WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INC.
Incorporated under laws of Wisconsin in November 1952, the Council is directed by 19 volunteer delegates: ten are appointed by four organizations representing people who are blind; nine delegates at large elected by blind people throughout the state.
The Council is a strong voice for blind citizens of Wisconsin. Its mission is to promote the dignity and independence of people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. The Council is funded through proceeds of endowments established through bequest grants, private gifts from individuals and corporations, and the White Cane Fund campaign. No government funding is received.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO PAUL SCHROEDER
LIFETIME LEARNING - THE COUNCIL OFFERS COMPUTER CLASSES
RSVW TO ASSUME MANAGEMNET OF VENDING PROGRAM
A PERFECT DAY FOR A PICNIC - 40 AND COUNTING
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION GRANT
By: Virginia DeBlaey
The Council annual Awards Banquet was held on the evening of November 8. This event is always a highlight of our year. After a delicious dinner several special awards were presented and seven $1,000 scholarship winners were recognized. They included: Rona Mikkelson of Union Grove, Sharon Watson of Madison, Stacy Fuehrer of La Crosse, Kuo-Ten (Andy) Huang of Madison, Rhonda Baranowski of Wausau, Mike Hinrichs of Madison, and Alissa Keenan of Viroqua.
This year’s recipient of the Louis Seidita Distinguished Service Award was Dale Churchill. He has been active in the Wisconsin chapter of the Blinded Veterans organization for many years and served as a delegate to the WCB representing their organization until failing health forced him to resign.
Manpower Inc. was chosen to receive our Employer of the Year award. Ted Larson has worked as a blind computer programmer in the Milwaukee office for the past five years.
Special recognition was given to the O’Connor Family who has sponsored a golf tournament which raised several thousand dollars for the WCB in the past four years.
I am pleased to welcome a new member to the Council staff. If you visit our store you may meet Brent Perzentka who was hired recently to replace Jan Wilson. She decided to take a position as a mobility instructor with the Madison public schools. If Brent’s name seems familiar, it is because his mother, Karen and father, Richard, were long-time Council members.
As we go to press, we were surprised to learn that Mark Riccobono resigned from his position as Director of the Wisconsin Center for Blind and Visually Impaired in Janesville. We understand he will be taking a position with the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland.
By: Rebecca Williams
One of the most helpful services provided by the Wisconsin Council of the Blind is the chance to avoid mail-order catalogues and long waits for those special products we all need to make our lives easier. When your Braille watch dies, it’s great to know you can get a new one in a much shorter time than ordering from a catalogue. If you’re in Madison, you don’t have to wait at all. You can just stop by the Council’s Store and browse until you find exactly what you need. There’s even an extra bonus if you stop in the store. Friendly, knowledgeable staff will be on hand to offer advice, and you can often talk to people who have used the products that interest you.
Why, you may ask, do we call this great service “The Council Store”? It’s so much more than a store. It’s the Here-It-Is Place or the I Found It! Shop. “Lousy names for a store,” you’re thinking, and I have to agree. We need a new name, and we’re asking for your help. We’ve decided to hold a Name The Store contest, and we welcome your entries. If we choose your name, you’ll receive a certificate for $50 at—well, whatever the new name of our store is. You may call the Council office with your suggestions, or mail them to us. You may also use the e-mail option.
Are you beginning to think about holiday shopping? Our Council Store has some great gift ideas. Almost everyone likes to read, and the Council is selling a great cassette recorder that plays books recorded by the Library of Congress, as well as those you can buy from your local bookstore. This machine, which is the size of a walkman, can be used with or without headphones, and it can go wherever you go. It also includes a snooze switch. Its very affordable price is $64.50.
“What color is it?” That’s a question blind and visually impaired people ask way too many times to count. Gone are the days when color identifiers are so expensive that no one can buy them for home use. The Council is selling a talking color identifier for $139.75.
