The RU Sitting Comfortably
Old Time Radio Newsletter
http://www.rusc.com

Issue 81 - Tuesday, October 30th 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. MESSAGE FROM NED
2. IN THE SPOTLIGHT - The Birds by Daphne Du Maurier
3. FAQS - RUSC Guide to Old Time Radio
4. TOP 20 SHOWS FOR HALLOWEEN LIVE ON RUSC
5. SHOWS ADDED IN LAST 30 DAYS
6. BECOMING A MEMBER
7. AND FINALLY ...

Web address (just in case you ever forget) - www.rusc.com

First of all let me apologize for the huge gap between the last
two newsletters. Joy and I have been so busy with one thing and
another ... but all being well we'll get back to getting them
out every month.

As you will have noticed, if you're a member of RUSC, Joy and
I have been adding LOTS of thrilling shows to RUSC throughout
the month of October leading up to Halloween on the 31st.

We don't usually add shows on Wednesdays (it's the one day when
we take a rest) but we couldn't let Halloween go unrecognized,
so for your Halloween entertainment you will find some extra
scary shows posted that day.
 
In past years on RUSC for Halloween we have featured shows such
as Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, Mercury Theater's War of the Worlds,
Suspense's Donovan's Brain and Mercury Theater's Dracula, the
latter three coincidentally all starring Orson Welles.

This year, following a request from a friend of RUSC, we are
presenting to you old-time-radio's renditions of Daphne Du
Maurier's famous story The Birds (see "In The Spotlight" below).

Happy listening

Ned

The Birds by Daphne Du Maurier was first broadcast as an hour-
long version on the 20th July 1953 by Lux Radio Theater starring
Herbert Marshall in the lead role. 
 
The following year, on 10th July 1954, Escape aired Daphne Du
Maurier's story "The Birds", adapted for radio by Robert Wright.

If you've never seen the classic Hitchcock film you're in for a
real treat :-)

Let me set the scene.

The location is a farmhouse on the southern coast of England. The
autumn countryside around is desolate and bleak. Nat notices that
the birds on the coast are unusually restless and that the land
and sea birds are mingling together in an unnatural partnership.

That night he is woken by a tapping on the bedroom window and
discovers a bird trying to get in.

When he goes to shoo it away there are half a dozen of them and
they seem to be attacking him, pecking at his face and eyes with
their sharp beaks.

It is thought that the Arctic airstream was causing the birds to
migrate south in immense numbers and intense hunger was driving
them to attack human beings.
 
This is a gripping tale and although Escape's version is
probably closer to Du Maurier's 1952 novel, keeping the same
character names, Lux's longer version and brilliant sound effects
and music manage to build up the tension and extreme feeling of
claustrophobia with great affect.

We loved them both and now for Halloween 2007 you can hear them
here on RUSC.

Enjoy!

Over the years I've received many e-mails asking me how to do
everything from downloading MP3 files through to how to transfer
shows to CD's. I figured that the percentage who take the time
to e-mail in their questions are probably just the tip of the
iceberg, so it is highly likely that if they needed help then
lots of other people do too.

To help answer all your questions and give a little more
information besides I would like to draw your attention to
"The RUSC Guide to Old Time Radio and Using RUSC" which
includes the following chapters.

Chapter 1 - Old Time Radio
Chapter 2 - Old radio show genres
Chapter 3 - A Quick Guide to the Home Page
Chapter 4 - A tour of the RUSC Member's area
Chapter 5 - How to Download
Chapter 6 - Listening to shows on your computer
Chapter 7 - Transferring to CD and Cassette
Chapter 8 - Books on Old Time Radio
Chapter 9 - Useful Software
Chapter 10 - Frequently Asked Questions

If you'd like to download a copy of "The RUSC Guide to Old
Time Radio and Using RUSC" you can do so by clicking on the
link below.

http://www.rusc.com/Old_Time_Radio_Guide.html

Normally I include a list of the twenty most downloaded shows
from the previous month, but with Halloween coming up I thought
it would be fun to have a change.

