43-05-04 Chuck's Little Leather Ringmasters

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN

Chuck Brainfeeble owes Sade $40.  He pays he off with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters" even though she doesn't want them.

____________________

I have no idea...

Flynn did not do this episode alone, Carl Kroenke (Chuck) was on it with her.

The transcription disc for this episode survived but was either sold to Radio Spirits in the 1970's or was donated to the Library of Congress. (That might mean that we may never hear this episode.)

40-10-14 E-Z Slippers

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic finds out that he's about to become the recipient of many pairs of E-Z slippers for Christmas (just 10 weeks away).

SEE SOME DIALOGUE AND THE SYNOPSIS

___________________

I'll bet you - like me - never realized that E-Z slippers were as popular on the show as all of this.

Perhaps you didn't realize that Mr. Sludge and Vic were 'arms around the neck, chummy.'  Well, they weren't.  But 1940 was a far different world than 2015 and beyond.  Mr. Sludge and Vic were neighbors.  They lived across the alley from each other.  Vic had talked baseball with Mr. Sludge - even though Vic had no interest in talking with him (he referred to him as a slob) {{{HEAR}}}  No, they weren't friends, but Mr. Sludge probably thought pretty highly of Vic, enough to MAKE him a pair of E-Z slippers.  I'll bet Vic didn't make Sludge anything.

Vic wasn't friends with Noah and Beulah either, but they sent him E-Z slippers.  Beulah's father rented to Vic.  That was enough of a connection to draw a homemade Christmas gift in 1940!

That's another thing about this episode - people made gifts for one another.  They took their own personal time to construct the gifts.  They didn't lay out $12 each at Walmart (Yamilton's) and purchase them by the bushel, like we might do today.

Trivia:

+  Miss Hammersweet's E-Z Slippers have little calendars on them.  They fit over the insteps like shoe buckles – small metal frames, and inside the frames are little... (we never find out the rest).

+ Who's Vic getting slippers from?  Miss Hammersweet, Beuhla and Noah, the Brainfeebles, Mr. Sludge, Ike Kneesuffer, Mr. Ruebush, H.K. Fleeber, and Mr. Gumpox.

43-04-12 Dottie's New Dress

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, RUTH PERROT AND CARL KROENKE

{{{HEAR}}}Previously, Dottie Brainfeeble had gotten a new spring outfit and Vic went overboard on the compliments, giving Dottie some confidence. She took that much-needed confidence and bought a new dress.  Sade wants Vic to go next door with her so that Vic can gush over her again, giving Dottie another needed confidence boost.

Once over at the Brainfeeble's house, Vic finds that Chuck has a pair of pearl-handled dueling pistols, a cowboy hat, leather chaps and gauntlet gloves. Vic cannot resist dressing up in the gear and shooting every imaginable problem a cowboy in the Old West could possibly encounter and dangerously pointing the guns at everyone in the house.

Meanwhile, he completely disses and ignores Dottie and her new dress, embarrasses Sade and becomes engrossed in the imagined world he has created.  Dottie runs off crying and Vic could care less (bang bang bang!)

________________________

A surprising, certified gem that comes out of the terrible Brainfeeble episodes, this one has to rank somewhere in the Top 15 best epsiodes.

A tour-de-force for actor Art Van Harvey as he takes the "Vic taking things too far" element to the limit.

Vic is surprisingly child-like the entire episode and is so much fun to listen to! He's mesmerized by the cowboy outfit and makes you wonder if the wide-brimmed hats he wants to buy are not somehow related to this fetish he seems to have with Old West gear. He even seems more hellbent for that stuff than he does the lodge!

{{{HEAR}}}

Trivia:

+ Listen to an edit of Vic with the cowboy gear on...he's nuts! {{{HEAR}}}

+ Chuck calls Dottie, "Dot."

Fawn color

 + Vic describes the color of Dottie's dress as yellow but she says it's "fawn."

+ This is the last surviving episode with the Brainfeebles, even though they live next door.

+ Even though the guns aren't dangerous, you get the feeling that Sade isn't happy about Vic toting them around. Sarah Cole examines the subject of Sade Gook and guns here.

