Almanac Comedy: ‘Yes, What?’ – Radio Serial
As a result of Kevin Densley’s recent post about the McCackie Mansion Radio Serial that featured legendary comic Roy ‘Mo’ Rene, and consequent comments about other radio serials, I was pleasantly reminded of another radio classic I listened to in the early 70s, Yes ,What?
I remember well my early childhood and pre-television days in Australia when radio was king. Like many young lads I loved listening to Hop Harrigan, Dad and Dave, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Dick Tracy, Dragnet, and other shows of that ilk.
Mum would turn on the radio around tea time and I would sit on the floor, my ears firmly glued to the radio and live out the action portrayed in the serials. Loved it!
In the late 60s and early 70s as I drove home from work I would listen to Yes, What? a serial first produced in the 30s and later reprised and played before the news on 3DB – if my memory serves me well.
The antics of Greenbottle, Bottomley and others in the program, set mainly in a classroom, had me in stitches and helped relieve the tension of stuck in peak-hour traffic on the drive home.
Details about the history of the Yes, What? program and links to many of the classic weekly programs can be found Here.
I hope you enjoy the program as much as I did.
More from Col Ritchie can be read Here.
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About Colin Ritchie
Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.
Cheers, Col. Good stuff!
Like you, I’m a fan of radio series, particularly those from many decades ago that, as a kid, I listened to in reruns – you’ve named some of them in this piece. ‘Yes, What?’ is one that I clearly recall – I enjoyed it a great deal.
I remember my parents listening to Yes, What?
I too enjoyed Yes What in the late sixties here in Adelaide. My Mother claimed to have heard it originally when she was a young girl saying it was called the Forth Form of St Percy’s when she tuned in. Other serials that I enjoyed in the fifties were The Air Adventures of Biggles, Superman, Speed King, King of Space, the Silver Spur and the best of them all, Journey into Space and its sequel, The World in Peril. My Dad wouldn’t miss Major Gregory Keen’s adventures in Deadly Nightshade ( a story that unfolds like the petals of a deadly flower) and Twenty Six Hours.In the eighties 5DN repeated them and I was able to enjoy them. Then, of course was Take it From Here and the HIGHLY ESTEEMED WIRELESS TYPE GOON SHOW. Address Unknown was another not to be missed – wonderful times..