34-04-16 Ruebush, Poor Book Choices, Pecans and the Bijou

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN  AND BILL IDELSON

Mr. Ruebush is in the hospital. Vic feels an obligation to go visit him and has taken his wife.  Rush walks with them, but he's on his way to the Bijou talking picture show.

La versión Española

Sade has bought a couple of books as gifts for Vic's ailing boss: one is a book about Presidents and death-bed scenarios. Vic is not certain that's the kind of reading Ruebush will want to partake of while lying captive and ill in the hospital. Sade also brought along the Walter Scott classic, Ivanhoe.

They also have a bag of pecans to present him with. On the way, the bag is spilled. They also find out that the Ivanhoe book Sade brought along is the Spanish version that was given to them some time ago by her Uncle Fletcher.

Vic and Sade begin having second thoughts about even going to the hospital because their gifts are inadequate and neither relish going anyway; an evening at the Bijou could be an escape. Conversely, Rush remembers fondly the unusual smell of previous jaunts to the hospital and is bored with the same movie-going routine and considers ditching the Bijou to go with his parents.

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This seems like it would be one of those "top 10" episodes.  If nothing else, it was probably great listening, especially in 1934.  Writer Paul Rhymer's Vic and Sade was just now being molded into the shape we know it today.  This episode seems to have a lot going for it.

The title is one I have given 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]

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!"?
 
Download the complete commercial-free, sound-improved episode!  

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?

43-02-12 The Plot That Failed

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

• Sade's been cleaning. Fletcher arrives with a sack. 
• Mr. Ruebush reminds Fletcher of Ray Bulletkiss from DeKalb.
• Sade suspects the sack contains a cowboy hat that had belonged to Vic.  She had plotted with Fletcher to take the hat to his friend Ernie as a gift, but Fletcher had run into Vic with Mr. Ruebush at the gas station.  Vic spotted the hat and asked Ernie where he got it. Vic offers to buy it for $5.00, and Ernie jumped at it.  Vic gives the hat to Fletcher to bring home.  Fletcher finds himself caught in two conspiracies at once.
• Sade admits she's licked – this round anyway.
• Fletcher mentions: Snorty Awkshawk in Belvidere – his 1st wife had a cousin in the uncorked Mucilage business.  Ernie Skofflaw, Fletcher's gas station friend. Lawman Chilkers in Sycamore. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason
  

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This is a bit of an odd episode as it's all about Vic and him obtaining a cowboy hat - yet Vic doesn't even appear in this episode.

There probably is a missing episode shortly before this one aired in February of 1942 where Vic once again comes home with a cowboy hat.

Sade mentions that "she's licked" this round (yet the title seems to say that Vic/Fletcher failed) - did Sade get the hat back from Fletcher?  Did the hat go back to Fletcher's friend, Ernie?  Surely the hat wasn't there waiting for Vic when he got home?  The notes don't tell us.

This is twice now where a sack is used to disguise or hide the hat.  It works neither time, although the other time, Rush helped in getting Vic busted.

36-07-04 Fourth of July Picnic with Old Friends or Stylish Ones

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Sade and Rush make plans to go on a casual picnic to the local Dillman Dells picnic grounds with Fred, Ruthie and Melvin Stembottom; but when Vic arrives, he tells of an invitation he's received from his boss, Mr. Ruebush, that will put them at a picnic with high society at White's Lake.

Sade would much rather go with the Stembottoms.  Rush, who wants to invite Rooster Davis, also seems to want to go with the Stembottoms.  Vic, on the other hand, wants to go with the high society folks.

SEE THE SCRIPT

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Vic wants to make his way up the ladder at work/society; he sees this as an opportunity to do so since he's been invited by his boss to with him on a holiday.  It may do the Gooks good to rub elbows with the very rich.

But where would Sade be if she were to make all new friends and lose those who already have voted her as the head of the Thimble Club?  Vic, though not rich, already is the Exalted Big Dipper of his social club.  The two, whether they realize it or not, are already somewhat, "high society" - especially to their friends.

Almost all of their friends are blue collar types.  Sade goes on and on telling how proud her sister is of Vic and his position at Consolidated Kitchenware.  Another move up in society would likely lose many friends - is this what they really want?

