OTR Friday for Lazy Tryptophan Comas!

As another turkey sandwich flows over our pallet and even more tryptophan coarses through our veins, an afternoon of good solid OTR is just the thing

I too am feeling the lull of the big bird, so I'll leave most of my commentary out this week and let you drink in the goodness of some of the best comed ever created.

From the little house half way up on the next block we finish up our undated 1939 episodes with two that focus on the patriarch of the Gook family.

The first centers on an annual running gag in which Vic is compiling his list of names of whom to send Christmas Cards to and Sades worrying about the oceans of money being spent. "15 centses don't fall from the sky!". This one has some great Paul Rhymer names in it that are worth hearing. Rushes relating the story of the "1st chair barber over at the Butler House Hotel" who has lived his entire life without recieving a Christmas Card and now lives in fear of breaking his streak is pure Rhymer gold.

Enjoy:



The second episode highlights Vic's ego as he relates to writing an article for the local paper...and how easily said ego gets deflated. Sound quality here drifts in and out, but I would never think of omitting this one.

Enjoy:



Now it's on to "Speaking of Radio: the Jack Benny Program" part 12 of 12 and final of this great documentary!

This one covers alot including Jacks 15 year relationship with The Merican Tobacco Co. and Lucky Strikes cigarettes.


There's a very funny overview of the stroyline in which Jack fired "The Sportsmen Quartet" for wanting too much money...

...and creates a new quartet from Bing Crosby...

...Dick Haymes...

...Andy Russell....

...and Dennis Day.

...and a series of sketches in which Mel Blanc plays a bakery man selling Jack "Cimmaron Rolls".

Comedy genius from the smallest of things.

I'm going to have to search hard for something to fill the place of this show on "OTR Friday" now that it's over.

Talk to you soon.

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.