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Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel Series 1
1st Broadcast 2nd June to 7th July 1990 on BBC Radio 4
Contents
Producer
Director
Adaptation
Produced for
BBC Radio Light Entertainment BBC Radio 4/2
Synopsis
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.
Episode 1
The Stolen Rembrandt. In which Flywheel and Ravelli investigate a Crime.
Show Recorded on 30/01/1990
First BBC Broadcast : BBC Radio 4, 1030-1130 Saturday 2nd June, 1990
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episodes 17 & 23, 20th March and 1st May 1933
Song: Sugar In The Morning (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Episode 2
Flywheel And Juliet. In which Flywheel Treads The Boards.
Show Recorded on 20/05/1990
First BBC Broadcast : BBC Radio 4, 1030-1130 Saturday 9th June, 1990
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode 14, 27th February 1933
Song: Lydia the Tattooed Lady (Arlen/Harburg, pub. EMI)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Episode 3
Big Joe Crookley. In which Ravelli is kidnappped.
Show Recorded on 13/05/1990
First BBC Broadcast: BBC Radio 4, 1030-1130 Saturday 16th June, 1990
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episodes 17 & 23 , 20th March and 1st May 1933
Song: Everyone Says I Love You (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Episode 4
Finding Foo Foo. In which Flywheel and Ravelli become Dog Catchers.
Show Recorded on 10/06/1990
First BBC Broadcast: BBC Radio 4, 1030-1130 Saturday 23rd June, 1990
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode12, 12th February 1933
Song: Show Me A Rose (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Episode 5
One Round Gombatz. In which Ravelli takes it on the chin.
Show Recorded on 20/05/1990
First BBC Broadcast: BBC Radio 4, 1030-1130 Saturday 30th June, 1990
Recording attended by Anne Kaufman, wife of Irving Schneider, daughter of George S, Kaufman.
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode 10, 30th January 1933
Songs: Pizzicato Polka (Strauss II/Josef Strauss arr Firman); Monkey Doodle Doo (Irving Berlin pub. Francis, Day & Hunter)
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Episode 6
The Election. In which Flywheel and Ravelli fix some votes.
Show Recorded on 10/06/1990
First BBC Broadcast: BBC Radio 4, 1030-1130 Saturday 7th July, 1990
Based on the Nat Perrin & Arthur Sheekman script for FSF Episode16, 13th March 1933
Song: Whatever It Is I’m Against It (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Famous Music corp
Signature Tune & Links: Hooray For Captain Spaulding (Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, pub. Harmo Bros Music)
Cast For all Episodes
| Character | Actor |
| The Announcer |
Graham Hoadly |
| Groucho Marx | Michael Roberts |
| Chico Marx | Frank Lazarus |
| Miss Dimple | Lorelei King |
| Mrs Thorndike | Lorelei King |
| Meadows The Butler | Graham Hoadly |
| Miss Priscilla Kent | Lorelei King |
| Mr McBride The Landlord | Graham Hoadly |
| Reginald Francis | Graham Hoadly |
| Doorman | Vincent Marzello |
| Bertram T. Bardwell | Graham Hoadly |
| Clerk Of The Court | Graham Hoadly |
| Big Joe Crookley | Kerry Shale |
| Mrs Dalloway | Lorelei King |
| Mr Gruber The Tailor | Graham Hoadly |
| Job Applicant | Vincent Marzello |
| Streetcar Conductor | Vincent Marzello |
| Judge | Kerry Shale |
| Delivery Boy | Vincent Marzello |
| Taxi Driver | Vincent Marzello |
| Mrs Willoughby | Lorelei King |
| One Round Gombatz | Graham Hoadly |
| Judge Maxwell | Graham Hoadly |
| Mean Waitress | Lorelei King |
| Reporter | Vincent Marzello |
| Moderator | Vincent Marzello |
| Boss Plunkett | Garrick Hagon |
| Waldorf T Flywheel | Michael Roberts |
| Emmanuel Ravelli | Frank Lazarus |
Musical Director
Production Assistant
Recorded at
Paris Studio, Lower Regent Street, London England
Comment by Dirk Maggs
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.
Running Time
6 Episodes in series 30 Minutes long
Other Items
None
