Old-Time Radio Essentials Episode 54: S5E5 BBC I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again

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It's the Sunday Showcase on the Mutual Audio Network. I'll skip ahead a bit. No, I can't skip ahead. All right, everybody, into the time machine. Take your hands out, Mark! Take your hands out, Mark! No, no, no, no! You don't understand how radio works! All I have to do to return us is fade my voice out like this and cue the organist.

And you see, here we are. Wait a minute. 63 Audio presents... the old-time radio essentials podcast greetings all who gather here and welcome to season five of old-time radio essentials if this is your first time joining us and even if it ain't i must inform you that this is episode 54, also known as our eighth episode of 2025, aka episode five of season five. My name is Pete. And I'm Paul. And this is Pat. We are fans of old time radio.

And if you're tuning in, you probably are also. We gather together occasionally, like this evening, to present and discuss an episode from a particular old-time radio series. Is it indeed essential? That's what we hope to discover. Well, last time we presented my pick, or rather essential listener Jack Ward's pick, which was an episode of NBC Presents Short Story.

obviously from NBC in 1951, called The Lottery, in case you missed it. Today is Pat's choice. And what do you have for us today, Pat? Well, since this is November, I... probably should be bringing a thanksgiving themed episode but since i'm canadian we celebrated thanksgiving last month because hey we have that much less to be thankful for so all that is out the window but that uh huh

That's downright un-American. I confess this is true. Um, uh, I'm... Huh? Calm down, Polly. Everything's going to be all right.

So to repeat myself, what's on the bill for tonight, Pat? Tonight, I'm bringing us another example from the BBC. This is a hugely popular radio comedy of the 1960s and early 70s, which is still beloved even now when the BBC repeats it. It's I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again. All right, sure, I can edit out what you flubbed there. No, no, the name of the show is I'm Sorry. I'm Sorry.

I'll read that again. I know, I know. I was stringing you along. Gee, stringing. Are we planning on starting sometime soon? Yes, just as soon as Pat gives us a brief description of the series. Okay, this series... actually began as part of the Footlights review, the legendary student reviews at Cambridge University. And you've had so many brilliant comedy stars from...

come from there. I mean, you had Peter Cook, director Trevor Nunn, Humphrey Barkley, John Cleese. So many brilliant people came from there. every so often there would be a year where it was just absolute gold. And 1963 was that year. It was so successful that a producer said, I want to take it to London, to the West End.

but it was so successful it wound up touring to new zealand and it was they actually did four shows on new zealand radio which were lost for decades and have just recently a few years ago been found So they're on YouTube now. But this show, you know, it played Broadway. It led to so many careers. It is, you know, it's really a touchstone for...

British comedy. There was even a book called From Fringe to Flying Circus that looks at how all this is interconnected. And this episode that I chose is the third of three... that the BBC gave them as a sort of a little pilot series. And for the longest time, only the first was available. And then two more were found. So I've chosen the third. But all of them...

You can see the germ of what it would become. You can see the catchphrases. You can see the bad puns. It was like a reaction to the satire boom. Because satire beyond the fringe, it was so hot. This is more a throwback to the old days of music hall comedy where you get the feed line and the punch line and it's more old style. It's got bad puns, stuff like that.

This is such a tremendously important series and here we get to see it just starting out But the series itself ran for many years They even did an anniversary special in 1989 Okay So now, without further delay, we present I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again. And the third episode from the first season originally aired on the BBC sometime in 1964. April 1964.

Okay. And now, friends, adjust your radio dials to the proper frequency. Get comfortable and listen. And now here is an announcement of special interest to television opera lovers. Next Saturday night, you can see The Girl with the Golden Chest, produced by Hugh Weldon. I'm sorry, I'll read that again. Next Saturday night, you can see the girl of the Golden West seduced by Hugh Weldon. I'm sorry. I'll read that again. I'm sorry.

This is I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, an extravaganza especially written for the wireless by several persons and featuring a number of performers. Oh, come in, Mr. Layton. Do come in, please. Do sit down. Make yourself at home. Good. So you're interested in joining the Secret Service, are you? Yes, sir. Splendid, splendid. Now.

In this branch, we need alert, intelligent, active young men with good nerves. You have good good nerves, have you? I think so, sir. Good, good. They're absolutely essential in the kind of work that we're all connected with in this department, as you can well understand. Look out! Look out! There's an earwig on the desk. Don't move. It's all right. Don't panic.

See me kill it? Nerves like steel, is it? Now, name? Smith. Christian names? Twelve, sir. Very well, let's have them all then. No, my Christian name is Twelve, sir. Oh. Come from a large family? No, sir. Three. That's small for a large family. Now, what nationality was your father? English. English, yes. Where was he born? Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires. That's Somerset, isn't it?