Below you'll find twenty of my spooky favorites. Some are
lighthearted listens, but with a Halloween theme, others are
positively spine tingling.

1. Mercury Theater On Air - Dracula 11/7/38
2. Mercury Theater On Air - War Of The Worlds 10/31/38
3. Suspense - Donovan's Brain 02/07/48
4. Suspense - Dunwich Horror 11/01/45
5. Suspense - Sorry Wrong Number 10/20/57
6. Suspense - Three Skeleton Key 11/11/56
7. The Shadow - Three Ghosts 10/31/37
8. Lights Out - Poltergeist 10/20/42
9. Lights Out - Revolt Of The Worms 10/13/42
10. Inner Sanctum - A Corpse For Halloween 10/31/49
11. Quiet Please - Don't Tell Me About Halloween 10/27/47
12. Hall Of Fantasy - Hangman's Ropes, The 1953
13. Jack Benny Program - Jack Throws A Halloween Party 10/30/38
14. Edgar Bergan Charlie & Charlie McCarthy - Halloween With
Orson Welles 10/29/44
15. Father Knows Best - Halloween Blues 10/29/53
16. The Great Gildersleeve - Halloween Party 10/29/47
17. Our Miss Brooks - Halloween Party 10/30/49
18. Spike Jones - Halloween With Jan August 10/31/47
19. Baby Snooks - Halloween 11/01/46
20. Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet - Haunted House 10/31/48

Here's a list of all of the shows added to RUSC over the last
month. I'm sure you'll agree that there really is something for
everyone.

ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW
Back Home Again (5th October 1944)
Lou Promises His Girlfriend a Job (4th October 1945)

ADVENTURES OF FRANK RACE, THE
Adventure In Mormon Country, The (25th October 1949)
Divers Loot, The (18th October 1949)
Fourth Rd Knockout, The (11th September 1949)
Green Doubloon, The (2nd October 1949)
Sobbing Bodyguards, The (9th October 1949)

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, THE
Ruler of Darkness 01 of 24 (24th October 1947)
Ruler of Darkness 02 of 24 (27th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 02 of 19 (30th September 1947)
Secret Rocket 03 of 19 (1st October 1947)
Secret Rocket 04 of 19 (2nd October 1947)
Secret Rocket 05 of 19 (3rd October 1947)
Secret Rocket 06 of 19 (6th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 07 of 19 (7th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 08 of 19 (8th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 09 of 19 (9th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 10 of 19 (10th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 11 of 19 (13th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 12 of 19 (14th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 13 of 19 (15th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 14 of 19 (16th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 15 of 19 (17th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 16 of 19 (20th October 1947)
Secret Rocket 17 of 19 (21st October 1947)
Secret Rocket 18 of 19 (22nd October 1947)
Secret Rocket 19 of 19 (23rd October 1947)

BICKERSONS, THE
New Tux, The (1940's)
Operation, The (1940's)

BOB & RAY SHOW
Bob & Ray Show (21st August 1950)
CBS Show 01 (13th October 1959)
CBS Show 02 (13th October 1959)
CBS Show 03 (14th October 1959)
CBS Show 04 (16th October 1959)
CBS Show 05 (19th October 1959)
CBS Show 06 (20th October 1959)
CBS Show 07 (21st October 1959)
CBS Show 08 (21st October 1959)
CBS Show 09 (22nd October 1959)
CBS Show 10 (23rd October 1959)
Matinee With Bob  (26th September 1949)
Matinee With Bob & Ray (13th October 1949)
Matinee With Bob & Ray (14th October 1949)
Matinee With Bob & Ray (21st October 1949)
Matinee With Bob & Ray (9th October 1950)

BOLD VENTURE
Slates Stolen Identity (Not known)

BOSTON BLACKIE
Old Show Clue, The (5th November 1947)

CAVALCADE OF AMERICA, THE
Lifetide (25th September 1944)

CBS RADIO WORKSHOP
Nightmare (5th May 1957)

CHET CHETTER'S TALES FROM THE MORGUE
(01) Highway Of Death (Not Known)
(02) Elmer Versus The Invaders (Not known)
(03) Return Of The Master Constipator (Not known)
(04) Elmer Versus The Mutant Rats (Not Known)
(05) It Came From Video (Not Known)
(06) Interface To Terror (Not known)
(07) Elmer Meets Death (Not Known)
(08) Escape From The Mysterious Island Pt1o2 (Not known)
(09) Escape From The Mysterious Island Pt2o2 (Not Known )
(10) Excursions In Fear (Not Known)
(11) 1-800-Big Bang Pt1o2 (Not known)
(12) 1-800-Big Bang Pt2o2 (Not known)
(13) Biloxi And The Bogus Beavers From Bornac (Not known)

CREAKING DOOR, THE
Ghost At Ridgeway (Not Known)
Man In The Morgue (Not known)

CRIME CLASSICS
Jean Baptiste Troppmann Killer of Many (17th February 1954)
Madeline Smith, Maid Or Murderess,  Which? (20th January 1954)

DAMON RUNYON THEATER, THE
Baseball Hattie (26th June 1949)
Joe Terrace (9th October 1949)
Lillian (16th October 1949)
Madam LaGimp (19th June 1949)
Maybe A Queen (2nd October 1949)
Palm Beach Santa Claus (23rd October 1949)
Tight Shoes (30th October 1949)

DARK FANTASY
W Is For Werewolf (13th February 1942)

DAY IN THE LIFE OF DENNIS DAY,  A
Mrs Andersons Earrings  (30th October 1948)
New Boyfriend, The (23rd October 1948)

DINAH SHORE SHOW, THE
With Hedda Hopper (25th October 1945)
With Jack Carson (18th October 1945)
With Jerry Colonna (4th October 1945)

ESCAPE
Birds, The (10th July 1954)

FAMILY THEATER
Farewell To Birdie McKessler (14th October 1948)
In Each Others Shoes (26th October 1949)
Story Of John Sager (21st October 1948)
World Of David Lee (7th October 1948)

FIBBER MCGEE & MOLLY
Aunt Jenny (21st November 1950)
Late Lawn, The (26th October 1948)
McGee Quits Smoking (12th October 1948)
McGee's Pressed Pants (5th October 1948)
Retrieving Portable Radio (19th October 1948)

GRANBY'S GREEN ACRES
Granby Quits His Job (30th March 1950)

GREAT GILDERSLEEVE, THE
Gildy Contemplates Early Retirement (16th October 1946)
Gildy Needs A Raise (23rd October 1946)
Leila Leaves Town (9th October 1946)
Real Estate Agent - Hooker as a Border (30th October 1946)

GUNSMOKE
Gambler, The (7th October 1956)
Gunshot Wound (14th October 1956)
Kitty Caught (16th October 1954)
Love Of A Good Woman (9th October 1954)
Ma Tennis (23rd October 1954)
Matt Gets It (2nd October 1954)

HALL OF FANTASY, THE
Idol of Kromm Kroc (4th May 1953)

HAUNTING HOUR, THE
Ep12 The Thought (1946)
Episode 09 Hands Of Mr Smith (1946)

HOUSE OF MYSTERY
Monster In The Lake Chapter 2 (8th May 1945)

INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES
Death For Sale (7th January 1941)

JACK BENNY PROGRAM
Guest Show (25th September 1949)
Halloween Show Dark Passage - Movie Skit (2nd November 1947)
Jack And The Gang Listen To The World Series (10th October 1948)
Jack Returns To America By Ship And Hears An (3rd October 1948)
Sorry- Wrong Number (17th October 1948)

