WHO’S WHAT AND WHAT’S WHERE
PPB NEWSLETER EDITED BY
SUE CLARK CHADWICK
March 2002
Oscar-winning
actor Martin Landau was the honoree for the January luncheon. Landau has been
an actor for over five decades in films, Broadway and in television. His
current film release is The Majestic co-starring Jim Carrey. Remembered
for his role in the TV series “Mission Impossible,” Landau was a pioneer of
early live television appearing on “Kraft Theatre,” “Studio One,” “Philco
Playhouse,” “Playhouse 90” and “Armstrong Circle Theatre” among many others
during the “Golden Years” of television. On hand to recount their personal and
professional association with Landau were Peter Lupus, a co-star on “Mission
Impossible”; musician, actor, director/producer Mark Rydell; Buddy Hackett;
Zina Bethune, actress/ballerina; writer Michael Sloane;
writer/producer/director and PPB in-house comedian HAL KANTER; film
producer/personal manager and former partner of Landau, Richard Abramson;
actress Sally Kirkland and Richard Marcus, actor. Also on the dais were PPB
President TOM HATTEN and Entertainment Chair JEANNE DeVIVIER BROWN.
The program was filled with fun poking and a multitude of accolades. Landau’s
response, when accepting his award from TOM HATTEN, was filled with
gratitude for PPB and loving words for all of the participants. A notable
tribute to a fine actor.
PPB
Founding President ART GILMORE kept the audience in suspense for a short
time while telling a few of the accomplishments of the Diamond Circle
recipient. “If we tick off all the shows this guy has done, we’ll be here for
dinner,” said ART. The man wears two hats, one for being a sound effects
artist in radio for such shows as “Perry Mason,” “Gang Busters,” “Lowell
Thomas,” “Edward R. Murrow,” “Dr. Malone” and many others. Then came along
television and he managed to make things brighter on “The Garry Moore Show,”
“Ed Sullivan,” “Jackie Gleason,” “Bob Hope,” “Flip Wilson,” “Don Knotts,”
“Perry Como” and “Days of Our Lives”… The writing hat was worn for contributing
material, as well as doing sound effects, on “The Garry Moore Show,” “Andy
Williams” and “Ed Sullivan.” In his book, When Horses Were Coconuts, he
tells of writing for the early “Dick Van Dyke Show” and even wrote for Red
Skelton. He has authored three books, written many magazine articles and has
just completed a screenplay entitled, The Morning Glory Gang. His latest
book is Radio Live—TV Live… And if you didn’t guess it, the newest
member to the Diamond Circle is ROBERT MOTT. Well-deserved
recognition, BOB.
If you
missed the last two Nostalgia Nights, you really missed hearing some wonderful
stories and insight into two fabulous careers in different areas.
Nostalgia
Night guest, January 3, (what a great way to end the holidays) was
producer/director, man of many talents, PPB Board member BOB FINKEL. BOB
was producer/director of many of the old musical shows, “Bing Crosby,” “Dinah
Shore,” “Perry Como” and others. While talking about the programs, he showed
highlights from many of them, including “The Perry Como Show” and a special
with Tony Bennett. BOB also showed a half hour of highlights from the
Emmy Awards, which may be available later on VHS. This was truly an
entertaining evening.
Guesting
February 7 was another PPB Board member, Broadcast Hall of Famer GARY OWENS.
GARY’s career encompasses writing, acting, hosting, management, creating
shows and voice-overs for over 3000 animated cartoons. He also hosts his daily
radio show on The Music of Your Life network of more than 200 stations. Since
this Newsletter goes to print before February 7, I do not know what wonderful
stories GARY told on Nostalgia Night, but I’ll tell you what he’s been
doing lately. GARY started the new year off like a rocket. He hosts a
best-selling CD-ROM from TV-Land called “Blast From the Past.” It’s a trivia
game where the players ask the celebrities questions. Celebrities include Ed
Asner, Barbara Eden, Loretta Swit, Jaclyn Smith, Bob Denver, Jerry Mathis,
Florence Henderson, Davy Jones, Marion Ross and James Doohan. Meanwhile, GARY’s
new CD album with Jonathan Winters, “Jonathan and Gary, Out-Patients” is doing
well. OWENS also appears in four movies he did last year, including
Disney’s Frank McKlusky, C.I., starring Randy Quaid and Dolly Parton. GARY
plays himself. The other three films are independents, Puzzled, Mitzvah
Communion and Jane White is Sick. All will be released in 2002. And
his appearance on Nostalgia Night followed a busy February 4 emceeing the 11th
Annual Southern California Sportscasters Awards Luncheon—more on that later.
