The Crazy World of Vic and Sade: 33-06-15 Depression Dichotomy

33-06-15 Depression Dichotomy

Though Rush speaks of the Depression and how many of his friends are affected, some even having to drop out of school at the age of 10 or 11 to work, he somehow manages to buy $8.00 earrings for his mother.

Sade is taking a social climb and is visiting a wealthy acquaintance. The earrings, Rush believes, will help his mother make an impression on the lady.

_____________

Without seeing the script and hearing the audio, it's darn-near impossible to tell what message is trying to be sent here. Is the message about Rush's almost-improbable sacrifice of $8.00 ("Can I have a dime? [...] Nickel?") Is the message a showing of the dichotomy between the rich, the middle class and the poor? Is the message about Sade (and Rush) being opulent in a time where it comes out looking like a waste of money? Is the message about Sade being phony and wanting to make a needless false impression on high society?

One thing is for certain. Just about two weeks prior to this episode, Sade joined the Thimble Club and was trying to make her way up in society.

The title is one I have given purely for identification purposes.

[The gist of this episode was revealed in the book, Vic and Sade on the Radio: A Cultural History of Paul Rhymer's Daytime Series]

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AnonymousMarch 4, 2015 at 7:07 PM
Very true about $8 being a lot. No knowing why that figure was chosen. Year later, when the economy was recovering Rush asks Vic for a total of $25 for all Xmas presents, present for Sade maybe $8 then. Clearly the early $8 figure is an oddity.
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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.

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33-06-15 Depression Dichotomy

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