Vic is pretty darn happy about his newspaper: {{{HEAR}}}

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

43-03-31 Brainfeeble's Housewarming

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

 

Chuck and Dottie Brainfeeble have finally settled in next door to the Gooks and are planning a huge, first-class housewarming party.

________________________

The housewarming party is eerily similar to the party Rush wanted to be in charge of in March of 1938.

In this episode though, Sade takes on the persona of Rush. As a matter of fact, she does such a good job of "being" Rush that you feel like it's it's 1938 all over again (and not in a bad or repetitious way.)

Vic even tries to quote Rush but his words are trampled on by Sade... {{{HEAR}}}

This is a fine episode, especially since we've had to deal with some really bad episodes the last few. Rush is sorely-missed and this episode seems to be a Paul Rhymer homage to him.

There are some overlapping characteristics of the housewarming party and the Gook party of 1938: most notably, the detective that Chuck wants to hire. Rush had wanted to hire a policeman for the same purpose.

This episode is ripe with details for our collection of trivia and is probably a top 50 episode. It also seems to be an episode that lets us know that Rhymer, despite the setbacks from the loss of cast members, will become more creative and not push the obnoxious Brainfeebles down the throat of his audience anymore.

Trivia:

+ The housewarming party is to include 60 people!

+ Although we've had clues, this is the first episode (#183 of the survivors) that we actually find out where Ike Kneesuffer lives. He lives behind the Gooks on University Street. Also the Thomas Haran's were mentioned as living on Oak Street (Uncle Fletcher recently mentioned a Harry Bubeck who changed his name to Tommy Haran and moved to Detroit; these obviously aren't the same people but it's again *probably* a part of Paul Rhymer using the name of a friend in the script.)

+ Booker Lincoln McKinley was mentioned. He's the shoe shine man at the Butler House Hotel's barbershop. He is to wear a white coat and serve salted peanuts on a tray at the Brainfeeble housewarming party.

+ Hank Gutstop is going to sing two songs at the party as well (Would That These Pale Hands Crysanthemums Might Gather and Throw Me Over the Grape Arbor a Single Red, Red Rose My Love.) Sade noted that he's not a guest, he's strictly an entertainer who will be paid for the songs then sent "out the back door." He'll be accompanied on the cornet by Alf Musherton.

+ There's a good chance that Uncle Fletcher will act as a butler at the party.

+ Chuck wants to hire a detective (who'll wear a fake mustache that keeps falling off so that the guests know he is a detective) to make sure jewlery isn't stolen. Dottie is not keen on the idea. Sade knows it won't be Gumshoe Gussett that they hire.

+ Blue Tooth Johnson will also be hired for fifty cents to run errands.

+ Mis' Hunkerman and her daughter Jeanette are going to be in charge of refreshments.  They live on Locust Street.

+ Rhymer has the Gooks clevely avoid using the expression, "Penny pincher": {{{HEAR}}}

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

43-03-18 Mis' Appelrot Picks on Dottie

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND RUTH PERROT

Sade and Dottie Brainfeeble are shopping and run into Mis' Appelrot in the underwear department of Yamilton's. Mis' Appelrot is mean to Dottie, making fun of her weight, her husband's job and calling her "Mis' Beanfrabble" (as if the name, 'Brainfeeble' isn't bad enough.)

This upsets Sade who actually cries at the end of the episode.

________________________

A somewhat difficult episode to audibly understand even after the clean up.

There's really not much to this episode.

Trivia:

+ Sade gets a letter from Bess but she's so upset that she never finishes it.

+ Chuck Brainfeeble works for a manufacturing company.

+ Dottie weighs almost 200 pounds.

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

43-03-10 Chuck and Dottie Wash Dishes

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

Dottie Brainfeeble continues her stay over at the Gook house and has been joined by her husband Chuck who seems to be louder and goofier than she is.

This show has that couple washing dishes together, playing, joking, goofing off, running around and making a lot of noise; so much so that Sade finally loses her temper.

