45-12-07 There's Going to be a Great Day

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

The city the Gooks live in has been accepted to host the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way Convention in May of 1946 and Vic is to be Grand Marshal.

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A fun episode.

Trivia:

+ This episode marks the end of the surviving "Series 2."  The next series originally was a 30 minute series that had a live audience.

+ Mis' Harris is over visiting Sade (and Rush) and the three talk about the Donahue attic mystery.

+ Sade, for the first time in the entire series, refers to Mis' Donahue as "Mrs. Donahue."

+ Sade, who previously said she was going to confront Mis' Donahue about the attic goings-on changes her mind in this episode as she says, "Until she says something herself about this business, I'm certainly not going to."

+ Uncle Fletcher gives his two cents about the attic, saying he doubts there is a insane murderer or "hairy ape gnawing at his chains" crouching up there.

+ Being the Grand Marshal, Vic was given his choice of transportation: a horse, a motorcycle or a rickshaw. He chose all three!

+ During the convention, Vic has the duty of climbing up on his roof and shooting off a Roman candle at midnight. He'll also have to install 3 extra telephones in his house.

+ In passing, Vic mentions there will be dirigible balloon rides.

+ Uncle Fletcher mentions Ernie Spoocher from Belvidere, Illinois.

+ Vic feels so good about the news, he gives Mis' Harris a kiss.

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45-12-03 A Slow, Dull, Tiresome Evening

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

Sade comments that the evening is slow - but then all at once, people call and come over, making her change her mind.

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Even with everything going on, there really isn't much if anything here to get a smile from.

Trivia:

+ Rush reads aloud from a volume of Third Lieutenant Stanley. The Third Lieutenant is attacked by counterfeiting natives and oddly, is wearing a yellow uniform.

+ Ruthie Stembottom calls and the the couples make a date to play "500."

+ While talking on the phone with Ruthie, Sade refers to Fred as "Fred" - something she hasn't done in more than a year and a half.

+ At the same time Ruthie calls, Jimmy Custard (still thinking Sade is "Mrs. Emerson") and Mr. Sprawl (Mis' Harris sent him over while she went downtown - again) come over. It must be noted than Custard came to the front down and rang the door bell and Mr. Sprawl came to the back and rang the door bell. This is the first time in "Series 2" where anyone rang the door bell.

+ Jimmy Custard has a iron-bound notebook. According to him, all City Calistoker have to have them.

+ Someone calls for Fat (Jackson) on the telephone. This running joke began with Dottie Brainfeeble and has lasted through "Series 2." The person calling for Fat mistakes Sade, this time, for "Isabelle." Sade continues to issue warnings to the caller that she will call the telephone company, but apparently, never seems to follow through with the threat.

+ The Gooks live at 414 Virginia Avenue.

+ Jimmy Custard thinks Mr. Sprawl is the son of Vic and Sade!

+ When Fred Stembottom calls up and asks what kind of ice cream he should bring, Vic and Rush say "caramel" and "tutti-fruiti." Despite being told a squillion times over the entire course of the show that Fred doesn't like either of these flavors, they persist.

+ Sweet Corn McBlock calls Vic to borrow a couple of bucks.

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45-11-26 Sweetcorn, A Shattered Bullfinch

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

Sweet Corn McBlock, a rather new member of the Sacred Stars of the Milky Way lodge, is being kicked out by Vic for not paying his dues.

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This episode may remind of you 42-xx-xx Lodge Speech Rehearsal where Vic rehearses throwing Hank Gutstop out of the lodge.

In this episode though, he uses a different ritual and isn't quite as animated as he was in his rehearsal of throwing out Hank.

Trivia:

+ Orville Wheenie is an apprentice meter reader and he fears he is about to get fired from his job. He's been falling asleep reading meters in people's basements and cellars.

+ Wheeney is all confused about what a pompadour is and what it's supposed to do. He's trying to get it to lay down and may even send to Chicago for something called "Grizzly Bear Grease" to get his to do so.

