Episodes
Friday Oct 10, 2008
Komedy Kingdom, Pgm 1
Friday Oct 10, 2008
Friday Oct 10, 2008
"Komedy Kingdom" was produced by Transco in 1937 using many of the performers and material used on "The Blue Monday Jamboree", a program running locally on KFRC in San Francisco, and later on CBS and Mutual-Don Lee, from 1927 to the mid-1930s.
In Program 1 in the series, titled "Royalty", comedian Joe Blow tries out for the position of Court Jester. The Rhythmettes perform "The Queen Was in the Parlor," Broader and MacDonald sing "The India Rubber Man," and "Love is King" is sung by Tony Romano. The First Generation Radio Archives has assembled a wonderful restored collection of the programs and has a detailed web page about the series. This MP3 was transferred directly from a blue shellac Transco disc from my collection. It hasn't gone through the CEDAR audio restoration process done on the First Generation Radio Archives set - so, if you enjoy the series, I encourage you to buy the CD set they're offering of the series.Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 24
Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Thursday Sep 04, 2008
Comedians Gill and Doemling highlight "Nonsense and Melody", a breezy little comedy variety show produced by Transco in 1935-36. We pick up this week with episode 24 in the series. Jean's having a party at her hotel as the troupe visits Venice, so we get lots of jokes about canals in the comedy sketch portion of the show. Songs include "If I Had a Million Dollars and You" (with interesting Hawaiian slide guitar backing) and "Cherry Berry Bin" done as a gondolier song. The Jack Tars perform "Be Still My Heart".
Transferred from an original red vinyl Bruce Eells and Associates vinyl transcription. Apologies for the "crackle" in the last four or five minutes of the show from some damage around the perimeter of the disc. More episodes in the series will follow in the coming weeks.Friday Aug 08, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 23
Friday Aug 08, 2008
Friday Aug 08, 2008
We turn once again to the Transco syndicated musical comedy show, "Nonsense and Melody", featuring Gill and Doemling from 1935-36. We last left the series with episode 20 a few weeks ago in the blog and I'm missing the disc containing show numbers 21 and 22. So, picking up with episode 23 in this post, the cast is in Rome. Jean Cowan sings a song about "rock and roll". (No, it's not about some obscure forerunner to Elvis Presley or Little Richard - it's about the "Rocking Rhythm of the Sea".) The accordion player takes a turn and the Three Jack Tars do "Okay Toots". The comedy sketch is about Ceasar and Brutus.
The program was transferred directly from an original red vinyl Bruce Eells and Associates transcription probably pressed in the 1940s. I've got nine more episodes in the series that will be posted in the coming weeks.Wednesday Jul 02, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 20
Wednesday Jul 02, 2008
Wednesday Jul 02, 2008
Comedians Gill and Doemling play host to another episode of the Transco syndicated musical comedy show, "Nonsense and Melody", originally recorded in 1935-36. The program was transferred directly from an original red vinyl Bruce Eells and Associates transcription probably pressed in the 1940s.
Jean Cowan sings "That's College Rhythm"; the accordion soloist performs a tune; the orchestra runs through "Shiek of Araby" and we hear a comedy sketch about a tour of the pyramids where the Three Jack Tars sing a yodel song.Wednesday Jul 02, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 19
Wednesday Jul 02, 2008
Wednesday Jul 02, 2008
Once again, we dive into a couple of episodes of "Nonsense and Melody", a Transco syndicated program from circa 1935-36 featuring comedians Gill and Doemling on a ship taking a world cruise. The show is transferred from a red vinyl Bruce Eells and Associates transcription probably pressed in the 1940s.
In program 19, the ship is headed for Egypt. Charlie Wellman sings "Alabamy Bound" in an interesting style that sounds like a cross between Al Jolson and Rudy Valee; the orchestra plays "Bugle Call Rag"; Jean Cowan sings "Mr and Mrs is the Name" and the Jack Tars do a fun rendition of "Cross Eyed Kelly". The comedy sketch is on Cleopatra and Marc Anthony.Saturday Jun 07, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 18
Saturday Jun 07, 2008
Saturday Jun 07, 2008
Note: This episode of the series may be objectionable to some listeners because of racial stereotyping themes. Gill and Doemling play host to another episode in the Transco series "Nonsense and Melody" from circa 1935-36. The show takes place on board a ship going on a world cruise. A comedy sketch about the "old South" and the Kentucky Derby takes up most of the run time of program 18. Songs include "Fifi" by our female vocalist and the Jack Tars sing "Twenty Four Hours in Georgia".
More shows in this series are on the way; all are transferred directly from red vinyl pressings distributed by Bruce Eels and Associates.Saturday Jun 07, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 17
Saturday Jun 07, 2008
Saturday Jun 07, 2008
Once again we join comedians Gill and Doemling in another episode of this Transco syndicated series dating from circa 1935-36 that takes place on board a ship on a world tour.
The ship appears to be in between ports in program 17, with the bulk of the program taken up by a show on board the ship. Jean Collin sings "Pop Goes Your Heart", Billy Edwards on harmonica gives us his rendition of "The Farewell Blues", the orchestra gives us "I Never Had a Chance", and the vocal group the Jack Tars sing "There's a Tavern in the Town". Gill and Doemling do a sketch called "Nervous Norman's Last Stand" about a life insurance salesman annoying a businessman.Friday May 16, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 16
Friday May 16, 2008
Friday May 16, 2008
More "Nonsense and Melody" from comedians Gill and Doemling and the rest of the cast in this Transco produced syndicated series from 1935-36. The traveling troupe is in Madrid, so, of course, we pay a visit to the bullfights. The male vocal group performs a great novelty tune, "Little Hillbilly Willy".
More shows in this series are on the way in coming weeks.Friday May 16, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 15
Friday May 16, 2008
Friday May 16, 2008
Another entry in the early 1930s musical comedy series, "Nonsense and Melody", originally produced by Transco and featuring comedians Gill and Doemling. Songs include "Congratulate Me", a fun accordion tune and "Lady of Spain"; comedy features a sketch about Queen Isabella and Columbus.
If anyone has additional info on cast members of individual shows in the series, feel free to leave comments.Monday Apr 21, 2008
Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 12
Monday Apr 21, 2008
Monday Apr 21, 2008
Another offering in the 1930's Transco syndicated series, "Nonsense and Melody" featuring comedians Gill and Doemling. Program 12 in the series continues a visit to Paris. The vocal group sings "In a Park in Paris in the Spring" and there's a comedy sketch about Napoleon. The female vocalist sings "No, No Baby, Don't You Do That to Me".