No, it's in the Argentine. Argentine? Oh, yes. Silly of me. Not Somerset. Of course it's not. It doesn't even sound like Somerset, does it? Not Buenos Aires? No. That's in the Argentine, isn't it? Yes, sir. I thought it was. Right, your mother, where was she born? In southern Russia, sir. Ah, some kind of stepmother, eh? No, sir. Can't be too careful, you know. Got a check up. She wasn't a check, was she? No, sir. Just as well. We don't accept checks.

Of course, we take cross-checks, but not double-cross-checks, because if you double-cross a check, that makes him cross. You ever come across a double-cross check? No, sir. Good. Now. Er, what languages do you speak? French? Yes, sir. Good. Er, German? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Ja, ich spreche wenig Deutsch, und die Wundervasser-Auskestein-Bungenheiser. You're not German, are you? No, sir.

Oh, just as well. We don't want crouts in the Secret Service, you know. Not as bad as the Japs, mind you. They climb over the fighting cabinet now, do you see? They're after the strawberries. Do you want a strawberry? Why do you want to join the Secret Service? Why do you want to join the secret service? Why do you want to join the secret service? Can you keep a secret? Yes, I think so. Good, good, good. Now, any good at codes? No, I'm afraid not. Doesn't matter, doesn't matter.

What would you say till the purple wombat claps its feet? I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea. Come along, man. Come along. Have a go. Have a go. Well, really, I mean... Well, come on. Say something. It doesn't matter what. Well... The walls of Jericho are slimy green. What? Don't talk such a nonsense, Matt. Well, that's all, then. That's all, then. You're in. Now, I must equip you for your first mission. Now, do you see this? Yes, sir. Do you know what it is?

Yes, sir. It's a watch. Good. Well done. Now, do you know how to use one? Yes, sir. Good man. Good man. Now, do you know what this is? Yes, sir. It's the watch. Oh, yes. So it is. Smart work. Well done. Now. We're going to give you this watch. What do you say?

Thank you. Good, good. Now, you're going to need something to look after yourself with or to look with after yourself. Now, look at this little job. It's a Brenna Davis .56 automatic continental star grip reversible mashwitz muzzle like the Luger telescopic barrel holds 16 minutes. Swedish concentric sites. Oh, one thing, keep the flint dry.

Now, with it, you'll need this Doberman knee holster and this white flag. Be very careful with the flag, but if you're in trouble, don't hesitate to use it. Thank you, sir. That's a lot there. And incidentally, I'd like to compliment you on your English. Excellent. Thank you, sir. Not at all. Goodbye, sir. Bye. Hello? Oh, hello, number one? I'll have to watch this new chap, you know. Mad as a hatter.

I say potato. And I say potato. I say tomato. And I say tomato. Potato. Potato. Tomato. Let's call the whole thing off. I say either. And I say tomato. I say neither. And I say... tomato. Neither. Tomato. Neither. Tomato. And now over to Kempton Park. Here at Ascot, we join the entrecote stakes with just over three furlongs to go. Three furlongs to go and it's rhubarb tart leading from one bat the second. Wounded nuns coming up on the stand side. Cigarette girls fourth and... Beethoven's fifth.

And as they come round into the straight now, it's rhubarb tart from Wombat II with Wounded Nun challenging. And five furlongs to go, five furlongs, and they're coming up to the eighth fence. And they're all ever safely and it's only six and a half furlongs to go. And Booning Nun's moved into second place as they leave the race course and go out onto the M1.

It's rhubarb tart on the fast lane from Wounded Nun, Wombat II's third, Beethoven's fourth, and frying pans moved into fifth place. And now over to Paul Billingham in Ipswich. As they turn it towards me now, it's rhubarb tart still from Wounded Nun with frying pan moving up to challenge Wombat II and to see how they fare at the North Sea jump over to Mike Granton at Dover.

And as they come towards the first double, it's still rhubarb tart in the lead, and they're all checking in at the customs. And Wombat II has refused there. And in fact, quite a few are being stopped by this fence, but Beethoven's over. So he's wounded none, and as the rest of the field come up to take this fence, we join Pierre, Pierre at Boulogne.

Oh, Rhubarb Tart has just jumped the English Channel and has gone racing on towards Germany. Here in Berlin, I can just see now that Wounded Nun and Rhubarb Tart are going to take the Berlin Wall together. And they're over in the field is scattered, yes, scattered over Europe now as we follow the leaders who have taken a sharp...

right turn towards Africa. And with Beethoven, Beethoven joining the leaders, they jump the Suez Canal turn. And while the leaders race away down the Burma road, we hear that there have been some terrible falls at Niagara. The frying pan faltered at Malta and Gibraltar and then fell at the Zanzibar. And now, back to the leaders again as we hear that rhubarb tart has come acropolis over Athens.

