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Showing posts with label Lolita di Rienzi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lolita di Rienzi. Show all posts

42-07-2x Vic's Inspection Tour

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Consolidated Kitchenware has made plans to send Vic on a month-long business tour.  Just days earlier, Vic was given a shower by the Thimble Club ladies (which I'm certain he felt uncomfortable about). And now, they plan to see him off on the train as well and part of the plan is throw sawdust all over him.

Vic has strong reservations about this, since his bosses Misters Buller and Ruebush will be with him and he doesn't want them covered in sawdust!

But it gets even more dicey - "the girls from the office" (including Lolita di Rienzi) are also coming along for the ride!
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Trivia:

+ Rush says people might get the impression Vic has just gotten married (because of the sawdust).

+ The "kids from the office" may be carrying flowers, according to Vic.

+ At the end of the episode, Sade says she isn't mad and does not seem mad, so we assume she is NOT mad.  So why is that Vic is upset, when he mutters, "Dog gone! Dog gone! Dog gone!"?
 
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42-09-28 Princess Moon-on-the-River

Sade finds out from gossip that Lolita di Rienzi is actually an Indian princess known as "Moon-on-the-River"!  This news is startling to her and she can't wait to tell Vic.  But.  He.  Already.  Knows.  And Sade is furious because he's known "for years" and has never said a word about it!

Meanwhile, Rush has fascinating tale to tell about a fight between Mildred Tisdel and Leland Richards.
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Busted!

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.)

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

44-03-22 Grand Re-Opening of the Tea Shoppy

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND  DAVID WHITEHOUSE
  • The Little Tiny Petite Pheasant Feather Tea Shoppy is now under management of Pom Pom Cordova.  Sade's Thimble Club is backing the venture. Thimble Club Vice-President, Mis' Fenwick, is the new owner.  Pom Pom, as manager and hostess, will put up a glamorous front for drumming up business.  One of the big, free attractions: Pom Pom and Lolita di Rienzi duets on Caribbean Dream Flute and Tropical Guitar.
  • The shop re-opens at noon tomorrow: free funny hats for the gentlemen, free noise-makers for the ladies, cigars and roses for the old folks.  Russell and his pals will be handing out these items.
  • Sade will attend the grand re-opening with Ruthie Stembottom, Mis' Trogle, and Mis' Hendricks.
  • Sade: "everybody happy as my undershirt, huh?"
  • Vic fears Sade will pounce on him in regard to Pom Pom. 
  • Rishigan Fishigan is passing out handbills on people's porches.
  • Russell: "they're really doing it up brown." - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason
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So it comes out that the rumor Mis' Appelrot was passing around was somewhat true.  Vic doesn't seem to have any part in the backing - although, oddly enough - the Thimble Club seems to have way, way more to do with the Little Tiny Petite Pheasant Feather Tea Shoppy changing hands than Vic.

Pom Pom and Lolita make their musical dreams come true.  I'm sure their music was very pretty; it's a shame there are no  muted silver moonbeam chimes to go along with them.

44-03-10 Mis' Appelrot Spreads A Rumor About Vic

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND  DAVID WHITEHOUSE
  • While in Chicago, Mis' Appelrot met a man who told her Pom Pom Cordova is going to manage the Little Tiny Petite Pheasant Feather Tea Shoppy, and Sade thinks Vic has been holding this intelligence to himself.
  • Mis' Appelrot has led Sade to believe Vic's one of the backers and is on the Board of Governors of the restaurant.
  • Lolita di Rienzi had told Vic about Pom Pom's plans and joked that Vic should be on the Board of Governors.  Mis' Appelrot also suggested Vic had agreed to play duets with Pom Pom on the Caribbean Dream Flute and Tropical Guitar.  Meanwhile, Russell squirms while waiting for Sade to concentrate on what items he's to buy at the grocery.
  • Vic (kittenish): "Kiddo-widdow never even told Vicky-Sticky ‘hello' "
  • Sade gets a cramp in her elbow – suggests it's a sign that your mother-in-law broke her darning needle.  - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason
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It's not implied in the notes but it's evident that Sade is mad in this episode. She gets mad (or at least, pretends to be) whenever the subjects of Pom Pom and Lolita are brought up, especially in connection with Vic's name.  She may be jealous - she may just use it as an excuse to blow off steam against Vicky-Sticky.

