44-08-21 Turtle Soup

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Vic is excited when he gets mail from his pal, Gus Fuss, who has plans
to send Vic a Mississippi River Turtle, so that Sade can make McMasterson Turtle Soup.

SEE THE SCRIPT (PAGE 1) (PAGE 2)

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This script is quite humorous.  The original run of the show would end just five weeks from the airing of this episode and Paul Rhymer's material was still very fresh and funny (and remains so).

One of Rhymer's 'secrets' is used here, where he calls up 'the running joke' (warm lemonade/ham ham/stingyberry jam).  Generally, if you will notice, the running jokes are delivered with a very dry wit by Sade, while Rush or Russ uses the wet technique.  By in large, the running jokes are about Vic's lodge or his friends, although Bess's letters get their share as well.

 

Trivia:

+  Russell begins the episode reading from an unnamed Third Lieutenant Stanley novel.  The passage he reads is all about kissing.

+ Stingyberry Jam, we learn, is made from (shock!) stingyberries, which only grow in Dubuque, Iowa.  Sade confuses B.B. Baugh with Gus Fuss.

+ Sade gets a postal card (correctly addressed TO HER), from someone

named, "Heavy'. According to Cassell's Dictionary of slang, in the 1940's "heavy" denoted a very physically or emotionally passionate person.

+ Sade wants to know if the turtle will arrive dead or alive?  That's a good question!  Another question to ponder is why E.W. Smith currently has the turtle?

There's a sort of genius at work in the writing here - while there is NO punchline, we are left to (that is, Rhymer manipulates us to) wonder why a noted horse thief possesses Vic's gift turtle.

+ A quick browse through Google shows that 'McMasterson Turtle Soup' is probably fictional.

44-04-06 Sade Rummy/Russell's Motorcycle

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND  DAVID WHITEHOUSE

For some reason, Vic has chosen Sade for a Rummy partner.  This never goes well, as Sade really doesn't care much about cards (nor the rules of the game).  While the slow game plots along, Russell enters and talks about a "motorcycle" he was given by the neighbor, Mr. Breep.  Sade wants no part of the vehicle.

SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

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We know that writer Paul Rhymer would often use the scenario of a card game as backdrop, which would enable him to write a real situation for Sade to gossip in (or in this case, drag the game on and on).  The cards mean nothing to the play, other than it's a running gag that Sade hates to play and yet, does for some reason.


The "motorcycle" here has no motor... so, is it still a "motorcycle"?

TRIVIA:

* A 'Mr. Twentysixler' is said to live in Dixon.  You have to wonder if this is Dwight Twentysixler, who shows up in Series 2.

* "Ted" and Ruthie used to own a motorcycle: took trips to Iowa and Indiana on it.

* Russell had recently purchased a first baseman's mitt (for $1.75).  Rush had a few baseball gloves we knew about as well.

* Sade tells Vic that Mis' Appelrot refers to card suits as "suites".  And she's not wrong: "suites" and "suits" are basically the same word.

44-03-09 Uncle Fletcher Plans Entertainment For Roy Dejectedly's Visit

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

• Fletcher still expects a visit from Roy Dejectedly.  He's riding down with Harry Giggletta, who's on his way to Springfield on business and will drop Roy off from 7 am to 7 pm.
• Planned entertainment includes a ride on Mr. Gumpox' garbage wagon, an introduction to Ernie Fadler at the Interurban Station, a visit with Pelter Unbleet at the Bright Kentucky Hotel.
• Roy and Pelter both spent the summer of nineteen-aught-nine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, yet they've never met each other.  Also a visit to B. B. Baugh at the Butler House Hotel barber shop, because they're both inventors.
• Fletcher clarifies: Roy didn't actually invent Hyena Grease, but he did discover the ingredients that make it suitable for smearing on shoes.  Uncle Fletcher wants to include a visit to Vic's office on the schedule.  Vic suggests a full inspection tour of the whole works, and Fletcher is thrilled.  "Roy Dejectedly'll scream like a half-wit panther!"
• Vic reads news article aloud: "Windsor, Ontario man experiments with raw oysters."  Sade resents interruption of her own reading.
• "Hartman L. Kacker, little-known merchant of Windsor, Ontario claims he expects to astound science in the near future with new and…"
• Uncle Fletcher on the weather: "Might sneeze itself up a light snow before morning."  - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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If this episode is any indication, the visit by Roy Dejectedly was planned four months ahead (since December 21, 1944 - this would also mean that Paul Rhymer must have had this trip planned in his head/on paper for almost four months).

