Alright Vault-villians. I don’t know. I thought I’d give that a try.

I’m gonna be brief here and because I’m closing out 2024 and beginning 2025 with…pneumonia!

This is another, spot-on, awesome example of Norm’s appeal to all ages and how to just have the best time on the radio. Because of that I’ve titled it: Just a Loverly Show

It’s from December 29th and 30th, 1995.

Mike Epstein and later Ed LeClair producing

The Caller List:

Laura

There’s an attempt to call some guy named Ed in Cincinnati who wants to father a child with Madonna. Unfortunately, it’s cut and we miss most of Norm’s silly message he left on his VM. 

Priscilla from Portsmouth, NH

Helen in Raynham

The fear filled Tony Nesbitt calls in with a requested recipe

Norm mentions we are hoping to get in touch with Jami Bernard author of “Total Exposure: The Movie Buff’s Guide to Celebrity Nude Scenes.” That does not materialize here.

Mike and I join Norm in Studio

John from Dorchester

Doug The Singing Cowboy

The delightful Kathy

We are joined briefly by Linda Chase and her mom Irene!

Millie who’s 16 and has a fun story

Ziggy, maybe, with a couple of jokes we never hear

Bob talking Boston Radio and heaping praise on Norm

Craig – a student going to UMass Lowell with more love for Norm

Our 4am friend, Generosa! She had a fire in her kitchen oven!

And Pat from Boston but the tape runs out!

Additional notes:

Jack Traffic x2

John Deere sponsorx2

Dunkin Donuts/WBZ Promo for a Superbowl Ticket Winner

WBZ Post Cereal Kid Announcer Contest – Ed Donahue

WBZ Traffic Promo – Mike Colman singing

And Norm will be in Beverly for NYE doing a couple of Old Time Radio talks!

Ep 216, Just a Loverly Show, hearts its way to your ears…now.

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Ho Ho Ho goes the radio as a DBG from December 24th, 1993 brings tidings of good fun.

In keeping with that theme the title shall be: Merry Silliness

Players:

Mary in Hatfield, PA

Frank from Haverhill

The adorable Fran in RI

Jack from Ottawa, Canada

John Kelly producing and playing in studio

Mike Epstein playing in studio

Jack Harte

Tony on the phone

Only one Bday of note for 12/24:

Bill Rogers

We move on to 12/25 but not before some discussion of dead and alive birthdays from 12/27. The most notable being my mom, Gladys, who resides in the ALIVE category. Happy Birthday, Mom!: 

Ok back to 12/25…

Tony Martin

Jimmy Buffet

Annie Lennox

And Larry Csonka

Now 12/28

Denzel Washington

Maggie Smith

And Lou Jacoby

Ep 215, Merry Silliness, spreads its cheer to your ears in 3,2 and 1.

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It’s Norm’s Birthday Week and we have a NNS from December 18th, 1993 to unwrap. Grab some cake, ice cream, a coffee, sit back and take a few moments away from the holiday madness.

Speaking of coffee, that’s one of the ways you can support the channel. Check out the link below for Buy Me A Coffee (see what I did there). Also Patreon and Castos are additional ways to assist in keeping the silliness running full steam ahead.

This episode has a bit of everything and it’s titled: Roasting Radio Nuts.

Adam Wolf was producing

There’s Jack Harte traffic reports (one which kicks off the show) 

Norm has a guest:

The Gadget and Gizmo Guy and Mad Magazine writer, Dick DeBartolo

There are news updates both national and local.

Lottery numbers, sports scores and Accuweather

Norm reads a story about Donald Trump and Marla Maples getting married.

There’s a lot of talk about the most boring people of the year from a list compiled by, yes, you guessed it, that bastion of education: The Boring Institute

Norm teases the guests coming up for the week he’s filling in for Bob Raleigh including:

Jesse Shiedlauer who will talk about the Random House Dictionary

Autumn Stevens author of Untamed Tongues

Mark Victor Hanson author of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Joey Green author of a book about the tv show Get Smart

Frankie Laine

And Storyteller Jay O’Callaghan

Callers:

Andrew in Norwell

Daniel from Stoneham, wait…noooo Somerville

Don

Marty ‘the newspaper guy’ from Rockland

Bob with an Ode to Charlestown

Hank

Ruth Clennot

Marilyn from Kingwood, W.VA with an ode to West, by God, Virginny!

