Danny Amor's Online Library/Danny Amor's Online Library - Volume 1.iso/html/faqs/faq/radio/old-time-faq

Text File | 1995-07-25 | 12.7 KB | 316 lines

Subject: FAQ: Old Time Radio (OTR) Newsletter
Newsgroups: rec.radio.info,rec.radio.broadcasting,rec.answers,news.answers
From: [e-mail] (Lou Genco)
Date: 25 Oct 1994 19:37:14 -0700

Archive-name: radio/old-time-faq
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: Tue  10-25-1994


            Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) File for OTR
                    The Old-Time Radio Newsletter
              (FAQ Edited by Lou Genco ([e-mail]))

                    Last Modified Tue  10-25-1994

                        ---------------------

Copies of this FAQ are distributed monthly to rec.answers and
other newsgroups.  Updates may occur more frequently than the normal
distribution schedule.  The most current version is available by
anonymous ftp from  ftp.crl.com, directory: users/ro/lgenco.  See FAQ
for more info on ftp and WWW access.

                        ---------------------

Table of contents:

Q1. What is "OTR"?
Q2. You haven't mentioned OTR music, why not?
Q3. Where can I buy recordings of old radio shows?
Q4. Which vendors have (lower prices) (higher quality) (faster
    response)?
Q5. Are OTR shows rebroadcast?  If so, where and when?
Q6. I remember a great show called (x).  When was it aired?
Q7. Are there any books about OTR?
Q8. Does anybody trade tapes of OTR shows?
Q9. What's this stuff about Copyright?
Q10. How can I get my local radio station to broadcast OTR
    programming?
Q11. I have some old transcriptions and tapes, how can I make them
    sound better?
Q12. Are there any OTR clubs near me?
Q13. I have some OTR tapes of the same program, but their dates are
    different.  Why?
Q14. Is there anywhere I can get a complete listing of all the
    episodes in a serial?
Q15. Is there anywhere I can get a written synopsis of the themes of
    OTR programs?
Q16. Is there a World Wide Web page (URL) or FTP address that I can
    access for more info?
Q17. How do I subscribe to the OTR electronic newsletter?
Q18. Can I get archived copies of old issues of OTR?
Q19. What is the best way to archive OTR programs?
Q20. My old reels squeak.  Why does this happen, and can I fix it?
Q21. Where can I find more information about antique radios?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q1. What is "OTR"?
A1. OTR is an abbreviation for "Old Time Radio", a term loosely
    applied to radio programs broadcast from the dawn of broadcasting
    to the early 1950's.  Alternate names are "radio nostalgia",
    "golden age radio", etc.  Usually this applies to radio drama,
    mystery stories, comedy and adventures.

Q2. You haven't mentioned OTR music, why not?
A2. There was a good deal of "big band" and other music broadcast
    during this era.  For some reason, there seems to be more current
    interest in the dramas rather than in the music.  There is no
    restriction to discussing OTR music in the OTR Newsletter.

Q3. Where can I buy recordings of old radio shows?
A3. There are several individuals and companies willing to sell tapes
    of OTR programs.  A partial list can be obtained from the OTR WWW
    page or FTP address listed later.

Q4. Which vendors have (lower prices) (higher quality) (faster
    response)?
A4. Prices, quality and service differ somewhat among all vendors.
    Check with other subscribers to the OTR newsletter to learn of
    their experiences, then check with potential vendors.

Q5. Are OTR shows rebroadcast?  If so, where and when?
A5. Yes, several AM and FM radio stations and three satellite feeds
     rebroadcast OTR.  Check the OTR WWW page or FTP site for current
     info.  If you learn of other sources, leave a note!

