Robert's Posts (393)

Sort by

hearts+in+harmony.jpg


"Hearts in Harmony”
was a five day a week soap opera syndicated in the mid-West from 1941 into the 1950s sponsored by grocery store chain, Kroger. It's the story of a poor young man, Steve Parker, who wants to be a composer and falls in love with a young beautiful singer named Penny from a wealthy family. Drama and heartbreak follow and of course lots of music. A true dramatic soap opera serial.


 Added about 450 shows in the here

Read more…

The Enduring Popularity of Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock_Holmes_Portrait_Paget.jpg
The ever-lasting popularity of Sherlock Holmes has contributed to hundreds of works based on the character. You can find old time radio shows, full cast dramatizations, stage and screen adaptations, readings of short stories and books; if you can think of it, it has been done. Even two episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation, the popular TV series, featured Sherlock Holmes.

If you have ever listen to audio recordings of Sherlock Holmes, or any audio book for that matter, the narrator, or what I like to call the storyteller, makes all the difference in how enjoyable the story is. Take for example narrator David Ian Davies from One Voice Recordings. The magnitude of distinctly unique voices he performs of the characters creates a magically ensconce and elegant listening experience. Listen to this sample from Audible.com of "Sherlock Holmes and the Shakespeare Globe Murders" narrated by David Ian Davies: Listen

Whatever has sustained this fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes will continue no doubt. Is it his savvy logical reasoning, his ability to take on almost any disguise, or his forensic science skills to solve a problematic case. Anyway for all of us Sherlockian enthusiast, it is not just another detective case to be solved, with Holmes it is an adventure.
Read more…

The House On Haunted Hill (1959) with Vincent Price

House_on_Haunted_Hill.jpg

House on Haunted Hill is a 1959 American B movie horror film from Allied Artists. It was directed by William Castle, written by Robb White, and starring Vincent Price as eccentric millionaire Fredrick Loren. He and his fourth wife, Annabelle, have invited five people to the house for a "Haunted House" party. Whoever stays in the house for one night will earn $10,000 each. As the night progresses, all the guests are trapped inside the house with ghosts, murderers, and other terrors.

Cast

* Vincent Price as Frederick Loren, a millionaire whose first three wives all died suspicious deaths
* Carolyn Craig as Nora Manning, a secretary for one of Mr Loren's companies supports her whole family
* Richard Long as Lance Schroeder, a pilot
* Elisha Cook as Watson Pritchard, a man whose sister-in-law and brother were murdered in the house; the owner of the property
* Carol Ohmart as Annabelle Loren, Frederick's fourth wife
* Alan Marshal as Dr. David Trent, a psychiatrist
* Julie Mitchum as Ruth Bridgers, a columnist with a gambling problem
* Leona Anderson as Mrs. Slydes, a housekeeper
* Howard Hoffman as Jonas Slydes, another housekeeper
* Skeleton - Himself




Download:
iPod/Zune (310.4 M) AVI (700.2 M)
Read more…

Lux Radio Theater

Lux+Radio+Theater.jpg.
I will be posting some high quality episodes of Lux Radio Theater on the COTR Podcast the next few days. Some of these shows might be some you have never heard before and are not in the Archives. Below is the first two post and you can watch the podcast link for additional post if of interest.

.
lux+-+test+pilot.jpg

Test Pilot from Lux Radio Theater aired May 25, 1942 starring Robert Taylor, Rita Hayworth and Robert Preston. The show opens with Cecil B. DeMille and Rita Hayworth giving a message to the armed forces.

An irresponsible test pilot''s wife and best friend try to get him to grow up.

Lux Radio Theater 42-05-25 0353 Test Pilot (HQ)
.


.
refprmer+and+redhead.jpg

The Reformer And The Redhead from Lux Radio Theater aired Jun 25, 1951 srarring in their original role Dick Powell as Andrew Rockton Hale and June Allyson as hot-tempered Kathleen Maguire.
A small-town politician falls for an idealistic zookeeper.

