41-xx-xx The Stillness of the Afternoon is Broken

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

Sade's quiet afternoon is broken when Rush, Fletcher and Vic invade her telephone conversation.

The family all find out they are going separate ways.

SEE THE SCRIPT
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This episode features Sade, Vic, Russell and Uncle Fletcher in a somewhat crazy caricature of itself. After all, where else are you going to find "the horse that choked Billy Patterson" (to my knowledge this script is the only one to have a horse choke Billy Patterson!) and Vic admitting readily that he bought a hat, right to Sade's face (although no brim size is mentioned.) The episode also is crammed with exaggerations (especially from Sade) and lots of trivia that conflicts with prior episodes. This doesn't make the episode unfun but rather a curious anomaly and well worth hearing.

Trivia:

+ Uncle Fletcher contends a romance is brewing between his landlady, Mis' Keller and Rishigan Fishigan.  

+ Sade somehow knew that Vic had bought a new hat. It's never explained how she knew this.

+ Mis' Keller's name in this episode is "Helen." We'll be told over and over later in the series that her name is "Leota."

+ Mr. Gumpox now has an automobile horn on his garbage wagon.

+ Rishigan Fishigan dressed up. He was wearing nearly the same outfit as Uncle Fletcher in this episode.

+ Vic got his initials put inside his hat. The hat salesman's name was Arthur Willis.

+ The town has two ladies named Mis' McFreemer. One lives on South Morris Ave. and the other on West Monroe Street.

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.

46-07-18 Midsummer Madness

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

When the people around her begin losing their temper, Sade suspects "Midsummer Madness."

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"Midsummer Madness" is the heat of the summer; everyone is hot, bothered and irritable.

Trivia:

+ Ruthie Stembottom had some kind of argument with Mr. Kroucher, the grocer - so bad of an argument that she said she would not trade with him anymore.

Later though, they make up and things between them seem to be back to normal.

+ After Rush gets kicked out of the Bijou (by manager Milton Ferberman, no less) for making comments about Four-Fisted Frank Fuddleman and Gloria Golden, he plans on suing the theater. Recall Blue Tooth Johnson had plans on more than one occasion to do this as well.

However, later, Mr. Ferberman calls up Rush offers him $1.75 to usher at the evening picture show, which Rush gratefully accepts.

+ Vic and his boss Mr. Ruebush exchanged feverish remarks about a missing paper.

However, Mr. Ruebush calls later and apologizes and invites Vic to the Butler House Hotel to eat supper.

It is revealed Mr. Ruebush's initials are "J.K."

+ Uncle Fletcher comes over to the Gook house complaining that he's been insulted by landlady, Mis' Keller and plans to give her his six months' notice. (Actually, it seems he was mad because she threw out hyena grease because it was stinking and put on top of her sideboard.)

He's also mad at her because "she claims she's too busy to listen" to his dreams.

However, she later calls and everything seems to be all right.

+ Uncle Fletcher keeps his hyena grease in a crock that says, "Compliments of Sweet Esther, Wisconsin" on it.

+ It rains in this episode.

Here's Bernadine Flynn as Sade and Clarence Hartzell as Uncle Fletcher doing a commercial for Fitch Shampoo: {{{HEAR}}}

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45-12-05 Engagement!

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

The rumors going around the neighborhood are true! Dwight Twentysixler and Florence Harris are engaged!

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Dwight must really love Mis' Harris, for he removes his shingle nails for her. And she picks them up and stuffs them in her mouth and talks with them. That's real romance.

Trivia:

+ Sade refers to "Irvin" (the grocery boy) as "Irving" - something usually reserved for Vic.

+ Sade says Dwight "is strange but nice."

+ Rush calls him "an eccentric fellow." Also he notes that "he wears his shoes on the wrong feet" (recall Y.Y. Flirch had once done the same thing.) He also wears his cap backwards - which was pretty odd back in 1945, but is commonplace today.

+ When Uncle Fletcher arrives, he tries to shoo Rush into the cellar so he can talk about the engagement. Uncle Fletcher is all about sending people into the cellar.

+ Uncle Fletcher claims that not only did he introduce Mis' Harris and Dwight, he "engineered" the whole romance between the two. That's probably true, as someone had to interpret Dwight's words since his mouth is always full of shingle nails.

+ The happy couple show up; of course they didn't ring or knock on the door.

+ Mis' Harris coerces Dwight to talk without the shingle nails: {{{HEAR}}}

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45-11-27 Parade of Interruptions

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

Sade complains to Vic that she can't get any work done because visitors keep interrupting her.

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And she aint kidding! Sade is interrupted by a total of nine people, including Vic.

This is a better than the average show, although, it's not one of the better ones.

Trivia:

+ Vic came home early from work because workmen were hammering on the steam pipes.

