Premier Collections:
The Milton Berle Show
Liner notes written by Elizabeth McLeod
Click to listen to a Microsoft WMA audio clip
Click to listen to a MP3 audio clip
His comedy was once described by Time Magazine as "the acme of hysterical vulgarity," and for more than seventy years Milton Berle never lost his taste for good old-fashioned bust-a-gut comedy. But it wasn't a style that translated well to radio -- and it took the veteran performer the better part of fifteen years to figure out a format that genuinely suited him. But when he did, the result was a series that stands as one of the forgotten bright spots of postwar radio.
Berle's 1947-48 NBC series for Philip Morris took a satirical, larger-than-life approach which poked as much fun at Berle's boorish stage persona as it did the ostensible targets of the satire. Written by radio comedy veterans Nat Hiken and Aaron Ruben, each week the series saluted some current pop-culture phenomenon in broadly played topical sketches. Berle found himself the target of abuse from his high-class announcer Frank Gallop and coping with the nasal antics of sidekick Arnold Stang, with additional seasoning furnished by veteran comic harridan Pert Kelton, future TV/movie character actor Jack Albertson, and perennial second banana Al Kelly. The result more than makes up for the loss of Berle's trademark visual gags and slapstick horseplay, and offers an interesting contrast with the much more stage bound approach that Berle would take when he made his fateful move into television later in 1948.
Here's what you'll get in this hilarious new Premier Collection:
A Salute to the Great Outdoors
Milton decides to take a camping trip.
Tuesday, August 5, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Summer Sports
Milton is going to the racetrack to place a bet for his sponsor, but his wife has other ideas about his choice of horses.
Tuesday, August 12, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Relaxation
Milton frees the heat of the city to spend a night at Bert Lahr's cabin in the woods, but his attempts to get a good night's sleep are constantly thwarted by noisy crickets and noisier neighbors.
Tuesday, August 19, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to the Railroads
Uncle Julius is arriving in town for a visit, so Milton goes to the railroad station to meet him.
Tuesday, August 26, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to South America
Milton's attempts to listen to the Rio conference on the radio are interrupted by his wife's housecleaning, Junior's use of his electric razor, and friends who drop in to tell him the latest jokes.
Tuesday, September 2, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to the Farmer
Phil Baker has sent the Berle's a chicken, but Milton's dreams of free eggs are soon dashed by the discovery that the hen is a rooster.
Tuesday, September 9, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Radio
Junior, played by the adenoidal Arnold Stang, is having problems with his parents, so Milton takes him to see a child psychologist.
Tuesday, September 16, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to the Automobile Industry
Milton and the family are trying to plan an automobile trip to Canada.
Tuesday, September 23, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Brooklyn
Where to take the family for a special outing? Why, to Ebbets Field to watch the Dodgers play, of course!
Tuesday, September 30, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to the Old West
Milton makes various attempts to see producer Darryl Zanuck about an idea he has for a new picture.
Tuesday, October 7, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to the New York Theater
Milton tries to buy tickets to a sold-out Broadway show.
Tuesday, October 14, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Good Health
Milton has the hiccups, so he takes a trip to the doctor in order to find a cure.
Tuesday, October 21, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to the Navy
Milton wants to sail to Cuba in the worst way...and he does: eighth class!
Tuesday, October 28, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Football
It's off to the stadium to watch the "Fighting Irish" of Notre Dame play football.
Tuesday, November 4, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Washington DC
It's election time and Milton is running for Alderman in his local district.
Tuesday, November 11, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to the Opera
Overweight divas and overwrought tenors are in for a good ribbing as Milton and company present their tribute to the rarified world of the opera!
Tuesday, November 18, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Public Service
After getting a parking ticket, Milton decides to fight city hall.
Tuesday, December 2, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Prize Fighting
Portraying that great boxer Miltie the Mauler, Berle takes a trip to the gym for a good workout.
Tuesday, December 9, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Department Stores
It's the high-spot of the Christmas shopping season and Milton take a trip to the store to return, of all things, a pair of snowshoes!
Tuesday, December 16, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
A Salute to Winter Sports
Milton takes a trip into the north woods to spend a relaxing weekend with announcer Frank Gallop and his wife.
Tuesday, January 6, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Philip Morris Cigarettes
The complete content of this
website, including all text, illustrations, and audio content © 2008 First
Generation Radio Archives. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this website may
not be duplicated or reproduced in any way, in whole or in part, without the
express written permission of the copyright holder.
