Mister Ron's Basement II
Exploring the Universe of Public Domain Humor, featuring the greatest writers in the world, seven days a week! Indexed at http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html
Thu, Dec 25 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1246

Our special Christmas Episode features the original 1921 F. Scott Fitzgerald story 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'

A wonderful motion picture adaption of this story starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett is being released to movie theaters right now. It is a great movie. But the original Fitzgerald story is a work of genius, and the movie differs from it dramatically.

We had considered serializing it across the span of a week, but instead offer the lengthy tale in its entirety. It is almost an hour long. Please download this, relax, and enjoy. Your feedback is especially welcome. Please write to: revry@panix.com

Time: approx fifty-five minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-25.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:45am EDT

Wed, Dec 24 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1245

SUNDAY SALAD offers up a special Spoopendyke Christmas story from 1880 that was possibly done special for the Washington Post at the time (yes, we know that we thought there were no more of Spoopendykes, but we stumbled into this one).

Stanley Huntley had previously been the Post's first City Editor back in 1877-78, and was good friends with the paper's founder, Stilson Hutchins. Today's story also sheds some light on who Huntley modeled Mrs. Spoopendyke after.

Enjoy then, 'Mrs. Spoopendyke's Christmas Gift.'

Time: approx eight minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-24a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:42pm EDT

Wed, Dec 24 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1244

We are wrapping up a short week (technical difficulties) of stories from George Fitch's 1916 collection, 'Vest Pocket Essays' with a fascinating, fun view of 'Cigarettes.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-24.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:40am EDT

Thu, Dec 18 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1243

We are continuing with a second week of stories from George Fitch's 1916 collection, 'Vest Pocket Essays.'

Today we get the scoop on a friend of humanity -- 'The Dollar.'

Time: approx five minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-18.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:38am EDT

Tue, Dec 16 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1242

We are continuing with a second week of stories from George Fitch's 1916 collection, 'Vest Pocket Essays.'

Feeling lucky? Then don't miss today's essay, 'Luck.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-16.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:37am EDT

Mon, Dec 15 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1241

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty-Five of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- Where the Boss learns exactly what qualifications a candidate must have to become a military officer in 'A Competitive Examination.'

Time: approx twenty-six minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-15b.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:33pm EDT

Mon, Dec 15 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1240



SUNDAY SALAD offers a truly intriguing, if somewhat lengthy piece by Stanley Huntley from 1882, relating his experiences aboard a Pilot Boat, one of many that brought big ships in to New York's harbor from the High Seas back then. This colorful tale showcases Huntley's unique talents as a newspaper feature writer, and may be one of the best stories we have ever read in the Basement.

It's called 'Life On A Pilot Boat; the Men who go Down to the Sea After Ships.'

Time: approx thirty minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-15a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:28pm EDT

Mon, Dec 15 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1239

'Mr. Bowser Does the Wash' by C. B. Lewis, from 1890. What else needs to be said?

Time: approx nine minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-15.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:26am EDT

Sat, Dec 13 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1238

George Helgesen Fitch wrote a popular syndicated newspaper column in the early twentieth century called 'Vest Pocket Essays.' He collected the best of these in a 1916 book of the same name, which we have been reading from this week. Today we offer a treat for the bugs -- 'Picnics.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-13.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:24am EDT

Thu, Dec 11 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1237

George Helgesen Fitch wrote a popular syndicated newspaper column in the early twentieth century called 'Vest Pocket Essays.' He collected the best of these in a 1916 book of the same name, which we are reading from this week. Today, we take a whiff of a tasty treat -- 'Cabbages.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-11b.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:23pm EDT

Thu, Dec 11 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1236

George Helgesen Fitch wrote a popular syndicated newspaper column in the early twentieth century called 'Vest Pocket Essays.' He collected the best of these in a 1916 book of the same name, which we are reading from this week. Today, we explore the great American way of not doing business -- 'Committees.'