In this episode, we have a rumor of information that may involve Vic and money.  And he's not said a word about it to Sade.  You can imagine that she's a bit curious to find out if the rumors are true.

We don't find out in this episode but will in the near future.

Dr. Keevy's name is brought up in this episode - and seems to be in each episode that Pom Pom and Lolita are in.

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.

44-09-06 Muted Silver Moonbeam Chimes

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

ping tinkle tinkle ping tinkle
Vic is once again busted by Sade for his extracurricular activities with Lolita di Rienzi and Pom Pom Cordova. While Vic is certainly not fooling around with either woman, he does seem to be around the women often and without Sade's knowledge.

As in the past, it's once again music that brings the three in contact. And just as in the past episodes, Vic is subjected to embarrassment and slight ridicule by his wife.

Is Sade jealous?  Does she pretend to be jealous?  These are things we can only guess at for there is no way for us to know.
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This one unfolds pretty much like the others where Vic teams up with "the kids" at work - and there are no surprises here - the odd musical instrument (muted silver moonbeam chimes) being the one exception.

There's quite a bit of new information about the town in this episode and I always enjoy expanding my encyclopedia of characters, buildings, map, etc.

I can't imagine for the life of me that Sade is really jealous of the two young ladies.  Vic is just too goofy to be taken seriously by any female, it would seem to me.  Sure, he has charm at times and from everything we have heard, he's good looking and has pretty eyes and wrists, etc.  But come on, who would fall for Vic (aside from Sade?) 

Trivia:

+ We find out that the town Vic and Sade live in has a bus system. We never knew this before this episode. Sade and Mis' Trogle are taking the bus to Oakland Avenue to visit Mis' Schill. This is the first time she's been mentioned. Since she lives on Oakland Avenue, we can assume her husband makes a lot of money, since the street is referred to in previous episodes as being one of the more expensive neighborhoods.

+ Shoe laces are mentioned again. Specifically, brown shoe laces. This is at least the second time Sade mentioned brown shoe laces at Emson's shoe store. Careful listening to the series will provide enough mention of shoe laces to literally choke Billy Patterson.

+ Herder's music store was mentioned for the first time. It's owned by Mr. Herder and it's the first time he's been mentioned in the surviving series.

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44-07-27 Vic's Foreign Accent

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

Vic practices a foreign accent on Sade. She immediately smells a rat and begins piecing together (to Vic's embarrassment) why he is doing so. The kids at Consolidated Kitchenware, who hang around the switchboard during the noon hour (and more specifically Lolita di Rienzi) told him he ought to talk with a foreign accent because it goes with his personality.
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You can't fool Sade!  And when she gets "going", she is intimidating!

A great chance for Vic to show off his dialect.

Trivia:

+ Florence Ratfunnel was mentioned for the first time. Her name was mentioned in the paper. She used to live on University Street and she and Sade were "almost chummy." Sade has not seen her in a while. The Ratfunnel's live on Jackson Street now. Her husband is named, Arthur.

+ Mis' Atwool Hoppers was mentioned.

+ Charlie Myers is mentioned. He lives on West Jefferson. There is no alley behind his house.

+ In a missing episode, it appears that Lolita also told Vic that he had "slender feet" "tapering wrists" and a "noble head." Sade makes mention that Russell was also told he had a "noble head" in the previous episode.

Vic (and Sade's) foreign accents (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

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44-07-17 Marching Plans Disappear

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Vic gets an exciting letter from Honky J. Sponger at lodge headquarters, that proposes a month-long All-Star Marching Band camping trip in Dismal Seepage, Ohio. Such a trip would bring much-needed publicity to the marching team.

