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Wonga Birthday, J. $ Marathon, Welles Does Verne & Oboler Takes On Bigotry.

by gregbell 6/22/2008 6:21:00 PM

This is a great week folks!!!

Phil Harris' was born 104 years ago on Tuesday, so I'm playing back to back episodes of Phil Harris & Alice Faye and then back to back Jack Benny shows.

Here is Phil and Alice.

Then check them out Phil on Dean Martin's show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2mjU-_PnEE

Another Your Truly, Johnny Dollar Marathon begins on Monday (The Duke Red Matter)

Bob Bailey

Beginning Monday, I will also play an hour plus Mercury Theatre On The Air version of Around The World In 80 Days from October 23rd, 1938 or just one week before the their panic-inducing version of War of the Worlds.

Orson On Mercury Theatre French Author Jules Verne

Finally, be sure to catch this week's episode of Arch Oboler's Plays known as The Family Nagashi. Broadcast just about a month after the end of World War Two, it is

a powerful and brave story of a decorated American soldier of Japanese descent who returns to "The Land of the Free" where his family has been forcibly held in an interment camp. Elliott Lewis stars as the returning G.I.

Arch Oboler with Tommy Cook Elliott Lewis

Currently rated 5.0 by 6 people

Currently 5/5 Stars.
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Tags:

Hitchcock on Radio and The US of A's 232nd Birthday. She doesn't look a day over 201!Jimmy's 100th and "It's Elementary, My Dear Listener"It's Christmas In July All Week - well most of the week!

Comments

6/23/2008 12:06:30 PM

Oh I just love Johnny Dollar and Phil Harris too! I'd like to know how or why, Phil was christened "Wonga".

HGM

6/23/2008 9:53:27 PM

Wonga is his real first name Wonga Philip Harris. I know that his father was a vaudeville musician, maybe the name had some significance to him. Let's put it out there to the folks; does anyone know for sure why he was named Wonga?

Greg.

gregbell

6/23/2008 11:51:33 PM

Hi, Greg! Loved the "Dimension X" episode titled "Veldt" - fascinating! As you may recall, I love Ray Bradbury. I hope you'll do a marathon for him when his 85th birthday comes up in August. I also really enjoy the Johnny Dollar marathons. The one you played last week - "The Girl Who Cried for Help" I believe was the title (or close enough) was especially good. I'm even beginning to become attached to "Gildy" though I still prefer Jack Benny and Burns & Allen.
I take umbrage with you, however, RE: the Nagashi Family story. It was a good story but I felt it was full of propaganda. While it was ashame the Japanese were interred, and I don't condone beating up anyone for any reason, it was war time and, unlike the Germans, the Japanese were people who looked like the enemy. They stood out. I'm NOT against the Japanese but I understand how Americans of that time felt. It's kind of like today when people look at Muslims with fear if they stand out, such as women who, by custom, wear headscarves. They don't see them as people but as members of a group that killed 3000 Americans Sept. 11, 2001.
I understand Mr. Obeler's desire to start the healing process (though I winced at the use of those words - I don't recall the Japanese apologizing for Pearl Harbor even though we apologized for the internment camps). Does this mean I'm prejudiced? I hope not; I don't consider myself that way. I just know reality when I see it. I have a close friend for whom WWII isn't over. I drove a Honda and had to park it on the street rather than his driveway because he still didn't care for the Japanese (I exaggerate the parking of the car but I did it anyway). His wife and I often had lunch at a local Japanese restaurant (it's my favorite food) but he never joined us. He was still hurting from the war and I understand that. He saw friends killed and he served in the Pacific. He was 18 years old and he never thought he'd live to see 19. If you talk to veterans who fought then and there, you may hear the same thing from many (though not all) over and over again.
Anyway, enough of my "lecture." I don't know how to heal after a war or a tragedy like 911. It's not as simple as talking to the enemy...it takes a lot more than that --- on both sides.
Take care and God bless. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! And thanks for listening to my rantings. We probably disagree but I wanted you to know where I stand.

Rosemary E. Lloyd

6/23/2008 11:53:02 PM

WONGA: From the Romany word wanger (coal); "coal" was also used as a slang term for money in England in the 18th and 19th century. So maybe his father gave him a slang name for Money. OK, I am sure that it will be the first on many thoughts on this. Have a great week everyone.

Bill

Bill

6/24/2008 12:05:04 AM

we'd all like to know what possesed Phil's dad to name him wonga i can't find any reference as to why, just that he dropped it 'officially' early in his career.
To be remembered 104 years after your birth by those outside your family Not Bad...

john

6/24/2008 12:23:46 AM

The blog is a great complimentary addition to the programming on 164, Greg. Thanks for the work you do in putting the station's format together. "Old Time Radio" can be something of a calming lifeboat amidst the chaos of the daily news. (I know a bit about the chaos, since I've been a journalist for more than four decades.) Anyway, thanks for the work you do — and I hope you're not caught up in merger purgatory. (I still can't understand how this whole merger deal was allowed to happen. Seems distinctly un-American, un-market-place economics to me, though I claim no economic expertise.)

Glenn Rutherford

Glenn Rutherford

6/24/2008 5:13:48 AM

And a happy birthday to you as well, Greg!--Tomorrow, right?

robin

6/24/2008 6:05:23 AM

God bless Wonga. One of Indiana's favorite sons and one of my favorite comedians. That Alice was a looker too!

