Special Convention Guests who have given definite or tentative acceptance of our invitations:

West Coast, Midwest and Southern Guests

Don Ciccone - (singer, composer); singer with the Critters and then the Four Seasons in the 1970's
Robert Easton - Radio Actor (Gunsmoke)
Sonny Fox - TV Host; Candid Microphone on Radio
David Noel Freedman - son of radio writer (Eddie Cantor) David Freedman
Chuck McCann - Comedian, actor
Shirley Mitchell - The Great Gildersleeve
Cynthia Pepper - (TV) My 3 Sons
Rick Rogers - Impressionist, singer (Eddie Cantor)

New East Coast Guests

Bill Britten - TV host
Alec Cumming - Ghost writer for NBC 75th anniversary Book
Barry Farber - Radio talk show host
Celeste Holm - Academy Award winning actress, Broadway - Oklahoma
Peggy King - Singer, Broadway, Television
Rod McBrien - Composer and vocalist (Stark and McBrien)
Malachy McCourt - Movies, TV, radio talk show host
Dick Monda - Singer, actor (Eddie Cantor as boy in E C Story)
Kate Phillips - Movie actress, radio writer
Leslie Shreve - Actor, Activist; television, Movies, voiceovers
Allen Swift - Singer, writer. actor; host of the Popeye Show on television
Nan Warren - Let's Pretend, Eddie Cantor

Returnees

Arthur Anderson - Let's Pretend, Mercury Theater
Don Buka - Let's Pretend
Cliff Carpenter - County Seat, Terry and the Pirates
Christina Britton Conroy - Barbara Britton's daughter: Voice Over and Radio, and Theatre Actress. Also Music Pschotherapist
Larry Conroy - Voiceover Coach; Count of Monte Cristo
Jeff David - Theater 5; (TV) Robot on Buck Rogers
Joe Franklin - Joe Franklin Show in New York
Mickey Freeman - (TV) Phil Silvers Show
Michael Gwynne - Drummer, DJ, actor (Movie) Payday, many others
Bill Herz - Mercury Theater performer
Pat Hosley - A Brighter Day
Will Hutchins - (TV) Blondie; Sugarfoot
Elaine Hyman - The Lone Ranger
Simon Jones - British Actor (TV) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Ruth Last - Let's Pretend, Quiet Please
Corinne Orr - Theater Five; (TV) Voices for Speed Racer; Trixie and Spritle
Bill Owen - (Announcer for ABC)
Betsy Palmer - (TV) I've got a Secret
Bobby Ramsen - Comedian
Rosemary Rice - Archie Andrews; Let's Pretend
Jean Rouverol - One Man's Family
Soupy Sales - TV personality
Margot Stevenson - The Shadow
Harlan "Hal" Stone - Adventures of Archie Andrews

SCHEDULE - 2006

The following events are tentatively scheduled. Time will be announced at convention. Any are subject to change.

Wednesday Evening

Dealers tables and possibly sound equipment set up at night.
Complimentary Wine and cheese from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Thursday

The sound equipment and the stage will be set up. Dealers will be open at 9 am.
12:45 - 1:45 - "Dancing on the Air; The Packard Hour" starring Fred Astaire (Gregg O)
2:00 - 3:00 - One on One with Cliff Carpenter (Arthur A)
3:15 - 4:15 - Noel Freedman and Eddie Cantor (Brian G)
4:30 - 5:30 - Author's Panel with Brian Gari, Susan Siegel, David Siegel, Alfred Balk; others (D Tague)
5:30 - 8:00 - Cocktails and Dinner; raffle
8:00 - 8:45 - Those Were the Days Radio Players present Ellery Queen; with Celeste Holm (Reh; 1:00 - 2:30; Reading 11:45 - 12:45)
9:00 - 9:45 - Bill Nadel Directs Paul Temple (Reh; 2:30 - 4:00; Reading 1:15 - 2:15)
10:00 - 10:45 - Original Script (Curse of the Banshee) with Cliff Carpenter, Jean Rouverol, Leslie Shreve; (Arthur A); Reh; 4:00 - 5:30; reading 2:45 - 3:45)

