New Year's Eve with Guy Lombardo (Podcast 35)

For many, many years New Year's Eve was not complete without Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians ringing in the New Year. Coming up in Podcast 35, Smitty remembers Guy and the orchestra, and their signature New Year's tune, "Auld Lang Syne".

Oldies Radio Resurgence in San Diego (Podcast 32)

Our buddy Mike Zuccaro is Rockin' San Diego Airwaves every Saturday with music that today's program directors and station managers are terrified of. Go to our latest Podcast to hear our recent interview with the Duke of San Diego Doo-Wop Decadence.Photo by Smitty: Mike B. (left) interviews Saturday Night Sock Hop Producer and Host Mike Z. about the resurgence of Live Oldies AM Radio, what it takes to start a radio show, and the care and feeding of Saturday Night Sock Hop

Remembering President John F. Kennedy (Podcast 31)

In Podcast 31, Smitty shares an insightful view into the radio and TV coverage on November 22, 1963. How the Broadcast Media delivered the shocking news of the President's shooting and subsequent death. The unexpected news caught everyone off guard, and although there were challenges and technical issues in delivering the news to an anxious public, radio and television kept the nation informed and allowed all to share in the grief for the next several days.

Remembering The Big Show (Podcast 29)

Smitty recalls "The Big Show", radio's last, big, lavish program. It debuted in 1950 as radio audiences were declining with the impact of television. An NBC program, the network was still smarting from the Talent Raids, in which many of their top-flight stars moved to CBS. Can you name the stars in this picture? Hear all about it on Podcast 29!

1950's LAPD Directory of Police Calls Booklet (Podcast 25)

In Podcast 25, Mike mentions the Directory of Police Calls issued by the Los Angeles Police Department. This directory was meant to help those listening to police calls on the radio to know what the different codes used by police officers meant. Here's a scan of the front and back of this item.

Remembering the Maestro of the Singalong (Podcast 26)

In Podcast 26, Ian Rose recalls Mitch Miller, who passed away in August 2010. Ian recalls his famous and well-remembered TV program "Sing Along with Mitch".

Shotgun Tom Bobblehead Doll and Smitty's Pool Hall Punk Portrait (Podcast 24)

In part two of our interview with Shotgun Tom Kelly, he mentions the Bobblehead Doll which is available. Also, shown here is Smitty's Pool Hall Punk picture, painted by artist Dan Mills, that hangs along with others in Shotgun's Pool Hall.

If you would like to order your own Shotgun Tom Bobblehead, they can be purchased here: http://www.collectors-collectibles.com/

For more information on Dan Mills, the artist who painted Smitty's picture, visit his web site at: http://www.danmillsart.com/

Found: World Series History in Bing Crosby's Basement (Podcast 27)

Listen to Podcast 27 to learn about the long-lost World Series taping from 1960

Vintage Radio Show Tickets (Podcast 10)

In Podcast 10, we talk about the radio show tickets that were handed out to people who wanted to watch a radio program and be in the audience. Here are some examples of these tickets, which would have gotten you into some CBS/KNX radio programs in Hollywood, CA. These tickets were free, and not to be sold, as you can see above!

Unveiling the KCBQ Monument - August 28, 2010

KCBQ AM (1170) Monument Dedication This Saturday

The Galaxy Gang invites those who grew up to the music of KCBQ-AM to come on down to Kohls/Lowes parking lot in Santee (original site of KCBQ's transmission towers) this Saturday, Aug. 28th. at 12:10 p.m. We'll be dedicating a monument to station owners and employees that worked at KCBQ from 1958 to 1978. Please come join us, and catch up with "Shotgun Tom" Kelly (emcee of the ceremony), who will honor AM rock radio notables including Charlie & Harrigan, and Jack Vincent. Some of KCBQ's legenday personalities include Dex Allen, Harry "Happy Hare", Charlie Tuna, Bob Shannon, Perry Allen, Bobby Ocean, Lee "Baby" Sims, Jimmy Rabbitt, Rich "Brother" Robbin, Brian Roberts, China Smith, Chuck Browning, and Harry Scarborough. Shotgun will talk about these folks and many others behind the mic and behind the scenes over the 30 years that made 50,000 watt KCBQ-AM one of the most popular Rock and Roll stations in Southern CA.

Broderick Crawford in Drag at Friars Club Gag Skit (Podcast 25)

Ian Rose talks about the gruf, rough Chief Dan Mathews of the 50s TV series The Highway Patrol.

Hamlet's Omelette Recipe? Listen to Ian's Take on MacBeth (Podcast 22)

Our own Ian Rose "spears" the Head on the Stick controversy that has haunted Shakespeare fans for centuries----Podcast 22.

Retro Portable RCA Victor 1955 Radio (Podcast 22)

Shotgun Tom Kelly AND the Story of Highway Patrol TV Show

Coming Soon to Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site: Veteran Radio Personality "Shotgun Tom" Kelly (shown in photo of authentic Dan Matthews' Highway patrol Car) and the story of the popular 1950s TV series starring Broderick Crawford.

"He Was Innocent---Not a Charge Was True"

We've received a couple of e-mails asking us to check out the old rumours that TV/movie personality Chuck Connors was "Branded" as an adult film star before he hit the big time as Lucas McCain in the TV Series "The Rifleman". Look for our findings, in a future episode of Galaxy Night Site, the Podcast.

Tribute to Broderick Crawford (Podcast 25)

The career of Broderick Crawford began on the big screen, but he truly found his fame with Baby Boomers as Chief Dan Matthews of the California Highway patrol. Our own Ian Rose profiles the man with the gravelly voice, and the face that insipred dog owners everwhere to name their mutts "Broderick".

Let George Do It - Our Spotlight Radio Show Oldie

Let George Do It was a radio drama series produced by Owen and Pauline Vinson from 1946 to 1954. It starred Bob Bailey as detective-for-hire George Valentine (with Olan Soule stepping into the role in 1954).

Clients came to Valentine's office after reading a newspaper carrying his classified ad:

Personal notice: Danger's my stock in trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you've got a job for me. George Valentine.


The few earliest episodes were more sitcom than private eye shows, with a studio audience providing scattered laughter at the not-so-funny scripts. Soon the audience was banished, and George went from stumbling comedic hero to tough guy private eye and the music from wah-wah-wah to suspenseful. Valentine's secretary was Claire Brooks, aka Brooksie (Frances Robinson, Virginia Gregg, Lillian Buyeff). As Valentine made his rounds in search of the bad guys, he usually encountered Brooksie's kid brother, Sonny (Eddie Firestone), Lieutenant Riley (Wally Maher) and elevator man Caleb (Joseph Kearns). For the first few shows, Sonny was George's assistant, but he was soon relegated to an occasional character.

Sponsored by Standard Oil, the program was broadcast on the West Cast Mutual Broadcasting System from October 18, 1946 to September 27, 1954, first on Friday evenings and then on Mondays. In its last season, transcriptions were aired in New York, Wednesdays at 9:30pm, from January 20, 1954 to January 12, 1955.

John Hiestand was the program's announcer. Don Clark directed the scripts by David Victor and Jackson Gillis. The background music was supplied by Eddie Dunstedter, initially with a full orchestra. When television supplanted radio as the country's primary home entertainment, radio budgets got skimpier and skimpier and Dunstedter's orchestra was replaced by an organ.

Listen to free episodes of Let George Do It by Clicking Here
LET GEORGE DO IT

Radio Jingle Production-Behind the Scenes

Here's a grat piece of radio history, an actual 1997 studio session of the Shotgun Tom, KRTH 101 jingle by the Johnny Mann Singers. They did the majority of radio jingles in L.A. radio for the past 45 years. Shotgun Tom will be a guest on an upcoming segment of Galaxy Moonbeam Nightsite. He's a great guy, and the true "DJ Emeritus of Southern California AM/FM msic radio---Stay Tuned!

Looking for Old Radios and TVs? Look Here!

The Search for Collectible Radios and TVs. By Smitty.

Looking for antique and collectible radios? Look here for some ideas and suggestions.

