Friday, February 26, 2016

Phil Fasthorse

 From February 8, 1953. The episode preceding this one, from 2/1/53, sets up the storyline continued in this episode and further in the next. Unfortunately, it is currently considered a "lost episode" and is unavailable.

https://archive.org/download/PhilHarris1952-54/530208%20Phil%20Fasthorse.mp3

Friday, February 12, 2016

Baby Alice's First Date

From October 26, 1952. Notes: Julius's age is never clearly stated during the series; he's implied to be a minor and seen attending the same school as the Harris girls (and dated Alice Jr. once just to annoy Phil), but he does have a driver's license and is seen vying with Phil for Alice Faye's affections in flashback episodes.

https://archive.org/download/PhilHarris1952-54/521026%20Baby%20Alice%27s%20First%20Date.mp3

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Hotel Harris (Remley Is Elliott)

From October 5, 1952. Notes: The 1st episode of season 7. Jack Benny's show, on which the character of Frank Remley originated, had recently moved from NBC to CBS. The details of what followed are a bit unclear, but it seems there was a legal disagreement about which program had the rights to the "Frank Remley" name. Since the real Frank Remley, who the character was based on, worked for the Benny program (yet never voiced the character), the Remley name stayed with Benny, and remained a character that was always referenced and never heard on Jack's show. The writers of the Harris program therefore had to change the character's name from Frank Remley to Elliott Lewis (the real name of the actor who played him). This is explained in the show as Frank Remley being a stage name that Elliott has finally given up to appease his mother. Phil reacts with mild revulsion at the new name, perhaps reflecting audience's presumed feelings towards it as well. Frank Remley was known as Elliott Lewis for the remainder of the series. Lewis was later quoted as saying something along the lines of "It just didn't work as well as Frank Remley; Elliott Lewis just isn't a funny name."

https://archive.org/download/PhilHarris1952-54/521005%20Hotel%20Harris%20%28Remley%20is%20Elliott%29.mp3

Friday, February 5, 2016

Phil Is Directed To Fire His Band

 From April 27, 1952. Notes: It seems that this episode ran over the allotted airtime, as the conclusion of the episode is an oddly framed rushed statement by Mr. Scott.

https://archive.org/download/PhilHarris1952-54/520427%20Phil%20is%20Directed%20to%20Fire%20His%20Band.mp3