Lux Radio Theater 51-06-25 0753 The Reformer And The Redhead (HQ)
.
Read more…

logo2.png

Here is a post from makingwindowseasy.com I thought might interest some. I tried it out and it worked like a charm for me. Kylo – A Web Browser For Media Center: "

It’s not very often that I find a Media Center plugin that really gets me excited. Despite the platforms popularity and Microsoft support, it just doesn’t seem the draw the developers. That may have something to do with how complicated development is, but also the appeal of easy-money for smart phone app development. Regardless of that, though, I recently came across one that has me jumping for joy! Kylo is a web browser that integrates itself into the Media Center menu, is full-screen by default, has good Media Center-type features, and sports a home page with links to a plethora of content. In short, it’s what Microsoft should have done long ago.

Latest Version Includes Instant Visual Search Through Integration with Clicker.tv
Now Available for the United Kingdom, with a UK-Centric Kylo Directory

There is a massive amount of links such as NFL (which goes straight to the NFL’s video page), MLB, NBA, Yahoo Fantasy Football, Pandora, all of the major (and some of the minor) TV networks, online-only content like Revision3, some games and social networks, and more.

Now let’s take a look at what it does.

During installation you will be prompted to choose shortcuts. Make sure you enable the Media Center menu option.



When you open the browser you will be greeted with an almost overwhelming amount of content links.



There is an on-screen keyboard if you prefer such a thing.



You’ll find a limited, but useful amount of items in the settings.



One thing I found very useful in settings was the ability to manually stretch the screen to match my TV. Perhaps not everyone will need this, but I found Kylo would not open to full-screen until I did this. It remembers the setting so you’ll only need to do this once.

The one problem I have with Kylo is it’s inability to import bookmarks. Previously I was running Firefox on my Media Center PC and I had a sparse, but much needed, set of bookmarks. Some are included, but some are not. It looks as though I will be adding those by hand.

Overall, though, I have found this browser to be just about everything I need in a Media Center browser. It’s a definite add-on to any system I build in the future.
di

di
YssuVR6g0Lo"
Read more…

Johnny Carson Clips

This short clip features a Johnny monologue snippet followed by a Myna bird that does impressions. A bird, calling a kitty? An Alpo dog food commercial goes awry and Johnny comes in to save the day, and the sponsor. Yum yum, good doggie.



This short clip features Richard Nixon and Johnny bantering about make-up people for TV. Followed by a hilarious time with George Gobel telling war stories while Dean Martin is getting out of hand. This video clip closes with a rooster that is supposed to crow, but instead drops his calling card on Johnny's desk!


This short video clip features Drew Barrymore as a young child star. She takes out her fake teeth and plops them on Johnny's desk. Hilarious comedy! Followed by a parody of Walter Cronkite in a news room on his final day. Check out Tiny Tim playing Tiptoe through the tulips on his Ukulele and getting married to Miss Vicki on the Tonight Show. Big finish - Bob Hope sings Thanks for the memories with Johnny. Awesome!

Read more…

Dad's Army

11032206061?profile=original


Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show. The series regularly gained audiences of 18 million viewers and is still repeated world wide.

The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, usually owing to age, and as such the series starred several veterans of British film, television and stage, including Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Arnold Ridley and John Laurie. Relative youngsters in the regular cast were Ian Lavender, Clive Dunn (who was made-up to play the elderly Jones), Frank Williams, James Beck (who died suddenly during production of the programme's sixth series, despite being one of the youngest cast members) and Colin Bean.


In 2004, Dad's Army was voted into fourth place in a BBC poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom. Previously, in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, it was placed thirteenth. The series has had a profound influence on popular culture in the United Kingdom, with the series' catchphrases and characters well known. It is also credited with having highlighted a hitherto forgotten aspect of defence during the Second World War. The Radio Times magazine listed Captain Mainwaring's "You stupid boy!" among the 25 greatest put-downs on TV.