JUNGLE JIM
Episode 310 Jim Is Interrogated (4th October 1941)
Episode 311 Kolu's Dilemma (11th October 1941)
Episode 312 Where's Kolu (18th October 1941)
Episode 313 Sasha Reveals Her True Self (25th October 1941)

JUST PLAIN BILL
Neighbors Remain In Hiding (Not known)

LIFE OF RILEY, THE
Cake Baking Contest (27th October 1950)

LIGHTS OUT
Flame, The (23rd March 1943)
Money, Money, Money ($3000) (30th March 1943)

LONE RANGER, THE
House and Home (1st October 1941)
Rattlesnake Inn (27th October 1943)

LUX RADIO THEATER
Sisters, The (9th October 1939)
You Can't Take It With You (2nd October 1939)

MOLLE MYSTERY THEATER
Challenge To The Listener (4th July 1947)
Death Wears A Mask (5th September 1947)
Killer Come Back To Me  (17th May 1946)

MUSIC MISCELLANEOUS
Tommy Dorsey At The Hollywood Palladium (Not Known)

NBC UNIVERSITY THEATER
Dark Laughter (30th October 1949)
House of Mirth, The (9th October 1949)
Penrod (25th September 1949)
Portrait Of A Lady, The (2nd October 1949)
Sister Carrie (16th October 1949)

ORIGIN OF SUPERSTITION
(01) Three On A Match  (1935)
(02) Throwing Salt Over Shoulder  (1935)
(03) Walking Beneath A Ladder (1935)
(04) Break A Mirror (1935)
(05) The Boogy Man (1935)
(06) Kissing Under The Misteltoe (1935)
(07) Knocking On Wood (1935)
(08) Black Cat Crossing Your Path (1935)
(09) Whistling In The Dressing Room (1935)
(10) Horseshoe Over The Door (1935)
(11) Two Walkers Seperated (1935)
(12) Rabbit's Foot (1935)
(13) Friday The 13th (1935)
(14) Picking Up A Pin (1935)

RICHARD DIAMOND PRIVATE DETECTIVE
Ice Pick Murder (9th August 1952)
Pete Rocco Breaks Jail (4th October 1950)

ROY ROGERS SHOW, THE
Fred App Wants To Buy Ranch (9th October 1952)
Smiggling Arms (2nd October 1952)

SUSPENSE
Man Who Liked Dickens, The (9th October 1947)
Rose Garden (5th October 1950)
Xray Camera, The (23rd October 1947)

WEIRD CIRCLE, THE
A Rope of Hair (16th April 1944)
Burial of Roger Malvin, The (22nd October 1944)
Fatal Love Potion, The (29th October 1944)
Jane Eyre (26th December 1943)

WHISTLER, THE
Man Who Came To Murder, The (6th August 1945)
Murder Is Legal (5th February 1945)
Murder On Paper (29th January 1945)
Two Smart People (30th September 1951)

WITCH'S TALE, THE
Devils Number, The (2nd May 1938)
Graveyard Mansion Part 2 of 2 (6th March 1933)
Truth Of Death, The (11th March 1937)
Wedding Gift, The (29th March 1938)

TO BECOME A MEMBER OF RUSC

If you are not already a member of RUSC you can join in just a
couple of minutes and get immediate access to over 10,000 old
time radio shows - that's right - over TEN THOUSAND. Download
and listen to them whenever you want.

Membership is just $7.50 per month.

What are you waiting for?

To join go to:

http://www.rusc.com/join_rusc.html

As old Nancy in the Witch's Tale would say, "Draw up to the
fire, douse out the lights and gaze in to the embers, gaaaaaze
into 'em deep ... and listen to the tale ..."

I hope you've found this newsletter enjoyable and informative.
If you have don't forget to tell all of your friends and if you
haven't please keep it to yourself :)

Oh, before I forget. If you've not done my latest
Old Time Radio Crossword yet here's the link:

http://www.rusc.com/Neds-Old-Time-Crossword-10.html

Happy Listening!

Ned

www.rusc.com