44-02-23 Old News About Belvidere – Ugh

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

Uncle Fletcher comes over with a book of newspaper clippngs about the city of Belvidere; Russell and Sade realize it's useless to inform him that they really have no interest in the book.

SCRIPT (page 1) (page 2)

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TRIVIA:

+ Oyster Krecker's first name is Joseph.

+ Russell's on the phone and is bored with the story of Oyster's cousin Lombard in Galena buying a catfish for 15 cents.  Then Lombard got in a fist-fight with the fella he bought it from and he poked him with the catfish upside the snoot. The fella threatened to call the police and hit Lombard with the fish. Lombard smacked the guy in the face with it. Then Lombard threw his shoes at him.  They later buried the hatchet and formed a beautiful friendship.

+ Uncle Fletcher receives a phone call.  Vic guesses it's Lou Webb, the organist that can play the pipe organ with a knife and fork instead of fingers and also…  It's Mis' McFolkerson calling to say she's found eight more books of newspaper clippings about Belvidere.  Webb was really the show's organist (1943-44).

+ Mis' Folkerston also runs a rooming house in the Gook's neighborhood (Mis' Harris runs another and so does Mis' Keller.)

44-01-06 Letter To Walter (another version)

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND  DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Sade gets to thinking about her sister Bess in Carberry, (yes, another letter), which leads her to prod Vic to write Walter.  Vic has nothing to say to Walter, so he writes him about stuff he had found in the newspaper.

Sade gets upset and goes to bed early, which is the kiss of death in the Gook household.

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

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Though this script idea is very similar to this one, it is quite different.  Rush was in the previous version, and got Vic in trouble with Sade.  This episode sports Russell, who is more interested in talking about Oyster Krecker's cousin Lombard than anything else.  Both versions have pretty much the same ending.

Sade thinks Vic can write Walter just like he writes his pals in the lodge, but she fails to realize that he dislikes his brother-in-law, for all kinds of reasons that are never expressed on the program, only implied.  Vic would never come right out and tell Sade that Walter is a fat-head.  Doing so would only anger and hurt her.  Instead, he just ignores Walter - and ignores thinking about him too, it seems, or at least as little as possible. 

When he is prodded to write him, he remembers (perhaps) that in the first version of this episode, Sade told him:

SADE: Put down a little chatty talky-talk.

VIC: Such as what? 

SADE: Oh... "Business is fine... I suppose you read in the newspaper about this, that, and the other thing. Looks like big doin's in Washington, D.C. with Congress making different laws..." You know...

Though she didn't tell him to copy from the newspaper (he did this in both letters), Vic has such a poor relationship with Walter that basically, this is all he can find to say to him.  It's like talking about the weather with a stranger, something I know that I am prone to do in that situation where I am almost forced into talking to someone I don't know.  Vic doesn't know Walter - and doesn't want to, either!

Sade mentions he should rattle off lodge trash to Walter, but Vic seems to think that lodge business should stay in the lodge.  Lodge secrets, no matter how small and insignificant, are still lodge secrets.  And he is the Exalted Big Dipper, after all.  Will Sade never learn?

Trivia:

+ Writer Paul Rhymer does a very interesting thing here; he has Russell use the word proffering, a 12th century word that pretty much means to offer.  He seemed to enjoy using archaic words in his scripts.

+ Cousin Lombard is a fellow I'd like to know a whole lot more about.

+ The letter to Walter:

"Dear Walter, How is every little thing with you?  We're all first-rate. Harry Murchison and family of 818 West Chestnut Street is moving to Fiendish, Indiana the first of next month.  His brother Clifford is the proprietor of a large shoe store in that city, and a partnership is to be set up.  Mr. & Mrs. Murchison and their two beautiful little girls, Elizabeth and Dorothy, have many friends in this community who will be sad to see them leave.  Mr. Murchison will be remembered as solo-trombonist with the Sewage Disposal Workers' Semi-Classical Silver Cornet Band.  The best wishes of hundreds of local people will accompany the Murchisons to their new home.  Well, Walter, I guess that's all for this time.  Yours truly, Vic."

43-12-30 Trial Visit Trial Visit

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

This could be Roy...

• Fletcher has stopped by to announce that Roy Dejectedly will visit  him one night next week rather than next month.  He's also going to visit with Parker Gibbs in Dismal Seepage, Ohio one night.  The idea is that Roy will then decide where he'd rather spend a week next month.  He'll test the beds and meals provided in both places and then make a decision.  Sade is outraged at this rudeness. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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No one ever accused Sade of liking Roy Dejectedly; as a matter of fact, she probably doesn't like him.  The occurrences in this episode may be the impetus of that.  He's plain rude.

Trivia:

+ Russell talks about climbing into a barrel of Bibles... Rush, also talked about the same thing. (See: 40-03-25 Smelly Clark's Big Date) and on other occasions as well.