You wonder why there is a 12 hour window for Gigletta to drop off Roy?

Though the entertainment for Roy seems sparse, one would imagine any of Fletcher's friends in town would enjoy that kind of entertainment; Roy probably would also.

44-02-02 Boo Boo Baugh and Bracy Yopp

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

• After visiting with Hank Gutstop out in the alley, Vic tells the family of events of a highly fantastic nature at the Bright Kentucky Hotel – a man's hair turned white, and another man's hair turned black:  Boo Boo Baugh, B.B. Baugh's twin brother: his hair turned from snow-white when he went to sleep to jet black when he woke.
• Bracy Yopp is Stacey's twin brother.  He went to bed with jet black hair and woke with snow-white hair.  Hank believes this story is startling and colorful enough to command a price.  He wants to sell it to a newspaper or magazine.
• Boo Boo slept with the window open, and coal and soot blew in.  Bracy, was in room #7 in the Bright Kentucky Hotel where a train passes every hour within two feet of the room.  He got scared – terrified, frantic, and terror-stricken from the screaming of the trains and whistles and bells.
• After dinner, Uncle Fletcher reads an advertising leaflet for a tonic: "Testimonials from Mr. John Loppers of Indiana, Mr. Arthur McRotwalk of Montana, Mr. Orpolord of Texas, A. Eisenmenger of Kansas, Ernest Twentysixler Jr. of Maryland." - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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The legend of the Bright Kentucky Hotel continues to grow - as does the long list of residents.

The room #7 gag (train coming so close to building that residents are in fear) has been used numerous times on television sit-coms, most notably perhaps on I Love Lucy (episode "First Stop") but originated by Paul Rhymer.

44-01-04 Vic's Bottom Dresser Drawer Violated

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND  DAVID WHITEHOUSE

• Despite a sacred agreement not to fuss with Vic's bottom dresser drawer, Sade's housekeeping sense caused her to violate the pact.  She saw a necktie sticking out and went into a cleaning frenzy.  She tries to blame Vic for saving an entire Sunday paper just to preserve the line "B. B. Baugh of the Bright Kentucky Hotel spent Tuesday in Peoria."  Vic insists Sade abide by their agreement and return everything:  loose tobacco, shoe-horns, belt buckles, chewing gum, table knives, a tennis ball…
• Vic asks Russell to read more facts from his book, "My Golden Treasury of Startling Facts," to keep him calm and not dwell on the violation of his dresser drawer.  Russell reads:
• "Ladies in Texas have bluer eyes than ladies in Oklahoma."
• "The origin of ‘giddap' is attributed to Charles S. Giddap of Sweet Esther.  Giddap was a great friend of all animals.  He was born July 11, 1803 and died December 2, 1880."
• "Kissing among Eskimo tribes of the far north is gradually dwindling. Sam Slurper, noted explorer, reports that he saw only one kiss exchanged between these hardy people in all the years he spend in that frosty region."
• "Hogs enjoy eating coal, lemons, paper plates, and that gray, feathery substance one sees underneath the bed before Mother dusts."
• Vic (referring to Morry Flootcher at the office): "He's been bald-headed ever since he was eighteen years old and isn't any more sensitive about it than your undershirt."
• Russell continues reading:  "The use of water to extinguish fires dates back over eighty years."
• "In southern Indiana and northern Kentucky little children address their mamas as ‘papa' and their papas as ‘mama'.  This quaint custom is a source of much confusion and hearty laughter on the part of visitors from other sections of the country."
• "Certain Indian tribes of North America eat cigars as well as smoke them."
• "Beautiful women on the island of Punkly – 39 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico prepare a deadly poison from sliced bananas, rain-water, and old people."
• "The use of the term ‘square' as applied to boxes is derived from boomix, a by-product of petroleum."
• "Arnold L. Shoppe of Dismal Seepage, Ohio was the first man east of the Mississippi river to wear shoes.  His brother, Ernest, holds the distinction of being the first man east of the Mississippi to wear a hat, and his sister Bessie claims to be the first woman east of the Mississippi to wear gloves.  All three passed away August 11, 1905, while appearing in a tent-show near Fiendish, Indiana."
• "A simple way to manufacture mucilage at home is boil a pair of ordinary leather shoes eight hours in…"
• "Contrary to popular belief, Michigan is south of Texas." - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason
  