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-11a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:17am EDT

Thu, Dec 11 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1235

George Helgesen Fitch wrote a popular syndicated newspaper column in the early twentieth century called 'Vest Pocket Essays.' He collected the best of these in a 1916 book of the same name, which we will read from this week. Today's essay gives us the straight scoop on 'Menus.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-11.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:55am EDT

Wed, Dec 10 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1234

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty-Four of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'A Rival Magician'' -- in which the Boss faces some unexpected competition...

Time: approx twenty-two minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-10.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:51am EDT

Sun, Dec 07 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1233

SUNDAY SALAD offers up TWO Stanley Huntley pieces today. Sorry, neither one features the Spoopendykes. We may never find another Spoopendyke story again (but we will keep looking).

Both stories are from 1881 -- the first is a grim tale of a tragic journey on the Fulton Ferry in Brooklyn entitled 'The Unfortunate Cruise of the Union.' Then the Father of the Bride offers a news story to the Eagle editor in 'After A Notice.'

Time: approx nine minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-07b.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:49pm EDT

Sun, Dec 07 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1232

Our favorite old crank slaps up some wallpaper in C. B. Lewis's 1908 story, 'Bowser the Artist.'

Time: approx ten minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-07a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:46am EDT

Sun, Dec 07 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1231

In 1893, James Barr edited a collection called 'The Humor of America' for British readers. Today's tale explores a terrible feud started by a washtub, in 'Tempest in a Tub' by James M. Bailey.

Time: approx six minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The James M. Bailey Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/jamesmbailey.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-07.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:43am EDT

Thu, Dec 04 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1230

In 1893, James Barr edited a collection called 'The Humor of America' for British readers.

L. Gaylord Clark, the long-time editor of the Knickerbocker Magazine (often publishing Washington Irving's tales), had included his story for today in an 1852 collection himself. It's called 'A Railroad Recussant.'

Time: approx five minutes

The amazing folks at SFFAudio have been steering listeners to great Audio Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Crime fiction for a long time. Now you can hear an extended unedited interview with Mister Ron himself on the SFFAudio Podcast! It's Podcast Number 013, and can be found at: http://www.sffaudio.com/?cat=1559.

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-04.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:39am EDT

Wed, Dec 03 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1229

In 1893, James Barr edited a collection called 'The Humor of America' for British readers. W. L. Alden was an American who was immensely popular in England in the 1890s. Today we hear of his great solution for noisy felines, entitled 'Cat-Fishing.'

It's quite funny.

Time: approx eight and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The W. L. Alden Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/alden.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-03.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:35am EDT

Tue, Dec 02 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1228

In 1893, James Barr edited a collection called 'The Humor of America' for British readers. Today's piece from that book is called 'Baked Beans and Culture' by Eugene Field.

Time: approx eight minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-02.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:17am EDT

Mon, Dec 01 2008

MIster Ron's Basement #1227

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty-Three of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'Restoration of the Fountain' -- where the Boss treats the multitude to a spectacular fireworks show!

Time: approx eighteen minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-12-01.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:14am EDT

Sun, Nov 30 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1226

SUNDAY SALAD offers THREE Stanley Huntley pieces today (sorry, no Spoopendyke stories available this week) --

First, a minister gets an earful of newspaper slang in 'Only Technical Terms' from 1881, then a stranger to Brooklyn gets some directions in the street in 'After Information' from 1882. Finally, a cowboy enthusiastically describes a grand performance in 'A Plea for the Opera' from 1881.

Time: approx eleven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-30a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:11pm EDT

Mister Ron's Basement #1225 Sun, Nov 30 2008

MIster Ron's Basement #1225

Our favorite old crank has another get-rich-quick scheme up his sleeve involving raising trees for paper-mills, in C. B. Lewis's 1918 tale, 'Bowser's Little Plan.'

Time: approx eight and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-30.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:09am EDT

Fri, Nov 28 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1224

The terrible news about the Stock Market in free fall is nothing new -- this week we have been reading from Gideon Wurdz 1905 book 'Foolish Finance.' Our last piece is full of practical advice -- it's called 'Tips.'

