Norm Nathan's Vault of Silliness w/Tony Nesbitt - Ep 115 - Trafficking in Laughter

Let me take a moment to inform you that I now, finally, have a Patreon acct. This is something I've been meaning to do for a while now. Over the past 2 years I've dedicated a lot of time putting this podcast together. Your support would allow me to continue to create content and grow the channel. I'm asking for $1.00 a month for a subscription. Of course, you are welcome to give more if you are so generously inclined. Most importantly, a percentage of your contribution will be donated to the Norm Nathan Scholarship Fund at the Berklee College of Music! You will find the link in the description box. In the words of Bartles & Jaymes... "We thank you for your support." As we begin the month of Norm’s birth we have what is truly a near perfect example of Norm’s excellence. His personality, the callers, the show and what it all meant to the listeners. When did this achievement in radio occur? December 4th & 5th, 1993. Because the reports with Bruce ‘Don’t Call Me Brian’ Connolly are super-entertaining the title of this episode will be: Trafficking in Laughter! Sid Whitaker was producing. We begin with a story, in progress, about Uncle Louie and Guinness Stout from a caller that sounds familiar, but I cannot place a name to the voice. Norm then adds his own story about someone named Ethel. Norm teases a guest who writes obituaries for a paper in the South and we jump to Accuweather with Paul Pastelok introduced by Newsman, Ed Donahue. And now the fun begins, as Norm and Bruce Connolly begin their night of frivolity with the traffic reports. We talk with 90-year-old Porter Harvey who owns a newspaper, The Advertiser-Gleam, in Guntersville, AL. It’s a folksy kind of paper. Strictly local news. He told stories about writing obits and adding a little more than the usual family, friends and arrangements stuff. After that we get another report with Bruce sponsored by the Norm Nathan Orchestra and the Bruce Connolly Quintet Now it’s time for lots of callers: I believe the caller’s name was Dorothy – 1st time she’s ever called a station Glen in Portsmouth, NH Helene from Belmont – singing and thinking of lyrics to songs whilst driving the car is the subject. Norm mentions some of his favs and they discuss many tunes and recite lines from them to each other. Charlie from Manassas,VA - he Norm singing a theme from a program that hadn’t been on the air for 50 years. Charlie has high praise for the show! He's trying to start a fan club in Manassas.  Bruce with traffic and we switch to side B where Bruce and Norm continue with the silly. Norm moves to the back rows of the Teen Canteen with two pretty girls that just came in and asks Bruce to project so they can hear him. A comment about Joe Stapleton causes Norm to burst out laughing. Dave from Uxbridge but really from Whitinsville. More high praise. He’s a bluegrass musician with the band Southern Rail. He has been loving the traffic reports and makes an awful third harbor tunnel joke that I thoroughly enjoyed. This led Norm to reveal that he subbed for Joe Green in the traffic copter?! Dave also objects to the stupid infomercials that had booted Norm off the air on Sunday nights. Jim on a car phone –Gives his own foggy and rainy traffic report. Glenn in Brighton – asking about the instrument called the Theremin. Jim calling in about Dave and his band, Southern Rail. He’s a fan and says Dave’s a wicked good player. He was actually a former student! Informs us that when Dave was only 19 years old he scored a great achievement. The most-brief call with Robert from Everett Then it’s on to Pat! – a nutty caller with nutty questions that was always fun. A woman named Timmie with information that refers to Pat’s call. Plus she mentioned the previous night’s disaster of a bro...