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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A wacky episode which may remind you of 40-03-29 No, Vic, No Trip to Chicago where Rush is reading from his book, "Interesting Facts About Darkest Africa."  Both books indeed contain some amazing "facts."

Sade seems to disappear after she's been busted for violating Vic's drawer.  I wonder where she went?

44-01-12 First Robin of the Season Racket

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND  DAVID WHITEHOUSE

• Sade: "Boy are my toes cold. Feel like thirty-six chunks of ice."
• Russell mentions mom was calling on Mis' Hyster on Lee Street.
• Russell mentions Harry Antidisestablishmentarianistic Jackson - who is a female and a member of the Thimble Club!   Sade: "…and gollies, she hasn't got any more the funniest thing to tell than a rabbit."
• For years Hank Gutstop (Hank's full name is Franklin J. Gutstop) has traditionally spotted the first robin of the season, which means money to Hank – he gets his picture in the paper, bird-lovers offer him odd jobs at good pay.  People invite him to Sunday supper. Pretty girls shower him with candy, books, and flowers.  The previous year, Rishigan Fishigan noticed Hank's many benefits and tried to cut in on the action.  This year, Stacey Yopp and Y.I.I.Y. Skeeber decided they wanted in on the action.
• Vic, as arbitrator, decided the four will get equal credit for seeing the first robin. Tomorrow morning they will all walk east on West Chestnut Street on their way to work and will suddenly see the first robin of the season.  Vic has equipped them with a tale to fend off folks who smell a rat.  Stacy Yopp will direct the group's attention to his sister's house and they all see the robin at once.
• B. B. Baugh calls to announce he's seen the first robin of the season, and his picture's in tonight's newspaper.  
• Vic (to phone): "Bee bee, bye bye.  I mean, bye-bye, B. B... - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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This episode provides a lot surprises in terms of trivia.  

Harry Antidisestablishmentarianistic Jackson isn't even the oddest name is the series...

43-12-09 Winter Picnic Plans

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

• B. B. Baugh calls, suggesting a winter picnic.  Vic (at end of call): "Bee bee, bye bye – I mean Bye, bye, B. B."
• Vic tells Sade and Russell they're not invited.
• The picnic's only for the Sweet Esther, Wisconsin crowd.
  B. B. Baugh and Pom Pom Cordova were born there.
• Russell: "I heard of a fella that went to Colorado with the idea of staying an hour and a quarter and ended up staying forty-seven years."  Sade: "Um."  Russell: "That case is on record, and the public is welcome to go to Washington, D. C. and read all the details in the Congressional Record."   Sade: "I guess I'll do that."  Russell (approvingly):  Uh-huh, and you could visit Grant's tomb at the same time."  Vic: "Grant's tomb is in New York."  Russell: "I disagree."  Vic: "O. K."  
• The invited crowd: Sade suggests: Dr. Keevey, Lolita DiRienzi.
• Russell suggests: "Our grocery boy, Irvin, Miss Hammersweet and the girl at the cigar counter."
• Vic says two more who share Sweet Esther as their birthplace have been uncovered: Mis' Harris' roomer, Mr. Breep, and Fern Mudstudy, the girl that plays the piano at the Ten Cent store (born 11-21-1910.)
• Russell lists all eight invitees: "grocery boy Irvin, Fern Mudstudy, Vic, Pom Pom, B. B. Baugh, Morgan Perron, the girl at the cigar counter in the Unity Building, Mis' Harris' roomer, Mr. Breep, and Mis' Olive Hammersweet (Vic's secretary.)
• Sade notes there'll be two musicians there: Pom Pom and Fern.  Vic doubts they'll take a piano out in the woods.
• Russell: "The Chicago & Alton shop employees had an outing at Howton's Lake, and they hauled a piano there on a truck."
• Sade bristles when Vic says "four boys and four girls". Russell says it's 1 boy, 3 men, 3 girls, and a woman.
• Mr. Breep telephone Vic, who suddenly realizes he wasn't born in Sweet Esther, Wisconsin.  He was born in Union Grove, Illinois. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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Strange doings.  Take a long look at the list of folks on the picnic... look up some particulars at the Character site. There is a definite theme with the picnic - the people's names, their occupations and where they come from are all important. 