Don’t you envy your friends who glance at the phone as it rings to see whether or not they want to take the call? Their friendly caller ID screen lights up with a name that helps them make the choice. Now you can make those decisions, too. The Council is selling a talking caller ID for $68.25. Once you set up caller ID service with your phone company, this machine can be programmed to hold up to 50 names. It can also store 99 calls. Sometimes it’s nice to know who called yesterday afternoon or when you were out, even if the caller didn’t leave a message. It’s all possible with this handy unit, and it is accessible, whether or not you can see the screen.
There are plenty of talking watches and clocks to choose from at the Council’s Store. You can decide to be very economical and spend $30 to $50, or you can really impress that special someone with an extremely durable Seiko braille watch, for $156.25.
Remember that the Council’s Store sells a variety of games adapted for people who are blind or visually impaired. Scrabble, checkers, dominos, braille and large-print playing cards and cribbage boards are just some examples. There are handy kitchen aids, magnifiers, cookbooks, and writing supplies like bold line paper and check writing guides. I could go on and on, but it might be more fun for you to stop by our store to investigate for yourself. You’re sure to find something you like.
Store hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday with Thursday night hours until 8 pm.
Don’t forget to help us find the perfect name for the store. Isn’t it exciting to think of your original idea on a sign for everyone to see? Give it some thought, and contact us. We look forward to receiving your entry.
The Council often receives calls asking if anyone in Wisconsin does chair caning. Perhaps you have a chair that is in need of repair. This seems to be an art that is quickly passing away.
If you do chair caning or know of anyone who does, please contact Sue at the Council office. She will keep your name and number for future reference.
CONGRATULATIONS TO PAUL SCHROEDER
By: Gary Goyke
Our very best wishes and congratulations to Paul Schroeder of Milwaukee, for his recent selection as the national recipient of the “Peter J. Salmon Award”. Paul is National Employee of the Year 2003 for Industries for the Blind.
Paul is a Council member, representing the Badger Association. Industries for the Blind selected Paul as the state employee of the year and he was then entered in the national competition.
There are several factors included in the selection process such as years of community service, volunteer work with blind and visually impaired organizations, and years of service on the job. Paul and his wife Pat were flown to Fort Worth, Texas, at the end of October to receive the award. Good Luck Paul – we are very proud of you!
LIFETIME LEARNING:
THE COUNCIL OFFERS COMPUTER CLASSES
By: Rhonda Staats
Lifetime Learners, take note! WCB now offers computer training classes for individuals who are visually impaired or blind. Betsy Gruba, WCB’s Director of Technology, has developed a series of friendly, practical computer classes to enable blind or visually impaired Wisconsin residents to learn to use computers.
Betsy is an excellent instructor, guaranteed to fill students with confidence and the practical skills to use computers as part of their daily routine.
Who is eligible to take computer classes from WCB? Anyone who is visually impaired or blind living in the state of Wisconsin is eligible to register for computer classes at the Council. If you are at least fifty-five years of age and live in Dane County, WCB has received a grant from the Madison Community Foundation to offer these classes to you at no charge. All other visually impaired persons interested in taking classes should call the Council office, as there is a fee attached to each course. Beginning January of 2004, the Council will have tuition subsidies available for prospective students, which includes a $200 subsidy towards the cost of a $300 course. Again, please call the Council office for more complete information regarding these subsidies.
Have no fear! Betsy has designed these classes to accommodate persons at all levels of computer expertise. Each class is held twice a week, lasting for two hours. Most classes run for two weeks. Class is usually limited to four participants. At the completion of each course students will have attained a basic understanding of the application program, and general knowledge of how to use it.
Available Courses:
Keyboarding: If you’ve never used a computer keyboard, this course is for you! Not to worry! Using a computer keyboard is very much like using a typewriter, except that there are a number of extra keys. This course will allow you to re-visit your old typing skills, while teaching you something new. Basic knowledge of the keyboard is a prerequisite for further instruction.
Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Windows: Introduction to Computers is designed to provide students with basic information about the computer, and will discuss terms associated with computers such as memory, processors, and software. Introduction to Windows is designed to provide students with a detailed, hands-on the Microsoft Windows environment. Windows is the basic operating system for most personal computers.