Time: approx five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-28.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:07am EDT

Thu, Nov 27 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1223

The terrible news about the Stock Market in free fall is nothing new -- this week we are reading from Gideon Wurdz 1905 book 'Foolish Finance.' Today we get the inside scoop on exactly how the Financial System works in 'The System as Promoter And Pickpocket.'

Time: approx seven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-27.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:05am EDT

Wed, Nov 26 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1222

The terrible news about the Stock Market in free fall is nothing new -- this week we will read from Gideon Wurdz 1905 book 'Foolish Finance.' Today we learn about who is available to part you with your money -- 'The Broker.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-26a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:03pm EDT

Wed, Nov 26 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1221

The terrible news about the Stock Market in free fall is nothing new -- this week we will read from Gideon Wurdz 1905 book 'Foolish Finance.' Today we discover some great tips on 'Speculation.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-26.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:01am EDT

Tue, Nov 25 2008

MIster Ron's Basement #1220

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty-Two (Part Two of Two) of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'The Holy Fountain' -- where the Boss examines a dry well, and puzzles Sandy with modern slang.

Time: approx fifteen minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-25.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:59am EDT

Sun, Nov 23 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1219

SUNDAY SALAD has THREE truly funny Stanley Huntley tales, all from 1881, including a newly discovered (at least by Mister Ron) Spoopendyke story!

In the first piece, a woman argues with a street car passenger in a piece worthy of Abbott & Costello in 'A Trying Situation.' Then a rough and tumble visitor from Deadwood gets into a strange discussion with a precious young Brooklyn girl in 'Too Awfully Utter.' Finally Mr. Spoopendyke expresses his disgust with his Doctor's advice in 'He Was Not Well.'

This is a not-to-be-missed Episode!

Time: approx ten and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-23.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:56am EDT

Sat, Nov 22 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1218

Mr. Bowser gets a made-to-order package from his tailor that seems to be all wrong, in C. B. Lewis's 1893 tale, 'Bowser's Trousers.'

Time: approx seven and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-22.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:54am EDT

Fri, Nov 21 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1217

Bill Nye (Edgar Wilson Nye) is one of our favorite humorists. This week, we are featuring stories from his 1881 collection, 'Bill Nye and Boomerang.'

Today, Nye reports on a desperado's wedding ceremony in 'The Nupitals of Dangerous Davis.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Bill Nye Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/billnye.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-21.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:53am EDT

Thu, Nov 20 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1216

Bill Nye (Edgar Wilson Nye) is one of our favorite humorists. This week, we are featuring stories from his 1881 collection, 'Bill Nye and Boomerang.'

Today's story is a bit hard to follow, but is extremely funny nevertheless. Nye discusses 'The Buckness Wherewith the Buck Beer Bucketh.'

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Bill Nye Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/billnye.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-20.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:52am EDT

Wed, Nov 19 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1215

Bill Nye (Edgar Wilson Nye) is one of our favorite humorists. This week, we are featuring stories from his 1881 collection, 'Bill Nye and Boomerang.'

Today we learn a truly unique use for a washtub in Nye's tale of 'Dirty Murphy.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Bill Nye Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/billnye.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-19.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:50am EDT

Tue, Nov 18 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1214

Bill Nye (Edgar Wilson Nye) is one of our favorite humorists. This week, we are featuring stories from his 1881 collection, 'Bill Nye and Boomerang.'

Today's piece concerns the many reported deaths of Frank and Jesse James and their gang -- it is called 'Killing Off the James Boys.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Bill Nye Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/billnye.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-18.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:47am EDT

Mon, Nov 17 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1213

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty-Two (Part One of Two) of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'The Holy Fountain' -- where we learn about professional courtesy among magicians.

Time: approx eleven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-17.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:44am EDT

Sun, Nov 16 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1212

SUNDAY SALAD offers Stanley Huntley's clever 1880 spoof of Jules Verne's 'Around the World in Eighty Days.' It's called 'A Journey to the Sun by Jules Verne, Jr.'

