OTR Friday with Vic & Sade and Jack Benny Too

OTR Friday is here again and I share with you another hour of comedy from radio's golden age.

On "Vic & Sade" we're winding down the surviving shows of 1939 and clean up the folder with a couple of episodes without specific dates. Both of these shows are frought with the kind of dialogue and characterization infused by creator Paul Rhymer that makes this show such an evergreen...do yourself a favor and give a listen.

This first show is from sometime in December of 1939. Young Rush Gook played by Billy Idelson is feeling himself get on in years. A teenager with an age complex, he's resigned to settle down his younger ways to a lifestyle more fitting his tired old bones.

Just for laughs, here's a brief looksee at Idelson as he aged in real life.

Idelson circa late 1930's...about the time of this episode:

Idelson as a young man in the early 1960's during his run on "The Dick Van Dyke" TV show, where he played the recurring role of Herman Glomscher, Sally Rodgers' boyfriend:


Idelson inthe early 1970's where he was a going comedy writer, director and creative consultant for shows like "Love American Style" and "The Bob Newhart Show":


And an older Idelson, content in retirement after a decades-long career on some very top-notch comedy shows in radio and television:

This is the kind of show I'm sure Idelson looked back on in later years with an even bigger smile than we get. Listen in...

This second show is from a few I have in a batch of undated 1939 shows. This highlights the characters and personalities of all three main speaking characters and the sharp acting and comic time of cast members, Art Van Havey, Bernadette Flynn and Idelson. Sade is prompting Vic to write a letter to her brother-in-law Walter and Rush is no help at all.

In "Speaking of Radio: The Jack Benny Program" part 10 of 12, we hear more proof of the faith and pride Jack put in his cast members. Never the vain star he portrayed, Jack spotlighted those around him to a degree I don't think any star of any show has ever done, before or since.

Betwixt the interviews, we hear a portion of a show all centering around the life of announcer Don Wilson...

...with the whole cast playing all their parts to a tee. The great Mel Blanc not only plays the stork that brought Don, we also get a cameo by Porky Pig competing for Don's announcer job...

...if course Frank Nelson chimes in to grate Jack...

...Bea Benederet takes a turn as Don's Mother...

...Dennis Day shows his voice acting chops playing Don' elder father...

...as contrast to Bob Crosby's portrayal of the younger Don Wilson, Sr. Bob took over the bandleading chores on Jack's show after Phil Harris moved on and retained the role after the shows move to television.

Contemprary to the "Speaking of Radio" special, Don Wilson even gives a little lowdown about "The Sportsmen Quartet", who provided the musical commercials on the program.

All in all a fact and fun filled show that you're sure to enjoy...

Talk to you soon.

OTR's "Smelly" Clark, Charlie Razorscum and Rochester Van Jones Shine as Superman Eavesdrops!

It's time to smile again with your old pals "Vic & Sade" and Jack Benny as we relive just a little piece of the golden age of OldTime Radio.


Our first "Vic & Sade" episode is from November 6, 1939 and at the very end, we come a fraction of a second from hearing another characters voice as Charlie Razorscum comes to the door. I suspect this was Paul Rhymer's little joke and nod to the audience to all those who had caught on that he was working all this magic with but three voices.

The episode also has yet another reference to the bill for $2 that Kleeburger's Department Store keeps sending to Vic. I don't know if there was ever an episode (remember, thousands were lost) ever explained the root of this bill...but I doubt it. It's funny wnough on it's own.

Favorite VicandSade-onyms from this episode? After Sade asks Rush if he'd washed his hands after loading the coal bin, Rush assures her that his hands are "Clean as toast!"

Let's listen in, shall we?...



The next "Vic & Sade" is from November 7, 1939. In this one Rush recounts a tale from the street and how "Smelly" Clark stood before his peers and gave a speech. A speech as impromptu and well spoken as it was full of hubris. This all left Rush as "Impressed as a horse".

I lay it before you now...

"Fellas, you all know me, I am 'Smelly' Clark. I have been checking up on myself and I wish to tell you, I am deeply gratified with my discoveries. Fellas, this is November 1939, a whole year has passed since November 1938. 365 days. Fellows, in those 365 days, I have not stood still. I have grown in mind and body. The radience of the streetlight is playing across my features as I utter these words and I think you can plainly tell that I am sincere."

Since Novemer of 1938 I have become smarter, taller, nobler, richer and better-lookin'. If I were to pass away in the next 5 minutes I believe it could be truthfully said that the world was better for my havin' lived."

I am young in years yet, fellas, but my career thus far has given promise of a glorious future. There are those that say I am wonderful. I do not say that I am wonderful, because that would sound like braggin'. When people come up to me on the street and tell me I'm wonderful, I wave my hand carelessly and remark 'Let time tell the story.'."

I would give the last drop of blood in my body for mother, home and friends. I would gladly die for the things dearest to my heart."