+ Uncle Fletcher threatens to get a switch and thrash Russell. Times have sure changed...

+ Vic was in the cellar polishing his lodge sword.

+  When I was a kid growing up in Texas, when someone talked at the same time you did and was saying the same thing you were saying, we called that a 'jinx.'  And whoever said it was a jinx first made the other person buy them a cream soda.

43-12-14 Misery in Dismal Seepage, Ohio

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND MERRILL MAEL

• Vic: "It's simple as a horse, Sadie. The towns of Dismal Seepage, Ohio and Sick River Junction, Kentucky have this keen athletic rivalry.  They play some game called, "Misery" on January the twenty-sixth, a date commemorating the tragic disappearance of the entire town of Spider Plague, Missouri, which sunk without cause into the muddy waters of the Wretched Indian River during the coldest winter ever experienced in…"
• Uncle Fletcher: "I like the noon-hour – always did.  Sade, I expect you remember Art McSwitchel there in Belvidere and his opinion on the noon-hour.  This was Art McSwitchel – not Frank."
• Fletcher refers to Vic's friend "Mary" Greetcham, the Mayor of the City.  Vic: "His name is not 'Mary.'  His name is Robert.  Robert S. Greetcham.  Mayor Robert S. Greetcham."
• Fletcher wants Vic to ask the mayor for advice on his intention to sue the Little Tiny Petite Pheasant Feather Tea Shoppy.  He had ordered three weenie sandwiches, and the waitress neglected to put the condiments on the counter.  He was visiting with Ernie Fadler and ate all three weenies and then realized he hadn't added condiments.  Vic says Fletcher has no case.  Uncle Fletcher wants Vic to get "Mary's" opinion.
• Finally Vic gets to explain to Sade:  the members of the lodge's All-Star Marching Team have been asked to go to Dismal Seepage, Ohio for the game of "Misery" because everyone on the Sick River Junction team has died and the marching team is needed to substitute for the deceased. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason  

SEE THE SCRIPT

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What's amazing is we have a tragedy - where the local holiday in Dismal Seepage is termed, "Misery" - and while Vic and his Marching Team are making plans to go to be a part of the remembrance, Uncle Fletcher (who we know was Merrill Mael in this episode) is oblivious to it all.

Look at the names of the places:

Dismal Seepage
Sick River Junction
Spider Plague
Wretched Indian River

Bill Idelson said this about grim situations and writer Paul Rhymer: (((HEAR)))

The concept of suing others in this show does not go unnoticed.  Blue Tooth Johnson once wanted to sue the Bijou and had done so previously (without luck.)  Rush also had a lawsuit all worked up in his head one time.  And now, Uncle Fletcher may sue over his three weenie sandwiches, sans condiments.

Uncle Fletcher previously referred to Mayor Greecham as "Mary" in this episode.

This episode was wonderfully recreated by the Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound in 1994 and can be heard here:  (((HEAR)))

Thanks to them.

SEE THE SCRIPT  (very large, be patient when loading)

43-12-08 Foot-stool For Mr. Ruebush For Christmas

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Vic's co-workers have bought a footstool to give Mr. Ruebush for Christmas.

Vic, who is annually in charge of the present each year for the boss, is very, very unhappy with the purchase made behind his back.  Now Vic must be responsible for the awkward present and he's worried about how Mr. Ruebush is going to react when he gets the present.

SEE THE SCRIPT

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Without the audio, it's hard to tell just how good this episode is but just from reading this script, you'd surmise this was probably one of the better ones.

Christmas cards, Christmas songs, Christmas lists and Christmas gifts - all of these are twisted and strange in the crazy world of Vic and Sade.  You wonder how much these Christmas episodes influenced Jean Shepard, when he penned the short story that became the hit movie, A Christmas Story?  He also wrote the forward to Vic and Sade: The Best Radio Plays of Paul Rhymer and was a known, huge fan of Rhymer and the series.  Surely the warped Christmas' of the Gooks played into his imagination as the family in that film is a bit Gook-ish.  As a matter of fact, the film has a very strong Vic and Sade feel.  Don't you agree?

43-11-25 Fletcher's All Dressed-Up

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

Yes!

Both Vic and Russell have just seen Uncle Fletcher on Kelsey Street all dressed up. Uncle Fletcher stops past and they try to find out why... Uncle Fletcher explains he'd been sitting on the cistern lid whittling a shoe-horn when Mis' Keller poked her head out the window and suggested it would be a good time to fix his everyday pants, which he had on. So he changed into his good pants. Figured it would make sense to put on his good shirt, too. And his good coat and shoes and vest and suspenders and sleeve-garters, and socks and hat.

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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When someone asks you what Vic and Sade is really all about - and you tell them that it's not really about anything - and when they give you that puzzled look, you can show them this script.  That's when they shrug their shoulders and leave you as they head for the television.

