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CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 2006
The Friends of Old-time Radio held its 31st Annual Convention from October 19 - 22 at the Holiday Inn, Newark, New Jersey. New Celebrities present were: Don Ciccone; Alec Cumming, Barry Farber, Sonny Fox, Noel Freedman, Celeste Holm, Peggy King, Rod McBrien, Malachy McCourt, Chuck McCann, Dick Monda, Kate Phillips, Rick Rogers, Leslie Shreve, Nan Warren; Other celebrities present were Arthur Anderson, Cliff Carpenter, Christina and Larry Conroy, Jeff David, Joe Franklin, Mickey Freeman, Michael Gwynne, Bill Herz, Pat Hosley, Elaine Hyman, Simon Jones, Ruth Last, Shirley Mitchell, Corinne Orr, Bill Owen, Cynthia Pepper, Bobby Ramsen, Rosemary Rice, Lynne Rogers, Jean Rouverol, Soupy Sales, Hal Stone, Craig Wichman. The guests socialized with fans, participated in panels and workshops and re-created 11 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 four afternoon panels: The Packard Hour (Gregg Oppenheimer); Arthur Anderson interviews Cliff Carpenter; Brian Gari interviews Noel Freedman; All-Star Authors Panel. We then had cocktails and dinner. 42 fans attended during the day. 170 fans and guests attended in the evening. Those Were the Days Players present Ellery Queen with guest; Celeste Holm; Bill Nadel dir. a Salute to Francis Durbridge and Paul Temple; Arthur Anderson directs original script by Charles Russell (Curse of the Banshee).
Friday began at 9:00 with the opening of the dealers room. Forty-four dealers' tables were active during the convention. 220 people attended dinner with another 91 in the afternoon. Workshops and panels included the following: OTR quiz with Fred Berney; From Novel to Network; OTR shows (Jack French); Baseball on Radio (Ken Stockinger); Children's Shows on radio and TV (Guests; Sonny Fox; Nan Warren, Chuck McCann, Soupy Sales) (George Downes); Edward R Murrow: The Radio Years (Gary Yoggy); History of NBC (Michael Biel and others including Alec Cumming); Radio Comedians (Derek Tague, Mary Lou Wallace with guests; Malachy McCourt; Chuck McCann; Soupy Sales, Mickey Freeman, Bobby Ramsen; Gotham Radio Players present "The Great Gunns," 1941 comedy series; dir. by Steve Lewis; prod. by Max Schmid.
On Friday evening we had 3 programs: Gregg Oppenheimer Directs "My Favorite Husband" with Shirley Mitchell; Corinne Orr; Michael Gwynne; Elaine Hyman; Bill Owen; Gary Yoggy Directs "I Remember Mama;" - A Song of Love with Rosemary Rice; Anthony Tollin Directs an episode of Gunsmoke, "The Cabin" written by John Meston; with Jeff David, Michael Gwynne, Elaine Hyman, Hal Stone.
Saturday the panels and workshops included the following; Candid Microphone with Sonny Fox; Norman Corwin Tribute (Dave Zwengler, Randy Larson, others); One on One with Celeste Holm (Brian Gari); Dave Warren Players "Duffy's Tavern"; Humorous Look at Dragnet (Michael Hayde, Derek Tague); Sound effects artists David Shinn and Sue Zizza of the National Audio Theatre Festivals present a hands-on sfx demonstration; Joe Franklin Show with guests Barry Farber; Malachy McCourt, Celeste Holm, Dick Monda; Singers, musicians and Big Bands, 10th Annual (Stu Weiss, Brian Gari ) with possible guests; Don Ciccone; Peggy King; Rod McBrien; Re-creation: Eddie Cantor (directed by Gary Yoggy) with Rick Rogers, Dick Monda, Nan Warren, Janet Cantor Gari.
Saturday's events culminated with cocktails and buffet dinner for 246 people with another 133 coming for the day. After dinner Arthur Anderson Mercury Theater; Julius Caesar with Jeff David, Craig Wichman, Larry Conroy, Cliff Carpenter, Simon Jones, Bill Herz; Don Ramlow Directs an episode of Suspense (On a Country Rd.) with Chuck McCann; Bart Curtis supplied the sound effects with occasional help from Penny Swanberg. Ed Clute supplied the Music; Jay Hickerson supplied the music for the Eddie Cantor show; Bill Siudmak was again our very capable engineer.
The Allen Rockford Award was presented to Maggie Thompson for her outstanding efforts in keeping radio and this convention alive. The Ray Stanich Award was given to Ben Ohmart for all the excellent writing and publishing he has done. A special Florence Williams award was given to Cliff Carpenter. He has attended our convention for several years and has always been willing to help. Donations will be given to various organizations throughout the year.
Sunday morning found about 107 people having breakfast and listening to an entertaining and sometimes very hilarious panel consisting among others of Cliff Carpenter, Michael Gwynne, Jean Rouverol, Chuck McCann , Nan Warren, Shirley Mitchell, Arthur Anderson. 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
