Nigel Bruce was one of my favorite actors. He was pretty well type-cast, but he did his role so well and was so lovable in it that I really enjoy watching him.

Charlotte Greenwood had a very good comedy show on radio. Her face will be familiar to any old movie/TV fans. Her voice sounds very much like Eve Arden of Our Miss Brooks.

If you give the world access to your children, do not complain when the world takes advantage of the opportunity.

"Honest as the day is long." That is a strange expression. He is honest today, but he won't be tomorrow?

Inspector Thorne - another entry in the list of radio shows that used the Texas Rangers music.

Although I have heard some "experts" say that Uncle Dennis' voice never was heard on the Fibber and Molly program, we have examples that show that he was, at least a few times. I just heard the actor who played Uncle Dennis in a guest role on Let George Do It.

I helped dig my grandfather's grave

When my maternal grandfather died in my sophomore year in high school, one wise thing that my father did was to insist that we boys take a hand in the digging of his grave - by hand. Also, we "sat up" with the body, which was kept in the home overnight.

Distinctive voices on radio

There were some actors on radio who were constantly busy because they had distinctive voices and appeared not only in regular series, but also in a large number of guest rolls.

John Dehner (Paladin on Have Gun Will Travel)
William Conrad (Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke)
Parley Baer (Chester on Gunsmoke)
Howard McNear (Doc on Gunsmoke)
Larry Dobkin (taxi driver Louie on The Saint)
Gerald Mohr (Phillip Marlowe)
Ken Christy (Chief Gates on Gildersleeve)
Herb Butterfield (The Commissioner on Dangerous Assignment)
Barton Yarborough (Hawk Larabee)

Dictators

Whether they are Communist Party leaders or drug cartel leaders, dicatators follow a common form. They have to have a group of completely-loyal hit men who will enforce their power.

My non-religious reading these days has pretty well settled down to Louis Lamour and P. G. Wodehouse.

Grandpa still mowing his yard

Grandpa (my dad) has officially hired Adam's boys to mow his yard this summer. He will turn 88 in July and decided it was time for him to give it up.

Please, be organized

I wish that people who do things in a slap-dash, haphazard, disorganized manner would stop to think how much of an imposition their methods create for others.

First Love

In the Lux Radio version of "First Love," Shirley Temple took the lead role that Deanna Durbin had played in the movie.

Can any of you even approximately imitate Sydney Greenstreet's laugh?

Brian Donlevy

Brian Donlevy

Even though he won an Oscar nomination once, I never have considered Brian Donlevy a particularly good actor. Still, he is one of my favorite radio actors. I really like the Dangerous Assignment series, and he appeared in a lot of other radio shows.

His full name was Waldo Brian Donlevy. He was born in County Armagh, Ireland. He enlisted in the army at the age of 14 by lying about his age, and was in the force sent by General Pershing to pursue the famous Mexican bandit, Pancho Villa.

I am content to be a nobody. It has been my observation that nobodies are generally much happier than somebodies.

Eric Blore in "Fancy Pants"

One of the great brief comedy character roles is Eric Blore as Lord Wimbley in Fancy Pants with Hope and Lucille Ball. (He is the mush-mouthed peer that you cannot understand.)

Just as a rule of thumb, if you want to compare dollar values from the 1950's to today, multiply by a factor of ten.

Jerry Colonna was the zany comedian with the huge mustache who appeared with Bob Hope in the Road To movies and was a fixture in his military shows. He met his wife on a blind date, married her, and it lasted for 56 years until his death.

The way we keep getting involved in foreign conflicts, maybe we need to change the name of the Defense Dept. back to the War Department.

Why Richard Rogue was a bachelor

Richard Rogue of the Rogue's Gallery old radio show.

"I remained a bachelor - a member of that select group of men who have not made the same mistake once." (Not a statement of my philosophy, just a well-turned phrase.)

You know how that radio detectives had to be knocked out once a program - at least? Well, when Rogue was unconscious, he would go to a cloud where his alter ego Eugor lived (Rogue spelled backward). Eugor would always tease him about his mistakes.

Harold Peary as Gildersleeve

Harold Peary (pronounced Perry), the first of the two Gildersleeves on radio (the other was Willard Waterman), was born José Pereira de Faria.

Incidentally, the "P" in Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve stood for "Philharmonic."

Organ music in radio shows

The organ music used on so many radio shows is irritating to many people today. However, the principle behind it was no different than the common use of synthesizers similar situations today: it is cheaper to pay one person than several people. The difference is that synthesizer sounds can be varied to be more pleasing than can the organs of that day.

Once again, I found a radio show that used the theme music from Tales of the Texas Rangers. This one is The Silent Men, about government undercover agents. They got a lot of mileage out of that music.

Thai restaurant in Charleston. Pam and I ate there last night. Very good. We recommend it.

