Podcasts about firesign theater

Show 201: The pod takes a weird, religious format shift… or does it? YouTube movies. Jim wishes he had a laundry chute. Milldew in a spray. Tim teaches Latin (and penmanship). There's a robin's nest blocking Walt's front door. The truth about Tony, the Tiger. And Collie, the Callback Dig!Then: Billie Eilish's even quieter little sister. Priests against Art. A Tom Petty impression. A better use for your sleeve. And more!Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

It's our 200th show…!! Whoo!! Hoo!! Right? Yeah, okay. Tim tells us what Ireland is like. The end of Schlitz. Marilyn Monroe. Hockey. Waffles in the mail.Then a deadly amusement park. Trudy predicts your horoscope. The Emergency Podcast System. Preppers. And a rock classic about grammar.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Show 199: Tim looks forward to his trip to Ireland. The joy of gruel. The pros and cons of cannibalism. And robot monks.Plus: mixed-matched cops—a winning TV formula. A 70s rock and roller cashes-in. A new character named Mr. Character. Cops and coffee. And a bouncy house.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

In a bit called Fowl Memories Dave, Jim, Tim, and Walt improv memories of that time Duck Logic formed an Emo band. Or did they? It's hard to tell, their memories aren't what they used to be.Then, the guys complain about that PBS genealogy show where famous people discover how much more famous they are. Jim, who always thought he was more “Irish” admits he's mostly British and Italian. And you know that “Native American” character from our old childhood public service announcements who sheds a single tear on the side of a highway? Turns out he was Sicilian!Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Show 198: The hantavirus. Big Chicago rats. Southern rodent hunters. A talking 'possum. 1960s westerns. Out of shape superheroes. The Met Gala. And a wrestling sloth. THEN: A sweaty bar for summer. Furniture for not sitting on. Needless investigations. Godzilla. Musicals with a “cheesy” slant. Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Episode 197: Walt finds his dad's porn movie stash. Jim, too. Frisbee golf. Boomerang nerds. Weird sports. The guys get their own “walk-on music.” Walt explains the Terrible Twos. Then: cigs with something extra. Fun at theater camp. In praise of Drug Mules. Baseball cards teach a kid a sappy lesson. A quiz shows has all the answers, but no questions. Plus, a little bit more.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Episode 196: Jim disposes of a dead cat. Walter's dog dies. The dead old lady on the living room floor. Tim learns to “sidle.” Cinco de Mayo drink specials. And a one-eyed yoga guy. Then kid surgeons. Kooties. Chickens that go both ways. A one-hit wonder begs for attention. And “Walking Dead, the Musical.” Plus, a little bit more.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Growing up in the late 60s/early 70s, our minds were shaped by the Beatles and Motown and Pink Floyd and TV and the Firesign Theater - not necessarily in that order. Firesign was four guys who presented mind-blowing comedy on nine record albums, registered in book form by Jeremy Braddock. 

