44-05-17 Hyena Grease Needs Deodorizing

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Pelter Unbleet, hired by Roy Dejectedly, is busy trying to remove the odor from Hyena Grease. The public objects to the odor; (Fletcher: "You can't expect it to smell of violets.") Unbleat needs a workshop and Fletcher suggests Sade's fruit cellar.

SCRIPT (page 1) (page 2)

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Hyena Grease, "the finest preparation for smearing on your shoes there is in the Entire Civilized World," includes, among its ingredients, turpentine, creosote, lampblack and tractor oil. These substances add materially to its potency, but, as one can imagine, they also add to its pungency! Hyena Grease may be a boon to the shoes of humanity, it is no friend to the NOSES of humanity. Pelter Unbleet's aspiration to develop a deodorized version of the concoction is laudable.

However, it was doomed to failure from the start, if for no other reason than Sade has always shown herself more interested in her household's welfare than in that of the civilized world's footwear. She is never comfortable with strangers in the house (as we see when her dear friends the Brainfeebles come to visit), and her basement is already crowded (as we learn when Mr. Gumpox offers her storage space in his stable). Besides, no sensible housewife willingly endures that piquant fragrance. Even the long-suffering Mis' Keller once threw out Uncle Fletcher's stash when he left it on her sideboard (46-07-18 Midsummer Madness.) As the date of that last program indicates, Pelter Unbleet never did find a way to make the stuff fit for the drawing room. But he never adulterated the quality, either In spite of its odor, Hyena Grease remained "The Finest Preparation for Smearing on Your Shoes There Is in the Entire. . .Civilized. . .World!"

Years later, radio comedians Bob and Ray parodied the preparations available for "grunging" up one's appearance by advertising a substance called "Grit." It was intended for white-collar workers who wanted to make their soft, clean hands look as dirty as if they were grease monkeys. It was such an effective product, though, that another product was necessary to remove it; and then another product to counteract the odor of the "Grit"-remover. In the end, bookkeepers who used "Grit" to look tough, also had to buy "Smurge" to get off the "Grit," and "Whiff" to get rid of the "Smurge." Instead of making do in the Gook fruit cellar, perhaps Mr. Umbleet should have offered his services to the better-equipped Bob and Ray Laboratories. Considering Bob and Ray's cast of characters, he would have fit right in! - SARAH COLE

TRIVIA:

+ Fletcher mentions the vest was invented in Sheboygan, Wisconsin by Bob Murphy, younger brother of Pat Murphy, who came from North Dakota where Bob lost all his hair in a windstorm in nineteen-aught-four.

+ Bob Murphy married a woman nineteen years old, chopped up, chewed and swallowed a violincello to win a bet, and finally sat in his bedroom all day long counting his money.

44-06-05 No One Missed Uncle Fletcher

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

Uncle Fletcher arrives at the Gook house at breakfast time and it slowly dawns on Vic, Sade and Russell that Fletcher has been away in Dixon for a week.

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

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Uncle Fletcher relays one of the benefits of Hyena Grease: removing grass stains from doilies!  Why would there be grass stains on doilies?   You have to love writer Paul Rhymer's humor.

In the first half of 1944, Uncle Fletcher was obsessed with Hyena Grease.

43-04-13 Roy Dejectedly's Strange Family

STARRING: BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Sade, Dottie Brainfeeble and Uncle Fletcher relax on a nice spring day out on the porch.  Fletcher tells the girls about Roy Dejectedly and his strange group of brothers.

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Uncle Fletcher also told about the Dejectedly brothers here.

The transcription disc for this episode survived but was either sold to Radio Spirits in the 1970's or was donated to the Library of Congress. (That might mean that we may never hear this episode.)

44-04-08 'Red' Stembottom

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

• After supper Uncle Fletcher mentions he ran into "Red" Stembottom and Sade goes into a rage, forbidding him to change the man's name again.  
• Uncle Fletcher tells the story about Walter M. Veefy.  The story is a familiar one:   Drowned in the Missouri River.  Had another brother that drowned in the Ohio River.  Had another brother drown in the Mississippi River and still another brother who didn't get drowned at all.  [The problem is, he's already told this story (different rivers) about the same man, in 1941.  There have been several times where he told the same story and had a different man committing the ridiculous act(s) but I believe this is the only known time where told the same story twice about the same man.  And three years apart, to boot. - J.M.]
• Uncle Fletcher gives out the basic ingredients for Hyena Grease again in this episode.  This is at least the thrid time he's done so.
• At the end of the episode - and in fear of his life - Fletcher relents and refers not to "Red" or "Ted" but to "Fred" Stembottom. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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It's pretty safe to say that Fletcher is obsessed with Hyena Grease.  Either it works just as well as he says it does or he believes it will be a real moneymaker.