Introduction to JAWS and Introduction to Window-Eyes: JAWS and Window-Eyes are the two most popular screen readers through which blind people access their computers. Selection of a screen reader results from personal needs. Courses in Window-Eyes and JAWS will feature fundamental keystrokes for reading documents or screens.
ZoomText and MAG-IC: ZoomText and MAG-IC are the most popular screen magnification software packages used by persons with low vision. Again, selection of screen magnification software is dependent on personal needs/preference.
After you have learned the fundamentals of computers and computer access, WCB offers courses that include E-mail, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and use of the Internet.
To round out its computer offerings, Betsy is teaching a class for those wishing to use Dragon Naturally Speaking, a voice recognition system to facilitate voice access to a computer. Betsy is also offering a course in the Complete Reading System, an electronic reading system that allows you to scan a printed document into a computer.
WCB’s computer training is growing. Betsy will soon be branching out to offer distance learning classes, which students can complete from home via instructional conference calls and the Internet. For more complete information regarding any of these courses please contact Betsy Gruba at the Council office.
By: Karen Heesen
With the introduction of P. L. 94-142 in the 1970's (mandating the mainstreaming of handicapped children whenever possible), schools for the blind saw a sharp decline in enrollment of students whose primary handicapping condition was visual impairment. This trend has continued, and the residential school is now providing services to students who, for the most part, have a variety of learning disabilities. An increase in the need for special service providers such as Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Technicians, Physical Therapy providers, and educational interpreters (not to mention more teachers, teacher's aides, and residential/support staff), has driven up the price of education so that it is constantly being scrutinized, evaluated, and second-guessed. Salaries have been kept low, when compared with those of their counterparts in regular education, causing really qualified candidates not to apply. Whenever an applicant "worth their salt" accepts a position, they seem to be fought at every juncture.
The Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (WSVH) has certainly been no exception to this trend. It has gone through more changes than one could begin to count, and still more are occurring even as this is being written. At present, the school is without any accommodation for its Visually Impaired staff, a teachers' aide position, Counselor, an IEP Coordinator, Principal (other than an interim retiree), and Center Director. Some of these positions are being reclassified or rewritten. This process can take months!
With all layoffs the School/Center has lost 7.3 positions, in a time when greater service delivery has been targeted as a high-priority need. Staff at the school are being asked to do more and more with less, and to continue to provide the same kinds of services with less manpower to accomplish the task.
In my three years on staff at the school, I have continually heard "Morale could not get worse," and yet it has been constantly declining. Teachers and staff do not feel supported, encouraged, or really valued. They have not had anyone, in a supervisory position, with VI educational background, to ask questions about best practice or possible program implementations for their students.
Budgetary constraints have contributed, in part, to the reorganization of Outreach Services. The Legislative Council Study determined that there was a need for VI services throughout the state, to ensure timely delivery and to prevent children from "falling through the cracks." Does the recent reorganization of these services look, to you, like a step backwards? While we can understand budget constraints, the needs that were brought forward at the Legislative Council's meetings have not changed. Students, in more sparsely populated areas of the state, are still in need of and entitled to services enabling them to become the most successful, independent, employable VI individuals possible.
One thing is for certain. Some kind of system must be devised to make people understand that it is not the number of students being served that should determine the staffing, but the variation in the needs of the students being served. With the very real possibility of being impacted even more by the Budget Adjustment Act to occur in January 2004, neither the WSVH or the ESC can spare another dollar! Something has to give! Let's hope that it is not the education of Wisconsin’s visually impaired boys and girls!
By: Dick Pomo, Executive Director
Bus, brats, beer and the Brewers were the combination for a great evening of fun on September 10 for approximately 50 members of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, family and friends. A trip to the ballpark made this summer evening enjoyable.
The Council also had another reason for attending the game that night. We recognized Bob Uecker and Jim Powell for their years of bringing the description of Brewer games to thousands of blind and visually impaired fans in Wisconsin. As most of us know, making games exciting or at least holding our attention has not been an easy chore over the past few years. Bob and Jim not only bring the game to us, but share the kind of bantering that makes one look forward to listening to their broadcasts.
