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Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel Series 3
1st Broadcast 11th July to 22nd August 1992 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. The last series was six episodes and is notable as Spike Milligan appears in a couple of the episodes.
Episode 1
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)
Episode 2
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)
Episode 3
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)
Episode 4
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)
Episode 5
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)
Episode 6
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)
Cast for all Episodes
The Announcer Graham Hoadly
Groucho Marx Michael Roberts
Chico Marx Frank Lazarus
All the ladies Lorelei King
Waldorf T Flywheel Michael Roberts
Emmanuel Ravelli Frank Lazarus
Madame Zodiac*Lorelei King
Zelda Harlow Lorelei King
Clark Dearborn Jr. Graham Hoadly
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 Graham Hoadly
Hortense Lorelei King
Mean Waitress Lorelei King
Mr McBride The Landlord Graham Hoadly
Mr Cordwell Graham Hoadly
Daisy Maisy Lorelei King
Prune Face Lorelei King
Judge Milligan Spike Milligan
Mr Moody Dick Vosburgh
Donald Spotnik Dick Vosburgh
Mr Gruber The Tailor Graham Hoadly
Herbert Meekfellow Graham Hoadly
Laughing Hyena Graham Hoadly
Old Prospector Graham Hoadly
Redwood Lil Lorelei King
Cop Vincent Marzello
Mayor Beauregard Watkins Spike Milligan
Imogen Crexton Lorelei King
Eddy Nelson the Mountie Vincent Marzello
Mr Chairman Graham Hoadly
Production Crew
None at this time
Recorded at
The Paris Studio, Lower Regent Street, London England
Music composed & Arranged
None at this time
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 each 30 Minutes long
Other Items
Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel Series 1
Flywheel, Shyster & Flywheel Series 2