Friday Morning and Afternoon

Dealers Rooms: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
8:45 - 9:30 - OTR quiz (Fred Berney)
9:45 - 10;30 - Jack French panel; From Novel to Network; OTR shows originating in books
10:45 - 11:30 - Baseball on Radio (Ken Stockinger)
11:45 - 12:45 - Children's Shows on radio and TV (Possible guests; Sonny Fox; Allen Swift, Bill Britten; Nan Warren, Chuck McCann, Soupy Sales) (George Downes)
1:00 - 1:45 - Edward R Murrow: The Radio Years (Gary Yoggy)
2:00 - 3:00 - History of NBC (Michael Biel and others including Alec Cumming, Michael Shoshani)
3:15 - 4:30 - Radio Comedians (Derek Tague, Mary Lou Wallace with guests; those being considered are: Malachy McCourt; Chuck McCann; Soupy Sales, Mickey Freeman, Bobby Ramsen, Betsy Palmer, Robert Easton
4:45 - 5:30 - (Gotham Radio Players present "The Great Gunns," 1941 comedy series; dir. by Steve Lewis; prod. by Max Schmid (Rehearsal 3:00 - 4:30; Reading 1:45 - 2:45)

Friday Evening

5:30 - 7:45 - Cocktails and Dinner, raffle
8:00 - 8:30 - (Re-creation) Gregg Oppenheimer Directs "My Favorite Husband" with Shirley Mitchell; Corinne Orr; Donald Buka; Michael Gwynne; Elaine Hyman; Bill Owen; (Rehearsal 1;30 - 3:00 Reading 12:15 - 1:15
8:50 - 9:20 - Gary Yoggy Directs "I Remember Mama;" - A Song of Love; with Rosemary Rice; (Rehearsal 10:30 - 12 Noon; Reading 9:15 - 10:15)
9:40 - 10:10 - Anthony Tollin Directs an episode of Gunsmoke (Rehearsal 12:00 - 1:30; Reading 10:45 - 11:45)

Saturday Morning and Afternoon

Dealers Rooms: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
9:00 - 9:45 - Candid Microphone with Sonny Fox
10:00 - 10:45 - Norman Corwin Tribute (Dave Zwengler, Randy Larson, others)
11:00 - 11:45 - One on One with Celeste Holm (Brian Gari)
12:00 - 12:45 - Dave Warren Players "Duffy's Tavern" (Rehearsal 10:45 - 12:00) (Reading 9:45 - 10:45 am)
1:00 - 1:45 - Humorous Look at Dragnet (Michael Hayde, Derek Tague)

• 1:30 - 2:30     Sound Effects Artists David Shinn and Sue Zizza of the National Audio Theater Festivals present a hands-on sfx demonstration in the Sutton Room

2:00 - 3:00 - Joe Franklin show with possible guests ( Barry Farber; Malachy McCourt; Celeste Holm
3:15 - 4:30 - Singers, musicians and Big Bands, 10th annual (Stu Weiss, Brian Gari ) with possible guests; Don Ciccone; Peggy King, Rod McBrien;
4:30 - 5:15 - Re-creation: Eddie Cantor (directed by Gary Yoggy) with Rick Rogers, Dick Monda, Nan Warren (Rehearsal 3:00 - 4:30; Reading 1:00 - 2:00)

Saturday Evening

Cocktails and dinner: 5:30 - 7:45 p.m.
5:30 - 8:30 - Cocktails and Dinner, raffle, awards
8:30 - 9:30 - (Re-creation) Mercury Theater; Julius Caesar with Jeff David, Craig Wichman, Donald Buka, Larry Conroy, Cliff Carpenter, Simon Jones, Bill Herz (Directed by Arthur Anderson) (Rehearsal 12:45 - 3:00 Reading 10:45 - 12:15)
9:45 - 10:30 - (Re-creation) Don Ramlow Directs an episode of Suspense with Robert Easton; (Rehearsal 9:30 - 10:45 Reading 8:30 - 9:30 am)

Sunday Morning

7:00 - 9:30 - Breakfast in the restaurant
9:30 - 11:00 - Informal Panel in the Dresden Room

Getting There

By Air: Fly to Newark Airport Free shuttle bus from Newark Airport.

By Bus: Bus service from Manhattan's Port Authority to Newark Airport: then take shuttle bus.

