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

West Coast and Southern Guests

Ivan Cury - Bobby Benson; Portia Faces Life
Kathy Garver - Whispering Streets; Heartbeat Theater (TV) Family Affair
Bob Gibson - former news correspondent ABC and NBC Radio, and voice-over artist
Richard Herd - Theater 5; (TV) Seinfeld, T J Hooker
Gloria McMillan - Our Miss Brooks
Stuffy Singer - Jack Benny, Hal Peary show

New East Coast Guests

Tom Bahler - (Singer, Composer, Arranger and Producer) "Julie, Do Ya Love Me," "She's Out of My Life"
Diana Canova - Daughter of Judy Canova; co-starred in TV series "Soap," Broadway musicals "They're Playing Our Song" and Stephen Sondheim's "Company
Rich Conaty - New York DJ, specializing in early music of the 1890's - 1930's
The Delicates; Denise Ferri, Arleen Lanzotti and Peggy Santiglia - "Murray the K's Original Dancing Girls," "Submarine Race Watcher's" Theme, "Black and White Thunderbird," "Meusurry"
Iliana Semmler - daughter of Alexander Semmler, well known composer and conductor on radio
Neil Sheppard - singer, songwriter; "Let's Call it a Day Girl"

Returnees

Arthur Anderson - Let's Pretend, Mercury Theater
Cliff Carpenter - County Seat, Terry and the Pirates
Christina Britton Conroy - Daughter of Barbara Britton; voiceover, radio and theater actress; music psychotherapist, author
Larry Conroy - Count of Monte Cristo; Voiceover Coach
Paul Evans - (Singer, composer) "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat," "Roses Are Red"
Joe Franklin - Joe Franklin Show in New York
Michael C. Gwynne - Actor in movies, TV and radio since 1960
Russell Horton - Many CBS Radio Mystery Theater
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
George Lefferts - Writer (X - 1)
Corinne Orr - Theater Five; (TV) Voices for Speed Racer; Trixie and Spritle
Bobby Ramsen - Let's Pretend; Dick Tracy (Comedian)
Lynne Rogers - The Guiding Light
Jean Rouverol - One Man's Family
Kevin Scullin - TV, voiceover artist
leslie Shreve - Actress, activist, television, movies, voiceovers
Jay Stern - director (Quicksilver Radio Theater)
Craig Wichman - founder of Quicksilver Radio Theater

Technical Staff

Bart Curtis - Sound Effects
Mike Mandel - Music
Bill Siudmak - Audio Engineer

SCHEDULE

All programs in the Lenox/Tiffany Rooms; All re-creations in the Dresden/Lenox/Tiffany Rooms
Readings, meetings in the Ascot Room
Rehearsals in the Dresden Room (All rehearsals are closed unless specified otherwise)
Dealers in Conference and Waterford Rooms The following events are tentatively scheduled. 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. It was suggested we have a donation box to help with the expenses.

Thursday

Dealers Rooms 9 am - 5:30 pm

9:00 - 9:45 - "Radio Rarities" with Neal Ellis, Martin Grams, Jr. and Ken Stockinger
10:00 - 10:50 - "The Funniest Radio Bloopers and Out takes" - Gregg Oppenheimer
11:00 - 12:00 - Gary Yoggy will present the "real lowdown" on Walter Winchell: Newscaster or Gossip Monger?
12:15 - 1:15 OTR Historians Panel with Derek Tague, presenting OTR & Vitaphone.
1:30 - 2:45 Authors Panel with Arthur Anderson, Jim Manago, Janet Cantor Gari; hosted by Mel Simons (All authors who wrote Radio-related books since our last convention are welcome.)
3:15 - 4:15 - Michael Biel - Ed Wynn's Amalgamated Broadcasting System
4:30 - 5:30 - One on One with Ben Ohmart (tentative) with Arthur Anderson
5:30 - 8:00 - Cocktails and Dinner; raffle
8:00 - 8:30 - Re-creation: Easy Aces, "Jane Serves on a Jury" directed by Randy Larson (Those Were the Days Radio Players)
8:45 - 9:15 - Recreation: Escape, "King of the Beasts" directed by Jay Stern
9:30 - 10:00 - Recreation: Theater 5, "The Widow" directed by Jay Stern

Friday Morning and Afternoon

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

9:00 - 9:45 - The Big Broadcast with Rich Conaty and Bob Madison
10:00 - 11:00 - Best of the West (Jack French)
11:15 - 12:30 - Anthony Tollin reminisces with Video Clips of past guests
1:00 - 2:15 - Martin Grams, Jr; Researching the History of Cavalcade of America
2:45 - 4:15 - "Funnies Friday: OTR and the Comics" (9th annual "Funny Friday" Comedy panel), hosted by Maggie Thompson and James Gauthier, with Sal Amendola, Michael Kaluta, Dick Ayers, Dennis O'Neil, comic artists
4:45 - 5:30 - Recreation: I Love a Mystery and Tom Mix, directed by Gary Yoggy (The Dave Warren Players)

