The Crazy World of Vic and Sade: 44-04-05 Hyena Grease

44-04-05 Hyena Grease

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

{{{HEAR}}} Fletcher Rush was a character of many enthusiasms: touring the town with Mr. Gumpox on his garbage wagon, watching trains at the Interurban Station, popping popcorn, reminiscing about his remarkable collection of even more remarkable acquaintances, stingyberry jam, and Hyena Grease: a malodorous concoction for "smearing on your shoes." Whether it is intended as a polish, a water-proofer; or what type of shoes it is meant to be smeared on is never made clear. But, whatever it is, it's the finest one in the entire civilized world!

In this episode, Uncle Fletcher (Clarence Hartzell) is in a state of nervous agitation. His friend Roy Dejectedly has unexpectedly entrusted to him the formula for this wonder of the age, and he has no safe place to secure it. The scientific laboratories in the region would give their right arm to lay their hands on the unpatented process. In his distress, he turns to his nephew-in-law Vic Gook (Art Van Harvey), in hopes he will protect this precious document in his safety deposit vault. As Russell (I believe David Whitehouse) witnesses the transfer, Uncle Fletcher places in Vic's care the formula for Hyena Grease, with solemnity worthy of the plans for the Norden Bombsight.

Of course, Vic takes the proceedings about as seriously as the listeners do. He and Russell exchange some sly remarks between themselves; but, though they have little respect for his trivial formula, they have great respect and affection for Uncle Fletcher. For his sake, they honor his concern, and play along as Vic agrees to put the slip of paper in his little safe deposit box at the bank.

Whether Hyena Grease is a preparation we would want anywhere near our shoes is debatable, but those who agree to take care of that formula are decidedly the finest in the entire… civilized … world!

________________________

Vic and Sade fan Sarah Cole provided the above paragraphs as a special guest to The Crazy World of Vic and Sade.

Trivia:

art by Dave Duckert

+ Russell says Oyster Cracker and Blue Tooth Johnson almost got into a fight earlier.

+ Heinie Call takes violin lessons.

+ Roy Dejectedly is from Cordova but Uncle Fletcher says the Hyena Grease formula was sent in the mail from Dixon.

+ The hidden formula for Hyena Grease: turpentine, creosote, lamp black and tractor oil mixed with Hyena Grease.

Download the complete commercial-free, sound-improved episode!

1 comment:

Retro Radio PodcastFebruary 15, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Excellent write up Sara. Whatever hyena grease must have had it's secrets locked away forever in that safe deposit box. I wonder if it would make a new, alternative fuel, and combat the greenhouse affect.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

The kids loiterin' 'round the switchboard

Hi-de-hi-Ho-de-ho! My name is Jimbo. Shortly after finding Vic and Sade in 2010, I realized that finding the information I wanted about the show was pretty much non-existent. That's when I set out to solve that situation and do it myself.

Little did I know that in a parallel universe, Barbara Schwarz and The Friends of Vic and Sade were doing/had done the same exact thing I was doing - except very little of the info they had collected was on the internet.

Thanks to member Louie Johnson, the two materials were married and I went about adding everything they had to what I already had done. (Louie went way beyond the point of being generous in terms of sharing material)! Others have donated V&S material and I thank you.

Along the way, I was wise enough to get oceans of contributions from as many fans as possible, but especially from Lydia Crowe, (who is in the process of painstakingly taking the audio episodes and turning them into scripts -- plus she's adding commentary to go along with mine), Sarah Cole (whose Vic and Sade insight remains unparalleled) and Keith Heltsley (he frequently podcasts the show and makes his own comments). Dave (from Wisconsin) has shared his insight and expertise with us in a series of articles and his love for the show shines through them all.

The book by John Hetherington, Vic and Sade on the Radio: A Cultural History of Paul Rhymer's Daytime Series 1932-1944, is full of new material and it has opened up a whole new avenue and spectrum of previously unknown information for the Vic and Sade fan. Mr. Hetherington has provided me with lots of information and has patiently answered at least a zillion questions and for this I am very grateful.

The Vic and Sadecast (a podcast about the surviving episodes) is in full tilt. Jimbo, Dave Duckert, PQ Ribber and Shambles Constant handle that chore. There are other guests along the way - yell at Jimbo if you would like to be a part of this project.

And to those many others who have contributed with interviews, or have written pieces, provided original art or have provided info -- thanks to all; without you, this would not be the wonderful site it is.

Search This Blog

44-04-05 Hyena Grease

1 comment: