Thur, Sept 23, 2010 Mister Ron’s Basement # 1775 This week we have found some fun pieces concerning that great American sport, Fishing! Today we offer a slight bit of exaggeration in a truly funny 1880 poetic ‘fish story’ by Irwin Russell entitled ‘Summer Idyllers.’ Time: approx five and a half minutes The Mister Ron’s Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine (now known as Beatweek ...
Sep 23, 2010•6 min
Wed, Sept 22, 2010 Mister Ron’s Basement # 1774 This week we have found some fun pieces concerning that great American sport, Fishing! Normally we avoid reading stories by humorists such as Josh Billings, despite their popularity, because so much of it relies on their bad spelling. For example, in today’s story, a sentence reads: ‘The codfish iz a child ov the oshun.’ How do you read that and make it funny? Still, in keeping with our theme this week, we present an Billings story published in 187...
Sep 22, 2010•4 min
Tue, Sept 21, 2010 Mister Ron’s Basement # 1773 This week we have found some fun pieces concerning that great American sport, Fishing! Today’s tale originally appeared in The Weekly Museum Magazine way back in 1792. Reading it was tricky, because like so much printed lterature of that day, the letter ‘f’ and the letter ‘s’ look alike. Nevertheless, we offer up a handy tale of the uses of a big red proboscis in catching trout — it is called ‘A Red Nose.’ Time: approx five and a half minutes The M...
Sep 21, 2010•5 min
Mon, Sept 20, 2010 Mister Ron’s Basement # 1772 We are continuing with our Monday Book Serialization, Edward S. Ellis’s 1868 Dime Novel, ‘The Steam Man of the Prairies.’ Today, we read Chapter Nine, featuring a thrilling chase sequence, called ‘The Steam Man As A Hunter.’ Time: approx ten and a half minutes The Mister Ron’s Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine (now known as Beat...
Sep 20, 2010•10 min
Fri, Sept 17 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1771 Our last 1878 W. L. Alden story for the week concerns a heartless and conniving young beauty who had a novel way of disposing of suitors - 'The Belle of Vallejos' 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 W. L. Alden Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/alden.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine (no...
Sep 17, 2010•9 min
Thur, Sept 16 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1770 It is sometimes difficult to believe that the hysterically funny stories of W. L.Alden were published so long ago. From 1878, we hear the sad tale of a young man in love wearing shoes that are way too tight. It is called 'A Chicago Idyl.' 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 W. L. Alden Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/alden.html ...
Sep 16, 2010•9 min
Wed, Sept 15 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1769 We love the stories of W. L. Alden here in the Basement, mainly because they are truly funny. Once again, today's tale is one of those that get funnier the more you think about it. From 1878, Alden reports on the writing of a precocious nine year old girl in 'Carrie's Comedy.' 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 W. L. Alden Catalog of Stories ...
Sep 15, 2010•11 min
Tue, Sept 14 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1768 We love the stories of W. L. Alden here in the Basement, mainly because they are truly funny. Today's tale is one of those that get funnier the more you think about it. Perhaps the story is suggestive, perhaps not. From 1878, Alden examines how students at an all-female college, without the help of young men to keep count, manage to report on 'Shooting Stars.' Time: approx nine and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at...
Sep 14, 2010•10 min
Mon, Sept 13 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1767 We are continuing with our Monday Book Serialization, Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' This chapter runs the gamut from truly terrible writing, to imaginative excitement towards the end. Chapter Eight is called 'Indians.' Time: approx ten minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Mag...
Sep 13, 2010•10 min
Fri, Sept 10 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1766 We are wrapping up a week of some little-known pieces by one of our favorite authors, H. C. Bunner. Today we offer a short, but sweet 1882 poem concerning the game of 'Forfeits.' Time: approx three minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The H. C. Bunner Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/bunner.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magaz...
Sep 10, 2010•3 min
Thur, Sept 09 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1765 We have dug up some little-known pieces by one of our favorite authors, H. C. Bunner. Much as comedian Jackie Mason would do a century later, Bunner gives us an 1878 spoken 'slide show' of paintings by 'The Society of American Artists.' This is a scream. Time: approx twelve minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The H. C. Bunner Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/bun...
Sep 09, 2010•12 min
Wed, Sept 08 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1764 We have dug up some little-known pieces by one of our favorite authors, H. C. Bunner. From 1879, we have a charming poem about Grandmama, back in her day, called 'She Was A Beauty.' Time: approx two and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The H. C. Bunner Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/bunner.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 ...
Sep 08, 2010•3 min
Tue, Sept 07 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1763 We have dug up some little-known pieces by one of our favorite authors, H. C. Bunner. Today we offer a short poem about the love of his life, a professional contortionist, in the 1893 piece, 'A Variety Verse.' Time: approx four minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The H. C. Bunner Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/bunner.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister...
Sep 07, 2010•4 min
Mon, Sept 06 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1762 We are continuing with our Monday Book Serialization, Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' Today the Steam man really gets an opportunity to Go Go Go! In Chapter Seven, 'The Steam Man on His Travels,' Baldy and Brainerd pack the Steam Man up like a piano, and put him together out on the Prairie, where they let him strut his stuff! Time: approx eleven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http:/...
Sep 06, 2010•11 min
Fri, Sept 03 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1761We have dug up some little-known gems from Mortimer Thomson, better known to one and all as Q. K. Philander Doesticks, P. B. Our 1855 tale concerns a gift of an extremely hungry Hen called 'Doesticks is Presented With A Shanghai by the 'Young 'Un''. 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 Philander Doesticks (Mortimer Thomson) Catalog of Stories ...