Thanks, GARY.
LINA ROMAY and RAY BRIEM, Nostalgia Night co-chairs,
do such an excellent job with guests. The guest for March 7 is not set yet, but
not to worry, as they always have exciting people. Don’t forget, Nostalgia
Night is the first Thursday of every month in our Clubroom on the lower level
of the Washington Mutual, Sunset and Vine. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and close
promptly at 7:30 p.m.
The California Radio Theatre dedicated their Christmas radio program,
presented December 15 at the Beverly Garland Theatre in the Garland Holiday Inn
Hotel in North Hollywood, to the memory of KATHLEEN FREEMAN, a former
PPB Board member and a founding member of CART and a star performer in over
fifty CART productions. Those appearing in the show were JOHN HARLAN,
BEVERLY GARLAND, Samantha Eggar, Jan Abercrombie, Leslie
Easterbrook, WILLIAM WINDOM, LINDA HENNING, LOIS NETTLETON,
JOHN ASTIN, Cornelia Hayes O’Herlihy, Marty Macguire, Bairbre Dowling, JO
ANNE WORLEY, TOM WILLIAMS, Thomas MacGreevey, Paul Keith, Paul Baker
on the Grand Harp and Nancy Cartwright. Those attending were other founding
members LES TREMAYNE, PARLEY BAER and JANET WALDO along
with an enthusiastic full house. PEGGY WEBBER wrote the script,
directed, produced and played a small part. The CART shows are continuing to be
heard over KPFK and KCSN and National Public Radio, but sporadically. The
nation wide “radio thinking” is that drama is out of fashion. Hopefully, this
will change. WEBBER says she has over one hundred scripts and many stars
waiting in the wings.
BOBB LYNES, former Sperdvac president, writes that JEANNE
DeVIVIER BROWN was guest speaker at the January Sperdvac meeting. Husband LUCKY
BROWN helped from the audience and the two are now honorary Sperdvac
members. PPBer DON McCROSKEY records all the meetings and is currently
vice-president of the 27-year-old Sperdvac. HERM SAUNDERS will be the
guest speaker at the March 9 meeting. The meeting is at the Mid-Valley Library,
16244 Nordhoff Street, North Hills. It starts at 12 noon and all are invited,
and it is free and open to the public.
Speaking of JEANNE and LUCKY BROWN, while finishing their
feature film, The Stone Man, did one extra day of filming and happily
cast PPB Past President JACK BROWN as the super of the building, being
interrogated by detectives Ron Masak and Larry Manetti. They report he did a
“super” job.
BARNEY PHANEUF, who writes the CBS newsletter, did a great story
on Emmy winner, PPB Board member GIL WYLAND, saying, “Gil Wyland’s
long-deserved Emmy is a reminder of the contributions of technicians to the art
of radio and television.” BARNEY’s newsletter also contained a good
picture of RAY ANGONA and a children’s story by RALPH STORY.
Diamond
Circle member DON McCALL has moved to Redwood City, but promises to stay
in touch. PAT GLEASON spent the holidays with family in Wisconsin and is
currently getting Ralph Edwards Productions archives in shape after the office
move.
ED
ROTHHAAR writes that although he has retired, after 38 years as professor of speech
and communications at San Bernardino Valley College, he is still very much a
part of their PBS TV station. On January 6, his series “I Remember Television”
began its 15th season on KVCR (ch 24). He writes and hosts the series for
programs from TV’s first decade such as “Tennessee Ernie Ford” and “The Dinah
Shore Show.” “We’re a busy family,” he writes, “my brother is busy on a TV
series and my nephew is on television and in films.”
