Archive Update: Interviews with Joseph Webb (OTR Oral Histories)

1. Progress Metrics & Inventory Milestone

This report records the transcription and grounded update, initiating our focused coverage of Interviews with Joseph Webb—an indispensable oral history archive capturing pioneer old-time radio historians, convention founders, audio preservationists, and authors.

2. Highlights

Every synopsis conforms strictly to the 100–180 character standard (story-first, dramatic action, high factual density, zero assistant boilerplate):

1. Mike Wheeler Interviewed by Joe Webb

• Synopsis:

  Joe Webb interviews Mike Wheeler in Lexington, Kentucky about producing modern dramatic audio recreations and his work with American Radio Theater.

• Background: Recorded December 17, 2019; Wheeler details modern studio production workflows and casting techniques for audio theater.

2. John Abbott on Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Books

• Synopsis:

  Author John Abbott speaks with Joe Webb about his extensive archival research into Yours Truly Johnny Dollar and writing his multi-volume reference history.

• Background: Abbott recounts how a broken ankle during a Washington Metro commute led him to binge-listen to the entire Bob Bailey run and author his authoritative 3-volume encyclopedia.

3. Joy Jackson of American Radio Theater Interviewed by Joe Webb

• Synopsis:

  At the SPERDVAC convention, Joe Webb speaks with Joy Jackson about the founding and production history of American Radio Theater and creating new audio plays.

• Background: Recorded November 9, 2019 at SPERDVAC; Jackson traces ART's origin from 2005 onwards, releasing one monthly full-cast dramatic audio play.

4. Closing Remarks by Joe Webb, Stu Weiss, and Jay Hickerson at FOTR

• Synopsis:

  At the Friends of Old-Time Radio convention, Joe Webb, Stu Weiss, and Jay Hickerson deliver closing remarks and reflect on decades of fellowship.

• Background: Recorded October 2011 in Newark, New Jersey at the 36th and final Friends of Old-Time Radio convention, closing an era of in-person cassette and tape trading.

5. John Abbott on Bob Bailey's 100th Birthday

• Synopsis:

  Joe Webb and author John Abbott celebrate the centennial of actor Bob Bailey, reflecting on his iconic portrayal of freelance insurance investigator Johnny Dollar.

• Background: Broadcast September 15, 2013 on Bob Bailey's 100th birthday; explores Bailey's western television appearances on Fury alongside his definitive radio work.

6. Authors John Abbott and Martin Grams

• Synopsis:

  Authors John Abbott and Martin Grams join host Joe Webb to discuss the rigorous craft of archival research, script verification, and publishing broadcast histories.

• Background: Grams and Abbott discuss cross-referencing original network production scripts and network logbooks to correct decades of fan-circulated misinformation.

7. Transcription Collector Randy Riddle

• Synopsis:

  In a food court discussion, transcription collector Randy Riddle speaks with Joe Webb about rescuing rare instantaneous lacquer discs and preserving forgotten broadcasts.

• Background: Riddle describes discovering an uncataloged instantaneous lacquer transcription disc of Orson Welles' The War of the Worlds mislabeled in an estate sale.

8. Transcription Collector Sammy Jones

• Synopsis:

  Outside an Atlanta cafe, transcription disc collector Sammy Jones shows Joe Webb original Superman lacquer recordings and describes methods for audio preservation.

• Background: Jones displays pristine 16-inch lacquer transcription discs from The Adventures of Superman recorded directly during live network feeds.