Two callers of unknown name and location

Danny talking Drum Corp

A brief snippet from Golda

I appear out of nowhere and join Norm in the studio

Bill in Delaware

Bob Weiss from the Air Travel Journal talking about a drawing that will be taking place in Las Vegas for which U.S. Stadiums will host World Cup matches

Lastly are the wonderful commercials!

Marazine w/Arlene Krieg, Trieg? Of Coquille, OR

Gold Bond w/the itchy James Rife of Riverdale, IL

Baby Gold Bond Medicated Powder w/Teresa Ing? from Edmunds, WA

Ed Donahue with a Children’s Hospital Promo which is cut short

Mrs. Nelson’s Candy House

And Norm with a National Credit Group read in Italian and French?

Ep 214, Roasting Radio Nuts, celebrates its way to your ears…now.

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We open another gift from the Vault of Silliness with a NNS/DBG/NNS from December 10 and 11th, 1993.

The title of this latest installment of merriment is…

Big Words, Fancy Ad-libs and Punning Around the Christmas Tree

Sid Whittaker producing and I’m hanging around in the studio.

Get your pencils ready as here comes the line-up.

Pre and Post Game Callers:

Bob Coffey talking about George Shearing (who was a guest the previous hour or so)

Nutty Pat BUT this time it’s the most surprising conversation!

Another classic with Robert from Everett! 

Kevin in Dorchester

Tony from Swampscott

Betty in Sudbury

And we close with an entertaining call from John in Lowell 

But before that closing call we have a DBG from 12/11 that begins with some Bob Raleigh impressions.

Players:

Al

John from Charlestown

Jenny in Plymouth

Mark

Sid Whittaker

Tony in studio

Jack in Traffic

Bdays:

Rita Moreno

Brenda Lee

Jermain Jackson

Carlo Ponti

Teri Garr

Donna Mills

John Kerry

And a Date in History:

In what year did Boston’s Bijou Theater become the first American Playhouse to be lighted exclusively by electricity?

I included the ABC News w/Bob Aronson and the WBZ News w/Darrell Gould.

Our cup runneth over with regards to commercials:

Norm reads a Heritage Radio spot

Liberty Tree Mall Auction for Children’s Hospital

Silver City and Barbosa’s Auto World – weird one

NH State Liquor Commission

Norm read for National Credit Group x2

Triple Action Gold Bond with Jim Brown from Grand Prairie TX

The Huntington Theater

Rich Chocolate Ovaltine

ADT Home Security

And a real bonus here is Norm’s HGPG imitating Arthur Godfrey. Or was it the other way around?

Ep 213, Big Words, Fancy Ad-libs and Punning Around the Christmas Tree, pronounces its way to your ears in 3,2 and 1. 

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First let me say that we have added TWO new countries that have discovered the Silly. Dobryden to the Czech Republic! And for our second country there’s at least 12 different languages spoken there. I will go with what I learned was the most widely spoken: Sawubona, South Africa!

Also thanks to EVERYBODY as we have hit 250 subscribers on YT!

Let’s keep that pace and LSS and, if you are able, please support the show by joining Patreon or, if you prefer to keep me caffeinated and toasty warm, Buy Me a Coffee. Links to both are below.

The 12th month of 2024 kicks off with a deep cut from the Vault of Silliness. A DBG from December 7th, 1991. Pearl Harbor Day.

I have titled this: Scratching that Winter Itch

We begin with the much beloved DBG Theme. Joining us to play the game are the composers of said theme:

Linda Chase and Dave Currier

We add…

Mike from Marshfield

Ernie in Dorchester

Glen from Salem

Joan from Brockton

Tony producing and on the phone from MC

And Jack Harte

Bdays with all the SFX:

Larry Bird oh, but wait…

Eli Wallach

Ellen Burstyn

Johnny Bench

We jump to 12/9 for

Donny Osmond

Kirk Douglas

John Malkovich

And Beau Bridges

Santa’s sack filled with Commercials:

NH State Liquor Stores

Children’s Hospital Auction promo voiced by Peter Meade

Gold Bond w/Patrick Palladino

Silver Restaurant Supply & Equipment Company

Riopan Plus 2 w/Willard Scott

The United Way

Nunsense at the Charles Playhouse

And Parker Insignia Pens

There’s a Post-Game Call from Vivian

And since it’s the season of giving I included both the ABC and WBZ Newscasts. There’s an interesting poll that’s talked about in the ABC Broadcast.

After the news its back to Norm with A Special Show Open by Linda and Dave!

Wrapping it all up is a heartwarming call from Hal in NY

Ep 212, Scratching that Winter Itch, flakes its way to your ears…now.

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Let’s begin this Thanksgiving Week Episode with a greeting to a new country to appear in the analytics…Ola, Portugal!

We have a show here that has all the fixings! Dinner AND dessert, if you will. TWO DBG’s from November 26th & 27th, 1994.

The ever so clever title if I do say so myself is: Stuffed with Silliness. 

My old pal Brian McKinley was producing for both.

Dinnertime players for November 26th:

DeeDee

James in Thompson, CT

Priscilla from Salem

Ken in Waltham

Brian McKinley producing and playing in studio

And Jack Harte

Bdays:

Charles M. Schulz

Robert Goulet

Tina Turner

John McVie

Rich Little

And Jan Stenerud

Two Dates in History questions!

In what year did Casablanca have its NY World Premiere?

And in what year did horsedrawn, public streetcar service begin in NY City?

Dessert players for November 27th:

Glenn from Brighton

Melissa in the S. End

John from Plimpton

Marilyn in Freemont, NH

Brian McKinley producing and playing in studio again

And Ken Newman in Traffic

Bdays:

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg

Jane Kennedy

Eddie Rabbit

Robin Givens

David Merrick

Gail Sheehy

And Buffalo Bob Smith

A Date in History!

In what year was Curtis Brady given the first permit to operate a motor vehicle in Central Park?

Ep 211, Stuffed with Silliness, bastes its way to your ears in 3,2 and 1.

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Let us venture back to November 20th, 1992, for a really, super fun SMQ. This one goes so far back that it wasn’t even called the SMQ yet! It’s simply referred to as the Music Quiz, The Wild Music Quiz Game, The Dumb Music Game and The Wild Music Thang.

That last one gives us our title too.

Ric Duarte was producing

Once the game gets rolling the questions from the callers are excellent

The Panel:

Norm Nathan

Tony Nesbitt

Ed Mullen

Jack Harte

And two special guests for hour 2 that you’ll just have to stay tuned for to find out!

Ed explains the rules.

Categories:

Rock

Jazz and Big Bands

Please hold your applause until I’ve completed the list of Callers:

Ted from Norton

Arnold in Winthrop

John from Milton

Mary in Quincy

Bill from Plymouth

Barry in Boston

Joe the Baker

Jim in his car

Patrick from Lexington, VA

Bill in PA

Kevin from Swampscott or maybe not

Bob in Fitchburg

Jason in NH

Bill from Raynham

Kevin in Swampscott

Frank from Winthrop

Evelyn in PA

Claire from Natick

Fred in ME

Andrew from NH

April on the Cape

Tammy in Toronto Canada…or not

Tom from Stoneham

Rich in Avon

Helen….no its Frank from Brockton

Al in Worcester

Pat from Middletown, OH

Jodie in MD

Tracy from Worcester

Jack in Natick

Paul from Haverhill

Jack in Framingham

John from Bradford

Maryann in Philly

Bob from Peabody

Jerry in Batavia, IL

Marion from Lexington

And Joan in Melrose

Partial Commercials sprinkled throughout:

Hilltop Steakhouse with Tommy Heinsohn

WBZ News Promo voiced by Gary Lapierre

Staples Super Bowl Moments voiced by Gil Santos

Ovaltine

Gold Bond

And Baby Gold Bond

Ep 210, The Wild Music Thang, spins its way to your ears…now.

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Welcome back for Episode 209 of NNVoS.

I have a confession to make. I do believe last week’s episode was misdated as today’s show is almost an exact copy only 2 years later!

