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FROM APPROXIMATELY COAST TO COAST...IT'S THE BOB AND RAY SHOW.Foreword by Andy Rooney.LARGE PRINT EDITION
Scripts from Bob and Ray's television and radio programs poke fun at news shows, soap operas, and American society
- GenresHumor
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1983
21 people want to read
About the author
Bob Elliott
32 books1 followerBob Elliott (born 1923) and Ray Goulding (1922–1990) were an American comedy team whose career spanned five decades.
"Bob & Ray invented, dreamed up the lines for, and then played, mainly on radio and television, a surrealistic Dickensian repertory company, which chastens the fools of the world with hyperbole, slapstick, parody, verbal nonsense, non sequitur, and sheer wit, all of it clean, subtle and gentle... Bob & Ray's humor turns on their faultless timing and on their infinite sense of the ridiculous. It is also framed by that special sly, dry, wasteless vision of life perfected during the last couple of centuries by middle-class New Englanders..."
-- Whitney Balliett, writing in The New Yorker
"Bob & Ray can go on being funny almost indefinately."
-- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
"Bob & Ray invented, dreamed up the lines for, and then played, mainly on radio and television, a surrealistic Dickensian repertory company, which chastens the fools of the world with hyperbole, slapstick, parody, verbal nonsense, non sequitur, and sheer wit, all of it clean, subtle and gentle... Bob & Ray's humor turns on their faultless timing and on their infinite sense of the ridiculous. It is also framed by that special sly, dry, wasteless vision of life perfected during the last couple of centuries by middle-class New Englanders..."
-- Whitney Balliett, writing in The New Yorker
"Bob & Ray can go on being funny almost indefinately."
-- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 29, 2017
Mention my name in Sheboygan...
So sad to learn of Bob Elliott's death on Feb. 2, 2016. Bob & Ray were pioneers and their humor remains timeless. I doubt there were any greater influences on American comedy. They weren't afraid to take on serious issues like McCarthyism, political hypocrisy, and social change. I own at least 50 hours of their recordings ranging from their early radio broadcasts in the 1940s through the mid-1980s before Ray Goulding died. Been spending the day laughing my rear end off. Here is a sampling of some classics:
S.T.O.A.
Wally Ballou reports from The Great Lakes Paperclip Company
Biff Burns reports on Low Jumping Competition
Fred Faldie the Home Handy Man
History of United States Author
Barry Campbell interview/Governor candidate on Letterman
Live at Carnegie Hall
Rest in Peace, Bob. And write if you get work.
Original Review:
Bob & Ray are among the funniest, most intelligent humorists America has ever produced. If you can find a copy of this book or get copies of ANY of their recordings, get 'em.
So sad to learn of Bob Elliott's death on Feb. 2, 2016. Bob & Ray were pioneers and their humor remains timeless. I doubt there were any greater influences on American comedy. They weren't afraid to take on serious issues like McCarthyism, political hypocrisy, and social change. I own at least 50 hours of their recordings ranging from their early radio broadcasts in the 1940s through the mid-1980s before Ray Goulding died. Been spending the day laughing my rear end off. Here is a sampling of some classics:
S.T.O.A.
Wally Ballou reports from The Great Lakes Paperclip Company
Biff Burns reports on Low Jumping Competition
Fred Faldie the Home Handy Man
History of United States Author
Barry Campbell interview/Governor candidate on Letterman
Live at Carnegie Hall
Rest in Peace, Bob. And write if you get work.
Original Review:
Bob & Ray are among the funniest, most intelligent humorists America has ever produced. If you can find a copy of this book or get copies of ANY of their recordings, get 'em.
January 21, 2018
In order to enjoy this, you have to have heard or watched these gents perform, and have their voices in your head. It's an imperfect record of their talents... but it'll do until definitive audio or video collections of their work become available...
August 10, 2017
-ly good, Ballou. large print, good laughs
March 8, 2016
I've owned this book for close to 20 years now, I guess, and I re-read it every two or three years.
Bob & Ray are "native" to radio, and that's where they work best. But they are dry and verbal enough that if you're familiar with their style, the script format will not be too much of a stretch for you.
Highlights for me include the Monongahela, Forbush and Einbiender ads; Author Alfred E. Nelson; and the Ambiguous Signs. Their well-known Slow Talkers of America and Komodo Dragon Expert bits are here as well. Many recurring characters like Fred Falvy and Wally Ballou are here, and there are several installments of Garish Summit and other spoofs on dramatic radio and TV shows.
I don't know how it impacts the particular works in this book, but it's worth noting that they used and worked with other (usually uncredited, sometimes unpaid) writers for much of their material. Examples are Tom Koch, Raymond Knight, and Jack Beauvais.
Bob & Ray are "native" to radio, and that's where they work best. But they are dry and verbal enough that if you're familiar with their style, the script format will not be too much of a stretch for you.
Highlights for me include the Monongahela, Forbush and Einbiender ads; Author Alfred E. Nelson; and the Ambiguous Signs. Their well-known Slow Talkers of America and Komodo Dragon Expert bits are here as well. Many recurring characters like Fred Falvy and Wally Ballou are here, and there are several installments of Garish Summit and other spoofs on dramatic radio and TV shows.
I don't know how it impacts the particular works in this book, but it's worth noting that they used and worked with other (usually uncredited, sometimes unpaid) writers for much of their material. Examples are Tom Koch, Raymond Knight, and Jack Beauvais.
April 12, 2015
Difficult to read cover-to-cover, since the skits and fake ads are really meant to be enjoyed at leisure. But taken one by one as a respite, they're great. I prefer the ads and show parodies ("Garish Summit") to the interviews, but all except the Charlie Chan parody made me smile.
Recommended, of course, only if you think they're funny. Here's a test: does the word "ingots" make you giggle a little? Then you will love them.
Recommended, of course, only if you think they're funny. Here's a test: does the word "ingots" make you giggle a little? Then you will love them.
July 6, 2016
I found a copy of "From Approximately Coast to Coast..." in my neighborhood "Little Free Library," and grabbed it and began reading right there on the spot. And started laughing, remembering so many of the slightly-off characters from way back when.
I'm a fan.
"So, until next time, this is Biff Burns saying: 'Until next time, this is Biff Burns saying "Goodnight."'"
I'm a fan.
"So, until next time, this is Biff Burns saying: 'Until next time, this is Biff Burns saying "Goodnight."'"
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews