37-04-08 Chef Donahue

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Mis' Donahue is away in Wisconsin, so Sade offers to cook for Mr. Donahue.  He ate there earlier in the week, so he tells Sade that he'll do the cooking, much to the chagrin of Sade.

While Donahue is cooking, Sade is furious.  Will her anger cease?

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

___________________________

It's a not a big deal but take note that the episode begins with Vic and Rush walking home; in doing so, they must have a two minute or so long conversation, certainly making this the longest conversation on a walk home in the history of the show (at least that we know about).

Trivia:

* There's a great deal mentioned in the script about what happened the prior day, which was a Tuesday. Since they are talking about it in the script, I think it is safe to say that these events took place in the previous episode.

* Mr. Kuppitch was mentioned.  He's a Consolidated Kitchenware big-shot from Cleveland.

37-12-03 Rush Needs Money for Christmas Shopping

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Christmas 1937

Rush has made a Christmas list.  He's whittled it down to the bone.  He's got very little cash to work with.

He's going to Plan B; all he has to do is get the dough from good ole' Gov -- well, make that, get past Sade in order to get it from Gov.  It's not an easy task.

SEE SOME DIALOGUE AND SYNOPSIS

___________________

Rush knows Gov has a soft heart.  The trouble remains; Sade also knows Vic has a soft heart.
 
This episode compares in some ways with this one, a rather odd episode where Rush went to Vic's office to ask for Christmas funds.

That particular episode took place in 1941.  Let's look at the difference in lists between the two episodes:

 We can compare Rush's Christmas lists from 2 years

The price of Vic's gift remained the same.  Poor Vic, always getting the shaft.

Trivia:

* In the story about the imaginary 'Rollo K. Wintersquat' at the institution, Vic suggests he be sent some fudge.  That's not the only time someone locked away and fudge being sent to them are mentioned; Dottie Brainfeeble sent fudge to Martin Jordle, the man whose wife signed a paper and then the next thing he knew, he was in prison for 40 years.

* You wonder how good you can "get in" with a man by buying him a stinky, nickel cigar?

* "Bernardine" is once again mentioned in the script as an homage (you'd think) to  Bernardine Flynn. I'm almost certain that "Bernardine" was mentioned another time as well, but I'll be doggone if I can find the reference.

* Sade recalls Steve Kodunk in Dixon, whose father used to drown him with money.  He'd have a nickel or dime to spend every single recess and the kids would buzz around him like flies.

Hmmm.  You wonder how many kids would be swarming young Mr. Kodunk in 2015?  In the age of iPads and XBox, I'm guessing not a whole lot.

click to enlarge

* It's likely that this story line (or something like it) took place nearly every Christmas on the show.  I believe Rhymer eventually took Sade out of the equation because she's generally a major league frump when it comes to spondulix, plus the shows with just Vic and Rush (that we know about) all turned out to be genuine peachy episodes.  Certainly Rhymer knew
this or you'd think someone told him.

* This episode took place on the road, as did apparently, several other episodes during the latter end of 1937.  This episode was live from Kenosha, Wisconsin.  We are most fortunate (thanks to Barbara Schwartz and the Friends of Vic and Sade) to have an article from the local paper there from December 4, 1937.  The interview probably took place the same day this episode was broadcast.  [Dunno about you, but I love neat stuff like that.]

43-06-21 Vic Despises Little Daily Love Story

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE 

Vic makes it known how much he hates the drivel of the Little Daily Love Story, reading gushing passages that reek with hyperbole.

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

______________

If you thought the Third Lieutenant Stanley novels were bad... just wait until you read the trash that Sade reads.

This script is missing it's ending, which is probably less than a page.

The real E.W. Smith of Emporia, Kansas appears to have been at the performance of this episode, as the script seems to point out that he was there; however, his buddy Paul Rhymer did not sign it, making me believe the writer was missing that day.

Trivia:

+ The Gloria Golden - Four- Fisted Frank Fuddleman film is named, High Society Hatred. Russell refused to attend, because the movie poster 'looked punk.'