Trivia:

+ Fern Mudstudy will later be mentioned in an episode and her description will be nearly identical.

43-12-01 B. B. Baugh and the 10-Cent Store Weigh-Machine

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

• Sade and Mis' Harris had been talking about the effects of furnace heat.  Mis' Harris' roomer Mr. Sludge had been sitting on the floor by the hot-air register night before last or sometime, putting sticks of peppermint candy in rows and making houses out ‘em, and all of a sudden he just sprawled out fast asleep.
• Russell returns from having gone to the YMCA to watch the fat men play handball but was disappointed – it was all skinny fellas.  "they don't fall down and they don't get out of breath and they don't waddle around and bump into junk and they …"
• Sade: "You stay and watch the skinny fellas?  Russell: "For maybe half an hour.  Kept hoping some good old trusty, dependable fat men'd show up.  But none did.
• He eventually went to the Illinois Traction System Depot (i.e., the Interurban Station) to get warm and encountered a group of other guys in there getting warm:  Hank Gutstop, B. B. Baugh, Rishigan Fishigan from Sishigan, Michigan,  Y.I.I.Y. Skeeber, Stacy Yopp, Ernie Fadler, and Uncle Fletcher.
• Sade objects to Russell hanging out with that crowd even if Uncle Fletcher is with them.  Vic sees no harm in it.  She's shocked to learn the topic of discussion was "women."  Russell clarifies they were discussing the psychology of how women react when they step on a penny weighing-machine.  B. B. Baugh, who owns the peanut machine at the Interurban Station is considering the purchase of the 10-cent store weighing-machine.  Women prefer a machine that registers lower, rather than actual, weight.
• Sade is shocked to learn that her name was mentioned - by Uncle Fletcher - who mentioned Sade, Ruthie, and Mis' Keller complain about the 10-cent store machine because it gives correct weight.  He said they prefer the machine at Kleeberger's because it registers three to five pounds lower than reality.  B. B. plans to buy the 10-cent store machine and gear it down so it'll register ten pounds below reality, and then hire agents to spread the news among the ladies. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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It's been said by both Vic and Uncle Fletcher that B.B. Baugh is the most-enterprising businessman in town.  Though the cost of getting weighed is only a penny in 1943, you'd think that after 2-3 years, it'd be clear profit for Baugh, who seems to take low-risk money gambles.

Sade worries about Russell hanging out with Fletcher's gang of cronies, while Vic sees no harm; Vic shouldn't see any harm as they are all his friends as well!  I can imagine Sade saying: "There's nothing more frightening than a gang of seedy barbers and peanut machine misfits filling my little son's head with oceans of talky-talk and trashy-trash!"

Trivia:

+ Paul Rhymer used the word, soporific.

46-06-27 Assembling a Piano

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, BILL IDELSON AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Uncle Fletcher promises he will revive a thrown-out, chopped up piano so that Vernon Korkell can give Rush piano lessons.

