The Henry Morgan Show September 9, 1949

Henry Morgan, not Harry Morgan (I'll tell you about him next), began broadcasting his caustic, mostly improvisational humor in regular 15 minute broadcasts in 1940 on the Mutual Broadcasting System. From 1946 through 1950 he had a half-hour comedy show on NBC. This episode is the "first episode of the second series of one." With strong support from Art Carney and Arnold Stang (the voice of Top Cat) Henry Morgan brought a jaundiced and irreverent voice to radio. His show was famous for changing sponsors because he couldn't help making fun of them on the air. The "One a Minute Vitamin" commercial on this show is my candidate for the funniest moment in radio history. Known as "radio's first rebel" Henry Morgan was described by cast-member Arnold Stang, "When things were going well for him he would do something to destroy himself. He couldn't deal with success." After being black-listed in 1950-1951 Morgan made a comeback as a panelist on TV's "I've Got a Secret" in 1952. He remained in Television and radio until days before his death in 1994.