After traveling to Milwaukee by bus, the group met in the All Star Room at the stadium. Time was spent together enjoying a few beverages and brats prior to the game. While Bob could not visit with us due to his recent surgery, Jim graciously spent time with us, sharing some great comments.
We presented Bob and Jim with a plaque expressing our appreciation for their efforts. The inscription is at the end of this article.
Our hope is that next year we can plan a day in which folks from different parts of the state might join in getting together. I also have it on good authority that the Brewers are on the way up and will get even with those Cubbies next year. Who knows, perhaps we will recognize an umpire for making the most of limited vision!! (Just kidding, don’t tell them I said that.)
The inscription on the plaques presented reads: “Presented in appreciation to Bob Uecker and Jim Powell who choose the perfect words that paint a thousand pictures for blind and visually impaired baseball fans of Wisconsin.” The Wisconsin Council of the Blind September 10, 2003.
By: Gary Goyke
Every year at the WCB Annual Awards Banquet a special appreciation segment recognizes individuals who very generously support the programs and services of the Council.
This year we publicly thanked Mr. Raymond Baudhuin, Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. Leah L. Eulert, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Mary Piechowski, Madison, Wisconsin.
These 3 individuals have honored the WCB in their wills with financial gifts that will help sustain us in the years ahead. Their lives were all very different, but all 3 have one thing in common – a wonderful desire to help others after they have departed this great earth.
Their families can know well that the Council puts these gifts to good use. We are also careful stewards of their legacies, insuring that their bequests are honored. We thank them all!
RSVW TO ASSUME MANAGEMENT OF VENDING PROGRAM
By: Nona Graves
In an apparent effort to cut costs, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation decided early in 2003 to outsource management of the Randolph-Sheppard vending program. Notices were sent to organizations and agencies of and for the blind requesting interested parties to submit proposals for operating the vending program.
The Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of Wisconsin, an organization of blind persons who operate vending facilities, decided they would submit a proposal to DVR. According to Janet Dickey, chairperson of the Elected Committee of Blind Vendors, the vendors felt that since they were able to run their own businesses, they could manage the program better than DVR had been doing. The vendors knew, however, that they would need help in such an undertaking. So they came to the Wisconsin Council of the Blind to ask if the Council would partner with them. The vendors hoped to rent office space from the Council, to use the Council’s computer training program, and to take advantage of any other assistance which the Council could give. After listening to their request and reviewing the proposal that RSVW planned to submit to DVR, the Council agreed to the partnership as long as this partnership would not be detrimental to Council programs.
In late September 2003 DVR notified RSVW that their proposal was accepted. “We had four days of meetings with DVR beginning on October 6,” said Janet Dickey. “On the final day work on the actual contract began.” She said she expects that RSVW will begin managing the program in January 2004. She added that the vendors are optimistic that the vending program will improve without the bureaucracy which was often a problem under DVR management.
Dick Pomo, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, said that he hopes the Council’s partnership with RSVW will help that organization succeed in its new venture.
A PERFECT DAY FOR A PICNIC - 40 AND COUNTING
By: Bruce Parkinson
July 29, 2003 was a perfectly gorgeous day for a picnic, and a picnic was the way in which the Lakeshore Visually Impaired Support Group began its celebration of its 40th Anniversary.
The Lakeshore Visually Impaired Support Group, formerly the Manitowoc County Braille Club, began when a group of Manitowoc Lions, together with a group of blind and visually impaired people, decided a support group for the blind and visually impaired would be a good idea. After a few initial meetings, the group became independent from the Lions Club and has remained so since; however, the clubs continue to have unofficial ties. The Braille Club originally met in private homes, then in a variety of public places. Now the club meets at Holiday House in Manitowoc.
The picnic, which began about 4:30, was a catered event that included brats, burgers and all the trimmings. It was held at Pinecrest Historical Village. Pinecrest is a wonderful site west of Manitowoc which is operated by the Manitowoc County Historical Society. The highlight of the afternoon was a hands-on tour of the village conducted by costumed guides who did a wonderful job of adjusting their tours for blind and visually impaired people. All 40 participants enjoyed a wonderful 2½ hour tour of the buildings, grounds and artifacts.
