Bob and Ray WOR 012 March 28, 1973

BNRToast

 Leaving New York on the Hummingbird Express train to Seattle. Wednesday, 03/28/73  The TEAC Reel to Reel deck ran into a problem during the transcription of this tape. The tape tension motor speeds on the model A-4010S are controlled by internal resistor sliders. One of the slider contact points became loose and caused the let-out motor speed to fluctuate which resulted in intermittent voice distortion on the digitized file. Thus producing a file worthy of this venue.  There are three separate known recordings of the March 1973 episodes. The tape used here is marked Phil C. The other two tapes do not list any recording information. As always, if you know the original taper or information about the show, please post the information in the forum. 0:00  In the absence of Bob & Ray, the show is opened by Webley Webster (Ray); he is joined by preeminent broadcaster Wally Ballou (Bob), who was considering running for mayor of New York at the time.  When Bob & Ray show up, Bob admonishes Wally for inviting Webley to join him and "hoist a couple", fearing that such talk might negatively impact his campaign. 1:05  Ray introduces the show, then Bob and Ray do a 'this date in history' feature, discussing President Andrew Jackson's 1834 censure by the U.S. Senate.  The censure was expunged in 1837 by Jackson supporters led by Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, who sounds like a Bob & Ray character himself.  According to Wikipedia, Benton, "though he had once shot Jackson in a street fight, eventually became an ardent supporter of the president". Bob then mentions the beginning of the daffodil festival in Sumner, Washington.  Despite his statement that the festival began in 1948, it actually began in 1926, and continues annually to this day. 2:25  A very literate radio engineer (Ray) shows up to check the microphones.  Of course, any student of 17th and 18th century poetry will recognize the unidentified "Then sing, ye birds" at 4:30 as William Wordsworth's 'Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood'.  At 5:00, Bob raves over his new earphones. 5:30  Webley returns, and Bob queries him about his dramatizations of novels, and their inevitable inclusion of Captain Wolf Larsen from Jack London's 'The Sea Wolf'. 7:15  Household tips from a member of the audience (Ray), who has many interesting facts to share. 9:15  Ray does a remarkable non-impression of Doris Day, followed by more interesting facts from the audience member. 10:30  Claude and Clyde, the McBeeBee twins, are discussed; they show up and talk about their music career, their ice cream wagon career, and their recent ill-advised purchase, which they try to unload on the afore-mentioned audience member. 16:55  An episode of Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife, with very wobbly sound in Word Carr's introduction and closing.  The gang is in Greg Marlowe's compartment on the Hummingbird Express, heading west to Seattle, where Greg's play 'Westchester Furioso'* will open.  Greg tries to arrange dinner alone with Mary, with whom he is secretly in love. * Westchester: A comparatively sleepy county extending north from New York City. * Furioso (Italian origin): A passage or piece to be performed in a frantically rushing manner. 21:10  An audience member (Ray), rather than paying attention to the show, is busily memorizing the Manhattan phone directory. 23:05  After Wilbur Conley, the young squirt who works for Bob and Ray, delivers the mail, they then read letters from listeners and discuss their work on The Today Show in the 1950s (as the wobbly sound returns). Annotated by Harry Wilson

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

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