Sorry -- there are no unread Spoopendyke stories available this week. We will keep searching.

Time: approx eleven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-16a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:36pm EDT

Sun, Nov 16 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1211

Mr. Bowser has 'the event of his life' in C. B. Lewis's 1899 tale 'Fishing for Tautog.'

Time: approx ten minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-16.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:34am EDT

Fri, Nov 14 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1210

We continue to read assorted stories from 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun,' compiled by Samuel Putnam Avery back in 1854.

In the early 19th Century, communities would board school teachers at the homes of parents -- here's the sad tale of 'A Schoolmaster 'Boarding Hound.''

Time: approx five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-14.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:32am EDT

Thu, Nov 13 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1209

We continue to read assorted stories from 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun,' compiled by Samuel Putnam Avery back in 1854.

Yep, today's piece is more an old, old joke than a story, but it is pretty funny nevertheless. It's a story about a traveller 'Getting Up an Examination'

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-13.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:31am EDT

Wed, Nov 12 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1208

We continue to read assorted stories from 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun,' compiled by Samuel Putnam Avery back in 1854.



When Amelia Bloomer invented her namesake pantsuit for women back in the early 1850s, many writers made fun of them, as in this short piece, 'A Rhyme for the Bloomers.'

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-12.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:28am EDT

Tue, Nov 11 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1207

We continue to read assorted stories from 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun,' compiled by Samuel Putnam Avery back in 1854.

Today we visit a lonely man trying to catch a snooze in the cold in 'A Bachelor's Woes.'

Time: approx three minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-11a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:27am EDT

Tue, Nov 11 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1206

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty-One (Part Two of Two) of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'The Pilgrims' -- where Sandy and The Boss join a group of Pilgrims heading for Holy Waters, when they meet a top-hatted knight coming the other way.

Time: approx nineteen and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-11.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:24am EDT

Sun, Nov 09 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1205

Spoopendyke is BACK!

For this episode of SUNDAY SALAD we have dug up a so far undiscovered story of Mr. and Mrs. Spoopendyke from 1880 -- it's called 'A Little Large in the Neck.'

Also from 1880, we are including a tale of a man purchasing an obituary notice in 'A Perplexing Situation' and another story of woman with a flair for Shakespearean dialogue finding her Romeo at a Coney Island hotel in 'A Peculiar Boarder.'

Time: approx fifteen minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-09.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:06am EDT

Sat, Nov 08 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1204

Our favorite old crank sets out to win a contest and prove himself the most well-liked man in town in C. B. Lewis's 1899 story 'Mr. Bowser's Popularity.'

Time: approx eight and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-08.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:04am EDT

Fri, Nov 07 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1203

Famed illustrator and art collector Samuel Putnam Avery edited a collection of humor in 1854 called 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun.'

We are wrapping up a week of very short, fun stories about kissing from that book, with FIVE pieces - - 'A Kiss in the Dark' 'Barking Up the Wrong Tree' 'An Ecstatic Lover' 'A Smacking Article' and 'Improved Cookery.'

Time: approx six and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-07.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:01am EDT

Thu, Nov 06 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1202

Famed illustrator and art collector Samuel Putnam Avery edited a collection of humor in 1854 called 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun.' This week, we will be reading very short, fun stories about kissing from that book.

Today's piece is more interesting than funny, but is worth a listen. It's called 'Kissing Philosophy.'

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-06.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:00am EDT

Wed, Nov 05 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1201

Famed illustrator and art collector Samuel Putnam Avery edited a collection of humor in 1854 called 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun.' This week, we will be reading very short, fun stories about kissing from that book.

Today we explore the mechanics of a proper smooch in 'How to Enjoy A Kiss.'

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-05.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Tue, Nov 04 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1200

This is Mister Ron's Basement Episode #1200!!