As the evening wore on tours began to draw to a close and people began to gather on the porch and steps of the town hall. It was like a scene out of the past when (before radio and TV) people would gather to share the news of the day. The evening was cool, filled with a waning sun.
The highlight of the evening’s events was a cake and punch reception to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the club. Dan Fischer, Manitowoc County Executive, presented citations from the State of Wisconsin and Manitowoc County. Mayor Kevin Crawford presented a citation from the City of Manitowoc. With these presentations a perfectly wonderful day came to a close.
The Lakeshore Visually Impaired Support Group is the oldest continually meeting support group in the state of Wisconsin. Membership presently includes blind and visually impaired regular members as well as sighted associate members from Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties. The club meets at Holiday House in Manitowoc the last Tuesday of each month March through November, with a Christmas party held at an alternate location in December.
For more information on membership or on visiting the Lakeshore Visually Impaired Support Group, call Bruce Parkinson at 920-553-3290, Dan Cornelius at 920-682-3063 or Dale Schultz at 920-682-9999.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION GRANT
By: Dick Pomo
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind recognizes the impact that computers can have on the lives of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. As a statewide organization, the Council is excited to announce an opportunity designed to increase the participation of individuals who are visually impaired or blind in the area of computer technology.
With a grant from the Public Service Commission, WCB will reimburse 100 individuals who are legally blind up to 50% of the cost of installation of Internet service and computer configuration. In addition it will reimburse for three months of high-speed Internet access. To be eligible for this project, individuals must be first time Internet users and must not have existing Internet service.
Individuals interested in participating in this service should first contact the Wisconsin Council of the Blind for prior authorization for reimbursement. Proof of legal blindness is required. Verification may be obtained from an appropriate medical person, or other qualified individuals working in the field of blindness or vision impairment. Reimbursement will be based upon appropriate receipts and documentation. We reserve the right to establish a ceiling of subsidy dependent upon a variety of factors determined by the Council.
Individuals selected for this program must be residents of Wisconsin and must make their own arrangements with Internet providers. For further information contact the Council office. Please identify that you are calling to participate in the Internet Access project.
By: Sue Barker
Waukesha County is active with the Sight Loss Network Support Group. They meet the 2nd Saturday of the month, September through June at 1 pm, in St. John’s Lutheran Church. Twenty members attend meetings that consist of roundtable discussions and speakers whenever possible.
Rob Buettner of the Badger Association in Milwaukee hosted this group with a tour of the new Hawley Ridge Apartments and The Outlook Shoppe, their assistive devices program. A Christmas party will be their December meeting.
Contact person Janet Baer can be reached at 262-542-7391. She encourages spouses and family members to attend these meetings.
The Library Square Support Group in West Allis meets in their retirement community on the 4th Monday of the month at 2 pm. Roughly 10 members enjoy speakers. Assistive devices are a favorite, especially magnifiers. This group also toured the Badger this past year.
In November the group will be going out to lunch and Carol Kelley, the contact person, says Chinese food is their favorite. The biggest problem is finding restaurants with good lighting!
Contact Carol at 414-774-4411 if you live in this area. Pat Schapiro, Parish Nurse and diabetic specialist can be contacted at the same number. Myron Smith can also be contacted at 414-282-8142. They are always looking for new members!
Mt. Carmel Support Group is being restructured as of this writing. A small group of 6-10 members living at Mt. Carmel Nursing Home in Milwaukee disbanded within the last year. Contact person John Rose would like to start meeting and letting residents and others in the area know what is available for the visually impaired.
If you are interested contact John at 414-281-7200 Ext. 4229.
By: Karen Heesen
Those of you who watched the progress of the Legislative Council Study, performed during 1998-99, will remember that the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (WCBVI) was created as a result of its intensive research into the varying needs of Wisconsin's visually impaired boys and girls. Although its validity had been questioned, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (WSVH) remained as the residential component in the continuum of placement options. The Educational Services Center (ESC), the statewide outreach component, was charged to provide evaluation, consultation, and material support, regardless of a student's educational placement.
