Genre OTR archeology in Old Time Radio and Audio Horror Forum

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Genre OTR archeology

Author	Comment
Barbenfouillis	Genre OTR archeology	Lead	[-]
Aug 14 12 5:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	DELETE if possible w/o removing thread. I dunno what happened but part of the text would not display... "This is the wireless detonator, men," he explained. "When I press this key it will complete a radio circuit in the real detonator tuned to this wave combination. As soon as I can get the boy Hank, I'll have him tow the old duck boat with the wireless bomb and leave it under the radio shack where that Evans chap has his laboratory and his confounded radioplane. Then blooey!" Last Edited By: Barbenfouillis Aug 14 12 5:28 PM. Edited 3 times.
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Barbenfouillis		#1	[-]
Aug 14 12 5:28 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Despite the problem with establishing "Firsts" in anything, I invariably return to a fascination with them. Up until now, I had considered the BBC broadcast of RUR on t May 27, 1927 to hold the title of radio genre first. But...having just checked out of my library a copy of The Definitive Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Companion (by Harry M. Geduld / 1983), there is a new candidate. In the text HMG mentions a Halloween broadcast adaptation of Jekyll & Hyde over WGBS in 1926. And, sure enough, this from an article run in both The Baltimore Sun and The Hartford Courant on that very day: "Dramatic Version With Music Will Be Presented Tonight Through WGBS - A dramatic version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". The cast included one Howard Pyle (starring role), John Knight, Berry Middleton & J.P. Wilson. Now depending on whether you consider Jekyll & Hyde as Horror or Science Fiction, RUR could still, I guess, lay claim to being the first science fiction radio. But me, myself and I kinda consider the Stevenson tale as a hybrid of both genres...so.... Anyway, I found this tidbit interesting and thought that I'd share. Would that we could listen to either broadcast but, alas, I doubt very seriously that anything will ever turn up. Steve "This is the wireless detonator, men," he explained. "When I press this key it will complete a radio circuit in the real detonator tuned to this wave combination. As soon as I can get the boy Hank, I'll have him tow the old duck boat with the wireless bomb and leave it under the radio shack where that Evans chap has his laboratory and his confounded radioplane. Then blooey!" Last Edited By: Barbenfouillis Aug 14 12 7:09 PM. Edited 1 times.
Atomic Mystery Monster		#2	[-]
Aug 14 12 6:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	On an old Rondo ballot, there was a brief reference to "classic favorites from the 1910s-50s" as being available from a site called "OLD TIME RADIO MYSTERY-HORROR." Sadly, no URL was given and the name is too broad for a search engine to pick up any exact results. It's too bad, as I would have loved to hear some spooky OTR from the 1910's (assuming the listing was correct in regard to the dates). Gravedigger's Local 16 - "What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?" 6'+ (Six Foot Plus) - Musical madness (and more) from the GdL16 gang.
Green Hornet.movieserialmess...		#3	[-]
Aug 14 12 7:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There are some shows from that era on otrcat.com but nothing that appears to be horror.
Barbenfouillis		#4	[-]
Aug 14 12 7:10 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just edited my post to include the cast.... Steve "This is the wireless detonator, men," he explained. "When I press this key it will complete a radio circuit in the real detonator tuned to this wave combination. As soon as I can get the boy Hank, I'll have him tow the old duck boat with the wireless bomb and leave it under the radio shack where that Evans chap has his laboratory and his confounded radioplane. Then blooey!"