Famed illustrator and art collector Samuel Putnam Avery edited a collection of humor in 1854 called 'Mrs. Partington's Carpet-Bag of Fun.' This week, we will be reading very short, fun stories about kissing from that book.

Today's is called 'A Chapter on Kissing.'



Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-04.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:55am EDT

Mon, Nov 03 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1199

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty-One (Part One of Two) of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'The Pilgrims' -- where Sandy and The Boss have Breakfast with the Pigs...

Time: approx nine and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-03.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:52am EDT

Sun, Nov 02 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1198

SUNDAY SALAD features TWO Stanley Huntley stories concerning sadness and grief. Of course, they are both hysterically funny! The two tales appeared in 1883 -- 'Profound Grief' and 'A Delicate Mission.'

Sadly, we have yet to dig up any undiscovered Spoopendyke stories yet, and may never do so. But we will keep searching!

Time: approx nine minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-02a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:50pm EDT

Sun, Nov 02 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1197

Mr. Bowser encounters an incredible turning point in his relationship with Mrs. Bowser in C. B. Lewis's 1892 tale, 'There Are Occasions When the Worm Will Turn.'

Time: approx eight and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-11-02.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:48am EDT

Fri, Oct 31 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1196

Perhaps not among his funniest stories, we present Charles Battell Loomis's charming 1909 tale, 'Politeness As An Asset.'

Time: approx six minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Charles Battell Loomis Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/charlesbattellloomis.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-31a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:46pm EDT

Fri, Oct 31 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1195

We are featuring another truly odd story from Charles Battell Loomis written in 1906 -- it's not exactly Science Fiction -- but in it we get a report from someplace not of this Earth -- about 'The Poets' Strike.'

Time: approx nine and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Charles Battell Loomis Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/charlesbattellloomis.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-31.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:44am EDT

Wed, Oct 29 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1194

Here's another quirky (but very short) 1902 story from Charles Battell Loomis -- it's called 'Five Hundred Dollars.' You can draw your own conclusions to this enjoyable tale.

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Charles Battell Loomis Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/charlesbattellloomis.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-29.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:41am EDT

Tue, Oct 28 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1193

Charles Battell Loomis wrote an astonishing array of short stories. This week we will explore some of them. Today we have a 1900 tale of a boy with a unique talent entitled 'The Boy Who Turned Books Into Food.'

Time: approx nine minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Charles Battell Loomis Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/charlesbattellloomis.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-28a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:39pm EDT

Tue, Oct 28 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1192

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Twenty of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'The Ogre's Castle' -- where Sandy and The Boss reach the goal of their quest -- sort of...

Time: approx sixteen minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-28.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:31am EDT

Sun, Oct 26 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1191

SUNDAY SALAD offers TWO Stanley Huntley stories from 1882 -- neither of which features the Spoopendykes! Yes, it has finally happened! Unless something so far undiscovered turns up, we have, sadly, run out of Spoopendyke stories.

Nevertheless, we will keep looking, and in the meantime we have two tales -- in the first, a reporter tries to write up a Church Picnic in Medieval style in 'Early English' and a family adopts a unique pet in 'Taming an Alligator.'

Time: approx ten and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-26a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:29pm EDT

Sun, Oct 26 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1190

Our favorite old crank comes up with a few ideas to eliminate poisonous gasses and bacteria in his home in C. B. Lewis's 1889 tale, 'Mr. Bowser Has Theories.'

Time: approx eight minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-26.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:27am EDT

Sat, Oct 25 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1189



Fans of the movie 'Ghostbusters' may find some intriguing resemblances to that film in Gellet Burgess's 1905 story, 'The Ghost-Extinguisher.' Your comments on this amazing (and fun) find are more than welcome! Send them to revry@panix.com.

Time: approx twenty-five minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-25.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:22am EDT

Thu, Oct 23 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1188

Today we offer the sad tale of a ghost of a man who is still alive! It also features romance, and some serious miscommunication, in Frank R. Stockton's 1884 story, 'The Transferred Ghost.'

