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

West Coast and Southern Guests

Clay Cole - child radio actor; radio and tv host of many musical and disc jockey programs
Tommy Cook - Red Ryder
Richard Herd - Theater 5; (TV) Seinfeld, T J Hooker
Chuck McCann - Comedian, actor
Gloria McMillan - Our Miss Brooks
Shirley Mitchell - The Great Gildersleeve

New East Coast Guests

Alan Abel - Professional Media Hoaxer; radio (Bob and Ray, Monitor); author
Tracey Dey - Singer in the 60's and studied theater
Billy Goldenberg - movie and tv composer
Lillian Murphy - Harvest Program, Chicago Theater of the Air
Betsy Palmer - CBS Radio Mystery Theater, TV's I've got a Secret
Eugene Pitt - leader of the Jive 5 with several hits including "My True Story."

Returnees

Arthur Anderson - Let's Pretend, Mercury Theater
W. Watts (Buck) Biggers - novelist, producer, composer (Underdog)
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
Joe Franklin - Joe Franklin Show in New York
Michael C. Gwynne - Drummer, DJ, actor (Movie) Payday, many others
Russell Horton - in many CBS Radio Mystery Theater programs
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)
Carmel Quinn - Singer on Arthur Godfrey
Lynne Rogers - The Guiding Light
Jean Rouverol - One Man's Family
leslie Shreve - Actress, activist, television, movies, voiceovers
Craig Wichman - Director of Quicksilver Radio Theater, on Twilight Zone Radio Series

Relatives

Cherie Becker - widow of Sandy Becker
Janet Cantor Gari - Eddie Cantor's Daughter
Brian Gari - Eddie Cantor's grandson
Gregg Oppenheimer - son of Jess Oppenheimer
Mary Owen - daughter of Donna Reed and Tony Owen
Betty Rose - widow of David Rose

SCHEDULE - 2009

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

Thursday

Dealers Rooms 9 am - 5:30 pm

9:00 - 11:30 - TBA
1:00 - 1:45 - OTR Historians Panel with Derek Tague
2:15 - 3:15 - Authors Panel with Alan Abel, Michael Hayde, Jim Harmon, Martin Grams, Jr., others; with Mel Simons
3:30 - 4:30 - Radio Was There (Ken Stockinger)

5:30 - 8:00 - Cocktails and Dinner
8:00 - 8:30 - Those Were the Days Radio Players present Easy Aces (Jane Goes to a Psychiatrist) with Michael Gwynne, Karen Lockwood, Dave Zwengler, Rick Johnston, Jim Ferneborg, Debbra Piening, Mary Tafoya and Lindsay Curcio; Dir. by Randy Larson
8:45 - 9:15 - GREAT SCENES FROM GREAT PLAYS: "YOUNG MR. LINCOLN" Based on the John Ford film with Arthur Anderson, Cliff Carpenter, Larry Conroy, Will Hutchins, Elaine Hyman, Bill Owen, leslie Shreve, Craig Wichman; Directed by Jay Stern - Produced by Craig Wichman
9:30 - 10:00 - DREAMSCAPE: "BURNT" "New Script" Prizewinner by Bret Jones; with Bobb Lynes, Bill Owen, Lynne Rogers, Kevin Scullin, Barbara Watkins, Craig Wichman, ; Directed by Jay Stern - Produced by Craig Wichman

Friday Morning and Afternoon

Dealers Rooms: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

9:00 - 9:45 - Poetry and Radio (with Dave Zwengler and Frazier Russell)
10:00 - 10:45 - Technical Tips (Fred Berney; Bob Burnham)
11:00 - 11:45 - OTR Movies with radio stars (G Yoggy)
12:00 - 1:30 - The Green Hornet (M Grams, Terry Salomonson)
1:45 - 2:45 - "A Bicentennial Celebration of Abraham Lincoln and Edgar Allan Poe on Radio" hosted by Edgar Farr Russell III with guest panelist Craig Wichman
3:00 - 4:30 - Comedy Panel - 7th annual with Mel Simons, Derek Tague, M L Wallace; with Alan Abel, Russell Horton, W. Watts (Buck) Biggers, Carmel Quinn, Betsy Palmer, and others to be decided
4:45 - 5:30 - Dave Warren Players (Life of Riley )

Friday Evening

5:30 - 8:00 - Cocktails and Dinner
8:15 - 8:45 - Re-creation of "Escape" episode "The Fall of the House of Usher" written by Edgar Allan Poe, directed by Edgar Farr Russell, III and starring Arthur Anderson, Cliff Carpenter, Michael C. Gwynne, Russell Horton, Ruth Last, and Craig Wichman
9:00 - 9:30 - Danny Curtis' Road To Hope" 1943 Hollywood Canteen Radio Broadcast; Cast: Danny Curtis, Rebecca Lerman, Michael Wright, Karen Luschar
9:30 - 9:45 - (Re-creation) 60th Anniversary "Dragnet" Comedy Sketch; Directed by Gregg Oppenheimer, with Michael C. Gwynne, Richard Herd, leslie Shreve, and Elaine Hyman.
9:45 - 10:15 - (Re-creation) The Great Gildersleeve; Dir. by Gregg Oppenheimer with Chuck McCann, Shirley Mitchell, Gloria McMillan, Michael C. Gwynne, Ron Cocking, 'Larry Conroy, Arthur Anderson, Christina Britton Conroy, Leslie Shreve, Will Hutchins, Elaine Hyman

