Old-Time Radio and Television

[she_is_my_addiction]

Favorite old-time radio and television shows

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

Abbott
You know, strange as it may seem, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names...Now, on the Cooperstown team we have Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third-
Costello
That's what I want to find out. I want you to tell me the names of the fellows on the Cooperstown team.
Abbott
I'm telling you. Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third.
Costello
You know the fellows' names?
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
Well, then, who's playin' first?
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
I mean the fellow's name on first base.
Abbott
Who.
Costello
The fellow's name on first base for Cooperstown.
Abbott
Who.
Costello
The guy on first base.
Abbott
Who is on first base.
Costello
Well, what are you asking me for?
Abbott
I'm not asking you--I'm telling you. Who is on first.
Costello
I'm asking you--who's on first?
Abbott
That's the man's name.
Costello
That's who's name?
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
Well, go ahead, tell me!
Abbott
Who.
Costello
The guy on first.
Abbott
Who.
Costello
The first baseman.
Abbott
Who is on first.
Costello
Have you got a first baseman on first?
Abbott
Certainly.
Costello
Well, all I'm trying to find out is what's the guy's name on first base.
Abbott
Oh, no, no. What is on second base.
Costello
I'm not asking you who's on second.
Abbott
Who's on first.
Costello
That's what I'm trying to find out.
Abbott
Well, don't change the players around.
Costello
I'm not changing anybody.
Abbott
Now, take it easy.
Costello
What's the guy's name on first base?
Abbott
What's the guy's name on second base.
Costello
I'm not askin' ya who's on second.
Abbott
Who's on first.
Costello
I don't know.
Abbott
He's on third. We're not talking about him.
Costello
How could I get on third base?
Abbott
You mentioned his name.
Costello
If I mentioned the third baseman's name, who did I say is playing third?
Abbott
No, Who's playing first.
Costello
Stay offa first, will you?
Abbott
Please. Now what is it you want to know?
Costello
What is the fellow's name on third base?
Abbott
What is the fellow's name on second base.
Costello
I'm not askin' ya who's on second.
Abbott
Who's on first.
Costello
I don't know.
Abbott and Costello
Third base.
Costello
(makes noises)You got an outfield?
Abbott
Oh, sure.
Costello
Cooperstown has got a good outfield?
Abbott
Oh, absolutely.
Costello
The left fielder's name?
Abbott
Why.
Costello
I don't know. I just thought I'd ask.
Abbott
Well, I just thought I'd tell you.
Costello
Then tell me who's playing left field.
Abbott
Who's playing first.
Costello
Stay out of the infield.
Abbott
Don't mention any names out here.
Costello
I want to know what's the fellow's name in left field.
Abbott
What is on second.
Costello
I'm not asking you who's on second.
Abbott
Who is on first.
Costello
I don't know.
Abbott and Costello
Third base.
Costello
(makes noises)
Abbott
Now take it easy, man.
Costello
And the left fielder's name?
Abbott
Why.
Costello
Because.
Abbott
Oh, he's center field.
Costello
Wait a minute. You got a pitcher on the team?
Abbott
Wouldn't this be a fine team without a pitcher.
Costello
I don't know. Tell me the pitcher's name.
Abbott
Tomorrow.
Costello
You don't want to tell me today?
Abbott
I'm telling you man.
Costello
Then go ahead.
Abbott
Tomorrow.
Costello
What time?
Abbott
What time what?
Costello
What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who's pitching?
Abbott
Now listen. Who is not pitching. Who is on-
Costello
I'll break your arm is you say who's on first.
Abbott
Then why come up here and ask?
Costello
I want to know what's the pitcher's name.
Abbott
What's on second.
Costello
I don't know.
Abbott and Costello
Third base.
Costello
Ya gotta catcher?
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
The catcher's name.
Abbott
Today.
Costello
Today. And Tomorrow's pitching.
Abbott
Now you've got it.
Costello
That's all. Cooperstown got a couple of days on their team. That's all.
Abbott
Well, I can't help that.
Costello
(Makes noises)
Abbott
All right. What do you want me to do?
Costello
Gotta catcher?
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
I'm a good catcher too, you know.
Abbott
I know that.
Costello
I would like to play for the Cooperstown team.
Abbott
Well, I might arrange that.
Costello
I would like to catch. Now I'm being a good catcher, Tomorrow's pitching on the team and I'm catching.
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
Tomorrow throws the ball and the guy up bunts the ball.
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
Now when he bunts the ball--me being a good catcher--I want to throw the guy out a first base, so I pick up the ball and throw it to who?
Abbott
Now, that's the first thing you've said right.
Costello
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
Abbott
Well, that's all you have to do.
Costello
Is throw it to first base.
Abbott
Yes.
Costello
Now who's got it?
Abbott
Naturally.
Costello
Who has it?
Abbott
Naturally.
Costello
Naturally.
Abbott
Naturally.
Costello
I throw the ball to Naturally.
Abbott
You throw it to Who.
Costello
Naturally.
Abbott
Naturally. Well, say it that way.
Costello
That's what I'm saying.
Abbott
Now don't get excited. Now don't get excited.
Costello
I throw the ball to first base.
Abbott
Then Who gets it.
Costello
He better get it.
Abbott
That's it. All right now, don't get excited. Take it easy.
Costello
Hmmmmmph.
Abbott
Hmmmmmph.
Costello
Now I throw the ball to first base, whoever it is grabs the ball, so the guy runs to second.
Abbott
Uh-huh.
Costello
Who picks up the ball and throws it to what. What throws it to I don't know. I don't know throws it back to tomorrow - a triple play.
Abbott
Yeah. It could be.
Costello
Another guy gets up and it's a long fly ball to center. Why? I don't know. And I don't care.
Abbott
What was that?
Costello
I said, I don't care.
Abbott
Oh, that's our shortstop.
Costello
(Makes noises - throws bat angrily, steps closer to Abbott and they glare at each other.)