+ Though the title of this episode indicates it's about Vic and the Little Daily Love Story, there's plenty of Russell telling about the acute sensitivity claims of his pal, Raymond 'Searles' (aka 'Surrells'):

• He can tell the temperature of the sun (can tell how many degrees it's lost).
• He can predict the weather in various cities.
• He can detect (by exact measurement) items put into his mouth.
• He can tell you the ingredients of a pill.
• He can tell what key a dog barks in.
• He can stand on a dime and determine if it's heads or tells.

This episode took place on the first day of Summer, 1943, yet Russell uses 'Christmas tree' twice.

41-xx-xx Sade and Ruthie Mail Each Other Five Dollars

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN 

There's deep confusion between Sade and Ruthie Stembottom over their recent muddled shopping money.

Ruthie, feeling bad about the whole thing and in order to set confusion aside and make things right between the ladies, mails Sade a five dollar bill.  She spends the episode explaining the money confusion to Vic (who acts like he cares but we know he could really care less) and explaining to him that she also sent Ruthie five dollars in the mail.

SEE THE SCRIPT

___________________

Vic has the solution for the ladies but they never take his advice: use your own money to pay for your own items.  As simple as this sounds, the ladies simply cannot resist doing otherwise.

The ladies (plus Mis' Trogle) bought gum drops, a spool of thread and weighed themselves on the penny weighing machine.

+ Rush is at the YMCA watching the fat men play handball.

+ Raymond Belcher Beirman is mentioned again here but Vic uses his name as a figure of speech rather than referring to a real person.  Beirman must be a very mystical figure if we take him literally.

41-07-10 Bring Your Figures

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Muddled shopping money?  No big deal.  Stuff happens.

We know to expect this whenever Sade and 'Lady' (Ruthie Stembottom) get together downtown.  So what if the gals can't keep track of the tiny amounts of money that they are allowed?  So what if there's a few dollars missing?  It's not like they are buying anything important.

As a matter of fact, the ladies consume the same kinds of worthless junk every week.  It's money to blow and really, is of no consequence to the bread winners...

That's the way the story is supposed to go, anyway.  Vic, an accountant by trade, is fine with the mixed-up money.  I think he kind of gets a kick out of the way the ladies foul it all up; it's entertainment to him.  But Fred, Ruthie's blue collar husband, has a bad reaction this time around to the unaccounted-for spondulix.

Who's responsible?  No one knows (and no one will ever know) but Fred aims to find out!  He's even bought those stereotypical green visor caps for all four people (it's use is to lessen eyestrain) as he intends to have a pow-wow with the Gooks and go step-by-step through the muddled transactions! By golly, he wants some answers to that missing penny and the other misplaced monies.

But wait; one big 'ole ish and kybosh on that!

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

___________

This script is surprisingly good and it reads fresh. I use the word 'surprisingly' because the notes I had previously were terribly short.  It was as if this episode had been overlooked.  Rhymer provides strong voices to each character.  It feels as if he were completely in his prime here.  This script could very well be in the top 50 I have seen. 

Trivia:

+ Mr. & Mrs. Coomer live on Madison Street.

+ Sade bought white thread #50 (she always buys that color/#) and the girls bought gum drops, weighed themselves, had ice cream...

+ The fact that Vic could care less about a few dollars (remember, this was still ''The Great Depression'') might provide circumstantial proof that Vic was better off financially than perhaps we - or Sade - know. 

+ The concept of the green visors is clever and totally Rhymeresque; there is always pleasure reading/hearing the way he took something that was already absurd and made it even more so.  Can you imagine Sade and Ruthie wearing green visors, trying to figure out where they lost seven cents?

+ While he was there and at-the-ready to contribute to the conversation with appropriate anecdotes, Rush gets totally ignored in this episode.  You'd figure an ordinary American citizen...

+ This episode ends with the ''stuff happens'' phrase.

40-07-27 Uncle Fletcher Is Coming

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

All heck is breaking loose!  Vic has unexpectedly gone on a long business trip to Flick Orchard, Minnesota with Mr. Ruebush.  They're reorganizing Consolidated Kitchenware Plant #12.

Meanwhile, Sade's Uncle Fletcher has called to announce he's on his way to visit the Gooks.  Rush got the info, but not the time of arrival or how long he plans to stay.