Dillman Dells is mentioned in this script.  From everything I can gather, it's a picnic area, perhaps near Kickapoo Creek.

41-08-01 Good Ol' Ned Burlihy

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

• Fletcher: "That's the truth.  Ned Burlihy spent a whole year learning to like molasses.  See, at his boarding-house the landlady used considerable molasses.  Put molasses on the table every meal. Well, Ned didn't like molasses.  He decided, by George, he'd learn to like it. So he quit his job an' spent a whole year at it.  He finally learned to like molasses, and married a woman seventeen years old. He built a fire an' melted down a bicycle and' offered four dollars cash to anybody that could…"
• Sade arrives home, and Rush tells her Vic's packing for a last-minute business trip to plants all over the Midwest – might last a whole month.
• Rush: "Gov's excited as a horse."
• Fletcher, in the background, rattles off the names of cities Vic is likely to visit.  Sade rushes to help Vic.
• Fletcher: "His landlady put molasses on the table every meal an' Ned didn't like it, and' by George he decided to learn to like it.  So he quit his job an' devoted his entire time to sittin' around in his bedroom with a molasses cruet an' a table-spoon workin' away tryin' his best to enjoy the stuff."
• Vic asks Rush to take notes of things he needs to get done before he leaves in the morning.  Sade tries to calm Vic down as his excitement is near a boil.  Uncle Fletcher gets it in his head Vic will visit Denver.  Fletcher: "Fine.  You'll enjoy your stay there. I knew of a fella in Denver, Colorado went under the name of Spickle. Dead now. Had five pianos to fall on him all at one an' the same time.  I understand his relatives…"
• Vic mentions the Luminous Bituminous chapter of the lodge in Pittston/East Weekly (in Pennsylvania) and wonders if he will be able to meet with them.
• Uncle Fletcher tells Vic if he hits Ishalonga, Alabama he has to drop into Ed Fopper's office and say hello.  "He'll buy ya a big chicken dinner.  At one time Ed owed me over forty dollars..." 
• Mr. Ruebush phones to postpone the start of the trip to the day after tomorrow.  Vic and Sade figure Vic'll be a wreck by then.
• Fletcher to Vic: "I was just tellin' Sadie here about Ned Burlihy there in Union Grove, Illinois.  He taught himself to like molasses.  Took him a whole half-wit year.  But he made the grade.  Ned Burlihy finally learned to like molasses." - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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The name 'Ned Burlihy' is a play on the name Edward Joseph "Ed" Herlihy, who was the show's announcer during this time period:

He was the announcer for many radio shows from the 1930s, to the 1950s, among them: America's Town Meeting, The Big Show, The Falcon, Mr. District Attorney, and Just Plain Bill. Herlihy became the host of the The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour on radio in 1948, remaining its announcer when the show went to television. He continued his success in the new medium: his early television credits included Sid Caesar's hit Your Show of Shows and soap operas As the World Turns and All My Children. He was also the host of Recollections At 30, which was a special NBC Radio series created for the network's 30th birthday. - Wikipedia

36-01-03 Sade and Her Best Friend Are on the Outs

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNADINE FLYNN

Sade is mad at Ruthie Stembottom because Ruthie somehow insulted her.  Sade has been waiting all day for Ruthie to call and apologize but that hasn't happened.

Vic comes home because his boss and he are taking a walk (in the bitter cold) down to the courthouse to get some paper attended to.  He's come home to get his briefcase but Sade sees an opportunity for Vic to call Ruthie.

Vic is in a hurry and of course wants nothing to do with Sade's frivolous problem.  But Sade persists (she is the boss) and so he makes the call.

Sade realizes this is the wrong approach and before Ruthie can answer the phone, she has Vic hang up.

Vic reminds her that he's in a hurry and tries to go.  The phone rings.  Sade thinks it's Ruthie.  She has Vic answer the phone - but not right away.  She has him go through shenanigans to make it appear that Sade is upstairs.  He finally answers the telephone - he hollers "upstairs" for Sade.  Sade finally comes to the phone and she finds out it's only Mis' Croucher, husband of Mr. Croucher at the grocery store, who is looking for the delivery boy.

