Beat the Band enjoyed two short but popular runs on radio -just at the onset and during the Second World War. Originally it was aired from Chicago and followed in the style of the infamous audience giveaway program, Horace Heidt’s Pot o’ Gold, but on a much smaller, “home-style” scale. A young Gary Moore (of 1950’s TV quiz-show fame, I’ve Got A Secret) was the show’s original host and the band to beat… none other than Ted Weems and his 14 piece Jazz Orchestra!

The premise of the quiz show worked by listeners sending in questions to ask the band. If a listener’s question was used on the air they received $10, if the question was good enough to stump the band the prize increased to least $20 and a case of “delicious” Kix Cereal! Questions usually came in the form of corny riddles such as: “What popular song-title best describes what Cinderella might have said if she awoke one morning and found her foot had grown too large for her glass slipper?” The inevitable answer – Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? Not exactly groundbreaking material, but it was the show’s entire package of lighthearted antics, lively music, and audience participation that created its resounding appeal.

Musicians who missed questions had “feed the kitty” -toss half dollars onto a big bass drum, a sound that came over the airwaves like marbles crashing over a tin roof. The band-member or singer that scored the most points received the bonus prize of “the kitty.” Memorable band-members included Elmo Tanner “the whistling troubadour,” “Country” Washburne, and comedic sax man, Red Ingle. Vocalists on the show included the shy soprano Marvel Maxwell, Parker Gibbs, and the “soon-to-be famous” Perry Como.

During the show’s second run at the height of WWII, Gary Moore was replaced by the charming feminine voice of “the Incomparable Hildegare,” Hildegared Loretta Sel. Music was provided by the Harry Sosnik Band and audience prizes were increased to $25 and $50 -plus a carton of Raleigh Cigarettes, the program’s new sponsor. In a show of support for the troops, band-members now threw packs of cigarettes onto the bass drum, which were then sent to servicemen on the war-front. The show’s lighthearted mood and antics were preserved, if not amplified, as Hildegarde, the show’s hostess, readily joined in the gags and shouted out to the boys in the band. Her catch-phrase, “Give me a little traveling music, Harry,” was later usurped by Great One, Jackie Gleason, for his television show.

In its brief life, the radio program served as a touch of good cheer for a weary and determined Nation at war.

Many deceivers havd gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
II John 1:7

Prayerfully read, and reread as necessary, the verse printed above then read the Lenten Devotional that follows written by Dr. Thomas Q. Robbins. That’s all it takes to have a "quiet time" – something, regretfully, unique to most believers.

Think About It
Anyone who denies Christ denies the very nature of God – and that’s unconditional love. It’s not just a metter of denying that God enfleshed himself in Jesus Christ, it’s rejecting God’s Way, God’s Truth, and God’s Life. To refuse to believe in Jesus Christ is to refuse to believe in God. This position of believe is not very popular today in our rapidly growing multicultural society. We now live in a society of many Gods and don’t want to put anyone down… but the Bible is unequivocal about this and very narrow to the majority of Americans. It wasn’t that way just 20 years ago. But here is what Scripture says to those who believe it’s the Word of God,, “He who rejects the Son, rejects the Father, and he who rejects the Father rejects the Son.

Prayer
Lord, protest us from anti Christs, and forbid that I become anti Christ.

Think About This
Can you handle this truth?

Dr. Thomas Q. Robbins, Senior Pastor
University Park Methodist, Dallas, Texas

Remember these rhymes? For those who never saw the Burma shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930s and '40's. Before the Interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, (and even the few and far between four lanes like 41 between Chicago and Milwaukee) Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields -- often on the fence posts. An old classmate of mine from Wauwautosa High School, Bob Berend, reminded me of them recently.

The Burma Shave advertisements were small red signs with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream. Here is a brief history from the www.fiftieswebsite.com:

Way back in 1925 young Allan Odell pitched this great sales idea to his father, Clinton. Use small, wooden roadside signs to pitch their product, Burma-Shave, a brushless shaving cream. Dad wasn't wild about the idea but eventually gave Allan $200 to give it a try.

Didn't take long for sales to soar. Soon Allan and his brother Leonard were putting up signs all over the dang place. At first the signs were pure sales pitch but as the years passed they found their sense of humor extending to safety tips and pure fun. And some good old-fashioned down home wisdom.

At their height of popularity there were 7,000 Burma-Shave signs stretching across America. The familiar white on red signs, grouped by four and five, were as much a part of a family trip as irritating your kid brother in the back seat of the car. You'd read first one, then another, anticpating the punch line on number four and the familiar Burma-Shave on the fifth.

