http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com A weblog and podcast featuring vintage broadcasts directly transferred from original transcriptions. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:11:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Recently, the OTR Digest mailing list has been buzzing with a discussion about what, on the surface, sounds like an alternate performance of "The War of the Worlds" that has been unearthed on a tape.  Some conjectured initially that it might have been a repeat performance for the West coast ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/22/an-alternate-version-of-war-of-the-worlds-a-theory/ This month I'm on something of a World War II kick - in this post, we're revisiting a series I started running last year and I'll be running the last four episodes in my collection over the next few weeks. "Your Home Front Reporter" was broadcast in the afternoons on CBS ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/18/your-home-front-reporter-october-4-1943/ I'm pleased to offer another previously "lost" show, saved for us by an unknown local station doing some time shifting of their network programming. "Blue Ribbon Music Time" was a program of light orchestral music broadcast on NBC and, of course, sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer.  The series threw the ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/18/blue-ribbon-music-time-september-11-1947/ We come to the end of a series of excerpts from the CBS series "Pick and Pat", featuring Blackface comedians Pick Padgett and Pat Malone.  The shows were recorded for the producer of the series and turned up from an estate sale a few months ago. This excerpt, part of 2 ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/18/pick-and-pat-circa-1938/ In this post, a bit of a mystery - an unnumbered and undated episode of the Armed Forces Radio series "Mail Call". The host of the program is Jane Nye.  The King Sisters kick off the show with "Candy".  Betty Grable, Bob Hope, Humphrey Bogart and Bing Crosby appear in a ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/18/mail-call-unknown-pgm-number/ Jimmy Powers picks up "The Grantland Rice Story" again this week in this Thesaurus syndicated series from circa 1956. Program 7 in the series, "The Story of Big Bill Tilden" focuses on the world of tennis.  Included in the show is an interview with player Vinnie Richards, who had an outstanding ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/18/the-grantland-rice-story-pgm-grs-07/ And now, this week's installment of "American Family Robinson", a syndicated 1930s serial sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers to influence public opinion on Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies. We've skipped ahead a few episodes, since I'm missing some discs in the series.  In program 48, the story picks up ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/18/american-family-robinson-pgm-48/ Well, I'm back and ready to roll with some new shows.  Thanks for your kind words during the break... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/18/thanks-for-all-the-well-wishes/ It's been a busy couple of weeks for me with some unexpected dental surgery and work with my "day job". The blog returns later this week when things start getting back to normal (whatever "normal" is).... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/11/15/taking-a-short-break/ Well, here's something to keep the kiddies scared on Halloween. "The Sealed Book" was a horror program from the 1940s that was a bit of a mish-mash.  It was hosted by a "keeper of the book" that remind you of "The Hermit's Cave" or "The Witch's Tale".  And most of the ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/29/the-sealed-book-pgm-5/ Here's a rare treat with a Halloween theme - some music composed especially for the spooky season. It's a concert from the "Hollywood Bowl", distributed as Program 78 in the series when it was broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Service.  According to Jim Hiliker of Monterey, California on the OTR ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/29/hollywood-bowl-pgm-78/ A few months back, we heard the first show in the series "Mercer Mcleod, The Man with the Story", syndicated by NBC in the 1940s.  In the show, talented actor Mercer Mcleod plays all the roles, except the females, which are played by the mysteriously billed "Rita".  All the shows ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/28/mercer-mcleod-the-man-with-the-story-pgm-2/ Here's another lost/uncirculated episode in the Ziv syndicated drama series, "Your Movietown Radio Theatre", dated by Goldin to circa 1947-48. Program 19 is something of a mystery play, "Goodbye My Love" and stars Lurene Tuttle.  Her character tells the story of her husband, an up and coming novelist, who receives a ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/28/your-movietown-radio-theatre-pgm-19/ It's back to Centerville now and the adventures of the "American Family Robinson", a syndicated mid 1930s serial paid for by the National Industrial Council (the National Association of Manufacturers) to influence public opinion about FDR's economic policies. Betty and Dick returned from their honeymoon last week.  