44-04-04 Sade's Job List For Vic and Russell

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND  DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Sade is busy and she's determined that the boys (Vic and Russell) must run some errands.  Though not against her, the men seem bewildered and are at a loss against Sade's no-nonsense approach to the chores.

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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Sade often forces the men to help with chores.  Despite what excuses they may have (remember: "Handmen play fatball"?) they always comply.  The men of the family fear Sade.  Well, everyone but Uncle Fletcher, but he's nowhere to be found in this episode.

Trivia:

* The oddest part of this episode seems to be the picnic at the foundry where Fred works.  When I try to come up with a reason why I deem it odd, I really can't.  So maybe it's not so weird.  :o

* Not that uncommon in 1944: Sade refers to Ted Stembottom as "Fred", (thanks to Uncle Fletcher just a day prior to this episode).  The entire family practically stops calling Fred by his real name as the days continue.

* I never kept track of how often Russell and Rush were excused from class because of "special teacher's meetings".  This happened quite a bit beginning in 1942 and much more frequently in 1944 - increasing as time went on.

34-02-13 At the Miller Park Zoo

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

According to author John T. Hetherington:

The episode opens with Rush and Sade in City (probably "Miller") Park, many blocks from Virginia Avenue.  The pair had walked much farther than intended and are now going to the animal-house. It is very cold and they talk about how different the park is in winter, and Sade wonders if the animals are warm. Rush says that the city has to keep the animal-house warm for the animals.

Sade shares memories of Sunday afternoons in the park in the summer, and Rush talks about the animal house, including his disappointment that they missed the four o’clock feeding. Rush explains his reasons for wanting to start with the monkeys and end with the lions and tries to wake up one of the sleeping lions.

SADE: Well, why on earth would ya wanta start with the monkeys if they’re clear at the other end?

RUSH: There’s two reasons for that. The first one is: if ya start with the monkeys, you’re startin’ with somethin’ small. Then you can build up to the lions gradually. That way you intensify the thrill as you walk along.

SADE: (giggles) Heavens. What’s the other reason?

RUSH: The other reason is: if ya start with the monkeys, you can end up here with the lions an’ be at the door ready to go home. If you start with the lions, you end up with the monkeys an’ hafta walk back without anything new to look at.

SADE: Well, I’m still in favor of startin’ with the lions.

RUSH: O.K. Here’s a lion.

The two decide to take the streetcar home to avoid the cold after seeing the tiger.

RUSH: Then it is my pleasure to escort you to the tiger.

SADE: (laughs) You an’ your movie talk.

RUSH: That’s all right, ain’t it?

SADE: Sounds queer to hear a little boy talk so biggety.

Rush tells Sade the story of “Little Black Sambo” (but gets some of the details wrong), and they view several more animals before leaving. Rush says “We’re pretty good company for each other, ain’t we?” to Sade, who agrees. “It makes me feel good to hear you say that, son,” she replies when he tells her that he likes talking with her and listening to her.

One interesting detail is that this script is heavily marked up with over-typing and strikeouts, indicating that Paul Rhymer made many revisions to the lines as he wrote it.

The title is one I have given the episode purely for identification purposes.

35-02-28 Lodge Robe Arrives

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

• Vic wants to show off his Big Dipper robe for public ceremonies. Rush wants to go off and play; Vic would prefer that he stay and admire the robe.
• A phone call from Hank Gutstop reveals that Hank has received his Little Dipper robe, too.  The two want to show them off around town and resolve to speak later. Maybe a lodge member has died or is getting married and they could attend as officials...
• (Vic mentions the Sacred Stars' Slippery Saturn chapter of Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
• Rush mentions Bulldog Drummond and was earlier hurling slurs at him.
• Rush refers to Dirty Johnson on Mason Street.  He has a sick horse.  Vic mentions Dirty is a sky-brother.  Vernon Alberts' dad is a veterinarian. Rush says he not only doctors animals, he doctors Vernon too.  Rush calls up Vernon, asking for help.
• Vic wants Rush's opinion on the robe...

Rush: Naturally, you look funny. 'Peculiar' is a better word.

Vic: "An angel looks peculiar, doesn't he?" 