This episode is simply about Sade's uncle changing clothes.  He figures he'll go ahead and get dressed up, you know, why the heck not?  Vic and Sade and Russell were a bit curious, but really, they really could have cared less!

And THIS is typical of the show.  Even so, it's entertaining as a horse.  For instance, is this not typical of Uncle Fletcher?:

But my favorite is this one:

This episode took place on Thanksgiving day.

44-06-29 War Bond Visitor

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

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

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

Trivia:

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

+ Russell mentions Oyster Cracker's cousin Lombard again.

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

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

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

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44-01-24 - Vic is Sleeping On the Couch

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL 

The milk wagon is driven by a horse named "Clifton" and Uncle Fletcher claims he knows horse like the back of his hand.

Uncle Fletcher is over at the Gook house and was a guest for supper. He and Russell sit around after supper telling stories while Vic lays on the davenport sleeping and having bad dreams.

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Sade is mad at Vic for sleeping while the Gooks have Uncle Fletcher over as company. And one could say that Vic's bad dreams are a payback for lying there and being a bad host.

Vic (played by Art Van Harvey) does a great job at 'waking up' - and it's just funny. Have a listen (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

Trivia:

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Ed Fungleman who changed his name a bunch of times. He built up a flourishing business buying and selling dead fish. He married a Philadelphia woman who was 24 years old (he was 26) and he made all of her clothes. Sang a tenor solo for 15 cents. He died at age 88.

+ Uncle Fletcher oils his shoes!

+ Howard Honeycrutch was briefly mentioned.

+ Someone knocked a chunk out of Sade's olive and pickle shoe; she eyes Russell but he never confesses. Recall in an earlier episode, Rush is senselessly berated by Sade for accidently breaking an antique pickle and olive shoe.

+ Uncle Fletcher is going to do later half of the milk delivery route the next morning.

Seems that Emmett Fadler's (Ernie Fadler's brother) wife is having her adenoids removed and he wants to watch. The route is Oakland Avenue to Mercer and includes Washington and Florence streets.

Recall that Raymond Belcher Beirman was a milk wagon driver in an earlier episode.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Clifton Hosterflitch who married a Winona, Minnesota woman 21 years old (he was 24.) He tried to teach a bicycle how to kick. (He may have done so too, his story is interrupted by a Vic nightmare.)

+ Lombard (Oyster Cracker's cousin) lives in Galena, Illinois. We can suppose he is vacationing in town with Oyster Cracker over a period of time though as Russell seems to talk about him in every episode.

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43-12-02 Cleaning the Bookcase

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE


It's time to clean the bookcase and so Sade gets young Russell to help her do so.

Once they go digging in the bookcase, they find a myriad of books and pamphlets with unusual titles.

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Fun episode where Paul Rhymer gets to play with ridiculous made-up titles.

Trivia:

+ A pamphlet was found: "Doctor Fumble - scientific chemist whose compound [is], "The Famous Raspberry Bitters for Nervous, Frantic, Run-down People, Who is Willing to Bet a Thousand Dollars You Don't Know Your Own Stomach."

+ A book was found: "Our Friend the Diamondback Rattler." It used to belong to Blue Tooth Johnson; it was given to him on his 7th birthday by his grandmother. The book provides proof that Blue Tooth's real name is "Edwin" - we also know that Rooster Davis also has the real first name of "Edwin."

+ There are two books that we can deduce probably belong to Vic: "I Marched in 48 Parades in a Single Weekend and Lived to Tell the Tale" and "The Efficiency of the Pennsylvania Lock and a Step Compared with the Redbank, New Jersey Giant Stride."

+ Another book found: "The Exhaustive Study of the Muscles of the Forearm" which belongs to Raymond Surrells. He had found the book at the Miller Park Zoo in front of the lion's cage. Recall that Sade also found a book at the Miller Park Zoo once.

+ A leaflet is found entitled: "Think of Your Toes as Sweet Flowers in the Garden and Give Them Pretty Names and You Will Drop Off to Sleep Quickly and Beautifully" - Russell contends these leaflets were given out at the Butler House Hotel barbershop to guys waiting to get a haircut.

+ The book, "A Fish and How They Got No Sense" was found and inside of it someone had written this on the flyleaf: "I found the dead crushed violets you concealed in my mashed potatoes and gravy, Howard and also the little bracelet of seashells."

Vic and Sade boasts a history of other things hidden in mashed potatoes including butter patties and olives.

+ Sade says she saw a man at Yamilton's passing out literature that looked exactly like Gus Fuss, the Consolidated Kitchenware employee from Dubuque, Iowa, who had once Visited Vic.

+ We learn that Oyster Cracker's cousin Lombard is slyly sarcastic; so much so that his victims sometimes don't realize the sarcasm until hours later.

+ Sade reveals that she keeps her best hat in the bottom buffet drawer.  That must be a huge drawer with all the stuff that's in there.

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