Premier Collections: 
Matinee with Bob and Ray, Volume 1
Liner notes written by Ivan G. Shreve, Jr.

Click to listen to an audio sample

"That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me..."

It was CBS News commentator/curmudgeon Andy Rooney who once observed, “A lot of people think, as I do, that they appreciate Bob and Ray more than anyone else does.” Included in that “a lot of people” are undoubtedly old-time radio fans, many of whom have delighted in the offbeat radio antics of Messrs. Elliott and Goulding for the past half-century. Both men capitalized on their uncanny ability to intuit what each other was thinking to carve a small niche in the field of entertainment, generating big laughs by gently skewering and mocking the banality and pomposity of the business in which they had devoted both their careers: radio.

Boston native Robert Brackett Elliott was hired by 5000-watt radio station WHDH shortly after the start of World War II and, upon completing his stint in the service, returned to continue working the station’s morning drive time slot as a disc jockey. At that same time, the station also hired Raymond Walter Goulding to do WHDH’s hourly newscasts. Goulding was also a fellow New Englander, having been raised in nearby Lowell. The two men soon discovered that they enjoyed a real rapport over the airwaves and, after Goulding’s newscast was over, he would often join Elliott in witty, ad-libbed skits that slowly and surely developed a devoted fan base. When WHDH obtained the rights to the Braves-Red Sox games, management offered the two men twenty-five minutes before the start of each game to showcase their unique buffoonery, and dubbed the proceedings with the catchy title "Matinee with Bob and Ray."

Broadcasts of "Matinee" have been in circulation among OTR buffs since the 1980s, when transcriptions of Bob and Ray’s formative years were discovered stored in a building near the WHDH transmitter. For Bob and Ray fans that are only familiar with their network offerings on NBC, CBS or NPR, the programs make for fascinating listening, offering a revealing insight into the workings of local radio during the 1940s. "Matinee" can best be described as sort of a free-form style of comedy jazz; nothing is scripted (well, about 90% is unscripted) and the program allows both men to indulge in flights of fancy, often veering onto offbeat comedic tangents from the most mundane mentions. For example, a Fatima Cigarettes commercial in which famed Sherlock Holmes actor Basil Rathbone acts as spokesman is usually followed by Bob and Ray’s parody of the great sleuth (“As I made my way through the pea-soup thick fog…”). Elliott and Goulding’s penchant for soap opera send-ups are in full swing on "Matinee"; their regular feature is a delightfully nutty saga entitled “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” (prominently featured on their 1951 NBC-TV series, with Audrey Meadows as Linda), but a September 9, 1948 broadcast showcases an even funnier parody titled “Ma Gherkins.” Several characters from Bob and Ray’s vast array of offbeat guests have already staked out positions on this show, notably Ray’s falsetto Julia Child-clone Mary Margaret McGoon and Bob’s drawling cowboy Tex.

"Matinee with Bob and Ray" continued on WHDH in various formats and time slots until 1951, when the two men finally crashed the party known as network radio, beginning with quarter and half-hour shows on NBC and also launching their aforementioned television show, which was happily rerun on "The Comedy Channel" in the 1990s). Their five-minute appearances on NBC Radio’s "Monitor" began in 1955, and four years later they moved to CBS for what many fans consider their finest hour, "Bob and Ray Present the CBS Radio Network" (1959-60). After a two-year period of concentrating on work in commercials, they returned to New York’s WHN for an all-afternoon show, and moved to WOR around 1973. In the 1980s, they were entertaining public radio audiences with their NPR series, which ended in 1987. Ray Goulding passed away three years after completing that show, in March of 1990.

Bob and Ray’s one-of-a-kind brand of comedy enabled the team to transcend radio; they entertained audiences along the Great White Way in 1970 with their stage hit "The Two and Only" and appeared in several feature films as well. (They practically stole the show by parodying various television anchormen in the satirical 1971 comedy "Cold Turkey.") But for OTR fans, they are revered for their long-running dedication to the aural medium — and thanks to the efforts of Bob and Ray fan Sheryl Smith, who helped us to gain access to the original 16" WHDH transcriptions, the First Generation Radio Archives is able to present the two men at their finest, with a collection of hilarious "Matinee" shows that sound better than ever.

Here are the entries offered in this twenty-episode, ten-compact disc collection:

Bob is Ill
Ray must soldier on with an absent Bob and does very well for himself with a parody of “Stop the Music,” a Prune Whip recipe from Mary Margaret McGoon, and a sports report from Steve Sturdley.
Tuesday, August 31, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Clinton’s Clothes and Wonderland-Revere
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Bob Returns to the Program
Bob is back on the program (he claims to have played hooky, moonlighting in order to pay the rent), and the hi-jinks continue with a Western spoof, an episode of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely,” and a take-off on Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.
Wednesday, September 1, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Clinton’s Clothes and Wonderland-Revere
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Modern Radio Commercials
Bob and Ray spoof modern radio commercials, interview bandleader Cyril Hardy, and present installments of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” and “Us, the People.”
Thursday, September 2, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Clinton’s Clothes and Wonderland-Revere
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A Trip to Clinton’s Clothes
Bob and Ray take a trip to one of their sponsors, Clinton Clothes, to buy a sharkskin suit and also present an installment of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely.”
Friday, September 3, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Clinton’s Clothes and Wonderland-Revere
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Kidding the Musicians
Bob and Ray rib their pianist (Bill Green) and organist (Ken Wilson), present another installment of ”The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely,” and welcome Mary Margaret McGoon and the Sturdley Twins.
Wednesday, September 8, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Clinton’s Clothes, Mission Bell Wine, and Wonderland-Revere
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The Gay Nineties Show
Bob and Ray do a commercial in the spirit of the Gay Nineties, visit with Mary Margaret McGoon, and present installments of ”The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” and ”Ma Gherkins.”
Thursday, September 9, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by the Gay Nineties Nightclub, Mission Bell Wine, and Wonderland-Revere
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Transcribed For Broadcast at a More Convenient Time
Bob and Ray salute Louisiana (“the potato state”), present the continuing saga of ”The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely,” and spoof Holmes and Watson and Twenty Questions.
Friday, September 11, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH
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Ray Returns from Vacation
Bob and Ray introduce installments of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely,” “Dr. O.K., the Sentimental Banker,” and “Jack Headstrong, the All-American American.”
Monday, October 11, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by the Ladies Home Journal, Fatima Cigarettes, and Mission Bell Wine
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Columbus Day
Bob and Ray dramatize the voyage of Christopher Columbus, interview Coach Spike McSturdley, and spoof Holmes and Watson and Dr. Christian. An installment of “The Live and Loves of Linda Lovely” is also heard on the program.
Tuesday, October 12, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by the Ladies Home Journal, Fatima Cigarettes, and Mission Bell Wine
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Political Broadcasts
Bob and Ray spoof political broadcasts and the Old West, and present installments of ”The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” and “Dr. O.K., the Sentimental Banker.”
Monday, October 25, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes and Mission Bell Wine
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The Red River Porterhouse Promotion
Bob and Ray sing “Cool Water,” send up political broadcasts and Holmes and Watson, and present another stirring installment of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely.”
Tuesday, October 26, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes and Mission Bell Wine
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The Winner of the Bob and Ray Contest
Bob and Ray visit with Mary Margaret McGoon and present “Mr. D.A.,” ”The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” and “Jack Headstrong, the All-American American.”
Wednesday, October 27, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes, the West Peabody Speedway, and Mission Bell Wine
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How to Have Fun on Halloween
Bob and Ray’s guests are Chef Gallardi, Webley Webster and The Answer Man, and installments of “Jack Headstrong, the All-American American” and ”Backstage O’Flynn” are also heard.
Thursday, October 28, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes, the West Peabody Speedway, and Mission Bell Wine
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Fan Mail
Bob and Ray discuss the science of sound effects, spoof “Hobby Lobby,” mediate a feud between Mary Margaret McGoon and Tex, and spotlight Coach Spike McSturdley’s football predictions. An installment of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” is also heard on the program.
Friday, October 29, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes, the West Peabody Speedway, and Mission Bell Wine
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Dinner at the Latin Quarter
A transcription of dinner at the Latin Quarter with the winner of the Bob and Ray contest is presented; the winner, introduced Mary Margaret McGoon, also makes an appearance on the program and she and the boys sing “Alouette." A brief (very brief) installment of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” is also heard.
Saturday, October 30, 1948 – 25:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes, the Hudson Speedway, and Wyoming Motors
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A Vocal Impersonator Auditions for the Show
Bob and Ray welcome Tex and Mary Margaret McGoon, offer advice on antiques, and sing “It’s Magic.” An installment of “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” is also presented.
Monday, November 8, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes and Mission Bell Wine
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Bill Green Wins a Contest
Bob and Ray’s pianist is a consolation prize winner in a Bendix washing machine contest, Bob and Ray visit a school for Santas, and Bob sings “It’s Magic” (as Peter Lorre). Also heard on the program: “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” and a salute to Connecticut, “the bayou state”.
Tuesday, November 9, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes and Mission Bell Wine
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Crosby’s Coming
Bob and Ray demonstrate how a salesman for WHDH sells time on their program. In addition, they visit with Mary Margaret McGoon and songwriters George and Irving, and present “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely,” “Believe It or Rot” and a parody of “Dr. Christian.”
Wednesday, November 10, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored Fatima Cigarettes and Mission Bell Wine
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Sam Shovel
Bob and Ray plug Bill Green and Ken Wilson’s upcoming series, and present a spoof of “Suspense.” Also on the program: visits with Tex and Mary Margaret McGoon and an installment of “Jack Headstrong, the All-American American.”
Saturday, November 13, 1948 – 25:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes and Wyoming Motors
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The WHDH Sales Office
Bob and Ray dramatize the life of a WHDH commercial time salesman and examine a program schedule for the BBC. “The Life and Loves of Linda Lovely” and a commercial for Sturdley cigarettes are also heard during the proceedings.
Monday, November 15, 1948 – 30:00 – WHDH, sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes, Mission Bell Wine, and Thayer Throat Lozenges
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