Rush: "Ya mean because he's got wings an' wears no pants an'…"

• Sade arrives and admires the robe. Vic's pleased.  He begins looking through the paper for a suitable wedding or funeral to attend in his robe.  Sade says she wouldn't have the nerve to wear it where people would see her.  She points out funerals aren't held at night.
• Vic learns ol' man Weepman's funeral was yesterday – a missed opportunity.  Sade volunteers: "Mr. Thrawley on Osade Street is terrible sick."
• Vic reads of a dedication of an office building in Peoria.  Rush says if Vic wore "that fancy overcoat" on the train the conductor would throw him right out on the vestibule.  Vic reads Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Leakley at 1102 S. Clinton are christening their baby that evening, but he doesn't know them.
• Vernon calls with the news that Dirty Johnson's horse has died. Vic then calls Hank to arrange to honor the horse, with each wearing their new robes.  - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason 
  

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Vic is so excited to show off his new Exalted Big Dipper robe that he'll go just about anywhere...  He settles for a horse's funeral - and you can image the sparse few in attendance to admire him.

34-07-04 But Mom, It's the Fourth of July!

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

• It's the Fourth of July and Rush wakes Vic at 5 in the morning. Vic had said he wanted to get an early start so Rush is being helpful. His parents are horrified at the earliness of this wake-up call. Sade's furious and Rush tells her he only meant to wake Vic. Sade wants to know why. He wants to ask Vic how to light a Chinese Choker. It's got fuses on both ends.
• Sade's horrified that Rush intends to shoot off fireworks so early. She sends him back to bed. Vic insists he wanted to rise at seven. Rush said he doesn't remember that. Rush protests, saying that it's patriotic to celebrate early. 
• Sade mentions he'd likely wake up Mis' Fisher. Rush says you have to expect to get woke up early on the Fourth of July. 
• Vic's tired of listening to this debate. Sade tries to send Rush back to bed again. She warns: just don't shoot off any firecrackers. He wants to know what time he can start -- he then suggests 5:45 would be reasonable. Sade says he can start when the alarm clock goes off at seven. Rush intends to wait in the hall outside their bedroom so he's sure to hear the alarm.
• Sade's awake and muses aloud, wondering what Mis' Brighton will wear at the exhibition baseball game.  Vic's fed up and suggests he'll call Mis' Brighton at five a.m. to ask her. Rush returns to check the alarm clock.  
• Vic's disgusted, and Sade reminds him that when he was a boy he and Adolph Walters put a chunk of dynamite in a water-spout an' … Vic: "You can pick out one sin in everybody's life."  Sade: "How about the time you an' the farmer boy stood out behind the minister's house at midnight an' pounded on a tin washtub til the constable… or how about the Fourth of July you kids took the bunch of roman candles an' went up on the roof an' shot ‘em at…"
• Vic and Sade settle to return to sleep when Rush is heard from the other room: "Hi, Joe! Happy Fourth of July!"
  Sade: "He's talkin' to the milkman." Rush lists his fireworks inventory for Joe; the milkman leaves.
• Rush returns to check the time again.  Sade tells him not to holler anymore. Rush agrees to sleep on the floor outside their room so he'll hear the alarm.
• Sade raises an issue with Vic: whether Mis' Brighton will feel slighted being invited to eat at the park rather than at the Gooks' home.
• Sade points out Rush is asleep on the floor. She's afraid he'll get a crick in his back and be lame all day.
• Sade suggests they set the alarm off and shoot fireworks.
  She reminds Vic of "the time you and Herman McGillicuddy an' Wheeler Evans took a milk bottle full of gunpowder an' put it underneath…" Vic concedes. Sade sets the alarm off. Rush wakes: "Here's that doggone Chinese Choker! Got a match?!" - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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In a 1934 world where about the most fun a kid could have was to go to the movies or listen to the radio, imagine having a stock of fireworks for the Fourth of July!  It must have been like Christmas.

46-08-22 Sade and Mis' Kessler Fight

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

Sade, having gone over to Mis' Kessler's home to borrow an egg beater, comes home all in a dither because the two had a "monstrous" quarrel over Mis' Trogle's shoe size!