This week, in Program ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/28/american-family-robinson-pgm-43/ Jimmy Powers continues narrating the life story of sports writer Grantland Rice this week.  Episode GRS-6 is titled "Great Athletes - Past and Present" and we hear thoughts from Grantland Rice about the great "iron men" of sports and how they've become "specialists" in recent years. The show was transferred from ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/28/the-grantland-rice-story-pgm-grs-6/ The "Historical Dictionary of Amercian radio soap operas" by Jim Cox notes that "Five Star Matinee" was broadcast from December 31, 1956 through December 1958 and was placed on NBC's daytime schedule after the magazine-style program "Weekday" went off the air.  It was a drama anthology designed to appeal to ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/23/five-star-matinee-pgm-43/ Hildegarde returns to the blog this week with another previously lost episode of her series "The Raleigh Room" originally broadcast on NBC. In this post, we hear the episode of September 25, 1945 heard on the Armed Forces Radio Service as program 23 in the series, "Hildegarde".  Hildegarde starts off the ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/23/hildegarde-pgm-23/ Note:  This program contains racial stereotyping themes that may be offensive to some listeners. Here's the next to last excerpt of the CBS series "Pick and Pat" in my collection, drawn from a set of discs produced for the series producer, Frank Macmahon. This is part two (of three parts) of an ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/23/pick-and-pat-1938/ Now we return to Centerville for "American Family Robinson", a serial drama on the life of a small town newspaper editor and his wacky family, sponsored by the National Industrial Council as part of their mid-1930s propaganda efforts to combat FDR's New Deal economic policies. This week, Luke and Mrs. Robinson ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/23/american-family-robinson-pgm-42/ Jimmy Powers returns narrating "The Grantland Rice Story" in this program syndicated by RCA Thesaurus in the mid 1950s. Program GRS-5 is titled "The Dempsey-Tunny Fights" and features and interview with Jack Dempsey, reflecting on his years in boxing and Grantland Rice. The program was transferred from original RCA Thesaurus 12" transcription, ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/23/the-grantland-rice-story-pgm-grs-5/ Do you have a problem with your temper? Perhaps you can pick up a few tips from Fibber McGee in program 85 of the "Fibber McGee and Molly" series from the Armed Forces Radio Service, originally broadcast December 26, 1944 on NBC. The show features Jim and Marian Jordan, Arthur Q. Bryan, ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/15/fibber-mcgee-and-molly-pgm-85/ Now let's take another look at "Lest We Forget", a series syndicated by the Institute for Democratic Education in the late 1940s and early 50s to combat prejudice.  Although they might seem a little heavy-handed, the shows are well written and produced and are an interesting snap shot of community ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/15/lest-we-forget-series-b-pgm-2/ Now for a bit of music and chat with "The Magic of Music", a show transcribed in Hollywood for the Marine Corps Reserve and Recruiting and originally broadcast on Mutual. Program 42 of the series as broadcast on AFRS, features guest Kathy Barr promoting her new album "Follow Me".  Barr was ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/15/the-magic-of-music-pgm-42/ Well, last week, we heard a kind of instant romance develop between "Gus the Gorilla", Windy Bill's bodyguard, and Luke Robinson's secretary on the National Industrial Council (American Manufacturers Association) 1930s syndicated series, "American Family Robinson".  This week, in program 41, Mr. Robinson's secretary has talked him into putting Gus ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/15/american-family-robinson-pgm-41/ This week's installment of the "Grantland Rice Story" has host Jimmy Powers relating Rice's stories about boxing in program GRS-4 in the series, "Jack Dempsey, the Man from Maumee Bay". The show was transferred from original RCA Thesaurus 12" transcription, matrix number F7-MR-5059-1. Next week, we hear the inside scoop on the ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/15/the-grantland-rice-story-pgm-grs-4/ Note:  This program contains racial stereotyping themes that may be offensive to some listeners. Here's another excerpt from "Pick and Pat", a program featuring blackface performers Pick Padgett and Pat Malone, two Irishmen who teamed up in 1929 as Molasses and January and had their own network show from the early ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/15/pick-and-pat-december-12-1938/ Now let's turn back the clock to World War II with another entry in the Armed Forces Radio Network variety series, "Mail Call", that brought the top stars from movies and radio to perform for the troops. This is a pretty amazing little half-hour program.  