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Welcome to (what I call) "Series 3" of Vic and Sade. The episode is intertwined with a lazy bassoon/fat alto saxophone in almost a cartoonish way. I'm not sure I'm quite enamored with it. The episode in full lasts 30 minutes; about 22 minutes plus when all the junk has been taken out.  All known surviving copies of this episode were already edited, thus this is not my editing job.

"Series 3" has a live audience.

Trivia:

+ Sade's daily newspaper love story has lately been about the Hawaiian islands.

+ Vic reads in the paper that "Mr. Ed McNilch invented a bicycle that could say 'mama.'" This is a big part of Vic and Sade nostalgia. But you may have read erroneously that the man was named Godfrey Dimlock; the below sound clip will prove this to be untrue: {{{HEAR}}}

+ Vic also reads that Mis' Cora Bucksaddle "swallowed a shotgun."

+ Robert and Slobert Hink and Cupid and Stupid Golfbake were mentioned in the local paper, even though both live in Hoopston, which is many miles away. Each couple was mentioned as going to see a Four-Fisted Frank Fuddleman and Gloria Golden movie. Why it was in the local paper is anyone's guess.

+ The actress who plays Mis' Harris in this episode is definitely not the same one who played the part in "Series 2."

+ Vernon Korkell's mother-in-law mowed the ivy off the side of her house, even though her arms got tired holding up the lawnmower and she was on a step ladder....

+ Mis' Keller's dog is named "Elizabeth."

+ B.B. Baugh uses piano wire for suspenders, Pelter Unbleat uses piano wire for an auxilary cord for his automobile.

+ Rush is asked to do his imitation of a man with his head caught in a revolving door at the post office.

His voice register is noticeably lower than the previous time he did such an imitation. In that episode, it was the Brick Mush man who got his head caught in a revolving door.

+ Sade says she was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Uncle Fletcher says he was born in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

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45-12-07 There's Going to be a Great Day

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

The city the Gooks live in has been accepted to host the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way Convention in May of 1946 and Vic is to be Grand Marshal.

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A fun episode.

Trivia:

+ This episode marks the end of the surviving "Series 2."  The next series originally was a 30 minute series that had a live audience.

+ Mis' Harris is over visiting Sade (and Rush) and the three talk about the Donahue attic mystery.

+ Sade, for the first time in the entire series, refers to Mis' Donahue as "Mrs. Donahue."

+ Sade, who previously said she was going to confront Mis' Donahue about the attic goings-on changes her mind in this episode as she says, "Until she says something herself about this business, I'm certainly not going to."

+ Uncle Fletcher gives his two cents about the attic, saying he doubts there is a insane murderer or "hairy ape gnawing at his chains" crouching up there.

+ Being the Grand Marshal, Vic was given his choice of transportation: a horse, a motorcycle or a rickshaw. He chose all three!

+ During the convention, Vic has the duty of climbing up on his roof and shooting off a Roman candle at midnight. He'll also have to install 3 extra telephones in his house.

+ In passing, Vic mentions there will be dirigible balloon rides.

+ Uncle Fletcher mentions Ernie Spoocher from Belvidere, Illinois.

+ Vic feels so good about the news, he gives Mis' Harris a kiss.

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45-11-29 Uncle Fletcher Arranges Phone Calls

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, BILL IDELSON AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

The Gooks entertain elderly Mr. Sprawl while his daughter (Mis' Harris) is out for the evening. But the evening is constantly interrupted by telephone calls as Uncle Fletcher has directed his friends to call him at various locations around town just to make him look important.

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There are 7 phone calls for Fletcher at the Gook house!

Not a funny or interesting show although some trivia is imparted.

Trivia:

+ Mr. Sprawl was born in Boston. Or so he says.

+ Ernie Fadler wears green eye shadow, a cigarette behind his ear and has black dots on his chin due to him accidentally marking on himself with indelible pencil.

+ Uncle Fletcher referred to Vic as his "husband."

+ Pelter Unbleet's imaginary brother was mentioned again by Uncle Fletcher.