And on the last double, it's Beethoven and Wounded Noun over the Great Wall of China and the Iron Curtain, and I'm afraid there we must leave them, but we'll bring you the result when the race finishes on December 25th at Christmas Island. So, from the Grand International, back to the studio.

I say marmalade. And I say tomato. Today there is a boom in country and western songs. And we know why. It's because these songs always tell about the strange and wonderful adventures that have actually happened to real people. Like this. All about real people. And real adventures. I was down in old Virginia in the year of 62. The sun was red. The rain that fell was always wet. The snow was always white. The sun shone bright the whole day long.

And the moon came out at night. Shucks. Oh, oh, the wind blows free. Take me back to the wild country. There's nothing like the science you see when you're a traveling man. That's fantastic. Tell us another one, Luke. Well, I was up in Houston in the year of 63. There was grass in all the meadows and leaves on every tree. You know, the towns were full of houses with people passing through. In fact, it all reminded me of Virginia in 62.

I can't hear enough of these old stories. We rode upon our horses with shoes on our. We had water there for drinking and food which we could eat. And every step the horses took went forward down the track. When we reached our destination, we turned around and came right back. I've traveled long, I've traveled hard And many sights I've seen And many are the memories Of the places I have been But of the many wonders I think that I can claim

That everyone was different and no two were the same. Oh, oh, the wind blows free. Take me back to the world country. There's nothing like a sight you see when you're a traveling man. Oh, oh, the wind blows free. Take me back to the wild country There's nothing like a sight you see When you're a traveling man

Doctor, what do you make of my husband? I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Anderson, but I'm afraid we'll just have to put him to sleep. Oh, dear. Do you have to? Well, it's kinder to them in the long run, you know. I suppose so. Oh, it's the children. They treated him almost like one of the family. Oh, he'd get down and they'd ride on his back. He were like a dog to them.

Yes, he was a wonderful old thing. He is, Doctor. Quite, quite. But well, he's getting on a bit, you know. For a man, that is. Yeah. His hair's falling out. And when we had... visitors. He's always rolling over on his back for them to tickle his tummy. Yes, he's hardly up to shows in that condition, is he? Goodness me, no. He's not been further than the end of the street for a don't know how long. To be honest. He's never really been the kind of husband you'd put on show.

His legs are too far apart. He is rather big, isn't he? Oh, yes. Actually, since we moved into the flat, there's hardly been room for him. And don't they grow? When I first had him, you'll not believe this. He was like one of them little tiny cuddly men. I thought, I thought he was full grand then. Quite frankly. I think they told me wrong about him. I mean, he's huge. Life's no fun for them when they're like that, you know. He must be suffering, mustn't he? Yes, I think so.

Oh, go on then, quick, before I change my mind. Oh, how much is it? Ten guineas, please. Oh, it's gone up since the last one.

Now, Minister, where does the British government stand on the iceberg question? That's a very good question. I'm glad you asked me that. If I may give you the statistics relating to the number of battery hens now to be found in southwestern England... But surely they're not relevant to the question.

No, but if I give you the figures, you'll probably get bored and go away. I see. But I don't see why you're unwilling to comment on the Asperger situation. Surely it's not a party issue. Oh, absolutely not, no. It's definitely not a party issue.

Mind you, the opposition seemed determined to turn it into one, judging from their complete indifference to the matter. But you just said it wasn't a party issue. Why do you try to make it one? Now, let's be fair. You introduced the subject, not me. Yes, but I said it wasn't a party issue. I couldn't agree with you more.

But there's more to this iceberg problem than meets the eye, you see. Twelve thirteenths, to be exact. But don't assume that the government intends to sit on the fence, or indeed on the iceberg. Next question. But you still haven't answered the first question. I'm glad you made that point. That is entirely true, yes.

Are you going to? Ah, I thought you were going to ask me that. Now, you see, Her Majesty's Government has decided to set up a commission to inquire into the whole question of icebergs with wide terms of reference to include not only icebergs, but also frozen water, ice flows, glaciers... drifting pack ice, glaze frost, and teenage immorality.

Teenager... Teenager morality? Well, that's what they're really interested in. And we hope that they'll be publishing their interim report early in the new century. I see. Now, I wish you'd go away. I want to feed my hamsters. One last question, Minister. You've announced that you'll be resigning at the end of the year. Why is that? Well, I've been in the Cabinet for 18 months now, and that's quite long enough to get a good job in industry. Oh, I see.

And now here is an announcement of special interest to old joke lovers. In an effort to promote better parliamentary relations, the Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas Hume, today invited leading members of the opposition to shoot at his ancestral seat.

