Folks You dont need a crystal ball to know when you read that headline in bold print, its coming from only one person who considers himself the biggest fan of Howard the Comedian. Thomas Kessel.As I was a runner up in 1967 at his tv station and im the one survivor of the runners up or of the winner Howard Sprague, Im happy to say im in 7th heaven. There was no marathon on Sunday as planned (We had Roseanne oh whoopee) .Since I was a protege ehose career went nowhere i like to briefly discuss this classic episode. There I was did you see folks briefly as i wobbled off the stage behind the impeccable Col.Tim's my hero . I went by the name Evan Thorpe and there was Agnes Jean Babcock the baton twirler who lost out to Howard Sprague . I was a bit on the heavier side in 67 .I gave up the one man band .Col Tim (Dick Haynes who died 1980) was a poor man's Major Bowes from the 1930s radio show Original Amateur Hour. A classic episode one of the best ever in color (sorry not many of you care for the color shows) and can anyone please tell me what line my dear friernd Hope Summers was trying to say as the scene fades out about "He had to. He had to" sounds like a dirty story Clara Edwards was nearly telling us? Im mystified. And folks Tol Avery is back 6 yrs before his passing as i told you a month ago, looking far thinner than the "Fat Man: one of our loyal readers suggested he was among the alumni of TAGS. The 2nd Ben Weaver sported a far different image.This leads me to a question i wonder if someone recently asked. In what episode was there the most TAGS players? WE had Floyd,Andy Aunt Bee,Goober, Opie,Clara,in this one.This along with Family Visit rates as my best in the series. Poor Howard still cant get Col.Tim's name right. what a piece of classic acting here and floyd saying "Is he calling me a big mouth" is a go getter line. WE had other shows Opies Piano Lesson, Goodbye Dolly,Big Brother (boring outside of the look of Andy at Howard as they crossed paths dancing) Opies First Love etc. not the best episodes of the series but all first rate compared to Roseanne or Married With Children." Im still waiting for Ferdie and Dick Ryan to return. TIme to go. Just wanted to pay homage espescially tonight to Col.Tim, a role for Dick Haynes small but so memorable that its listed as his best remembered role in his career. Now that is something Alan, you and I can give to the durability of the TAGS. As the Col would say, this is Tom Kessel and Bless You All. Thanks Alan. _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