Brett Palmquist

6/24/2008 10:46:50 AM

Rosemary. Well said, and very representative of that generation who still have feelings now regarding what was very strong 'then'. It was how things were then.
In listening to other radio shows of that time, if you listen real close, you will hear gleamings of the times. Even on early Jack Benny you can hear 'that's mighty white of you'....... It was the times. No excuse--it just was then and this is now.

Mrs. Miller

6/24/2008 8:00:50 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG, and many More. I hope you have a special birthday tribute for yourself today. The link for Phil on Dean Martin's show is a riot. I loved it. Enjoy your day my friend.

Bill

Bill

6/24/2008 8:28:33 PM

Two comments;

First of all, thanks to all the birthday well-wishers (Robin, Bill, etc). I appreciate it!

Secondly to Rosemary and Mrs. Miller, thank you for your thoughts about the Arch Oboler episode. This is what makes this blog worthwhile when it prompts such discussions.

Greg.

gregbell

6/25/2008 6:12:07 PM

The more I listen to the Phil Harris Show the more I appreciate the chemistry between Phil and Elliott Lewis. Being a huge Jack Benny fan, I was wondering if money or amount of air time was an issue between Phil and Mr. Benny. I am guessing that had Phil wanted to continue on his show and the Benny show he could have done so. Also, I have read interviews with Alice Faye and she gave the impression that working with her husband Phil was no bed of roses. Is that accurate? Thanks for the blog-time.

frank

6/26/2008 1:37:38 AM

Why is it that the volume of the shows is so much lower than all the bumpers and commercials? I love the channel, but sometimes you come out of something screaming. sucks.

carl

6/26/2008 2:21:16 AM

Have you considered joint promotions with a movie channel, like TCM? Your photo of Phil Harris and Alice Faye made me think that it would be great to have a day of Alice Faye radio shows complemented by a day of Alice Faye movies on TCM. People have almost forgotten what a major musical star she was in her day, and her movies are still delightful. This could work with all kinds of cross promotions, like a Dick Tracy radio day paired with a Dick Tracy movie day, or a Roy Rogers radio day paired with a Roy Rogers movie day. I think it'd be a lot of fun.

Lee

Leon Miller

6/26/2008 8:16:02 AM

TCM must have noticed the popularity of old time radio. Recently I have seen a couple Boston Blackie movies, The Saint and The Whistler movie. Maybe I am just tuned in more to the titles, but I loved watching them. Not as good as the radio where your imagination can really work overtime. I just wish there was a website like IMDB for radio. IMDB does mention some old radio shows but just in passing. Would love to have a database to search for all the old stars for radio.

Patty

6/26/2008 7:19:50 PM

I too appreciate the interaction between Harris and Lewis. Were they close off set too? Elliot Lewis was one of the more underrated talents in radio. Very good actor and an even better writer/producer.

Jeff Foreman

6/27/2008 6:13:08 PM

Patty, there is a great database called RadioGOLDINdex at http://www.radiogoldindex.com. It was created by J. David Goldin, and is, pardon the pun, a goldmine of information. It is indexed by program and artist (you scroll down an alphabetical list in each case), and most of the episodes listed have brief descriptions as well as cast and credit lists. It doesn't have absolutely everything, but it's close. It's pretty amazing!

6/27/2008 6:27:18 PM

Happy (belated) birthday, Greg! (And to Wonga/Baloo the bear, as well.)

I finally got to hear the latest Johnny Dollar marathon on the way home from work yesterday, and loved it as much as I'd expected. Keep 'em coming! (Along with all the other great gems you offer up every week.)

Kyle Mc

6/27/2008 11:02:25 PM

i listened to the phill harris tribute

loved it
he was a great star and the cast was also great

any pics of the other cast members

charles

6/28/2008 7:32:53 AM

Greg,
I have been a listener to XM 164 since about 2000. I know most of the shows by heart, but I still love to listen to them. I sometimes feel like I grew up in the wrong generation. Thanks for adding the new shows as you get them. I appreciate your work a great deal.

Bruce

7/2/2008 11:48:48 AM

G
Thanks for the website! It really is a treasure trove of information!

Patty

7/3/2008 9:26:14 PM

LOVE Johnny Dollar wish there were more shows to listen to.

george Gresham

7/15/2008 12:43:29 PM

Really enjoying the Johnny Dollar marathon and I am looking forward to enjoying more of the shows all week along. Having grown up listening to radio in the 40's and 50's I listen to you channel everyday and it brings back mermories long forgotten.
Greg keep up the great work. Thanks for having a place like this that really offers family entertainment.

Rick

7/16/2008 11:47:54 AM

I'm a big fan of the comedies and the Phil Harris Show is one of my favorites. I can listen to him all day. Wonga not only had great chemistry with Elliott Lewis, but the two of them are two-thirds of a fantastic comedic triangle with Walter Tetley, Julius the grocery boy. There are a couple of great clips of Phil Harris on Youtube from his appearances on Dean Martin's TV shows. Really funny stuff. By the way, Bob Bailey is great as Johnny Dollar, but he sure seems pretty thin for such a deep, gravely voice!

Fernando Ruiz

8/5/2008 1:45:02 PM

My thought is that the Phil Harris/Alice Faye would have made an excellent Comedy TV Series..I heard it was discussed at the time but PHil didnt want to work the long hours associated with a regualr TV Series

Tim Lones