Mister Ron's Basement II - podcast cover

Mister Ron's Basement II

***"The stories are gentler than what passes for humor today, but what's surprising is how current some of them are. Human folly doesn't change much from decade to decade." --John Kelly, Washington Post*** Our mission is to explore the universe of Public Domain American humor, featuring the greatest writers in the world seven days a week - Five days a week lately but seven will return! If you haven't subscribed yet, please do, as ALL 1960+ Episodes are available on iTunes! Your comments are welcome, and emails can be sent to revry@panix.com. **We are now serializing James M. Bailey's 1878 book, 'England From a Back Window' every Monday. Don't Miss it! ** Please post your comments and reviews here on iTunes. Thanks!
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Episodes

Mister Ron's Basement #914

Wed, Nov 21 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #914 We continue with this week's theme with Bill Nye's 1891 piece, 'Causes for Thanksgiving.' Time: approx eight minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Bill Nye Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/billnye.html

Nov 22, 20078 min

Mister Ron's Basement #913

Wed, Nov 21 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #913 Thanksgiving stories and poetry abound in the Basement this week -- we start off with a poem by Stanley Huntley from 1882, called, appropriately enough, 'Thanksgiving.' Time: approx three and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html...

Nov 21, 20073 min

Mister Ron's Basement #912

Mon, Nov 19 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #912 Our Monday book serialization is George Ade's 1903 collection, 'In Babel -- Stories of Chicago.' The stories in this book range from the hysterically funny to the pathetically sad. Altogether, they paint a fascinating portrait of turn-of-the-last-century Chicago. In today's tale, the tenants of a boarding house keep track of the events across the street at another boarding house in 'Our Private Romance.' Time: approx nine minutes The Mister Ron's Basem...

Nov 19, 20079 min

Mister Ron's Basement #911

Sun, Nov 18 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #911 SUNDAY SALAD offers TWO Stanley Huntley stories -- the first is an 1883 short, funny ditty about a dying man and his writer wife, called 'Of A Literary Bent'. Then we have a Spoopendyke story that was reprinted in a New Zealand newspaper in 1883, and credited to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (we couldn't find it there). This demonstrates the global popularity of the Spoopendykes back then, making it a true mystery why they fell into obscurity in the 20th ce...

Nov 18, 20076 min

Mister Ron's Basement #910

Sat, Nov 17 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #910 Mr. Bowser tells a strange tale that leads to a buried treasure in the 1912 C. B. Lewis story 'Mr. Bowser Digs.' Time: approx eight and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/quad.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html...

Nov 17, 20078 min

Mister Ron's Basement #909

Fri, Nov 16 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #909 Marcus Mills Pomeroy, better known as 'Brick' Pomeroy, brings us a group of tales of his romances at various times in his life, all from the 1871 book 'Brick-Dust -- A Remedy for the Blues, and a Something for People to Talk About.' Unlike the previous few stories that featured young Brick's romances, today's tale features an older, but not wiser man in 'My Widow in the Park.' Time: approx nine and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog ...

Nov 16, 20079 min

Mister Ron's Basement #908

Thu, Nov 15 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #908 Marcus Mills Pomeroy, better known as 'Brick' Pomeroy, brings us a group of tales of his romances at various times in his life, all from the 1871 book 'Brick-Dust -- A Remedy for the Blues, and a Something for People to Talk About.' The final culmination of two years of wooing is revealed in 'The Result of My Courtship.' Time: approx eleven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html ...

Nov 15, 200711 min

Mister Ron's Basement #907

Wed, Nov 14 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #907 Marcus Mills Pomeroy, better known as 'Brick' Pomeroy, brings us a group of tales of his romances at various times in his life, all from the 1871 book 'Brick-Dust -- A Remedy for the Blues, and a Something for People to Talk About.' Today we hear of a wedding that didn't happen, and one that did in 'Reminiscence of Roxelia.' Time: approx nine and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_...

Nov 14, 20079 min

Mister Ron's Basement #906

Tue, Nov 13 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #906 Marcus Mills Pomeroy, better known as 'Brick' Pomeroy, brings us a group of tales of his romances at various times in his life, all from the 1871 book 'Brick-Dust -- A Remedy for the Blues, and a Something for People to Talk About.' Today, a nineteen and a half year old young man romances a sweet sixteen year old neighbor in 'My First Night at Sparking.' Time: approx ten and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://...

