Norm Nathan's Vault of Silliness with Tony Nesbitt

I see you’ve returned to the plush but not overly ostentatious Norm Nathan Vault of Silliness.

Thank you just so darn much for doing so.

This episode hails from February 11th, 1995 and, because it’s Valentine’s Day Weekend I have titled it:

Norman’s Assorted Radio Sampler.

We begin with a Ken Neuman traffic report which is sponsored by Powder Mills Sports Center in Maynard

Then a promo for the David Brudnoy Show voiced by Michael Coleman 

The show briefly picks up with an interview Norm is doing with Norman Donaldson, author of “How Did They Die?” 

There’s a call from Joan talking about Steve Leveille and that WHAM in Rochester, NY needs him.

We hear Jack doing his best Bob Raleigh impression on a CitiBank Mortgage commercial.

Gary Lapierre and his commentary on a recent snowstorm.

Two Jack Harte sponsor reads.

It’s on to a Norm Show Open and some callers.

Fred – Norm bashing obnoxious Ovaltine commercials and that management and sales doesn’t listen so he’ll keep doing it.

Feline ear mites?

He inquires about natural plant pesticides and Norm brings on the recent guests, Dr. Robert Richard Smith & Mark Abrahams, authors of “The Annals of Improbable Research,” who give Fred some advice.

Fred the reveals some of his own improbable research…Disclaimer: Don’t try this at home!

Ruth Clennott informs Norm that Michelle Pfeiffer, Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year at the time, will be in town with her husband, David Kelly and visiting his parents in Belmont.

Norm and Ruth hatch a plan for Norm to camp out in the lobby of the hotel they’re staying at or get a job at the hotel coffee shop. Maybe even disguise himself as the doorman.

Ruth moves on to the Miss USA pageant and a biting critique of the judges ensues which then leads to Norm considering doing a program about “People You Don’t Understand How They Got Where They Are.”

I wander into the studio and join the fun.

By the end of the call the radio waves are getting steamy between Norm and Ruth.

I get to tease the upcoming guests:

Husband and Wife Authors of the book “2002 Ways to say I Love You”

Coolidge Corner Theater – will be having their 24hr Science Fiction Marathon

Marcia McCreadie – “Women Who Write the Movies”

For your dining and dancing pleasure we hear another Show Open and more calls.

Joan – And Norm talks about shopping with Frank Avruch for suits!

Penny who Norm tempts to run away with him to teach him the tango.

Edna, who’s running around with all sorts of men.

Now, ladies and gentlemen…Side B

Norm ends a call and then we hear from Virginia. 

We take a short break as Jack does a sponsor read for Riopan

Norm teases the weekend’s guests again but with more details!

Did you say more calls please? Well, we aims to please here.

Stacy suffering from Norm and Norma confusion. 

Les on a car phone talking about Norm doing a voice over for him in the 70’s for a dramatic Fire Safety video.

Another Stacy that mentions some nuttiness between Jack and I that had him laughing hard.

Our friend, Helene from Belmont with talk about old time radio.

Ted and Norm talk WHDH, The Cloud Club and Norm graces us with the history of Sounds in the Night.

Norm sings before talking with Mike in Cambridge

Let’s pause and bow our heads to Baby Gold Bond with Ann George from Philadelphia, PA

We are entertained by Accuwx w/Alex Sosnowski which leads to Norm scatting over the show open. 

And we close with a call from Warren who’s back from Poland and shares his experiences. 

Episode 73, Norman’s Assorted Radio Sampler, is unwrapped and ready for consumption.

[email protected]

Thanks for joining us again for Norm Nathan’s Vault of Silliness.

I hope our YouTube issues have been revolved and this episode is showing up on time.

As the month of February is short so is our supply of February dates in the Vault.

On tap today is a DBG from February 6th, 1993.

I have titled this one: Your Cheating Harte?

It starts off with that infectious Norm chortle as he briefly loses it after mentioning the requirements or lack thereof, for playing the game.

The line-up of players is as follows:

Helen – and love is in the air

The cheery and chipper Maryanne in PA

The lovely voiced Kim from South Portland, ME

The short-lived Bruce in Boston and Norm offers a quick prayer

I’m producing and in studio and recently passed the producers exam and just may be certified for an executive postion.

Jack Harte in Traffic and Dr. Norm diagnoses him with a terminal illness and later offers fatherly advice.

Before we get to the birthday’s we have a couple of ‘shout-outs,’ one of which is, ahem…unforgettable.