Saturday Morning and Afternoon

Dealers Rooms: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

8:45 - 9:30 - OTR Jeopardy - 2 (Fred Berney)
9:45 - 10:30 - OTR's Federal Investigators (Jack French)
10:45 - 11:30 - Children in Radio and Television; George Downes with Alan Abel, Clay Cole, Russell Horton, Arthur Anderson, others
11:45 - 12:30 - (Re-creation) The Gotham Radio Players recreate a lost episode of "The Adventures of the Saint" with Simon Jones. Directed by Steven M. Lewis, produced by Max Schmid.
12:45 - 1:45 - Bob and Ray Tribute with family and friends
2:00 - 3:00 - Joe Franklin Show with guests: Mary Owen, Cherie Becker, Lillian Murphy, others
3:15 - 4:45 - Singers, musicians and Big Bands, 13th annual (hosted by Stu Weiss and Brian Gari); guests include Clay Cole, Eugene Pitt, Tracey Dey, Billy Goldenberg
5:00 - 5:30 - (Re-creation) It Pays to be Ignorant; Dir. by Gregg Oppenheimer; with Simon Jones, Shirley Mitchell, Chuck McCann, Ron Cocking and Tommy Cook

Saturday Evening

5:30 - 8:30 - Cocktails, dinner and Awards
8:30 - 9:00 - (Re-creation) Life with Luigi; dir. by Gary Yoggy; with Will Hutchins, Corrine Orr, Tommy Cook, Russell Horton, Richard Herd, Chuck McCann, Bobb Lynes
9:15 - 9:35 - (Re-creation) Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Sketch; directed by Gregg Oppenheimer, with Chuck McCann and Michael C. Gwynne
9:45 - 10:15 - (Re-creation) The Green Lama; Dir. by Anthony Tollin; with Michael C. Gwynne, Chuck McCann, Tommy Cook, Gloria McMillan, Will Hutchins

Sunday Morning

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

Getting There

By Air: Fly to Newark Airport. Free shuttle bus from Newark Airport to the Holiday Inn; follow the signs to ground transportation.

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.

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.

Hotel Address (for MapQuest or GPS) is 160 Frontage Rd., Newark, NJ 07114

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

Thursday, October 22; Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 am - closing) $54.00; Discount of $5.00 for those over 60 and under 16.

Friday, October 23: Daytime only (9 am - 5:30 pm) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Friday, October 23: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - closing) $66.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 60 and under 16.

Saturday, October 24: Daytime only (9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Saturday, October 24: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.) $72.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 60 and under 16.

Sunday, October 25: 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 $65 for all tables (Details below.)

Hotel

Hotel: Rooms are $79.99 - 89.99 plus parking ($15 a day), no matter how many in a room, no matter how many nights. All rooms can be reserved on the web site (Holidayinn.com) OR USING THE 800 number ( 1-800 Holiday; 1-800 465-4329); Reservation should be placed by September 25th. Rooms are limited. Other options 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 $20 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 $197 ($187 for seniors). If you come for Thursday through Saturday, cost is $177 ($167 for seniors). If you come for Friday through Sunday, cost is $148 ($138 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 and Parking

Rooms must be reserved through the Holiday Inn-North 800 number (1-800 Holiday; 1-800 465-4329) OR the web site (Holidayinn.com). Cost of the rooms is $79.99 - 89.99 a day plus daily parking fee of $15, regardless of the number of days or number of people in the room. I checked the HolidayInn.com website on 6/21, and the AAA rate was $65.55. A deposit might be required (by credit card). The price will vary depending on when you reserve. The internet reservation might be less as I mentioned. 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 the convention rate will be honored on your arrival

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 should be less. Call the Howard Johnson at 973-344-1500. It is now under new ownership so you may need your own transportation between hotels.

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.

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 34th 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 34th annual convention. Deadline for ads is October 1st.

Wednesday

To all Wednesday overnight guests and committee; Come and join us for 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.

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 $65 a table. 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 $20.

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 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 at our 30th convention.

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; All will be sold at reduced prices as noted.
Perry Como by Malcolm McFarlane and Ken Crossland $41; American Radio Networks by Jim Cox $33; Cold War Radio by Richard Cumming $33; Talk Radio Wants You by Fancine Silverman $56; ; Laughs, Luck and Lucy by *Gregg Oppenheimer $10; Radio and the Jews by *Susan and David Siegel; $25; Waging the War of the Worlds by John Gosling $35; Australian Radio and Television by Albert Moran and Chris Keating $35; British Radio by Sean Street $35; American Radio Soap Operas by Jim Cox $35

Also many of Ben Ohmart's books will be for sale at his table; Others, such as Martin Grams and Michael Hayde, will also be selling their own books. Let me know by e-mail what books you want including mine so I can have enough.

My Third Revised Ultimate History (fourth Supplement) will be for sale. There will be much new information in it. Largest supplement yet by far ($10)

Hotel

Don't forget to reserve your rooms quickly. They may very soon be all sold out. See information above.