+ The speech for Gutstop's removal referred to him as a "bob-o-link with a broken wing" - this speech has McBlock repeating to Vic that he is a "shattered bullfinch."
{{{HEAR}}}

+ The speech for McBlock (edited): {{{HEAR}}}

Oh despicable fragment of hateful scum, you are a loathesome reptile! Your glittering sword I snatch, oh miserable wretch! I sunder this standing blade, oh stumbling pig! Miserable wretch, I chastise you! Miserable wretch, sob and weep! Miserable wretch, tear your hair! Miserable wretch, scream and shriek!

+ It takes an hour by train to get to Peoria from where the Gooks live.

+ McBlock has taken a 3 day job in Peoria helping build a walk by the Illinois River. He gets paid $7.50 a day.

+ McBlock is in the habit of calling Vic, "V.R."

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45-11-23 Five Sleeping Beauties

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

It's late November and quite chilly but Uncle Fletcher and Dwight Twentysixler plan to sleep on the courthouse lawn. They hope to persuade Vic and Rush to join them and also plan to invite Mr. Sprawl, who is over 90 years old.

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It's amazing what fame will do to the common sense of some people (that's not to say that Fletcher Rush and Dwight Twentysixler have any common sense at all.) Ernie Pompell, one of the writers at the newspaper, has promised the men a story (maybe even on the front page) if they'll brave the elements.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to Mr. Twentysixler, a man who always has roof shingles in his mouth. Everything he says is a mumble, yet the Gooks and Uncle Fletcher seem to have figured out his language.

Trivia:

+ The Donahue attic mystery continues: The previous night, Sade says she saw the Donahue's leave for the Bijou at 7:15. Mis' Harris claims at 8 pm, she was the lamp swinging in the attic!

+ Uncle Fletcher lists all of the men who like to sleep on the courthouse lawn during the warmer weather: Sweet Corn McBlock, Y.I.I.Y. Skeeber, Hank Gutstop, B.B. Baugh, Pelter Unbleet and his imaginary brother(!), Roy DelFino and Rishigan Fishigan.  Delfino is a name we have not come across before. He can rub his bare feet together and produce a clear blue flame!

+ Uncle Fletcher has made a habit in "series 2" of calling Rush, "Rushie."

+ We find out Mr. Sprawl's first name is "Mervin."

+ When Fletcher asks Vic and Rush if they would care to join them on the lawn, each answer in the negative before the question can be fully asked.

+ Twentysixler has a married daughter who lives in Dismal Seepage. Ohio.

Voice of Twentysixler: {{{HEAR}}}

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45-11-19 Unwanted Samaritan

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Mis' Harris and Sade bawl out Uncle Fletcher for being an unwanted "good" samaritan to Mr. Sprawl, Mis' Harris' elderly father.

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Not a horrible beginning to what I shall call 'Series 2.' 

We are introduced to two new voices, Mis' Harris (called "Mrs. Florence Harris" by the announcer) and her father, Mr. Sprawl.

I never imagined Mis' Harris speaking the way she does, although to be honest, I never imagined the voice of Mis' Harris anyway. Mr. Sprawl doesn't say much and since he's brand new to the series, I didn't cringe when I heard his voice.

All-in-all, not a bad experience... however, this is a pretty boring story and likely was not the first episode in the Vic and Sade 'revival.'

Johnny Coons plays the part of Mr. Sprawl and actress Dolly Day plays Mis' Harris.

+ There appears to be something mysterious about the Donahue's attic.  I wish we knew more about the mystery, which I suspect either concludes later or is part of an earlier, missing episode.

+ It appears as though Dwight Twentysixler has a flame for Mis' Harris, who you may recall is a widow.

+ Mr. Sprawl (according to Wikipedia) was played by Johnny Coons. The actress that played Mis' Harris is uncredited.

+ Dr. Miller is Mr. Sprawl's doctor. He prescribed "fresh air and sunshine" for Sprawl, according to Mis' Harris.

+ Sweet Corn McBlock is mentioned. He's probably a large man and a cronie of Uncle Fletcher.

Normal, Illinois is famous for it's sweet corn.

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