Vic reminds Sade that his boss is waiting outside in the cold.  He's got to go.  But when the telephone rings again, Sade makes him go through the same thing as the last time the phone rang.

He gives her the phone and she finds out it's Rush telling her he won't be coming home for lunch.

She is mad at Vic but she can't find him to yell at him - he's left the house to meet up with Mr. Ruebush.

SEE THE SCRIPT

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Sade and Ruthie play their games.  At times, they are like silly, little girls.

35-xx-xx Applying for a $4.80 Refund from the Lodge

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic realizes that the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way lodge owes him $4.80.  In his quest to get a refund, he has to answer a questionnaire in triplicate.  He gets Sade and Rush to fill out a copy as well to make things easier on himself.

Easy?  Not exactly.  There are 40 questions on each questionnaire.  The questions are personal, invasive and difficult.

After a few minutes of trying to answer the questions, Sade, Rush and then Vic all decide it's a pointless act to fill out the questionnaire and they throw them away.  The $4.80 isn't worth all of that.

SEE THE SCRIPT

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When they lived in Dixon, Vic and Sade lived on West River Street.

The Secretary of the lodge headquarters in Chicago, Illinois is L. B. Washman.

The President of Congress in Charge of Finance for the lodge is J. K. Latimer of Stuckley, Pennsylvania.

The Exalted Auditor of the lodge is Clyman Smurch.

34-xx-xx Vic Breaks in Mr. Ruebush's Pipe

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, AND BILL IDELSON

Rush jaunts down cellar to join his dad who is seated, about to break in a pipe for his boss, Mr. Ruebush.

Vic tries to point out all of the nuances for eager Rush about smoking a pipe with fine tobacco (South Dakota Mine Run Fine Cut.)

Rush relays how he is eager to smoke when he someday turns 21 years of age.  He relays stories about how he almost smoked a cigar and how he's smoked various types of brush around the house.

Vic, a long-time cigar smoker, is not used to the pipe and it's large bowl.  Eventually, he succumbs to Mother Nicotine and Rush must call down Sade to save him from further sickness.

SEE THE SCRIPT

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Vic, the showoff, is fully given his comeuppance by writer Paul Rhymer, who made a habit of faithfully turning Vic's ego upside down for most all of the show's run.  This early episode (1934 - and taken from the book, Vic and Sade: The Best Radio Plays of Paul Rhymer) shows that even early on, Vic is often his own fall guy.

Here, a simple thing such as smoking a brand new, beautiful pipe - that has Vic talking smack to Rush about what a seasoned smoker he is - cause trouble. Rush looks up to his old man and lets Vic know how he is watching every detail.  Vic goes overboard (as usual) in his approach.  When reading the script, you knew Vic was in trouble when he showed Rush how to strike a match!

40-07-27 Uncle Fletcher Is Coming

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

All heck is breaking loose!  Vic has unexpectedly gone on a long business trip to Flick Orchard, Minnesota with Mr. Ruebush.  They're reorganizing Consolidated Kitchenware Plant #12.

Meanwhile, Sade's Uncle Fletcher has called to announce he's on his way to visit the Gooks.  Rush got the info, but not the time of arrival or how long he plans to stay.

SEE SOME DIALOG AND THE SYNOPSIS

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Uncle Fletcher will be all things when is around, for he is funny, brilliant, long-winded, careless, caring, generous, selfish and well, the list goes on and on.

It's simple to describe Uncle Fletcher but at the same time, it's quite impossible.  He may be the most incredible character in radio history, and you might could include television history as well.  His stories are outlandish, but there's much more to him than that.  He's beyond explanation.

Trivia:

+ The notes say Plant #12 is in Minnesota but previous notes say Plant #12 is in Dismal Seepage, Ohio.  It could be Plant #2 or Plant #13?

+ The confectioner is named, Nick Cappolosius.  My eyes lit up when I realized this was THE GREEK!

+ This arrival of Uncle Fletcher would have been his first visit on the the program. (Not counting the introduction he was given at the end of the Crisco portion of the previous program, according to J. David Goldin's notes for August 26, 1940 - he used to have the transcription disc.)

