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Only Snippet of Old Li’l Tom Hardy Radio Show

 

Radio Star of Tomorrow

My father, Li’l Tom Hardy, had a radio show with his vent figure, Pooch Belly.  The show was on the air for six months in 1946 on the Mutual Radio Network.  It was called the Red Network after many of its stations went into bankruptcy only to be revived by NBC. 

 

This is the only portion I have of the shows he did:

 

  

Lt:      And we certainly
thank the kind people over at Ivory Soap for their kind consideration
and sponsorship of the Li’l Tom and Pooch Belly show.

 

Pb:     (Silence)

 

Lt:      I said we thank the kind people over at Ivory Soap for their kind . . .

 

Pb:     I heard you. 

 

Lt:      Don’t you think the people at Ivory should be thanked?

 

Pb:     No.

 

Lt:      You don’t?  After all they’ve done?

 

Pb:     Exactly.

 

Lt:      You don’t think they should be . . .

 

Pb:     No, I don’t.  How could you spank the very folks who are paying for us to be on the Mutual Radio Network?

 

Lt:      (Laughing) No, Pooch Belliness!  Not, “spanked,” but “thanked”!

 

Pb:     Oh, “thanked.”  Well, why didn’t you say so?

 

Audience:      Laughter

 

The Original Pooch Belly Voice, Monica Talm

Lt:      I thought you thought I . . .

 

Pb:     We know what you thought . . .

 

Audience:      Laugher, applause

 

Lt:      Well, anyway.  How has your week been, Pooch Belly?

 

Pb:     I’ve been good.  How have you been, old Tom?

 

Audience:      Laughter

 

Lt:      I’m not OLD!!!

 

Pb:     Keep saying it, pop.  Keep saying it.

 

Audience:      Laugher, applause

 

Lt:      And don’t call me “pop,” it makes me sound old.

 

Audience:      More laughter, applause

 

Pb:     I don’t want to say you’re old, Tommy, but I saw your mother the other day.  She was on the side of the road; her dinosaur broke down.

 

Audience:      Laughter

 

Lt:      I love Dinah Shore

 

Audience:      Laughter

 

Pb:     Not “Dinah Shore” but  . . .

 

Lt:      So how was school this week, Pooch Belly?

 

Pb:     It was fine.  Except my teacher is stupid.

 

Lt:      Stupid?  Why do you think that?

 

Pb:     She’s always asking us questions.

 

Audience:      Laughter

 

Lt:      No, she’s not stupid.  She’s trying to help you learn.

 

Pb:     (Pause)  No, she’s stupid alright.  She said you sound like such a nice young man.

 

Audience:      Laughter, applause.

 

Lt:      Well, I have half a mind to stop pulling your cord.  That would shut you up.

 

Pb:     I agree.

 

Lt:      You agree that if I don’t pull your cord, you’d be quiet?

 

Pb:     No I agree that you have half a mind. 

 

Audience:      Laughter,  applause

 

Pb:     You remind me of Greta Garbo?

 

Lt:      Because I want to be left alone?

 

Pb:     No, because you . . .

 

End of transcript.

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January 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

Ed Strong & Peterborough Museum Treat Audience to Magic with a Classic Touch

 

The One They Love: Ed Strong

Ed Strong, founder of the Peterborough Society of Magicians and all-around good guy, worked with the Peterborough Museum to entertain parents and kids at the It?s Magic fest this weekend. 

 

Mr. Strong has been entertaining since he was 16-years-old.  He won a local talent competition at that tender age, was hooked, and hasn?t stopped since.  He offers shows appropriate for kids? parties, adult get-togethers, and Gospel-themed events. 

 

Given that background, you would figure he would be a natch for showing museum attendees a bit of the history of magic.  He was. 

 

Mr. Strong showed his audience the fictional and real from Magic?s history.  He offered a show themed around the history and fiction of magic, with demonstrations of real illusions and a display of the history of wizardry.

 

The museum displays charted this history and tradition of magic as well as the more popular (if fictional) world of magic seen in popular movies like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. 

 

How did he do?  Well, the client was happy.  ?Stuart Orme, museum marketing and events officer, said: ?It’s Magic went extremely well.

 

??It exceeded all our expectations and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves ? so much so that we’re looking to hold a similar event later in the year.?”

