Thur, Nov 19 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1505 This week, we will be reading stories about that new-fangled invention, The Phonograph. From 1892, Ella Wheeler Wilcox brings us some complaints about modern inventions in the poem 'Wail of an Old-Timer.' Time: approx four and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html John Kelly of The Washington Post has written a lively piece about the Basement. You can read it here. In t...
Nov 20, 2009•4 min
Wed, Nov 18 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1504 This week, we will be reading stories about that new-fangled invention, The Phonograph. It is getting a little difficult to find funny stories about 'talking machines' that we haven't already read (yes there are lots of them scattered around the Basement), but today's story is a doozy! From 1881, we present Arthur Lot's tale of married life, a mother-in-law, and a tampered-with talking machine entitled 'Our Phonograph.' Time: approx thirteen and a hal...
Nov 19, 2009•13 min
Tue, Nov 17 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1503 This week, we will be reading stories about that new-fangled invention, The Phonograph. Our first piece is excerpted from Mark Twain's 1892 novelette, 'The American Claimant.' It has no title, so we'll call it 'The Colonel's Invention.' 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 Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/Twain.html The ...
Nov 18, 2009•8 min
Mon, Nov 16 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1502 Part Two of Two of Chapter Ten ( 'The Broken Circuit Re-United') of our Monday Book Serialization of Ella Cheever Thayer's 1880 novel, 'Wired Love,' in which Clem convolutedly explains just how he really is 'C' and how he came to Nattie and Cyn's 'feast.' Time: approx twenty-two minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Wired Love index is at: http://ronevry.com/http://ronevry....
Nov 17, 2009•22 min
Sun, Nov 15 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1501 SUNDAY SALAD brings THREE pieces today -- first we have poetic tribute to Stanley Huntley by Judson France from his 1887 book 'Muse Whangs.' Then we have an excerpt from a letter Huntley sent to President Arthur after he was made a Chief of the Grand Teton tribe in 1885, and finally we have a story about a Denver prospector in Brooklyn looking to get married in 'Observed a High Toned Wife' by Stanley Huntley from 1881. Time: approx nine and a half min...
Nov 15, 2009•10 min
Sat, Nov 14 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part EIGHT of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of Portla...
Nov 14, 2009•24 min
Fri, Nov 13 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part SEVEN of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of Portla...
Nov 13, 2009•24 min
Thur, Nov 12 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part SIX of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of Portlan...
Nov 12, 2009•22 min
Wed, Nov 11 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part FIVE of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of Portlan...
Nov 11, 2009•13 min
Tue, Nov 10 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part FOUR of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of Portlan...
Nov 10, 2009•21 min
Mon, Nov 9 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part THREE of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of Portlan...
Nov 09, 2009•25 min
Sun, Nov 8 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part TWO of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of Portland ...
Nov 08, 2009•21 min
Sat, Nov 7 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1500 (Part ONE of EIGHT) Welcome to the 1500th Episode of Mister Ron's Basement! We are presenting this Episode in EIGHT Parts, one per day for the next eight days. In 1906, Ellis Parker Butler published 'Perkins of Portland' a book collection of eight stories of the world's greatest Advertising Man. Most of these stories had appeared in assorted popular magazines. Episode #1500 will be readings of these incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern Perkins of ...
Nov 07, 2009•15 min
Fri, Nov 6 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1499 This week we are featuring stories by M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) from his 1875 book 'Quad's Odds.' We have presented lots of stories about bad little boys, but this kid is the absolute worst! -- 'That Smith Boy.' Time: approx seven 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 Bo...
Nov 07, 2009•7 min
Thur, Nov 5 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1498 This week we are featuring stories by M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) from his 1875 book 'Quad's Odds.' Some people spend every spare moment attending burials, as seen in the story 'Going to Funerals.' Time: approx five 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 ...
Nov 06, 2009•5 min
Wed, Nov 4 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1497 This week we are featuring stories by M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) from his 1875 book 'Quad's Odds.' The overbearing, over-persistent life insurance salesperson seems to have been a regular part of nineteenth century life. We meet one of them today in 'That Insurance Agent.' Time: approx five 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 ...
Nov 05, 2009•5 min
Tue, Nov 3 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1496 This week we are featuring stories by M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) from his 1875 book 'Quad's Odds.' Today Mr. Quad gives us his take on 'Fat Folks.' Time: approx five 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 Mi...
