Last Saturday night, Vicky and I did a dance performance in front of about 250 people to big band tunes for a 1946 Radio Show. It was a benefit for the local public radio station.
The show consisted of several skits from the radio days of the 1940s, including (the best one actually, and done extremely well) Fibber McGee and Molly. During the skit, of course, Fibber McGee opened his closet, and I heard something I had not heard in many years--everything come crashing out.
I can remember radio shows, listening to them on those happy days I missed school and stayed at home. I would lay on the couch in the living room, since we had but one radio (a console). I don't remember the shows I would listen to. We didn't have TV then. I guess I caught the tail end of an institution, and I'm glad I was able to do that.
For the 1946 Radio Show, as there were for all radio programs, there were 2-3 guys scrambling around the entire thing doing sound effects. They were actually one of the best "acts," although they were not credited as performing an act. Their best sound effect was the closet.
Fibber and McGee and Molly, if you are unaware of them, was I believe one of the longest-running radio shows ever. A measure of its success and popularity is that it ran far into the television era. It was funny, innocent, and always good natured. The actor and actress who portrayed this married couple were, themselves, married.
Remember back in the good ole days when the performers were married couples? George Burns and Gracie Allen? The Nelsons? Nowadays when a married couple performs together it is either only occasionally (Brad and Angelina, Tom and Nicole) or in a reality TV show where the idea is to display the couples' dysfunction (ugh). But it wasn't always so--in the past the married couples put their best foots forward, and were often in marriages that lasted many years (and in the instance of Fibber McGee and Molly, forever).
I know that there were as many problems in the days of radio shows as there are now, but back then it was peoples' good sides that were presented for entertainment. Now it is not so.
Vicky has been dancing about 8 months, although she did a lot of ballet as a child and an adult. She's a natural, though, so has learned quickly. Our part of the performance was to dress in 40s style, and dance the last two numbers played by the band our friends are in--LocoMotion.
When we arrived at the auditorium, we found that the place on stage where we were to dance had an area rug taped down over it. Since we were going to dance East Coast Swing, this presented a formidable challenge, as this dance requires quick turns for the follow. It's a fast dance, and requires a slippery floor. This floor was like velcro.
But we were not daunted. We just did it anyway, losing the beat frequently because the turns couldn't be completed in time. It was a blast.
As we left the auditorium after the radio show, someone stopped us and asked, “are you the dancers?” We're famous now. George Burns and Gracie Allen. Desi and Luzy Arnez. Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. Vicky Cauthorn and Dan Graybill.
The show consisted of several skits from the radio days of the 1940s, including (the best one actually, and done extremely well) Fibber McGee and Molly. During the skit, of course, Fibber McGee opened his closet, and I heard something I had not heard in many years--everything come crashing out.
I can remember radio shows, listening to them on those happy days I missed school and stayed at home. I would lay on the couch in the living room, since we had but one radio (a console). I don't remember the shows I would listen to. We didn't have TV then. I guess I caught the tail end of an institution, and I'm glad I was able to do that.
For the 1946 Radio Show, as there were for all radio programs, there were 2-3 guys scrambling around the entire thing doing sound effects. They were actually one of the best "acts," although they were not credited as performing an act. Their best sound effect was the closet.
Fibber and McGee and Molly, if you are unaware of them, was I believe one of the longest-running radio shows ever. A measure of its success and popularity is that it ran far into the television era. It was funny, innocent, and always good natured. The actor and actress who portrayed this married couple were, themselves, married.
Remember back in the good ole days when the performers were married couples? George Burns and Gracie Allen? The Nelsons? Nowadays when a married couple performs together it is either only occasionally (Brad and Angelina, Tom and Nicole) or in a reality TV show where the idea is to display the couples' dysfunction (ugh). But it wasn't always so--in the past the married couples put their best foots forward, and were often in marriages that lasted many years (and in the instance of Fibber McGee and Molly, forever).
I know that there were as many problems in the days of radio shows as there are now, but back then it was peoples' good sides that were presented for entertainment. Now it is not so.
Vicky has been dancing about 8 months, although she did a lot of ballet as a child and an adult. She's a natural, though, so has learned quickly. Our part of the performance was to dress in 40s style, and dance the last two numbers played by the band our friends are in--LocoMotion.
When we arrived at the auditorium, we found that the place on stage where we were to dance had an area rug taped down over it. Since we were going to dance East Coast Swing, this presented a formidable challenge, as this dance requires quick turns for the follow. It's a fast dance, and requires a slippery floor. This floor was like velcro.
But we were not daunted. We just did it anyway, losing the beat frequently because the turns couldn't be completed in time. It was a blast.
As we left the auditorium after the radio show, someone stopped us and asked, “are you the dancers?” We're famous now. George Burns and Gracie Allen. Desi and Luzy Arnez. Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. Vicky Cauthorn and Dan Graybill.
Dan, great to see you looking dapper in white. Sounds like a fun event.
ReplyDeleteSweet! I must admit I don't remember the radio shows. Your descriptions bring them to life! You look great!
ReplyDelete