Originally intended to be called The Fighting Tigers, Dad’s Army was based partly on co-writer and creator Jimmy Perry’s real-life experiences in the Local Defence Volunteers (later known as the Home Guard). Perry had been 17 years old when he joined the 10th Hertfordshire Battalion and with a mother who did not like him being out at night and fearing he might catch cold, he bore more than a passing resemblance to the character of Frank Pike. An elderly lance corporal in the outfit often referred to fighting under Kitchener against the "Fuzzy Wuzzies" and proved to be a perfect model for Jones. Other influences were the film Whisky Galore!, and the work of comedians such as Will Hay whose film Oh, Mr Porter! featured a pompous ass, an old man and a young man which gave him Mainwaring, Godfrey and Pike. Another influence was the Lancastrian comedian Robb Wilton, who portrayed a work-shy husband who joined the Home Guard in numerous comic sketches during WW2.

dad%27s+army+2+3x3.jpg
Perry wrote the first script and gave it to David Croft while working as a minor actor in the Croft-produced sitcom Hugh and I, originally intending the role of the spiv, Walker, to be his own. Croft was impressed and sent the script to Michael Mills, Head of Comedy at the BBC. After addressing initial concerns that the programme was making fun of the efforts of the Home Guard, the series was commissioned.

In his book, Dad's Army, Graham McCann explained that the show owes a lot to Michael Mills. It was he who renamed the show Dad's Army. He did not like Brightsea-on-Sea so the location was changed to Walmington-on-Sea. He was happy with the names for the characters Mainwaring, Godfrey and Pike but not with other names and he made suggestions: Private Jim Duck became Frazer, Joe Fish became Joe Walker and Jim Jones became Jack Jones. He also suggested adding a Scot to the mix. Jimmy Perry had produced the original idea but was in need of an experienced man to see it through. Mills suggested David Croft and so the successful partnership began.


The show was set in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea, on the south coast of England (the exterior scenes were mostly filmed in and around Thetford, Norfolk). Thus, the Home Guard were on the front line in the eventuality of an invasion by the enemy forces across the English Channel, which formed a backdrop to the series. The first series had a loose narrative thread, with Captain Mainwaring’s platoon being formed and equipped—initially with wooden guns and LDV armbands, and later on full army uniforms; the platoon were part of the The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.


Explore more of Dad's Army in the Collections Group





Read more…
Johnny+Cash+Radio+Show+3x3.jpg
John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003), born J. R. Cash, was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. In 1954, Cash moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he sold appliances while studying to be a radio announcer. At night he played with guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant. Perkins and Grant were known as the Tennessee Two. Here is a rare recording of "The Johnny Cash Radio Show" from around 1954 at a radio station in Memphis, Tennessee. The show aired at 4 P.M. I believe this is the very first episode of his radio show. The Johnny Cash Radio Show 54-xx-xx (01) First Song - Wide Open Road
Read more…

Candid Microphone to Candid Camera

http://a.images.blip.tv/Calfkiller-CandidMicrophoneDoubleFeatureTwoShows569.jpg


Candid Camera, the first and longest running reality-based comedy program, premiered on ABC 10 August 1948 under its original radio title Candid Microphone. The format of the program featured footage taken by a hidden camera of everyday people caught in hoaxes devised by the show's host Allen Funt. In the world of Candid Camera mailboxes talked to passers by, cars rolled along effortlessly without engines, little boys used x-ray glasses, and secretaries were chained to their desks--all to provoke a reaction from unsuspecting mechanics, clerks, customers and passers by. In a 1985 Psychology Today article, Funt explained his move to television by saying that he "wanted to go beyond what people merely said, to record what they did--their gestures, facial expressions, confusions and delights.

The program ultimately changed its name to Candid Camera when it moved to NBC in 1949 but did not gain a permanent time slot until it finally moved to CBS in 1960. For the next seven years it was consistently rated as one of television's top ten shows before it was abruptly canceled. Funt was frequently joined by guest hosts such as Arthur Godfrey, Durward Kirby and Bess Meyerson. A syndicated version of the program containing old and new material aired from 1974-78. Aided by his son Peter, Funt continued to create special theme episodes (e.g.: "Smile, You're on Vacation," "Candid Camera goes to the Doctor," etc.) for CBS until 1990 when The New Candid Camera, advised by Funt and hosted by Dom DeLuise went into syndication. Low ratings finally prevented King Productions from renewing the show for the 1992-93 season.


On the Radio: Candid Microphone

The scenarios designed and recorded by Funt and his crew were unique glimpses into the quirks and foibles of human nature never before deliberately captured on film. The average scenario lasted approximately five minutes and was based on one of five strategies. These "ideas" included reversing normal or anticipated procedures, exposing basic human weaknesses such as ignorance or vanity, fulfilling fantasies, using the element of surprise or placing something in a bizarre or inappropriate setting. As Funt noted: "You have to make lots of adjustments to create viewer believability and really involve the subject. You need the right setting, one in which the whole scenario will fit and make sense to the audience even when it doesn't to the actor." Finding the right setting, and the right people for Candid Camera
stunts was not always an easy task.