Boris Karloff’s paternal grandmother was the sister of Anna Leonowens, whose tales about life in the royal court of Siam were the basis of the musical "The King and I."

Boris Karloff, a fine actor

Boris Karloff was a much better actor than he is usually given credit for being. The only thing most people know about him is that he appeared in quite a few horror movies. They do not know that (among others) he played the Mr. Wong, the Chinese detective, and also Colonel March, the suave Scotland Yard detective. He was versatile and very enjoyable to watch.

Protecting the innocent

Our justice system is weighted toward not punishing the innocent. It could just as easily be weighted toward punishing the guilty, but what an environment of fear that would be. Thank God we have what we have. Sometimes the bad guys get away, but at least we do not have a police state.

How in the world did an actor named Humphrey get to be a tough-guy leading man in Hollywood?

I wonder why no one in our family ever named their daughter Emerald.

Roy Rogers had one of the most listenable voices in popular music. He really had a pleasant sound and style.

"Mr. Allen"

What radio comedienne began her spot on each show with the quip, "Mr. Allen, Mr. Allen"?

Hint: She was married to the star of the show for 25 years, until his death. Then she re-married, and both of them lived long enough to celebrate their 25th anniversary, also. How many Hollywood stars do you know that celebrated two silver wedding anniversaries?

It was Portland Hoffa, the wife of Fred Allen.

More HERE on Portland Hoffa.

I just heard what had to have been Doc Gamble's voice on an old Roy Rogers radio program.

No Fingers Noonan

No Fingers Noonan - a character on Archie's Tavern radio show. Also known as The Unsuccessful Butcher.

It has been a good year for Grandpa (my dad) in basketball. We took him to college games at Fayetteville, Little Rock and Clarksville. Not bad for an 87 1/2 year old.

Whence the expression, "I should have stood in bed"? Stood? You should have been standing on your bed?

This week is the 200th anniversary of the last and largest of the New Madrid earthquakes, which just happened to have been on the same day that Charles Dickens was born.

I have found a couple of episodes of the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes series in which Watson's wife has a speaking part.

Collecting old radio shows

I just completed my tenth CD case of old radio shows. Two of them are larger, but the rest are 96-CD cases. I estimate that we have somewhere around 2400 old radio programs on CD at our house.

I just have an inherent distaste for voting against a man. If I cannot vote for his opponent, then usually I just do not vote. I realize that there may be exceptions to that rule, but it is my general rule.

Signs posts disappearing

One of the most difficult things about growing older is that the fundamental assumptions of life that were sturdy cornerstones for your planning seem to be disappearing. Things you assumed always would be true are no longer true.

Alan Young - Mr. Ed and radio

Alan Young was the star of the Mr. Ed television program (the one with the talking horse). He also had a radio program. He was much better on TV than on the radio. He tended to be very silly and goofy (a la Red Skelton). There were some good moments, but overall the program was weak. Jim Backus played a very rich acquaintance on the program.

Two "made for radio" actors were Bob Bailey ( Let George Do It, Johnny Dollar) and William Conrad (Gunsmoke). Neither were handsome, leading man types, but both had great radio voices.

On the way to work today I was listening to a Jack Benny program on the radio. Jack had a doctor's appointment, and in the lobby to see the psychiatrist was a man who thought he was a rabbit. Jack spoke to him, and he responded, "Nyaaa, what's up, Doc?" It was, of course, the voice of Bugs Bunny. Mel Blanc was a regular on the Benny program.

Whenever a business enterprise feels like it is in free fall, that is a sure sign that management is not managing.

Doctors and insurance companies need to remember that people do have an option: we can choose just to be sick.

The major parties are idiots to have their nomination process like they do. Why would they want three or four states basically to choose their nominees?

In your spare time, someone calculate how much of the last 14 years I have NOT had a daughter or daughter-in-law expecting a child.

What you can learn from old radio shows

Ah, the things you can learn from old radio shows. For example, until I listened to Fred Allen, I never knew there was such a person as Thorndyke McKeester.

Radio shows always emphasized that their star was a "hard-boiled" detective. Who might have been some examples of the non-hard-boiled sort? Well, maybe Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, definitely Philo Vance and Nero Wolfe.

Congress needs to pass a law making "Reply To All" buttons illegal. It would increase the efficiency of this nation tremendously.

Rex Saunders radio show

I am enjoying a new discovery among old radio detecive shows. The Private Files of Rex Saunders, starring Rex Harrison. Somewhat similar to Bulldog Drummond. Interestingly, you can hear snips of musical themes used on Tales of the Texas Rangers and Johnny Dollar.

What does "corpus delecti" mean?

