Radio Recap: The Henry Morgan Show

So far I've used this 'Radio Recap' to visit old-time radio programs which fell into the mystery genre. Obviously, that's not all that I enjoy listening to; recently I decided to listen to what I could find of the ABC comedy program The Henry Morgan Show (1946-1947). I had only heard a couple of episodes in the past and I had mostly enjoyed what I heard, but the last time I tried to listen to whole series I was a little put off by the voices.

Well, voice. I've said many times before that I don't enjoy radio programs with performers who use squeaky or nasally tones for comedic effect. Unfortunately I really didn't take to Henry Morgan's sidekick Arnold Stang, who was in every episode of the ABC show. However, although I didn't find his voice funny, he did have some funny material on Mogan's program and as I listened to the whole series I gained a lot of respect for Stang's performance.

I was really drawn to Henry Morgan because of his wit - his sarcastic remarks, his love of satire and his willingness to mock his sponsor. Many radio comedians of the time made fun of their sponsors to some extent, but listening to all of Henry Morgan it is amazing to hear him constantly put down his sponsor Eversharp-Schick Razors. Usually the middle commercial of the program was read by Morgan himself and that's where he became most acrid towards his sponsor, such as noting the product cost $1.25, then suggesting other things which could be bought for that money, or claiming that using the product helped men save time only to result in a tragic outcome.

It feels like ABC and Eversharp-Schick really wanted a Jack Benny or Bob Hope program (especially ABC as they were a very young network). It's certainly different from where Morgan originated as a radio disc jockey. Instead of simply being Morgan at a microphone, ABC and Eversharp-Schick gave him a band and stooges. But if they'd actually listened to his material from his disc jockey days they might have realized that his brand of sardonic humour was not going to win over Bob Hope-sized audiences. Heck, in one episode Morgan informs his cast that they all have to adopt distinctive characteristics and gives them all traits from Jack Benny & Bob Hope's casts; it only lasts for one sketch.

Indeed, Morgan was malleable - he played a variety of different characters on the show, sometimes adopting accents. He certainly didn't disappear into his characters, but that Morgan wasn't putting himself (or his sponsor's product) forward was definitely against the grain. His trademark opening, "Good evening, anybody, here's Morgan," hints at the contempt he had for his own profession.

Listening to The Henry Morgan Show it's clear that it could never have really taken off, but the type of humour which Morgan performed did find audiences with other comedians in the post-war era - Stan Freberg, Mad magazine, Bob and Ray. It's notable to me that Bob and Ray never really altered their format from their days as disc jockeys - a Bob and Ray program from any point in their careers is mostly like any other program aside from what music is played.

But all that is to say that if you like old-time radio comedy - and especially satirical humour - The Henry Morgan Show is a very good program. My personal favourite show is the New Year's program from January 1, 1947, in which Morgan presents various pieces of dialogue, sound effects and music cues which he wasn't able to use in 1946, then introduces a sketch which assembles them into one ridiculous narrative!