The fact that Fletcher knows Fred's real name and calls him by it at the end should clue us all in that he uses the senile and deaf act only to get/demand attention.

The episode where Fletcher told the Veefy story about the drownings was also the first episode we know about where he called Fred by the name "Ted."  My guess is this is a Rhymer homage to himself - or at the very least, he was looking at an old script to see why he ever decided to name Fred "Ted" - saw the Veefy story and had Fletcher tell it again. 

44-04-13 The Gooks Await News of Fletcher's Visitors

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

• Uncle Fletcher is excited because he's expecting three visitors (Roy Dejectedly from Dixon, Howard Honeycrutch from Belvidere, and Dwight Twentysixler from Dismal Seepage, Ohio) all at the same time, all having made their plans independent of the others.   
• Mis' Keller calls Sade to say Fletcher's on his way over and to warn Sade that he's extremely excited.
• When he arrives, everyone expects him to spill the beans immediately, but he's acting calm and collected as if nothing's new.  They continue to anticipate his announcement will eventually arrive as an eruption.



Enigmatic

• Fletcher reveals "it's considered good luck to use your shoe to wipe mashed potatoes off your chin." - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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This running gag of Roy Dejectedly coming for a visit finally ends; it began on December 21, 1943.  There are at least four known episodes that deal with the visit and I imagine there are more than we don't know about.  One of the things I enjoy about the show (and would enjoy more if we had the full run of audio) is these very long running jokes, of which there are many.

Dwight Twentysixler is a big name in the Series 2 and 3 but he's small potatoes in this original run of shows.  He's my favorite "real character" in the other two series but I think if he had been expanded in this original run - with the same attributes - he'd have been as noteworthy as Hank Gutstop or Mr. Gumpox.

Twentysixler has great 'ridiculous characteristics' - something that Rhymer gave some characters and not others.  The more ridiculous and the more talked about, the better.  After all, it's hard to remember a guy when he's only mentioned once.

Fletcher is not excited when he arrives at the Gook house - this is another Rhymer joke.  Fletcher should be jumping up and down but the tempered Fletcher only confounds the Gooks and the audience.

44-03-27 Fletcher to Pedal Hyena Grease?

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

• After a delicious supper, Fletcher approaches Vic about a letter he received from Roy Dejectedly.  Vic: "Well!  And how is old Roy?  Dancing the fox-trot, the cake-walk, and the Indiana hoe-down as usual, I suppose."
• Roy proposes that Fletcher pedal Hyena Grease.  
• Fletcher: Roy didn't invent Hyena Grease.  "Nobody could invent Hyena Grease.  For a fella to invent Hyena Grease, first he'd hafta invent the hyena."
• Fletcher: "Roy is a foxy scalawag who could talk simpletons into giving him two nickels of change for a dime in half a dozen large cities.  I tell ya the man is foxy.  No, if anybody sharper than Roy Dejectedly comes along, you can just leave me sitting in the barber chair.  Roy owns no patent, copyright, license, or infringement on Hyena Grease.  The big scientific laboratories in Chicago, Milwaukee, Moline, Waukeshaw, or Dubuque would love to duplicate the product.  Roy will tell you it contains turpentine, creosote, lamp-black, and tractor oil, but refuses to divulge the quantities that make Hyena Grease the finest preparation for smearing on your shoes in the entire world.  He didn't invent it, but he doctored it up to a scientific point where it's suitable for smearing on your shoes."
• Fletcher begins to read Roy's letter, but it's not Roy's letter.  It's addressed to "Dearest Ida."  The letter mentions George, Helen and Grace, Dr. Feendish and Nurse Montgomery, Vernon, and Dorothy.  Apparently in error he picked up a letter belonging to Mis' Keller, his landlady.  - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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Is Roy ever coming?  We've seen the evolution of the visit: it began when Uncle Fletcher told the family about it on December 21, 1943.  Fletcher talked about it again on March 9, 1944 and now it's almost three weeks later.

It seems that pedaling Hyena Grease would be a natural fit for Fletcher.  But the fact that he's conferring with Vic would lead us to believe there may be complications.

