Daryl wrote --

and finally Bob, who was known for his ad libs, threw his on the floor and winged it for 15 minutes of solid laughs.

LOL!!

And that show gave John Guedel the inspiration for YBYF knowing Groucho could
carry off a show that was built around him. He had been in shows before but was limited to a script, not Groucho's style at all. He was much funnier using
his own wit than anything a writer could come up with. And with audio tape coming on the market it was serendipity.
At the time NBC didn't allow any recordings (except for a few, limited sound effects) and CBS wasn't interested.
ABC was a new struggling network. It had been NBC Blue until a couple of years before when the government said owning two national networks was illegal and made NBC sell the blue network, which was sort of a poor relation of NBC Red. The Red network had all the big shows and stars, Blue had second-tier shows.
ABC had no restrictions on using recordings (nor did Mutual and to an extent CBS).
After Bing Crosby's fight to record his show on tape (so he could record several shows in one day to give him more time to play golf) NBC, not wanting to lose another big star to CBS (such as Jack Benny), relented with more and more shows pre-recorded. Then with the success of YBYL NBC came calling with the show switching networks. Shows sometimes switched networks over the years going from one to another and sometimes back to the one they started on).
NBC had a couple of good reasons to live shows only. One they thought playing a recording was cheating the listening audience. Another was using electrical transcriptions, before tape, the recordings were limited in their time. They were 16 inch "records" with only 16 minutes per side of recording time. They were also expensive and time consuming to produce. Plus recordings
were subject to skips and getting stuck, scratches, breakage, etc.
ET's became more popular during the war when the Armed Forces Radio Services
recorded shows to be played for the troops around the world "at a more convenient time", days, weeks or months later, depending on how busy the military was at that time. AFRS didn't allow commercials so those were edited out. Another time consuming job when recording a wax disc to another wax disc.
Thus ends today's history lesson.
Herr Professor Joe


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Joe,

Thus ends today's history lesson.

Good one, sir.

On the live show, the only thing that's "live" now are the daily TV
station newscasts...although the stories (interviews) are pre-recorded...especially when it's the 11pm news, and the interview
with someone is in broad daylight. <G>

They said the "America's Got Talent" was "a live show", but I was
involved in ham radio traffic nets (I run one every night except for Wednesday...that's my only night off, as it were)...so I didn't get to
see the originals...but I've watched portions on YouTube.

The 2 top finishers this year were 2 young girls...Darci Lynn
Farmer...a 13 year old singing ventriloquist from Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma...and Angelica Hale...a 9 year old singer from Atlanta,
Georgia. Both of them are "cute as a bugs ear", and have "a massive set
of pipes on them!!". :)

Darci was originally very shy, and her Mom got her a puppet for her
10th birthday (Katie, The Yodeling Cowgirl), and that started it for her...although she had gotten interested in ventriloquism at her church
a few years earlier.

Angelica contracted double pneumonia at 4, and nearly died, as her
kidneys were shutting down. Her Mom donated one of her kidneys to her
daughter, and she has been a blessing to her Mom and Dad since then...I understand her Mom recently had another daughter, and Angelica also
helps take care of her "baby sister". :)

Darci won the competition, and Angelica was the runner-up...but it was awfully noble of Darci to invite Angelica and her family to come with
her, and perform at the show in Las Vegas...apparently they've become
real close friends.

Years ago locally, "The Bozo Show" was live. The guy who played Bozo,
Gary Weir, was also the spokesperson for Ideal Bread ("it's ideal for
every meal")...made here in Arkansas (nothing like fresh baked bread,
with melted butter (I will pause here for drooling <G>).

Anyway, the one game had the kids bouncing the ball on the floor, to
try to bounce it into a barrel. When one boy missed, he said "the S
word". When corrected by Bozo "Now, son...that's a Bozo No-No"...the kid
yelled "Stuff it, Clownie!!". :P

Needless to say, that ENDED the "live" instances of the show.

Herr Professor Joe

Yah, Voul, Mein Herr!! <G> Although I have to wonder...Sargeant
Schultz may have "known nothing", but he was like putty in Corporal
LeBeau's hands, when he came out with the streudel. <G> Are you the same
way on struedel?? ;)

Daryl
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Daryl wrote --

On the live show, the only thing that's "live" now are the daily TV station newscasts

I love watching kinoscopes of live tv from the early days. They were well rehearsed, everyone knew their lines, etc but there are times things happened.
I recall one drama where a woman crossed a room and accidentally knocked something over on a table as her period dress brushed by. She momentarily stopped, replaced it and continued on with the scene seamlessly. She was staged trained no doubt.
On live comedy shows something always happened. A prop didn't work, someone ad libbed, etc.
A Colgate Cavalcade of Comedy show from the early '50s was noted for this. It was a weekly show, live from NY, with rotating guests hosts. One week Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn, another week Abbott and Costello, etc.
On a A&C show Costello accidentally knocked over a flimsy column which fell on someone and he started laughing and couldn't stop for several minutes with others trying to get back to the script.
Abbott would once in a while tell Costello "Talk sense" which was their code for Costello to stop ad libbing and get back to business. On live shows if you
didn't finish on time you were cut off since another show was waiting. And sometimes the host at the end of the shows say "We're a little late tonight, goodbye".
One Fred Allen show ran over and was cut off. The following week he mentioned that and said for anyone who wondered what happened here is what you missed and they redid the two or three lines that wasn't aired.
Early Jack Benny tv shows were, like almost everything, live with a kinoscope made for the west coast. Later he went to filming the show in LA, (c. 1952 when Television City was built, where CBS did the majority of their programs) which made it easier on everyone. But even the early filmed shows were all done in real time. Unless there was some reason, a camera was running
from start to finish and whatever happened, happened. Problem with a prop, fluffed line, whatever. Made it more real.

Needless to say, that ENDED the "live" instances of the show.

Or least some 10 second delay. :)
Recently watched a Friar's Roast of Ed Sullivan from 1957. Lots of jokes, remarks, etc and not a bad, not a suggestive, not any thing even slightly off colour said and it was hilarious.
Now "comedians" use the foulest, crudest, most vulgar language and people think its funny.

Herr Professor Joe

Yah, Voul, Mein Herr!! <G> Although I have to wonder...Sargeant
Schultz may have "known nothing", but he was like putty in Corporal LeBeau's hands, when he came out with the streudel. <G> Are you the same way on struedel?? ;)

I'm a sucker for sweets. Cakes, pies, donuts, all sorts of pastries.
Candy? Not so much. Give me some nice fresh pastries and I'll follow you anywhere. :)
Joe


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Joe,

I recall one drama where a woman crossed a room and accidentally knocked
something over on a table as her period dress brushed by. She momentarily JM>stopped, replaced it and continued on with the scene seamlessly. She was JM>staged trained no doubt.