     Julian A. Smith ([e-mail]), Frank Passage
     ([e-mail]) and Bill Pfeiffer left the following
     information:

        For AM listening, try the brand-new National Radio
        Club's _AM Radio Log, 15th Edition: Complete Listing
        of U.S. and Canada AM Radio Stations_ (Mannsville,
        N.Y.: NRC, 1994).  All AM stations carrying things
        like "Old Time Radio" are listed with the format
        code NOS (Nostalgia), and there are lots of other
        codes.  [Order from NRC Publications, Box 164,
        Mannsville NY 13661-0164 USA.  Price range: $20.00]

        For FM listening, I's suggest Bruce F. Elving's _FM
        Atlas_ (Esko, MN: FM Atlas Pub., 1993). Alongside
        lists, this has _maps_ of your area and its stations
        as well.  [Order from Bruce Elving, PO Box 336, Esko
        MN 55733-0336.  Price Range: $11.00 + approx $1.00
        s/h]

        The M Street Radio Directory, M Street at
        800-248-4242 or [phone] voice, or +1 212 473
        4626 fax. The address is M Street Corp., 304 Park
        Ave S Floor 7, New York, NY 10010 USA. costs $29.95
        + p/h,


Q6. I remember a great show called (x).  When was it aired?
A6. Check with subscribers to OTR newsletter, or look through the
    program database (WWW or FTP).

Q7. Are there any books about OTR?
A7. Yes, there are several books related to OTR.  See the WWW page or
    FTP site for a list of some of them.

Q8. Does anybody trade tapes of OTR shows?
A8. Yes.  Check with subscribers to the OTR newsletter.  We hope to
    get a database of private traders as well.  Leave a note in the
    OTR newsletter if you want to be listed in this database.

Q9. What's this stuff about Copyright?
A9. The copyrights on most OTR shows have expired.  A few copyrights
    have been renewed.  Examples of the latter include The Shadow and
    some of Arch Oboler's productions.

Q10. How can I get my local radio station to broadcast OTR
    programming?
A10. Call the station and tell them of the many people who like to
    listen to OTR.  Suggest this programming will increase
    listenership and help buy things from their advertisers.

Q11. I have some old transcriptions and tapes, how can I make them
    sound better?
A11.  You might try using a good equalizer and/or digital signal
   processing unit (DSP) between the playback and recording devices.
   Some people have mentioned that the Radio Shack DSP unit does a
   fair job. There are also other, more expensive DSP units available
   from Ham radio stores and audio stores.  Some subscribers have
   attested to the efficacy of the Timewave brand of DSP units.

   Randy Riddle ([e-mail]) left this information:

   There's a firm that sells archival quality turntables and sound
   processing units that can dramatically improve old recordings.
   Their sound processing unit runs around $300.

    Audio 78 Archival Supplies
    PO Box 187
    San Anselmo, CA 94979
    415-457-7878


Q12. Are there any OTR clubs near me?
A12. Check the club listing in the WWW page.  We will add clubs as
     they become known to us.

Q13. I have some OTR tapes of the same program, but their dates are
    different.  Why?
A13.  Sometimes broadcasts are dated according to their original
    broadcast date, and sometimes according to a date on which they
    have been rebroadcast.  For instance, Armed Services Radio
    rebroadcast many Mutual Radio transcriptions at a later date.
    Your tape may be of one of these later dates.  Alternately,
    somebody might have made a mistypopgoof.

Q14. Is there any place where I can get a complete listing of all the
     episodes in a particular program serial?
A14. Some of the larger vendors / collectors may have this data.  If
    you find such a publicly available source, we can make it
    available in the Internet OTR file repository.

Q15. Is there any place where I can get a written synopsis of the
    themes of OTR programs?
A15.  Again, some vendors include this information with their
     catalogs.  If you would like to contribute your interpretations of
     the themes, send them to the OTR newsletter for inclusion in one
     of our databases.

Q16. Is there a World Wide Web page (URL) or FTP address that I can
    access for more info?
A16.  Yes, there are two WWW sites, as well as two anonymous FTP
    addresses and a Gopher.  The two WWW sites are independent, and
    contain different information, but each can be accessed from the
    other.  The FTP directories each contain different files &
    information.  My FTP site holds OTR station lists, catalogs /
    libraries, bibliography, the most recent FAQ, etc.  The Airwaves
    FTP site holds archived copies of the OTR digests as well as other
    files relating to -Airwaves- and rec.radio.broadcasting.