Of course, Vic is raring to go, until his family reminds him of the various ailments of other members of the marching team and other things that could go wrong.
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There's not much of anything funnier in the whole series than the All-Star Marching Team. We all know of Vic's enthusiasm for marching and so when he is shut down from this, you know he has to be heartbroken.

Vic doesn't give a second thought of spending the whole hot month of August in a Chataqua tent, with two people to a cot. He doesn't even seem to think about the money lost from taking a whole month off from Consolidated Kitchenware. Face it: the joys of marching are a drug to Vic.

Trivia:

+ Russell says Smelly Clark and Blue Tooth Johnson were almost in a fist fight. We never do learn what caused the anger between the two but the instigator seems to have been Archie McDuffer, a mean, big kid who was at Tatman's vacant lot.

+ We find that Monroe and Lee Streets intersect somewhere near the vacant lot.

+ Among the events we have missed (due to missing episodes) are Homer U. McDancey is in the hospital for an unspecified ailment; Y.Y. Flirch had his foot broken when a fast passenger train hit him and Robert and Slobert Hink and Vic are on the outs - Vic even went so far as to call them, "crooks."

+ The way Sade talked, E.W. Smith may also be a part of the All-Star Marching Team. He would be the 11th member, but someone could have quit or maybe someone lost their position. Russell makes mention that there are [still] only 10 members of the team.

+ Russell read that Dismal Seepage, Ohio reaches an average high temperature of 115 degrees in August and has 80 mosquitoes per square foot of air.

+ At the end of the episode, a dejected Vic goes over to Ike Kneesuffer's to pass time playing indoor horseshoes. Vic often does this when he is disappointed.

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44-06-16 Piercing Blue Eyes

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

At home, Sade catches Vic making odd movements with his face and eyebrows. When she inquires to why he is doing such a thing, he sheepishly admits that he and the kids at the office again had a talk about his eyes.

Although Sade is already onto him and knows what he's going to say, he admits that Lolita di Rienzi told him he had "piercing blue eyes" and Steve Chestbutter told Vic he should accentuate them by using facial and eyebrow movements. Chessbutter also told Vic that if he had eyes like that, he would lower the tone of his voice.

Once the cat is out of the bag, Vic begins practicing both things full tilt, frustrating Sade.
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Great moment when the telephone rings and Vic says "Telephone's ringin'!" in his low voice: {{{HEAR}}}

Trivia:

+ Mis' Appelrot was born in Hopedale. Her father was an agent for a veternary supply house and thus she lived all over Central Illinois. Her father owned five farms in the county.

+ Fred Stembottom calls and without wavering, both Vic and Sade refer to him as "Ted" - despite a previous episode where Sade exclaimed to Uncle Fletcher and the family that it must not continue.

When the Gooks call him "Ted" though, he doesn't seem to mind.

+ Someone calls with the wrong number; although it's never said who called or who they called for, can't we imagine the call was for Fat Jackson?

Vic, in his deep voice, talks to Ted Stembottom on the telephone: {{{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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44-05-30 Lolita di Rienzi Compliments Vic

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Lolita di Rienzi suggests to Vic that he write a series of articles or even a book about his recent experiences on his trip to the Midwest with Mr. Ruebush.

Although the things that happen to him are quite routine, the impetus of Lolita's suggestion has him in very good spirits. Of course that ends quickly enough once he's home and begins to tell Sade and Russell, who rib him into leaving the house.
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Vic once took a trip where he wrote a long article about it; the newspaper editor Ed Greefer was not at all impressed.

Trivia:

+ Vic's lunch hour at work is over at 1:00; we certainly have assumed that but now we know.

+ "Old Man" Chieferson was seen in the neighborhood. He lives on Oakland Avenue now but apparently used to live on Virginia Avenue or thereabouts. He has a daughter named Louise McDermott.

