Retro Radio Podcast

Vic gets an official letter from the Chicago lodge headquarters notifying him of changes in styles of the official regalia. He makes mental plans of where and how to get this done as Russell and Uncle Fletcher keep him company.

A subpar episode. This episode lacks bite and really isn’t that funny.

Trivia:

* Vic and Russell seem real concerned about Uncle Fletcher sitting on the porch railing.

* In 1909, Uncle Fletcher was in a human pyramid and stood on the

shoulders of Howard Nelson at the Whiteside County Fair while people threw watermelon rinds at him.

* Uncle Fletcher contends that Mis’ Keller made up the expression, “No news is good news.” In reality, the phrase is said to have originated from King James I of England, who allegedly said “No news is better than evil news” (1616).

* It seems pretty apparent that Sade is out of town, although we have no idea where she’s gone.

* Vic uses two nicknames on Russell, George and Harry.

* Vic and Russell seem to think Mis’ Harris is a dressmaker. Vic thinks that Mis’ Keller is an “expert seamstress” but Uncle Fletcher doesn’t seem to want to confirm that information.

* Uncle Fletcher tells the story of Alton N. L. Halter of Dekalb. Passed away while he was awake. Waved goodbye to relatives and then walked to the undertaker’s office on his own two feet. He had practiced dentistry for 58 years but never had a patient. Had a wife named Grace.

–By Jimbo, as found at: The crazy World of Vic and Sade. Visit today for tons of pictures, links, and everything you ever wanted to know about Vic and Sade, but were too afraid to ask.

Plans for the observatory continue, and Cedric is to deliver the telescope today. Meanwhile, Lum tries to instruct Abner on how different, and powerful the observatory telescopes are. Abner is baffled at the science behind it, and is amazed at being able to see millions of miles away.

Lum tries to sound distinguished as he describes his scientific knowledge, but he’s baffled by a lot of it himself. He dreams about discovering planets, and other heavenly bodies.

Lum is even generous enough to name his yet to be discovered planet after Abner. Wonderful world! Abner gets excited at having his planet in the science books, and studied in school rooms everywhere. Will Abner finally take an interest in telescopes now? Cedric arrives, and the telescope turns out to be a far cry from the ones that Lum has described. It even tells fortunes… Oh wait, that’s a horoscope.

Plans for the observatory are drawn up, and the gents are in the store to complain. Abner still wants to hold out for his jumping bean farm. Lum tries to explain the importance of the observatory by demonstrating how an eclipse of the sun works.

Cedric enters to join in with the explanation of solar eclipses, but he has more important information. He wants to join the Army. Though he was turned down earlier, Cedric thinks he may have a shot. The Army needs skilled workers, and has thousands of job openings.

Lum reads, and shares the recruiting pitch, listing the types of skills that are in immediate need. Mechanics, radio and telephone operators, and watch makers are on the list. Does Cedric have any of those skills? Lum is excited over the opportunity, but can’t join due to the age limit.

The literature discussion continues as Gracie tries to dissuade George from taking up that silly cowboy stuff. Meredith Willson enters, speaking cowboy jargon. He tells about a movie he saw. If only the guys could be as into literature as Bill Goodwin. But his ulterior motive is revealed. Gracie thinks the guys need to give ujjp their womanizing ways, and enjoy literature like women do.

Another where the audio is short, and has no ending, sorry.

Captain Canelli gets right to business as he tells us in voiceover about the day in the precinct. A young woman enters to deal with a traffic ticket for leaving her keys in her parked car. The offended woman is assured that that law exists to protect her from having someone steal her car. Captain Canelli is again in voiceover mode to tell about a suicide emergency where a woman is threatening to jump from a ledge.

Ride along with him to the action at the scene. The patrolmen have the scene at the sidewalk secure, and more emergency teams show up. How might the police keep the jumper from hurting herself, or others? Can the Captain talk the woman down, and solve all her problems? Canelli tells in voiceover some of the dangers of standing on a ledge, and the difficulties in attempting a rescue. As the distraught woman begins to open up, and talk about the troubles that drove her to the ledge, the audio stops.

Despite the missing ending, I thought the portrayal of the procedures in dealing with a suicide like this was interesting. In some ways, the same kind of things are still done, talking the person down, being reassuring, offering help without being overly patronize ing, etc. I’m not sure the cops and emergency folks did a perfect job at it, but you could tell the community concern was there for the person in distress.

Clips from a show. Gracie talks Western to George, apparently after he made a spectacle of himself. Maybe she can direct George to take up reading books instead. She gets her literature, and poetry mixed up. Think of the inspiring, or just weird, discussions the two could have if they found common ground with literature.

A special show to be sure. Maybe not the first transatlantic broadcast, but a first, and unique moment for the show.

Lum has left for England, and in a live transatlantic phone call, Lum phones Abner in the Jot ‘Em Down Store. Abner gets confused as to the technology behind the connection. Lum has something important he wants to tell Abner, at the cost of $10 per minute, but the small talk seems to fill up the time.

Listen in, and get the latest gossip from Pine Ridge, and about Lum’s boat ride to England. Is there some kind of mix up with his inheritance? Trouble with the lawyers? Lum’s time is up and he leaves Abner, and us, hanging.

After his night on the mountain to find a spot for building the observatory, Lum complains about his blistered feet. In Lum’s house, Abner helps nurse the blisters, and the gents talk about some of the night’s misadventures.

The gents complain about who has the better idea for an investment. Abner’s jumping bean farm, or Lum’s observatory. Both projects need funding, but neither wants to give in and support the other.

Cedric phones in from the store with a problem, but it doesn’t distract from the argument for long. If Professor Sloane wants the observatory so badly, why doesn’t he chip in, or at least help raise funds? Lum promises to do whatever it takes to back up the professor in his fundraising. Even when it means a dance contest… on his blistered old feet.

Neither Annie, Joe, or Mrs Wigglesworth believe that Bill Corwin is just out fishing. Their worries aren’t the solid evidence that marshal Elmer Slim needs, and he’s relieved Bill’s absence is explained away.

Bill’s bed wasn’t slept in, but what could have happened to prevent him from coming home?

As the marshal drives away, Annie reviews her ideas on the matter with Joe, and the farm hand, Walter. How does it tie in with the cement at the bridge, or the robbery? She figures the boat is connected to Bill’s disappearance, but not for fishing.

Exploring the river, Annie, Joe, and Walter beat the bushes. Leaping lizards, there’s the boat, but no Bill. Still, there’s clues that Bill had been in the boat. The question remains, where is he?

Lum has been cold towards Professor Sloane, but since the new observatory is to be named for him, Lum’s attitude has changed. In the store, Abner helps Lum pack for his trip to find the location to build the observatory. Lum tries to tell Abner the importance of the observatory, and what astronomers do in one.

What is a waxing moon, and what kind of wax do you use for that? Will the moon be in reach at the top of old Piney Mountain, so Lum can wax it? To hike up there, Lum will need some new boots. Maybe he can borrow Cedric’s for the night.

As Lum sets out in his borrowed boots, and carrying his lunch, Abner tells Cedric about his own idea to start a jumping bean farm. Is it a better investment idea than Lum’s observatory?