Whistling in Old Time Radio

After clapping and singing, whistling is one of the most complex (if not always the most melodious) forms of music that a human being can make without depending upon an instrument. Unlike singing and clapping, whistling is not instinctive, it is a skill which needs to be learned however it is a skill that is hard to teach because it depends on individual anatomy.

The most common whistling technique is pucker whistling, or whistling through the lips. A tone can be produced on both the inhale and exhale breath, although there may be a change in tone. Musical tone control is achieved by varying the amount of lip pucker and changing the volume of the mouth (which acts as a tonal chamber) by flexing the tongue and palate. The "wolf-whistle" or finger whistling technique is harder to control and harder to learn, but its loud, shrill tones lend the technique to signaling. Some very accomplished whistlers, like Bing Crosby and professional whistler Elmo Tanner, are even able to create musical tones from their throats by manipulating the muscles in their larynx.

Perhaps because whistling is a skill that not everyone possessed, a number of superstitions grew up around the practice. Old time sailors would berate "lubbers" for whistling while aboard ships for fear that they might attract unfavorable winds or storms. Some captains, however, including circumnavigator Joshua Slocum believed they were able to bring their craft out of the doldrum latitudes with their ability to "whistle up a favorable wind".

A whistle is also a single note instrument from the woodwind family which produces a tone from a stream of air moving over a fixed orifice and resonating in a chamber of some sort. Instruments which change the tone by changing the length of the air column in the tonal chamber, usually by uncovering a series of holes, belong to the flute family and are beyond this discussion.

Although whistling may be an effective way to send a signal or amusement for the whistler, the practice is not always appreciated by listeners. Before Elmo Tanner's music career really took off, he was once jailed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for whistling after 10 pm.  

• On the popular quiz show Beat the Band we get to enjoy a solo from Elmo Tanner of "Romance is Everywhere".
• On Bob Crosby's Club Fifteen, vocal group The Modernaires belt out a tune based on the opening notes of the OTR classic The Whistler. The song is a jazzy send up of the show telling how the Whistler knows all but does he know where my baby could be?
• One whistle almost everyone enjoys hearing is the "Five O'Clock Whistle" which signifies the end of the work day. It is also the opening tune for this episode of Moonlight Serenade.
• There's nothing but trouble for Bob Hope when he hires Jerry Colona to remodel his house, but life gets a little easier when guest singer Virginia Maxey treats us to a rendition of "Whistle a Happy tune" from The King and I.
• A young boy's birthday gift of a shrill tin whistle becomes a symbol of his dissatisfaction with the world he lives in on Columbia Workshop.
• David Harding faces one of fastest moving cases in The Counterspies history when a ruthless bank robber shoots his way out of the bank and disappears. The robber hijacks a ferry boat and nearly makes his escape by jumping into the water and swimming to an island with an amusement park in the middle of the river but the boat's captain signals by blowing his whistle in Morse code.
• Ronald Reagan stars in this offering titled "Tin Whistle", the story of a young boy who is given a tin whistle leads to trouble with his father, his friends, but eventually ruins his teacher's life and reputation. The script was used on previously with Fred MacMurray in the starring role.
• Before Fibber McGee and Molly made the move from WMAQ Chicago to NBC's West Coast Studio's in January 1939, the gang made a short foray to Hollywood for a few months in 1936-37. One of the benefits of the short trip West was the chance to work with professional whistler Elmo Tanner who, along with singer Perry Como, was part of Ted Weem's outfit at the time.
• When Fred Allen's Town Hall Tonight was using the Amateur Hour format the show had a soft spot for whistlers and bird imitators, and many of the musical numbers by Peter Van Steeden and His Orchestra featured whistling themes.
• When the mayor takes his favorite city commissioner fishing, The Great Gildersleeve has to assume the duties of police commissioner as well as the water department. Can Gildy foil the notorious Whistling Bandit on his watch?
• In the "Mystery of The Vanishing Men" story arc, Hop and Tank face a bad guy who is able to make people disappear simply by whistling a funeral dirge. Are Hop's friends Tank and Gail in danger? Tune into The Adventures of Hop Harrigan
• Talented whistler Gene Conklin tackles Heifetz' "Hora Staccato" (normally performed on violin) on an episode of The Jack Carson Program where Jack is trying to help Tugwell improve his movie career.
• Bing Crosby introduces another whistler taking a crack at a number for strings when Fred Lowery whistles "Holiday for Strings" on The Kraft Music Hall.
• Lest We Forget: The American Dream presents a story called "Blow That Whistle" where the friendly neighborhood postman unwittingly gets involved with a group opposed to anyone with an "un-American" name. The postman's whistle he always wears around his neck saves the day, literally and metaphorically.
• The Old West was a welcome place for whistlers if we can believe The Lone Ranger. Tonto uses a special whistle as a signal and makes toy whistles from willow twigs, a cowboy learns a special whistle that keeps the cattle from stampeding, warns the sheriff of bad guys, and toy whistles are used as sponsor premiums.
• Did you know that it is bad luck for an actor to whistle in the dressing room? It is a belief explored in Origin of Superstition.

Ever since the days of sail, whistling on board ship has been considered bad luck because it can call in terrible storms. Jimmy Olsen and Clark Kent discover this and more when they join the Clara M on the clipper ship's last voyage and encounter a mysterious first mate with a wooden leg in "The Whistler" story arc.

Volume 3-4-5 of this collection are compilations of appearances by the great radio whistlers, Fred Lowery and Elmo Tanner.