Wich2		#5	[-]
Aug 15 12 7:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Steve, shades of the book project I'm winding up -- wherein early radio/audio CHRISTMAS CAROLs are exhumed, starting in 1905! WGBS was in that broadcast sweepstakes too, though it seems it was beaten to the punch by WMAQ; so, do you grant that 1924 Fantasy radio genre first status? Best, -Craig
Barbenfouillis		#6	[-]
Aug 15 12 7:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well, most of my digging has been motivated by copies of a book written by Jim Widner on S.F OTR, Gordon Payton's ("The Sci Fi Guy") extensive catalog and a book on British radio Science Fiction by Penny Fabb. I had even become fascinated enough with the RUR broadcast that I mailed away - to somewhere in Great Britain..forget exactly where - for some original studio artifacts. Having considered the above 3 sources pretty exhaustive (especially the last 2), I was pretty sure that RUR was the sci fi first. Done deal.But oops..The J&H broadcast in 1926 darn well seems like the first horror (and s.f. as well, giving that your mileage may vary); Dunno about fantasy, usually only s.f. stuff hits my radar (I know,I know..what am I doing spending so my time on a Classic Horror Board?!?!). I could check Payton's stuff when I get a chance. His sales catalog might just still be the most definitive source on the topic since it was written from the standpoint of a huge fan. He also gobbled up Fantasy/Horror recordings so there might be something there. Steve PS Of course, the first audio - while not radio - is again Jekyll and Hyde by Len Spencer. So it looks like J&H might just take home a few Gold Medals here. But RUR is still high up in the medal count with a disputed Silver and another Gold for being the 1st Sci Fi TV "This is the wireless detonator, men," he explained. "When I press this key it will complete a radio circuit in the real detonator tuned to this wave combination. As soon as I can get the boy Hank, I'll have him tow the old duck boat with the wireless bomb and leave it under the radio shack where that Evans chap has his laboratory and his confounded radioplane. Then blooey!"
Wich2		#7	[-]
Aug 15 12 11:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>PS Of course, the first audio - while not radio - is again Jekyll and Hyde by Len Spencer< If we allow Ghosts & Fantasy here (and I think The Carol even fairly traffics in Horror, with Marley & Future), he only ties with Albert Whelan & Bransby Williams - 1905 is the year one and maybe both of them did their CAROL cylinders! -Craig
Barbenfouillis		#8	[-]
Aug 16 12 4:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Btw, Craig, can you give more details on the book? sounds interesting. Steve "This is the wireless detonator, men," he explained. "When I press this key it will complete a radio circuit in the real detonator tuned to this wave combination. As soon as I can get the boy Hank, I'll have him tow the old duck boat with the wireless bomb and leave it under the radio shack where that Evans chap has his laboratory and his confounded radioplane. Then blooey!"
Wich2		#9	[-]
Aug 16 12 7:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Steve- Polishing it now... hope to have it out from BearManor for Christmas... covers audio since 1905, and radio from the early '20s, up to 2012... lots of rare pics... interviews with vintage actors & listeners... an Essay section and a Log section. -Craig
Rick		#10	[-]
Aug 16 12 11:41 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If you do want to include fantasy in the mix, Joseph Jefferson recorded portions of his RIP VAN WINKLE performance as early as 1903, and possibly even in the 1890s.
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Wich2		#11	[-]
Aug 17 12 9:55 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	He did indeed. Filmed bits from it, too. (I wish some enterprising & able folks would rough-sync the two up!)
Barbenfouillis		#12	[-]
Dec 22 12 1:27 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yet a 3rd version? http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/659/ So far, we've got Spencer as Jekyll/Hyde in the tinfoil.com recording and also the one on a Kino DVD...now this one too which seems to be the earliest yet. Interesting. BTW, Wich2, hows the book coming? Been looking for an announcement. Steve PS does anyone know how to download this LOC recording? "This is the wireless detonator, men," he explained. "When I press this key it will complete a radio circuit in the real detonator tuned to this wave combination. As soon as I can get the boy Hank, I'll have him tow the old duck boat with the wireless bomb and leave it under the radio shack where that Evans chap has his laboratory and his confounded radioplane. Then blooey!" Last Edited By: Barbenfouillis Dec 22 12 1:36 PM. Edited 2 times.