+ Lolita works in the boxing department of Consolidated Kitchenware.

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43-11-19 Caribbean Dream Flute

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

Sade reads in the paper again about Pom Pom Cordova; this time she's playing the tropical guitar at the luxurious Purple Room of the Butler House Hotel.

After bringing up the subject with Vic, she then learns that he's been meeting up with Pom Pom and Lolita di Rienzi at Dr. Keevy's office on several occasions and even on consecutive days.

While Sade doesn't seem to suspect Vic is up to no-good, she still wields the situation over his head hoping he will say the wrong thing to dig himself deeper in a hole.
But Vic is innocent and his only crime is found to be wanting to learn how to play the Caribbean Dream flute, which Mis' Cordova tells him would sound well in duets with her tropical guitar.
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Like all men, even when Vic is innocent, he sounds guilty.

Vic hit the nail on the head when he says that Sade is making a big deal out of the situation because she wants drama in her life. That's not to say that Sade is a bad person but she enjoys picking on Vic, especially when there really is something there to mess with him about.

Is he carrying on some naughty tryst with Pom Pom and Lolita? Most assuredly not. Still, he did act secretly and that makes for an episode where we get to hear him try and wiggle out of something he didn't do.

Trivia:

+ Russell's absence in this episode is explained by him being at the YMCA, watching the fat men play handball. This is the first time we've heard him enjoying this activity.

+ We find out that Lolita lives in the Monte Carlo Apartments. That's the first time they've been mentioned.

+ Dr. Keevy is a candidate to become a member of the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way.

+ There seems to be a missing episode that has Dr. Keevy wanting to take Vic, Pom Pom and Lolita arund the country to various dentist offices so he can show them "wonderful teeth."

+ Pom Pom said she could tell by looking at Vic that he was musical.

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43-10-26 Honorary Lodge Member

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

Vic's friend, B.B. Baugh, finds himself smitten with Honorary Lodge Member Pom Pom Cordova. Vic implores Sade to help him plan a party so the two people can meet.
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While on the surface this doesn't seem so ridiculous, upon listening to the tale you'll find it's all preposterous.

Trivia:

+ For the first time in the surviving series, we hear Russell read from a Third Lieutenant Stanley book. This one is about counterfeiting snake charmers.

+ E. W. Smith lives in Emporia, Kansas. He's a member of the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way. In the past, he has had a bad habit of stealing horses. (Pom Pom Cordova though, was made an honorary lodge member because she helped him break the horse-thieving habit.) (((HEAR))) (((HEAR)))

+ Pom Pom Cordova (also originally from Emporia, Kansas) now lives in Belmont Beach in the Bahama Islands. She is one of the very, very few women to ever become an honorary lodge member. She's in town and staying as the houseguest of Lolita di Rienzi. This is the first time she is mentioned in the surviving series.

+ The Gooks pronounce Bahama as: [buh-hay-muh.]

+ Dr. Keevy's dentist office was once again used as a meeting place, this time for Vic and his friends.  I added Doctor Keevy's office to the map.

+ Two women were mentioned for the first time but nothing else but a mention: Lena Murphy and Opal McSlunk.
THE ALLURE OF POM POM AND LOLITA

Though the world of Vic and Sade is filled with people of unique talents and interests, they themselves do tend to be as familiar as a housedress. But, among these commonplace eccentrics, Lolita Di Rienzi and Pom Pom Cordova stand out as genuinely exotic women. While most women come from nearby towns, Pom Pom is from the Bahamas. When other women consider a watch fob a suitable gift for a boss, Lolita suggests "A pannier de pommes de terre." Where most women pride themselves on their housekeeping, these glamorous ladies play the Carribean Dream Flute and the Tropical Guitar. They embody the adventure and romance that may lie beyond the horizon of everyday experience -- beyond Vic's, certainly. He loves his wife, and he loves his home, but, when he is with them, he catches a whiff of sea spray and orchids. Just a hint, though, that reminds him of the safety of his comfortable family. Sade knows this, and smiles indulgently at his encounters.