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

I don’t know what their criteria is but,

ACCORDING TO

The Classic TV Database

The Top 100 TV Shows are:


I Love Lucy
M*A*S*H
Star Trek
The Andy Griffith Show
Cheers
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Bewitched
The Twilight Zone
All in the Family
The Carol Burnett Show
Happy Days
Mission: Impossible
The Cosby Show
The Simpsons
The Brady Bunch
The Avengers
ER
Seinfeld
The X-Files
Little House on the Prairie
Quantum Leap
Get Smart
Hill Street Blues
The Ed Sullivan Show
Gilligan's Island
Family Ties
Bonanza
The Addams Family
The Flinstones
The Honeymooners
Frasier
Law & Order
Columbo
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Batman
Dallas
Home Improvement
The Wonder Years
Northern Exposure
Homicide: Life on the Street
Friends
Barney Miller
The Fugitive
Hogan's Heroes
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Dragnet
The Bob Newhart Show
I Dream of Jeannie
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Golden Girls
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Laverne & Shirley
Twin Peaks
Perry Mason
Leave it to Beaver
The Monkees
China Beach
Magnum P.I.
Gunsmoke
Charlie's Angels
Beverly Hills 90210
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Roseanne
Moonlighting
Lost in Space
N.Y.P.D. Blue
Miami Vice
The Waltons
Party of Five
Hawaii Five-0
CHiPs
St. Elsewhere
Green Acres
Cagney & Lacey
Baywatch
Soap
Mad About You
L.A. Law
The Odd Couple
Taxi
Murphy Brown
The Burns and Allen Show
Night Court
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
WKRP in Cincinnati
Remington Steele
Three's Company
Adam-11
Emergency
Babylon 5
The Rockford Files
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Picket Fences
Alice
Knight Rider
Star Trek: Voyager
Mork & Mindy


Or check out their database .



You can also listen to old time radio on the Old Time Radio site on the internet.

 

[arienette]

I don’t know what their criteria is but,

ACCORDING TO

The Classic TV Database

The Top 100 TV Shows are:


I Love Lucy
M*A*S*H
Star Trek
The Andy Griffith Show
Cheers
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Bewitched
The Twilight Zone
All in the Family
The Carol Burnett Show
Happy Days
Mission: Impossible
The Cosby Show
The Simpsons
The Brady Bunch
The Avengers
ER
Seinfeld
The X-Files
Little House on the Prairie
Quantum Leap
Get Smart
Hill Street Blues
The Ed Sullivan Show
Gilligan's Island
Family Ties
Bonanza
The Addams Family
The Flinstones
The Honeymooners
Frasier
Law & Order
Columbo
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Batman
Dallas
Home Improvement
The Wonder Years
Northern Exposure
Homicide: Life on the Street
Friends
Barney Miller
The Fugitive
Hogan's Heroes
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Dragnet
The Bob Newhart Show
I Dream of Jeannie
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Golden Girls
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Laverne & Shirley
Twin Peaks
Perry Mason
Leave it to Beaver
The Monkees
China Beach
Magnum P.I.
Gunsmoke
Charlie's Angels
Beverly Hills 90210
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Roseanne
Moonlighting
Lost in Space
N.Y.P.D. Blue
Miami Vice
The Waltons
Party of Five
Hawaii Five-0
CHiPs
St. Elsewhere
Green Acres
Cagney & Lacey
Baywatch
Soap
Mad About You
L.A. Law
The Odd Couple
Taxi
Murphy Brown
The Burns and Allen Show
Night Court
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
WKRP in Cincinnati
Remington Steele
Three's Company
Adam-11
Emergency
Babylon 5
The Rockford Files
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Picket Fences
Alice
Knight Rider
Star Trek: Voyager
Mork & Mindy