Early attempts to film Candid Camera were hampered by technical, logistical and censorship difficulties. While they appeared simple, the staged scenes took many hours to prepare and success was far from guaranteed. Approximately fifty recorded sequences were filmed for every four to five aired on the program. Funt and his crew had to contend with burdensome equipment that was difficult to conceal. The cameras were often hidden behind a screen, but the lights needed for them had to be left out in the open. Would-be victims were told that the lights were part of "renovations." Microphones were concealed in boxes, under tables and, in a number of episodes, in a cast worn by Funt himself. In his book Eavesdropping at Large (1952), Funt also described his battles with network censors and sponsors who had never before confronted this type of programming and were often fickle in their decisions about what was and was not acceptable material for television at the time. Funt himself destroyed any material that was off color, or reached too deeply into people's private lives. A hotel gag designed to fool guests placed a "men's room" sign on a closet door. The funniest, but ultimately unaired reaction, came from a gentleman who ignored the obvious lack of accommodations and "used" the closet anyway.





Download
Read more…

Adventures Of The Falcon, The (OTRR Certified)



"This hard boiled spy drama began as an RKO Radio Pictures theatrical serial in the 1940s, went on radio in 1943, and then came to TV around ten years later in a Syndicated series produced for distribution by NBC
Films; the series was about an American agent whose code name was "Falcon".

The success of the films led to a radio series that premiered on the American Blue Network in April 1943, and aired for the next ten years on various networks. It was here that his transition into a private eye was finalized, with The Falcon, now called Michael Waring working as a hardboiled insurance investigator, with an office and a secretary, Nancy.

Barry Kroeger was the first radio voice of The Falcon, followed by James Meighan, Les Tremayne, George Petrie, and Les Damon. Nearly all the shows were broadcast from New York.

You can find more about the series and shows in the Collections Group
Read more…

Calfkiller On The Move


You may not of noticed, but I am bringing content from the old Calfkiller blogs and making part of, or available, to the Times Past community. The content I have posted on the Calfkiller blogs will be easily available here.
Have been asked often about the name Calfkiller. Some even said the name scared them. I am from the Cumberland Mountains area of Tennessee and one of the rivers here is called Calfkiller River. The name was taken from a Cherokee Indian Chief from this area of Tennessee, called Chief Calfkiller.

In the beginning old time radio had always been an interest to me and friends would ask for links to help in finding shows. The Calfkiller web page, or blog, was started just for friends to view links to content when I ran across something of interest. The name Calfkiller was easy to remember for anyone in the area and was just used for simplicity for just a few friends from the area. This was in the late 1990's, about the time Napster appeared.

Over time Old Time Radio started to make a come back, and search engines improved, mp3 players became more and more popular; and so did traffic to the Calfkiller blog. So I guess old Chief Calfkiller's name lives on in reference to Old Time Radio.


I started Times Past here on Ning shortly after they came on board as a platform, actually one of the first to sign up. I knew the interface had the potential to be a perfect place for the hobby of Old Time Radio. A lot better than anything I could ever come up with. It has been hard to move completely away from the Calfkiller blog, it has been a good refer for Time Past.

Now the Times Past community is growing with new members almost every day. Not just Old Time Radio fans, but also admirers of content from the post-era of Old Time Radio. I am thankful for the UK and others keeping the entertainment of radio alive today. There is some very creative and imagative minds writing and producing; as well outstanding actors from the UK keeping us old timers entertained, along with a whole new generation of new listeners.

I would like to thank all the members here at Times Past who have contributed content for all of us to enjoy, as well as contributors of the genre from other web sites who make content available. Whether any of you know or not, you are helping to preserve this content for future generations when we are gone.

Robert
Read more…

Claudia and David

.
Claudia_Transcription_Disk_Label.jpg

Claudia and David was a drama based on the Redbook magazine stories by Rose Franken and William Brown Meloney. It began as a skit on the Kate Smith Hour June 6, 1941, a month before becoming a full summer series. Claudia was played by Patricia Ryan and David was played by Richard Kollmar.

