.

Whatever the source of this mystery disk, for some unknown reason, it could have substituted for the 1949 CBS broadcast disk when it was aired on AFRTS. Perhaps some other episodes from 1956-57 AFRTS run may surface and provide additional information.

A Final Note: At the end of your show, Jack Moyles says, “Next week’s story is about a friend of mine, my bartender, Chris. I caught him holding out on me, only I couldn’t do anything about it. You see what he was holding out wasn’t money, it was information about a girl.” This fits the plot line for “Memento From Adelaide” which was broadcast on September 25, 1949 the week after the 1949 broadcast of the “The Nile Runs High.”

Old-Time Radio is rife with many mysteries large and small. It looks like you have identified another one.

Signing off for now,

Stewart Wright

Comment on Rocky Jordan - AFRTS Pgm 7, The Nile Runs High by Charles

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:55:43 +0000

Thank you for another great rare find. I really appreciate you sharing these gems with us.

Comment on Rocky Jordan - AFRTS Pgm 7, The Nile Runs High by ykw

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:37:57 +0000

It wouldn’t be the first rehearsal of this period to show up on an AFRS disc. I believe there are multiple SAM SPADE and PHILIP MARLOWE shows from 1948-9 — preserved sans music and SFX — in wide circulation.

Comment on Rocky Jordan - AFRTS Pgm 7, The Nile Runs High by Chloe

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:34:30 +0000

Randy,

Looks like you found another rare one.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

Chloe

Comment on Hoosier Hot Shots Alka-Seltzer Show - Pgm 52 by coldwater

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:28:57 +0000

I just wanted to say thanks for these very interesting recordings if it wasn’t for unselfish people like yourself I wouldn’t have known they existed again thanks for taking the time to make these available to everyone sincerely bill

Comment on The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946 by MASSEY

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:53:18 +0000

i HAVE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM ACETATE RECORDING (2) PURCHASED IN 1946. INTERESTED IN VALUATION AND MAY SELL.

BOTHERED MY WIFE FOR 58 YEARS.

Comment on The Ballad Hunter - Pgm 1 - Cheynne, Wyoming by Peter Browne

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:19:16 +0000

Hello & congratulations - I have heard only one programme but is it possible to hear the entire series of 10? In any event, Best wishes, Peter Browne (Dublin, Ireland)

Comment on Front Page Drama - Pgm 143, January 18, 1936 by Bingo

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:21:49 +0000

Wow! Just found your site, and I’m impressed! The recording quality is really nice, and the material is stuff I’ve never heard before. Great job!

Comment on Front Page Drama - Pgm 143, January 18, 1936 by jim

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:15:09 +0000

Nice one Randy. Interesting history on the needle as well. Keep up the good work.Thanks. Jim

Comment on Lum N’ Abner, Accidentally Yours - July, 1947 by Donnie Pitchford

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:42:19 +0000

Many thanks! This is great! I had not heard this one before!

Comment on Lum N’ Abner, Accidentally Yours - July, 1947 by Laura East

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:48:02 +0000

Thank you so much for offering these shows to the otr community. I appreciate the effort you make in this.

Comment on Lum N’ Abner, Accidentally Yours - July, 1947 by P. Nussbaum

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:16:33 +0000

Thanks for posting this rarity. Any new Lum and Abner material is always appreciated.

Comment on Lum N’ Abner, Accidentally Yours - July, 1947 by Al

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:04:12 +0000

A special treat indeed! Thanks for this Lum & Abner gem! Is it possible to offer all your programs in 64/44 instead of 32/22 ?

Comment on Choose a Song Partner - Pgm 1 by Michael

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:21:03 +0000

A mistake. Beryl Vaughn was on Meet the Meeks, but she wasn’t Mrs. Meek. She was daughter Peggy.

Comment on Choose a Song Partner - Pgm 1 by Michael

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:46:01 +0000

Don’t know if this will help you solve the mysteries around this show any, but Beryl Vaughn was active in American radio. She was Mrs. Meek on Meet the Meeks on NBC for a few years and showed up on in guest roles on all sorts of shows.

Comment on Anniversary program - WLAV, Grand Rapids, Michigan - 1950 by P. Nussbaum

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:17:07 +0000

Wanted to thank you for posting the picture. I have to say that, even though I have pursued an interest in otr for forty years I have never actually seen what a recording wire and spool look like. Awesome. Now I will show my kids so they won’t have to wait as long as I did. Thanks again.

Comment on Suspense - The Lost Special, Sept 30, 1943, AFRS Pgm 24 by Walt Santner

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:41:42 +0000

Script is online! http://www.geocities.com/emruf8/suspense14.html

MAN IN BLACK: … The producer of “Suspense” asks you to ALMOST believe that the following is true. Very well. Standing beside me, surrounded by two guards, is a man who in a few short hours is to be put to death in the electric chair. His last request to the warden was that he be allowed to speak on this program and reveal what he calls some “startling” information. The warden naturally turned to us and we at once complied, anxious at all times to do anything — however strange — that will hold our listeners in …

MUSIC: ACCENT

MAN IN BLACK: … suspense! Best, Walt S

Comment on The Ballad Hunter - Pgm 1 - Cheynne, Wyoming by CS PAMM

Sat, 31 May 2008 03:33:56 +0000

Thank you for these marvelous posts of Lomax and his invaluable work.

Comment on Smile-A-While, Aug 3, 1951, WLS aircheck by Jim Widner

Thu, 29 May 2008 20:18:43 +0000

This is a great recording! Thanks for making it available.

Comment on Gilbert and Sullivan - Yeoman of the Guard, Sept 16, 1944 by Walt Santner

Wed, 28 May 2008 22:42:01 +0000

Many thanks! I’ve shared this with friends who have also enjoyed listening to it.

Comment on Suspense - Sorry, Wrong Number, Feb 24, 1944, AFRS Pgm 41 by Goddess of Torment

Mon, 26 May 2008 06:22:31 +0000

“Sorry, Wrong Number” is an excellent radio play! It transports the listener to the bedroom of the irritating Mrs. Stevenson, allowing the listener to create the scene within his or her own mind. I remember as a young girl finding this old cassette tape at my local library and going back every two weeks to borrow it again. I’d listen to it every night before bed. When I was a teenager, I rewrote it and performed it as a monologue as part of my drama class. I was alone on the stage, with the exception of the final minute when my teacher came on for the infamous last line. Today, many years later, I still find myself on the edge of my seat listening to this play. It still has the ability, even all these years later, to send a chill down my spine. “Sorry, Wrong Number” is one of the very few plays which can (and does) stand the test of time. With the prevalence of gore and almost no real suspense in the films of today, it’s nice to just sit back and listen to what REAL bone-chilling suspense is.

Comment on The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946 by ykw

Sun, 25 May 2008 01:26:28 +0000

“one of those odd little things that folks talk about but no one’s ever actually seen, let alone heard”

Dunno ’bout”no one”, but I heard this played annually as an event for decades on the old DR. DEMENTO radio program — for all I know, it may =still= be getting play there.

Comment on Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 16 by Hugh

Wed, 21 May 2008 02:09:06 +0000

Little Hill-billy Willy– it couldn’t have a better tag than nonsense & melody. I don’t know if Skeedaddle could handle the tempo changes and modulations! Thanks for the tune, Randy.