Farmyard impersonations. On top of yonder nearby tree is a double-headed craik shaft. It says. It replies. Here comes Farmer Giles in his squeaky old boots. Squeak bump. Squeak bump. Squeak bump. He has a wooden leg. Having had some trouble with a combine harvester. At harvest time. He did not attend Thanksgiving. Here comes Mrs. Giles. Squeak bump, squeak bump. Neither did she. And George, their son. Squeak, squeak, bump. Squeak, squeak, bump. Why should he care?

In the farmhouse, Mrs. Giles is strumming a banjo, playing snap, and teaching herself French from gramophone records. What a pity she's out of earshot. In yonder nearby field are a lot of yonder nearby sheep of all ages and sizes. How did he get in there? Oh, yes, he got him through a gate that was left open by a singing old tramp. I'm only a strolling vagabond, so goodnight, pretty maiden, goodnight. Yes, goodnight.

But the silly old tramp has dropped a silly old lit cigarette end into the unlighted haystack, in which George and Marjorie the milkmaid are already smouldering. Listen. Smolder, smolder, smolder, smolder. We will leave them there for the moment. Says the double-headed crakeshaft. Cocky little bird, isn't he? Mrs. Giles notices the haystack and, being full of country common sense, whispers, Fire! And Palmer Giles does so.

Says the single-headed quakeshaft. And so, as the evening sky is lit by the warm glow, we must leave the Giles family in their idyllic elasticity. While on a lonely hilltop, a solitary bird calls to her mate.

Well, boys, I'm very glad to welcome you all back for a new term, and I hope it'll be a very happy one. Who did that? I'm waiting. I have no intention of continuing until the boy who did that owns up. If the boy who did that doesn't own up, I shall be forced to continue. Very well, I shall continue.

I'd like to welcome more than you boys, but I can't because there aren't any. And similarly, those who left last term are no longer here. Oh, and Chaplain, there's a broken window in the gym. Would you mend it, please? That's part of your job. Now, secondly, I'd like to welcome Mr. Tidmarsh to the teaching staff. He will be taking the middle school in all those fruitly little subjects nobody else wants to teach. But he's very highly qualified for a grammar school man.

And I'm sure he will be an invaluable member of the staff. And in time, a valuable one. And if I find any boy making fun of Mr. Tidmarsh's deformity, I shall punish him. Even if it is funny. Would you get me some of my tablets, Chaplain? I can feel a fit coming on. Now, what's next? Oh, yes, carpentry. Carpentry must be taken more seriously this time. Otherwise, we won't get the gym built by June. Now, Major Phillips won't be taking carpentry this term. He's in the nut house.

Two world wars and he never turned a hair. Six weeks here and he's running around the field stark naked at a home match. I mean, I'm all for a little gentle fun between masters and boys, but crucifixion. So as a token of our gratitude to poor Major Phillips for what he did for us and what we did to him, I'm going to send him on behalf of you all a nice large slice of bread. And Mr. Carter is coming up from the town to take carpentry instead.

And I'd like to silence this rumour that he's an escaped convict. This is absolutely untrue. He has, in fact, served his sentence. And chaplain, why isn't the bacon slicer working? Chaplain, if I see you reading that Bible again, I shall confiscate it. Put it away. Now, rugger. Ah, rugger. Well, I think we've got a chance of producing a jolly good team this year now that Mr. Mason has left.

Anyway, good luck, and Watson, get your hair cut. And I found this knife in my study. Is it yours, Tendler? The blood on it is rhesus positive. Get it afterwards, boy, not now. Now, finally, there are two school rules I want to remind you about. Secondly, boys may not walk behind the gym between the end of short break and the beginning of the fourth period, unless they're in the top game and not on the sick list, unless going to a music lesson, in which case they should get my permission.

Or on Fridays, tell the senior master and then get permission from whoever is in room four in Bodicea House. And in any case, they should wear Wellington boots unless the ground is dry. And any doubt about that, and they'd better ask you, chaplain. Any boy who breaks this rule will be expelled.

And firstly, any boy found hanging from the wall bars will be found hanging from the wall bars. Oh, yes, and the lino is loose in the changing rooms, chaplain. Oh, by the way, chaplain, why wasn't there confirmation last term? You forgot? What do you mean you've got too much to do? Oh, don't cry, man. Not in front of the boys. Oh, how wet. Come and see me afterwards. I'm going to beat you.

Well, that's all, boys. When I ring... That's all, boys. When I ring the bell for the first lesson, I want you all to go and get your hair cut. Thank God somebody here has got an orderly mind.