44-03-09 Uncle Fletcher Plans Entertainment For Roy Dejectedly's Visit

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

• Fletcher still expects a visit from Roy Dejectedly.  He's riding down with Harry Giggletta, who's on his way to Springfield on business and will drop Roy off from 7 am to 7 pm.
• Planned entertainment includes a ride on Mr. Gumpox' garbage wagon, an introduction to Ernie Fadler at the Interurban Station, a visit with Pelter Unbleet at the Bright Kentucky Hotel.
• Roy and Pelter both spent the summer of nineteen-aught-nine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, yet they've never met each other.  Also a visit to B. B. Baugh at the Butler House Hotel barber shop, because they're both inventors.
• Fletcher clarifies: Roy didn't actually invent Hyena Grease, but he did discover the ingredients that make it suitable for smearing on shoes.  Uncle Fletcher wants to include a visit to Vic's office on the schedule.  Vic suggests a full inspection tour of the whole works, and Fletcher is thrilled.  "Roy Dejectedly'll scream like a half-wit panther!"
• Vic reads news article aloud: "Windsor, Ontario man experiments with raw oysters."  Sade resents interruption of her own reading.
• "Hartman L. Kacker, little-known merchant of Windsor, Ontario claims he expects to astound science in the near future with new and…"
• Uncle Fletcher on the weather: "Might sneeze itself up a light snow before morning."  - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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If this episode is any indication, the visit by Roy Dejectedly was planned four months ahead (since December 21, 1944 - this would also mean that Paul Rhymer must have had this trip planned in his head/on paper for almost four months).

You wonder why there is a 12 hour window for Gigletta to drop off Roy?

Though the entertainment for Roy seems sparse, one would imagine any of Fletcher's friends in town would enjoy that kind of entertainment; Roy probably would also.

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.

43-12-21 Uncle Fletcher Asks for Lodging for Himself and Roy Dejectedly

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

• Fletcher: "…like Ernie Fadler's brother-in-law there in Quincy… originally lived in Mayfield, Kentucky.  In fact he married a Mayfield, Kentucky woman.  Tell ya the honest truth, it was a woman way over thirty years old.  Well sir, Ernie's brother-in-law had always wanted to live in Quincy, Illinois because of his fondness for the Ohio River.  You'll hafta pardon me, Sadie.  I'm mixed up with another half-wit.  I got Ernie Fadler's brother-in-law confused with Art Voocherley's brother-in-law.  It was Art's brother-in-law married the thirty year old Mayfield, Kentucky woman and moved to Quincy."  
• Sade agrees to let Uncle Fletcher and Roy Dejectedly use the spare bedroom.
• Fletcher: "Martin Jordle there in Sycamore was a farmer seven miles northwest of Sycamore, and he was bothered by too many people coming out for supper evenings. they'd come out from Kingston and Kirkland and Genoa there in droves for supper.  See, Martin's wife Alvira was such a delicious cook.  Know what Martin done to curb that heavy run of moochers?  He bought twenty-seven fierce bulls.  He set them twenty-seven fierce bulls to grazing in his front yard. the number of people coming out for supper evenings dropped off something wonderful.  Martin Jordle of Sycamore, Illinois could talk the language of the horse.  ‘Give me a match, Walter,' he'd say in horse-talk and his horse would scratch around in the stable looking for a match." - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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There was a real Martin Jordle; he was the man who took care of Paul Rhymer's farm (in the story told here, Jordle is a farmer as well.)  I'm assuming he really did have a wife named Alvira.

The Jordles show up now and again in Vic and Sade lore, and  they are always doing something crazy. They led fascinating lives and I suggest you look them both up at the Character website.

43-12-03 One Soggy Garbage Wagon Pass

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

• Sade mentions having seen Pom Pom Cordova on North Mason Street.
• Sade: I'm envious as a horse.
• Sade: Mis' Keller's niece in Saint Louis: Adelle Garroway, maiden name is Dwyer.
• Fletcher: "I'll – tell – you – why – I – stopped – by.  I wouldn't give a copper for a fella that couldn't squeeze out a snicker now and again."  
• Uncle Fletcher can't remember why he stopped by.
• Vic: "Perhaps you stopped by to unscramble some eggs but stubbed your toe and you commenced to cry and the piano teacher that lives under the porch borrowed a nickel and…"
• Fletcher: "A cousin of Roy Dejectedly's claimed he could unscramble eggs.  I'm not sayin' it's a fact this cousin of Roy Dejectedly's could unscramble eggs. I'm sayin' he claimed he could unscramble eggs."  
• Uncle Fletcher remembers why he stopped by – in reference to the garbage wagon pass given to him by "Mary" (Mayor) Greetcham.  He never told Gumpox about the pass, thinking it might not sit right with him. That afternoon while Fletcher was riding Gumpox, it started raining.  So he crawled in the back of the wagon with the garbage and pulled a tarpaulin over himself, which Gumpox frowns on.  Vic wonders if it was hot back there, and Fletcher admits that it was.  Gumpox thinks if he has to get wet, Fletcher should, too.  So Fletcher flashed his official pass at Gumpox.  Gumpox looked at it for maybe ten minutes and it turned into a soggy, gooey mess.  Fletcher wants to know from Vic if "Mary" Greetcham would replace the pass, and Vic assures him it won't be a problem. - compiled by Barbara Schwarz, edited by Jimbo Mason

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Riding on the wagon with Gumpox and being near Howard are very important to Fletcher.  It's a big part of his social life, not to mention that he has a love for horses.  The garbage pass is one of the most important things in Uncle Fletcher's life.   But it's apparent from this and another episode that writer Paul Rhymer tries to make it clear to us, is that Fletcher doesn't like to get wet.  He doesn't mind a potato peel getting on him, the obvious smell of the refuse or getting dirty in general.  But by golly, if the rains come, he's going to jump in the back with the trash and hide under the tarp.  Hiding under the tarp can create steam, which Fletcher doesn't like.  He and water must not get along.

Unscramble an egg?   Nicer Scott once claimed he could unfry an egg.

46-07-04 Women's Auxiliary

 

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

Sade spoke for Vic and told Vernon Korkell she would fix it so that he could join the Sewage Worker's Silver Cornet Band, even though his instrument is the piano, not the cornet  (it is revealed that he also plays the banjo.)  Vic argues with Sade and tells her the banjo doesn't belong in an all-cornet band.

Meanwhile, Vic has news of a Women's Auxiliary for his lodge. Sade - not-so-suprisingly - refuses to join, despite the promise that she can ride either a horse or a motorcycle.  Eventually she changes her mind when she makes a deal with Vic - that if he will fix it so that Vernon can play his banjo in the Sewage Worker's band, she'll ride in the parade.

Intertwined is Rush and Orville Wheeney practicing "evil chuckles."

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This is the first episode of "Series 3" that was presented "in full" - that is, no prior editing was done to it.  "Series 3" begins with a vignette or gist of the episode that gives you a hint of what the episode is about.

The 30 minute Vic and Sade episodes were really a bad idea.  There's more of the new characters, there's the annoying incidental music and almost three times the story length of those in the first and second series.

While this episode seems to be about the lodge, it's not really about the lodge at all.  It's much more about these suddenly-real characters.

The idea that Sade would agree (at any cost) to ride in a lodge parade at all -- seems silly. 

Trivia:

+ In this episode we learn that Vic's in-laws Bess and Walter Helfer once gave him long underwear for Christmas. Recall they once gave him a pair of easy slippers as a Christmas gift as well. They were decorated with Indian heads and tassels.

+ Vic says this is the first time the Women's Auxiliary has been official at his lodge. True, but once there was mention of a Women's Auxiliary Marching Team.

+ Rush says Mildred Tisdale publicly said he "wasn't good-looking."  Rush then goes on to say that, "He's plenty good-looking!"  This is not the first time he's gone down that avenue of thought.

+ Orville Wheenie is again a gas meter reader.  Recall he was fired from this same job in "Series 2."

+ Rush reads aloud from a volume of Third Lieutenant Stanley.  In it, he faces counterfeiting clothes manufacturers.  He has a solid gold revolver in a mink holster.  He also has twin rows of teeth(!) - of course, the color of old ivory.

+ When Uncle Fletcher and Roy Dejectedly (a real character now in "Series 3") arrive, they say they are seriously talking about buying part of the Little Tiny Petite Pheasent Feather Tea Shoppy.  However, they only plan on investing $9.00.

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44-09-21 Harry Feedburn Arrives

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

Looking "as nice" as he's "ever looked," Uncle Fletcher is decked out to meet the 9:45 pm train which carries Mr. Feedburn. Wasting the time away at the Gook house, both Vic and Sade take small shots at him.

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Perhaps the most insignificant of all episodes, this one seems to go nowhere. It does however, add a piece to the ongoing Mis' Keller-getting-married story.

Trivia:

+ Among the articles of clothing Uncle Fletcher is wearing are a corduroy cap and a leather necktie.

+ We already know that Uncle Fletcher is loaded down with wedding responsibilities; another of them is setting the wedding date! He has not set the date as of this episode.

+ Mr. Feedburn was coming in on the Chicago-Alton train... meaning he was coming from Chicago.

+ Mr. Feedburn is a "well-to-do" man - meaning he's wealthy.

+ Mr. Feedburn is going to share the Bridal Suite room in the Butler House Hotel with Hank Gutstop; a private fee was negotitiated but the Butler House folks will know nothing about him staying at the hotel.

+ Hank Gutstop is inexplicably still working as the house detective at the Butler House.

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44-09-04 Out of Town Wedding Guests

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Although no wedding date has not been announced, Mis' Keller has granted the Gooks and Uncle Fletcher the opportunity to invite two guests each to the future wedding. Sade envisions inviting Fred and Ruthie Stembottom and Uncle Fletcher originally had planned on inviting Pelter Unbleet and Y.I.I.Y. Skeeber.

But Uncle Fletcher realizes that out of town guests would garner more newspaper respect and prompts Vic and Sade to invite H.K. Fleeber, who he recalls "lives in the geographic center of the United States" (Grovelman, South Carolina) and Virgil Skeesh of Sick River Junction, Missouri (the home of the Missouri State Home for the Tall.) Uncle Fletcher changes his mind and decides his guests will be Roy Dejectedly and Dwight Twentysixler.

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The courtship of Mis' Keller is one part of the series where we get to hear what happened from it's beginnings to it's fruition.  Just imagine all the other events we have missed thanks to the idiots at Proctor and Gamble who needlessly threw away so many episodes.

Trivia:

+ There's scuttle that the Razorscums might be moving to Peoria.

+ When originally told they could invite two guests to the wedding, Vic jokes that one of the people he will invite in Homer Heck of Norman Oklahoma.

+ This is the first episode that Virgil Skeesh has been mentioned. He may have had a larger role in one or more previous missing shows (as a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure he did.) We can assume he's a tall person confined to the Missouri State Home of the Tall.

+ This is also the first episode where Dwight Twentysixler is mentioned. He hails from Dismal Seepage, Ohio.

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44-08-14 Uncle Fletcher - Rest Extended

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

Maudlin Uncle Fletcher needs more time to rest up from staying the two weeks in the bridal suite.

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A worthy candidate for one of the funniest of all Vic and Sade episodes, Uncle Fletcher is in top form. He tells two ridiculous stories (something he hadn't done for a very long stretch of the program) and they are some of his very best.

Trivia:

+ The Summer of 1944 had Vic wearing a straw hat to and from work.

+ Mis' Keller's rooming house is three blocks away from the Gook house - however, we aren't told the street nor direction. I've always assumed it was to the south of the Vic house.

+ Instead of saying "pow wow" (as in a meeting,) Uncle Fletcher says, "pow pow."

+ One time, Uncle Fletcher calls Vic, "Vickie honey."  It will be the first of many times he will use this phrase over the next  dozen or so episodes.

+ Vic tries numerous times to tell Sade something about Ike Kneesuffer and the Thimble Club but we never find out what that is. A clever trick by writer Paul Rhymer; connecting two unlikely partners together with some important information - yet never divulging what's actually going on, instead, teasing us over and over again.

+ Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Ray Baltgraw, from Norman Oklahoma. He learned to ride a tricycle at age 24. At age 30, he tackled the two wheeler. At age 48, he tackled the unicycle. At age 63, he attempted to ride a bicycle without any wheels!

In perhaps the funniest of all Uncle Fletcher stories, he tells the story of Baltgraw's friend, Art McFropp, who once mistook a saucer of dynamite for breakfast food and lost his sense of hearing.

+ In this episode (and the previous one,) Uncle Fletcher wants to make popcorn. Making popcorn involves building a fire, something quite unlikely in the hot month of August.

Art McFropp... {{{HEAR}}}

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44-04-05 Hyena Grease

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

{{{HEAR}}} Fletcher Rush was a character of many enthusiasms: touring the town with Mr. Gumpox on his garbage wagon, watching trains at the Interurban Station, popping popcorn, reminiscing about his remarkable collection of even more remarkable acquaintances, stingyberry jam, and Hyena Grease: a malodorous concoction for "smearing on your shoes." Whether it is intended as a polish, a water-proofer; or what type of shoes it is meant to be smeared on is never made clear. But, whatever it is, it's the finest one in the entire civilized world!

In this episode, Uncle Fletcher (Clarence Hartzell) is in a state of nervous agitation. His friend Roy Dejectedly has unexpectedly entrusted to him the formula for this wonder of the age, and he has no safe place to secure it. The scientific laboratories in the region would give their right arm to lay their hands on the unpatented process. In his distress, he turns to his nephew-in-law Vic Gook (Art Van Harvey), in hopes he will protect this precious document in his safety deposit vault. As Russell (I believe David Whitehouse) witnesses the transfer, Uncle Fletcher places in Vic's care the formula for Hyena Grease, with solemnity worthy of the plans for the Norden Bombsight.

Of course, Vic takes the proceedings about as seriously as the listeners do. He and Russell exchange some sly remarks between themselves; but, though they have little respect for his trivial formula, they have great respect and affection for Uncle Fletcher. For his sake, they honor his concern, and play along as Vic agrees to put the slip of paper in his little safe deposit box at the bank.

Whether Hyena Grease is a preparation we would want anywhere near our shoes is debatable, but those who agree to take care of that formula are decidedly the finest in the entire… civilized … world!

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Vic and Sade fan Sarah Cole provided the above paragraphs as a special guest to The Crazy World of Vic and Sade.

Trivia:

art by Dave Duckert

+ Russell says Oyster Cracker and Blue Tooth Johnson almost got into a fight earlier.

+ Heinie Call takes violin lessons.

+ Roy Dejectedly is from Cordova but Uncle Fletcher says the Hyena Grease formula was sent in the mail from Dixon.

+ The hidden formula for Hyena Grease: turpentine, creosote, lamp black and tractor oil mixed with Hyena Grease.

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44-03-20 Mysterious Skulkers

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

Sade notices three skulkers in the backyard. They turn out to be Uncle Fletcher and two of his friends.

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One of the rare Vic and Sade episodes that really goes nowhere; that's not to say it's a horrible episode as it's not but neither is it great. Very, very little going on in this one.

Trivia:

+ Roy Dejectedly and Pelter Unbleet both lived in Philadelphia in the year 1909 - yet they did not know each other.

+ It's inferred that Sade probably doesn't like Roy Dejectedly and she's never met Pelter Unbleet.

+ Unbleet is also a handyman along with his duties as the janitor for the Bright Kentucky Hotel.

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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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43-10-27 Thimble Club Meeting

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, DAVID WHITEHOUSE AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Vic, Russell and Uncle Fletcher are stuck outside on a chilly day as the Thimble Club women are nice and warm inside the Gook household.

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Not a bad episode, although the usual absurdity and ridiculousness is kept to a minimum here.

The strength of the episode to me is the fact that Paul Rhymer's script and the fine acting of the three male characters lends itself well to visualizing the proceedings on the porch.

It's also becoming evident that David Whitehouse (Russell) is becoming more comfortable with his role on the show. Something that has been overlooked until now is just what a wonderful laugh he has; it's quite contagious: {{{HEAR}}}

Trivia:

+ This episode provides the names of several women who are in the Thimble Club that up to now, we never knew were members. Here's a list of "new" Thimble Club members:
Mis' Morris, Mis' Donahue, Mis' Johnson, Mis' Craig, Mis' O'Donnell, Mis' Chlorine, Mis' Garrison and Mis' Kester.

For a complete list of the women in the Thimble Club, be sure to check the Thimble Club page.

+ Several women's name make their surviving episode debuts in this episode:
Mis' Morris, Mis' Craig, Mis' O'Donnell, Mis' Chlorine and Mis' Garrison.

+ Uncle Fletcher is short on ridiculous stories in this episode, although he does mention the fact that Mis' Cryder and Mis' Johnson both have named their olderst sons, "William" and that Roy Dejectedly was confused as to where Des Moines, Iowa was.

+ Russell's friend, Oyster Cracker, has a cousin named "Lombard."

The men on the porch take turns talking like the ladies of the Thimble Club (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

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43-09-20 Fifty Photos of Vic

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

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

The photos were available to him so he bought 50 photos of himself with his mouth open for the sum of $12.50.

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So-so material here. This episode is noted for Uncle Fletcher mentioning so many names and being a little more out of his head than usual.

Trivia:

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

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

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

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

Ish Kabibble (circa 1950)

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

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

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

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

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

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