The birthday honorees…

Ronald Reagan

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Rip Torn

Tom Brokaw

Natalie Cole

Axl Rose

Mike Farrell

Fabian Forté – Tony: “What’s his strong point?”

(Norm provides what I think is one of his best lines ever regarding Fabian. You won’t want to miss that).

And Michael Tucker 

Norm closes out the program with a riveting story about some construction near the John Hancock Tower in Boston.

Our beloved sponsors are:

Ovaltine

Baby Gold Bond with Roberta Motts of St. John’s MI

WBZ StormCenter brought to you by Jordan’s Furniture and Texaco Anti-freeze//Coolant.

Please like, subscribe and share!

Episode 72, Your Cheating Harte? begins now.

Norm Nathan’s Vault of Silliness brings the final weekend of my least favorite month of the year, January, to a close with an auditory gem from January 28th & 30th, 1996.

The title of this one will be: A Winter Garden of Glorious Guests!

We begin with a Show Open and Norm asks news anchor, Bob Ames, about the Superbowl.

We move on to some excellent guests booked by yours truly.

Guest #1

Harry Carey Jr. who wrote “Company of Heroes: My Life as an Actor in the John Ford Stock Company.” 

Guest #2

Bud Greenspan – Olympic Historian and author of “100 Greatest Moments in Olympic History” – an absolutely fascinating man that will have you riveted to your audio streaming devices.

The interview continues on Side B of our well-preserved cassette.

Norm and Bud really enjoyed talking to each other and Bud is looking forward to being on again. I always thought Norm had such a way with interviews. He asked more than those standard questions that were included with the press materials. The guests truly enjoyed it. You could hear it in their voices.

And, off the air, when I would speak to them to thank them, they would often comment about it.

OK, let’s take a call!

The wonderful Billy Clyde is on the line and agrees with Norm’s personal assessment. They discuss snow in Middleton, radio host Barry Farber, sneaking into events because of a guest we had on, Scott Kerman who wrote “All Sold Out: How to Sneak into Sporting Events and Concerts.” He had sneaked into the 5 Superbowl’s and was going to update us if he got into the latest.

Guest #3

Francis Essex who’s written a play called ‘Jolson.’

It was getting rave reviews at the Victoria Palace in London, England.

We reach him at his home on the south coast of Spain and he and Norm talk everything Al Jolson, the good and the bad, as well as the cast and all that went in to putting the show together.

Such an enjoyable interview and he takes calls: Anne in Lexington and then Joan in Deep River, 130 miles NW of Ottawa, Canada but originally a Londoner. Hearing Francis talk about the theater scene in London has made her homesick. Joan shares some sweet memories. 

Episode 71, A Winter Garden of Glorious Guests is ready to roll.

Email the show: [email protected]

Welcome back for another episode of Norm Nathan’s VoS.

Number 70 to be exact.

A DBG from January 20th, 1996 is on tap today.

Let’s call this one: Jovial Jocular January Jesters

It begins with some entertaining banter between Norm, producer Ed LeClair and Jack Harte.

Subjects include: Angry radio hosts, Norm’s contract/job description, Seasonal Affective Disorder, rickets and the mummified remains of former broadcasters.

Additional players are:

Don in Middleton with a lovely thought for the day

Our dear friend Norma from the North End

Russ in Peabody

And Wes from Hampton, NH

Bdays:

George Burns

Ray Anthony

Arte Johnson

Lorenzo Lamas

Slim Whitman

Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin

Patricia Neal

Shelly Fabares

Event:

What year did The U.S. Senate approved an agreement to lease Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as a Naval Base?

Episode 70, Jovial Jocular January Jesters, begins now.

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We return this week with a DBG from January 11th, 1992.

This one will be titled: Pun for the Hills!

If you’re playing the home version, make sure your pencils are sharpened as there are a lot of them to keep up with!

The show is off to an auspicious start as Norm forgets to do something very important but then, thankfully, rights that wrong and avoids what could have been…crushing disappointment. 

The game begins with a very special open by Big Stretch and the N Billerica Rhythm Aces or was it Tailfin and the Hubcaps?

Stay tuned to find out.

The illustrious list of players:

Debbie from Wellesley who is playing for the first time!

Joe from S. Boston who is also a first timer

Ruth Clennott

Joe the Barber-Baker

I’m on the phone

Mike Epstein is producing and playing in studio

And Jack Harte in traffic

The puntastic birthdays and dates in history:

Ben Crenshaw

Naomi Judd

Grant Tinker

Rod Taylor

A very special bonus birthday 

History dates:

What year did the American League adopt the DH rule?