Or check out their database .



You can also listen to old time radio on the Old Time Radio site on the internet.

Roseanne!! Mork & Mindy!
I know the entire Fresh Prince opening song.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I don't see Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" on that list. It's still funny and fresh today.

---dr.M.

Oh wait: there it is.

Well, it deserves to be higher. It was a lot better than "I Love Lucy".

 

[arienette]

I don't see Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" on that list. It's still funny and fresh today.

---dr.M.

Oh wait: there it is.

Well, it deserves to be higher. It was a lot better than "I Love Lucy".

Agreed.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

I don't see Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" on that list. It's still funny and fresh today.

---dr.M.

Oh wait: there it is.

Well, it deserves to be higher. It was a lot better than "I Love Lucy".

I like the Honeymooners, but I prefer I Love Lucy. I did a very lengthy, in depth, close to sixty page paper on the t.v. show and the history behind it and its stars. There's a richness that goes with the show that will never be found again.

 

[yui]

I still miss the X-Files...and Northern Exposure.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners". . . deserves to be higher. It was a lot better than "I Love Lucy".

“The Honeymooners” only ran for a season, with a revival in ‘57, and a couple of specials.

“I Love Lucy” lasted ten years in the original series, followed by two recast shows.

The longevity might be one reason for the difference.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

Okay, I guess this is turning into a media thread.

Apparently there are very few that are versed in true old-time shows.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Okay, I guess this is turning into a media thread.
Apparently there are very few that are versed in true old-time shows.

You mean like Sid Ceasar, Uncle Miltie, and Jackie Gleason's original TV show "The Life of Riley?"

Never watched them . . . not even in reruns.

A few kinescope highlights, but that's all.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

You mean like Sid Ceasar, Uncle Miltie, and Jackie Gleason's original TV show "The Life of Riley?"

Never watched them . . . not even in reruns.

A few kinescope highlights, but that's all.

My parents are in several revivals of old radio shows and have become somewhat minor radio stars where they live. My dad's played Riley more times than I can count, with my mom (his wife) playing as his wife on the show.

*flushing with pride*

 

[yui]

Okay, I guess this is turning into a media thread.

Apparently there are very few that are versed in true old-time shows.

Oh dear, did I commit a topic blunder? Sorry, I saw the list of top 100 and reacted to that!

To be honest, most of the old-time comedy shows don't appeal to me personally. I don't know if it's because I have heard it so much, but Abbot and Costello "Who's on First" makes me want to do something violent. I don't enjoy the Stooges either. They are funny for about 45 seconds and then I just want to move on. I understand that there is certainly value in the early stuff, but, to me, it's like watching a silent film – the novelty quickly wears off.

I love most classic movies, though (not Stooges). Go figure.

My apologies for the attempted hijack!

Luck to you,

Yui

 

[Bridget69]

Yeah, most of these shows are all pretty recent. Anyhow, I haven't been around long enough to appreciate the true classics.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

Yeah, most of these shows are all pretty recent. Anyhow, I haven't been around long enough to appreciate the true classics.

I'm only 19

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Okay, I guess this is turning into a media thread.
Apparently there are very few that are versed in true old-time shows.

Er . . . how do we answer a question about Old-Time Radio & TV without discussing media?




In any case, I did not hear the originals and doubt that many others have either, but:


(1) How did George Burns close his radio program?

(2) What was in Fibber McGee’s closet?

(3) With what other radio comedian did Jack benny have an on-air feud?

(4) What was the Great Guildersleeve’s most distinctive feature?

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Don't worry.

No one will believe you are THAT old.

We promise to believe that you learned the answers, the same way I learned the questions, through research or a "20th Century Pop Culture" course.