Time: approx twenty-five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-23.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:19am EDT

Tue, Oct 21 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1187

With Halloween approaching, we are reading some spooky (and fun) ghost stories this week! Today's 1903 tale by Rose O'Neill concerns a strange spirit and a forgetful lady. It's called 'The Lady and the Ghost.'

Time: approx eleven and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-21.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:16am EDT

Mon, Oct 20 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1186

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Nineteen of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'Knight-Errantry as a Trade' -- where Sandy gives The Boss an Earful.

Time: approx eight and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-20.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:11am EDT

Sun, Oct 19 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1185

SUNDAY SALAD reveals the depth and range of Stanley Huntley's humorous writing with THREE pieces!

First, a tough cowboy faces town a truly mean gambler in Bismarck, Dakota in the 1882 story 'A Piece of Carelessness.'

Then an all-too-familiar poem is rewritten as it would be by four classic writers in 'Mary's Little Lamb - Verses Culled from the Different Authors,' also from 1882, and finally, what may be our last Spoopendyke story, our favorite couple visit 'The Legislature' from 1883.

Time: approx eleven and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-19.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:35am EDT

Sat, Oct 18 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1184

'Mr. Bowser Tries to Show His Wife How to Clean A House,' written by C. B. Lewis, back in 1889. What else needs to be said?

Time: approx eight minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-18.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:33am EDT

Fri, Oct 17 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1183

George Ade takes a look at a young married couple who separate for the first time in the 1902 tale 'The Fable of the Reckless Wife who had no One to Watch Her.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-17.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:31am EDT

Thu, Oct 16 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1182

When you get right down to it, some people don't appreciate a good joke, as happens in George Ade's 1900 tale, 'The Fable of the Inveterate Joker Who Remained in Montana.'

Time: approx five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-16.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:29am EDT

Wed, Oct 15 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1181

A century or so ago, Phrenologists, who would read fortunes and character from the bumps in peoples' heads, were quite popular. Today's George Ade story, from 1899, deals with just that. It's called 'The Fable of the Visitor Who Got A Lot for Three Dollars.'

Time: approx five minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-15.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:28am EDT

Tue, Oct 14 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1180

It's been awhile since we offered any of George Ade's Fables, so let's do some this week! We'll start with an 1899 tale of a conundrum with a terrific moral -- 'The Fable of the Caddy Who Hurt His Head While Thinking.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The George Ade Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/AdeCatalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-14.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:25am EDT

Mon, Oct 13 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1179

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Eighteen of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'In the Queen's Dungeons' -- where The Boss sets a lot of prisoners Free.

Time: approx twenty-three minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-13.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:21am EDT

Sun, Oct 12 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1178

SUNDAY SALAD offers TWO of the BEST Stanley Huntley stories we've ever presented! First, from 1880, comes a classic tale of old Bismarck, Dakota -- 'The Gentleman from the Bad Lands.' Then Mr. and Mrs. Spoopendyke examine a rarely worn coat in 'Preparing for the New Years' from 1882.

Not to be missed!

Time: approx twenty minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-12.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:18am EDT

Sat, Oct 11 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1177

From 1889, C. B Lewis, writing as M. Quad, brings us a lesson in commerce in 'Bowser Speaks Slightingly of His Wife's Business Methods, But --'

Time: approx seven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-11.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:15am EDT

Fri, Oct 10 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1176

In today's 1875 story, Eli Perkins considers the effect of a glut of jewels on the market in 'Solitaire Diamonds.'

Time: approx five minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-10a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:12pm EDT

Fri, Oct 10 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1175

The wild west was full of rough, lawless characters, but no matter how wild they were, they had to pay their fares on the railroad, as we see in Eli Perkins' 1875 story, 'A Frontiersman.'

Time: approx five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-10.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:10am EDT

Thu, Oct 09 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1174

Today we join Eli Perkins and a law student vying for the attention of a lady at a dance in the 1875 story 'The Legal-Minded Man.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-09.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:08am EDT

Wed, Oct 08 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1173

We'll be hearing some more fun stories from Eli Perkins' 1875 book 'Eli Perkins (At Large)' this week. Today we find out the results of naming someone as the 'most beautiful girl' in print in 'Eli Perkins in Hot Water.'

