33-12-21 Our Friend, the Dog

Sade discovers that Rush has "cheated" while writing a composition called, "Our Friend the Dog".  Although his actions probably can't be construed as the world's worst crime, he indeed sees the error of his ways once he reflects on the matter.  He is ashamed that his integrity has been soiled.

He must re-do the paper, and this time the subject is his dog, Mr. Albert R. Johnson, and a trip they once took to Lake Bloomington.

The title is one I have provided purely for identification purposes.

[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] 

32-11-28 Whoosh!

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic and Sade get to spend some time with Rush's dog, Mr. Johnson, and Sade finds she doesn't hate him after all, thanks mostly to his ''whoosh!''.

SEE THE SCRIPT (Part 1) (Part 2)

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Mr. Johnson is a very intelligent, but peculiar canine, for sure.  While the dog is spoken about a couple of more times, he pretty much hides away (I guess?) the rest of the series.  Seems that the dog's incredible, ''whoosh'' instead of a bark, would have entertained the heck out of radio audiences, especially kids... but then again, Paul Rhymer knew best, I'm sure.

32-11-26 Mr. Johnson, the Peoria Peke

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Sade makes it known to Vic that she doesn't like Rush spending so much time in the basement playing with his dog, Mr. Johnson.  She also makes it known she doesn't like the dog.

Though his adopted parents tease him about the dogs' lack of intelligence, it doesn't stop Rush from bragging that his new dog is a 'Peoria Peke' breed.

Mr. Johnson?

SEE THE SCRIPT (Part 1) (Part 2)

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A 1932 episode that still doesn't quite have the characters flushed out to the extent we know them today.  Sade seems to be headed that way, but Vic is very un-Vic-like in this script.

The dog will show up now and again in the material we have, but he's more or less just an anomaly.

Trivia:

+ Rush was trying make glue out of pants' buttons, down in the basement.

+ Sade mentions to Vic about buying a pot roast.  It's 1932 and the height of depression.  The roast will cost 75 cents.

33-09-21 Rush's Four-page Composition

"Woosh!"

Rush has trouble compiling a four-page school composition on the dog, man's best friend.

He decides to gain some help from those who have already written about dogs and grabs those books from the bookcase.

Sade sees that Rush is copying from the books and so she confronts him; he gives the "others at school do it" excuse.  She brands him a cheater, which makes him upset.

After a bit though, he realizes what he's done is wrong and decides to begin anew; this time he writes about his own dog, Mr. Albert R. Johnson.

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

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

33-09-04 Vic and Rush Make Molasses Taffy

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BILL IDELSON 

Vic and Rush are home alone and Vic tries to stop the trouble before it begins, sternly warning the young Rush to quietly read his book so that he can settle down on the davenport with his newspaper.

Nine year-old Rush quickly gets bored with his reading material (A Survey of Asiatic Religions from the Years 1893-1906) and begins to get the urge to make taffy.

Rush somehow talks Vic into letting him make it, although Vic is so worried about what will happen that he actually winds up being the head chef.

SEE THE SCRIPT (HTML) (transcribed from PDF by Lydia Crowe)

READ THE SCRIPT (This is original, photocopied script, in PDF form, give it a minute to load)

HEAR THE RE-ENACMENT (PQ Ribber and Jimbo)

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The script brings evidence of Rush peppering his dad with lots of questions.  It's hard not to laugh when reading the conversation between the two because episodes we have heard make it easy to 'hear.'

We learn that Rush's dog - Mr. Albert R. Johnson - is kept in the basement.

The exact title of this episode is unknown.  I provided the title for identification purposes only.

xx-xx-xx Rush Builds a Doghouse

Rush builds a doghouse for Mr. Albert R. Johnson.

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This episode aired 1936 or before and the sysposis was found in this 1936 article.

The title is my own and is used purely for identification purposes.

35-05-24 Local Lodge Leader Takes First Dip

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

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

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

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trivia:

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

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

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

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

32-11-2X Rush Brings Home a Dog

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Rush brings home "Mr. Albert R. Johnson" -- a very unusual dog that seems to have quite a personality.

SEE THE SCRIPT

Audio RE-ENACTMENT (Starring Bill Idelson from 1995)

Video RE-ENACTMENT (same as above)

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Although at first Vic and Sade think the dog is stupid or has something wrong with him, they find out the dog is a one-of-a-kind.

Trivia:

+ You have to wonder if the dog wasn't named for the Canadian criminal of the early 1930's who shared the same name?

+ The dog can't bark - it can only make a whooshing sound.

+ Has the human-like quality of being able to lift an eyebrow.

+ Other suggested names for the dog were the pedestrian Spot, Shep, Bowser, Fido, Rover and Curly.

+ The dog will be called, "Mr. Johnson" for short.

+ The dog is no doubt clumsy - he ran his head into a table leg.