It's safari time. And once again, our hosts are Marmot and Delilah Menace. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Delilah and I have just returned from six months in Serengeti, the national park of Tanganyika. Yes! And I in the National Park of Serengeti for six months. Yes, both of us in Serengeti. Here on the film, you can see us at our camping site. Look, here is little Ricky, our baby mongoose.

Frolicking. Look at him frolic. But where are our other pets? Aha! Here they come. This is little Rodney, our little baby botong. And this is Esmeralda, our hooded vulture. Esmeralda is enjoying her breakfast. Poor little Rodney. But soon we are on our way, speeding across the arid plain of Serengeti. The plane was teeming with all manner of creatures. Where are they all going? Wait and see. Here they are at the waterhole.

We halted the convoy and moved closer, trying to get as near as we can before the animals caught our smell. This is always the most exciting moment for us, as we never know what we may find. This time, by good fortune, we were lucky. Yes, an African water rat. This species is in danger of extinction because unscrupulous native hunters stuff them for tourists. Ah, there he goes, poor fellow, another one gone. But what are coming here?

No, Hippo and Rhino. Come to frolic and froth in the muddy water. Look at Mummy Hippo washing her little one. But now two Rhino have disagreed over the beautiful lady. See them clash their tusks together in a prehistoric battle for survival. Look at the zebra! To hell with the zebra! Look at the rhino! An incredible sight. But soon we were on our way.

Near sundown, as Delilah stepped from the shatterbang, she gave a little squeal. There on the track, unmistakable traces of lion. Look, there and there and there. Sure enough, in the distance we could see them, a pride of lion. We dispatched Jojo, our faithful native bearer, to investigate. Alas, poor Jojo cannot see what we can see. A stray lion has wandered from the pride and come between Jojo and the Sharabang. There was nothing we could do, even if we had wanted to.

The king of beasts sprang. It was all over in a quarter of an hour. Now see again the spring in slow motion. See those legs kick. Alas, in vain. Esmeralda, our pet vulture, was first on the scene as we carried poor Jojo to a nearby native village. Here live the primitive Ubuntu tribe, a tall, graceful people with tattoos in the strangest places. Look, there and there and there. I had to go into the bush on a mission that could not be delayed. Thank you.

When Armut was away, I joined in the funeral rites for poor Jojo. As the primitive rhythm seized hold of my senses, I abandoned myself completely to the primeval forces of the jungle. When I return, I find Delilah has made many friends. Look there and there and there. But I fear we can show you no more tonight. Next week, we shall be returning to Africa, and I shall be going to the Bongo foothills. And I shall be returning to the Ubuntu. Good night. Good night, Delilah.

Oh, before I go, ladies and gentlemen, I shall be here again in a fortnight's time with some exciting human interest pictures of the flooding of the Ubuntu Valley. Good night. APPLAUSE

And now to Germany, at that time which exists only in musicals, where every prince is a student, every day a holiday, and every cue is for a song. Come to the beer garden in Heidelberg. Hooray! Drink, drink. That's enough of that. Now we must greet one another. Hello, Fritz. Hello, Willi. Hello, Fritz und Willi. How do you know our names? They always use the same names in these German musicals. Ah.

Then you must be Hans, or possibly Otto. I am certainly not Otto. No, neither am I. We must get a fire in here. Don't you find it chilly, Villy? Bitter? I don't mind if I do. More beer. Why? Because today is a holiday. Hooray. Why? In Heidelberg, every day is a holiday. Every day's a holiday in Heidelberg. Heidelberg! We can all be a jolly day in Heidelberg. Heidelberg! Don't be me alone, call you dad. Oh, I've forgotten the words. I'm the messenger.

Who are you? Hands. Flits. And boomsy days. Well then, attend. Hark. Heed. Hear ye. List. Listen. Oh, yay. Pay attention. Pin back your ears. I think he wants to tell us something. Then let him. The prince will soon be here. Be here? Ale, I don't mind if I do. Oh, prince, since you are a prince, you must be our leader. Then I shall fall in love with him. Don't say that, Mitzi. Can't you see Hans is lovesick? My darling, I love you.

I cannot marry until I have inherited my father's fortune. But I am expecting. I am expecting. Prompt? Expecting a message any minute. A message for the prince. I am the prince. What is your message? Even now, your father lies upon his funeral bier. Your father is... Um... Oh, dead! Now I'm owner of all the breweries in Westphalia! Hooray! Hooray! I'm the owner of all the breweries in Westphalia! Failure! La la la la la la la! There's no owner who is more heartier or healthier.

Whenever the beer begins to flow Whenever your cheeks begin to glow You're certain to lose your senses So free hearty cheers Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Free hearty cheers Now I can be a great success and not a failure. Failure. Now I can wear a carnation in my butt. He's dead! My father said, oh, he's the owner of all the breweries in Australia.

