Check out the Geeks for great savings!
Check out the Geeks for great savings!
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CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 2004
The Friends of Old-time Radio held its 29th Annual Convention from October 21 - 24, 2004 at the Holiday Inn, Newark, New Jersey. Celebrities who received awards were: Jack Bivans, Jane Kean, Louise O'Brien, Ruth and Ted Reinhart, Jean Rouverol, Robert Lewis Shayon, Elena Verdugo. Other celebrities present were Arthur Anderson, George Ansbro, Don Buka, Paul Carnegie, Cliff Carpenter, Jill Corey, Shirley Eggleston, Fred Foy, Bob Hastings, Pat Hosley, Will Hutchins, Elaine Hyman, Will Jordan, Ruth Last, Jimmy Lydon, Corinne Orr, Bill Owen, Paul Petersen, Bobby Ramsen, Elliott Reid, Rosemary Rice, Larry Robinson, Lynne Rogers, Soupy Sales, Hal Stone, Joyce van Patten. The guests socialized with fans, participated in panels and workshops and re-created 9 radio shows. The convention began Wednesday Evening with complementary Wine and Cheese and informal visiting. Thursday Morning the dealers opened at 9 am. There were five afternoon panels: OTR Publications (hosted by Derek Tague); Digital OTR, The Mini Disc Solution (hosted by John Gallagher and Fred Berney); One-on-One with Joyce van Patten; hosted by Hal Stone; James Pegolotti talked about Deems Taylor; Tom Powers and Friends read Superman; We then had cocktails and dinner. 58 fans attended during the day. 153 fans and guests attended in the evening. Arthur Anderson directed Edgar Russell III original script "You Are There." We then met Robert Lewis Shayon; "Those Were the Days Players" presented "Duffy's Tavern;" Friday began at 9:00 with the opening of the dealers room. Sixty-one dealers' tables were active during the convention. 224 people attended dinner with another 88 in the afternoon. Workshops and panels included the following: John Gallagher led a panel about the Greatest Radio Actor; Anthony Tollin with Jeff David led an emotional tribute to Jackson Beck; Dave Zwengler led a Quiz "What's My Name"; Michael Hayde and Derek Tague let a presentation of "Jack Benny in Cartoons;" Hal Stone and Bob Hastings were Bob and Ray; Derek Tague and Mary Lou Wallace led a comedy panel with guests: Elena Verdugo, Jane Kean, Bobby Ramsen, Will Hutchins, Will Jordan; Dave Zwengler had a One-on-One with Arthur Anderson; The Gotham Players gave an original presentation of "The Battle of the Warsaw Ghetto" by Morton Wishengrad On Friday evening we had 4 programs: "Great Scenes from Great Plays" directed by Arthur Anderson; Ted and Ruth Reinhart gave the first of their two Nostalgia shows; Rosemary Rice and Bob Hastings were "The Bickersons;" "My Favorite Husband" with Paul Petersen was directed by Gary Yoggy Saturday the panels and workshops included the following: "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" with Mitchell Weisberg; "Husband and Wife Detective Teams" with Jack French; Fun with Hal Stone, Bob Hastings, Jimmy Lydon, Paul Petersen and Ed Clute;The Dave Warren Players presented "Baby Snooks"; George Downes led a panel of children's shows with Arthur Anderson, Bob Hastings, Hal Stone, Jimmy Lydon and others; We remembered Judy Garland; hosted by Gary Yoggy with Scott Schecter, John Meyer and Roberto Gari; The 8th Annual Singers' and Musicians' panel, hosted by Stu Weiss and Brian Gari; Guests were Jill Corey, Louise O'Brien, Jane Kean, Patricia Timberg and Jerry Samberg; Bill Nadel then directed "Sherlock Holmes - the Lost Special." Saturday's events culminated with cocktails and buffet dinner for 284 people with another 112 coming for the day. After dinner Anthony Tollin directed The Green Hornet with Fred Foy, Paul Carnegie and Elaine Hyman; Ruth and Ted Reinhart presented their second, well-received, Nostalgia Show; Rosemary Rice and Bob Hastings were "The Bickersons;" Don Ramlow directed "A Crime Letter From Dan Dodge" with Shirley Eggleston; Bart Curtis supplied the sound effects. Ed Clute with Nana Clute supplied the Music Besides the awards mentioned earlier, the Allen Rockford Award was presented to Brian Gari, Alice Anderson, Eva Weisberg and Ellen & Fred Berney for their outstanding efforts in keeping radio and this convention alive. The Ray Stanich Award was given to Jack French for all the excellent writing he has done. A special Florence Williams award was given to Lynne Rogers. She has attended our convention for several years and have always been willing to help. Donations will be given to various organizations throughout the year. Sunday morning found about 113 people having breakfast and listening to an entertaining and sometimes very hilarious panel consisting of Jack Bivans, Paul Carnegie, Cliff Carpenter, Shirley Eggleston, Bob Hastings, Jimmy Lydon, Hal Stone. It was hosted by Anthony Tollin. I again want to thank all the guests who were very gracious in granting interviews and giving of their time to be with us.
--Jay Hickerson