It’s a DBG from November 23rd, 1995. Last week had the same info but was dated the 22nd.

But like a Broadway show, the understudy’s and new audience keeps it fresh and that applies here. And our title is: History Repeats Itself.

Here’s my standard reminder to keep LSS and to please consider supporting the show through Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee and Castos. Fred and Gladys have kept the java flowing and I thank them.

To make things just so darn easy, all the links are included in the description box.

Let us begin with Jack Harte and a Thanksgiving Day Traffic Report with the sponsor being the Christmas Tree Shops.

Players:

Jack

Producing and playing in studio for the first time: Michael Cannon

Scott from Shirley

Michael in Newmarket, NH

And Jack from Revere

Bdays:

Norm’s mom was born in Haverhill back in 19 ott 3.

According to Norm, there weren't any other notable bdays so we play...The Dumb Dates Game!

In what year…

Did first Jukebox made its debut at the Palais Royale Saloon?

Did Enrico Caruso made his American debut at the NY Met in Rigoletto?

Was the first edition of Life magazine published?

What was considered the first play-by-play football broadcast occur? 

And in what year did the musical Fiorello open on Broadway?

Hang on now...we have a bday.

Jerry Bock

Ep 209, History Repeats Itself, rewinds its way to your ears in 3, 2 and 1.

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Whilst scouring the Vault I discovered at least 20 remaining cassettes covering November. Oddly, though they are all dated from the 20th and beyond. Doesn’t matter what year. Nothing from the earlier parts of the month.

I will have to check again but I think I saw one entire night covered from start to finish. I am toying with the idea of airing that in weekly installments, but it will most likely have to wait until next year.

We have ourselves a DBG from November 22nd, 1993. The title of which shall be… “PUN-kin Pie.”

Players:

Joan

Pat

Maryann

Fred

Mike Epstein producing and playing in studio

John Kelly producing and playing in studio

And Jack Harte in Traffic

Bdays:

Norms’ mom’s bday!

Louis Tiant

Jerry Bock

And Susan Anspach

Then we get three “In what year…”

…was the first jukebox was installed in the Palais Royale Hotel & Saloon in San Francisco? Devised by Louis Glass, it was made of an Edison tin foil phonograph with 4 listening tubes and a coin slot for each tube. It cost 5 cents for a couple of mins of music

Did the first issue of Life Magazine hit the stands?

And in what year did Enrico Caruso made his American debut at the Met in NYC in Rigoletto? 

Ep 208, PUN-kin Pie, slices its way to your ears…now.

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For today’s episode only let me Velcome you to NNVoScariness!

On this, the 28th anniversary on Norm’s passing, let’s not be sad but enjoy this frightfully good Halloween themed broadcast.

We have a NNS from October 28th and 29th, 1995 the title of which shall be: Found Treasures!

It all begins with a Show Open and then Norm talks about the upcoming guests. The second guest, Laurie Jacobson, author of Hollywood Haunted: A Ghostly Tour of Filmland was not on this tape. However, we get one of my favorite annual October guests, Robert Ellis “Bob” Cahill whose latest book was New England Pirates and Lost Treasures. It’s his 14th or 17th 0r 20th book about offbeat, weird and creepy New England. 

Part two, if you will, of our ghostly good time, after the excellent Cahill interview, we are treated to some terrifying tales and sinister songs from an Old-Time Radio program that was broadcast on, I believe, WJUL 1230 AM which was based in Lowell back then. It’s call letters are now used for a station in Hiawassee, GA.

You will feast on one of the creepiest songs I’d never heard…The Hearse Song. Then we get 2 stories. I’m not sure of the titles but I’m going with: I Am Shadow and Me Tie Dodie Walker.

Next is another sing-a-long: The King Kong Stomp

And we close it out with two more stories: Monsters on the Prairie and The Haunting Hour with what I believe the titlewas If the Shoe Fits. Insert asterisk because we have an inadvertent cliffhanger as the tape ran out. A note written on the cassette says there may be another tape with the conclusion but, in keeping with the season, it remains a mystery!

Ep 207, Found Treasures, digs its way to your ears in 3,2 & 1.

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