If you are looking for vintage radio and TV equipment you know the thrill of the chase, looking in different places for these items can be a lot of fun, but it can also be time-consuming. Here are a few suggestions on places where we can look for vintage electronic equipment.

The Internet.

Almost everything you can imagine is available for purchase on-line. This includes old radios and TVs. Internet auction sites such as Ebay usually have many pages of vintage radios, TVs, hi-fi gear, and all manner of collectible electronic gear. The advantage of purchasing a vintage item through an internet auction is that someone has done the legwork for you. You don’t have to travel around and search for those gems you are looking to add to your collection. Competition can be fierce for an item, especially if it is a rare or highly desirable item. Competition during bidding means ending prices for something could be considerably higher than if it were found in a flea market somewhere. However, having a nation-wide forum such as an internet auction, exposes many items that you may not even get a chance to see in years of traveling around. The ability to see a huge number of diverse items from all over the country is appealing. The other sticky point on buying through an auction or through the mail is shipping. A small item can usually be shipped easily. Larger radios or small TVs begin to be more costly as far as shipping goes. Large consoles and elaborate sets may require a substantial cost to ship including crating and shipping via a freight carrier. If the set is desirable or particularly rare, it might still be a good deal when you factor in packing and shipping.

Swap Meets.

Swap Meets have always been a good source for old and collectible items. Radios are no exception. A large well-attended swap meet will always have some collectible radios for sale. The days of finding 1930’s sets are scarce. Once, you would see at least a few old tombstones or maybe a cathedral or two. Very old sets like this do still turn up, but most sets now would be 1940s and 50s wooden or bakelite sets. Sets from the 60s and even later are common now too. Don’t discount these sets even if you are looking for older items. There are many later collectible sets. Newer collectors are urged to begin a collection with sets from these later eras while keeping an eye out for older sets if that’s what one is looking for. Swap meets can yield nice clean sets at very affordable prices.

Garage Sales and Estate Sales.

Like swap meets, these venues offer a chance to pick up a nice set or two, possibly for a bargain price. The interesting thing about a garage or estate sale is that you really can’t predict what might turn up. You might find an old radio from the 1920s or maybe a collectible TV from the 50s. Scour newspaper ads and on-line advertisements for news of these events happening in your area.

Antique Stores.

Old radios and TVs do turn up at antique stores. You may have to pay more for an old set at an antique store than you would say at an estate sale. This of course is because the dealer has an overhead to meet and usually has expenses connected to any item they are selling. Basically, I think that if you purchase an old set from an antique store you are paying what we might call a "retail" price. There’s that overhead that has to be covered. Whereas at a swap meet or garage sale, we could call that a "wholesale" price, since there’s usually not a mark-up in price to cover the upkeep of a store front. Again as with an online auction, buying something at an antique store may be well worth it because someone has done the legwork of hunting that item up and bringing it to a storefront for your shopping convenience.

Antique Radio Stores and Specialty Dealers.

There are stores around the country and on-line that specialize in the sale of antique radios. Many of these individuals who sell vintage radios also repair and service them. So if you are looking for a particular old set, and you want it working or refinished, buying from a dealer might be a good option. Prices would tend to be higher for a restored set, since the labor to bring the set to a restored and operating or presentable condition has been done for you. Another factor to consider is that most of these antique radio stores offer some type of guarantee on their service work, and that can offer piece of mind to a non-technical person who would normally rely on someone other than themselves to keep their old radios going. Many of the larger dealers have connections with shipping companies and freight handlers and can offer discounted shipping on larger items.

Publications and Antique Radio Clubs.

There are a number of national publications dealing with vintage radio and electronic collectibles and some have "for sale" ads in them. Many times buying this way, you are buying collector to collector and thus may have someone on the other end that can accurately describe the condition and status of an old set you are considering. Again shipping can be an issue if the distance is far away. There are many antique radio clubs in the United States and in a growing number of foreign countries. Becoming a member of a club and attending their meets would be a great way to not only find collectible and desirable sets, but also to network and meet fellow enthusiasts who share your hobby. By getting to know other collectors and letting them know what you collect and what you are searching for, you can often get leads and info on sets that might be for sale. Likewise, if they tell you what they are searching for, you can give them a hand in searching for the gems they want. There’s a whole social and fraternal feeling if you find the right club to join. Look on-line to search for local and regional clubs in your area.