Claudia was still in her teens when she fell in love with David; much of the conflict derived from the possessiveness of her mother, with the "everyday drama" focusing on counting pennies, balancing checkbooks and repairing items around the house. The skits on the Smith show developed the romance; the couple would actually wed at "City Hall" in the second regular episode, July 11.

A syndication attempt in 1947-48 sponsored by Coca Cola starred Kathryn Bard as Claudia, and Paul Crabtree as David.


All Shows

Claudia.Zip


Single Shows

Claudia_47-09-00_000_Audition.mp3
Claudia_47-09-29_001_Meet_The_Naughtons.mp3
Claudia_47-09-30_002_Let_Them_Eat_Cake.mp3
Claudia_47-10-01_003_The_Wedding_Presents.mp3
Claudia_47-10-02_004_Many_Happy_Returns.mp3
Claudia_47-10-03_005_The_New_Apartment.mp3
Claudia_47-10-06_006_Its_A_Lock.mp3
Claudia_47-10-07_007_Introspection.mp3
Claudia_47-10-08_008_Mamas_Early_Birthday.mp3
Claudia_47-10-09_009_Claudia_Worries.mp3
Claudia_47-10-10_010_Moving_Day.mp3
Claudia_47-10-13_011_The_First_Quarrel.mp3
Claudia_47-10-14_012_Dog_Days.mp3
Claudia_47-10-15_013_Life_With_Major.mp3
Claudia_47-10-16_014_Salmon_On_Sale.mp3
Claudia_47-10-17_015_Dinner_Plans.mp3
Claudia_47-10-20_016_The_Salmon_Mousse.mp3
Claudia_47-10-21_017_Return_Of_The_Wedding_Pres..>
Claudia_47-10-22_018_The_Leaky_Faucet.mp3
Claudia_47-10-23_019_Beginning_Of_Our_Home.mp3
Claudia_47-10-24_020_Family_Finances.mp3
Claudia_47-10-27_021_The_New_Car.mp3
Claudia_47-10-28_022_The_Drivers_Test.mp3
Claudia_47-10-29_023_The_Trip.mp3
Claudia_47-10-30_024_Davids_Shirt.mp3
Claudia_47-10-31_025_A_Beautiful_Sunday.mp3
Claudia_47-11-03_026_Driving_Downtown.mp3
Claudia_47-11-04_027_Rogers_Visit.mp3
Claudia_47-11-05_028_The_Broken_Mandarin.mp3
Claudia_47-11-06_029_The_Engagement_Ring.mp3
Claudia_47-11-07_030_Mama_Is_Ill.mp3
Claudia_47-11-10_031_Davids_Cold.mp3
Claudia_47-11-11_032_Armistice_Day.mp3
Claudia_47-11-12_033_The_Kittens.mp3
Claudia_47-11-13_034_A_Sick_Kitten.mp3
Claudia_47-11-14_035_A_Stolen_Car.mp3
Claudia_47-11-17_036_A_Small_Death.mp3
Claudia_47-11-18_037_Harley_And_Julia_Return.mp3
Claudia_47-11-19_038_Opera_Tickets.mp3
Claudia_47-11-20_039_A_Night_At_The_Opera.mp3
Claudia_47-11-21_040_An_Available_Apartment.mp3
Claudia_47-11-24_041_Bath_Time_for_Shakespeare.mp3
Claudia_47-11-25_042_No_Room_at_the_Inn.mp3
Claudia_47-11-26_043_Painted_into_a_Corner.mp3
Claudia_47-11-27_044_Thanksgiving_Dinner.mp3
Claudia_47-11-28_045_Nice_Night_for_a_Walk.mp3
Claudia_47-12-01_046_Were_Just_Looking.mp3
Claudia_47-12-02_047_The_Whole_Tooth.mp3
Claudia_47-12-03_048_Through_Claudias_Eyes.mp3
Claudia_47-12-04_049_Can_We_Put_Clothes_in_it_T..>
Claudia_47-12-05_050_The_Shiner.mp3
Claudia_47-12-08_051_A_Genuine_Antique.mp3
Claudia_47-12-09_052_Claudia_Suspects.mp3
Claudia_47-12-10_053_The_Joyous_News.mp3
Claudia_47-12-11_054_A_Blank_Canvas.mp3
Claudia_47-12-12_055_A_Real_Stunner.mp3
Claudia_47-12-15_056_The_New_Carpets.mp3
Claudia_47-12-16_057_Psychic_Buttons.mp3
Claudia_47-12-17_058_A_Job_Offer.mp3
Claudia_47-12-18_059_Heartbreak.mp3
Claudia_47-12-19_060_Without_Mama.mp3
Claudia_47-12-22_061_Pipe_Shopping.mp3
Claudia_47-12-23_062_Lost_and_Found.mp3
Claudia_47-12-24_063_Christmas_Eve.mp3
Claudia_47-12-25_064_Merry_Christmas.mp3
Claudia_47-12-26_065_A_Surprise_for_Claudia.mp3
Claudia_47-12-29_066_Claudias_Birthday.mp3
Claudia_47-12-30_067_Naming_the_Dog.mp3
Claudia_47-12-31_068_New_Years_Eve.mp3
Claudia_48-01-01_069_Julias_New_Year_Musicale.mp3
Claudia_48-01-02_070_The_Parking_Lot.mp3
Claudia_48-01-05_071_Woman_Drivers.mp3
Claudia_48-01-06_072_Married_or_Not.mp3
Claudia_48-01-07_073_The_Organ_Grinder.mp3
Claudia_48-01-08_074_The_New_Secretary.mp3
Claudia_48-01-09_076_Lottie_Takes_Over.mp3
Claudia_48-01-12_076_Rogers_Idea.mp3
Claudia_48-01-13_077_Dropping_Hints.mp3
Claudia_48-01-14_078_Davids_Enthusiasm.mp3
Claudia_48-01-15_079_Todays_Upcoming_Trip.mp3
Claudia_48-01-16_080_The_Old_House.mp3
Claudia_48-01-19_081_Claudia_uses_books__drops_..>
Claudia_48-01-20_082_at_the_Mad_Hatters_0cleane..>
.
Read more…