Episode 195: Jim deals with a squirrel. The nastiness of nature. The guys discover “splooting.” Cereal commercials. The Rock. Pooping at the all-you-can-eat buffet to “make more room.” Kids hiding in walls. Chicago steak joints. And Dave Matthew's tour bus dumps a load on tourists. THEN: A souped-up recliner. Scented candles for real men. Questionable Duck Logic merch. Talking through tubes. And it's about time for a new conspiracy. Plus, a little bit more.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Episode 194: Hitler gets his driver's license. Phlegm. Hitmen. And Tim eats moldy food. Then: party in sad bars. Make Your Kids Suffer at Your Job day. Humidity. Shoddy builders. Strange thoughts from Tim. And painfully soft toilet paper. Plus, a few more things.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST: Jim does some wacky visual jokes on an audio-only podcast. The guys congratulate Dave on yet another “D-Day” or “Dave Day” mulling over various famous Dave's and the need to start a concert in support of Dave's: Dave-aid. Then they try and write new mottos and adages.  THEN: Dave, Tim, Jim, and Walt reveal the news that Ringling Brothers Circus, after removing their animal acts due to cruelty complaints, made their clowns go makeup-less! What kind of world would it be without clowns?! Plus there's Pagliacci and an old Rice Krispies commercial.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST: Jim tells Tim, Dave, and Walt that the famous Chicago Rat Hole (an indentation of a rodent pushed into sidewalk cement) had been filled in!! Tim opens our eyes to the oppression squirrels go through. Walt tells the guys about his neighbor's pet wild squirrel. And, apparently, Jim had a pet squirrel, too!THEN: Dave, Tim, Jim, and Walt totally improvise their memories of that time they may or may not have had a giant duck head float in Chicago's 4th of July parade (which isn't a thing). And Dave walked the parade route on stilts. Or maybe he didn't. The memories are fuzzy. It could've happened. Maybe. Maybe not. They may not have remembered it correctly.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Dave, Jim, Tim, and Walt explain how the group got its name: “Duck Logic” and Dave talks about the evolution of the duck of their logo. Then Jim abruptly changes the subject to the manly bag he bought online that turned out to be a woman's purse! And somehow the conversation turns to goiters versus boils. THEN: The guys wonder when a buddy becomes a pal and what you have to do to go from a pal to a cohort, chum, ally, or henchman. Then there are sidekicks. And how way too many superheroes were orphans.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Did you know that bears plug up their butts to prepare for hibernation? Walt explains it all to Dave, Tim, and Jim. They go on to “explore” all sorts of bear, butt, and plug possibilities!THEN: The guys discuss getting a mentalist on the pod. They ask: if you can get debunked, can you get re-bunked? Then the guys get funky. Parliament Funkadelic. The Funky Winkerbean comic strip. The funky bunch.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Jim gets spammed with politically incorrect jokes. Naked old men at the gym. Prison myths. And we find out Jim used to call his penis Captain B.B. THEN: In honor of St. Paddy's Day, Tim, Jim, and Walt discuss the old classic Irish movie "The Quiet Man." And Tim professes his love for Ireland, not that he's ever been there, because of how it probably smells (like stale beer).

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Dave, Tim, Jim, and Walt discuss evil lairs, and ones for the good guys. Goldfinger. Dr. No. The Kingsmen had cool, undergrown headquarters. But who designs them? What would the Indeed listing look like to get a job in one? And what kind of amenities should they have—a Keurig, drink fridges, a Sbarro and, of course, popcorn!THEN: The guys continue their evil talk, exploring the many different nuances of becoming and staying evil. They decide to become evil entrepreneurs by launching an evil gofundme page.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Dave, Tim, Jim, and Walt totally improvise their memories of that time they may or may not have played gigs in Ft. Lauderdale during spring break. It's hazy. It might have happened. Or not. They may've remembered it wrong.THEN: The guys wonder why they keep making Godzilla movies, then decide it's because 'Zilla is a consummate thespian and ponder how many other films he would've been perfect for. King Lear. When Godzilla Met Sally. The list goes on and on.

What'd you like? Send us a text.TALK: It's Ash Wednesday and Jim tells us about a priest giving out ashes at the train station. Tim has a real issue with the make-a-heart hand gesture. Obscene gestures around the world. Tim's Narnia adventures. Keeping your clothes in a hole. Class clowns and their comedy writers.SKETCHES: A redacted love story. Fun facts about Wyoming. A mean men's store. The Drunken Bible. A bad driving school. And more!

What'd you like? Send us a text.Take a break with Duck LogicTALK: Walter looks at his permanent record. Duck Logic's comedy classes. Jim's uncle Bud's weird death. One Piece. Job fairs. And Walter's neighbor is in the CIA. SKETCHES: Bars for Lent. Laundered money. A philosophical hockey player. A really short opera. What else would Jesus do and more!