SEE SOME DIALOG AND THE SYNOPSIS

___________________

Uncle Fletcher will be all things when is around, for he is funny, brilliant, long-winded, careless, caring, generous, selfish and well, the list goes on and on.

It's simple to describe Uncle Fletcher but at the same time, it's quite impossible.  He may be the most incredible character in radio history, and you might could include television history as well.  His stories are outlandish, but there's much more to him than that.  He's beyond explanation.

Trivia:

+ The notes say Plant #12 is in Minnesota but previous notes say Plant #12 is in Dismal Seepage, Ohio.  It could be Plant #2 or Plant #13?

+ The confectioner is named, Nick Cappolosius.  My eyes lit up when I realized this was THE GREEK!

+ This arrival of Uncle Fletcher would have been his first visit on the the program. (Not counting the introduction he was given at the end of the Crisco portion of the previous program, according to J. David Goldin's notes for August 26, 1940 - he used to have the transcription disc.)

+ 20/20 hindsight reveals that the excuse given that Vic is away on business (in Minnesota) means that Art Van Harvey (Vic) was actually quite ill at this time and Hartzell had been hired as Fletcher to fill in.

+ Uncle Fletcher "Will arrive on the New York, Monongahela an' Western Florida Railroad." (Sade has never heard of that railroad and she's sure if it does exist, it doesn't go through Dixon.)

+ Fletcher arrives on Gumpox's wagon, meaning: Howard and Gumpox were probably his first acquaintances in town.  And riding the garbage wagon was his first act after getting off the train (this would continue throughout the series.)

39-06-19 Nicer Scott Has a Ten Dollar Bill

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

RUSH: I don't want Nicer runnin' around loose with a ten dollar bill.  He's liable to do something unwise.

VIC:  Like spending it on himself.

Rush: Yeah.

Rush has informed his parents that Nicer Scott was given a $10 bill by his Uncle Frank this evening - only his parents don't know it.  Nicer is afraid if he reveals this to his parents that they will want to do something crazy with it such as put it in his savings account.  Nicer needs Rush's support during the night, or so says Rush.

There seems to be another story that Rush is not coming right out and saying: Rush is afraid the money will somehow be spent before he can go across the street and keep an eye on him.

SEE THE SCRIPT

___________________

This episode, unlike any before it or any after it, puts Rush in a very bad light.  We all can be greedy and selfish but it's not often the bad part of us shines through for everyone to see.  This episode though shows off the worst of Rush.

While reading the script, I fully expected Sade to tell him he could go spend the night at Nicer's house and he wasn't to come home until late the next day.  Then I expected her to say - "and you are not to play with one toy or eat one item of food that is bought with that ten dollar bill."  Seems to me, that would kind of mess with Rush's greedy conscious for a while.

Rush was planning on talking Nicer into buying two high-powered squirt guns from Yamilton's (2 for 75 cents.) Rush had his eyes on one of the two guns.  He also had plans for Nicer to buy a couple of dozen red bananas from The Greek (they are 3 for a dime.)  Rush also mentions a little store on S. Center Street that sells a 4" x 4" x 4" brick of licorice for 35 cents.  He also mentions he might come home with an aviator's helmet, a couple of Third Lieutenant Stanley books, a lucky ring and an automatic pencil.

It was mentioned that Rush needs new clothes, for he is going to go to Carberry to visit his Aunt Bess, Uncle Walter and cousin Euncie.

Rush quotes word-for-word from a Third Lieutenant Stanley novel: Third Lieutenant Stanley on the Campus or The Thrilling Capture of the Bank Robbing Professors at Yale College.

Rush has 31 cents owed to him by his friends.

Sade mentions Bertha Joiner, a lady who read so many dime novels that she went loopy.  Would only wear one shoe.