     (1) My site:

         World Wide Web URL:
             ftp://ftp.crl.com/users/ro/lgenco/otr.html

         FTP:
             Anonymous FTP to ftp.crl.com
             directory: users/ro/lgenco


     (2) AIRWAVES E-Publishing's Site:

         FTP:
              Anonymous ftp to radio.aiss.uiuc.edu,
              directory: misc/rec.radio.b-cast/OTR.

         GOPHER:
              gopher radio.aiss.uiuc.edu 7070
               (select "OTR")

         World Wide Web URL:
              http://radio.aiss.uiuc.edu/~rrb


    For subscribers without normal FTP access, there is a (presently
    experimental) FTP-by-mail server.  For more information, send
    email in -exactly- this format:
        To: [e-mail]
        Subject: Request otrhelp
        (the body of the message is ignored)


Q17. How do I (un)subscribe to the OTR electronic newsletter?
A17. To subscribe, send email
        To: [e-mail]
        Subject: SUBSCRIBE

     To unsubscribe, send email
        To: [e-mail]
        Subject: UNSUBSCRIBE

     (The body of the message is ignored in both cases)

  [NOTE: the airwaves.com address may not have propigated to your site
  as yet.  An alternate address is:  [e-mail]]

Q18. Can I get archived copies of old issues of OTR?
A18. Yes.  The OTR Digests and Index are updated three times a week,
    and are accessible through the WWW pages mentioned above, or from
    the AIRWAVES anonymous FTP site mentioned above.

Q19. What is the best way to archive OTR programs?
A19. The most popular way seems to be reel-reel tapes, using each of
    the four tracks to record monophonically.  Cassettes are generally
    fine for portability / ease of use / exchange, but they suffer
    from several problems when used as a long-term storage medium. The
    Hi-Fi VHS tape is gaining in popularity because of its six-hour
    storage capability and relatively robust mechanical construction.

    Some subscribers have mentioned TalkingBook tape recorders as a
    possible archival method.  These recorders operate at 15/16 ips
    (half the speed of a standard cassette recorder), and can operate
    in 4-track mode, thus giving up to 6 hours of play time on a
    standard 90 minute cassette.

    Don Coco ([e-mail]) left the following information about
    sources for Talking Book type equipment:

    The American Printing House For The Blind
    1839 Frankfort Ave.
    Louisville, Kentucky 40206
    Tel. [phone]
    Sells Braille and recorded books, 4 track recorders which record
    at 15/16 IPS, and other products of interested to Visually
    Impaired persons. Price of 4 track recorder around $175

    I.R.T.I.
    1411 West El Camino Real
    Mountainview, Ca. 94040
    Tel. [phone] or [phone]
    Sells all including Radio's, TV's with SAP, Reading Machines,
    Computers ETC.


   Conrad Trautmann ([e-mail]) left this note in
   response to a query about finding used reel-reel machines:

       You can also call Harris/Allied used equipment
       division at 1-800-622-0022 or call Radio World
       magazine at 703-998-7600 for subscription
       information. Radio World is an industry trade and has
       used equipment listings in the classifieds once a
       month.

Q20. My old reels squeak.  Why does this happen, and can I fix it?
A20.  There are at least two causes for "squeaky reels" on a
       reel-reel tape recorder.  (1) The tape edge may be rubbing
       against the rim of a distorted take-up reel, or (2) the oxide
       may be sticking to your erase (or other) heads.  If the former,
       the least frustrating alternative is probably a new take-up
       reel. If the latter, Fred Korb left this note:

           If you have any squeaky reels that you would like to
           recover, I will be glad to send you more information
           on how to do it. Just send me a stamped self addressed
           # 10 envelope and I will respond. Send your request
           to: Fred Korb, c/o Oldtime Radio Collectors and
           Traders Society, 725 Cardigan Court, Naperville,
           Illinois 60565-1202. I am willing to help you preserve
           the sounds of radio days gone by.

Q21. Where can I find more information about restoring antique radios?
A21. An excellent place for discussions about antique radios,
    phonographs and accessories is the rec.antiques.radio+phono
    newsgroup, created by Bill Robie.