ED
HAMMOND went to Michigan to visit relatives for the holidays. “A long, hard, cold
drive,” says ED, “but worth it.” ANNE NELSON’s family Christmas
card was sensational as usual. A book, originally started by PPB luncheon
honoree the late BILLY BARTY as his autobiography, is being completed
with the consent of his family by Linda Jones. Ms. Jones would appreciate
hearing stories from BILLY’s friends and co-workers. E-mail:
lindaleejones39@hotmail.com.
LOUISE
ARTHUR says
that the Howard Museum in Burbank, which contains many artifacts of interest to
people in the entertainment business, is adding a third floor to their
building. They recently received a $250,000 donation, says LOUISE. The
cowboy boots and cowboy hat that LOUISE’s late husband, actor Leonard
Penn, wore in the “Hopalong Cassidy” series, as well as in over 55 westerns he
made, are on display, along with his silver cigarette case with his initials
set in real diamonds. Penn made over 100 films. LOUISE met Leonard, who
was under contract to MGM, on the set of Girl of the Golden West with
Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. LOUISE, an actress, had just arrived
in California from New York when they met…and the rest is history. Another
tid-bit…LOUISE and Leonard did summer stock with Board Chairman RALPH
EDWARDS in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1948.
CHUCK
CECIL is
celebrating 50 years in Los Angeles radio, starting at KFI in 1952. His
“Swingin’ Years” is currently heard on KCSN, Northridge and KLON, Long Beach.
February was a busy month as CHUCK emceed a program re-creating the
music of the late twenties and early thirties, with Dean Mora and his Modern
Rhythmists. He also emceed the beginning of the third year of Satin Ballroom
dances at Veterans Hall in Culver City where a thousand dancers swing to the
fifteen-piece band of Bill Elliott.CHUCK also emceed a celebration of
swing at a show in Glendale starring Page Cavanaugh, Beryl Davis, Johnny Van
and others.
The
Eleventh Annual Southern California Sports Broadcasters Awards luncheon,
February 4, at the Lakeside Country Club in Toluca Lake, was peppered with
PPBers. Long-time member CHUCK BENEDICT received this year’s Lifetime
Achievement Award. A founding member of the organization, he conceived the
concept of the annual awards luncheon, and for the first four years and the
ninth and tenth years was general chairman. CHUCK was sports director
and talk-show host on KLAC, KGIL and KIEV, sports anchor at KTTV-11 and worked
part and full time with the LA Rams for forty years. BENEDICT
administers the Heisman trophy voting for the twelve western states and writes
two columns weekly for the Glendale News Press. CHUCK was also
general chairman for this year’s luncheon.
PPB Board
member GARY OWENS emceed the event and did a sportscasting skit with
Jonathan Winters. SCBA members in attendance, who are also prominent PPBers,
were First Vice-President GIL STRATTON, Nostalgia Night co-chair LINA
ROMAY, former Board member MIKE WALDEN and CHUCK PANAMA, who
is also publicity director for SBCA. The award for Sports Broadcasting
Excellence in the year 2001 went to Vin Scully.
Last minute note. GEORGE FISCHBECK, VP Outreach,
tells of his visit to Laughlin, Nevada, which, he says, is like Las Vegas 40
years ago. While there, he saw a great show with Board member EDDIE CARROLL performing
his famous Jack Benny act. Former President JACK McQUEEN says there was
a great write-up in the Conejo Valley paper about the PPB collection of radio
material in the Thousand Oaks Library. Board member JIM POLLOCK and wife
Carri are enjoying the return of daughter Dana, who has been in Galway, Ireland
for four months, and another month touring the Netherlands, Belgium. France and
Czechoslovakia.
H H H H H H H H H H
H H H H H H H H H H H
Membership Chairman MARGOT EWING reports:
No New Members
We will remember with admiration
JOHN GUEDEL
This is
another plea for news items. There are many of you out there that we’ve never
heard from, and some close by that forget to send any news…so, please send news
about yourself and your PPB friends to:
SUE CLARK CHADWICK
1841 Outpost Drive
Hollywood, CA 90068-3721
Fax (323) 851-2401
NOTE
THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER IS
MARCH 29, 2002