35-06-04 Graduation Day

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

• After Edwards School graduation ceremonies, Rush arrives home in style - in a taxi-cab, which cost thirty cents.
• Ruthie Stembottom calls to wish Rush well.  
• Vic and Sade discuss the ceremony. Rush gave his diploma to Milton Welch to have it framed. During the ceremony, Iggy had been whispering to Rush on sensational stunts they could pull. 
• Helen Keefer got her diploma just ahead of Choke Dawson.  She cried.
• Vic mentions Sade cried when Rush got his diploma.  Sade acknowledges she may have snuffled a little.  Rush complains about all the clapping and recalls part of the commencement speech: "He said: Us young people were like silver arrows shot from the strong bow of our lessons into the blue sky of life."
• Sade loved every minute of the ceremony, which Vic and Rush found tiresome.  Rush to Vic: "You're not oilin' me, Gov!" (i.e., can't fool me)
• Rush announces he's off to meet chums at The Greek's to talk things over – he says won't be home until 11:30 pm most likely and he would like to have a chat with Vic if he's still up at that hour. Vic slips him five dollars. Rush is stunned.  He kisses Sade goodnight.  "Thanks for the berries, Gov.'"
• Vic explains to Sade: "We got no little baby around here any more, kiddo. Got a man." - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

___________________

Is Rush really growing up?  Meh.

"We got no little baby around here any more, kiddo. Got a man."  - they never had a baby there, ever.

35-05-24 Local Lodge Leader Takes First Dip

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic has been asked to pose for a photo that will appear in the next day's newspaper.  He'll have to wear bathing trunks and get out in the cool weather, but that's not a big deal... it should only take a few seconds.

Sade though, starts nagging him about the photo shoot, because he's just gotten rid of a cold and still has a sore throat.  He holds his ground with Sade, who eventually gives up (something she almost never does).  Then, as a seeming gesture of peace, he changes his plan entirely!

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

___________________

In the previous set of notes I had for this episode (in which there was no script) the show seemed almost pointless -- at the least, boring and lifeless.

Perhaps the script was not read closely when the notes were taken because what we have here is very solid material.

The comedy is set up by Vic being in a hurry, as his pal, Charley Foss (the newspaper guy who wants Vic to pose for a photo), is outside in his car waiting for Vic to get his swim trunks.  This same kind of setup would be used in 41-01-24 Boss Waits in the Car.

When Sade finds out what's going on, she immediately begins trying to derail his plans. Is she really concerned about his health, or is she more worried about throwing a monkey wrench into her husband's plans?

Vic, however, comes up with a spur-of-the-moment 'Plan B', which, really, makes him the winner of the showdown -- a very, very rare moment, indeed.  In fact, this is the only episode I can find where Sade calls her husband, 'Victor'.

Vic, though, seems thoroughly confused, later telling Sade, "You win."  But realize that he was originally going to wear swim trunks, yet his final plan has him in his ceremonial robe!  And for good measure, Hank Gutstop (the person on the show that Sade dislikes the most) takes Vic's place.  The elaborate metamorphosis exists for all to see!  Eh, or maybe not.  It is just a radio script. Maybe it was all planned that way or maybe not. I like to think the genius Rhymer knew exactly what he was doing.

Trivia:

+ Mr. Johnson, Rush's unusual dog, had been in a fight with a neighbor dog (Tiger -- who belongs to Cecil Lutz.)

+ Though we are teased many times, we never do find out what Sade has prepared for lunch.

+ Charley Foss is a member of the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way.

+ When Sade asks Vic where he will change into his swim trunks at the lake, Vic explains that Foss has side curtains on his car.  Okay, maybe so... but why?  The more you think about it, the funnier it gets.  It's not hilarious or anything, but it makes you want to believe Paul Rhymer has Foss driving a hearse.

44-09-05 Sade's Debtors

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

Sade tries to figure out who owes her money and how much.  She gets Vic to help.

________________________

In another episode, Russell and Vic talk about Sade being tight-fisted. While she's not selfish, she certainly proves in this episode that she keeps track every penny owed to her.

This episode is full of interesting trivia.

Trivia:

spondulicks

+ Mr. Croucher (ie. Croucher's grocery store) is actually a butcher. Croucher's grocery is probably a butcher shop that also sells other items. 

+ The cost of a single brick of mush costs ten cents. The Brick Mush man adds three cents to each brick for "tax," yet the money goes into his pocket. The Brick Mush man is called, "shrewd" by Sade but it's pretty obvious that he's actually a crook.