 

…
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January 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

St. John Don Bosco, Patron of Magicians: A Magical Hagiography

 

St. John Don Bosco

Mr. Stagnaro is one of those folks for whom we could have great jealousy.  He is a good person with a great website and wonderful writing.  If you are not a subscriber to his Smoke and Mirrors, you should be.  He has the latest news and helpful tips for folks like us that can?t get enough of this good stuff.

 

If you haven?t already, please go to this site, http://www.topica.com/lists/smokeandmirrors, and sign up for this wonderful resource for magicians.  Then, after you have secured your place on his mailing list, visit Mr. Stagnaro?s website at www.kismetmagic.com.  He is was we can only hope to one day be.

 

Mr. Stagnaro wrote a wonderful hagiography of St. Don Bosco; the Patron Saint of Magicians.  He has graciously allowed us to re-print it here.  In keeping with the motif of having more skills and talents than a normal human should possess, Mr. Stagnaro designed a medal of St. Don Bosco.  He does not profit from purchases but donates the proceeds. 

 

Check out his wonderful work here.

 

“They followed him a long time because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.”  (Acts of the Apostles, 8:11)  When most people, Catholics or not, find out that there actually is a Catholic saint whose sphere of influence includes stage and close-up magic, they generally question the fact. 

 

After all, Biblical references…
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January 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

Paul Hevey a/k/a Count de Paree Featured

 

 

Paul Hevey aka Count de Paree

The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News had a great article featuring 82-year-old magician Paul Hevey and his more than 60 years in magic.

 

Mr. Hevey is better known to his fans as ?Count de Paree.?  The reporter wonders in print how many magicians Mr. Hevey encouraged, educated and developed over the years.  Regardless of the lives touched in the past, Mr. Hevey continues to spread the good news and wonderful lifestyle of Magic; and literally welcomes other magicians into his home, the location of Black Richard Ring, Local 166, of IBM. 

 

When all is said and done, however, there’s no need to count those who have been influenced by the “Count de Paree,” because Paul’s not done yet.

 

“We still have 10 or 12 magicians who come to every meeting,” said Paul, whose home at 851 Cilley Road ? complete with downstairs stage ? is also home to the Black Richard Ring, Chapter 166 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

 

Mr. Hevey began magic with his father?s gift of a $2.00 magic kit.  He learned from mentors and received his first big break from the magician and showman with whom he worked; they allowed him to appear in their vaudeville act. 

 

“Tricks with manual dexterity, like the Multiplying Balls? They’re harder for me now,” he said. “And fire eating? You don’t do that with false teeth, but you give me a show? Especially with the children right in front? I love it when they’re right up close and I can see the expression on their faces.

 

…
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January 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Daryl Wows ?Em!

 

Daryl and Alison

Often we post articles about magicians performing and wowing their local communities.  These magi are well known in their communities and so their inclusion in the local papers or on the local television is newsworthy.  We congratulate their success and hope to bring to them the praise they deserve. 

On the other hand, we occasionally see local newspapers reporting on magicians we all know.  It amazes us that the reporters are not aware of their subject?s national standing amongst magicians but it is a tribute to the magi?s humility that they don?t know.

This all brings us to Auburn, California.  Auburn is the new home of Daryl and Alison. 

Daryl is one of our favorites in the big world of Magic.  Not just because he and Allison have returned our emails and have always been kind to us, but because he has the talent that makes magic seem magic.  From the first time we saw him perform in the Close-Up Gallery of The Magic Castle, we knew that Daryl was deserving of his well-known title.

In the Auburn (California) Journal today, there is a great article about Daryl and his abilities. 

?There was only one way to describe magician Daryl Easton’s performance for reporters in his Auburn home last week – smooth.?

How could we disagree?  The man is smooth.

Several paragraphs later, however, we have to disagree with the Journal?s estimation of our favorite close-up performer of all-time.

He’s known as “The Magician’s Musician” because many of his sleight-of-hand tricks have been sold to fellow magicians as famous as David Blaine, and he has produced more than 20 instructional videos and books about the craft of magic.

We have fifteen of his instructional videos and books but have never considered him ?The Magician?s Musician.?  We don?t even know that he plays a musical instrument.  Sure, we saw him several times at The Magic Castle and there was music but we are almost positive he was not the source of the music. Based upon our experience, we consider Daryl to be…
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January 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment