44-03-25 Testing Mis' Keller's Phone

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Vic's brought home work from the office. After Sade agrees to stay out his way, Uncle Fletcher shows up with plans to test call Mis' Keller's phone. Doing this provides Vic with mountains of aggravation.

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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Reading the script, you can tell that Sade feels somewhat responsible for her uncle bothering Vic, though she's helpless to change the situation.

Many feel that when Uncle Fletcher is oblivious to everything but himself, that's when he really shines as a character. Someone count the number of times Sade gives her uncle the phone number to his own dwelling!

TRIVIA:

* Apple Spoon-Giggle: a cooked dessert that uses 3 eggs. Sade's recipe uses the yolks. Eggs and especially yolks were a premium during WWII, I believe.

* Russell is missing from this episode. You can count on one hand the number of times Russell is missing from 1944 scripts that we are privy to.

* There's very little here in the way of Uncle Fletcher-story-telling.  However, he does say, "the long drawn-out story of the Snyder brothers – Charlie, Fred, and Mervin that left Belvidere, Illinois in the year nineteen ought three to move to Fiendish, Indiana where they went into the hay, grain, and feed business with their gran'ma…"

* To my knowledge, this is the only time Follersons Hardware was mentioned.

44-04-20 A Letter from Bess - No Card Game

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

Vic, Russ and Uncle Fletcher come home and decide to play cards.  However, they get wind that Sade is home and has a letter from Bess. They quickly hatch a plan so that they won't hurt Sade's feelings and can still get in a few hands of cards.

When the plan begins to go into action, Sade smells a rat and begins looking at the men for signs of guilt. Surely, you know who wins.

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

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All Vic and Sade fans know you can't fool Sade.  Vic and Russell surely know better, but that didn't stop them from trying.

This is yet another episode that talks about Euncie practicing the "The Great Colorado Train Robbery Scottish", which would eventually put her in bandages.  Just another of the long-running Paul Rhymer gags that he turned into a ridiculous situation.  I'm almost certain that somewhere in 1944, either Walter's kneecap completely healed up or it exploded.  I assume we will never know.

TRIVIA:

* Uncle Fletcher seems completely out of touch here.  Sometimes, he appears socially aloof, but in this episode, it really seems as though there is a bit of an unknown problem with his brain.

* It would be very interesting to know how many episodes we know of where cards were mentioned.  Also, letters/cards from Bess: this is about the 25th letter/postal card or so that we know that Sade has gotten from Bess.  My crazy math tells me that Sade got a letter from Bess about every two weeks.  That could mean that during the run of the first Series, she may have received/talked about 300 letters or so.  Is that possible?

* Uncle Fletcher tells of Quentin L. Spondle, who changed his wife's name from Leota to Dorothy, against her objections.

44-05-03 Russell Has Three Bosses

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

Putting up the swing is a ritual

It's time to put up the porch swing and Russell is elected.  Despite plenty of others around to help (Sade, Vic and Uncle Fletcher), Russell must do it alone.  Why?  Because he's one rotten little trivial laborer, that's why.

SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

___________________

Russell is at his best when thoroughly agitated.  It's shame we can't hear this one.

I imagine the ritual of putting up and taking down the porch swing was used for an episode backdrop most every year that Vic and Sade was on the radio.

TRIVIA:

* This episode implies that the Husher family lives on Virginia Avenue and is near the Gook house.  Also, the McForper family live on Virginia Ave. (To my knowledge, this is their only time mentioned).  The McForper's left their porch swing out during the winter and it's deep into spring in this episode; Sade considers this a knock on their housekeeping.

* Lodge devotee Honky J. Sponger was mentioned a few times in the script; one time his name was typed as "Honky G. Sponger".

37-12-03 Rush Needs Money for Christmas Shopping

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Christmas 1937

Rush has made a Christmas list.  He's whittled it down to the bone.  He's got very little cash to work with.

He's going to Plan B; all he has to do is get the dough from good ole' Gov -- well, make that, get past Sade in order to get it from Gov.  It's not an easy task.

SEE SOME DIALOGUE AND SYNOPSIS

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Rush knows Gov has a soft heart.  The trouble remains; Sade also knows Vic has a soft heart.
 
This episode compares in some ways with this one, a rather odd episode where Rush went to Vic's office to ask for Christmas funds.

