1st Broadcast 11th July to 22nd August 1992 BBC Radio 4
Dirk Maggs
Dirk Maggs
Mark Brisenden
BBC Radio Light Entertainment BBC Radio 4/2
Something of an event in radio comedy history: a selection of recovered scripts from this 1930s Marx Brothers radio show,
written by Nat Perrin and Arthur Sheekman and first broadcast on the American NBC network, were adapted and performed before modern audiences.
This experiment proved highly successful, and there were 3 series
in total produced.
The last series was six episodes, and is notable as Spike Milligan appears in a couple of the episodes.
Crexton Mansion. In which Flywheel and Ravelli sleep over with a ghost.
Show Recorded on 15th March 1992
First BBC Broadcast:BBC Radio 4, 1030-1100 Saturday 11th July, 1992
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode 20, April 10th 1933
Song: Life Is So Peculiar (Burke/Van Heusen/Lazarus/Vosburgh, pub. Harmo Bros Music
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
The Laughing Hyena. In which Flywheel and Ravelli go prospecting.
Show Recorded on 8th March 1992
First BBC Broadcast:BBC Radio 4, 1030-1100 Saturday 18th July, 1992
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode 22, April 24th 1933
Song: Omaha Nebraska (Groucho Marx & Harry Ruby, pub. Harry Ruby Music)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Fly By Wheel Tours. In which Flywheel and Ravelli inherit a bus.
Show Recorded on 15th March 1992
First BBC Broadcast:BBC Radio 4, 1030-1100 Saturday 25th July, 1992
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode 24, May 8th 1933
Song: Gorgonzola (Sarony/Moore/Lazarus/Vosburgh, pub. Lawrence Wright Music)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
The Chicago Clarion. In which Flywheel and Ravelli get a scoop.
Show Recorded on 22nd March 1992
First BBC Broadcast:BBC Radio 4, 1030-1100 Saturday 1st August, 1992
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman scripts
Song: My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies (Amberg/Raymond/Bernauer/Ege/Lazarus/Vosburgh)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Coney Island. In which Flywheel and Ravelli join the carnival.
Show Recorded on 8th March 1992
First BBC Broadcast:BBC Radio 4, 1030-1100 Saturday 8th August, 1992
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode 18, March 27th 1933
Song: Sing Me A Sensible Song (Lazarus/Vosburgh, pub.)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Miracle On Eatwell Street. In which Flywheel and Ravelli cook up a Christmas.
Show Recorded on 22/03/1992
First BBC Broadcast:BBC Radio 4, 1030-1100 Saturday 15th August, 1992
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode 5, December 26th 1932
Song: I’ve Got A Little List (Gilbert & Sullivan/Lazarus/Vosburgh, arr. Firman
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
| Character |
Actor |
The Announcer |
|
Groucho Marx |
Michael Roberts |
Chico Marx |
Frank Lazarus |
All the ladies |
|
Waldorf T Flywheel |
Michael Roberts |
Emmanuel Ravelli |
Frank Lazarus |
Madame Zodiac |
|
Zelda Harlow |
|
Clark Dearborn
Jr. |
|
Arnie Hemingsley |
Vincent Marzello |
Melvin The Lifeguard |
Vincent Marzello |
Cyrus Braxly |
Vincent Marzello |
The Kind Old Gentleman |
Vincent Marzello |
Restaurant Captain |
Vincent Marzello |
Chuck |
Dick Vosburgh |
Old Vanus |
Dick Vosburgh |
Colonel Thistledown |
|
Hortense |
|
Mean Waitress |
|
Mr McBride The
Landlord |
|
Mr Cordwell |
|
Daisy Maisy |
|
Prune Face |
|
Judge Milligan |
Spike Milligan |
Mr Moody |
Dick Vosburgh |
Donald Spotnik
|
Dick Vosburgh |
Mr Gruber The Tailor |
|
Herbert Meekfellow |
|
Laughing Hyena |
|
Old Prospector |
|
Redwood Lil |
|
Cop |
Vincent Marzello |
Mayor Beauregard
Watkins |
Spike Milligan |
Imogen Crexton
|
|
Eddy Nelson the
Mountie |
Vincent Marzello |
Mr Chairman |
None at this time
The Paris Studio, Lower Regent Street, London England
None at this time
My favourite audience series was a re-creation of long-lost Marx Brothers shows of the early 1930s. Although some of the old shows have since come to light, at the time we recorded these it was like opening Tutankhamun’s tomb, a treasure horde of delightfully crazy humour.
The great thing about audience shows is doing the effects live on stage. BBC
Radio Light Entertainment tended to have the effects operator hidden away behind
curtains so they wouldn’t distract the audience! A few Light Entertainment Producers
like me have reasoned over the years that the spot effects are part of the entertainment
so we brought the operator out front. And in the case of ‘Flywheel’ we dressed
him or her up as Harpo!
Michael Roberts who played Groucho came out with such good ad libs that I was
always happy to cut scripted gags to keep them ... one great one was when he
and Frank as Flywheel and Ravelli find themselves in a pigsty - the rest of
the cast pushed in to make pig voices - and Mike ad libbed, 'Imagine - two nice
Jewish boys surrounded by ham' - it brought the house down.
I was very proud that same show won a Gold
Medal at the 1992 New York Festivals.
6 Episodes in series each 30 Minutesl ong
Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel Series 1
Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel Series 2
Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel Series 3
Orginal Programme Script for Episode 12
Regular Cast Members in Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel
L-R, Lorelei King, Frank Lazarus, Dick Vosburgh, Michael Roberts, Spike Milligan,
Graham
Hoadly
Photo Graham Hoadly
 |
 |
Lorelei King |
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