You Asked For It

.
Take a look at this very entertaining show from the 1950's "You Asked For It". On the show, viewers were asked to send in postcards describing something that they wanted to see on television. This episode features a crazy song and dance team of human faced puppets. Also Elmo Lincoln - the original Tarzan and a daring escape artist wriggles out of a wild sword trap!

You just can not find this kind of entertainment on TV today. But is that good or bad?

.
Read more…

Singing Guns by Max Brand from Studio One

Singing+Guns.jpg

Singing Guns was aired by Studio One on October 21, 1947 starring Myron McCormick and Gary Merrill. The story is dramatized from the novel Singing Guns by Max Brand, who you may remember created the Western character Destry, featured in several filmed versions of Destry Rides Again, and his character Dr. Kildare was adapted to motion pictures, radio, television, and comic books.

Singing Guns is about a sheriff, Owen Caradac, who is saved from certain death by the legendary killer Rhiannon, and the two forge a bond that changes Rhiannon's life.

This is a top notch story and the acting is outstanding in this one hour western drama.

Read more…

Goodnight, Irene

Leadbelly_sitting.jpg
"Goodnight, Irene" or "Irene, Goodnight," is a 20th century American folk standard, written in 3/4 time, first recorded by American blues musician Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter in 1932.

The lyrics tell of the singer's troubled past with his love, Irene, and express his sadness and frustration. Several verses make explicit reference to suicidal fantasies, most famously in the line "sometimes I take a great notion to jump in the river and drown," which was the inspiration for the 1964 Ken Kesey novel Sometimes a Great Notion.


Like many traditional folk songs, the specific origins of "Irene" are unclear. Lead Belly was singing a version of the song from as early as 1908, which he claimed to have learned from his uncle Terell. An 1886 song by Gussie L. Davis has several lyrical and structural similarities to the latter song, however no information on its melody has survived. Some evidence suggests the 1886 song was itself based on an even earlier song which has not survived. Regardless of where he first heard it, however, by the 1930s Lead Belly had made the song his own, modifying the rhythm and rewriting most of the verses.

Lead Belly continued performing the song during his various prison terms, and it was while incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary that he encountered musicologists John and Alan Lomax who would go on to record hours of Lead Belly's performances. A few months prior to his release in 1934, Lead Belly recorded a number of his songs, including Irene, for the Library of Congress.