+ Uncle Fletcher got phone calls from: Ernie Fadler, B.B. Baugh and Y.I.I.Y Skeeber and there were 3 phones where no message for Uncle Fletcher was taken.

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

45-11-23 Five Sleeping Beauties

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, BILL IDELSON AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

It's late November and quite chilly but Uncle Fletcher and Dwight Twentysixler plan to sleep on the courthouse lawn. They hope to persuade Vic and Rush to join them and also plan to invite Mr. Sprawl, who is over 90 years old.

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It's amazing what fame will do to the common sense of some people (that's not to say that Fletcher Rush and Dwight Twentysixler have any common sense at all.) Ernie Pompell, one of the writers at the newspaper, has promised the men a story (maybe even on the front page) if they'll brave the elements.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to Mr. Twentysixler, a man who always has roof shingles in his mouth. Everything he says is a mumble, yet the Gooks and Uncle Fletcher seem to have figured out his language.

Trivia:

+ The Donahue attic mystery continues: The previous night, Sade says she saw the Donahue's leave for the Bijou at 7:15. Mis' Harris claims at 8 pm, she was the lamp swinging in the attic!

+ Uncle Fletcher lists all of the men who like to sleep on the courthouse lawn during the warmer weather: Sweet Corn McBlock, Y.I.I.Y. Skeeber, Hank Gutstop, B.B. Baugh, Pelter Unbleet and his imaginary brother(!), Roy DelFino and Rishigan Fishigan.  Delfino is a name we have not come across before. He can rub his bare feet together and produce a clear blue flame!

+ Uncle Fletcher has made a habit in "series 2" of calling Rush, "Rushie."

+ We find out Mr. Sprawl's first name is "Mervin."

+ When Fletcher asks Vic and Rush if they would care to join them on the lawn, each answer in the negative before the question can be fully asked.

+ Twentysixler has a married daughter who lives in Dismal Seepage. Ohio.

Voice of Twentysixler: {{{HEAR}}}

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44-09-22 Vic's Unheard News

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Vic has interesting news but because of the grocery list and various telephone interruptions, he can never tell it.

When he does finally get the opportunity, he refuses!

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A funny, fast-moving show and one of the better episodes in the Russell era (although it's Vic that moves the show along.)

Trivia:

+ Mis' Clinkshaw lives across the street from the Stembottoms.

+ Someone calls for "Spider" and Sade thinks it might be a trick by B.B. Baugh.

+ The Stembottoms and Gooks make plans for "500."

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

44-08-11 Uncle Fletcher Rests Body and Brain

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

After staying in Hank Gutstop's bridal suite for two weeks and attending to the duties of feeding Hank's pets, Uncle Fletcher asks if he can stay over at the Gook house to rest up.

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Uncle Fletcher silently exaggerates how important his job was and how much work it all entailed.

Trivia:

+ Sade says that Uncle Fletcher had to feed Hank Gutstop's puppy while he was away. But no puppy was mentioned in a previous episode that gave the details involving Hank's vacation; the animals mentioned were a parakeet, a fish and a cat.

+ The announcer says both Vic and Russell were over at Ike Kneesuffer's house playing indoor horseshoes. I'm pretty sure this is the first time it's been mentioned that either Russell or Rush played horseshoes at Ike's.  Rush though had friends that played indoor horseshoes at their respective houses.  Must have been a neighborhood thing.

+ Uncle Fletcher asks Sade if Russell is afraid to go upstairs alone!

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44-06-29 War Bond Visitor

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNADINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Vic, Uncle Fletcher and Russell are all expecting company. But Sade puts the kabosh on their visitations by explaining that Mis' Ogelsby is coming over. Although it's oddly never said in this episode, Mis' Ogelsby is obviously the War Bond salesman for that part of the block/street/area the Gooks live in.