Nov 13, 200710 min

Mister Ron's Basement #905

Mon, Nov 12 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #905 Our Monday book serialization is George Ade's 1903 collection, 'In Babel -- Stories of Chicago.' The stories in this book range from the hysterically funny to the pathetically sad. Altogether, they paint a fascinating portrait of turn-of-the-last-century Chicago. Absolute helplessness before a master of sales technique puts a policy in the victim's hands before he knows what is happening in 'Life Insurance.' Time: approx ten and a half minutes The Mist...

Nov 12, 200710 min

Mister Ron's Basement #904

Sun, Nov 11 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #904 SUNDAY SALAD offers TWO Stanley Huntley tales today -- First we hear about the largest farms in existence in 'Farming in Dakota' from 1881, and a particularly rare Spoopendyke story from 1884, about a nasty goat in the back yard called 'Promiscuous Encounter.' Time: approx twelve and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stor...

Nov 11, 200713 min

Mister Ron's Basement #903

Fri, Nov 09 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #903 Mr. Bowser starts a row with Mrs. Bowser, the family Doctor, and a nasty neighbor all over what to call 'The Family Cat' from 1900 by C. B. Lewis. Time: approx nine and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/quad.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/m...

Nov 09, 20079 min

Mister Ron's Basement #902

Thu, Nov 08 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #902 One of the funniest Max Adeler stories ever tells the tale of the author attempting to learn to play the horn. From the 1876 book 'Elbow Room -- A Novel Without A Plot,' we present 'High Art.' Time: approx six and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html...

Nov 08, 20076 min

Mister Ron's Basement #901

Wed, Nov 07 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #901 Max Adeler (Charles Heber Clark) wrote some of the funniest stories of all time, yet he was almost embarrassed by them, and preferred to write about economics. From his 1876 book 'Elbow Room -- A Novel Without a Plot,' we hear and see some disturbing goings-on aboard a train coming back from the Horse Race Track in 'The Races and Some Other Things.' Time: approx eight and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ron...

Nov 07, 20079 min

Mister Ron's Basement #900

Tue, Nov 06 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #900 THIS IS EPISODE NUMBER 900! Max Adeler (Charles Heber Clark) wrote some of the funniest stories of all time, yet he was almost embarrassed by them, and preferred to write about economics. From his 1876 book 'Elbow Room -- A Novel Without a Plot,' today we offer the conclusion of yesterday's tale of young unrequited love called 'Love, Suffering, and Suicide' (part two). Time: approx eight minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: h...

Nov 06, 20078 min

Mister Ron's Basement #899

Mon, Nov 05 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #899 Max Adeler (Charles Heber Clark) wrote some of the funniest stories of all time, yet he was almost embarrassed by them, and preferred to write about economics. From his 1876 book 'Elbow Room -- A Novel Without a Plot,' today and tomorrow, we present a two part story of young unrequited love called 'Love, Suffering, and Suicide.' Time: approx eleven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catal...

Nov 05, 200711 min

Mister Ron's Basement #898

Sun, Nov 04 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #898 Our Monday book serialization is George Ade's 1903 collection, 'In Babel -- Stories of Chicago.' The stories in this book range from the hysterically funny to the pathetically sad. Altogether, they paint a fascinating portrait of turn-of-the-last-century Chicago. In today's tale, a nasty man comes up with a clever way of insulting his relations in 'Mr. Payson's Satirical Christmas.' Time: approx fourteen and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Ful...

Nov 04, 200715 min

Mister Ron's Basement #897

Sun, Nov 04 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #897 SUNDAY SALAD offers up TWO Stanley Huntley stories today, both from 1881 -- in the first tale, 'The Modern Anectode Relator' a man with a memory problem doesn't ever get around to the point of a story (and neither does his listener). The second tale -- perhaps a deservingly forgotten Spoopendyke story that was never reprinted -- gives us a glance at Mr. Spoopendyke's nastiest side during a gin hangover, in 'After A Matinee.' Time: approx thirteen minut...

Nov 04, 200713 min

Mister Ron's Basement #896

Fri, Nov 02 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #896 Mr. Bowser has a peaceful, quiet evening at home -- at least for a few moments, in C. B. Lewis's 1899 story 'All Mankind Comedians -- Mr. Bowser's Tribulations.' Time: approx nine minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/quad.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.c...

Nov 02, 20079 min

Mister Ron's Basement #895

Thu, Nov 01 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #895 Today's tale by John Kendrick Bangs does not feature a ghost, but nevertheless, still offers a truly out-of-the-ordinary experience that, when you visualize it, will stick in your mind for many years to come. It's also extremely funny. The story is called 'The Speck on the Lens.' from 1894. Time: approx nineteen minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html...

Nov 01, 200719 min

Mister Ron's Basement #894

Thu, Nov 01 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #894 The Emperor Nero, Samuel Johnson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Doctor Francis Bacon, and Sir Walter Raleigh give William Shakespeare the razz aboard a houseboat on the Styx River in John Kendrick Bangs' 1895 story 'A Disputed Authorship.' Time: approx thirteen and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html...

Nov 01, 200713 min

Mister Ron's Basement #893

Wed, Oct 31 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #893 Woody Guthrie used to sing a song with the lyrics, 'You Can't Scare Me, I'm Sticking to the Union.' But what if the Union was composed entirely of ghosts, whose job is to scare people? Read all about it in John Kendrick Bangs' hysterical 1900 story, 'The Amalgamated Brotherhood of Spooks.' Time: approx twenty-two and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html...

Oct 31, 200722 min

Mister Ron's Basement #892

Tue, Oct 30 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #892 John Kendrick Bangs wrote eerie stories of ghosts and other weird things, and they were usually pretty funny. Today's tale is about a caretaker with a strange story to tell in 'The Mystery of Barney Rourke' from 1898. Time: approx seventeen minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Oct 30, 200717 min

Mister Ron's Basement #891

Mon, Oct 29 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #891 Our Monday book serialization is George Ade's 1903 collection, 'In Babel -- Stories of Chicago.' The stories in this book range from the hysterically funny to the pathetically sad. Altogether, they paint a fascinating portrait of turn-of-the-last-century Chicago. A comment on a young woman's photograph begins a fascinating conversation in 'Miss Tyndall's Picture.' Time: approx ten minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://r...

Oct 29, 200710 min

Mister Ron's Basement #890

Sun, Oct 28 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #890 SUNDAY SALAD presents an appropriate story for Halloween, as the Spoopendykes prepare their costumes for a party in 'How They Missed the Masquerade' from 1881. Time: approx eight minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html...

Oct 28, 20078 min

Mister Ron's Basement #889

Sat, Oct 27 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #889 Mrs. Bowser relates a tale of her husband's literary bent in 'Bowser Writes A Poem,' by C. B. Lewis from 1890. Time: approx eight and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/quad.html The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html...

Oct 27, 20078 min

Mister Ron's Basement #888

Thu, Oct 25 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #888 Mike Fink was a genuine historical character -- often known as 'The King of the Flatboat Men' -- whose legend became exaggerated over the years into tall tales as wild as those of Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill. This week, we will feature stories of Mike Fink from four different authors. Today we see just how exaggerated stories about Mike Fink became as we go for a ride on an angry bull in Thomas Chandler Haliburton's 1852 piece, 'Mike Fink in a Tight Plac...

Oct 25, 200712 min

Mister Ron's Basement #887

Wed, Oct 24 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #887 Mike Fink was a genuine historical character -- often known as 'The King of the Flatboat Men' -- whose legend became exaggerated over the years into tall tales as wild as those of Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill. This week, we will feature stories of Mike Fink from four different authors. Today's tale concerns Mike Fink's overbearing sense of humor and his expectation of full attention from his audience. From 1888, we present 'Jokes Made to Laugh At' by Colo...

Oct 24, 20078 min

Mister Ron's Basement #886

Tue, Oct 23 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #886 Mike Fink was a genuine historical character -- often known as 'The King of the Flatboat Men' -- whose legend became exaggerated over the years into tall tales as wild as those of Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill. This week, we will feature stories of Mike Fink from four different authors. Today we get a taste of how the Mike Fink legends grew over the years as we learn of a strange thing to do with a buffalo hide, in 'Mike Fink and the Clergyman' by Thomas W...

Oct 23, 20074 min

Mister Ron's Basement #885

Mon, Oct 22 2007 Mister Ron's Basement #885 Mike Fink was a genuine historical character -- often known as 'The King of the Flatboat Men' -- whose legend became exaggerated over the years into tall tales as wild as those of Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill. This week, we will feature stories of Mike Fink from four different authors. Today we feature a tale of a practical joke called 'Mike Fink and the Sheep' written in 1852 by Ben Casseday. Time: approx ten and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement ...

Oct 22, 20076 min
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