On the housedress of washrag sales, Thimble Club meetings, and cornet solos, Lolita and Pom Pom are the sequins.  -
Sarah Cole

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43-09-20 Fifty Photos of Vic

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL


Vic's dentistry photos are going to be published in a magazine.

The photos were available to him so he bought 50 photos of himself with his mouth open for the sum of $12.50.
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So-so material here. This episode is noted for Uncle Fletcher mentioning so many names and being a little more out of his head than usual.

Trivia:

+ Uncle Fletcher complained about having to sit on a board on top of Mr. Gumpox's wagon. Sade says she has an old cushion that says, "My name is Howard T. McWilliamson" on it that she will give him.

+ Charlie Husher is seen outside playing; in this episode he is 6 years old. In a previous episode in 1941, he was 3 years old meaning that while he was growing up, Rush stayed at the same age of 14 years old.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Martin Jordle.  Uncle Fletcher says he tried to invent a violin you play by mouth. He and his wife Alvira have the following children: Marvin, Carolyn, Eva, George, Thomas, Richard and Pauline. The whole family ran barefoot and carried a baked apple pie from Kingston to Dekalb, Illinois in 6 minutes!

+ Vic calls Uncle Fletcher, "Doctor Sleech"; Uncle Fletcher thinks Vic says, "Hector Speech."

Ish Kabibble (circa 1950)
+ In passing, Vic utters, (or at least to me - SOUNDS LIKE - "Ish Kabibble."

Kabibble was a real fellow (although that was his stage name). He was a comedian and musician in vaudeville, radio, movie and television.

+ Not only did Vic have 50 photos taken of himself with his mouth open, but so did his co-worker, Lolita di Rienzi. He bought 12 of her photos and she bought 12 of his. It was not said if she was going to be in the magazine too, but we can suspect she was.

+ Here's a list of people Uncle Fletcher mentions in this episode: Harry Hunch from Dixon, Bert Doofer from Cordova, Roy Dejectedly from Dixon, Ernie Shatwell from Union Grove, Anabell Urch from Kofax, Myrtle McStalt from Cropsey, Henry Ichfeed from Winona. All of these are first time audio mentions along with the aforementioned Marvin, Carolyn, Eva, George, Thomas, Richard and Pauline Jordle.

Uncle Fletcher is kind of mad at Vic: {{{HEAR}}}

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42-10-27 Christmas Suggestions for the Boss #1

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

Vic and Sade read through Vic's pile of Christmas gift suggestions for the boss that he collected at work.
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I don't know why but this strikes me as a strange episode. It lacks the bite of a normal episode and ends without a punch.

Trivia:

+ Sade ran into Rishigan Fishigan downtown.

+ We find out that Vic's secretary, Miss Hammersweet, has the first name of 'Olive.'

+ Irving, an office boy, is mentioned for the first time. He's a "funny guy" who works at Plant 14.

+ Lolita di Rienzi is also mentioned for the first time. All we know is that she uses purple ink in her pen and works at Plant 14.

+ Here is a composite list of gift ideas:
Candy
Cupie doll
Curry comb
Diamond ring
Dictionary
Fingernail file
Flowers
Fountain pen and pencil set
Garters
Gentleman's heavy leather hair brush
Golf clubs
Hair net
Horse blanket
Housecoat
Initialized gold cuff links
Leather collarbox
Magazine rack
Mahogany desk
Reading lamp
Sheet music
Shoe horn
Shotgun
Smoking jacket
Smoking stand
Suit and bathrobe
Toothbrush
Toothpick
Traveling bag (said to have been mentioned twice - but wasn't really)
Umbrella urn
Un caff(?)
Un champeau de pluey(?)
Un pantier de palms decare(?)
Undershirt
Wallet (mentioned twice)
Wardrobe trunk
Wrist watch
Yardstick holder

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