The signs cheered us during the Depression and the dark days of World War II. But things began to change in the late Fifties. Cars got faster and superhighways got built to accomodate them. The fun little signs were being replaced by huge, unsightly billboards. 1963 was the last year for new Burma Shave signs.

No more red and white nuggets of roadside wisdom to ease the journey. That's the main reason the following slogans are new to you. See what you missed!

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
Burma Shave

DROVE TOO LONG
DRIVER SNOOZING
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
IS NOT AMUSING
Burma Shave

BROTHER SPEEDER
LET'S REHEARSE
ALL TOGETHER
GOOD MORNING NURSE
Burma Shave

SPEED WAS HIGH
WEATHER WAS NOT
TIRES WERE THIN
X MARKS THE SPOT
Burma Shave

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
OF PAUL FOR BEER
LED TO A WARMER
HEMISPHERE
Burma Shave

AROUND THE CURVE
LICKETY-SPLIT
ITS A BEAUTIFUL CAR
WASN'T IT?
Burma Shave

NO MATTER THE PRICE
NO MATTER HOW NEW
THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE
IN THE CAR IS YOU
Burma Shave

AT INTERSECTIONS
LOOK EACH WAY
A HARP SOUNDS NICE
BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY
Burma Shave

(My all time favorite)
CAR IN DITCH
DRIVER IN TREE
THE MOON WAS FULL
AND SO WAS HE.
Burma Shave

(And my second all time favorite:)
PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
Burma Shave

Detroit – AP feature writer David N. Goodman

From wardrobe malfunctions to erectile dysfunction, it’s been a tough year all around for the guardians of English and the Word Police.

More than 2,000 nominations arrived in Michigan’s far north, where a committee at Lake Superior State University in Sault St. Marie released its 2005 compilation of language irritants.

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“We’re uber-serious about this list,” said committee organizer Tom Pink, referring to the German prefix meaning “over” or “super” that increasingly finds its way into English. “Group members act as linguistic sounding boards,” said John Shibley, co-compiler of the list.

“People talk back to their Tvs, radios, computers, etc. when words and phrases make them angry or frustrated,” he said. Diminishing “word-rage” makes the world a more peaceful place.”

Now in its 30th year, the banned word list has drawn imitators and critics. Among the later are members of the American Dialect Society, who choose their “Words of the Year” at a meeting last January in Oakland, CA. Made up of academic linguists, the group is much less judgmental and more descriptive in its approach.

Language changes and you cannot stop that. It’s like any other part of human culture,” said Wayne Glowka, an English professor who heads up the American Dialect Society’s new word committee. Shibley said the Lake Superior State group compiles the list in the spirit of fun and going through old lists is like coming across a lost script from an Austin Powers movie.

THE “VERBOTEN” LIST OF BANISHED WORDS FOR 2005

1. Blue state/red states
2. Flip flop/flip flopper/flip flopping
3. Battleground state
4. And I approve this message
5. Pockets of resistance
6. Improvised explosive device (formerly know as a bomb)
7. Enemy combatant
8. Carbs
9. You’re fired!
10. Uber
11. Wardrobe malfunction
12. Blog (and all its variations: blogger, blogged, blogging, blogosphere)
13. Erectile dysfunction
14. Body wash (formerly known as soap)
15. Sale event.

Immediately after posting this "word" article the old nemisis snapped back with an email. We never know what name he will sign, but there's no doubt it's him. Here what he wrote. Hold on now. There will be at least one chortle out of you before it's over. This guy from West Division in Milwaukee, WI has been writing me since 1958 and has never used the same name.

Dear Mr. norman planker@normsradio.com,

I seen on that list of banished words from some university up north that they want to ban "blog and all its variations: blogger, blogged, blogging, and even blogosphere," whatever the cat hair that is.

 Well, who do them northerners think they are?  Let me tell you something. Them people up north may think blogging is nothing but “hillbilly tapdancing.” But blogging is a form of American folk dance with roots that reach way on back to our Scots-Irish and European heritage.

Teenage kids in some parts of the country even desert MTV and hustle down to the school auditorium for an evening of blogging. If you’ve ever seen a group of enthusiastic bloggers kicking up their heels, you probably haven’t forgotten the foot stomping.

Many people who’ve never seen blog dancing up close think that bloggers wear wooden shoes. Maybe blogging came from certain European countries where wooden footwear was common. But today's bloggers use extra-loud steel taps, sometimes called “jingle taps.”

