43-07-23 Changes to the Regalia

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Vic gets an official letter from the Chicago lodge headquarters notifying him of changes in styles of the official regalia. He makes mental plans of where and how to get this done as Russell and Uncle Fletcher keep him company.

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A subpar episode. This episode lacks bite and really isn't that funny.

Trivia:

+ Vic and Russell seem real concerned about Uncle Fletcher sitting on the forch porch railing.

+ In 1909, Uncle Fletcher was in a human pyramid and stood on the shoulders of Howard Nelson at the Whiteside County Fair while people threw watermelon rinds at him.

+ Uncle Fletcher contends that Mis' Keller made up the expression, "No news is good news."

In reality, the phrase is said to have originated from King James I of England, who allegedly said "No news is better than evil news" (1616.)

+ It seems pretty apparent that Sade is out of town, although we have no idea where she's gone.

+ Vic and Russell seem to think Mis' Harris is a dressmaker. Vic thinks that Mis' Keller is an "expert seamstress" but Uncle Fletcher doesn't seem to want to confirm that information.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Alton N. L. Halter of Dekalb. Passed away while he was a awake. Waved goodbye to relatives and then walked to the undertaker's office on his own two feet. He had practiced dentistry for 58 years but never had a patient. Had a wife named Grace. Here's the story (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

Intermittently during the story, he throws in the names of cars, perplexing Vic (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

RHYMER MADE THE LODGE REGALIA FEMININE

Vic reads a letter to Russell (and Uncle Fletcher - who is busy the whole time talking about makes of cars nobody's ever heard of.)  The joke here is that the regalia (aka lodge robe) is very much treated like a dress.  Vic inquires about the availability of two different seamstresses, Mis' Keller and Mis' Harris.

Not only that, but a little research will show that the proposed changes to the regalia match perfectly with the new styles in women's dresses for 1944 (the letter about the regalia is for the upcoming year.)  Women's dresses were notably shorter in 1944.  Why?  Because the government in World War II needed more material.  In the case of the regalia, three inches were to be chopped off of the robe.  This correlates with women's dresses of the same time period. My guess is that writer Paul Rhymer had heard about the coming changes to women's dresses and instead of making Sade the fashion plate, directed his attention to Vic's regalia.  In a sly way, this humiliates Vic, making his robe seem feminine. - Jimbo

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