And in what year did the U.S. Surgeon General, Luther Terry, issue the first government report that smoking may be hazardous to your health?

We are required to dip into the coming week for one more birthday:

January 14th, 1992

Andy Rooney

Before we say goodbye, Ruth has some breaking news and then we elope, ever so romantically, from Chelsea to Providence. 

Thanks to our sponsors:

Forever Plaid

Kid Company

And Wachusett Mountain 

EP 69 – Pun for the Hills! Begins in 3, 2 annnnnnnnd 1.

To inquire about/purchase a copy of my book, ‘Bows on Bears and Ties on Tigers,’ please email me at [email protected]

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Hello and Happy New Year to all of you.

Before I give you the details of today’s broadcast let me take a moment to wish Norm a belated Happy Birthday. He would have turned 95 back on December 20th.

Thank you for your patience as I convalesced from the Covidronacroninator. I’m feeling much better and Norm Nathan’s Vault of Silliness is ready to kick off 2022 with…the episode I was in the middle of writing and editing that was to air back on December, 17th.

This originally aired on December 16th, and I believe the 17th of 1995. There’s some miscellaneous content too but I believe it was all from the same weekend.

I have titled it: The Cockamamie Christmas Punch His Lights Out Show.

Have fun listening to find out why.

There’s so much going on here…

We begin with a Jack Harte holiday celebrations traffic report and then on to the Show Open.

Norm gives the line-up of guests coming up that weekend including Nancy Sinatra. I do hope that interview is here in the Vault somewhere as it was not included on this tape.

Norm mentions he will be filling in for David Brudnoy from 7p – midnight on Christmas Night! ANNNNND he will in for Neil Chayet on New Year’s Eve beginning at 9 and will be on all through the night! 

Callers:

The always entertaining Helene from Belmont

We drive on over to our next subject: The dedication of the Ted Williams Tunnel.

This leads to a discussion of other celebs who’ve had things named after them and I reveal what my choice is if the powers that be wanted to name something after moi.

Now hang on as now the fun really begins as Norm and I talk about a magical night when this completely ad-libbed, off-the-cuff, perfectly timed production took place: The Toilet Dedication!

After that there’s a brief, partial call that turns us on.

Norm tells a story of scraping ice off a windshield during a double date.

There’s a recollection of when Ed Mullen (the SMQuizMaster) proposed to his girlfriend on the air.

We then take a call from Jeff who just may have pulled the taffeta over our eyes.

And now comes Norm’s rant about David Brudnoy’s quarterly Libertarian Panel Show, which, by the way, David would always dedicate to Norm.

Back to the calls!

Johnny in Boston who was recently on the Jerry Springer Show doing his Psychic Elvis act.

Bob from Framingham who’s celebrating his 1st wedding anniversary

Fred on the line talking about Mason Adams and we get Norm’s fantastic impression.

An upcut call with Margarite talking about Norm’s Mom and Dad.

Side B: 

Starts right off with a caller named Joan

Then a very brief call with Jeff who must’ve asked about Robert from Everett because we drop in some Robert laughs. 

Another quick call from one of our regulars, Kristin from Dorchester. Norm asks her to do the Station ID and she delivers.

June with some talk about Jack Harte, Moneen Daly, Ed Leclair and his fiancé Elizabeth and Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer?

The Libertarian Panel talk returns and Norm’s riled up again!

Leuellen closes out the calls here as we move to one of our ‘Game Guests,’ Jeff Pinsker. We get to have some fun as he and the callers play one of his latest games.

Kathy in Lynn

Mary in Quincy

Leeanne from Blackstone

Paul from Somerville

Faye in Somerville

Wally from Brockton

We hear yet another Norm Show Open courtesy of Dave Currier and Linda Chase.

More Calls and guests!

Fred…talking all sorts of stuff including some relationship trouble

Sally in Plymouth – Her cat was on HBO’s Tales from the Crypt. Sally calls him Kitty but his union card reads Gypsy Ford.

Arlene…tells Norm about a WBZ co-worker’s crazy dream?!

Now we cut to…

Guests Lucy ‘Princess Cheyenne’ Johnson with another lovely lady, Montana who dance at a club in Tyngsboro called ‘Matthew’s’

Robert from Everett calls with some memories and he and Norm and the guests have a completely NORMAL conversation.

Norm mentions Lili St. Cyr whose act was getting dressed on stage!

Norm has some high PRAISE for Robert as it seems he was trying to cut down on drinking and smoking and now makes more sense when he calls.

Kevin from Bellingham

Mark in Framingham in need of love advice

And we close with Bob from Marblehead with a story and then the conversation gets deep and philosophical.

Episode 68 - The Cockamamie Christmas Punch His Lights Out Show – FINALLY, begins now!

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Hello listeners, subscribers, fans and everybody in the Teen Canteen.

I apologize for not reaching out sooner but, in the immortal words from the band Disturbed, I was, “Down with the Sickness.”

That’s right. I had the thing.

Now I don’t know if it was the Omni Magazine, JetBlue, Lambda Lambda Lambda (Tri-Lambs) or the original, rich, chocolatey CocoRona version. What I do know is it knocked me on my arse.

I had episodes all laid out for the weeks that have passed so I may still finish those and slowly get caught up. Because the lasting fatigue and headaches are still a real pain, just hang in there with me and look for those alerts when new shows are up and running.

Thank you all for a being here and enjoying Norm Nathan’s Vault of Silliness. Talk to you all soon.

The Vault of Silliness has offered forth show highlights from December 10th and 11th, 1994.

This episode is titled “Where’s the Beef?"

And you’ll know why when I tell you about the guests.

It starts off with a caller talking to Norm about weather reports.

Norm goes off on a rant and has a particular place where TV anchors with poor adlibs can go.

We then enjoy a Norm Show Open.

Let me take a moment to acknowledge the comments I’ve received on Google Podcasts. Thank you and to answer the latest question, I will plan a show where I play all the show opens as a treat for us all.

After the Open there’s zero reaction from the Teen Canteen. I mean crickets.

Our first guest was Barnaby Conrad.

He was an artist, bullfighter, nightclub/restaurant/saloonkeeper back in the 50’s and 60’s and author of many books but at the time his latest was ‘Name Dropping: Tales from My Barbary Coast Saloon.’

The tape skips to the interview in progress

Norm just scratches the surface with Barnaby but some of the names that are dropped are John Steinbeck, Bing Crosby and Lenny Bruce.

He was also co-director and founder of the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference and, at the time, writing his 26th book.

We get an brief respite and Jack Harte tell us all about the latest boxing card at Foxwoods.

Our next guest was…well, I don’t know his name.

Norm’s intro isn’t included nor is the last part where he would thank the guest.

It doesn’t take away from the enjoyment though!

It’s about how the guest began to raise, breed and sell buffalo on his 13,000 acre ranch.

It’s an interview filled with interesting info including cooking prep!

Now we move on to some callers:

Laurie armed with a variety of subjects and for whom Norm gives an assignment.

Judy with a call in progress

And Darrell from Boston

Before Norm signs off for the night we get an Accux forecast with a live field check!

Get ready for the COW-ntdown for Ep 67, “Where’s the Beef?”

Here we are for the first episode of the last month of 2021.

Oh, mighty Vault of Silliness, what have you for us today?

It’s a DBG from December 5th, 1992.

The title of this bit of radio insanity is “Assumed Names.”

More on that later.

Norm gives a great intro to the game informing us of its worldwide appeal.

In addition to visits from Arthur Godfrey and Lionel Barrymore we are treated to a couple of tales from Norm’s storied career in radio.

One even includes a full-on re-enactment!

Our sponsors:

Classic Ovaltine

Lou Innis of Chicago, IL and his watch allergy for which Gold Bond Medicated Powder provided soothing relief

First Night ’93 Promo

And Norm reads one for WBZ and the National Safety Council

The cast of characters for the game are as follows:

Ron in Bellingham

Barbara from Quebec

Wolfie – loaded with howlingly poor jokes

Debbie in Wellesley back from a date to iHop

I’m in producing and in studio

Jack in Traffic

Wolfie wastes no time saying inane things and Norm says if he wanted that he could have had Robert or Greg the Squirrel Man on.

Then we chat about peak/flow meters, toys from the dentist and Norm regales us with the great prizes he would get from his barber including medical devices.

Other prizes allowed Norm to work magic with his scale model creations.

Birthdays:

Little Richard

Calvin Trillin

Morgan Brittany – now if you thought the show wasn’t already off the rails, this birthday is the genesis for the title of the episode.

It also begins a hilarious contestant revolt against Wolfie.

Continuing with the birthdays

Jim Messina

Chad Mitchell…maybe not.

Kim Basinger – this one reveals Debbie’s true motives as to why she has never heard of most of the celebs…and it’s a personal one.

Beau Bridges

And Kirk Douglas

Get ready to laugh. Episode 66, “Assumed Names” begins now.