+ Sade complains to Vic about the visitors simply walking in the house without knocking. This was never a problem before 'Series 2' because there were no real people (save the Brainfeebles and Leland "I Want My Mommy" Richards.) This "problem" was created by Paul Rhymer!

+ Those who had bothered Sade before Vic arrived:

• The Brick Mush man
• Mr. Sprawl (he came to bring embroidery hoops that Mis' Harris had borrowed.)
• Vernon Korkell (not to read the meter but to kiss-off time.)
• Mr. Gumpox (he just noticed the big chip knocked out of the garbage box. That incident occured July 28, 1944, almost a year and a half prior to this incident!)
• Mr. Erickson (wanted to see if the back porch really needed to be fixed.)
  
• Rishigan Fishigan (came by to see if the Gooks needed their windows washed.)
  
• A cosmetics saleman (he had some stuff to smear on your face to make you look pretty.)

Once Vic got to the house, more visitors (all real characters) arrived:

• Orville Wheenie (he came by looking for Vernon Korkell who was long gone)
• Uncle Fletcher
• Mr. Gertner (The City Water Inspector; his first appearance. He seems to know Uncle Fletcher pretty well, since he calls him "Fletch.")
• Jimmy Custard (Still confused, he's lost his glasses and thinks Sade is called, "Mrs. Emerson.")
• Harry Dean (A telephone repairman; his first appearance.)

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45-11-19 Unwanted Samaritan

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Mis' Harris and Sade bawl out Uncle Fletcher for being an unwanted "good" samaritan to Mr. Sprawl, Mis' Harris' elderly father.

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Not a horrible beginning to what I shall call 'Series 2.' 

We are introduced to two new voices, Mis' Harris (called "Mrs. Florence Harris" by the announcer) and her father, Mr. Sprawl.

I never imagined Mis' Harris speaking the way she does, although to be honest, I never imagined the voice of Mis' Harris anyway. Mr. Sprawl doesn't say much and since he's brand new to the series, I didn't cringe when I heard his voice.

All-in-all, not a bad experience... however, this is a pretty boring story and likely was not the first episode in the Vic and Sade 'revival.'

Johnny Coons plays the part of Mr. Sprawl and actress Dolly Day plays Mis' Harris.

+ There appears to be something mysterious about the Donahue's attic.  I wish we knew more about the mystery, which I suspect either concludes later or is part of an earlier, missing episode.

+ It appears as though Dwight Twentysixler has a flame for Mis' Harris, who you may recall is a widow.

+ Mr. Sprawl (according to Wikipedia) was played by Johnny Coons. The actress that played Mis' Harris is uncredited.

+ Dr. Miller is Mr. Sprawl's doctor. He prescribed "fresh air and sunshine" for Sprawl, according to Mis' Harris.

+ Sweet Corn McBlock is mentioned. He's probably a large man and a cronie of Uncle Fletcher.

Normal, Illinois is famous for it's sweet corn.

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45-03-18 The Stillness of an Afternoon is Broken (Philco Radio Hall of Fame)

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

Not at all your usual Vic and Sade episode, mainly because it's not a Vic and Sade episode at all; it's an episode of the Philco Radio Hall of Fame and it was recorded before a live audience while the Vic and Sade show was on hiatus.

Because of the unusual broadcast, I kept the original introduction to the show by the Philco Radio Hall of Fame announcer Glen Riggs.  I also kept the audience clapping at the end, which adds to the flavor of the episode and helps remind us that this is a live broadcast.

On hiatus for the first time in 13 years, this episode features Sade, Vic, Russell and Uncle Fletcher in a somewhat crazy caricature of itself. After all, where else are you going to find "the horse that choked Billy Patterson" (never, in the history of the prior series, did a horse ever choke Billy Patterson!) and Vic admitting readily that he bought a hat, right to Sade's face (although no brim size is mentioned.) The episode also is crammed with exaggerations (especially from Sade) and lots of trivia that conflicts with prior episodes. This doesn't make the episode unfun but rather a curious anomaly and well worth hearing.

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This particular recording is of much higher quality than any you have probably heard. I took this episode from a much-less-chopped-and-cropped Philco recording I found. You will find it sounds excellent!  Even if you don't usually download my episodes, you will want to download this one.

This episode is a fine way to bridge the gap from series one to series two.

Trivia:

+ Since this isn't Vic and Sade but rather, Philco's Radio Hall of Fame, none of this trivia will be used in Vic and Sade Characters.

+ David Whitehouse's voice seems to have lowered quite a bit in 6 months.

+ Uncle Fletcher contends a romance is brewing between his landlady, Mis' Keller and Rishigan Fishigan. This means that somewhere along the line, Mr. Harry Feedburn and Mis' Keller decided not to get married after all.