Nov 04, 2009•5 min
Mon, Nov 2 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1495 Part One of Two of Chapter Ten of our Monday Book Serialization of Ella Cheever Thayer's 1880 novel 'Wired Love' presents a conversation between a pencil and a pair of scissors in 'The Broken Circuit Re-United.' Time: approx seven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Wired Love index is at: http://ronevry.com/http://ronevry.com/wiredlove.html Mister Ron's Basement is less t...
Nov 02, 2009•7 min
Sun, Nov 1 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1494 SUNDAY SALAD features a bit of enjoyable light verse by Stanley Huntley from 1881 -- 'The Yarn of the Kissing Parson.' Time: approx five 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 Mister Ron's Basement is less than a week away from the FIRST Episode #1500 (yes, we said FIRST) ! I...
Nov 02, 2009•5 min
Sat, Oct 31 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1493 Our 1895 Saturday Night Special Story brings you Palmer Cox's tale of a truly frightening, horrible Mr. Bickerstaff, in 'A Terrible Nose.' Time: approx seven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Palmer Cox Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/palmercox.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to Episode #1500! In celebration. we are having a contest with a ...
Nov 01, 2009•7 min
Fri, Oct 30 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1492 Today's 1899 George Ade tale concerns an Artiste, an unpublished author who made it a point to look as much like a bum as possible. It's called 'The Fable of the Bohemian Who Had Hard Luck.' Time: approx four and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to...
Oct 31, 2009•5 min
Thur, Oct 29 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1491 From George Ade's 1899 collection, 'Fables in Slang,' we present 'The Fable of Handsome Jethro, Who Was Simply Cut Out to Be A Merchant.' Time: approx five and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to Episode #1500! In celebration. we are having a cont...
Oct 30, 2009•5 min
Wed, Oct 28 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1490 Today's 1901 story from George Ade deals with putting things off, and off, and off... 'The Fable of The Man Who Was Going to Retire.' Time: approx five and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to Episode #1500! In celebration. we are having a contest w...
Oct 29, 2009•6 min
Tue, Oct 27 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1489 Today we offer a 1901 George Ade tale of a husband who attempts to mingle with the Smart Set to please his wife in 'The Fable of The Husband Who Showed Up & Did the Best He Knew How.' Time: approx ten and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to Epi...
Oct 28, 2009•10 min
Mon, Oct 26 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1488 In Chapter Nine of our Monday Book Serialization of Ella Cheever Thayer's 1880 novel 'Wired Love' Cyn and Nattie have their bohemian feast interrupted by 'Unexpected Visitors.' Time: approx twenty-five and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Wired Love index is at: http://ronevry.com/http://ronevry.com/wiredlove.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to E...
Oct 27, 2009•25 min
Sun, Oct 25 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1487 SUNDAY SALAD has featured Stanley Huntley's spoofs of Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe, and today we offer his satirical take on Mark Twain! From 1880, we feature 'Zeph - From Mark Twain's Next Book.' 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 Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html Mister...
Oct 25, 2009•9 min
Sat, Oct 24 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1486 Our Saturday Night Special offers up the most famous poem ever written by Samuel Minturn Peck, Alabama's first Poet Laureate -- from 1886. we present 'A Kiss in the Rain.' Time: approx three minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to Episode #1500! In celebration. we are having a contest with a beautiful 1906 Edition of Ellis Parker But...
Oct 25, 2009•3 min
Fri, Oct 23 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1485 Our final pre-Halloween story of the week answers the legal question of whether a ghost may file a lawsuit. From 1902 we present 'The Settlement of Dryden vs. Shard' by W. O. Inglis. Time: approx fourteen and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to Episode #1500! In celebration. we are having a contest with a beautiful 1906 Ed...
Oct 24, 2009•15 min
Thu, Oct 22 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1484 Marking Halloween just a mite early this year, we are offering spirited ghost yarns this week. Today we offer a fun, fat poem from 1879 by John Godfrey Saxe called 'The Ghost-Player.' Time: approx four minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html Mister Ron's Basement is getting very close to Episode #1500! In celebration. we are having a contest with a beautiful 1906 Edition of Ellis...
Oct 23, 2009•4 min
Wed, Oct 21 2009 Mister Ron's Basement #1483 Celebrating Halloween a little early, we are featuring ghostly stories this week. Back in 1910, Ellis Parker Butler became a 'spook investigator' with a group of scientists looking into the powers of a medium in the story 'The Boom in Spooks.' Time: approx twenty-three minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Ellis Parker Butler Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/Ell...
Oct 22, 2009•23 min