But they simply do not manufacture the best ale here, ale here, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. But they do in Württemberg. I'm sorry, we'll sing that again. How dare you?

And now here is an announcement of special interest with the BBC Programme Accounts Department. This programme, I'm sorry I'll read that again, was written and performed by Tim Brook-Taylor, Anthony Buffery, John Cleese, David Hatch, Joe Kendall and Bill Oddy, who was late for rehearsal. Music by Hugh MacDonald and Bill Oddy. Musical director, Bert Rose. Production by Humphrey Barclay and Edward Taylor. On the London Stock Exchange today, the price of tea rose sharply.

Mrs. Kershaw is now charging four-pence-haepernier cup on account of her leg. we're back with Old Time Radio Essentials. This is Paul with Pat and Pete, and that was an episode of I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again from the BBC in 1964. And now... Pat, if there's anything left, this was your pick. Please tell us why you chose this particular episode. Well...

It all goes back to when I was a little kid in the mid-70s, and the CBC aired a BBC TV comedy show called The Goodies. And it was three guys who do anything, anywhere, anytime. And I loved it. Flash forward to 1991. I lived in England in London for a summer, and I really discovered comedy. I went in a big record store, and I got a tape of I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, several episodes.

This was fantastic. I'd listen to it on my tape player in my bed in my little flat every night. I found books about it, and I started researching it. And then one day I discovered Timbrook Taylor, one of the cast. He's in a play in the West End in London and I went to see it and I went to Stage Door and I met him. He was lovely. So just discovering how all this is interconnected, but...

You know, if you want to play comedy connections with it, it's connected to the goodies. At last, the 1948 show, do not adjust your set. Monty Python, which has heaps of connections of its own. I'm sorry, I haven't a clue. Hello, Cheeky. All of this stuff, which I hope our listeners realize proves that although it's generally accepted that radio died in the States in 1962, in Britain, it's still going strong. It's still.

living, breathing, thriving. So I guess just as a researcher, I can no longer just listen to it. I have to really analyze it, but it just feels like a warm friend. Sometimes the world really needs silliness. So it is all interconnected. And something else about ISIRTA, a few years into the run, they decided, okay, our typical listener is an idiot named Angus Prune.

And they actually wrote the song, the Angus Prune tune, which became the theme. And there is actually a lyric in it. I sit in my bath and I have a good laugh because the sig tune is named after me. I used to listen to, I'm sorry, I'll read that again, In the Bath as well. So when I heard that lyric, I thought, whoa, my God, they pegged it. They pegged it. I am their typical listener. So yeah, this one is very dear to my heart.

Of course, growing up in the 70s, watching Monty Python, I was very much enamored of the other British comedies like The Goodies and... There was that. It was The Goodies and Monty Python. And on radio, there was a local college station that played every once in a while an episode of The Goon Show. Oh, yes. Now, in our early first series, in our first season, I brought in an episode of The Goon Show for critique. But...

When I listened to this one, because I've listened to so many goon shows, I immediately recognized... A gag that I don't know if it came here first or if it went to the Goon Show first. But when they say the dum-da-dum and whoopsie-daisy. Hans, Nies and Wumpsy Days. It's like, you know, it's a British song. Okay, because that I heard first in a recording of The Goon Show, and then I heard in this one. So I don't know if one stole it from the other, but...

For me, I was trying to track all of the different sketches. This is a half hour show. And it had so many, so many comedy sketches. It was... It's unbelievable how many different sketches appeared in this 30-minute segment. But I did recognize, of course, John Cleese from the first with that Secret Service sketch, which was just...

Very much a Monty Python sketch because you can imagine... one man sitting across from another man at a desk the way so many sketches appeared in Monty Python where John Cleese does these crazy things and says these wild... outrageous things and then the other person reacts so it was very much the seed of monty python's flying circus with john cleese doing these uh sketches which was just marvelous and i think the secret secret service sketch was very very funny um

And then they go to a musical sketch with a potato and potato. I say potato, you say potato. So I wrote down a few of the sketches. The horse race where they're talking about... Beethoven's fifth. And then the whole sketch about the country western songs. That was hilarious. Yep. I thought it was wonderful. And so everybody's trying to do this country accent, which was American accent, which is hilarious. And then the woman is talking about a husband as a dog.

Yes, that one is just shocking. Yeah. And cost 10 pounds. Ooh, it's more than it was last time. Yeah, that's the real shocker. Like, oh, she's done it before. Politician who's talking about an iceberg. He's refusing to answer the questions. That is very much. term in line with today's politicians, so it was very relevant.

But so much more polite. A politician would not answer a question directly. It's just very funny. Well, it was funny then because it was so ludicrous. The more they stay the same. Yes. I love my favorite part, though. was the German students in Heidelberg. And that whole song, I guess that music was written by Bill Adi, is that correct?

In the early episodes, they did have someone else working on stuff. Bill's stuff is a bit more like standalone pop song. Because at the time, usually when you had radio comedy, you'd stop. at the one-third in mark and at the two-thirds in mark for the band to play something or the straight singer to sing. And you still have touches of that in this episode. I don't think this happened so much. In fact...

When they go to the students in Heidelberg, that whole thing that... Well, this was different because suddenly... the song itself is part of the show. It's like, no, we've got to stop. We've got to have something straight here. Yeah, this was so different. My father died, and now I'm the owner of all the breweries in Heidelberg. It's just so... So funny. And Timbrook Taylor doing the high tenor there. All the way through. I didn't find a single thing that I didn't enjoy. So it was just terrific.

all the way through. And I've heard some old, I'm sorry, I'll read that again. Thanks to WCVU in Peoria, Illinois. When I was in high school, I would listen to that station. They played a few episodes of, I'm sorry, I'll read that again. But I haven't heard it since then. And then I graduated from high school in 1981. So it's been a while.

So to listen to this was quite a treat. And it's so fast-paced. It is really fast. And like I said, so many sketches appear. Let's move to Paul. What do you think, Paul? You have that glazed look in your eyes, Paul. There isn't anything you'll have to say. Or she said. Yeah. Yeah, that's pretty much it.

I had never heard of this before we did it. And when I listened to it the first time, I was tired afterwards. I honestly say I was mentally and my ears were tired you were worried it's like holly the the stuff just keeps coming it's just and it's just wait and i had to keep looking over at the uh my media player i'm going

I swear to Christ, it said it was a half hour show. You didn't have any commercials to rest for it. Yeah, it was like 43 damn bits in this thing in a half hour show. How the hell did you... It's like... It's like ADHD comedy or something, you know? Well, maybe that's why Pete and I liked it so much. Oh, as they said in there twice, wombat. Yep. But it was fun.

it was like i said you know you can't if you've never heard it before you can't listen to it just once because you're like i i know i missed half of it i know i missed half so i gotta listen to it again

I didn't catch that the first time. I didn't catch that the first. How the hell did I keep messing so much stuff? Then you listen to it for a third time, and you're still picking up parts that you missed. I listened to it twice, too, so I made sure I got everything. Yeah. The one girl in that. Is that Carol? that's joe kendall oh okay yeah she just died like a couple of years no no well again playing the kind of role that carol did you know it's like

I think as comedy was then, where it's very much male-oriented, the girl is just a token. But a couple of years before this iteration of the Footlights, Miriam Margulies was the token girl. Oh, Madam Sprout. Yes, Miriam Margulies. Okay. That woman is mental. Oh, she's amazing. And put her on the Graham Norton show. You get some very interesting stories. Oh, you do, yes. And the people sitting next to her are looking at her like, I'm not sure if I feel safe here anymore. Miriam also did...

voiceover on a series of lovely animated cartoons. This would be, I guess, in the 90s, I think, 80s or 90s, animated commercials for Cadbury's Caramel Bar. She was this beautiful, sexy rabbit. Oh, Mr. Beaver, you're just beavering on. You need to relax with some... Here, relax with some Cadbury's caramel.

It's like all the animals in there are just melting over this incredibly sexy rabbit. Okay. Okay. So, okay. Let's vote. What are we voting on, dear listener? As a reminder, we are voting on one, whether this particular episode is a true representative installment of the overall series, and B, whether or not it is a true essential. a standalone show that belongs in every radio aficionado's collection. And again, Pat, since this was your selection, you go first. It's a yes for me on both.

For reasons discussed previously, there are so many comedy connections. There are sketches where they turned up here first, and then they were used later on the goodies or by Python. This is a linchpin. This is just so critical, especially for British comedy. But British comedy, it migrates, it crosses the pond, etc. Yeah, I would say it is absolutely essential.

I'm amazed that something so early in what would turn out to be a very long run, it still shows so much basic versions of it. It hasn't reached full flights of wildness, but it's there. All right. Well, for me, from the top, when the show was introduced, the girl with the golden chest, and then the girl with the golden vest, seduced by, that was just so great. It was just...

a perfect introduction to the show. To the end, I just loved it. I've always been a fan of British comedy. I've always been enamored of the Pythons, of course. and then their predecessors. I've watched a few episodes of, at last, the 1948 show, and the ones with Chapman, Cleese, and Idol. And Marty Feldman when they're talking about the... The Four Yorkshiremen actually began there. Yes. Oh, my God. Just so great all the way through. I loved...