________

According to Vic and Sade historian Barbara Schwarz, Dottie first appeared on the show, February 10, 1943 and was on there until May of the same year. You have to wonder about what the people who were listening in 1943 thought though, with Dottie and/or Chuck making them cringe for many, many days in a row. Did they turn off the radio, never to hear Vic and Sade again? Did they endure and enjoy the shows?

I've often tried to put myself in their place - I honestly think I would have turned off the radio and never listened to the show again. Well, certainly not during the time Dottie was on there.

The addition of Chuck is even worse. Far worse! (By the way, this would have been Chuck's 3rd consecutive appearance, according to Schwarz's records.)

Vic, as much as he hates the Brainfeebles laughing, yelling and literally running around in his house, never once says a bad word or raises his voice the entire episode!

Trivia:

+ Sade says Dottie and Ruthie Stembottom are suspicious of each other

+ A date is set up with the Stembottoms to come over and play "500" and talk is also made of the Brainfeebles playing - yet we know from this episode that Dottie can't play cards - because she's "fat."

A typical moment in this episode sounds like this: {{{HEAR}}}

+ The part of Chuck was played by veteran Chicago radio actor, Carl Kroenke.

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

43-03-05 Vic Entertains Dottie

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND RUTH PERROT

Sade has an obligation to the church bazaar and since Dottie Brainfeeble is visiting, needs Vic to stay home and keep her company for nearly 5 hours.

________________________

Of course like any sensible man would do, Vic leaves Dottie less than a minute after Sade has walked out the door. There's nobody (aside from Sade and Dottie's feeble-brained husband Chuck) that would want to stay around Dottie more than a minute.

Trivia:

+ Hank Gutstop calls and borrows $2 from Vic. Vic says he keeps a tally of how much Hank owes him - but in at least one previous episode, he had no idea how much Hank owed him.

+ Chuck and Dottie are talking about moving next door to the Gooks, meaning that in a missing episode, we lost someone moving away.

+ Dottie is very affectionate. She kisses Vic and gently crushes his cigars in his coat pocket.

+ Dottie is under the impression that Vic sells lumber.

+ It must have been very impressive and in some ways "sexual" (if I can use that term here) for men during this time period (1932-1944) to wear a clean white shirt everyday. Sade has said her sister Bess mentions it and Dottie mentions it in this episode and it's always mentioned in a sensual kind-of way.

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

43-02-15 Dottie's Letter From Chuck

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN, RUTH PEROTT AND CLARENCE HARTZELL
 
Dottie Brainfeeble is staying with Sade for a couple of weeks. She's an old school chum of hers from Dixon.

Dottie is a strange woman; she spends more time laughing at stuff that's not funny and talking loud than she does talking normal. It's obvious that she upsets Uncle Fletcher and he all but pries it out of Sade that she too isn't thrilled about Dottie.

Dottie spends the episode in another room reading a letter from her husband, Chuck. The kicker is, at the end of the letter, Dottie says Chuck may be transferred to the city the Gooks live in.

________________________

This is the first episode where the Gooks begin being invaded with real people rather than just the stories about them.

You'll find that Dottie is by far the worst of the lot. She's so annoying that Uncle Fletcher seems afraid to talk. She's so annoying that her laugh (from another room) is so loud that it interrupts conversations.

There is a bright side. Firstly, there are only a few more episodes where Dottie shows up, all in the next few episodes - then she disappears.

Secondly, not all of the other "new" characters are quite so ridiculous and annoying. As a matter of fact, they are used as little as possible (for the most part) and are just there to help supplant the loss of Vic (who will return soon) and Rush (during this period of the show, Bill Idelson is in the Navy but will return to the series later.)

Get through this episode and it's all downhill. I don't think the avid Vic and Sade fan will tell you that he/she likes these episodes with the real characters but it's better than no episodes at all.

Trivia:

Ruth Perrott

+ Ruth Perrott plays Dottie. You may know her as Katy, the housekeeper in the old-time radio show, My Favorite Husband. You'd probably recognize her from many small character roles she played on television as well in the 1950's.

+ Uncle Fletcher calls Dottie, "Spottie."

+ Dottie calls Sade, "Kettle."

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Oliver Hidesock who married one of the Gulling-Tawning sisters. Moved from Belvidere in 1909 to Cypress Chunk, Minnesota and went back into his regular business of barbering. At one time, he was considered the best barber in the county. He could cut a head of hair in 5 minutes and shave a man in 4 minutes.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Collarbone Gackwench from DeKalb. His real name was, "Up Gackwench." Married at 57 years old and insisted on having her father's consent. Her father was 82 and wasn't very bright. He didn't even remember having a daughter.

+ Someone calls and asks for "Fat Jackson." This seems to have happened several times in the prior missing episodes as well.

+ Uncle Fletcher secretly refers to Dottie as being 'fat.' He also says he knows she gets on Vic's nerves.

+ Dottie grew up in Dixon, with Sade.

The first Dottie Brainfeeble sounds we hear... {{{HEAR}}}

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

41-11-05 Vic's Christmas Gift List Too Long

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

Vic accidentally left his Christmas gift list lying around and Sade saw it.  Immediately, she begins to question Vic, just as she did in an earlier episode about Vic's Christmas card list.

Kangaroo?

The questioning is relentless.  Sade doesn't seem to understand that Vic's confederates need a little axle grease come Christmas time.

By the end of the episode, Vic is beaten and wore down.  Sade, the harping nagger, is victorious.

WHAT MIS' CROWE SAYS:

Vic must send gifts and grease palms; the ever-frugal Sade doesn’t understand why he has to grease so MANY. She ought to disdainfully label it “guy stuff.” She really won’t leave him alone or accept any answers without question, so much so that Vic shuts down and goes into a kind of weary state of serenity.  I especially love his little “Gus Fuss give me a necktie” fugue state.

Sade wonders what kind of Christmas present Vic could possibly get for fifty cents, and I wondered, too, because that sounds like a fair amount of money in 1941 dollars. So I looked it up. DollarTimes says fifty cents was worth about $8.45 in 1940, which would be easily enough for the kind of trinkets you get your work buddies – a small box of chocolates or a Starbucks gift card (not that they had those, but whatever the equivalent would have been) or a nice pen or something like that. A Hershey bar only cost five cents, so think of the kind of luxury chocolate you could get for 50! A model plane was only 23 cents – I don’t think Vic would have been getting model planes for his business associates, but just an example of the kind of lovely merchandise you could get for 50 cents in 1940. I think Vic could have kept them very happy for 50 cents or even less. 

SEE THE SCRIPT (transcribed by Lydia Crowe)

________________________

Rush (not in this episode) is at the YMCA watching the fat men play handball, so other than Sade complaining about the gift list, there's not a whole lot going on.

One of the more interesting things though is that Rooster Davis talks to Vic on the telephone! To top it off, Vic is nice to him. You'd figure he'd say something to Rooster that would show his disdain for calling, but that certainly doesn't happen!

Trivia:

+ Sade mentions Miller Park Lake. We now know that Miller Park has a zoo, a picnic area and lake.

+ Gus Fuss was on Vic's Christmas gift list.  He's from Consolidated Kitchenware Plant Number 17 in Dubuque, Iowa. He sometimes wears ear muffs.

+ L. Wylie Phapp was on Vic's Christmas gift list.  He is also from Plant Number 17.  When Vic visited the plant in Dubuque, Phapp bought him a chocolate bar.

+ U.F. Beakley is an Exalted Big Dipper of the Purple Prairie Popinjay chapter of the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way, in Moline, Illinois.

+ Other people on Vic's gift list include: T.W. Weatherwax, Howard S. Montgomery,  I. Edson Box,  Sam Shout and Percy X. Snoot.

+ Robert Price and his wife Laura Stein-Price are mentioned by Sade as people she wants to buy a Christmas gift for.

+ Chuck and Dottie Brainfeeble (two people who play much bigger parts in episodes ahead) were mentioned for the first time and are also on Sade's gift list.

+ Sade also mentions the following people as those she'd like to purchase a Christmas gift for: Bess and Walter (Helfer), Fred and Ruthie Stembottom, Mr. and Mis' Donahue, Uncle Fletcher, Mis' Harris, Vic and Rush.

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