Friday Evening

5:30 - 8:15 - Cocktails and Dinner, raffle
8:30 - 9:00 - Recreation: Any Bonds Today, "Radio Goes To War" directed by Edgar Farr Russell, III
9:15 - 9:30 - Recreation: Ethel and Albert, directed by Peg Lynch and Arthur Anderson
9:45 - 10:15 - Recreation: Gunsmoke, "Bloody Hands" directed by Anthony Tollin
10:30 - 10:40 - Special Presentation: Walt Mitchell

Saturday Morning and Afternoon

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

8:45 - 9:45 - Lone Ranger panel with Fran Foy and Wendy Foy Griffis, hosted by Terry Salomonson; with Jim Nixon and Bob Daniel, grandson of Brace Beemer
10:00 - 11:00 - Children on Radio with George Downes; Guests so far: Arthur Anderson, Pat Hosley, Kathy Garver, Stuffy Singer, Gloria McMillan
11:15 - 12:00 - Recreation: Lights Out, "The Giggler" directed by Steven M. Lewis (The Gotham Radio Players)
1:15 - 2:15 - The Joe Franklin Show with special Guests Diana Canova, George Lefferts, Iliana Semmler
2:45 - 4:15 - Singers, musicians and Big Bands, 15th annual (hosted by Stu Weiss and Brian Gari); Tom Bahler, The Delicates, Paul Evans, Neil Sheppard
4:30 - 5:15 - Recreation: Let's Pretend, "Jack and the Beanstalk" directed by Arthur Anderson

Saturday Evening

5:30 - 8:30 - Cocktails and Dinner, raffle, awards
8:30 - 9:00 - Recreation: The Phil Harris Allice Faye Show, "Phil is Appointed an Hon. Col. in the Confederate Army" directed by Gary Yoggy
9:15 - 9:30 - Recreation: Ethel and Albert directed by Peg Lynch and Arthur Anderson
9:45 - 10:15 - Recreation: My Favorite Husband, directed by Gregg Oppenheimer
10:30 - 1045 - Closing music with Karen and Jay Hickerson

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 to the Ramada Plaza; 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 (973)-589-1000

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

Thursday, October 20; Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 am - closing) $58.00; Discount of $5.00 for those over 60 and under 16.

Friday, October 21: Daytime only (9 am - 5:30 pm) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Friday, October 21: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - closing) $70.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 60 and under 16.

Saturday, October 22: Daytime only (9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Saturday, October 22: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.) $76.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 60 and under 16.

Sunday, October 23: Morning including buffet breakfast and panel, 7:00 to 11:00 am: $25

Complimentary coffee, tea 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 usually $72 and up 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 (www.Ramada.com) OR USING THE 800 number (1-800 272-6232). Reservation should be placed by September 25th.  Rooms are limited. 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 $209 ($199 for seniors). If you come for Thursday through Saturday, cost is $189 ($179 for seniors). If you come for Friday through Sunday, cost is $162 ($152 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

Dates are Oct 20 - 23, 2011 at the Ramada Plaza (formerly Holiday Inn; same hotel) Newark, NJ. Go online to to get best rates. You will find 2 hotels in Newark with same address. They are the same. Just book the one with the lowest rate. The Ramada 800 number 800-272-6232. The number of the hotel is 973-589-1000. Cost of the rooms vary 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). 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.

UPDATE: The hotel has changed ownership and they are fixing all the rooms. Isabel is not there any more. The lady is charge of reservations is Tanya whom I know. This is her second day at her new job. She has been at the front desk for several years. If you have not gotten a room yet first get it on line. If it is more than $69 call Tanya. To reach her call 973-589-1000. At the prompts press 3. Then ask for ext. 7003. She seems very cooperative.

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 Ramada Plaza, 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 36th 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 36th 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.

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.

Auctions

There will be 3 auctions, Thu - Sat dinners; Most will be autographed scripts performed each night. There will also be some one of a kind items.

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. We depend on the money received from the raffle 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 also will have several Auctions. If you have unusual items that we can auction, let me know.

Books

All will be sold at reduced prices as noted. Anne Francis by Laura Wagner $29; Broadcasting Baseball by Eldon Ham $31; Jennifer Jones by Paul Green $27; *Laughs, Luck and Lucy by Jess and Gregg Oppenheimer $10; Radio in the Movies by Lawrence Etling $36; Radio Speakers by Jim Cox $27

Also many of Ben Ohmart's books will be for sale at his table; Others, such as Martin Grams and Jim Manago, 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 Fourth Revised Ultimate History will be for sale again. I won't have too many at the convention so let me know if you might be buying it. I will also have my first supplement for my 4th Ultimate History. This is my largest supplement to date.

Hotel

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