That particular episode took place in 1941.  Let's look at the difference in lists between the two episodes:

 We can compare Rush's Christmas lists from 2 years

The price of Vic's gift remained the same.  Poor Vic, always getting the shaft.

Trivia:

* In the story about the imaginary 'Rollo K. Wintersquat' at the institution, Vic suggests he be sent some fudge.  That's not the only time someone locked away and fudge being sent to them are mentioned; Dottie Brainfeeble sent fudge to Martin Jordle, the man whose wife signed a paper and then the next thing he knew, he was in prison for 40 years.

* You wonder how good you can "get in" with a man by buying him a stinky, nickel cigar?

* "Bernardine" is once again mentioned in the script as an homage (you'd think) to  Bernardine Flynn. I'm almost certain that "Bernardine" was mentioned another time as well, but I'll be doggone if I can find the reference.

* Sade recalls Steve Kodunk in Dixon, whose father used to drown him with money.  He'd have a nickel or dime to spend every single recess and the kids would buzz around him like flies.

Hmmm.  You wonder how many kids would be swarming young Mr. Kodunk in 2015?  In the age of iPads and XBox, I'm guessing not a whole lot.

click to enlarge

* It's likely that this story line (or something like it) took place nearly every Christmas on the show.  I believe Rhymer eventually took Sade out of the equation because she's generally a major league frump when it comes to spondulix, plus the shows with just Vic and Rush (that we know about) all turned out to be genuine peachy episodes.  Certainly Rhymer knew
this or you'd think someone told him.

* This episode took place on the road, as did apparently, several other episodes during the latter end of 1937.  This episode was live from Kenosha, Wisconsin.  We are most fortunate (thanks to Barbara Schwartz and the Friends of Vic and Sade) to have an article from the local paper there from December 4, 1937.  The interview probably took place the same day this episode was broadcast.  [Dunno about you, but I love neat stuff like that.]

40-01-25 Uncle Fletcher Sends Seeds

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Sade gets a package in the mail from her Uncle Fletcher.  He's heard she's into gardening and has sent her all kinds of seeds.

SEE SOME DIALOGUE AND THE SYNOPSIS

________________

What I imagine when I read the above, is Uncle Fletcher doing a dandy, nice thing; sending exotic seeds to his niece and family - but probably putting all the seeds together, where one who didn't know, wouldn't know one seed from the next.

Why did Fletcher send seeds?  Obviously, after hearing about the Gooks having control over a vegetable garden (in an episode just 13 days prior) he sent the seeds.

Trivia:

+ Sade referred to the beef punkles as, "boiling beef".

+ A fictional detective was mentioned, "Firpo Vance."  In other episodes, "Philo Vance" and "Philco Vance" have been mentioned.

+ Found among the seeds: a sewing button, a thumbtack, a pill, bottle-cap, a tooth, a peach pit and an earring.

+ Uncle Fletcher's letter says the seeds include "Common varieties of radishes, onions, spinach, and so forth, many types of rare an' exotic vegetables: the South American semi-poison Hedge Banana, for instance.  Also, the Dismal Swamp Sugar Beet an' the Speckled Snake-Squash.  This latter may be identified by its shape – rather like a human being's thumb-nail."

35-04-17 Lodge Library

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

Vic is the owner of his own lodge library, which he has purchased at a discount rate.  But no matter how much of a discount he got, Sade's not happy.

SEE THE SCRIPT (page 1) (page 2)

_____________

What we encounter here is the first time of many for the Lodge Library, which holds, for us, countless smiles, titters and guffaws.

This script seems to border on boring, to be blunt, but I believe writer Paul Rhymer did this on purpose - and he also withheld any and all funny business inside the books - so that he could employ them with wacky fraternal surprise the next times they would be used.

It's my guess that the Lodge Library would be used at least an average of once a week for the rest of the series.  That's a lot of episodes.  And a lot of mileage he got out of the endless pages.

Not pleased...