Comedy and radio legend Phil Proctor talks about the origin of the Firesign Theater, his love of radio, his many careers as an actor, reporter, writer, comedian, author, and how he made the New York, San Francisco, and LA scenes when there were scenes to make!  He also talks about his biography “Where's My Fortune Cookie” and how he almost died three times.  Let's see if he survives our podcast. Bio: Proctor is a founding member of the thrice-Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre, one of Rolling Stone's “Thirty Greatest Acts of All Time” and whose archives were purchased by the Library of Congress. He's appeared on-and-off Broadway, toured the USSR with the Yale Russian Chorus and the US and Canada with Proctor & Bergman and the L.A. Guitar Quartet in Don Quixote. He has appeared in scores of commercials, audiobooks, video games, films and TV shows, receiving Theatre World, LA Weekly, LA Free Press and Drama Critics' awards, and the Norman Corwin Excellence in Audio trophy as well as a recent Emmy for the PBS-aired documentary Feast Your Ears: The Story of WHFS Radio. His voice credits include memorable characters in Academy Award-winning films for Pixar and Disney from A Bug's Life to Inside Out, the Drunken French Monkey in Dr. Dolittle, Dr. Vidic in Assassin's Creed, Simon Stagg in Batman: Arkham Knight, and Howard in the multi-Emmy-winning Rugrats, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has also added scores of voices to the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction series and appeared on Irish radio and live on stage with his late wife, Melinda Peterson, at the 77th Science Fiction Convention in Dublin. He was the announcer for 3 seasons of Big Brother and has a recurring role as Detective Polehaus on the long-running Adventures in Odyssey and can be seen in many old--time radio recreations at the Online Radio Theatre on YouTube. He is a 15-year member of the Antaeus Theater and to accompany his autobiography and audiobook, Where's My Fortune Cookie? co-authored by Brad Schreiber, he co-wrote What to Say to Your Crazy Right-Wing Uncle, with Samuel Joseph and God Help Us! a political comedy which toured the U.S. and Canada starring the late Ed Asner. He currently co-hosts Phil & Ted's Sexy Boomer Show, every Tuesday afternoon on KPFK with Ted Bonnitt, featuring conversations with friends like John Goodman, Penn Jillette, Weird Al,  Laraine Newman and Harry Shearer among others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, Word Balloon has celebrated comics, pop culture, and the creative voices that shape them. Now, I want to turn the spotlight home, to Chicago radio comedy, a tradition that doesn't always get its due.Other cities produced comedy collectives that broke out nationally—groups like The Credibility Gap, The Committee, Ace Trucking Company, and The Firesign Theater. They built reputations that went far beyond their local airwaves. Chicago took a different path. Our radio comedy was more idiosyncratic, more personality-driven, and deeply rooted in the city itself. But make no mistake—we had stars, innovators, and voices that mattered.This series of Word Balloon episodes will explore that history by talking directly to the people who lived it. Writers, performers, hosts, and producers who made Chicago radio funny, fearless, controversial, and unforgettable. Today's episode starts on a personal note. During my years at WSCR The Score, I was lucky enough to contribute parody songs and character voices during a time when bland sports radio stiffness made room for sketch comedy. I learned the sports street chatter from some of the best like Mike North and Dan McNeil but a guy who's persona stood out most was Terry Boers, one of the great Chicago newspaper men and radio voices.A mentor whose impact on this city's airwaves can't be overstated.Terry passed away last week, and on Tuesday, WSCR The Score aired a tribute show in his honor. I was deeply touched to be asked to participate. That led to this conversation. I sat down with Matt Spiegel, someone I worked closely with during those years. Someone who helped me shape those parody songs as both a performer and a comedy writer, and who has since become one of the most recognizable voices on Chicago sports radio. What followed was a warm, honest conversation about the creative chaos, the laughs, and the influence of a man who helped define an era.This episode is about remembering Terry Boers, celebrating Chicago radio comedy, and setting the stage for a deeper dive into a pop culture scene that deserves to be documented, and remembered.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Pulled from the DLCHH archives: the guys remember that one summer they started a theater camp for kids. Or did they? It's foggy. Maybe they got one or two of the details wrong. Maybe all of them?Then in the second segment the guys drink cocoa in their PJs and discuss the upcoming Christmas holiday. And Tim tells us about his pet possum.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Self defense with a banana. Something gross fell off Jim. Walt's over-amorous family dog. And an A.I. search engine suggests new names for the pod.Then: a sale on Halloween delinquent supplies. An unexpected hitchhiker. A conversation with a receding hairline. A scary boy loves his parents. Plus more! 