Corpus delicti (plural: corpora delicti) (Latin: "body of crime") is a term from Western jurisprudence referring to the principle that a crime must have been proven to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime. For example, a person cannot be tried for larceny unless it can be proven that property has been stolen. Likewise, in order for a person to be tried for arson it must be proven that a criminal act resulted in the burning of a property. Black's Law Dictionary (6th ed.) defines "corpus delicti" as: "the fact of a crime having been actually committed".

Cautious driving

There are benefits to conservative driving apart from the safety factor. I hardly ever have to have my brakes replaced, because when you back off from the cars ahead of you and drive cautiously, you are not having to apply your brakes nearly as often. You might be surprised how much longer they will last.

Tom Conway as Sherlock Holmes

We are accustomed to seeing Tom Conway as the suave detective The Falcon. However, he switches over to Sherlock Holmes opposite Nigel Bruce when Rathbone left the radio series, and did a very creditable job. No one could replace Basil, but Conway was not a disappointment by any means.

I got to enjoy watching The Sands of Iwo Jima with Jason last night. He had never seen it.

The Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is a self-governing dependency of the British Crown. Its legislative body is the bi-cameral Tynwald, reported to have been founded in AD 979, and arguably the oldest continuous parliament in the world.

I have been taking pretty pills for years. See how well they work?

Lucille Ball was a funny actress, but the types of women she portrayed would be anything but funny, were they in real life.

NEVER post anything on the computer that indicates you are not at home. Just a "Welcome" sign to intruders.

Consistent discipline

Discipline has a tendency to become no discipline if it is not administered consistently. Show leniency to one, and very soon we must show leniency to all or be accused of partiality. Children are very adept at using parental inconsistency against us.

Old radio shows - great hobby

I would not call myself an authority on old radio shows because there are several types of them in which I have no interest. But I have listened to a lot of them between our own collection and what I hear on Sirrius radio. A great hobby, really.

Memories of The Lawrence Welk Show

My wife and I were visiting tonight about how both our grandmothers were dedicated watchers of The Lawrence Welk Show, and allowed no interruptions during it.

One of the all-time great Hollywood compliments:

Jimmy Stewart in "You Can't Take It With You," 1938:
"You're so beautiful, it makes me want to gag."

My favorite all-time character actor has to be Barry Fitzgerald. He was just so much fun to watch - and to listen to.

Train station announcements on Jack Benny

What three cities were constantly being announced by the PA in the train station on the Jack Benny show?

Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga

What an American institution went by the wayside with the demise of the brass cuspidor!

Remember thy Creator

There is divine wisdom in the commandment, "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth." There is so much that can happen physically and mentally as we grow older that make it difficult or even impossible to do the things that we wanted to do and planned to do. Because of the demands of younger adulthood, some of those things are not possible at an earlier age; but much can be done, and ought to be done, because there may not be the opportunity later on.

An underrated radio show was Rocky Jordan. He owned the Cafe Tambourine in Cairo - probably a take-off from the movie Casablanca. He was not a detective, but he was always solving mysteries anyway. Well done show, and worth listening to.

Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson

Nigel Bruce's portrayal of of Dr. Watson on the Sherlock Holmes movies did not fit the original stories: the famous side-kick was less of a bumbler than Bruce's character. However, the actor did such a superb job of making the role his own that it is his personna that likely will be burned into Sherlock fans' memories. Just a wonderful job of acting.

Richard Diamond just got knocked out by a gun but in The Eddie Burke Case. Is anyone surprised?

We preachers are prone to "quote at" texts - that is, to paraphrase them, or just to get close to the text. I wonder if we are as satisfied to "get close to" the doctrines contained in them.

There was a school sign on the way to work this morning with the Word of the Week: Courage - "the ability to do that which frightens you." That is true some of the time, but sometimes that would be merely a definition of foolishness, if we are wise enough to be frightened by that which is frightful.

Business selfishness needs to have some restrictions

I definitely think that governmental regulations get out of hand oftentimes and needlessly stifle the economy and hinder legitimate business enterprises. However, I also know that businessmen, if not restricted, would be utterly self-serving and would do whatever promoted their own interests, no matter how many other people it hurt. Yes, some regulations are necessary.

One of the books in Jack Benny's library: "Gertrude Eichelberger, Girl Plumber".

Did you know that it is a settled fact of law that there is a difference in significance between a paper clip and a staple? One is recognized as indicating a temporary situation and the other permanence.

The freedom of any country boils down to the police and the military. They must do their jobs, but they must be strictly controlled so that they do ONLY their jobs.

Fried okra, done right, is just as good as it gets.

One of the best of the many fine Philip Marlowe radio show episodes was "Anniversary Gift." For some reason, William Conrad played Marlowe in this particular instance. It concerns a man who is trying to conceal the fact that his dying wife had killed a man who was blackmailing them.