Oddly, the always-important Volume VII is not mentioned in this episode, and the books themselves point to John B. Rafunnel, Ira Guppy, James L. White and T. Lester Konk founding the lodge in 1857.  This differs than the song Vic sang in 1936 (Jolly lads, come quick to me, a story I will tell about the Sacred Stars Of The Milky Way, the organization we love so well. ‘Twas founded in 1833 by six wise men so true. Their names were Howard Conk, J.M. Dupe, L.W. Rotmyer, Anderson...)  And, of course, later, R.J. Konk would be ''rightfully'' credited.  Maybe an episode existed about a smooth, engraved stone that was found within the city limits of Sweet Esther, Wisconsin, that prove R.J. Konk was the true founder.  We may never know.

Trivia:

+ Vic lives in the "Ratfunnel" Belt; this seems to be the Great Lakes area once frequented by John B. Ratfunnel. 

+ A joke, or not a joke? (((hear)))

43-06-04 Helping Russell Adjust

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE 

Sade and Vic discuss Russell, his 'far-away looks' and how he's adjusting to his new life after his parents have died.

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

____________

David Whitehouse

A serious script, especially the first half, before Russell joins the conversation with Sade and Vic. The couple, notably, the more-vocal Sade, reveal their empathy and genuine care (worry/fear?) for the grieving boy's well-being.

Although the script lacks the punch of memorable lines and witty rapport, it strikes me as one of the stronger scripts I have read. While Sade is more expressive about her thoughts on how Russell is coping with his grief, Vic quietly does the same, even suggesting they all go see Gloria Golden (whom Vic doesn't like), obviously thinking that a film might help the youngster escape for an hour or so.

Coping with death is something we have not encountered on the show (unless you count Mr. Gumpox's horses), so these character insights are interesting to explore.

This tender side of Paul Rhymer's writing makes one thoughtful... however, one thing that strikes me immediately after reading the script is the couple think it might be for the best if Russell let go of his feelings, yet, later, how Vic and Sade both cut off Russell at different times when he tries to bring up specific memories of his parents. The 'talking out' of those memories is all a part of the grieving process. In a show known for it's interruption of speech (usually in a humorous way), it doesn't waver here either, as it appears the couple is either trying to protect Russell from his own words or to protect themselves from having to deal with an unfamiliar, uncomfortable situation.

Vic and Sade are loving, caring, nurturing parents, but the fact that Russell is not their own flesh and blood seems to present a wall. Sade badly describes the grief as 'home sickness'

'Home sickness' is a term Rhymer used several times in scripts, early on with Rush and later with the visiting Leland Richards and in-between, with other, minor characters.  Someone should explore the subject more deeply.  I think there's something important Rhymer is trying to tell us that we haven't figured out yet.  It may have something to do with males who cry, a characteristic found in various men around town (Brickmush Man, Gumpox and Mr. Sludge, just to name three).  I'm afraid if we were to probe, we might find Rhymer (or perhaps his father, or both) was completely dominated by some ditzy, irritating female, probably his mother...

40-12-26 Gumpox's Traveling Bed

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND BILL IDELSON

There's big-doings at the Bright Kentucky Hotel as Rush, his pals and a
newspaper reporter have been invited by Mr. Gumpox to witness occupied beds traveling down hallways, passing each other!  This is just another of the bizarre things that happen in their crazy world.

SEE THE SCRIPT (part 1) (part 2)

_______________

Yes, it's all true... and Vic and Sade are so enthralled with the story that they allow Rush to be out past 1 a.m.

Sade wants to tell the story to Mis' Donahue, who's bound to laugh out loud.

Trivia:

+ Blue Tooth's real name is William Gazelle Johnson.

+ There's yet another barber (who works at the Butler House Hotel's barbershop) living at the Bright Kentucky: Cunningham.  His bed is prone to take off too, when the long, heavy trains barrel past the run-down eyesore.

+ Mr. Gumpox says that when they are in bed and he passes Cunningham in the hall, they wave at each other and say, ''Ta ta'' and ''Bon voyage'', respectively.

+ According to Sade, it appears that sometime prior to this episode, a train jumped the tracks and plowed into Gumpox's room.  That'd be a fine how-do-you-do, wouldn't it?

+ Though we have heard and read accounts of beds traveling down the halls of the Bright Kentucky, this is the first account we have in script form.

44-08-21 Turtle Soup

STARRING: ART VAN HARVEY, BERNARDINE FLYNN AND DAVID WHITEHOUSE

Vic is excited when he gets mail from his pal, Gus Fuss, who has plans
to send Vic a Mississippi River Turtle, so that Sade can make McMasterson Turtle Soup.

SEE THE SCRIPT (PAGE 1) (PAGE 2)

____________

This script is quite humorous.  The original run of the show would end just five weeks from the airing of this episode and Paul Rhymer's material was still very fresh and funny (and remains so).

One of Rhymer's 'secrets' is used here, where he calls up 'the running joke' (warm lemonade/ham ham/stingyberry jam).  Generally, if you will notice, the running jokes are delivered with a very dry wit by Sade, while Rush or Russ uses the wet technique.  By in large, the running jokes are about Vic's lodge or his friends, although Bess's letters get their share as well.

 

Trivia:

+  Russell begins the episode reading from an unnamed Third Lieutenant Stanley novel.  The passage he reads is all about kissing.

+ Stingyberry Jam, we learn, is made from (shock!) stingyberries, which only grow in Dubuque, Iowa.  Sade confuses B.B. Baugh with Gus Fuss.

+ Sade gets a postal card (correctly addressed TO HER), from someone

named, "Heavy'. According to Cassell's Dictionary of slang, in the 1940's "heavy" denoted a very physically or emotionally passionate person.

+ Sade wants to know if the turtle will arrive dead or alive?  That's a good question!  Another question to ponder is why E.W. Smith currently has the turtle?

There's a sort of genius at work in the writing here - while there is NO punchline, we are left to (that is, Rhymer manipulates us to) wonder why a noted horse thief possesses Vic's gift turtle.

+ A quick browse through Google shows that 'McMasterson Turtle Soup' is probably fictional.

xx-xx-xx Howard Gets Married

Gimme a kiss....

Howard, Mr. Gumpox's horse, weds a girl horse down the block.  Mr. Gumpox performs the ceremony.

____________________

Clarence Hartzell remembered this episode in an interview he did in the 1970's. (((HEAR)))

The date is unknown. The title is one I gave the episode purely for identification purposes.

43-01-15 Uncle Fletcher Cleans Out His Room

Fine!

Mis' Keller, Uncle Fletcher's landlady, has asked him to clean some junk out of the room he rents.  He does and carries it over to his niece's house - expecting Sade to return the items to the store!

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]

42-12-21 Fletcher's Shoestrings Spoil Shopping Trip

STARRING BERNARDINE FLYNN AND CLARENCE HARTZELL

Uncle Fletcher promises to take Sade and her good friend Ruthie Stembottom shopping.  However, he fools around with his shoestring and fouls up the proposed timeline, so much so that Ruthie calls and cancels and will go shopping alone.

_______________

In Uncle Fletcher's favor, I will say that Ruthie probably would not have been as quick to leave if this whole episode didn't have to do with last-minute Christmas shopping.  Being December 21st, you know that's exactly what the girls had in mind. 

You can also imagine Uncle Fletcher standing up and telling his niece "Sadie" that he would protect the girls from purse-snatchers and the like.  If it weren't for those darn triple knots...

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]

43-08-13 Special Deputy Fletcher

Mayor Greecham makes Uncle Fletcher a "Special Deputy" in which his only real authority is make crowds step back.

Uncle Fletcher seems to have strong thoughts about abusing his power because he felt like the Mayor had specially chosen him.

The Gooks though, notice he really has no authority and seem to bring him back down to earth.

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]

40-xx-xx Uncle Fletcher's Meals

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

An angry Uncle Fletcher comes to the Gook house complaining that his landlady, Mis' Keller, upon leaving for a two-week vacation, has set out his meals all over the house on various objects and platforms.

SEE THE SCRIPT

____________

In Series 3, there is an episode that is very much like this one but it has a far-different ending.  In this 1940 episode, it is Uncle Fletcher who plans to break down the porch in a show of force in front of Mis' Keller.  In the 1946 episode, the same thing occurs, but it is Mis' Keller who has the fit of rage and inexplicably destroys the porch railing.

Trivia:

+ This episode is the only instance we have where a "Mr. Keller" has been mentioned.  He's obviously referred to as being Mis' Keller's husband. If this was not some sort of anomaly, it is quite possible -- even probable -- that an episode exists after this one where Mr. Keller passes away and Uncle Fletcher vows to become her protector, or something similar.  