+ Mis' Call is the kind of person who doesn't want anyone to owe her anything and doesn't want to owe anyone anything.

+ Mis' Donahue likes pecans on her chocolate ice cream.

+ Mis' Otto and her young son Clarence were mentioned for the first time. Clarence is obviously Cracky's younger brother.

+ Sade uses the word 'spondulicks' twice in this episode, making the 5th and 6th times in the surviving series.

+ The owner of Kleeburger's is Mr, Kleeburger and this was the first time he was mentioned by name.

+ Sade and Mis' Heddles made a bet about which side of the street a house was on. The house in question was an odd number address. Sade said she won the bet because odd numbers are always on the right (that's incorrect, they are on the left) - however, they were probably going down the street "the wrong way" meaning everything was backwards. Either way, the bet was only for a penny!

This episode confirms that Mis' Heddles is a member of the Thimble Club.

+ The Greek has a weighing machine outside his confectionery.

+ Russell wears neckties to school.

+ Sade is owed a total of $9.82 by her friends; $9 of which is owed to her by Ruthie Stembottom, who is afraid to pay up because her husband Fred will notice the large amount.

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44-06-26 Thimble Club Bazaar

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Sade has left a note for Vic and Russell; she wants the boys to do yard work while she is gone.

But Vic has contentions with the note, saying the word "boys" refers only to Russell and not him.

When Sade comes home, Russell is bound to tell on Vic and get him in trouble but Sade is so excited about working at a Thimble Club bazaar that his tattling goes unheeded.

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

________________________

Fun episode where the gist of the episode ("the boys") is quickly swept away by Sade changing the subject.  Russell goes out of his way to squeal on Vic, but to no avail.

Trivia:

+ At the Thimble Club bazaar, they are going to sell clothes, candy, cake and knickknacks.

+ The Thimble Club has rented a vacant building on Center Street, across from the Courthouse.  We also learn The Greek's Confectionery is across the street from the courthouse.

+ Vic's argument that "boys" did not refer to him was smashed while Sade talked to he and Russell as she used the same word 4 times in reference to to the two.

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42-10-01 Cherry Phosphates

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY,  BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Rotten Davis, the 19 year-old neighborhood showoff, has found a friend in Rush and Vernon Peggles when he buys a 50 gallon barrel of cherry syrup that is to be kept hooked-up at The Greek's confectionery counter.

Rotten is giving away cherry phosphates to one and all as many as you can drink. Rush and Vic figure that the 50 gallon barrel of syrup will make a stomach-turning 12,000 drinks!

________________________

A fun episode that finds Vic (in particular) in a very cheery (no pun intended) mood. His mood and Rush sounding like the 1938-9 variety, makes for some great entertainment.

Trivia:

+ Vic is reading from Volume 7 of his lodge library when the episode begins.

+ Rush and Vernon were at the YMCA earlier in the evening watching the fat men play handball -- but they left when the thin fellows started playing.

+ The 50 gallon barrel of cherry syrup was acquired from The Greek (who had gotten it by mistake) for an undisclosed amount of money.

+ Both Rush and Vernon drink 5 cherry phosphates each.

+ The Greek's confectionery has a screen door.

Vic's not joking... {{{HEAR}}}

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41-10-14 Vic Declines Cornet Lessons

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic gave Alf Musherton 19-20 hours of special tutoring at the Butler House Hotel as Musherton is a candidate for initiation in the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way.

Musherton is so pleased and grateful to Vic that he cries and insists on giving Vic or any Vic's relatives or acquaintances 20 free cornet lessons. Vic doesn't want the lessons and neither does Rush. The rest of the episode is spent trying to come up for candidates to take the free lessons.

Eventually he decides to give Hank Gutstop a quarter if he'll take the first lesson.

MIS' CROWE SAYS:

This is a classic episode: absurd Rhymerian concept, colorful side characters, and Vic, Sade, and Rush fulfilling their favored roles (Vic thoughtful, Sade skeptical and scoffing, and Rush sitting back and delighting in the absurdity of it all). It’s also yet another episode in which men who cry are prominently featured – Vic’s friend Alf Musherton is a cryer, and Rush suggests that he might feel a kinship with Mr. Sludge because of it.