I would say so. That way, everyone thinks it was part of the script.

On live comedy shows something always happened. A prop didn't work, someo
ad libbed, etc.

Murphy's Law has alwas existed.

A Colgate Cavalcade of Comedy show from the early '50s was noted for this.
It was a weekly show, live from NY, with rotating guests hosts. One week Edd JM>Cantor, Ed Wynn, another week Abbott and Costello, etc.

There's a motley crew. :)

On a A&C show Costello accidentally knocked over a flimsy column which fel
on someone and he started laughing and couldn't stop for several minutes wit JM>others trying to get back to the script.

You have two 10's for a 5?? <G>

sometimes the host at the end of the shows say "We're a little late tonight, JM>goodbye".

He didn't have much choice.

One Fred Allen show ran over and was cut off. The following week he
mentioned that and said for anyone who wondered what happened here is what y JM>missed and they redid the two or three lines that wasn't aired.

He covered all the bases.

Early Jack Benny tv shows were, like almost everything, live with a
kinoscope made for the west coast. Later he went to filming the show in LA, JM>(c. 1952 when Television City was built, where CBS did the majority of their JM>programs) which made it easier on everyone. But even the early filmed shows JM>were all done in real time. Unless there was some reason, a camera was runn JM>from start to finish and whatever happened, happened. Problem with a prop, JM>fluffed line, whatever. Made it more real.

I always wondered with several of the game shows, with the closing
credits, it mentioned "CBS Television City"...it makes sense now.

-a Needless to say, that ENDED the "live" instances of the show.

Or least some 10 second delay. :)

Even on radio, they have that...but the technology must really be kept
up to date to zap out the werty derds. :P

Recently watched a Friar's Roast of Ed Sullivan from 1957. Lots of jokes,
remarks, etc and not a bad, not a suggestive, not any thing even slightly of JM>colour said and it was hilarious.

The church bulletin bloopers are the same way. I was at a choir
retreat several years ago, and they used that to break the ice, as it
were. Everyone was howling in laughter. If folks haven't seen those,
I'll be glad to post them here.

Now "comedians" use the foulest, crudest, most vulgar language and people
think its funny.

Sad, but true. The late Red Skelton, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Jack
Benny, Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and countless others, proved that "you
don't have to be dirty to be funny". The only "werty derd" I heard Red
use was the same one the late Clark Gable fought with the Motion Picture Association of America in 1939, as they wouldn't let him use that one
expletive near the end of "Gone With The Wind". Now, that one is so
tame, when most of the "rap music" has a sexual expletive for every
other word. To me, "put a C in front of it, and that's what I think of rap"...or "Rap is for people who never learned how to sing".

I'm a sucker for sweets. Cakes, pies, donuts, all sorts of pastries.
Candy? Not so much. Give me some nice fresh pastries and I'll follow you
anywhere. :)

OK, Nancy, now you know what to prepare for Joe. <g,d,r>

There was a confectionary brand, Entemanns (I think) which had a
scrumptious cheesecake pastry/coffee cake...loved having that for
breakfast. I haven't seen it in years, and I don't think it's sold in
Arkansas anymore. If it is here, it's likely at Wal-Mart.

Daryl
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Daryl wrote --

It was a weekly show, live from NY, with rotating guests hosts. One

week Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn, another week Abbott and Costello, etc.

There's a motley crew. :)

That's for sure!

on someone and he started laughing and couldn't stop for several

minutes with others trying to get back to the script.

You have two 10's for a 5?? <G>

You know the old Who's on First routine.
But, did you know it didn't originate with them?
Listening to a Rudy Vallee show from 1936/37 (before A&C were known) a comedy
duo of Shelton and Howard (who later went on to do It Pays To Be Ignorant, a satire of quiz shows and hilarious since the panel were the stupidest people on
earth) they did Who's on First as part of their routine. A&C lifted it and added a few things.
Lifting routines was somewhat common in vaudeville with some minor tweaking.
Now you know the rest of the story.

I always wondered with several of the game shows, with the closing credits, it mentioned "CBS Television City"...it makes sense now.

Television City is a huge complex near LA on the site of a former football stadium.
It was built in 1952, when tv had been established, where CBS could produce all their tv shows. (Much as they had on Vine St, near the NBC studios at Hollywood and Vine, and the centre of their radio broadcasts. The old NBC radio studio was eventually torn now and a bank there now).
It was the biggest and most state-of-the-art for the time. Most tv shows were filmed at small poverty row studios and live shows done in a theatre somewhere).
Now all the studios were under one roof.
And its still being used.

Now "comedians" use the foulest, crudest, most vulgar language and

people think its funny.

Sad, but true. The late Red Skelton, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and countless others, proved that "you don't have to be dirty to be funny".

Absolutely.

The only "werty derd" I heard Red use was the same one the late Clark

Gable
fought with the Motion Picture Association of America in 1939, as they
wouldn't let him use that one expletive near the end of "Gone With The Wind".

That was the Breen Office which strictly censored movies.
A little back story.
In the early '20s movies were a free for all. While silent if one could read
lips they would blush. They also had nudity.
People protested and the Hayes Office was started with former post master Will Hayes as head. He wasn't all that strict and a lot of things slipped past.
From the beginning of talkies in 1928/29 movies got bolder again.
In 1934 Joseph Breen replaced Hayes, but the name Hayes Office continued. He
strictly cracked down on what could be shown.
In the pre-code days of 1934 language, "adult situtions", etc were, while not
common, present. I've seen a lot of pre-code movies and things like prostitution, adultery, abortion, etc were in films. (Again, NOT all films). One can also hear muttered words like GD, Go to h--- was also heard, etc. Costumes would be flimsy and occasional flash of nudity.
Breen put a stop to all that and d--- wasn't allowed, thus the big fight over the use of that word in GWTW. But six years earlier it would be used without hardly a second thought.
Some films were released without the approval of the Hayes Office but those were often used in "educational" films, usually sex education of some sort, with warnings, etc.

tame, when most of the "rap music" has a sexual expletive for every
other word. To me, "put a C in front of it, and that's what I think of rap"...or "Rap is for people who never learned how to sing".

And people wonder what in the world is wrong with kids today.

There was a confectionary brand, Entemanns (I think) which had a scrumptious cheesecake pastry/coffee cake...loved having that for breakfast. I haven't seen it in years, and I don't think it's sold in Arkansas anymore. If it is here, it's likely at Wal-Mart.

I see that brand all over here. Supermarkets, dollar stores, etc.
Ain't cheap.
Herr Professor Josef


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Joe,

It was a weekly show, live from NY, with rotating guests hosts. One

week Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn, another week Abbott and Costello, etc.