By Car: From NJ Turnpike, take Exit 14; take second right marked Frontage Road after toll booth. DO NOT TAKE FIRST RIGHT which is Rt. 1 & 9. Take second right directly under bridge marked Frontage Road. You must take one of the right - hand tolls and stay on the right.

From Garden State Parkway south of airport, take Exit 140 to Route 22E to Routes 1 & 9 North, local. Follow the sign marked Frontage Road. Follow to hotel.

From Garden State Partway North of airport: take Exit 142 to I-78 to Exit 58B (Frontage Road)

From Newark Airport, exit airport and follow route 1 & 9 North to Frontage Road.

By Train: Check your local train schedule

Cost

Reserve your spot as soon as possible. Prepaid tickets are held at the door. Take advantage of our package specials described below.

Thursday, October 19; Daytime only (9 am - 5 pm); $20 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door

Thursday, October 19; Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 am - closing) 47.00.

Friday, October 20: Daytime only (9 am - 5:30 pm) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Friday, October 20: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - closing) $59.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 62 and under 16.

Saturday, October 21: Daytime only (9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Saturday, October 21: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.) $65.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 62 and under 16.

Sunday, October 22: Morning including buffet breakfast and panel, 7:00 to 11:00 am: $20

Complimentary coffee and muffins early Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings; complimentary hors d'oeuvres Friday and Saturday evenings. Hors d'oeuvres for dinner guests only.

Dealer's Tables are $85 for first table; $75 for others by same dealer Details on special sheet.

Hotel

Hotel: Rooms are $99.99 plus parking ($15 a day), no matter how many in a room, no matter how many nights. All rooms should be reserved on the web site: ALL ROOMS MUST BE RESERVED USING THE 800 number ( 1-800 Holiday; 1-800 465-4329); Reservation should be placed by September 25th. Rooms are limited. There are other options described below.

Ads

Ads may be placed in our program book. See below.

Registration

Advance dinner reservations must be made. Reservations are limited (Friday 300; Saturday 400). Make checks out to FOTR or Jay Hickerson; send to Jay Hickerson to address below.

Updated and Further Information

Registration

All meal reservations MUST be paid in advance. If you are coming for the day only, avoid the hassle of paying at the registration desk and save money. Preregistration for the day only is $20 if mailed in advance and $25 if paid at the door for each day. Remember, if you register at the door, you have to fill out a registration card. If you can't attend the dinner but wish to stay for the activities afterwards, the cost is $25 for each night.

The cocktail hour is for dinner guests only. If you come for the day only, but wish to stay for the cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, add $10 to the cost.

PACKAGE PRICES: If you come for all 4 meals (Thursday through Sunday, cost is $176 instead of $191 ($166 for seniors). If you come for Thursday through Saturday, cost is $157 instead of $171 ($147 for seniors). If you come for Friday through Sunday, cost is $134 instead of $144 ($124 for seniors). Make reservations, pay early and avoid lines at the registration table. Tickets are not sent when you register. They are held at the door. If you want confirmation that money has been received, please send a SASE or e-mail address. It would be easier to send me your e-mail address anyway. I can send you updated information easier.

Rooms

Rooms must be reserved through the Holiday Inn-North 800 number (1-800 Holiday; 1-800 465-4329) OR the web site. Cost of the rooms is $99.99 a day plus daily parking fee of $15, regardless of the number of days or number of people in the room. A deposit might be required (by credit card). If you must cancel, you must do it by 6 pm of the day you are arriving. Rooms should be reserved by September 25th. If you reserve them after that, you will be taking a chance on availability. If you do not get that rate or better with the 800 number, call the Holiday Inn directly at 973-589-1000 and ask for Louise's office. Cost for daytime guests is $1.00 a car UNLESS at least one person in the group buys food in the restaurant or bar; then there is no charge.

If you wish to stay at the Howard Johnson, which is also renovated and a half mile from the Holiday Inn, cost per night might be less. There is shuttle service. Call the Howard Johnson at 973-344-1500.

If you wish to stay next door at the Sheraton, call 1-800-325-3535.