This episode presents an interesting commentary on the act of gift-giving. While we think of a gift giving as a one-way transaction, in which the giver altruistically gives something to the recipient and the recipient can choose to do what he will with it. However, the act of giving a gift isn’t a totally altruistic one, especially when it’s a gift given as reciprocity like Alf’s here. The gift giver gets the relief of a lifted obligation, the knowledge that he has reciprocated the past kindness of the recipient. This aspect of gift-giving places certain obligations on the recipient of the gift: it’s churlish to turn the gift down, because then you’re not allowing the person to feel that lifted obligation. Alf’s gift therefore becomes a bit of a white elephant as Vic has to put time and energy into coming up with a way to use it. A little ironic, since the gift was meant to thank Vic for his time and energy in tutoring Alf in the first place!

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GARRY MOTTER SAYS:
This was the first Vic & Sade episode I ever heard.  I had heard of  the show, so when it came on the radio I gave it a listen.  It starts out slowly as they often do, and I feared the worst.  But by the time it was over I was enchanted.  I think it was the discussion of Mr. Sludge and Alf alternately yipping and sobbing that hooked me.  I "yipped" on the cornet myself at Rush's age, so this gave me a laugh. 

This is not one of the laugh-out-loud hilarious episodes, but is amusing in a surreal sort of way that appeals to me.  Still, one can't help bust out at Rush's anecdote about Mr. Richards having to call the plumber. 

Sade seems to think it ridiculous that a garbage man might want to play the cornet, yet the teacher himself is a sewage disposal worker.  One thing that stands out is that Vic is seen here as sensible and calm in a bizarre situation.  He deals with it thoughtfully and decisively, while Sade is panicked at the idea of a cornet in the house.  Too often he is humiliated by the end, but here he is in firm command.

SEE THE SCRIPT (transcribed by Garry Motter)

_____________________

I think you will find that this episode is one of the most rewarding of the lot. If you haven't heard this one before, you should be extremely happy with the ending.

Trivia:

+ Rush wants to read aloud from a Third Lieutenant Stanley book that deals with coat and hat thieves in the Sahara Desert, but no one wants to hear it.

+ In a previous episode, Vic was to fake playing the cornet in a band concert. A year and a half later, you wonder why he would turn down the free lessons?

+ Some people who Vic, Rush and Sade suggested may want to learn the cornet: Mr. Gumpox, Uncle Fletcher and Mr. Sludge.

+ Sade refers to playing the cornet as "yipping." According to the Etymological Dictionary, "yip" means to "chirp like a bird."

+ Rush tells an Uncle Fletcher-type story about Mr. Richards, who used to play the cornet: {{{HEAR}}}

+ Hank Gutstop is known to hang around the Lazy Hours Pool Hall until closing time.

+ Rush knows the telephone number of the Lazy Hours Pool Hall (#8764-J.) However, in an earlier episode, Rush said, "[I] don’t know any pool hall telephone numbers. Mom’d throw me over the people’s bank building".

+ When Vic calls Hank, he's told that Hank Gutstop is playing bottle pool.

+ This is the first episode where the term, "stuff happens" is used.  Wikipedia credits this variant of the term "sh*t happens" to writer Paul Rhymer and Vic and Sade.  (((HEAR)))

+ The last few episodes have all been more than 10 minutes long; a sign that less commercial time was going into the program and probably a sign of the popularity of Vic and Sade.

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41-09-09 Vic Gets Gift "Rap" Again

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

The gang at work has elected Vic to buy a gift for Mr. Ruebush at Christmas. While he and Sade discuss possible gifts to buy, Rush is busy in the background, almost constanly using the telphone to collect debts that will allow him to buy Defense Savings Stamps.

________________________

This is sort of an unusual episode.

For one thing, Rush is there the whole episode but the action seems to be taking place around him.

For another thing, this seems to be some sort of propaganda episode for Defense Savings Stamps.