Many of you are probably saying, "That is what the mission of the ESC (the brainchild of Gerald Atkins in 1973-74) has always been," and you are right. The Regional Consultant concept was initiated--an actual body in each of six locations, to work as a liaison between parents and school districts, administrators, and the WCBVI--in order to ensure that students received quality educational programming. However, somewhere along the line, the effectiveness of service delivery, equity between services performed by the various consultative positions, and efficiency of service provision suffered.
As a result, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) recently made major organizational changes. It is their belief that these will result in better promotion, communication, and allow for capitalization on the expertise of staff in a way which will best benefit the VI students of the state. The new paradigm is designed in such a way that the particular expertise of each consultant can be utilized statewide. Each position is directed to needs identified by the State Advisory Council, parents, LEA staff and other stakeholders.
One of the six consultant areas was empty when the new arrangement was put into place. One position, a provider of O/M and VI Support will remain in Tomahawk, in northern Wisconsin. The remainder of the positions will all be housed at the WCBVI’s ESC in Janesville. These positions include consultants targeting professional development, transition (school to work) services, parent education/support, O/M consultation and evaluation for the southern half of the state, and a short course programming/VI educational consultant position.
To many, this relocation of positions seems like a step backwards. Although the rationale has been to provide better services, some wonder if this is a purely budgetary move. If this is the case, one would wonder how it can be very efficient to send consultants all around the state, from a single location at the far end of Wisconsin, to perform their job duties. Such a proposal cannot carry a small price tag, and that it counters the years’ work of the Legislative Council Study.
To all, the hope is that this new organizational structure will ensure cohesion, consistency in service delivery, less fragmented services, and, most of all, a greater amount of success for Wisconsin's VI boys and girls.
By: Betsy Gruba
How many times have you heard a sighted loved one or co-worker say that they were up playing FreeCell all night or someone was beating the heck out of a dealer at blackjack?
If I had a nickel for every time a person with a vision loss asked me about good accessible games for the computer I’d be a millionaire. However, I think I might have some good news for you patient folks. In doing some research for this issue of Tech Talk, I stumbled, and I mean stumbled, upon a web site that offers accessible games to people who are blind or visually impaired. Here’s the kicker. No screen-reader is necessary! That’s what I said.
The company is called Games for the Blind and they can be reached on the web at www.gamesfortheblind.com. They have been making accessible games for a while now but they always required a screen-reader. They have now come out with a new line of games called Accessible Games SV. The SV stands for self-voicing. In fact if you use a screen-reader, you have to disable the speech output before using the game otherwise you get that nasty echo. You have a choice of 8 unique voices that can change the pitch rate and volume. The text files are available in text format right from the game. A review mode comes standard and allows you to read text boxes, menus and command buttons. The ever-popular Eloquence software also comes standard in each program.
Here is the most marvelous feature of these games. You may download them for a 15 day free trial. After that you may purchase them for only $20.00 each. Most video games cost twice as much. Again, you do not need a screen-reader.
The following games are available with the SV technology: Battleship, Blackjack, FreeCell, Memory, Simon, WordPlay, WordScramble, Yahtzee, and the all new Suit Your Self. Go to the Games for the Blind web site for a review of any of them.
Technology Center Launches Distance Learning
This fall we are kicking off a pilot program designed to give a little bit more flexibility to the time commitment of a regular class. Wisconsin Council of the Blind is entering the distance learning arena. The class is Intermediate Word. The course outline is listed below and here is how it works. Once a week for 4 weeks we will meet via a conference call--for example, a Wednesday night at 8:00. This phone call will last about an hour. Then using what we discussed you will go to a special web site which has written material to review. It will also have assignments to complete and send to me as e-mail attachments. So you are getting three classes in one. You are learning Microsoft Word, practicing sending e-mail attachments, and practicing the Internet.