Wich2		#13	[-]
Dec 30 12 3:57 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Steve, the book arrived (barely!) in time for Christmas. PM if interested. Happy new year, -Craig
Atomic Mystery Monster		#14	[-]
Jan 7 13 12:44 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Are we actually sure that we're dealing with three different vintage recordings of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Tinfoil.com's copyright page notes that fades were inserted into his version as a way of claiming copyright. The LoC version (which I can't get to play) also claims to be copyrighted, but I don't know if they've made any changes or if Sony is just bluffing. It wouldn't surprise me if we're dealing with variations of the same recording, with confusion about the dates leading people to conclude they're dealing with different recordings. Can anyone who's heard all three recordings comment on this? Gravedigger's Local 16 - "What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?" 6'+ (Six Foot Plus) - Musical madness (and more) from the GdL16 gang.
Barbenfouillis		#15	[-]
Jan 7 13 11:38 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just did a quick comparison between what we can call: the 1904 Victor 10 inch disk recording (Library of Congress) the 1905 Columbia Phonograph Company wax cylinder (tinfoil) and the 1908 Columbia Graphophone Company 78 rpm (Kino DVD) Here's what I can report in based upon my tin ear. The dialog is all the same* but the recording lengths are all somewhat different and I detect different inflections in Spencer's voice, different pacing, sound effects (especially when they break down the door at the end), etc. *Haven't been able to detect any minute variations in the wording (at least not yet) but I strongly suspect they are there. Steve ...it follows me! It isn't this house alone, but in my office, the street; anywhere. At times I have the uncanniest feeling that there is someone behind me. I can feel their presence, almost hear their breathing, yet when I turn around there is no one. In my room at night I have heard footsteps approach my bed. I could swear there was someone there. I've struggled to see something, anything; but if I did, I know I should go mad. Last Edited By: Barbenfouillis Jan 7 13 12:00 PM. Edited 9 times.
Barbenfouillis		#16	[-]
Jan 7 13 12:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Interesting. The Columbia Phonograph Company and Victor Talking Machines seemed to have been rivals...and yet.... http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/len-spencer-dr-jekyll-mr-hyde-78-rpm-86070922 http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/659/ Steve ...it follows me! It isn't this house alone, but in my office, the street; anywhere. At times I have the uncanniest feeling that there is someone behind me. I can feel their presence, almost hear their breathing, yet when I turn around there is no one. In my room at night I have heard footsteps approach my bed. I could swear there was someone there. I've struggled to see something, anything; but if I did, I know I should go mad.
Atomic Mystery Monster		#17	[-]
Jan 8 13 2:37 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Barbenfouillis, Great job! The use of different sound effects does imply these are different versions (assuming that someone didn't just insert them in order to claim copyright). I finally got the LoC jukebox to play and boy, was that recording scratchy! I'd like to think that means the effects were hear are the originals, but you never know. If only there were some independent sources for those recordings... Gravedigger's Local 16 - "What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?" 6'+ (Six Foot Plus) - Musical madness (and more) from the GdL16 gang.
Barbenfouillis		#18	[-]
Jan 8 13 8:41 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just got an email back from Glenn Sage at tinfoil.com (a nice guy if there ever was one). Glenn says that back then, performers were paid for "a day's work" so apparently there was no exclusivity. To add yet a 4th recording (don't know if it is extant or not), I found a copy of "Edison Phonograph Monthly" (Dec 1904) announcing the upcoming January release of their recording of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring Spencer as a "Gold Moulded Record". GMR cylinders played at a whopping 160 RPM! I soooooo wish there were more drama recordings from that era. Steve ...it follows me! It isn't this house alone, but in my office, the street; anywhere. At times I have the uncanniest feeling that there is someone behind me. I can feel their presence, almost hear their breathing, yet when I turn around there is no one. In my room at night I have heard footsteps approach my bed. I could swear there was someone there. I've struggled to see something, anything; but if I did, I know I should go mad. Last Edited By: Barbenfouillis Jan 8 13 8:51 PM. Edited 2 times.
RicksPlace		#19	[-]
Apr 7 13 8:44 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just ordered the Christmas Carol book, Craig.
Wich2		#20	[-]
Apr 7 13 1:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Many thanks, Dave! Looking forward to your site... -Craig
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