Also try the internet. Don't mention FOTR at first. Don't forget to try the Sheraton. Try to share rooms with someone. Mention AARP and/or AAA if appropriate. There may still be a parking fee if done this way. I know using Travelocity, the room is $90 as of the 25th.

Seating

Sit where you wish on Thursday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, tables will be numbered and will be assigned in advance. Tables sit 10 people. If you wish to reserve a full or partial table, please let me know in advance with whom you would like to sit. Make sure the people with whom you wish to sit are coming. A few people gave me a long list of people to choose from. I can't do this. All those who register at the door or who have no preference will sit where there is room. Table reservations must be made in advance. We expect a larger attendance than usual.

Ads

Ads may be placed in our program book (8 1/2 by 11). This is our 30th year and we will again have an expanded program book with guest biographies and articles. Cost for ads are:

Full Page - 8 1/2 by 11 $100
Half Page - 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 or 4 by 11 $60

Quarter Page - 4 by 5 $40

Two full Pages - $160

Dealers at our convention may take a 35% discount on the ad. Help support our 31st annual convention. Deadline for ads is October 1st.

Wednesday

To all Wednesday overnight guests and committee; Come and join us for complimentary wine, beer and cheese in the Dresden Room from about 6 pm to about 10 pm. There also will be soft drinks and vegetable & cheese platters. Please let me know if you plan to attend.

Thursday

Remember, the dealers are open from 9 am. I will be at the Holiday Inn Wednesday afternoon.

Food

If you have to eat at a particular time or need special food, please let me know in advance.

Dealers

Cost for dealers will be $85 for the first table and $75 for any others. All details on a special sheet. Daytime registration fees for dealers will be eliminated. Dealers can arrive as early as 7 am Thursday morning to set up. Some dealers will be able to set up late Wednesday night. I will let you know as I get closer to the date.

No Smoking

This is a smoke free convention. The Hotel is under new management and is completely renovated. There is NO SMOKING ANYWHERE in the convention area, the lobby or the rest rooms.

September Update

General Information

All information about Seating, Ads, Registration, Rooms is above. Please pre-register. Those coming for the day will save $5 a day by pre-registering. Also, if you are coming for the day only, you will not have to stand in line and fill out a registration card if you pre-register. Don't forget the package prices. Remember: Those people paying for the day must pay an extra $10 if they want to stay for the cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres.  The cocktail hour is for dinner guests only. If you wish to stay for the re-creations at night and you do not stay for dinner, the cost is $25.

Raffle

There will be a raffle on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. If you would like to donate prizes, please let me know. We depend on the money received from the raffle and the sale of books, records, tapes, t-shirts and pins at the FOTR table to help pay for the many guests we have at our convention. We also will have tote bags and mugs for sale. We will have a special 30th anniversary DVD and VHS for sale. This was made by the Berneys and has excerpts of previous conventions. This was first on sale last year.

Books

Books on sale at the convention as of now follow. If authors are tentatively coming, they are marked by an asterisk (*):  Some authors will have their own tables; Laughs, Luck and Lucy[base '] by Jess and *Gregg Oppenheimer; There will be 8 books from McFarland: Wireless Radio by Lewis Coe; The Rise of Radio by *Alfred Balk; Christian Radio by Bob Lochte; Daytime Serials of TV by Jim Cox; Terror on the Air by Richard Hand; Radio Series Scripts (Thousand Oaks Library; Talbot Mundy by Brian Taves; Radio Stars by Tom DeLong The last is a paperback of previously published book; Scarecrow Press has 2 books: American Radio Soap Operas by Jim Cox; Fats Waller on the Air by Stephen Taylor; All will be sold at reduced prices.
Also many of Ben Ohmart's books will be for sale at his table; One was written by Brian Gari; another by Mel Simons; Others, such as Martin Grams, will also be selling their own books.

My Third Revised Ultimate History (First Supplement) will be for sale. There will be much new information in it. 

Hotel

Don't forget to reserve your rooms quickly. They may very soon be all sold out. Use the internet (Travelocity, HolidayInn.com or others; many list a room for $90) or call 1-800-465-4329. There will probably be a $15 parking fee per night. Also try the Howard Johnson at 973-344-1500. If you are having trouble getting a room for $99.99 or less, then call Isabel at the Holiday Inn at 973-854-7817