This kind of makes me mad as we listened to a month of episodes (the storyline on the radio was two and half months) about the brewing romance between Feedburn and Keller and it all went for nought.

+ Sade somehow knew that Vic had bought a new hat. It's never explained how she knew this.

+ Mis' Keller's name in this episode is "Helen." We've been told over and over that her name is "Leota."

+ Mr. Gumpox now has an automobile horn on his garbage wagon.

+ Rishigan Fishigan dressed up. He was wearing nearly the same outfit as Uncle Fletcher in this episode.

+ Vic got his initials put inside his hat. The hat salesman's name was Arthur Willis.

+ The town has two ladies named Mis' McFreemer. One lives on South Morris Ave. and the other on West Monroe Street. 

+ The original version of this episode was first broadcast in 1941.  Rush played the part that Russell plays in this episode.

VIEW THE SCRIPT

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44-09-19 Vic to be Best Man

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

Uncle Fletcher has dire news for the Gooks and calls Vic to come home from the office early. Upon arrival, Uncle Fletcher tries to give the job of 'best man' of the upcoming wedding of his land lady/Mr. Feedburn to Vic, who wants no part in the wedding ceremony and does not understand why he was dragged home from the office.

Then, Uncle Fletcher really pulls the rabbit out of the hat when he suggests that Mr. Feedburn - who is arriving two weeks prior to the wedding - stay at the Gook house in the interim.

Sade, while not refusing, questions his request in such a way that we know she will eventually refuse.

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Vic and Sade, while trying not to be negative to Uncle Fletcher during his busy time of helping prepare for the wedding, have to be on their guard; for Uncle Fletcher is full of surprises and is trying to brush off some of the responsibilities off on the couple.

Has he bitten off more than he can chew? Why does he care if his land lady gets married? Why did he take oceans of responsibility if he wasn't able to tackle it? Questions better left until another episode because the answers aren't in this one.

Trivia:

+ Russell asks permission to go to the YMCA to watch the fat men play handball; this is the first time I recall either he or Rush asking permission to do that. As a matter of fact, the only things I ever recall the boys needing permission to do anything was for sleeping over at a friend's house and going to the Bijou on a school night (many times.)

+ When Russell arrives at the house, Uncle Fletcher wants Vic, Sade and himself to go to Vic's office at the Consolidated Kitchenware plant so they can be alone. When Vic questions Uncle Fletcher about this asinine suggestion, Sade tells Russell to "Go down cellar." It may not seem that funny to the casual Vic and Sade fan but it struck me as being one of the top 50 or so moments in the show's history; this is because of the way Bernadine Flynn delivers the line (almost a whisper to Russell) and the fact that in a previous episode, Uncle Fletcher tried to shoo Sade and Russell into the cellar to talk business with Vic.

I'm guessing that writer Paul Rhymer was shooed into the cellar in his youth or just has a warped sense of humor. Cellars are no place to congregate and spend time. Imagine the spiders and whatnot down there... Either way, the notion (to me anyway) is hilarious.

Russell, understanding he's "not wanted" during the "big news" suggests, "Why don't I go to the Miller Park lake and jump in? I'd be just about as welcome there..."

+ There are a number of lines in this episode that are funny but only if you have been following the whole "Mis' Keller is getting married" thing. Uncle Fletcher deems it necessary to talk superfluously while speaking about his responsibilities and has been repeating the phrase, "the unbearable alternative" throughout the weeks of this particular storyline. When he says it in this episode, Vic suggests he gets the meme "tattooed to his chest."

+ When talking about the two hotels in town - the Butler House and the Bright Kentucky - Uncle Fletcher says, "One is expensive and one is shabby." While this is true and it's well-known to even the casual Vic and Sade fan that reads Vic and Sade material strewn over the internet (Wikipedia for example.) This is the first time the two hotels have been compared in this exact stereotyping.

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44-09-11 Honeymoon Guide

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

Russell [reading]: "3rd Lieutenant Clinton Stanley, his large, square teeth the color of expensive ivory, glittered horsely."

Uncle Fletcher complains that the whole weight of the upcoming wedding of his landlady is on his shoulders. In addtion to everything else he's done, he's consented to be the 'best man' and will also hire a guide for the honeymooning couple: Rishigan Fishigan.

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Vic makes Uncle Fletcher's problems worse by teasing him considerably.

Trivia:

+ Uncle Fletcher refers to the football stadium as the 'football diamond.'

+ Mis' Keller has lived in town 4 years but doesn't know the city well at all. She has never even been to Miller Park, which seems to be the town's biggest attraction.

+ Olive Street was mentioned for the first time.

