The Story of Vic & Sade

by Bill Idelson

Paul Rhymer's creation of VIC AND SADE began on radio in 1932 as a two-character play featuring Art Van Harvey and Bernadine Flynn. Bill Idelson was eventually added to the cast, as nine-year-old Rush, and Idelson is the man behind this fascinating book that tells the story of one of radio's most relished programs. Over 1,800 scripts are housed at the University of Wisconsin and thanks to Idelson, we now get an idea of the early "lost" episodes. For old-time radio fans who claim this series was a pre-curser to the SEINFELD TV series (the radio show made fun of nothing), and are forced to enjoy the very few episodes known to exist in recorded form, Idelson has opened the door for you. "The gold of this book, acknowledged by Idelson, are the complete and excerpted scripts from the mid-1930s episodes of "Vic & Sade," which illustrate the gamut of Rhymer's humor, from trenchant satire to human comedy, all with an uncanny familiarity with the bizarre side of day-to-day familial and small-town politics." - Brent R. Swanson, Crooper, Illinois "Idelson provides background information on Art Van Harvey (whom he calls Van) and Bernadine Flynn (Bern) but especially for Paul Rhymer. The most surprising thing about this book is what Paul Rhymer was really like. One has a certain image of what a man who writes about a small Midwestern town might be like. Paul Phymer is not that man... If you're a man of radio drama, you'll like this book. If you're a VIC AND SADE fan, you'll love this book. I definitely recommend it." - Barbara J. Watkins, Sperdvac's Radiogram

Genres: Nonfiction

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal memoir of the best (in my opinion) radio show of all time by one of the stars, Bill Idelson. some of the parts about the Paul Rhymer, the writer of Vic & Sade, are a bit on the bawdy side, so be forewarned. So glad Bill published this before he passed away.

[Victoria & David Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the best radio shows of all time.
see
The Small House Halfway Up in the Next Block: Paul Rhymer's Vic and Sade
Paul Rhymer, Mary Frances Rhymer (Editor, Introduction), Ray Bradbury (Foreword).
and
Vic and Sade. The Best Radio Plays of Paul Rhymer
by Paul Rhymer, Mary Frances Rhymer (Editor)

Avoid this paperback unless you have already read the above.

Although written by an original cast member, it contains no insight, occasional sophomoric, smutty jokes, and very few complete scripts.

A big disappointment.

[Daniel Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a near perfect mix of clean and dirty humor. It’s a little hard to follow but very rewarding.