+ 20/20 hindsight reveals that the excuse given that Vic is away on business (in Minnesota) means that Art Van Harvey (Vic) was actually quite ill at this time and Hartzell had been hired as Fletcher to fill in.

+ Uncle Fletcher "Will arrive on the New York, Monongahela an' Western Florida Railroad." (Sade has never heard of that railroad and she's sure if it does exist, it doesn't go through Dixon.)

+ Fletcher arrives on Gumpox's wagon, meaning: Howard and Gumpox were probably his first acquaintances in town.  And riding the garbage wagon was his first act after getting off the train (this would continue throughout the series.)

39-04-07 Mixmaster Beats a Strong Personality

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Mr. Personality?

(Special contest script: promoting The advantages of having a MixMaster to make great food with Crisco.)

Sade now has her new MixMaster, and raves about it.  Meanwhile, Vic was complimented by his Chicago boss, Mr. Buller, and was told that he has a 'strong personality' and does his best to impress his family with the news, but no one really seems to care.

SEE SOME DIALOGUE AND THE SYNOPSIS

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The Sunbeam MixMaster and Crisco promotion was still going on as of this script.  Not every script during this time involved the MixMaster but it's my guess that several do.  This script was done in a way that doesn't seem like a commercial.  As a matter of fact, it seems to fit in nicely.  Kudos to Paul Rhymer.

While Sade is raving about all she can make with the MixMaster, it occurs to me that she really wasn't mentioned in the shows as much of a cook. She did cook beef punkles and brick mush of course, and once she made 'Hooper Dip' and 'upside-down cake', but not much else.  She entices Vic and Rush in this episode with mentions of mashed potatoes and chocolate pudding.

Trivia:

+ According to Rush, off-and-on-crush Mildred Tisdel has a strong personality.  (By the way, if Rush doesn't have a strong personality, I'll eat a horse.)

+ The script suggests that the hype about the MixMaster might have been going on a month prior.

35-03-18 Sword Too Long or Vic Too Short?

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic has gotten his ceremonial lodge sword and he's excited.  That is,
until he has several accidents.  Is the sword too long, or is he too short?

SEE SOME DIALOGUE AND THE SYNOPSIS

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Announcer Ed Roberts talked a bit about this episode:  (((HEAR)))

Perhaps now we know why Vic rarely uses his sword - the thing is way too big for him!

Both Vic and Hank Gutstop seem to be very proud of their robes.  Note that Gutstop has been wearing his Little Dipper robe so much that he had to send it out to be cleaned already (he got it three weeks prior).

Trivia:

+ The sword cost only five dollars.  What a bargain!  (Depression prices).

+ The show ends in a different way, although we must remember that this was 1935:

35-02-18 Vic Elected Exalted Big Dipper

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

• Sade's sewing. Rush is studying in a wide assortment of postures.  He gets tired of sitting the same old way all the time.
• Vic arrives home in Mr. Wilson's car after a lodge meeting, and
  
  he's in high spirits: "This is a very, very special occasion, kiddo.  If I'd thought of it, I'd a broke a window an' come in."  Vic has been elected to a lodge office, but insists Sade guess which one.  She's duly surprised and impressed that he was elected Exalted Big Dipper – "the whole cheese of the lodge".  He will take over the office from Mr. Clinton next Monday.  Sade wants to call and tell Ruthie, but remembers Fred was at the meeting so Ruthie would already be in on the news.
• Rush: "Ya get to wear the red robe an' carry the fancy stick, Gov?"  Vic: "I do.  An', Rush, I hope the day will come when I can sit back in The sacred grotto an' watch you – a big, fine man – have affixed to your breast the Purple Diadem by which all men may know you too are a Sky Brother in the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way."
• Vic goes to answer the phone. Sade encourages Rush to show some interest in this. On the phone is Sky-Brother Smelly Marlin.  He missed the meeting but heard the news and called to congratulate Vic.  Jake Adams also phones. Vic thanks him for his vote of confidence.
• Rush mentions Rooster's father's a "big muck-an'-muck in some outfit, too.  He gets to wear spurs.  Think they call their gang ‘the Lofty Horsemen of the Five Continents'."
• Ruthie phones to offer her congratulations. Vic promises to keep Fred in line.
• Sade asks Vic to describe the election process.  Sky-Brother Phillips was nominated first, Vic second, and Sky-Brother Sponger was nominated third. Vic says he'd have bet $50 Sponger would have won.  He voted for him himself. 
• "Pretty near fell outta my seat when they announced the results."  Vic: "Everything kinda went black."
• Vic tells Sade Hank Gutstop was elected Little Dipper.
• A phone call from Harley Blake (office fellow and also lodge member) about getting out certain invoices.  Vic probes to see why he wasn't at the meeting and asks if he's interested in the election results.  Harley's too busy, and that makes Vic angry.
• Next, a call from the Daily Bulletin-Charger.  They want to send a man over to interview and photograph Vic.
• Mr. Ruebush then calls with congratulations. Vic is deeply touched by his kind words.  
• Rush: "Mom…"   Sade: "Yes…"   Rush: "I think Gov's cryin'."   - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason 

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Vic's election to the office of Exalted Big Dipper coincides with Hank's office of Little Dipper.  Considering how long each has held their job, it's now easy to see why Vic holds Hank in such high esteem.

Holding an office in a lodge for as long as Gutstop did says something about his place on the town's social register I would think, despite where he sleeps.  This also makes Gutstop somewhat of an enigma.

Fred Stembottom was at the lodge meeting but perhaps he only came as a guest of Vic and because of the elections; we know he's not a member of the lodge.

The Daily Bulletin-Charger is the former name of the current Bloomington, Illinois newspaper, The Daily Bulletin.  Everything seems to point to the town the Gooks live in as being Bloomington.  I'd like proof from anyone that says otherwise!

35-01-01 New Year's Day - Rush Has Three Jobs

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

It's New Year's Day and though there are big doin's at the Bijou (see below), Rush has three different and distinct jobs that will pay him money.

One job involves taking care of Mis' Harris' son, Gerald.  He's got another job wheeling around Grandpa Snyder (you may remember that he is confined to a wheelchair.)  And he has yet another job, walking Mis' Crane's dog around the park.

The time he is to meet these people and carry out his jobs all take place nearly at the same time.

He devises a scheme where he can do all three jobs.

SEE THE SCRIPT

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• At the Bijou: Donna Dreamerson and Conway Clayton in the film, True Hearts and Red Balloons; with added attractions Fatty Frisco and Dimples Duffy in the film, Look Out Below, and a special New Year’s presentation by the management showing pictures of local points of interest, together with short talks by various leading citizens (including Mr. Ruebush) and a Colorful Travelogue Depicting The Lovely Scenes in the Vicinity of Mont Blanc, with running comments by Dr. Benton J. Blatz, noted lecturer and explorer.
• The Newspaper says: Miss Mable Coomer, until recently a student of The Commonwealth-Proctor Music Academy in Chicago to sing: “Red Bird Dying”, “Why Is Life So Short and Sweet?” “Into The Gloomy Grave Gladly Shall I Go” an’ “Heaven, Thou Art Very Near To Me”.

Imagine how little there was to do on a New Year's Day in 1935 if you didn't enjoy listening to football on the radio...

What to do? Head to the Bijou where an extravaganza of stuff is going on! Slides shows! A singer! A few movies!  They'd probably stop the show when Amos 'n' Andy came on the radio and pipe in the sound, as several movie theaters did just that in 1935.

They probably gave away a bicycle for the kiddies and dishes for the gals - pop might win a whole box of cigars, even if they weren't his favorite brand.

34-05-25 Everyone Has Troubles Today

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Mis' Harris has given Sade a porch swing for the back porch, but other than that, life seems to be falling apart for the Gooks: there's dark skies an a bad storm looms;  Sade loses her wallet at Yamilton's and it has the $25 needed for the house rent in it; Rush and his friend Fat Johnson have promised a set of encyclopedias to their teacher and have no way to pay for it and finally, Vic comes home to say he is likely to lose his job due to his boss, Mr. Ruebush, changing locations.  Each of the family is dejected and dismayed.

Near the end of the episode, all the problems work themselves out and the Gooks return to happiness, wanting to swing on the new porch swing.

SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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Very rarely in the audio versions of Vic and Sade do we come across life's troubles.  Sure, Rush gets volunteered to be in a pageant he doesn't want to be in or his enemy Nicer Scott sleeps over making his life miserable - but we just don't peer into their lives when there is real trouble.

Losing the rent money is a disaster.  While we can assume Vic has money in the bank and could have covered a $25 loss, imagine today, losing a month's rent.  That could be like $400-$1000 or so by today's standards.

The growing pains of the show remain but it will change shortly. Other than partly focusing on the troubles of the family, writer Paul Rhymer still seems to have not picked up on what would become one of the strengths of the show, deep peripheral character development.

32-08-09 Sade Keeps a Secret Under Her Hat

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Sade gets her hair cut by Ruthie and though Rush notices it, Vic misses it completely.  This upsets Sade and she runs off crying.

Rush doles out expert advice to Vic on how to solve the problem.

THE SCRIPT

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Trivia:

+ This was probably a better than average episode.

+ This is the first time we've heard about Mr. Bucksaddle.

32-07-19 Vic Trapped on the Roof Getting the Newspaper

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

• The newsboy has again thrown the morning paper on the roof. Vic borrows Mis' Fisher's ladder. He must read the speech "Rubbish" (Mr. Ruebush) gave to the Home Builders Club last night. Rush is off playing "mailman" with Squirt, so he can't go up on the roof.  Vic calls the office to let Miss Lutz know he'll be delayed ‘til 9:30.
• Vic goes up on the roof, gets the paper and finds the ladder gone. His feet are burning. Sade figures Rush took the ladder for the "mailman" game.
• Sade hands Vic up a chair, which draws a crowd of onlookers.  The phone rings. Miss Lutz calls to connect Vic to the boss, and she tells Ruebush Vic's on the roof. Sade finds this comical.  Vic starts yelling at the onlookers (including a Mr. Morris).
• The phone is handed to Vic. He tells Ruebush he's on the roof. An onlooker yells, "We know you're on the roof!"    Vic: "G'wan, ya half-wit! Soon's I get down from here I'm gonna…"   Sade: "Vic!  Mr. Ruebush thinks you're callin' him a half-wit!"
• Vic alternates trying to explain the situation to the boss and yelling at the onlookers to go away. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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This episode seems to be turning the strongest tide so far from soap opera to comedy.  By reading the notes, it's hard to imagine this being funny (compared to the outrageous Vic and Sade shows that we know now) but in 1932, these slapstick/confusion-type skits were setting the world on fire (and apparently, Vic's feet as well.)

32-07-13 Five Dogs Arrive

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

• Vic has brought home a dog that Mr. Ruebush has bought for him.  
• Mis' Hess over on Virginia Avenue also sent them a dog that morning, a Boston Terrier who's in the kitchen. 
• Sade gets a letter saying the Meadows boy, Victor, is arriving tomorrow.
• They're excited, and they laugh over Mis' Fisher's nosiness.
• Another dog arrives, sent by Emil Croucher.  This is the Croucher who runs the market/butcher shop that we know so well from later episodes.
• Vic admits his secretary, Miss Lutz, intimidated him as he'd never dictated a letter before. He realizes he needs to get up to speed on the job, but when the boss gave him the dog, he used the excuse to get away from Miss Lutz.
• Yet another dog arrives, sent by Stanley Fogarty, the man at the gas station – another Boston Bull.
• Vic practices dictating letters to Sade but stops at the salutation. Sade suggests he write the letters on his shirt-cuffs and read them to Miss Lutz. Vic loves the idea.
• An unknown man pushes another dog in the door and leaves. the dog looks mean, and now, with five dogs in the house, they're a little upset.
• Mis' Fisher snoops around the back door as the five dogs fight in the kitchen. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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The Vic we "know" is very rarely intimidated (although he surely has a problem with women intimidating him, think of the many times Sade has done so and remember his fear over Mis' Korkel's football-playing, desk-smashing mother.)  Add in the fact that Vic never talks about his mother or sister (if he has one.)

His new job and new secretary intimidate him.  It's kind of hard to fathom, since we know that Vic goes on to become the head of his lodge and is a big man around town.  Maybe Vic is secretly a misogynist?

Although not specified by Barbara Schwarz, we assume the dogs were a gift for the coming Victor Meadows (Rush.)  Everyone in town seems to have gotten the same idea.  

Mis' Fisher seems like she could really present a problem to the Gooks - IF they were doing something they didn't want her to know about.  But it seems their life is pretty tepid and therefore, Mis' Fisher is worth a laugh rather than being angry about.

46-08-15 Thimble Club Emergency (AFRS)

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

This is the day Sade is to host the Thimble Club meeting but she's completely forgotten about it. When she realizes the ladies are on their way, she gets Rush, Uncle Fletcher, Vic, Harry Dean, Mr. Sprawl and even Mr. Ruebush (he runs the carpet sweeper) to help her clean up the house.

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The sound isn't the best in this episode but it's mostly tolerable.

This is like a mish-mash of some other scripts together.  The one good thing about this episode is a couple Uncle Fletcher stories.

Trivia:

+ This was an Armed Forces Radio broadcast.  To my knowledge, this is the only AFRS broadcast made of Vic and Sade.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Owen V. Coonbreef He traveled extensively in the eastern part of North Dakota. He became an armed guard at the Ohio Home for the Obstinate but later changed positions to become an armed guard at the Missouri Home for the Agreeable. He converted all of his money into nickels and dimes to "make it convenient." He married a woman 21 years old - he was 24. Died in 1909.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells a story about Charley H. McSpillter from Belvidere. He married a woman 38 years old (he was 42.) He divided his time between Little Rock, Arkansas and Somerset, Kentucky. He sat aside every Thursday afternoon to practice on the automatic valve trombone, which he could play by ear. He could also play the violin, pipe organ, rope and steam [unintelligible] by ear. He loved cold oatmeal - preferred it to beef steak.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells another story near the end of the broadcast but it's just too muddled to make out what exactly is being said.

+ The Thimble Club meets on Thursdays.

+ Mrs. Thomas (who lives on West Chestnut Street) and Mis' Adams (of N. Stockton Blvd.) are members of the Thimble Club and were mentioned for the first time, as were their streets.

+ Mr. Sprawl, as always is obsessed with his "peanuts with the chocolate smeared on the outside" and is seeking his daughter (Mis' Harris) - something else he seems to be doing often.

+ Harry Dean comes over.  He brings homemade ice cream that his wife had made and had left over.

+ It's not known who played the part of Mr. Ruebush. 

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32-07-12 Vic Gets the New Job

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY AND BERNARDINE FLYNN

• Sade has difficulty waking Vic. He hasn't slept much, worrying over his job, and he doesn't look well.  He insists he needs to go in because someone will get Frank Whitson's job. He berates himself because they're broke and he's a washout. Sade calls the office and baby's him. Mis' Fisher   phones and is nosy, wondering what Vic is doing home.
• Vic says the (proposed adopted) boy can't come; Sade won't hear of it.
• Mr. Ruebush calls to ask about Vic's health and says nothing about the job, which Vic assumes to mean Charley Kilgore got the job. Vic's very upset, having devoted five energetic years to the company and having taught Charley everything he knows about the business.
• There's a voice outside: "We want Vic Gook! We want the new boss!" Vic and Sade both cry. Vic goes out on the porch to address the gathering. Sade doesn't want him going out there wearing pajamas, but he's too thrilled to be  embarrassed. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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This seems to be another dramatic episode, although it's hard to tell without hearing the audio, which I am afraid will never surface. (Although isn't it nice to go through these early episodes anyway?)

I'm not a fan of these maudlin Vic and Sade episodes, especially since they seem to have both Vic and Sade as very emotional. While Vic's nature is show his feelings readily (especially anger and happiness) Sade, as we know her post-series, isn't quite as open. It's interesting to see how these things changed.

It's also interesting how these episodes don't seem funny, either.

If Vic is 'broke', you wonder why he spent $34.00 on a new bicycle just days earlier?

The Mis' Fisher character seems like a Gladys Kravitz type (TV's Bewitched ) and I wonder where she disappeared to in the later years?