The Life of Riley radio show

The Life of Riley was a long-running radio show in the 1940’s. It was good and well worth listening to, although in my opinion it was not one of the funniest of the radio comedies. However, one character on the show was a hoot! Digby “Digger” O’Dell, “The Friendly Undertaker,” was a friend of Riley. He had the best lines in the show and pulled them off in great style.

Mrs. X on Richard Diamond

I just finished listening to an episode of Richard Diamond (with actor Dick Powell) broadcast 4 Oct 1950. At the first of the show he starts to announce a special guest and then decides not to. His client is a mystery woman, “Mrs. X,” who wants to locate her husband. At the end of the show, she says that she is expecting and that her husband was so moved by it that he was temporarily mentally affected.

Allyson was actually Powell’s wife, and their son, Richard, Jr., was born in December of 1950.

Six Shooter music on Johnny Dollar

I am listening to a Johnny Dollar episode called “The Stope of Death,” about a silver mine in Nevada. As he is preparing to make the trip, you can hear the theme music from “The Six Shooter” playing. I thought that was interesting.

Chain smoking radio actors

There are some classic examples of voices on radio that were destroyed by chain smoking. Ken Christy (Chief Gates on Gildersleeve) and William Gargan (Barry Craig). In fact, Gargan's career came to an end in 1958 when he developed throat cancer, and doctors were forced to remove his larynx. Speaking through an artificial voice box, Gargan became an activist and spokesman for the American Cancer Society, often warning about the dangers of smoking.

Richard Diamong - "The Blue Serge Suit"

One of the funniest Richard Diamond radio show episodes is the one entitled "Blue Serge Suit." Jim Backus is a guest star as the sarcastic owner of a men's clothing store. Their dialogue back and forth is hilarious.

Here is a LINK to this episode.


Dick Powell (Diamond)


Backus

Johnny Staccato

We ended up not being too high on Johnny Staccato. Some of the episodes were enjoyable and interesting, but too many of them were trying to make some kind of social statement. Eduardo Ciannelli as Waldo stole the show.

Dick Powell and Arkansas

I just listened to an episode of Richard Diamond, “William Carter Loses His Memory,” in which Dick Powell refers at the close to Mountain View, Arkansas, which was the place of his birth.

Pam and I watched a Johnny Staccato episode last week in which Alexander Scourby was a guest star who played the role of a charlatan preacher. That is ironic, given his famous recordings reading the Scriptures.

Primary idiocy

This process of moving the presidential primaries earlier and earlier has got to stop! Just do us all a favor and pass a law that all of the primaries have to be on the same day.

How many of you (besides my wife) have seen a Dick Powell movie from his song-and-dance era AND from his hard-boiled era?

Johnny Staccato

We bought a new TV series from the late 1950s: Johnny Staccato, starring John Cassavetes and Eduardo Cianelli. It looks like it was patterned after Peter Gunn. Interesting, but not great.

Richard Strauss writing for the horn section

Richard Strauss stands alone atop the list of composers for the horn. True, on the elegant side of the lecture, Mozart was a wonderful writer. However, in those heroic passages that make hornists drool, it was Strauss. Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan, Der Rosenkavalier, Till Eugenspiegel: those are the passages that horn players stand in line to get to play.

Both political parties have blind spots

Republicans look at the forest; Democrats look at the trees. Both have glaring gaps in their vision. Republicans recognize that the free market creates the most gross wealth, and that a rising boat lifts the most people. The problem is that that rising boat does not lift ALL people, and those that are not lifted are the ones the Democrats worry about. However, in their worrying about the individuals, they minimize the positive effects of the economy as a whole. Two parties with blind spots.

It may have seemed to you today that I was unintelligent; but hopefully it will ease your mind to know that that is not the case. I am just plain stupid.

A top-notch phrase

"Brazen effrontery" is such a good phrase that it is worth manipulating conversations just to work it in.

The memories for addresses of the characters on the Philip Marlowe detective program were amazing. They seemingly knew all the street numbers of all their acquaintances without having to look them up. Very convenient if you have to get your story crammed into 30 minutes.

I recommend one particular episode of the Fred Allen program entitled "King for a Day," with Jack Benny as the guest star. Jack wins the prizes, one of which is to have his pants pressed, which they evidently proceed to do right there on stage. The audience is cracking up.

William Conrad (Matt Dillon) and Parley Baer (Chester) were a great team on the old Gunsmoke radio program. They played off each other very well. Good chemistry on the air.

I wonder how many old radio shows I do have on CD. Maybe thousands? Great hobby.

1938-1953. I recommend this period for movies. By 1938 the industry had their quality going well enough to be enjoyable. Past 1953 things began to be more gradually more explicit.

Let's outlaw these!

Two things I wish they would outlaw: blue headlights on cars and yellow shoes on football fields. Both look too much like law (rule) enforcement colors.