Even though this episode took place about three months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor (and thus the Declaration of War against the Japanese), the United States began selling Defense Savings Stamps in May of 1941 to help support the production of military equipment, most of it for the British Allies and the Lend-Lease deal.

Some stamps could be had for as little as a dime.

The photograph on the left shows that less a week after this episode aired it was, "Defense Week."

It was common for radio shows to be used for government propaganda purposes - although as a rule, it seems that Paul Rhymer and his Vic and and Sade program were not usually a part of such campaigns.

Trivia:

From 41-08-26 Uncle Fletcher the Protector

+ Sade mentions that Vic had went on a trip with Mr. Ruebush. This seems to imply that perhaps the recent Art Van Harvey vacation could have been (and probably was) explained away using that excuse.

+ Mr. Ruebush likes candy.

+ The Thimble Club (with Sade as one of the committee members) bought Defense Savings Stamps.

+ Cracky Otto is described as wearing a skull cap (a beanie, most probably) and tennis shoes.

+ Sade suggests (jokingly) that she and Vic should sit in the basement in the evenings in order to elude phone calls for Rush.

+ Here's a list of the gifts Sade suggests that Vic buy for Mr. Ruebush for Christmas:

• easy slippers 
• pipes 
• cigars
• valice (luggage) 
• handkerchiefs 
• candy 
• chair 
• footstool 
• umbrella holder 
• picture 

+ Rush calls several friends in this episode and that provides us with a list of telephone numbers that we haven't known before this episode:

• Smelly Clark (#2457-J) 
• Vernon Peggles (#2596-W) 
• Arnold Shipley (#7329-L)
• LeRoy Snow (#6509-R) 
• Heinie Call (#5542-L)

I love it when Vic gets frustrated when the telephone rings. His expression can't be beaten!: {{{HEAR}}}

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41-03-31 Rush Wants His Interest

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BILL IDELSON

A re-working of the 40-04-15 Milton's Dirt in Fruit Jars script. Instead of getting jars of dirt from other states and selling them to Milton Welch, Rush wants to get the interest off of his savings account and pay the ones he owes and buy a few items. The ending is not quite as good as the Fruit Jars episode but it suffices.

________________________

Sade is missing from this episode and that's probably a good thing. Sade would never let Rush even hint at getting at his bank account. She would have been a wet towel that would shut Rush up - and the conversation would have shifted to whatever Sade wanted to talk about.

While I liked the ending of the original script better, Rush has grown up quite a bit in a year, so tears seem to be out of the question. And you have to love Vic; when he and his son have a one on one, Vic always seems to come through.

Trivia:

+ Rush owes Smelly Clark a dime, Leland Richards 8 cents and Russell Duncan 3 packages of chewing gum. He's in debt to the Greek for a quarter.

When Rush gets the idea that he could withdraw his savings account interest...(edited): {{{HEAR}}}

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40-03-25 Smelly Clark's Big Date

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON 

Rush relays the story (without interruption!) of Smelly Clark's date with young Lillie Speigel and how he parades around the Bijou showing off.

MIS' CROWE SAYS:
Smelly Clark goes on a date with a girl; Rush gives his folks the play-by-play.

Rush is allowed to tell this story with absolutely no interruption, since Sade is such a connoisseur of gossip, and an uninterrupted Rush story is always a joy to hear. He has Vic and Sade in the palm of his hand as he describes Smelly Clark’s endearingly outrageous behavior on his first date. It’s a delight to imagine this kid, probably scrawny and overdressed, acting like a dashing man about town. I wonder if he’ll get a second date with Lily. After that running commentary he gave on the movie, I’m guessing probably not.

In a previous episode, [six days earlier -JIMBO] Rush was reading a Third Lieutenant Stanley novel in which the Lieutenant is free and easy with his money, lavishing ridiculous gifts on his lady friend, the Countess (hey! What happened to Lady Margaret?), even going so far as to throw a quarter in the river, “just to show he don’t give a darn.” Smelly must have read this latest volume too, as he seems to be emulating his hero, albeit with much smaller gestures, proportional to his means.

SEE THE SCRIPT (transcribed by Lydia Crowe)

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Trivia:

+ At the beginning of the episode, Sade speaks of a broken clock in the house; Vic wants to fix it but Sade won't allow him to.