Time: approx seven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-08.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:06am EDT

Mon, Oct 06 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1172

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Seventeen (Part Two) of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'A Royal Banquet' -- where The Boss gets an uncomfortable taste of medieval justice.

Time: approx fourteen and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-06a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:02pm EDT

Mon, Oct 06 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1171

SUNDAY SALAD offers up TWO Stanley Huntley pieces this week -- first we get an inside scoop on the pharmacy business in 'A Dismal Druggist' from 1882, and Mr. Spoopendyke gets out in the garden in 'The Mild Mannered Man Tries His Hand at Transplanting' from 1883.

Time: approx eleven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-06.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:59am EDT

Sat, Oct 04 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1170

Mr. Bowser gives his house a once over in C. B. Lewis's 1889 story, 'How the Man of the House Had It Painted and What It Cost.'

Time: approx nine minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-04.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:57am EDT

Fri, Oct 03 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1169

There are mean men, and meaner men, but Eli Perkins' wrote a story in 1875 about 'The Meanest Man Yet'.

Time: approx three minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-03.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:55am EDT

Thu, Oct 02 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1168

Eli Perkins relates an 1875 story about a sad old miner, observing the young miners come into the bank, cashing in their gold dust. It's called 'A Lonesome Man.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-02.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:54am EDT

Wed, Oct 01 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1167

With all the tragic news coming out of Wall Street these days, we may want to take a look at Eli Perkins' 1875 tale of a disconsolate broker. It's called 'A Sad Man.'

Time: approx five minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-10-01.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:52am EDT

Tue, Sep 30 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1166

Melville D. Landon wrote under the pen name of Eli Perkins, and was probably more well known as a compiler of American Humor collections. Nevertheless, he was capable of writing extremely funny stories of his own.

Today, we'll hear an 1875 Eli Perkins tale about Jesse and Frank James, a daring robbery, an admiring newspaper editor, and an act of gratitude in 'A Grateful Man.'

Time: approx five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-30.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:50pm EDT

Mon, Sep 29 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1165

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Seventeen (Part One) of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'A Royal Banquet' -- featuring food, music, bawdy jokes, prayers, and a hanging.

Time: approx eight minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-29.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:48am EDT

Sun, Sep 28 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1164

SUNDAY SALAD offers TWO Stanley Huntley stories today -- From 1883, a Temperance crusader attempts to bring the Brooklyn Eagle's editors into the Prohibition campaign in 'Wanted the Paper's Influence' and Mr. Spoopendyke is hailed by one and all as the next Mayor of the city in 'The Reconciliation Candidate' from 1881.

Time: approx eighteen minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-28.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:45am EDT

Sat, Sep 27 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1163

Mr. Bowser displays his carpentry prowess in C. B. Lewis's 1890 tale, 'The Head of the Family Tries to Put Up Some Screen Doors.'

Time: approx eight minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-27.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:42am EDT

Fri, Sep 26 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1162

Here's a nifty 1876 Max Adeler story about a judicial blunder and a bald man's hat called 'Justice, and a Little Injustice.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-26.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:40am EDT

Mister Ron's Basement #1161 Thu, Sep 25 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1161

Max Adeler often wrote pretty funny poetry. Today we feature a humorous verse from Adeler's 1874 collection, 'Out of the Hurly Burly,' It's called 'Tim Keyser's Nose.'

Time: approx four and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-25.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:27am EDT

Wed, Sep 24 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1160

Our Max Adeler Marathon continues with an extremely short story concerning a horse, a saddle, and a friendly bit of advice in 'The Saddle Was On Wrong' from 1873.

Time: approx two and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-24.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:20am EDT

Tue, Sep 23 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1159

In what is turning into a Max Adeler Marathon, we present a third week in a row of Adeler short stories. Today we hear about a coroner, an Egyptian Mummy, and Noah's Ark in the 1875 tale, 'Sorry He Wasn't There.'