Fellas, I am smart, I am strong, I am good-lookin'. I am patriotic, I am brave, I am gentle, I am kind, I am generous. I protect the young, I defend the weak, I obey the laws. I am neat, clean, tender, sympathetic, intelligent, industrious, thrifty, sweet-tempered, courageous and handsome. I am spruce, tidy, trim, dapper, vigorous, hearty, hale, useful, witty, tried and true...."

Man oh man, now THAT'S daily affirmation that would make Stewart Smalley blush.

What a world it would be if all 16 year old's could stand and say this truthfully. But still, it's no wonder it ended like it did.

Give a listen...



In "Speaking of Radio: The Jack Benny Program" part 8 of 12 brings us two pieces of the program it would be hard to envision without.

First up, the heart and soul of the cast, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is spotlighted with an all-too-brief recollection by writer george Balzer on Eddie's history with the show. Describing Anderson's first appearance as a pullman porter named "Syracuse". Then a later episode in which the real life Anderson was briefly lost at sea during a deep-sea fishing trip off Catalina, and was rescued the day of the live show and how the script was re-written to acknowledge the happening.

Next up Balzer relates the history and variations of "Anaheim, Asuza and Cuc.............amonga!", with clips and highlights of train station goings on with Frank Nelson, Mel Blanc and Sheldon Leonard making Jack's life miserable.

Interestingly enough, Jack Benny was so appreciated by these 3 little-known (Disneyland was still a decade away from putting Anaheim on the map) California towns, a year after the running gag began on his show in 1945, all three named Jack an honorary citizen.

Here's some great shots of Jack visiting them in later years.

Jack Benny (and Johnny Carson) opening the Anaheim train depot in 1963...

Jack Benny at the opening ceremony for the Asuza Civic Center in 1966...

Jack may not have gotten to Cucamonga, but here he is in 1966 or 7 at the at the Regina winery (later Filippi) in Etiwanda...

I used to work in Ontario, California and my office was situated at a spot between Etiwanda and Cucamonga and I could have easily walked to either...so I figure this is close enough.

Sidebar up for all you developers and land barons who insist on now calling your town "Rancho Cucamonga" or even more snobbily, just plain "Rancho". You'll NEVER be as famous OR as cool as when Jack Benny and Mel Blanc used to tout your name! So just give it a rest.

P.S. (Post Sidebar) You were Orange and Grape country...don't you have to raise cows to be a "rancho"?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

But I digress...enjoy the show!




Talk to you soon.

BONUS: For you Halloweener's...take a trip in the wayback machine to the post I did for Orson Welles' "The War of the Worlds" last year. It's a gooooooood listen, find it here!

OTR Friday - Still MORE Vic & Sade and Jack Benny Too

Sit back, relax and laugh with your ears wide open...it's OTR Friday!

Disgruntled people dealing with the obligations of family members seems to be the theme in this weeks offering of shows from Paul Rhymer. July 5, 1939 finds Sade prodding Vic and Rush off of their keisters to fetch a parting gift left by the Donahues in their cellar for the Gooks. Two tons of coal no less.

Here we hear Rush trying to dodge the labor and wanting to take part instead to one of his favorite passtimes "watching the fat businessment play handball down at the YM(CA)". This actually sounds fun to me.

The genius of Rhymers understatement again as Sade lays out the logic for fetching 2 tons of coal from one cellar to the next in the dog days of August, and the men of the households rebuttle is often no more than "Mmmm.". You've no idea how hard that is to write. Genius.



August 30, 1939 has Rush in a dour funk over his mother (Sade) picking out his school clothes. Imagine, a big grown almost a man hgih schooler like him and his mother shopping for his clothes like he was a babe. Ooh the travesty. Oooooh the indignation.

Vic's observance of how Rush must feel is worth every minute. "A man with a breakin' heart. I suppose his spirit is just as agonized as over this as that of a great businessman beset by difficulties. The intensity of the suffering from a persons troubles is the same whether the person is young or old. The infant who's denied the rattle it desires is no more or no less distressed than the desperate banker who finds shortages in his accounts. And the 14 year old boy who isn't permitted to select his own clothes, endures the same misery as the..." Beautiful.

Vic's plan to rob a bank with Sade and escape over the Missouri state line while Rush provides a false scent is pretty funny too.

Enjoy.

More cast members come forward in this weeks Jack Benny Program spotlight. More behind the scenes insights into one of the longest running and possibly THE best radio program of all time.

This week we hear from Frank Nelson who played any number of ascerbic doormen, floorwalkers, doctors...you know...the "Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeesssss?!?" guy...

Also more from Don Wilson on one of his most famous flubs.

And even the great...let me repeat that...GREAT Mel Blanc. Still sorely missed.

Here's "Speaking of Radio: The Jack Benny Program" part 4

That's just good stuff.

Talk to you soon.