Then Mis' Kessler comes over and the argument continues but it's far from being "monstrous."

And when the argument can't be settled, Vic has a simple solution to ending it.

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One of the better episodes in "Series 3" but that's not saying much.

Gone are the card games, the talk of Rush's daily activities and the thousand other little things that make Vic and Sade special.  "Series 3" continues on as if it's a different show altogether.

Trivia:

+ The episode begins with Rush reading from a Third Lieutenant Stanley novel. The enemy he faces is a counterfeiting clarinet virtuoso.

The book tells of the Lieutenant waving a crimson pennant. When asked by Vic why the Lieutenant would do this, Rush states that it's done by the Lieutenant to show he liked the kisses from Lady Margaret. If he doesn't enjoy the kisses, he "whips out a green pennant and waves it." He also has a brown pennant he waves if he enjoys a hug she gives him and a purple pennant if he doesn't enjoy the hug. He also has a grey pennant if he enjoyed the kiss but not the hug. There's also a burnt orange pennant to wave if he enjoyed the hug but not the kiss. If he enjoyed both the hug and the kiss, there's a maroon pennant to wave. There's also a striped pennant... but we never find out what that's for - and it might be a good thing we don't know.

+ Sade says Mis' Trogle wears size 5½ shoe, Mis' Kessler says 4½.

+ Mis' Kessler is a member of the Thimble Club.

+ Mis' Watson was mentioned for the first time; she lives on Chestnut Street. She likes Sade's peanut brittle and is a member of the Thimble Club.

+ Mis' Armbruster was mentioned also for the first time. She is an 87 year-old member of the Thimble Club. She has been known to be somewhat confused as she told the ladies her son was a balloonist (he might actually be a balloonist, yet the ladies still think she's confused.) She also thought Mis' Trogle wore size 4½ shoe.

+ Rogers' shoe store was mentioned for the first time. It's owned by (drum roll) Mr. Rogers who also makes his V&S debut.

+ Mis' Trogle's daughter is Margaret who is about 11 years old.  She talks to Vic on the phone and tells him that her mother wears 2 different shoe sizes.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Larry Wayne from Dismal Seepage, Ohio; he founded the city of Blue Grove, Minnesota and named every street in the city "Alvira Jordle."  He married a woman aged 36 - he was also 36

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Verly W. Rozstingy who tried to get the Southeastern part of North Dakota to succeed from the union.  Married a woman 19 years old and hit her on the head with a coal scuttle immediately after the wedding ceremony so there wouldn't be any doubt in her mind who was boss.

+ The part of Mis' Kessler was played by veteran actress Viola Berwick.

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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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44-07-19 Uncle Fletcher's New Lodging

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

Uncle Fletcher informs his niece Sade that he will be staying at a hotel; she immediately thinks he is there to scare her once again into thinking that he may be moving into the dangerous Bright Kentucky Hotel.

But Hank Gutstop, who is still working for the Butler House Hotel as a house detective, is going on vacation and has asked Uncle Fletcher to stay in his Bridal Suit(e) for a two week period as he has pets that need feeding.

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Uncle Fletcher still feels an important development may be stirring in regards to his landlady, Mis' Keller, and her gentleman friend who resides in Yellow Jump, North Dakota, but it could be two weeks away.

Let's see, two weeks away - the same amount of time as his stay at the Butler House. Is the whole thing with Mis' Keller-getting-married just a trick by Uncle Fletcher to have some kind of puppet string on Sade so she will pay oceans of attention to him?

Trivia:

+ Uncle Fletcher refers to Ruthie Stembottom as "Mis' Whatchamacallit" and "Mis' Whatchamafunny."

+ It is explained in this episode that Russell is away with friends at "the lake."

+ The date of this broadcast was July 19, 1944. That means that Hank Gutstop has had his detective job exactly 155 days or more than 5 months. Go figure!

+ Hank Gutstop has a parakeet, fish and a cat. It's hard to believe the Butler House Hotel would allow pets, especially a cat.

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44-07-07 Second Letter from Yellow Jump

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Sade is in a terrible hurry for she has just been reminded of a shopping date with her lady friends downtown. About the time she is about to get ready to straighten the house a bit and get dressed to go, her Uncle Fletcher shows up.

In a story that she doesn't want to hear because she is busy, he tells her that his landlady (Mis' Keller) got a second letter this week from her beau in Yellow Jump, North Dakota. This news seems to assure him that he will have to move into another place and he again has his eye on the Bright Kentucky Hotel as a place to live. Again, Sade tells him this is against her wishes - however, she is in such a hurry that she pretty much gives into him - at least for this episode.

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Sade worries about how Uncle Fletcher will negotiate the railroad tracks and the "Kansas City freight drags creeping up on a person," near where the Bright Kentucky Hotel sits.

Trivia:

+ Sade sets up a meeting with her lady friends at the underwear department of Yamilton's department store - the frequent accidental meeting place for most every other episode.

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44-06-30 Russell Stays with Milton Welch

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Russell has been invited to spend the night over at Milton Welch's house. Sade realizes how dirty and unprepared he is and insists he go take a bath and take a suitcase with him.
Meanwhile, sleepy Vic tries to get Sade to go upstairs to prepare for bedtime arrival.

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Run-of-the-mill episode.

Trivia:

+ Milton's older sister is Harlene. She is the secretary to Mr. Downer at the bank. She lives at the Welch home.

+ Miss Stormer is also mentioned living at the Welch house. She works in the hat department at Yamilton's.

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44-06-28 A Letter from Mr. Buller

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

Vic gets a letter from Mr. Buller that appears to be full of wonderful, exciting news. Vic wants Russell to read the letter. As he reads, signs that he might have a cold show up during the reading. Sade keeps interrupting Russell and we never find out what's going on with Mr. Buller.

SCRIPT (page 1) (page 2) (page 3)

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The material here is neither strong nor funny but it's still quality stuff. The joke Paul Rhymer presents us with is the entire episode is about the letter which we get repeated bits of, over and over (a long-time Rhymer trick) yet we never hear the whole thing.

Sade, who puts the kabosh on the letter to begin with, is miffed when Vic leaves the room with the letter; she may never know what it says!

Trivia:

+ There is a rocking chair and a telephone in the Gook kitchen.

+Sade says Grandpa Goggler (from Dixon) tipped his hat to a lady and fell over, [and became] a rigid corpse. The very same thing happened to Ollie Sorgut, another acquaintance of Sade's from Dixon.

+ Eisenminger was mentioned for the first time. Sade says he was seriously injured from sitting on a pencil.

+ It appears that Pelter Unbleet is now is the Hyena Grease business with Uncle Fletcher.

Russell tries to read the letter (edited): {{{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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44-06-09 The Lunges are Coming

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Sade gets a last-minute post card in the mail, Herb and Kissy Lunge are coming - tonight! Though she's never met them, they are friends of friends and wants to clean house and make a nice impression.

Meanwhile, a bewildered and sleepy Vic and Russell (Bijou ticket already bought) are forced into manual domestic labors beyond their comprehension.

SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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A few episodes back, Sade was complaining about entertaining people she didn't know, yet here she is doing the exact same thing.

This is one of the funnier episodes in the second half run of the Vic and Sade series.

Trivia:

+ Sade says since the Lunges are coming by car, there's no way to tell if they will be on time.  She still has no idea that miles per hour indicate that miles per hour a car is driving - in other words, it's easy to figure out when you will be at a certain point.  She also had trouble with this in 37-06-04 Sade's Trip to Dwight.

+ I've come to the conclusion that Art Van Harvey (Vic) is _by far_ the best actor in radio history as far as acting "half asleep." In this episode, we get another earful of Vic: {{{HEAR}}}

+ Herb and Kissy Lunge (from Logansport, Indiana) are making their way to Keokuk, Iowa.

Keokuk is famous for being the birthplace of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and the city has been mentioned (mostly as a "funny place name") in several TV series.

+ Ed and Margaret McFrogth are also mentioned - they too hail from Logansport, Indiana.

+ Herb works for the government. Kissy's real name is Katherine.

+ The Brick Mush man stops by - apparently to ask permission to use the Gook front porch to change his shoelaces.(Writer Paul Rhymer seems to have a humorous fetish with shoelaces.)

+ Vic manages to "accidentally" call Herb and Kissy Lunge, "Boob and Huggy Lunge."  Twice!

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43-11-08 Essay on Birds

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Russell is stuck at home having to write an essay on birds but he seems to have not done any research and therefore is bereft of words to fill out his paper. His friend Arthur Grump saves him by calling on the telephone and inviting him to the Bijou. He cons Vic and Sade into putting off his homework until the next morning.

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Another run-of-the-mill episode. The episode provides a deeper look into Russell's life and his friends.

Trivia:

+ Two new friends of Russell are introduced in this episode: Bertha Fabre is a girl in his English class. Arthur Grump goes to school with Russell and invites him to go with him to the Bijou.

+ Sade says Homer Heck (his debut), who lives on Kinsey Street, knows a lot about Oklahoma. She also says Mis' Razorscum knows a lot about birds.

+ We learn that Fred and Ruthie Stembottom have a green bungalow birdhouse in their backyard.

+ Vic says B.B. Baugh claims he was elected "Nightengale of Dismal Seepage (Ohio.)" Also, he had a girlfriend named Dorothy who would forget to put pepper in fudge.

+ We find out that Mis' Sutton is the English teacher at Russell's school.

+ Perhaps the best moment of this episode is after the phone conversation that Russell has with his friend, Arthur. This is when he tells Vic and Sade the name of the film (presumably, Gloria Golden and Four-Fisted Frank Fuddleman:) {{{HEAR}}}

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42-12-07 Miz' Neagle Tears Up Lee Street

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY,  BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Rush asks to miss school so that he can go watch his Sunday School teacher, Mis' Neagel, tear up Lee Street.

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One of those episodes that's silly enough to make you laugh - yet could be true. This episode is run-of-the-mill but still remains a lot of fun!

Trivia:

+ Mis' Neagle lives on Lee Street. Lee Street is situated between Market and Monroe Street.

+ Mis' Grace is mentioned but nothing is said about her.

+ Rotten Davis is going to act as foreman, Hank Gutstop as flag man and Rishigan Fishigan as waterboy while Mis' Nagle tears up the street.

+ Fat Peterson once had the front of his sedan lifted off the ground by Mis' Nagle.

+ Harry Foster was once knocked over a picnic table with a friendly slap on the back by Mis' Nagle at Miller Park.

+ Mis' Nagle can chin herself 20 times.

+ According to Rush, Mis' Nagel is strictly all beef (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

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

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

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

Kangaroo?

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

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

WHAT MIS' CROWE SAYS:

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

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

SEE THE SCRIPT (transcribed by Lydia Crowe)

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

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

Trivia:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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40-12-17 A Bijou Lifetime Pass

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Rush has the opportunity to buy a lifetime pass to the Bijou theater. But will Sade allow him to spend money from his savings account to buy it?

MIS' CROWE SAYS:

Rush has a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity.

What I like about this one is how Rush seems to have absolutely no ambition to move out of his small town or change his lifestyle at all, as he calculates that he will continue to go to the Bijou twice a week for the rest of his adult life. These days, everyone who grows up in a small town generates grand plans for fleeing it at about Rush’s age, so it’s refreshing to encounter someone who means to stay put. Rush also has no way of predicting the rise of television in the next fifty years and the movie theater’s slow slide into obsolescence. Of course, if the Bijou manages to stay in business, the concurrent inflation in the price of movie tickets will make his lifetime pass even more profitable.

The thing is, the uncertainty of the future aside, Rush’s pitch is pretty good! The pass will pay for itself in two years. Surely his theater-going habits won’t change that much in the next two years. Rush could agree to put twenty-five cents in a jar to go back into his bank account every time he goes to the movies and by the end of the two years, he’d have an extra two bucks to go into his college fund. His pitch would have worked on me, is all I’m saying.

Then again, it does sound a little too good to be true. Perhaps Sade suspects Leland Richards of being a snake oil salesman? 

SEE THE SCRIPT (transcribed by Lydia Crowe)

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Intermingled with Rush pleading his case so that he can buy the pass, is talk of baboons - yes, baboons.

Sade isn't very educated but she is by no means dumb. Whenever Vic or Rush are up to something, her instinct tells her something is up. As time goes on through the series, Rush seems to become more and more like Vic. When Sade inquires about whatever they are up to, they both act nearly the same.

Trivia:
+ A D. Hoggell is the custodian of the Zoo.

+ Rush mentions he has a new 3rd Lieutenant Stanley book he got from Russell Duncan but he doesn't give the title, nor does he read from it.

+ Leland Richards' Uncle Hartley gave him the lifetime Bijou pass, as he is an electrician and was doing work for the theater and part of the payment was the pass. This was the first mention of Uncle Hartley.

+ Rush and Sade argue a bit about the $50. Listen carefully and you will hear Sade say, "You have as much chance drawing a big chunk of money out of that bank as you have of sending your underwear to Detroit, Michigan parcel post."

{{{HEAR}}}

Sade's first reaction to Rush spending $50: {{{HEAR}}}

Hear the Vic and Sadecast about this episode


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39-10-xx Rush Tenders his Resignations

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Rush, trying to be sneaky, thinks he can make a 'red hot impression on his teachers' by writing a series of resignation letters, in hopes the teachers will talk about him in a good way. Or as Vic put it: {{{HEAR}}}

MIS' CROWE SAYS:
Rush resigns from all his extracurricular clubs in order to devote all his time to his schoolwork — and, more importantly, to make a good impression on his teachers.

A classic opportunistic Rush scheme. I like how Sade seems kind of amused by this one (usually she jumps down his collar for stuff like this) and Vic actively encourages it. Not that Vic actually believes this scheme will work, mind you…he just enjoys seeing how far Rush is willing to go.

This episode shows an interesting academic cultural difference between then and now. If Rush were a twenty-first century high school student, joining as many academic clubs as possible and spending all his free time at the school would be a way to make a good impression on his parents and his teachers. It’d show he was ambitious and “building his resume” for college. Back then, it seems like fourteen-year-olds weren’t expected to think about what they’d be doing for the rest of their life with quite the same intensity as they are today, so school clubs were purely recreational…which is in evidence in some of the club names. (“Deep Sea Fancy Diving League”? In a landlocked state? This sounds suspiciously like a front for Rush and his friends goofing off for an hour.)

SEE THE SCRIPT (transcribed by Lydia Crowe)

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This episode will have you shaking your head at the ridiculousness of some the club names and the essence of the letters Rush reads and writes. Some of this is very funny stuff and is typical Paul Rhymer.

Trivia:

+ Henry Walker is mentioned for the first time. Rush writes him a letter to resign from the Sophomore Mathematical Research Society, which he is the head of. {{{HEAR}}}

+ Daniel Liefert is mentioned for the first time. He is the head of the Shakespeare Dramatic Union in which Rush resigns. {{{HEAR}}}

+ We find out that Rooster Davis' real first name is 'Edwin' and that Rooster runs the Boys Nitroglycerin Pep Club! {{{HEAR}}}

+ Alton Wylif (the head of the High School Choral Group) is mentioned for the first time: {{{HEAR}}}

+ Other organizations that Rush is resigning from: Deep Sea Fancy Diving League, Better English Club, Enthusiastic Order of Football Fanatics and the Fellowship of Auditorium Ushers. There are other clubs at school Rush does not belong to but may resign from anyway: The Student Council, Diesel Engine Club and the Original Composition Club.

+ Uncle Fletcher is mentioned. He used to belong to all sorts of clubs and organizations, according to Sade.

+ Mis' Obericker is mentioned for the first time. She is presumably a teacher at Rush's school.

+ Mis' Wyckle and Mis' Bran (two more teachers, we presume) are mentioned.

+ Ruthie Stembottom and "500" are mentioned but she never calls because Fred is having to work overtime at the foundry.

+ Rush got help for his letters from a book about letter writing. Rush reads one of the letters from the book aloud: {{{HEAR}}}

+ Another fun moment is when Rush pretends to be THE teachers talking about him (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

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