-a There's a motley crew. :)

That's for sure!

And, like the combination of Disney and Warner Brothers characters in
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit??", you'll never see a group like that together
again.

You know the old Who's on First routine.

I've done both parts of it...it takes a lot of practice with vocal inflections. That'd be a good deal for a ventriloquist. <G>

But, did you know it didn't originate with them?

No, I didn't.

Lifting routines was somewhat common in vaudeville with some minor tweakin

Over 20 years ago, there was a big square dance weekend in Pine Bluff,
about 45 miles southeast of Little Rock. One of the local square dance
callers (he also cued round dancing), who had been doing so for over 50
years, was doing the round dancing at the weekend. Anyway, when one of
the national square dance callers did this one routine in his "patter",
this caller broke out his little spiral notepad (one you could fit in
your pocket), and started scribbling notes. When one of the dancers
asked if he was "stealing the material", the caller "corrected" them,
saying the terminology was "gathering research". <G>

Now you know the rest of the story.

Thank you, Paul Harvey. :)

Television City is a huge complex near LA on the site of a former football
stadium.

Interesting.

It was built in 1952, when tv had been established, where CBS could produc
all their tv shows. (Much as they had on Vine St, near the NBC studios at JM>Hollywood and Vine, and the centre of their radio broadcasts. The old NBC JM>radio studio was eventually torn now and a bank there now).

That explains the reference to Hollywood And Vine in several cartoons.

Now all the studios were under one roof.
And its still being used.

Wow. I hate to think of the traffic and parking around there. I think
"The Price Is Right", which I believe is now the longest running TV game
show, is still taped there...but, from what I understand, most if not
all of the winners, give back, or sell the winnings, as they can't pay
the taxes on them.

That was the Breen Office which strictly censored movies.

They'd be turning over in their graves now.

A little back story.

Time for another lecture from our esteemed Professor...er, moderator.

In the early '20s movies were a free for all. While silent if one could r
lips they would blush. They also had nudity.

Wow. I know in Europe, to them, nudity is like "big deal". :P

People protested and the Hayes Office was started with former post master
Will Hayes as head. He wasn't all that strict and a lot of things slipped JM>past.

There was a Looney Tunes cartoon years ago, "A Tale Of Two Kitties".
Babbit And Catstello (I'm sure you know who they're in reference to),
are trying to capture Tweety Pie. As Catstello has trouble with heights
at the top of the phone pole, Babbit (on the ground) says "Come on,
Stupid!! Give me the bird!! Give me the bird!!". To which, Catstello
replies "If the Hayes Office would only let me, I'd give him the bird,
all right!!" <whistle!> <G>.

In 1934 Joseph Breen replaced Hayes, but the name Hayes Office continued.
strictly cracked down on what could be shown.

Breen put a stop to all that and d--- wasn't allowed, thus the big fight
over the use of that word in GWTW. But six years earlier it would be used JM>without hardly a second thought.

Wow.

Some films were released without the approval of the Hayes Office but tho
were often used in "educational" films, usually sex education of some sort, JM>with warnings, etc.

In high school in south Florida (over 40 years ago for me), they had "quinmesters"...two semesters in the fall, two in the spring, and one in
the summer. The fall semester had health education in the first
one, then sex education in the second one...then, the spring semesters
had drivers education in the classroom, with drivers education on the
schools own driving range, in the second one.

First, on the sex education one. On the 35mm film, all the way from
puberty to intercourse to morning sickness to childbirth...they warned
that "if you're squeamish, you might want to sit by the door, in case
you have to bolt outside to puke". Sure enough, several did...mostly
girls.

Second, on the driving range deal, you practiced changing lanes,
signaling, stopping and starting at intersections, parallel parking
<GAG!>, etc. I think because my brother and I had that, we got a
"Restricted License" in Florida...basically, a "Learners Permit" in
other states...but you had to have a licensed driver over 18 with you.
Well, when my late father's job transferred the family to Arkansas 41
years ago, the State Of Arkansas saw the Drivers Education and the
Restricted Licenses for my brother and I (our parents already had
operators licenses in Florida), and those licenses were converted to
Operators Licenses for Arkansas...my brother and I never did take the
operators test!!

That reminds me of a commercial, where this elderly lady is taking a
drivers test, and one thing she has to do, is parallel park. She first
sizes up the space, then "floors it"...speeding down the street. She has
the car do a 180, and head in the other direction, and she swings the
car right into the space!! The instructor is about to have a cow, and
there was no delay in him noting "she passed the test"...to which she
pumped her fist, and said "YES!!" <G>. I roared with laughter on that
one.

And people wonder what in the world is wrong with kids today.

My late wife noted "If that's music, we're doomed".

I see that brand all over here. Supermarkets, dollar stores, etc.
Ain't cheap.

No, but it's worth it. It's like this one restaurant in central
Arkansas, named Cotham's Mercantile. Originally, it was in the community
of Scott, east of Little Rock, in an old hardware store. Tragically,
last year, it burned to the ground. I think the cause may have been
spontaneous combustion from the cleaning rags. You had all that
hardwood floor and walls, and the place went up like a tinder box.

They did build one called "Cotham's In The City", not far from the
State Capitol Complex, west of downtown Little Rock. They're only open
from 11am to 2pm Monday through Friday...and are available for evening
dinner party reservations. Their food is spectacular...the prices aren't
cheap, but they do reflect the portions. Their "Hubcap Burger" (with or
without cheese) will "put a spare tire on you"...and their onion rings
have fresh onion slices within the breading. They also have some great
desserts as well.

Herr Professor Josef

Very good, Mein Herr. <G>

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

asked if he was "stealing the material", the caller "corrected" them,

saying the terminology was "gathering research". <G>

I always joked basic research is what you do when you don't know what you are
going. :)

Hollywood and Vine, and the centre of their radio broadcasts. The old NBC radio studio was eventually torn now and a bank there now).

That explains the reference to Hollywood And Vine in several cartoons.