+ This is first instance we know of where Uncle Fletcher tells someone to "go down cellar".  He tells this to Rush (and later, to Vic).

+ Uncle Fletcher refers to his meals being scattered like "anthracite coal" -- the exact kind of coal that was extracted from the coal mine in Bloomington. 

+ Mr. Erickson has been doing house repairs for about a year at the Gook house and in this episode, has a crew of five to help.  What's gotten into Mr. Erickson?

+ Not only is the Ohio Home for the Agreeable mentioned (it was mentioned also in the 1946 version) but so is Wisconsin State Home for the Obstinate (in Sweet Esther, of course).

 

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.

_____________

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]

4x-xx-xx Uncle Fletcher Fails at Telephoning

Phones are not fine.

Uncle Fletcher doesn't seem to like the telephone.  He's had nothing but trouble with them whenever he's encountered one.

In this episode, he's at the Gook house and phones Mis' Keller so he can get a hold of his buddy, Joe Walters, and invite him over to share dinner. But since he doesn't seem to really know how to use the telephone properly, he keeps Mis' Keller hanging while he tells the Gooks a story.  When he finally realizes Mis' Keller is on the phone - and she recognizes his voice - he is astounded.

Uncle Fletcher simply is a failure when it comes to telephones.

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] 

41-xx-xx Howard's Red, Woolen Blanket

Uncle Fletcher buys Howard a red, woolen blanket as a Christmas gift.

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] 

37-11-12 Cigar Box Christmas Gift from Uncle Fletcher

Uncle Fletcher sends a box to his neice and family.  The Gooks are reserved and careful while examining the outside of it, knowing his eccentricity.

Upon opening the box, the Gooks find a variety of peculiar cigars, collected over the years by Sade's uncle. Though he's left careful notes about where each came from (no doubt, they all had a value of some sort to Uncle Fletcher), Vic surmises that the cigars are worthless as far as tobacco-enjoyment is concerned, since they are old and uncared-for.

Sade, however, understands that her uncle sent a very thoughtful gift.

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]

40-xx-xx Uncle Fletcher's Clothes

S N A P !

From the sound snippet we have, it seems Uncle Fletcher is getting all dolled-up and might be headed somewhere, perhaps the train station.

___________________

Trivia:

* Uncle Fletcher has on a leather tie, regulation police suspenders, and sleeve garters.

* The snap heard from the suspenders and sleeve garters represent one of the few times in the surviving audio that we have where a sound effect is heard, other than a telephone or a far-away voice.

[The dialogue and audio below may or may not be from this episode.  This is simply my educated guess.]

* The entire dialogue we are privy to:

Uncle Fletcher: Yes, I should have a real good time.

Sade: Glorious time!

Uncle Fletcher: All dressed up of course...

Sade: Yes, indeed.

Uncle Fletcher: Leather neck tie...

Sade: Mmm.

Uncle Fletcher: Regulation strength double police suspenders.

[SNAP!]

Sade: Uhhh.  Good, solid snap!

Uncle Fletcher: Sleeve garters!

[SNAP!]

Sade: [giggles] They snap nice, also!

Uncle Fletcher: Uh-huh.

HEAR THE AUDIO

xx-xx-xx Eleven Barrels of Oysters

Uncle Fletcher offers to inconveniently supply the Gooks with eleven barrels of oysters, which they probably quickly refused.

_____________________________

Uncle Fletcher was always going way overboard on his gifts.  There were times when he sent three fierce bulldogs; on at least two occasions he had gigantic doorstops made out of railroad track pieces that weighed over 400 pounds to give away as gifts; another time he presumably spent $1000 or more on Mr. Gumpox for a harness for his horse -- and this is where we gather the information for this presumed episode.

[There were many other incidents along this vein as well that I have not mentioned.]

We don't know if this episode actually existed or not but 20/20 vision shows us that most things spoken about the family did indeed take place in an episode.  Either way, we can be assured that the generous Uncle Fletcher did indeed at least try to send eleven barrels of oysters to Vic, Sade and Rush.

We can also assume the conversation that took place after finding out the news: imagine the smell of the other ten rotting barrels?  Where would the Gooks keep the oysters?  And other such nonsense.

The date of this episode had to have happened before 1941, since this was spoken of on the last day of 1940.