"Irene" remained a staple of Lead Belly's performances throughout the 1930s and '40s. However, despite popularity within the New York blues community, the song was never commercially successful during his lifetime.

In 1950, one year after Leadbelly's death, the American folk band The Weavers recorded a version of "Goodnight, Irene". The single first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on June 30, 1950 and lasted 25 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. Although generally faithful, the Weavers chose to omit some of Leadbelly's more controversial lyrics, leading Time magazine to label it a "dehydrated" and "prettied up" version of the original. Due to the recording's popularity, however, The Weavers' lyrics are the ones generally used today. The Weavers' enormous success inspired many other artists to release their own versions of the song, many of which were themselves commercially successful.





Subsequent to 1950, the song was recorded by numerous artists across several genres. In 2002, Lead Belly's 1936 Library of Congress recording received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.


Frank Sinatra's cover, released only a month after The Weavers', lasted nine weeks on the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 10, peaking at #12. Later that same year, Ernest Tubb & Red Foley had a #1 country music record with the song, and both Dennis Day and Jo Stafford released versions which made the Best Seller chart, peaking at #22 and #26 respectively.

On the Cash Box chart, where all available versions were combined in the standings, the song reached a peak position of #1 on September 2, 1950, and lasted at #1 for 10 weeks.

The song was basis for the 1950 parody called "Please Say Goodnight to the Guy, Irene" by Ziggy Talent. It also inspired the 1954 "answer" record "Wake Up, Irene" by Hank Thompson, a top ten hit on Billboard's country chart.

Band From TV did a cover of the song, with Hugh Laurie doing piano and vocals.

The Dixie Chicken in College Station plays this song at closing time, 2 a.m. every night of the week.

To see more on Leadbelly see the post

Lead Belly - A Secret History of Rock and Roll

Read more…

Folk America - BBC Documentary Series

boggs_512.jpg


Folk America - Part 1 : Birth Of A Nation

Part one of a three-part documentary series on American folk music, tracing its history from the recording boom of the 1920s to the folk revival of the 1960s. The opening part looks at how, in the 1920s, record companies scoured the American south for talent to sell. This was a golden age of American music, as the likes of the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charlie Poole, Dock Boggs and Mississippi John Hurt burst onto record, eager to have a share in the new industry and the money it made, only to lapse into obscurity when the depression hit at the start of the 30s. Contributors include Judy Collins, Steve Earle, Tom Paxton and Pete Seeger, surviving relations of 1920s greats such as Mississippi John Hurt, the Carter Family and Uncle Dave Macon, plus three actual survivors of the era - guitarist Slim Bryant, banjoist Wade Mainer and Delta bluesman 'Honeyboy' Edwards.





Folk America - Part 2 : This Land Is Your Land

Part two of a three-part documentary series on American folk music, tracing its history from the recording boom of the 1920s to the folk revival of the 1960s. In the depression of the 1930s, John Lomax found convicted murderer Leadbelly in a southern jail. Leadbelly's music was never quite as pure and untouched by pop as Lomax believed, but it set a new agenda for folk music, redefining it as the voice of protest, the voice of the outsider and the oppressed. Dustbowl drifter Woody Guthrie fitted the mould perfectly and the two of them teamed up with Lomax's son Alan, Pete Seeger and Josh White - a group of friends who believed 'they could make a better world if they all got together and just sang about it'. Their songs and their radical politics took them to high places of influence, but brought about their downfall in the blacklisting 1950s. Contributors include Pete Seeger, Rambling Jack Elliot, Anna Lomax, Tom Paxton, Roger McGuinn, Woody Guthrie's sister and daughter and Josh White's son.







Folk America - Part 3 : Blowin' In The Wind

Part three of a three-part documentary series on American folk music, tracing its history from the recording boom of the 1920s to the folk revival of the 1960s. In the 1960s a new generation, spearheaded by Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, took folk to the top of the charts and made it the voice of youthful protest. Whilst the northern folk revivalists helped bring civil rights to the south, the Newport Folk Festival brought the old music of the south to the college kids in the north. However, when Dylan turned up at Newport in 1965 with an electric guitar things would never be the same again. With Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Robbie Robertson, Stephen Stills, Country Joe McDonald, Roger McGuinn, Odetta and Tom Paxton.