Program 93 features hostess Paulette Goddard ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/08/mail-call-pgm-93/ Broadcast from 1942 to 1951 on Mutual, then CBS, and finally, NBC, "It Pays to Be Ignorant" was a parody of quiz shows that featured panelists of experts - it's a natural followup to our posts in recent weeks of the "Quiz Kids" and "Twenty Questions".  In this case, our ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/08/it-pays-to-be-ignorant-pgm-88/ I've posted a number of drama anthologies to the blog in recent weeks.  This type of show seemed to be ubiquitous in 1940s radio and this one isn't as well known as some of the others.  Lets listen to "Your Movietown Radio Theatre", syndicated by Ziv, and dating from around ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/08/your-movietown-radio-theatre-pgm-13/ We continue our look at "American Family Robinson", a syndicated serial from the mid-1930s sponsored by the National Industrial Council (the National Association of Manufacturers) to promote free enterprise and educate the public about the dangers of the New Deal. In program 40, crazy schemer Windy Bill visits his brother-in-law, Luke, ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/08/american-family-robinson-pgm-40/ This week's episode of "The Grantland Rice Story", a Thesaurus syndicated series from the mid-1950s, pays a visit to the race track.  It's an interesting show - horse racing seemed to be much more prominent in the sports pages, but we don't hear about it nowadays except for the bigger ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/08/the-grantland-rice-story-pgm-grs-3/ A listener wrote to me last week and mentioned that her husband came into the room as she was listening to last week's episode of "American Family Robinson". "When did Ayn Rand get a syndicated talk show?" he asked. That pretty much sums up this odd mix of serial drama and comedy ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/02/american-family-robinson-pgm-39/ When radio came along, studio publicity departments came up with the neat idea of bring the stars to your local station.  Of course, they couldn't afford all those airplane and railroad tickets, so they gave you the next best thing - a transcribed interview where your local announcer would interview ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/02/francis-personal-interview-with-zasu-pitts/ "Casey, Crime Photographer" was a radio series that ran throughout the forties and into the early 1950s on CBS with a variety of titles and sponsors.  Based on a character appearing in "Black Mask" magazine, the show was heard as "Flashgun Casey", "Casey, Press Photographer" and "Crime Photographer".  The surviving ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/02/crime-photographer-pgm-4/ Let's drop in again on "Favorite Story", an anthology of dramas hosted by Ronald Coleman and syndicated by Ziv in the late 1940s and early 50s.  This time we hear something a little more high-brow. Musician Alfred Wallenstein's favorite story, "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, is program 62 in the ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/02/favorite-story-pgm-62/ Jimmy Powers continues narrating the Thesaurus syndicated series, "The Grantland Rice Story", based on the memoirs of the famous sportswriter and syndicated in the mid-1950s.  In program 2 of the series, "The Big Fellow, Babe Ruth", Rice shares stories and memories of the legendary baseball player. The show was transferred from ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/02/the-grantland-rice-story-pgm-grs-2/ Note:  This program contains racial stereotyping themes that may be offensive to some listeners. In this excerpt from the program of May 23, 1938, Pick and Pat present a routine about golfing and we hear a commercial for Model tobacco and a number by the orchestra with a solo by Benny ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/02/pick-and-pat-may-23-1938/ I'd like to give a big shout out to Frank, right here in my home state of North Carolina, for his generous donation to the blog this week.  Hope you continue enjoying the shows! Also, a little update on one of last week's posts. If you'll recall, I posted a 78 called ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/10/02/thanks-and-ray-bourbon-discovery/ In this post, a disc that isn't a radio broadcast, but one meant to simulate one. It's the "Victor Radio-Tone Demonstration", a 78 prepared by Victor for dealers to show off the sound of one of their radio-phonograph combinations.  It's a fairly common record and easy to find on auction sites, ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/09/25/victor-radio-tone-demonstration/ Now we bring you a disc that isn't a radio broadcast, but is a bit of obscure radio-related memorabilia. "Forbidden Broadcast" is a comedy record made by nightclub performer Ray Bourbon sometime in the 1930s.  Ray got his start in vaudeville, was a bit player in silent movies at Paramount and ... http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/2009/09/25/ray-bourbon-forbidden-broadcast/