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While not a propaganda piece as other radio programs like the Fibber McGee and Molly or Burns and Allen's forays into the subject, this episode simply uses the premise of Mis' Ogelsby coming over as a time that the family should listen closely to what the War Bond seller has to say. Cleverly done and the point made - without the propaganda - and without even mentioning it was a War Bond saleslady.  As a matter of fact, I might not have known she was a War Bond saleslady if not for the title provided with the audio episode.

Trivia:

+ Mis Ogelsby was mentioned for the first time. We can assume she lives in the Gook neighborhood since she is the War Bond seller for the area in which the Gooks live. She is going door-to-door selling the bonds.

+ Russell mentions Oyster Cracker's cousin Lombard again.

+ Uncle Fletcher goes on and on about Ernie McDisher of Clinton, Iowa. He liked to skulk around the Mississippi River. He and his wife, Velma Scoffburgle-McDisher live in a boxcar. Velma is cousin to Pelter Unbleet.

Ernie used to find arrowheads, strawberries, four-leaf clovers, bicycle sprocket wheels and catfish. He once cut open a catfish and found a dme, which he made into a watchfob. {{{HEAR}}}

+ Uncle Fletcher says Pelter Unbleet may have found a way to remove the smell from Hyena Grease.

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44-04-19 B.B. Baugh and the New Dentist

STARRING: ARTY VAN HARVEY, BERNRADINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Vic must sit down and have a man-to-man talk with B.B. Baugh, who is exploiting members of the Drowsy Venus Chapter of the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way.

It seems Baugh has hired a bus to travel to Partlow, Illinois and has signed up several members of the Drowsy Venus Chapter to have a tooth pulled by his brother, who is a dentist there. Having a new dental practice, Baugh wants to have his brother start off on the right foot; lodge members would pay $5 to have a tooth extracted, whether they need one extracted or not.

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This episode provides a wealth of information about previously unkown lodge members. The original sound file sounded terrible; I can gladly tell you that now it sounds a great deal better - but still, it's far from perfect.

Trivia:

+ We find out that B.B. Baugh is a barber at the Bright Kentucky Hotel. It's amazing how many barbers that hotel has!

+ As of this episode, the Drowsy Venus Chapter has 50 members, not including Vic Gook.

+ In addition to the other 'irons in the fire' we know B.B. Baugh is involved in, we find out he owns the cole slaw concession at the Lazy Hours Pool Parlor.

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

44-03-07 Hank Gutstop's Proposition

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL 

Hank Gutstop's job as a house detective is still intact - but Hank is finding it hard to keep the job for the simple fact there are no criminals or skalawags to apprehend.

He has an idea though: have Uncle Fletcher come in the hotel twice a day in disguises and then he can throw him out. This way he'll have something to write down on his daily worksheet.

When Uncle Fletcher tries to run this by Sade, she is totally against it and Uncle Fletcher meekly goes away.

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Hard to believe Hank still has a job!
 
Trivia:

+ Hank has had his job at the Butler House Hotel three weeks as of this episode.

+ B.B. Baugh and Uncle Fletcher own a peanut vending machine at the Interurban streetcar station, Recall that Uncle Fletcher is probably wealthy.

+ Uncle Fletcher sometimes works as the substitute ticket ticker at the Bijou.

+ We found out earlier that Uncle Fletcher also substitutes on a milk wagon route. We find that the name of the milk company is the "Snow and Palmer Dairy."

+ Uncle Fletcher sometimes holds the red flag for the street gangs around the neighborhood when they tear up the streets.

+ Uncle Fletcher says he substitutes for "Kelly Landis" at the gas station when he goes to lunch. I believe this may be a mistake as there is a Kelly Morse who runs the gas station that Uncle Fletcher has mentioned before. We'll assume "Landis" is Kelly's middle name.

+ In this episode, Uncle Fletcher says, "bridal suit" instead of "bridal suite" and also insists that he's Sade's niece.

+ Hank Gutstop had to throw William S. McFelters out of the Butler House Hotel lobby just so he could have something to write down on his daily worksheet. McFelters has been a resident of the hotel for 35 years. He was quite upset after the incident as it took the hotel management an hour and half to calm him down afterwards.  (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

At the end of the episode, Uncle Fletcher once again speaks about oiling his shoes.