Yep.
In the early days of radio there were four major broadcast centres in the country: NYC, Chicago, San Francisco and Detroit (home of WXYZ where the Lone Ranger, Green Hornet and a couple of other national shows were done).
Until the late '30s NYC was the big broadcast area and with shows done live they had to be repeated (live) three hours later* for the west coast. Programs
were sent over dedicated telephone wires to regional stations which then broadcast them over the air. Phone rates were cheaper going east to west than west to east, for some reason. It wasn't until about 1937 these were lowered.
(Between shows the script was sometimes tweaked for something that didn't go over, could be better, etc. Thus listening to recording of some east/west coast shows a line or something might be a bit different. The actors spent that that time going to dinner or any number of things).
Chicago was a big radio centre since it was pretty much in the middle of the country so a program had to be done only once, but heard at different times. A
show done at 9 p.m. would be heard at 10 in the eastern time zone and 7 in the Pacific time zone.
SF did a lot of regional shows that broadcast as far as Denver!
LA wasn't that big a player early on, other than handling the repeat shows.
In the late '30s Chicago started to fade away as a major player.
In addition the Mutual Broadcasting System began in NYC and they allowed electrical transcriptions (ET's), the reason so many of their shows were saved.
NBC/CBS you listened when they were broadcast, but MBS had a system where a station "brought" the show and played the ET whenever they had a gap in that market. But generally they were all played at the same time.
Once the phone line business was settled, both NBC and CBS built huge radio centers with various size theatres. Small ones for musical performance where a
large audience wasn't needed, and larger ones for audiences of several hundred people. And there were little closet sized ones for news, etc.
There were, IIRC, two stages for the various shows. So a show on from 7-8 used one and the second was prepped for a show going on at 8, the first one for
a show at 9, etc. Since there were no sets or anything it didn't take long for
one studio to go from one show to another. About the only "sets" were the special effects table, a banner on the back of the stage for whatever was advertised, etc.
When more shows started being broadcast from LA big movie stars were attracted. Some of the stars were scared to death of speaking into a microphone, others loved it since such easy work and money. A few rehearsals, go on the air in street clothes, the audience gave them adulation, the show was
over and they made some big bucks. Not as big as a movie, but still not poverty wages.
You had some stars who merely came in, read their script and walked out. Others, like Jack Benny, were involved every step of the way.
When Orson Wells was doing The Shadow (1937-38) he was more interested in the
stage then radio, and would arrive at the Mutual studio in NYC go on the air cold, never having seen the script until put in his hand and "on the air"*. He
only did radio to pay the bills for his stage productions.
(*While MBS allowed ET's, they were recorded sometimes off the air. Whatever went over the air was recorded.)
Once Welles moved on to The Mercury Theatre and later Campbell Playhouse, he was more involved with the show being not only the star but the director well.
During The Shadow he had a stage play going on and rushed between the studio and theatre.

Now all the studios were under one roof.

Wow. I hate to think of the traffic and parking around there.

I can't say for sure, but I imagine they have a large parking garage now.
Most all the game shows are all taped in one day, two at the most. And some are done weeks in advance.

"The Price Is Right", which I believe is now the longest running TV game

show, is still taped there...but, from what I understand, most if not all of the winners, give back, or sell the winnings, as they can't pay the taxes on them.

The tax man almost lives in the studio. :)
There was a movie, can't recall the name, and I think starred Jimmy Stewart, which was a satire of the post-war big prize give-away shows.
He won all sorts of prizes and had to get rid of a lot of the stuff to pay the taxes. (I may have that confused with a Ronald Colman movie with the same basic plot).

That was the Breen Office which strictly censored movies.

They'd be turning over in their graves now.

If one could harness the power from Breen's spinning our energy problems would be solved. :)

There was a Looney Tunes cartoon years ago, "A Tale Of Two Kitties".

Yeah, that was funny.
A&C had a funny line where they were walking past a group of ships in port and Abbott says, pointing to the front of a huge ship, "That's a hull of a ship" and Costello replying, "It certainly is" which to me is far funnier than putting an e in hull.

First, on the sex education one. On the 35mm film, all the way from

puberty to intercourse to morning sickness to childbirth

When I was in school we were shown similar films, but they were never, ever, in a mixed class. The boys in one showing, the girls in another. And afterward a lot of the students walked around examining the floor when they came across someone of the opposite sex. :)

Second, on the driving range deal, you practiced changing lanes,

signaling, stopping and starting at intersections, parallel parking

Yep, saw those in drivers ed class, which at the time in Colorado was an extra curricular class.
Also the gory films of the aftermath of dangerous driving with car wrecks, dead and mangled bodies, etc.
These are all on YT now.

"Restricted License" in Florida...basically, a "Learners Permit" in

other states...but you had to have a licensed driver over 18 with you.

Yep.
I think in CO (where I took my first test) it had to be someone over 21.

operators licenses in Florida), and those licenses were converted to

Operators Licenses for Arkansas...my brother and I never did take the
operators test!!

When I moved back to WV at 18 I had to re-take the test, written and driving.
But never again after that. So long as you send money to Charleston (the capitol) you get a license.
In WV they are good for five years. One gets a renewal notice, take that to the DMV, fill out some forms, take a simple eye test, a new picture and walk out with the new license. My last time took about 45 minutes from walking in the door to out the door.

That reminds me of a commercial, where this elderly lady is taking a

drivers test, and one thing she has to do, is parallel park.

When I took my test in CO an instructor would ride along and tell the person turn here, turn there, etc.
I remember getting into a "discussion" with him when he wanted me to turn the
wrong way on a one way street and I told him it was the wrong way. He was testing to see if I were paying attention to the road, etc and not just doing what he said.
Thus ends today's long winded lesson.
Herr Professor Josef


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Quoting Daryl Stout to Joe Mackey on 07-13-18 11:14 <=-

I'm a sucker for sweets. Cakes, pies, donuts, all sorts of pastries.
Candy? Not so much. Give me some nice fresh pastries and I'll
follow you anywhere. :)

OK, Nancy, now you know what to prepare for Joe. <g,d,r>

I'd just turn him loose in Wegmans and let him go to town... <G>

There was a confectionary brand, Entemanns (I think) which had a scrumptious cheesecake pastry/coffee cake...loved having that for breakfast. I haven't seen it in years, and I don't think it's sold in Arkansas anymore. If it is here, it's likely at Wal-Mart.

I still see it around here... not that I've bought any for years....

ttyl neb

... A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

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Joe,

I always joked basic research is what you do when you don't know what you
going. :)

And, no one else would know the difference.

<snip!>

I can't say for sure, but I imagine they have a large parking garage now.
Most all the game shows are all taped in one day, two at the most. And som
are done weeks in advance.

They do several of these in a day, and I think they swap out audiences
for each one. And, they'd have to be done in advance for all the needed editing. Plus, I think the contestants (especially returning champions)
would have several sets of clothes.

The tax man almost lives in the studio. :)

What do you mean, "almost"?? <G>

If one could harness the power from Breen's spinning our energy problems
would be solved. :)

That's for sure.

There was a Looney Tunes cartoon years ago, "A Tale Of Two Kitties".

Yeah, that was funny.

Amazing how many movie things were incorporated into the
cartoons...and the classic cartoons were a sneaky way to introduce you
to classical music.

A&C had a funny line where they were walking past a group of ships in port
and Abbott says, pointing to the front of a huge ship, "That's a hull of a JM>ship" and Costello replying, "It certainly is" which to me is far funnier th JM>putting an e in hull.

Wonder if his ship had come in?? <G>

When I was in school we were shown similar films, but they were never, eve
in a mixed class. The boys in one showing, the girls in another. And JM>afterward a lot of the students walked around examining the floor when they JM>came across someone of the opposite sex. :)

LOL.

Yep, saw those in drivers ed class, which at the time in Colorado was an
extra curricular class.
Also the gory films of the aftermath of dangerous driving with car wrecks,
dead and mangled bodies, etc.
These are all on YT now.

That's for sure. I was watching some Operation Lifesaver videos last
night. Amazing how many people think they can beat a train to a railroad crossing...these are all "dead wrong".

When I moved back to WV at 18 I had to re-take the test, written and drivi But never again after that. So long as you send money to Charleston (the
capitol) you get a license.

Yeah, they have to get their money. :P

In WV they are good for five years. One gets a renewal notice, take that
the DMV, fill out some forms, take a simple eye test, a new picture and walk JM>out with the new license. My last time took about 45 minutes from walking i JM>the door to out the door.

I think it's 4 years in Arkansas. Before I underwent successful
cataract surgery, I had to take the test with my glasses on...and the
license even noted "corrective lenses". Now, I just need glasses for reading...or as the late Red Skelton noted as Clem Kadiddlehopper,
Doctor Of Foolology (granted by Ball State University in Muncie,
Indiana), as he was reading the poem "Frogs" (sung to the same cadence
as "Boots"), "I don't really need these...but I've reached the age where curiosity is greater than vanity".

During "Frogs", the audience was howling in laughter, and he
admonished the audience after the second verse..."Now, there's some uncontrolled tittering going on out there!! Another outburst like that,
and I'll clear the hall!!". He paused, and quipped "And, about 2 more
verses of this oughta do it"!! <BG>.

I remember getting into a "discussion" with him when he wanted me to turn
wrong way on a one way street and I told him it was the wrong way. He was JM>testing to see if I were paying attention to the road, etc and not just doin JM>what he said.

Or you could've said "The sign says ONE WAY, but I'm only going ONE
WAY!!" <G>

Thus ends today's long winded lesson.

You deserve a drink. :)

Daryl

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Nancy,

... A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

And, the reason the chicken crossed the road, is that the hen figured
out when she stopped laying eggs, that her owners would kill and eat
her. So, every few days, she would go to the grocery store, and purchase another dozen eggs. Her owners never figured out what was going
on...that their chicken was actually in "henopause". <G>

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

Most all the game shows are all taped in one day, two at the most.

And some are done weeks in advance.

They do several of these in a day, and I think they swap out audiences for each one. And, they'd have to be done in advance for all the needed editing. Plus, I think the contestants (especially returning champions) would have several sets of clothes.

Between tapings the contestants do any number of things (go to the bathroom, etc) while one audience is ushered out and another brought in.
I seem to recall reading somewhere there an exit door the audience is escorted out while the new people come in another. Various things are done on stage, etc.
The contestants are told to bring a couple changes of clothes with them: different shirts/sweaters, jackets, ties, etc. There may be prop costumes to use as well in case they forget.
I enjoy watching Match Game, from the '70s, on YT and used to watch it nearly every day in college when it was current.
The "panel" (Brett Summers, Richard Dawson, etc) had a break as well and after the third show was taped they had a meal and drinks. One can always tell
a show taped on Thursday or Friday because they often had liquid lunches. It shows in their speech and eyes and the shows seem to be even funnier.
I recently saw a video where the CBS centre is now in a "depressed economic"
area, with crime, etc.

Amazing how many movie things were incorporated into the
cartoons...and the classic cartoons were a sneaky way to introduce you
to classical music.

Yep.

Also the gory films of the aftermath of dangerous driving with car

wrecks,

That's for sure. I was watching some Operation Lifesaver videos last night. Amazing how many people think they can beat a train to a railroad crossing...these are all "dead wrong"

I watch car crash video's from time to time.
The lights are flashing, the arm is across the road and people still will drive around them. Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't.
I always say "never take chances with a train, it will win every time".
Speaking of which.
When I was about five or six, my folks and I were coming home from somewhere and there was a crossing. My father thought he could beat the arm coming down but it landed, with a loud thunk, on the top of the roof. He backed up, my mother yelling at him, "you big idiot" was the politest, we'll all die, etc. He got the car off the track just as the train came barreling along with the only damage was some scraped paint on the car and a broken aerial. That was a long drive home for my father with my mother complaining non-stop. :)

I think it's 4 years in Arkansas. Before I underwent successful cataract surgery, I had to take the test with my glasses on...and the license even noted "corrective lenses".

I had the same problem here.
When my eye test was taken I was having problems with my contacts clouding over, making things a bit blurry. (Sort of like when your glasses are dirty and
need cleaned). My license said I needed corrective lenses.

as the late Red Skelton

I love Red Skelton, both the radio and tv shows. He was a genius with comedy.

Thus ends today's long winded lesson.

You deserve a drink. :)

I'll have a black coffee or tea, no sugar or lemon.
Joe


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Joe,

Between tapings the contestants do any number of things (go to the bathroo
etc) while one audience is ushered out and another brought in.

Sounds like being herded like cattle.

I seem to recall reading somewhere there an exit door the audience is
escorted out while the new people come in another. Various things are done JM>stage, etc.

There obviously has to be some semblance of order.

The contestants are told to bring a couple changes of clothes with them:
different shirts/sweaters, jackets, ties, etc. There may be prop costumes t JM>use as well in case they forget.

I think most of the studio audience tickets have been free...but it's
random if you get selected as an actual contestant, such as on "The
Price Is Right". I forget how the other game shows worked.

I enjoy watching Match Game, from the '70s, on YT and used to watch it
nearly every day in college when it was current.

The late Gene Rayburn, made it what is was...never mind "Dumb Dora is
do dumb"...followed by "How dumb is she??!!". <G> There was a video on
YouTube about his life and the game show. I remember the original
version of it, then how it progressed to its final version.

The "panel" (Brett Summers, Richard Dawson, etc) had a break as well and
after the third show was taped they had a meal and drinks. One can always t JM>a show taped on Thursday or Friday because they often had liquid lunches. I JM>shows in their speech and eyes and the shows seem to be even funnier.

Some of those stars had an ego, and were especially upset when Richard
Dawson was picked all the time for the "Super Match".

I recently saw a video where the CBS centre is now in a "depressed econom
area, with crime, etc.

I wouldn't doubt it...the Golden State looks bone dry now.

The lights are flashing, the arm is across the road and people still will
drive around them. Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't.
I always say "never take chances with a train, it will win every time".

A regular car can be around 1 to 2 tons. One locomotive can be 300
tons. A fully loaded freight train can be well in excess of 12,000 tons. Basically, it's no contest...the effect of a train hitting a car, is
like you driving over a soda can in the road. They will NEVER seat me on
a jury for a grade crossing accident.

long drive home for my father with my mother complaining non-stop. :)

Sort of like the joke where the guy is driving down the road, with
his wife constantly berating him from the back seat. He hits huge
bump/pothole, the back door opens, she bounces out of the car, and the
door closes...yet, the car keeps going.

Several miles down the road, he's pulled over by the police, and told
what happened. His reply "Thank goodness!! I thought I had gone deaf!!"

I love Red Skelton, both the radio and tv shows. He was a genius with
comedy.

Unlike the other comedians no longer with us (Jack Benny, George
Burns, Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, etc.), Red would crack up laughing at his
own jokes.

I'll have a black coffee or tea, no sugar or lemon.

I never acquired a taste for coffee...and rarely drink tea anymore. My beverage of choice is flavored water...either strawberry, white grape,
or peach. I can drink 2 liters of those every day.

Daryl
===
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Daryl wrote --

etc) while one audience is ushered out and another brought in.

Sounds like being herded like cattle.

That was done on radio as well when one show was over and the stage had to be set up for the next show with the extra studio being used.
There's a story (my mind is a blank right now about which star) had a hard time getting an audience. Bob Hope had a studio audience for his dress rehearsal show, which always ran long because bits and pieces would be tried, not work, then cut out, etc. Anyway his audience would be herded out of "his" studio and into the one next door for the other show. So the audience got two shows for the free price of one. :)
Hope was one of a select few whose rehearsals were recorded so the writers could listen and know what went over and what didn't, usually dealing with some
topical gag.
Since the general idea was no one would be interested in listening to a show a second time (much less many years later) those ET's were trashed at some point. The idea of repeats wasn't yet thought of.
Mutual and ABC, and to an extent CBS, allowed shows to be recorded to be played at a more convenient time. It wasn't until the late '40s after audio tape had proven itself, shows were recorded, but always a disclaimer at the end.
Jack Benny was one of a few who had all his shows recorded and the vast majority of his shows we have now were from his personal library.
During WWII, as I wrote earlier, many shows were recorded by AFRS with the commercials taken out.

I think most of the studio audience tickets have been free...but it's random if you get selected as an actual contestant,

So I've heard.
Many times there would be an announcement at the end of the show along the lines of "If you are in LA and want to attend to a show write tickets, PO Box whatever" and so forth.

The late Gene Rayburn, made it what is was...never mind "Dumb Dora is do dumb"...followed by "How dumb is she??!!". <G> There was a video on YouTube about his life and the game show. I remember the original
version of it, then how it progressed to its final version.

The original was a bit before my time, coff-coff.
I have seen a video or two of them.
And speaking of video tape, when it came along it revolutionized tv allowing shows to be done in one day, etc. But tape was expensive and once aired it was
reused again and again. Thus there are so few tapes of tv shows until around 1970. Game shows, late night, etc. Series were kept for the re-run market of course.

Some of those stars had an ego, and were especially upset when Richard Dawson was picked all the time for the "Super Match".

Many is the time someone else's answer will match, but the contestant always went to Dawson for the big money, when I would think they would pick whichever one gave the answer that agreed.
While Dawson was funny it was a bit tiresome for him being called for the Super Match so often.

Several miles down the road, he's pulled over by the police, and told what happened. His reply "Thank goodness!! I thought I had gone deaf!!"

RFLOL!!!

Unlike the other comedians no longer with us (Jack Benny, George
Burns, Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, etc.), Red would crack up laughing at his own jokes.

I like how when a joke fell flat he would say "We're gonna miss that writer around here" and things like that.
He was a great ad libber. One never knew what he would say or do next.
I always liked when he would skip over the stage with the sound of a cow bell. :)
And speaking of cow bells...
There was a show where a cow was part of the skit and well, cows do what cows
do and on live tv, and well, you get the idea. :)
That is floating around YT somewhere.
Joe


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Joe,

That was done on radio as well when one show was over and the stage had t
be set up for the next show with the extra studio being used.

Herded like cattle...moo-ve them around. <G>

Hope was one of a select few whose rehearsals were recorded so the writers
could listen and know what went over and what didn't, usually dealing with s JM>topical gag.

I preferred the live audience, rather than the "canned laughter".

Many times there would be an announcement at the end of the show along the
lines of "If you are in LA and want to attend to a show write tickets, PO Bo JM>whatever" and so forth.

I wonder if they still do that?? I could never afford to go.

The original was a bit before my time, coff-coff.

5 minutes?? <g,d,r>

And speaking of video tape, when it came along it revolutionized tv allowi
shows to be done in one day, etc. But tape was expensive and once aired it JM>reused again and again. Thus there are so few tapes of tv shows until aroun JM>1970. Game shows, late night, etc. Series were kept for the re-run market JM>course.

So much for VHS and Beta. :P

Many is the time someone else's answer will match, but the contestant alwa
went to Dawson for the big money, when I would think they would pick whichev JM>one gave the answer that agreed.

The others got offended because they went to Dawson...and he got
offended if they didn't pick him.

I like how when a joke fell flat he would say "We're gonna miss that write
around here" and things like that.

Reminds me of one of the Tex Avery cartoons. The baseball game was to
be at W.C.'s Field -- they noted "the guy who wrote this isn't with us anymore". :P

He was a great ad libber. One never knew what he would say or do next.

And, he would always crack up at his jokes.

I always liked when he would skip over the stage with the sound of a cow
bell. :)

That was my favorite.

There was a show where a cow was part of the skit and well, cows do what c
do and on live tv, and well, you get the idea. :)

Sort of like the cartoon where the farmer was wondering how he would
get methane out of the cow. The cow replied "Pull my hoof"!! :P

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

could listen and know what went over and what didn't, usually dealing

with some topical gag.

I preferred the live audience, rather than the "canned laughter".

I never liked canned laughter, either completely or to "sweeten" the laughter.
Canned laughter was never used on radio.
In early radio there was a literal glass wall between the performer and the audience since the powers that be, in their wisdom, felt the listener at home didn't want to hear the audience.
Most of the early comics, Ed (the perfect fool/fire chief) Wynn, Eddie Cantor, etc. were thrown off by the lack of response since they couldn't hear the audiences reaction.
Wynn, (some say Cantor) told the networks either that glass wall went or they
did and being a big star the network relented and that wall was gone. That was
c. 1930. The rest, as they say, is history.

reused again and again. Thus there are so few tapes of tv shows

until around 1970. Game shows, late night, etc. Series were kept

for the re-run market of course.