These days lots of blogging events are held in halls with cement floors. So most bloggers add spongy insoles to their shoes or try to find some kind of footwear that will do a better job of absorbing shock than regular dance shoes do.

Oh, my wife just came in and told me that I was mistook about this matter. So, never mind.

C. "Ears" Robuch

"Since I cared for my mother during several years of Alzheimer's Disease until the Lord called her home, and am now very involved with my only remaining sister as she too drifts into the final stages of this horrible disease, this story touched me so deeply that I could hardly bear to read it. I do hope you all will gain an understanding of the fact that the patient is not the only victim of this disease, everyone who loves them are victims too. Pray for the day that the medical research teams will find a help."

A NURSE'S STORY OF A DAY AT THE OFFICE."

It was a busy morning when an elderly gentleman, in his 80's, arrived to have sutures (stitches) removed from his thumb.

He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 11:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had another medical appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for awhile and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him. "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

===================================

Pat Kelly is an old school friend of mine. We went to Hawthorne Junior and Wauwatosa Senior Highs together and have a special relationship. As our quarterback he was either handing off to me, when I played fullback, or I was snapping the ball to him the times I was switched to center.

Pat is retired and lives in Florida. He has sent me some very good "pass on" E-mails. I want to thank him for sending this wonderful set of instructions that every one reading it can benefit as we fight against someone taking over our "Identity."

Supposedly a corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company. Whether or not it happened that way -- here is some great advice everyone of us should pay close attention to:

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them.  If someone takes your checkbook they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

  2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers.  The credit card company knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone# on your checks instead of your home phone.  If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address.  If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.  Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks.  (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary.  But if you have it printed, anyone can get it. (As an aside, Georgia used to use the SS # as the driver's license number. Thank goodness that was changed.)

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc.  You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.  Keep the photocopy in a safe place.  I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad.  We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc. Are you near a copy machine right now? GO DO THAT BEFORE YOU FORGET.

Unfortunately as an attorney, I also have firsthand knowledge of the problem because my wallet was stolen last month.  Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from my states Department of Motor Vehicles to change my driving record information online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case you or a friend loose your wallet or have it stolen:

  A. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.  But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call.  Keep those where you can find them.

B. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

C. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number.  I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done.  There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert.  Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in).  It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

In 1972, arbitrary remodeling was done that removed the school's tower and the "plastering over" of the WPA murals in the main entrance lobby. Our friend, Ray Py, whom has been featured many times in Norm's Ramblins, did some investigating and discovered that the murals were not removed before plastering but just covered over with a half inch of the stuff and the wire that holds everything in place. In addition, drywall covered the beautiful art deco tile and a dropped ceiling covered the stunning multi-level ceiling and the gorgious sunburst where the original chandelier hung. Wonder who got that?

Ray Py began agitating, which he is an expert at doing, and three years ago began the movement to remove the plaster and restore the artwork. It's a great story you might be interested in reading. Use the link below to go to the Web site Peachtree Media does for my old high school. The home page of The Raider Room has an article that appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that gives an account of the last year of discovery and restoration of the mural.

The Dedication of the Mural Restoration was just held last Sunday, March 6. It was such a significant event, it has been made a part of the Congressional Record. A press release reports:

The dedication of the murals and lobby at Wauwatosa High School in the western suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin was held on March 6 was recognized on March 2, 2005 in the Extension of Remarks section of the Congressional Record (Pg. E325) by Congresman Fortney Pete Stark of California, who was a 1946 Tosa graduate. 

Here's what he said:  "Mr. Speaker, as a graduate of Wauwatosa High School in Wauwatosa, Wi., I rise to pay tribute to Myron C. Nutting, a mural artist, whose work has been restored and will be rededicated on March 6, 2005 at my alma mater. "

Mr. Stark then goes on to give a full page of information about Nutting ( who is a constituent in his California district) and gave a detaily account ofthe history and success of the restoration of the mural project.

He closed by saying: " I join in honoring all alumni, students, the community of Wauwatosa, the many volunteers who have worked for many months to bring these artifacts back to their former glory, as well as the artist, Myron C. Nutting, for all their contributions to work and restoration of the mural pieces.  These are all wonderful contributions to the school's valued history and tradition."

For more historical information check out the link to the Raider Room page at the bottom of this article. While you're at that site, click the TOSA ALERT navigation button to learn about the events as they happened -- there are several monthly ALERTS that are written by Ray Py. Ray is a retired investigative reporter for UPI and was based in D.C. for many years. It will be a fun trip for you and an exciting one for those interested in art.

If you click the photos, you can get a larger view and really examine the detail.