Russell reads from a 3rd Lieutenant Stanley "story book"... {{{HEAR}}}

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44-06-13 Prettiest Eye Contest

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

At Vic's workplace, a "Prettiest Eyes Beauty Contest" was held. Vic expresses to Sade that he tied for first place. Vic then mentions that there was a co-winner and Sade finally drags it out of him that it was Lolita di Rienzi. She is slightly suspicious.

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While we can be sure than Vic is completely innocent, this is not the first episode where Sade has been suspicious of Vic and Lolita. This is a fun episode but it could have been more fun if Sade had gotten mad; here, she is just suspicious.

Trivia:

+ Vic received a blue, "freckled" tie from Gus Fuss at Christmas.

+ Vic's eyes have "purple flakes" and Lolita's eyes are large.

+ Art Van Harvey totally blows a line when talking about Consolidated Kitchenware: (((HEAR)))

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44-04-05 Hyena Grease

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

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

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

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

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

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

Trivia:

art by Dave Duckert

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

+ Heinie Call takes violin lessons.

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

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

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44-03-17 Vic's Cancelled Trip

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNADINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Vic is disappointed when his proposed trip to Sweet Esther, Wisconsin falls through.

Hoping to spend some quality time with his friend Homer U. McDancey is Sweet Esther, nothing seems to go right for Vic. First of all, McDancey's stop in Sweet Esther would only be a five minute layover as he rushes to another train station three blocks away to catch another train to the East Coast.

Another problem exists in that in order for Vic to go to Sweet Esther, he'd have to take a total of 5 different trains to get there.

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Not a funny episode but certainly an entertaining one. A question occurs to me though, is that Vic should have known about the difficulties of getting to Sweet Esther as he had planned on going once before (of course it's possible that trip got ruined too - we'll probably never know because Proctor and Gamble threw away so many episodes.)

Slyly, Russell Miller sort of takes on the role of Uncle Fletcher in this episode, being a slightly annoying background piece for Vic and Sade while complaining about something in his tooth.

Trivia:

+ Russell suggests that Blue Tooth Johnson is trying to be deceitful because he traded a bicylce pump for a doghouse - yet he has no dog.

+ Russell says that Blue Tooth "gets a sensation" when pouring water down his neck."

+ The highest-level of lodge brother to date is mentioned in this episode: Honky J. Sponger of Chicago is a Sublime Sky Brother Imperial Sacred Stars of the Milky Way.  Although the title seems lofty, it's more or less a combined business manager, publicity agent and general secretary. Sponger wanted a picture of McDancey and Vic marching together during their visits to Sweet Esther but even that's impossible because McDancey has to almost run three blocks to catch his connecting train and the street near the railway station is currently being torn up.

Train route to Sweet Esther

+ In order for Vic to take a train trip to Sweet Esther, Wisconsin, Vic would have to go first to Peoria, change trains and then head to Galesburg, Illinois - change trains and go to Sycamore, Illinois - change trains and go to Dubuque, Iowa and then finally catch a train that goes to Sweet Esther (a fictional city.)

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43-12-15 The Color of Gumpox's Eyes

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Mr. Gumpox has heard talk around town; people have been discussing his blue eyes.

He's always felt that his eyes are his best feature. He's even been calling on Mis' Razorscum at her back door and talking to her just so he can show off his eyes; she, on the other hand, doesn't know what to say to him.

She seems to finally have gotten rid of him by sending him to the Gook house; he telephones twice near the end of the episode telling them he'd like to come over. Vic asks for the phone and Sade knows that Vic will tell Mr. Gumpox where to get off... Pretty sure Vic read Gumpox the riot act. Gumpox has gone behind Vic’s back in the past (and will do so in the future), so Vic is never happy with him. Vic also doesn’t like men who cry and Gumpox is a crier. Vic, too, has beautiful blue eyes (according to the kids at the office), so the green monster may be lurking.

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Trivia:

+ Near the very beginning of the episode Sade enters the back door; Vic calls out inquiring whether it is "Irving" the delivery boy. We know from careful listening that the delivery boy is named, "Irvin" - "Irving" on the other hand, is an office boy at Consolidated Kitchenware. (Take note, however, that after further study, it seems that Irving/Irvin is used interchangeably by various characters in various episodes and only on one occasion are they not referring to the grocery delivery boy.)

+ Russell saw and talked to Mr. Gumpox while in line at the Bijou. We learned from an earlier episode that Mr. Gumpox never misses a film opening.

+ We find out that while Mr. Gumpox might be slightly conceited about his blue eyes that he's also a soft-hearted, easy-going, sensitive fellow whose feelings easily get hurt.

+ There is more than one garbage man in town; probably several. Mr. Gruber is mentioned as the garbage collector between University and Main streets whom Mr. Gumpox almost got into a fight with.

+ Prairie Street is mentioned for the first time.

Sade sounds a lot like Uncle Fletcher: {{{HEAR}}}

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