Lon Chaney Jr (not) on the air in Old Time Radio and Audio Horror Forum

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Lon Chaney Jr (not) on the air

Author	Comment
WalesGuy	Lon Chaney Jr (not) on the air	Lead	[-]
Jan 14 12 4:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It seems the only radio programme Lon ever did was the late 40s ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW playing himself (Abbott makes a reference to Chaney as the Wolfman). Curious as to why he didn't do more radio work, especially as from around 1946 onwards his film output doing minor roles was sparse. There were suggestions he did some radio Inner Sanctums after doing the 6 Universal movies, but it seems as this was not the case.
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Wich2		#1	[-]
Jan 14 12 7:31 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Actually, WG, I think he may have done a little other radio work. And I think the reason he didn't do much was probably simple: Jr himself freely admitted that he did his best work early in the day, before he'd had a chance to drink much. And in the classic era of Network Radio, the vast amount of work was done in the evening. And live, with no chance for retakes.
WalesGuy		#2	[-]
Jan 14 12 7:59 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yes that's possible wich2, with the lack of film roles though it makes you wonder how he kept his family fed and clothed after 1946 when his starring roles disappeared into supporting roles
Ray Faiola		#3	[-]
Jan 18 12 11:53 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Here's the Chaney A&C show: http://retro-otr.com/2011...a-fight-with-lou-480602/ Lon comes in just about halfway at 15:30. Classic Film Scores Restored on CD http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com
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TomWeaver999		#4	[-]
Jan 18 12 12:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just Googled to find out what "the average salary" was in the late '40s, and I got answers ranging from $2700 to $3500. In that obscenely overpaid industry, by working in one movie for just two weeks, Chaney probably made as much as the Average Joe made all year. Multiply that by two movies a year, and he was "should" have been doing okay. He'd start doing a lot better in the '50s when, for whatever reason, a lot more movie parts started coming his way.
Ted Newsom		#5	[-]
Jan 18 12 1:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think he got something like $5000 a week for two weeks on HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN... and he did, what, three other films the same year, four? Doin' pretty good there. (Strange got a flat 500 bucks, I seem to recall) As for radio... I don't think people made big bucks with that unless they were the stars... which accounts for why guys like Olan Soule and Les Tremayne intentionally kept so busy. Fifty bucks for an hour's worth of work isn't bad... but if you can race across town for another gig at another fifty... and another... then you're making almost as much as Lon Chaney in one day of a Wuffman picture.
Wich2		#6	[-]
Jan 18 12 6:29 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Knowing a fair number of those Vets, Ted - - that's EXACTLY how they did it. Especially if you were a double-threat - Actor and Announcer - like Jack Beck, Bud Collyer, Earnest Chappell, etc. Or a very versatile Character Man, like Santos Ortega, Howard McNear, Bill Conrad, etc. You'd work a pretty solid 8-12 hour day (with a break here & there), and make a VERY respectable living.
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