+ Rush went to the Bijou with Rooster Davis and saw a Gloria Golden film, but no title or description is given.

+ Smelly threw away three perfectly good sticks of gum in order to impress Lillie.

Some things Smelly said aloud throughout the movie: {{{HEAR}}}

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39-03-08 Mr. Erickson's House Repairs

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic and Rush come home to find an axe by the washboard.

Sade has been after the landlord, Mr. Erickson, for a while to fix up the house. When she comes home, she tells them that Mr. Erickson has some crazy notion that the family can take turns (or make a game out of) destroying the staircase banister, to make his job easier when he finally does get around making the house repairs in the spring.  He's also left a knife for removing the wallpaper in the kitchen.

Sade doesn't like Mr. Erickson or his "fat daughter," who has gold teeth.  She called Mr. Erickson "greasy" and "oily!"

While Sade thinks this is a ridiculous idea, Rush thinks it's it will be fun and can't wait to help in the destruction.  (In later episodes we will see just how much Rush loves house destruction.)

MIS; CROWE SAYS:
Sade is concerned about landlord Mr. Erickson’s proposed plan for completing a few much-needed repairs on the house.

Although nostalgia is certainly a part of Vic and Sade's appeal, it is by no means the main feature that attracts people to the show. It's amazing to me how few episodes actually feel dated: some things just haven't changed since the 1930s. The indignity suffered by a renter is one of those things.

Mr. Erickson episodes are near and dear to my heart. I live in a college town where demand for cheap housing is high, and I am no stranger to creepy, oily, shady, irresponsible landlords; below-code apartments, fixtures falling off walls, crumbling staircases, unusable appliances, radon-filled basements that shouldn’t even have people living in them, and much-needed repairs taking eons to get done — and there’s not very much you can do about it because moving is a pain and you’re not going to find affordable housing anywhere else. Oh, Vic & Sade, how keenly I feel your pain!

For me, the best part of this is Rush’s (largely ignored) attempts to communicate to his parents that he is 100% in favor of the arrangement. He’s holding onto a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, his parents will go along with Mr. Erickson on this and he’ll get to take an axe and hack pieces out of the woodwork. His parents’ obvious dismay and disgust at the idea does not sway him — he still thinks that if he is sure to voice his opinion, he may have a chance. That’s one of the things I like about Rush — no scheme is too ambitious, no hope too high.  

Rush’s inane phone conversations with Bluetooth are hilarious in this episode too. (That’s another thing that hasn’t changed since the 30s — 14-year-olds use the phone way too much.)

SEE THE SCRIPT (transcription by Lydia Crowe)

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The issue with the house and it's repair pops up time and time again on Vic and Sade. Mr. Erickson likes to do things cheaply; hence, the axe and the knife.

While a work of fiction, I wouldn't be surprised to hear of landlord actually doing things like this!

Trivia:

+ This is the first time in the existing  audio shows that Mr. Erickson (and his daughter) are mentioned.

+ Mr. Gumpox is also mentioned. Vic and Rush suspect the axe they found belongs to him. (Mr. Gumpox is known to carry different tools in his garbage wagon, according to Rush.)

+ The Bijou is mentioned for the for time in the existing audio. Rush and Blue Tooth Johnson are going to the show.

+ The Greek is mentioned briefly.

+ Erickson's daughter (who we will later learn is named Beulah) lives on Mulberry Street.

+ So far, we know that Sade does not like Mr. Erickson, his daughter and now she's starting to turn on Mis' Applerot...

{{{HEAR}}} Rush asks if Blue Tooth Johnson telephoned...

{{{HEAR}}} Rush talks to Blue Tooth on the phone.

HOW DO YOU IMAGINE MR. ERICKSON?

Mr. Erickson sounds like a loud, corpulent man, with a round, moon-like face that always wears a smile; but with shrewd eyes constantly probing for financial gain. He thinks he impresses people with his good humor and open-handedness, but, because of his love for appearances over character, and bargains over value, he seems shabby and vulgar. - Mis' Sarah Cole

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