Closing Thoughts.

There are those folks who enjoy traveling around and looking for old sets, not only because of the thrill of the chase, but also because they get to meet a lot of interesting people that normally they might not have met. There is nothing quite like poking around a dusty garage, attic, or barn, and finding a hidden treasure lurking behind a pile of stuff. There are those who don’t have time or the ability to travel around and devote time to searching and for them the internet might be a way to find a particular type of set without expending too much time searching for it. Many enjoy swap meets and garage sales, and looking through a variety of interesting items in the search for an old radio. Whichever way you choose to do your hunting, good luck, and always remember to have fun and keep your eyes peeled…you never know what might come your way!

Ian Rose's Essays

We are very pleased to present transcripts of Ian Rose's Essays. Ian offers us interesting and memorable essays on each of our shows. If you missed listening to one of his essays, or you would like to read it at your leisure, just look here!

(ESSAY ONE)

(INTRO:) Let's pause right now in the proceedings. And we go to this segment
where Captain Video answers Ian Rose's question, Son (sun).


(IAN:) On radio he appeared as the Green Hornet. You probably remember him better as the title character in "Captain Video and his Video Rangers" on the Dumont Network.

Al Hodge.

Later that decade in the 1950's, he hosted a local show on a New York TV station.
Here he presented episodes of the "Flash Gordon" serials. Flash Gordon himself, Buster Crabbe, had hosted the same type of show earlier in the decade on another New York station.

Back to Al Hodge.

His show included a segment where he answered space-type questions from viewers
by postcard. I sent in my postcard with a question -- it was one I don't believe anyone had asked.

Question: How much would you weigh on the sun?

I don't remember the specific answer, but it would be many times more than you would
weigh here on terra firma, planet earth. There were no prizes, giveaways, or discounts for those whose postcards were read. Just the thrill of hearing your name announced on TV by Al Hodge, Captain Video.

I was so excited I called a friend. He had heard the broadcast, but he didn't care.

There is one obvious conclusion to how much you would weigh on the sun. The fact is that you would be burned to a crisp or worse long before you got there!

I'm Ian Rose.


(ESSAY TWO)

(INTRO:) Disc-like objects were flying at various locations in New York City. Ian Rose explains that you could say that they were out of this world!

(IAN:) No, I'm not talking about unidentified-flying-objects. And the taste was out of this world, if you used the right ingredients. However, those ingredients were limited.

Have you guessed it, yet?

I'm talking pizza.

In the late 1950's in New York City, pizza parlors were popping up. These were parlors where you also got a show at no extra cost!

Pizza was made right before your eyes as you watched thru a glass window outside. The pizza-maker would start with a load of dough about the size of a loaf of bread.
The maker would pound it, sprinkle flour on it, and pound it again.
When the maker flattened it sufficiently, he threw it into the air in a circular fashion and then he caught it with his knuckles. With each throwing the pizza's diameter would grow. If the maker was well-practiced, he made it look as if he would miss grabing it -- and then catch it at the last second before it hit the floor!

Then when the circular dough reached the right size, he'd lay it down, apply tomato
sauce, and sprinkle cheese pieces over it. That's all! Then he'd shovel it into an oven.

Price per slice? -- 25 cents. And that included the show.

Today you can get pizza at various storefront locations or in the frozen food case.
And those pizzas are topped with more than just tomato sauce and cheese. But today there's not more show.

(Groan!)

I'm Ian Rose

Old Nintendo system sells for $13,105

Don't dump all that throw away stuff quite yet, or sell it for a buck at your next garage sale. Take a look at what this Nintendo system (actually a game that came with it) sold for on Ebay. Finds like this are everywhere. Just like the old myth about finding a "like-new" old Harley-Davidson under a stack of hay in some old barn in Iowa, stories like this $13,000 Nintendo system still abound. Would you like us to do a story on "newer" collectibles? Drop us an e-mail at GalaxyMoonbeamNightSite@gmail.com