What you should know before taking this class:
- You should be very comfortable using your screen reader or screen enlargement software.
- You should have basic skills in sending and receiving e-mail attachments.
- You should have basic skills using the internet.
As soon as we have at least 4 people we will begin. If you are interested in this class either call or e-mail me and let me know if Mondays or Wednesdays are better for you. I hope you can join us for this pilot class. If this class goes well we will add others in the future.
Outline for Intermediate Word Class:
Lesson 1: 1. Changing the Normal Template 2. Line Spacing 3. Send To
Lesson 2: 1. Mail Merge 2. Envelopes and Labels
Lesson 3: 1. Styles 2. Table of Contents 3. Inserting Bookmark
Lesson 4: 1. Footnotes 2. Symbols 3. Advanced Bullets and Numbering
By: Chris Zenchenko
Well I guess the network wires were down, or we got pre-empted by local programming in the last newsletter. Never fear. Every fall there were new shows to listen to on the radio, and this fall here comes a new addition of my column about old stuff. Drama was the focus of my last column but that was the more classy type of theater. Talking about Lux Radio Theatre and some of the other great dramatic shows of the past reminded me that there were a few programs that used the theater in name or format but somehow just didn't have the class.
The first one that came to mind was a show called Curtain Time. It serves as the perfect example. It is hard to figure out just who came first with this format but Curtain Time had the formula down just fine. The program started with lots of crowd noise and a high squeaky voice hollering out the phrase, "Curtain time!" Then you, the listener, were presented with a half-hour play that almost always turned out to be a romantic comedy.
To save money, this type of show found a standard set of voices for the parts and usually had a headline voice associated with the show. Olan Soule was regularly chosen and appeared in Curtain Time and many others such as Mr. First Nighter. When shows are given titles, we as collectors don't always know if they are correct or not. Some titles come directly from disks or scripts. Others are created by inventive collectors to identify a show when nothing else is known about the program. Here are a few extracts from my database on Curtain Time to illustrate a combination of the two methods. It also gives you a great idea of the type of material you could hear on these dramatic wannabes.
08/23/47: A Peach for the Professor - Attraction grows out of antagonism
08/30/47: Page One Wedding - A persistent new girl reporter
07/12/47: Deadline for Love - Assignment: stop a marriage
08/02/47: I Hate Men - A man-hater meets a woman-hater
08/16/47: The Night Hangs Heavy - A killer loose in Arizona
Playing with the idea that Lux was so successful with Lux Radio Theatre, the Palmolive folks tried their hand at sponsoring a show of their own. Palmolive Beauty Box Theatre was their answer to Lux. It didn't have the big names, didn't last nearly as long, and moved quickly from big shows to scripts more like those used in the later romantic comedy shows of the mid to late 1940s. Interesting, because they were doing this already in 1937.
This is not to say that the formula of romantic comedy was a failure--far from it. Most of the musicals on screen and stage were doing exactly this type of show. I found a promotional recording for a movie called "On the Avenue", starring Alice Faye. The audio excerpts minus the music could have come straight from First Nighter or Curtain Time. "On the Avenue" was in 1937 or 1938.
One of my favorite programs is Railroad Hour, which ran from 1947 to 1954. It featured 45-minute and then half-hour versions of musicals, and 99% of these were romantic comedy. I think the main difference other than the music was the quality of the scripts. Screen Guild Theater, Lux and most of the more serious dramatic efforts used successful movies or stage plays for their material. They did not have to crank out a new script every week because they had a huge pool of proven entertainment ready for adaptation to radio. Much of what they used took months or years to write, not three days.
All of this said--comedy, romantic or musical theater, or pure theater--radio entertained all kinds of people for many years. It continues to entertain us today, and I guess you could say that the family radio was the first home theater system. There was no screen, but your imagination provided a screen you could take anywhere. Next time, a bit about hunting missing treasure. Stay Tuned!
December 5
Capacity Campaign Holiday Fund Raiser
Council Office
Madison
December 6
Badger Meeting and Christmas Party
Milwaukee
December 20
Midwest Meeting and Christmas Party
Appleton
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