So much for VHS and Beta. :P

I got an early DVD recorder and had nothing but trouble with it.
With the VCR you just set the timer and forgot about it. (With the cable box
we had then it had to be on as well to receive a signal of course). I very seldom ever had a problem since the timing was done on the VCR itself rather than on screen.
With the DVD recorder I had nothing but trouble. It would start late, stop early (no matter if I gave it extra time). Sometimes it would record, sometimes not. Sometimes a completely different channel.

He was a great ad libber. One never knew what he would say or do

next.

And, he would always crack up at his jokes.

Which made them even funnier.
I loved his Junior character on radio. He was hilarious.
The word play was so much fun.
He would be told by his grandmother (the great Vera Felton) for example not to sit on the window ledge of their apartment, "You might fall out and land on someone and hurt them". LOL
Joe


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Joe,

I never liked canned laughter, either completely or to "sweeten" the
laughter.

That's like having cans of dehydated water for sale. :P

Wynn, (some say Cantor) told the networks either that glass wall went or t
did and being a big star the network relented and that wall was gone. That JM>c. 1930. The rest, as they say, is history.

I wonder how many shows have the live studio audience, compared to
those using canned laughter??

I got an early DVD recorder and had nothing but trouble with it.

Never bothered to record much of anything myself.

I loved his Junior character on radio. He was hilarious.

If I dood it, I get a whippin'.........I dood it. <G>

The word play was so much fun.

I love pun humor. One of the orchestra members got him with one at a performance. He handed Red a note, and asked him to read it. It went
something like "someone had turned in a ladies purse with a wallet,
eyeglasses and various items that was apparently lost, and it's at the
box office for claiming". Yet the kicker was the name of the lady at the
box office...when he read "if this is your item, you can go to Helen
Hunt for it". The audience roared, then the punchline hit him, and it
was like "Oh, <expletive!>"!! <BG>.

The next few paragraphs, I may have mentioned before, but I've slept
since then, so please indulge me. <G>

That's like when Red said that "He dreamed he died and went to Heaven.
There, I met God, and He sneezed...but I didn't know what to say!!".

All except this one woman in the front row figured it out; but the
woman momentarily had "the deer in the headlights" look (I guess she was
slow at humor). Then, it "clicked", and she busted out laughing. Red
looked at the woman, now beside herself in laughter, and asked "Which
joke you working on, honey??". <G> Then, he admonished her "Don't get me laughing, dear heart...you'll never get out of here"!! <BG>.

That was also on this show called "An Evening With Groucho"...this guy
made it look like Groucho had come back from the dead (and there was a
similar deal with Tom Mullica doing a tribute to Red Skelton in Branson
several years ago). Anyway, "Groucho" was doing a song on "Lydia, The
Tattooed Lady". Apparently, one of the lyrics notes that "On her back,
is the Battle Of Waterloo". Well, this heavy set woman in the front row
of the theatre was just chortling in laughter. When he finished, he
couldn't help notice the womans' hysterics, and he asked what her name
was. When the woman replied "Lydia", it brought the house down in laughter...and Groucho nearly fell off the stage!! <BG>

He would be told by his grandmother (the great Vera Felton) for example no
to sit on the window ledge of their apartment, "You might fall out and land JM>someone and hurt them". LOL

My late wife always said that if she missed a chair that she tried to
sit on, that "it won't hurt me...I'll bounce". <G> Yet, she had one
cardinal rule...LEAVE THE TOILET SEAT DOWN!! If I forgot, she would spit
like an angry cat...nothing more needed to be said...I knew that I was
guilty!! <G>

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

c. 1930. The rest, as they say, is history.

I wonder how many shows have the live studio audience, compared to those using canned laughter??

Are you talking about radio or tv?
Radio, in its heyday, never used canned laughter.
Once audio tape was used more they would, since they had tapes of different sorts of laughter to use.
One radio show I can remember that used canned laughter was in the '50s when
Edgar Bergen had a show. One can tell at once its canned and not very well done. Life laughter tends to slow down and trail off but canned just sort of stops. And those shows weren't all that good in many ways.

I got an early DVD recorder and had nothing but trouble with it.

Never bothered to record much of anything myself.

Mine was used for time shifting.
I would record something and watch it days or weeks later.
I will often record something off You Tube, since shows have a tendency to just disappear, and burn that to a DVD to watch later.

cardinal rule...LEAVE THE TOILET SEAT DOWN!!

That's the great thing about being a bachelor! :)
Joe


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Joe,

Are you talking about radio or tv?

Both.

Radio, in its heyday, never used canned laughter.

Interesting.

One radio show I can remember that used canned laughter was in the '50s w Edgar Bergen had a show. One can tell at once its canned and not very well
done. Life laughter tends to slow down and trail off but canned just sort o JM>stops. And those shows weren't all that good in many ways.

Wasn't he the ventriloquist with Charlie McCarthy, who was always
arguing with W.C. Fields??

cardinal rule...LEAVE THE TOILET SEAT DOWN!!

That's the great thing about being a bachelor! :)

True...but if you have prostate issues (just a part of growing old
for males), you may have to worry about it. I had the Urolift surgery
done a few years ago, but it was undone due to a kidney stone getting
caught in one of the staples.

I've noticed since I drink more flavored water than soda pop, I
haven't had as many kidney stones...and I'd like to keep it that way.

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

Radio, in its heyday, never used canned laughter.

Interesting.

They didn't have the technology for that either.
Most all sound effects were also live, unless something that couldn't be reproduced in the studio.
A couple of examples are cars starting up and driving away.
Anyone listening to many radio shows will notice the cars always sound the same. Its because there was generally only one car that was recorded and that was copied and played over (and over, and over). Imagine the difficulty of recording a car being started and driving off when it is being recorded on a wax record. The same for planes starting, taking off, landing, etc.
And these recordings were on 16" wax disc, like a 78 rpm record. Drop it and
its gone.
Plus having the needle directly where it was needed, dropping it at the exact moment, etc.
With live sound effects there was no worry of breaking the record just before air time.
Anyway, canned laughter wasn't possible because of such a variety of laughter: guffaws, titters, chuckles, rising-loud-trailing off, etc. using a large wax disc.
With audio tape various audience responses could be recorded and chopped up in sound bites of whatever response was called for and that would be added in when the entire show was edited.
But no matter how well done it always sounds fake. Even today.

Edgar Bergen had a show. One can tell at once its canned and not

very well

Wasn't he the ventriloquist with Charlie McCarthy, who was always arguing with W.C. Fields??

Bergen stared in vaudeville and nightclubs and even made a few shorts in the
early '30s.
He was "discovered" by Rudy Vallee in 1936 and on his variety show a few times. The first time Vallee spent several minutes telling the listening audience it was Bergen himself doing both voices, not two people. (I have recordings of most of Vallee's shows from 1934-47).
Bergen was such a hit he became a regular, it was to be a one shot performance, and in a short time he had his own regular show in late 1937.
Fields was brought on as sort of a co-star, but mainly as foil for Charlie.
Fields left after a couple of years and "replaced" by announcer Don Ameche as Charlie's foil and Ameche even had a couple of characters he played.
Bergen's shows has their ups and downs. His first sponsor was Chase and Sandborn Coffee, a big budget one hour variety show. This lasted till about 1939 when Royal Pudding took over. It was still big budget with guest stars. During the war the show was cut to 30 minutes and like most of 30 minute shows was on a smaller budget, fewer big name quests, etc. After the war Coca-Cola took over and that started the slow slide downward in production values.
In addition people were finding other shows to listen to and his ratings slid. Ameche had left the show for other programs and Charlie's new foil was Erstil Twing, a comical somewhat effeminate character, who was played by a large burly fella, who always got a laugh when he opened his mouth because the studio audience was expecting him to talk like that.
Bergen was off the air by 1950. He tried on tv show and it didn't work. Charlie, Mortimer Snerd, etc all had to be blended in somehow in a skit and not
just sitting on Bergen's knee or a table.
In the early '50s he was back with a syndicated radio show that would be he and Charlie talking about the old days and playing a recording of some event, etc. I think that hobbled along for about two seasons.
Of course Bergen and others appeared on various shows, etc.
Once Jack Benny on his show was visiting Francis Bergen, Edgar's wife, and in walked Charlie and Mortimer, actors dressed as them, but only Bergen's voice
was heard when the characters spoke.

# OLX 1.53 # I may not always be right, but I'm never wrong.

I've had several bosses like that.
Joe


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Joe,

A couple of examples are cars starting up and driving away.

Unless you had the talent like the late Mel Blanc (Looney Tunes). <G>

And these recordings were on 16" wax disc, like a 78 rpm record. Drop it
its gone.

Sounds like some of the Chinese/Japanese ham radio handi-talkies
nowadays. <G>

But no matter how well done it always sounds fake. Even today.

That it does.

Fields was brought on as sort of a co-star, but mainly as foil for Charli
Fields left after a couple of years and "replaced" by announcer Don Ameche a JM>Charlie's foil and Ameche even had a couple of characters he played.

IIRC, with the radio, Bergen as a ventriloquist, didn't have to "throw
his voice"...as no one saw him outside of those in the studio. But,
being a ventriloquist isn't as easy at it looks.

Bergen's shows has their ups and downs. His first sponsor was Chase and
Sandborn Coffee, a big budget one hour variety show. This lasted till about JM>1939 when Royal Pudding took over. It was still big budget with guest stars JM>During the war the show was cut to 30 minutes and like most of 30 minute sho JM>was on a smaller budget, fewer big name quests, etc. After the war Coca-Col JM>took over and that started the slow slide downward in production values.

Boy, blow the dust off that one...Chase and Sanborn coffee!!

Bergen was off the air by 1950. He tried on tv show and it didn't work.
Charlie, Mortimer Snerd, etc all had to be blended in somehow in a skit and JM>just sitting on Bergen's knee or a table.

I think of the joke where the ventriloquist, and his "dummy" (which is technically, the "ventriloquial figure") was telling blond jokes. This
blonde in the audience, was enraged...stood up, and started yelling at
the ventriloquist. But, when he started to apologize, she shot back "I'm
not talking to you, Mister!! I'm talking to that person on your knee"!!

Once Jack Benny on his show was visiting Francis Bergen, Edgar's wife, an
in walked Charlie and Mortimer, actors dressed as them, but only Bergen's vo JM>was heard when the characters spoke.

Wasn't his daughter named Candace??

-a# OLX 1.53 # I may not always be right, but I'm never wrong.

I've had several bosses like that.

I think we all have. Or it's "I may be wrong, but I doubt it". :P

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

IIRC, with the radio, Bergen as a ventriloquist, didn't have to "throw his voice"...as no one saw him outside of those in the studio. But,
being a ventriloquist isn't as easy at it looks.

A strange thing about Bergen.
He would get his tongue twisted and have slips from time to time but Charlie, Mortimer, et al, never did. And when he did Charlie would always make
a comment about it.
And of course so many people remarked, on air, about Bergen's lips moving, including Charlie, it became a running gag.
And if the idea of a ventriloquist on radio is odd, how about a dancer?
For about a year (1936) Fred Astaire was host of the big budget Packard Hour, and did dance routines, on radio.
Dancing on a large block of wood.
Now, if they only had mimes then, who knows? :)
Speaking of mimes, I once met Marcel Marceau. And off the stage he never shut up!
He was in the area for a one night stand in the '80s and I knew a guy who knew people and got a back stage pass. Well, it was actually more of a pass to
supper after the show at a nearby restaurant that stayed open for he and his party.
He was a delightful person full of funny stories.

Boy, blow the dust off that one...Chase and Sanborn coffee!!

Chase and Sandborn is still sold here in WV.

Wasn't his daughter named Candace??

Still is. :)
Joe


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Joe,

A strange thing about Bergen.
He would get his tongue twisted and have slips from time to time but
Charlie, Mortimer, et al, never did. And when he did Charlie would always m JM>a comment about it.

That is strange...but I figured Charlie would smart off about
it...especially with the way he "treated" W.C. Fields. During one
"argument", Bergen said "Calm down, Charlie!! Mr. Fields is not a well
man!!". Fields replied "That's right, Edgar. I've been a fragile thing
of beauty, ever since I was born!!"...to which Charlie retorted "Why,
you weren't born!! You were squeezed out of a bar rag!!" <G>

And if the idea of a ventriloquist on radio is odd, how about a dancer?
For about a year (1936) Fred Astaire was host of the big budget Packard
Hour, and did dance routines, on radio.
Dancing on a large block of wood.

Wow.

Speaking of mimes, I once met Marcel Marceau. And off the stage he never
shut up!

He was on Red's shows quite a bit...never knew that he was so
talkative outside of his mime. I think he's dead and gone now, though.

He was a delightful person full of funny stories.

Cool.

-a Boy, blow the dust off that one...Chase and Sanborn coffee!!

Chase and Sandborn is still sold here in WV.

I haven't seen that in Arkansas...or maybe I don't look hard enough,
as I never acquired a taste for coffee.

-a Wasn't his daughter named Candace??

Still is. :)

I thought Charlie would've done something to change it. :P

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

He would get his tongue twisted and have slips from time to time but
Charlie, Mortimer, et al, never did. And when he did Charlie would

always make a comment about it.

That is strange...but I figured Charlie would smart off about
it

Oh he did in his comments. :)
Joe


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