Sep 03, 2010•8 min
Thur, Sept 02 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1760We have dug up some little-known gems from Mortimer Thomson, better known to one and all as Q. K. Philander Doesticks, P. B. From 1854, we have found an hilarious and a bit racy (well, for 1854, anyway) account of a theatrical performance by a well-known ham actor. It's called 'Doesticks Sees the American Tragedian.' Time: approx twelve and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Cata...
Sep 02, 2010•12 min
Wed, Sept 01 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1759 We have dug up some little-known gems from Mortimer Thomson, better known to one and all as Q. K. Philander Doesticks, P. B. Our 1854 tale concerns a group of religious followers of William Miller, gathering together for the predicted day the earth will end. It's called 'Doesticks Sees the Millerites.' Time: approx twelve minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Philander Doe...
Sep 01, 2010•12 min
Tue, Aug 31 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1758 We have dug up some little-known gems from Mortimer Thomson, better known to one and all as Q. K. Philander Doesticks, P. B. Today's piece was dug out of the Saturday Evening Post in 1861 - it's called 'What Doesticks' Wife Wanted.' 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 Philander Doesticks (Mortimer Thomson) Catalog of Stories is at: http://rone...
Aug 31, 2010•10 min
Mon, Aug 30 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1757 We are continuing with our Monday Book Serialization, Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' This chapter is actually pretty good, with some exciting action. In Chapter Six, 'The Miners,' Baldy expresses his gratitude to Ethan and Mickey by sharing his Gold Mine with them. Time: approx eleven and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There i...
Aug 30, 2010•11 min
Fri, Aug 27 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1756 We are wrapping up a week of humorous pieces by Simeon Ford published back in 1904, called 'A Few Remarks.' Ford was NOT a professional humorist, but a New York City hotel keeper who was the most in-demand after dinner speaker in the City in the early years of the twentieth century. We have read stories about Bloomers going as far back as the 1850s before, but they were apparently a novel topic in 1904, in Ford's speech, 'On Woman and Bloomers.' Time:...
Aug 27, 2010•8 min
Thur, Aug 26 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1755 We have discovered a collection of humorous pieces by Simeon Ford published back in 1904. It is called 'A Few Remarks.' Ford was NOT a professional humorist, but a New York City hotel keeper who was the most in-demand after dinner speaker in the City in the early years of the twentieth century. Today's speech was presented to a meeting of Bank Presidents in an era of Bank Failures (certainly nothing like today). It is called 'Bank-Notes.' Time: appro...
Aug 26, 2010•8 min
Wed, Aug 25 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1754 We have discovered a collection of humorous pieces by Simeon Ford published back in 1904. It is called 'A Few Remarks.' Ford was NOT a professional humorist, but a New York City hotel keeper who was the most in-demand after dinner speaker in the City in the early years of the twentieth century. In today's speech, Ford holds hilariously forth on a dim subject - - 'Hotel Suicides.' Time: approx seven and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Cat...
Aug 25, 2010•8 min
Tue, Aug 24 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1753 We have discovered a collection of humorous pieces by Simeon Ford published back in 1904. It is called 'A Few Remarks.' Ford was NOT a professional humorist, but a New York City hotel keeper who was the most in-demand after dinner speaker in the City in the early years of the twentieth century. Today's speech, one of his most popular, is entitled 'At A Turkish Bath.' Time: approx nine and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be fo...
Aug 24, 2010•10 min
Mon, Aug 23 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1752 We are continuing with our Monday Book Serialization, Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' Yes, this novel is badly written, and this chapter is one of the worst. Still, al in all, the further chapters are quite fascinating, so hang in there! In Chapter Five, 'On the Yellowstone,' we learn how Baldy met and was rescued from drowning by Ethan and Mickey. Time: approx eleven and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Ful...
Aug 23, 2010•11 min
Fri, Aug 20 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1751 We have found a fascinating book by George Ade (a life-long bachelor) from 1922 entitled 'Single Blessedness and Other Observations.' We wrap up our week of Ade Observations with a breakdown on the mechanics of 'Letters of Introduction.' Time: approx seven minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement 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 *There is a n...
Aug 20, 2010•7 min
Thur, Aug 19 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1750 We have found a fascinating book by George Ade (a life-long bachelor) from 1922 entitled 'Single Blessedness and Other Observations.' Today we offer the lengthy, fun, title piece, 'The Joys of Single Blessedness.' This is great! Enjoy. Time: approx twenty-eight minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement 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 *There ...
Aug 19, 2010•28 min
Wed, Aug 18 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1749 We have found a fascinating book by George Ade (a life-long bachelor) from 1922 entitled 'Single Blessedness and Other Observations.' Today we take a look at changing tastes in waistlines in an observation called 'Adipose.' Time: approx five and a half minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement 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 *There is a nifty...
Aug 18, 2010•5 min
Tue, Aug 17 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1748 We have found a fascinating book by George Ade (a life-long bachelor) from 1922 entitled 'Single Blessedness and Other Observations.' Today's observation from this collection is called 'Non-Essentials,' and could have been written last week. Time: approx five minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement 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 *There is ...
Aug 17, 2010•5 min
Mon, Aug 16 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1747 We are continuing with our Monday Book Serialization, Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' In Chapter Four, 'The Trapper and the Artisan,' little Johnny meets Baldy, and considers an offer for his Steam Man. 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 *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine (n...
Aug 16, 2010•11 min
Fri, Aug 13 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1746 We are wrapping up a week of the sharp-witted writing of John Ames Mitchell, who, back in the 1880s, founded the original Life Magazine (the humor periodical) and was the editor for many years. Our tale today is quite strange, and pretty funny. From 1893, discover the strange predicament of 'The Belle and the Seal.' You've never heard a story quite like it. Time: approx six and a half minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://...
Aug 13, 2010•6 min