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44-03-01 Hank Gutstop Throws a Party

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

According to Vic, two weeks ago prior to this episode, Hank Gutstop had gotten a job as the house detective at the Butler House Hotel. The hotel even has agreed to put him up for free - giving him the luxurious bridal suite to boot. With his new-found wealth, he's invited Vic and five other friends to dine with him in his hotel room.

In this episode, an excited Vic tells Sade and Russell about his expectations for the evening dinner party.

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In the history of the surviving episodes, this is the first in which we learn that Hank has gotten any kind of job that lasted more than a day. Will it continue?

Trivia:

+ Sade says that Hank had come over to the house (in a missing episode?) dressed in a duck-billed cap and checkered vest (like Sherlock Holmes.)

+ Russell infers that he enjoys macaroni and cheese.

+ Sade used the word, 'spondulicks' once again - that's the 4th time in the surviving episodes.

+ For a time prior to this episode, Hank was living at the Bright Kentucky Hotel.

+ The other people invited to the dinner party: B.B. Baugh, Stacey Yopp, Y.I.I.Y. Skeeber, Rishigan Fishigan and the previously unknown Pelter Unbleet, who is the janitor of the Bright Kentucky Hotel.

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43-11-11 Stingyberry Jam

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

(((HEAR)))

B.B. Baugh wants to have Uncle Fletcher peddle his stingyberry jam house-to-house. Sade however, is against the idea.

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Trivia:

+ Uncle Fletcher ran into Ernie Fadler, who had just eaten at the Little Tiny Petite Pheasent Feather Tea Shoppy. He had eaten the following things: fresh bread, mealy potatoes, preserves peaches, olive root, rutabaga shortcake, scalded cucumber and fed grass oxbutter!

+ Uncle Fletcher and Sade both remember Lena Pritchard from Dixon; she was a very smart girl. She could add up the numbers of the boxcars on the train when it went past. But she did it once too often and got hit by a train. Her uncle, Ollie O. McDozer, cried really loud when she got hit.

+ Uncle Flectcher says Ed Winklemanflirch from Dixon could fall asleep 30 to 40 times (presumably in a day.)

+ Sade referred to the stingyberry jam as "horrible" and described it as "green and cloudy and funny."

+ Stingyberry jam contains 46 ingredients.

+ Sam E. Honker (from Belvidere) was a man who married a woman 19 years old and hated well water however he later cultivated a taste for it. He eventually liked well water better than warm lemonade, muskmelon cordial, choke wood fool or any drink.

Vic falls asleep: {{{HEAR}}}

Notice how Russell's "ha ha" sounds like Nelson's "ha ha" on The Simpsons: {{{HEAR}}}

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43-11-10 Eight Million Jobs

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE 

Sade is busy around the house but is being constantly interrupted by the phone, the door and Russell.

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A better than average episode, mainly because Russell puts in a better-than-usual performance. Otherwise, not much here.

Trivia:

+ B.B. Baugh calls to ask Sade if she will represent him as his agent in selling his stingyberry jam to the Thimble Club ladies. She refuses.

+ Russell refers to B.B. Baugh as "Ba Ba Boo."

+ Russell came in the front door to bring in the mail; even so, he was asked twice why he came in the front door (coming in the front door is a Gook household no-no.)

+ A man comes to the door wanting to fix the Gook piano; of course they don't own a piano.

David Whitehouse as Russell

+ While the beef punkles are cooking, Sade tells Russell twice to poke them to see if they are tender and also tells him to add water; this scenario tells us that the punkles are being braised. This indicates that punkles are a cheap cut of beef that must be "pot roasted" to make tender. (We certainly have assumed this all along but now we KNOW for sure.)

+ Someone calls for "Fat." (We assume it was  for "Fat Jackson.")

+ Croucher's (telephone #8987-J) has a delivery boy named "Irvin."  One of the better moments of the episode is hearing Russell talk smart to him on the telephone: {{{HEAR}}}

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