Download
Read more…

Jack Benny interviewed by Dick Cavett, 1973



Jack Benny (February 14, 1894 –
December 26, 1974), born Benjamin Kubelsky, was an American comedian,
vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film. Widely
recognized as one of the leading American entertainers of the 20th
century, Benny played the role of someone comically "tight" with his
money, insisting on remaining 39 years old despite his actual age, and
often playing the violin badly.

Benny was known for his comic timing and his ability to get laughs with
either a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature
exasperated "Well!" His radio and television programs, tremendously
popular in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s were a foundational
influence on the situation comedy.



Read more…
You Have The Right To: 1). Rip & Remix DVDs. 2). Jailbreak Your iPhone. 3). Use Your Phone With Any Carrier You Want.: " From podcasting news

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today announced that it has won three critical exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) anticircumvention provisions today.

You now have the right to:

  • Rip and remix DVDs for non-commercial purposes;
  • Jailbreak your iPhone, or other cell phone, and load up any apps you want; and
  • Use your iPhone, or other cell phone, with any carrier you like.

“By granting all of EFF’s applications, the Copyright Office and Librarian of Congress have taken three important steps today to mitigate some of the harms caused by the DMCA,” said Jennifer Granick, EFF’s Civil Liberties Director. “We are thrilled to have helped free jailbreakers, unlockers and vidders from this law’s overbroad reach.”

The DMCA prohibits “circumventing” digital rights management (DRM) and “other technical protection measures” used to control access to copyrighted works. The exemptions were granted as part of a process, conducted every three years, to mitigate the danger the DMCA poses to legitimate, non-infringing uses of copyrighted materials.

Rip & Remix DVDs

EFF won a new protection for people that rip DVDs and remix them and post them on sites like YouTube.

The new rule holds that amateur creators do not violate the DMCA when they use short excerpts from DVDs in order to create new, noncommercial works for purposes of criticism or comment if they believe that circumvention is necessary to fulfill that purpose. Hollywood has historically taken the view that “ripping” DVDs is always a violation of the DMCA, no matter the purpose.

“Noncommercial videos are a powerful art form online, and many use short clips from popular movies. Finally the creative people that make those videos won’t have to worry that they are breaking the law in the process, even though their works are clearly fair uses. That benefits everyone — from the artists themselves to those of us who enjoy watching the amazing works they create,” added McSherry.

Jailbreak Your iPhone

EFF also won clarification on the legality of cell phone “jailbreaking” — software modifications that liberate iPhones and other handsets to run applications from sources other than those approved by the phone maker.

The Copyright Office rejected Apple’s claim that copyright law prevents people from installing unapproved programs on iPhones: “When one jailbreaks a smartphone in order to make the operating system on that phone interoperable with an independently created application that has not been approved by the maker of the smartphone or the maker of its operating system, the modifications that are made purely for the purpose of such interoperability are fair uses.”

“Copyright law has long held that making programs interoperable is fair use,” confirmed Corynne McSherry, EFF’s Senior Staff Attorney. “It’s gratifying that the Copyright Office acknowledges this right and agrees that the anticircumvention laws should not interfere with interoperability.”

Unlock Your Phone & Use It With Any Carrier You Like

Finally, the Librarian of Congress renewed a 2006 rule exempting cell phone unlocking so handsets can be used with other telecommunications carriers. Cell phone unlockers have been successfully sued under the DMCA, even though there is no copyright infringement involved in the unlocking. Digital locks on cell phones make it harder to resell, reuse, or recycle the handset, prompting EFF to ask for renewal of this rule on behalf of our clients, The Wireless Alliance, ReCellular and Flipswap. However, the 2009 rule has been modified so that it only applies to used mobile phones, not new ones.

“The Copyright Office recognizes that the primary purpose of the locks on cell phones is to bind customers to their existing networks, rather than to protect copyrights,” said Granick. “The Copyright Office agrees with EFF that the DMCA shouldn’t be used as a barrier to prevent people who purchase phones from keeping those phones when they change carriers. The DMCA also shouldn’t be used to interfere with recyclers who want to extend the useful life of a handset.”

You can read the details in this pdf.

"
Read more…