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-23.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:18am EDT

Mon, Sep 22 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1158

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Sixteen of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 -- 'Morgan Le Fay' -- where we hear of Knights selling soap and a truly nasty Queen.

Time: approx fifteen minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-22.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:14am EDT

Sun, Sep 21 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1157

SUNDAY SALAD offers FOUR pieces today -- two very funny stories are definitely by Stanley Huntley -- 'The Editor and the Tracts' from 1881 and 'Sanctum Fables,' also from 1881.

Another 1882 piece from an Oregon newspaper called 'Spoopendyke at the Telephone' was obviously not authentic, even to readers of the day, and 'Spoopendyke Starts a Fire,' also from 1882, from a North Carolina newspaper, and claiming to be from the Brooklyn Eagle, may be a counterfeit -- it seems a little odd -- your opinions on this are most welcome! Join the discussion at our blog at: http://misterronsbasement.blogspot.com/2008/09/counterfeit-spoopendyke-stories.htm.

Time: approx thirteen minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-21.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:09am EDT

Sat, Sep 20 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1156

Mr. Bowser is up to his usual antics in C. B. Lewis's 1890 story, 'The Head of the Family Tries Sleeping in a Hammock.'

Time: approx seven minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-20.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:07am EDT

Fri, Sep 19 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1155

Despite his happy name, a hunter achieves incredible levels of anger and frustration in Max Adeler's 1875 tale, 'Mr. Smiley's Gun.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-19.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:04am EDT

Thu, Sep 18 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1154



Short but funny! Max Adeler's 'A Story of a Hot Brick' from 1875. Don't miss it!

Time: approx three and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-18.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:01am EDT

Wed, Sep 17 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1153

Max Adeler had a keen eye for clever inventions. Today's incredibly funny story from 1873 concerns a new-fangled sewing machine. It's called 'Kipp's Inventive Experiment.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-17.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:59am EDT

Tue, Sep 16 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1152

MORE Max Adeler stories this week! Ever been "stuck" on someone romantically? Here's a tale of a young man who definitely was stuck, in 'Glue and the Emotions' from 1879.

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-16.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:56am EDT

Mon, Sep 15 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1151

For Mark Twain Monday, we present Chapter Fifteen of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' from 1889 --'Sandy's Tale' -- where The Boss gets a real earful!

Time: approx eighteen and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Mark Twain Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Twain.html

The Mark Twain Connecticut Yankee Novel Index of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Connecticut.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-15.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:54am EDT

Sun, Sep 14 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1150

SUNDAY SALAD offers TWO Stanley Huntley stories today. First, a man hires a couple of (not so) sharp lawyers to rid himself of a pest in 'A Curious Client' from 1881, and Mrs. Spoopendyke asks her husband to help her find some medicine in 'Mr. Spoopendyke's Search' from 1882.

Time: approx ten and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Stanley Huntley and Spoopendyke Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/Spoopendyke_Stories.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-14a.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:51am EDT

Sun, Sep 14 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1149

From 1891, Mr. Bowser hides things and seeks things in 'It's Always Mrs. Bowser's Fault' by C. B. Lewis.

Time: approx five and a half minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/quad.html

The M. Quad (C. B. Lewis) Mister Bowser Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/mrbowser.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-14.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:49am EDT

Fri, Sep 12 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1148

Max Adeler takes an oblique look at the greatest figures of history in the 1875 tale 'The Unwritten Side of Great Men.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-12.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:47am EDT

Thu, Sep 11 2008

Mister Ron's Basement #1147

Max Adeler tells of a persistent Insurance Salesman who meets with failure in the 1874 story, 'A Disheartened Agent.'

Time: approx four minutes

The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:
http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html

The Max Adeler Catalog of Stories is at:

http://ronevry.com/maxadeler.html

Direct download: revry-2008-09-11.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:45am EDT