Every bit of it. Listening to John Cleese's voice and listening to Bill Adi's voice and just wonderful stuff. I'm very much in favor of the show. I heard it as a kid and I heard it this time. That's very good stuff. So to me, it is very much... Even though the third episode is probably, I'm sure it's a true representative installment. And then...

If you are a fan of British comedy, and why wouldn't you be? This is very much something that should be part of your collection. So for me, yes to both. A or one and B. Paul, what do you say? I also say one in B. All right. Yes. I'm not 100% sure about the indicative of a normal show for them because this was the only one I listened to. And so I can't tell you on that regard, but when it comes to the kind of Monty Python goon show kind of background that this is the foreground for, that...

Yeah, this fits right into the wheelhouse there of that kind of insane stuff that they do. And it was excellent, and I highly recommend it. Yes, either by itself or get more. You know, mind you, just make sure you're comfortable. when you sit and listen to this, you know, because you're going to feel kind of wrung out afterwards because it's hitting you so hot and so fast that you're just going to finish and go.

And also, as you get into other episodes and that, don't be drinking anything while you listen. Oh, too late. Yeah. Too late.

I've already had a couple of strong vodka drinks. Okay. Well, folks, this brings us to the end of episode 54, or if you live in a parallel universe, episode 5 of season 5. with Paul Arbisi, Pete Lutz, and me, Pat Rosebank. Next go round, it'll be Paul's pick. And what show will you be bringing us, Paul? I think next time we're going to do a holiday version of The Great Gildersleeve. Woo! Well, that sounds great, Paul. And now Pat, Paul, tell the masses what they need to know.

Old Time Radio Essentials is a production of 63 Audio. A proud member of the Mutual Audio Network. Subscribe on... any podcatcher you may use by searching under Mutual Audio Network, Narada Radio Company, and Moonlight Audio Theater. You know, we love hearing from listeners, so if you're a listener... one of those rare people who might listen to us, and you have feedback or a suggestion for a future episode, write to us at f6.3 at gmail.com if we take your suggestion.

and you want us to send you something, we will send you some nifty neurotic swag. Not everybody wants to give us their address, but trust me, we will keep it safe and not give it to any marketers. Okay. I swear. We don't have a Patreon. We don't ask for any money. Just your time and your ears. We got a sack of ears. Not that kind of ears. Let me your ears. Feedback is one of the only ways we can tell you're listening, aside from the crickets. So be sure to drop us a line, and thanks.

Now, before we close, do either of you have any projects coming up that you'd like to plug? Pat, I guess not. Paul, anything? Currently, not so much, no. Okay, now I want to say that I listened to the last month's Project Audion. And I thought that the Eno Crime Club show was very good. I thought you did a very nice job on that, Paul. Thank you. I enjoyed that. Okay. But Pat, the most recent... The most recent...

Project Audion involves you, and we're talking about AI and how it involves. Yes, and horse in the bot, yes. Yes, in certain technologies and things like that. So both of you did a fine job in that. Very nice. And so I want to say that I have just finished writing a new script for the Jake Dimes Christmas series. This is our third... special Christmas program involving Jake Dimes, Rage Detective, and the other characters from the original series. And it's called Six Gun Santa Claus.

It's a Jake Dimes number that involves a young boy in a small town. whose life is changed by a circus performer. So it's really, I think it's just in line with the other previous Jake Dimes Christmas shows that we've done. very touching, very melodramatic, kind of schmaltzy, you know. But that's what you want at Christmas. That's what we want at Christmas. So yes. Yeah. And I think you'll enjoy it. And that'll be out next month.

I wrote the script over the past two days and sent it out to the actors. It's a big cast. The original cast of the... The serial is there, plus new characters involved with the new stories. And how we do it with these Christmas specials is Jake Dimes... And the original characters get together for some reason. And Jake tells a story about some adventure he had prior to meeting everybody else.

And I think it works out really well. I generally find a pulp story, a pulp western story that I can adapt that works really well with these stories. That's coming up next month, and I think it'll be pretty good. now let's wrap things up and vamanos hey thanks Paulie thanks Pat happy Thanksgiving to all of you and happy believe it Thanksgiving to Pat and all of our Canadian listeners all three or four of them please dear listeners

Join us next time, won't you, for another fun installment of Old Time Radio Essentials. Bye-bye for now. Bye-bye. I guess we're done for this one. Wait a minute. That's downright un-American. No shit. Could you say the actual line, please? Well, good. Well, folks, this brings us to the end of episode 54. That's my line. That's my line. That's my line. Let Pat get a word in edgewise, would you, Pete? For God's sake.

Stop that. It's silly. Because Pat's talked for 20 minutes longer than any of us. Anyway, Pat, go ahead, please. Yes. 63 audio. This is Mutual.