What'd you like? Send us a text.Climbing Mt Everest ain't what it used to be. Bill Belichick's new squeeze. Jim cleans his place for the TV guys. Walt's one day job as a baby photographer.THEN: Halloween bargains. Fall fun at a strawberry farm. Breakfast for dinner. And a detective who can straighten your spine.

What'd you like? Send us a text.We are back!! Whoo! Hoo! We took a little break but now we're back at it this week. We talk about the surgeries we got while we were out, a weekend by the lake, and Jim's new on-line Master's degree. Then Tim recounts his rearend's run-in with a yellow jacket and, of course, soup for cats…Then Edie, the Breakfast Fairy introduces us to her new smokable friend, a word that sounds dirty but isn't, and a porta potty from space.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Yeah, we know… We're still kickin' back. One last replay show. Promise. This one has Jim telling us how he tried to make gun powder when he was a kid (and failed). Then an Olympic skier gets frostbite on his weewee!

What'd you like? Send us a text.In this week's flashback, the Duck Logic guys talk about the start of the all-body, “butt deodorant” craze and how Walter swam naked in high school gym class. Then Jim wears googly eyes and we talk about Bob Dylan.

What'd you like? Send us a text.We're still on break, sorry. Just gettin' back from 3 days of fresh air, liquor, and videos games…You? You get a flashback to the show where we improvised a fuzzy memory of the children's TV show we did (or didn't do) in a “Fowl Memory” extended cut segment.

What'd you like? Send us a text.The guys are taking a break so they're sending along a few “best of” talkie bits from previous shows for your enjoyment.Walt tells us about his “meat detective” dream. Then they remember the musical they did (or didn't do) based on their cable TV show. Or not. It's fuzzy. It might've happened. Probably not.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Okay, we seriously needed a break so we're dropping a “best of” from the archives---That time we uncovered the truth behind Amelia Earhart's disappearance and how there was someone with her on the plane! That time we did a show with a young Andy Dick. And then a church on TV calls their viewers “shut-ins.”

What'd you like? Send us a text.The Duck Logic guys are taking a much-needed break but didn't wanna leave their loyal listeners hangin', so here's a little replay from the archives---That time they talked about the pharma commercial with a cure for “crooked carrot” disease and Jim gettin' lucky with a girl on the kitchen floor. Enjoy!

What'd you like? Send us a text.TALK: Living in an empty Hobby Lobby. A used pornography store. Betty Page. Elvis movies for the 21st century. And we question Jim's “friendship” with the kids in his neighborhood.SKETCHES: Canadian Labor Day. Larry David meets Zendaya. Kenny has a bonfire. Our audio centerfold. And a newsman tells a joke. Plus a few more things.

What'd you like? Send us a text.TALK: Crappy movie previews. “Poop coffee.” A zoo in Demark that'll feed your pets to their lions. Farting at Veggie Fest. And Jim tells us about his best moment.SKETCHES: Not-so-monster trucks. Franz Kafta's bucket list. A song about lawyers. And whale farts. 

What'd you like? Send us a text.TALK: Billy Jack, Kung Fu, Oddjob, Pale Rider, Buford Pusser. And Lollapalooza. SKETCHES: Pajamas. Dudes in college. A hairbrush that works underwater. Flying Bad Boys. 

What'd you like? Send us a text.TALK: Our Last Supper musical. Ozzy's funeral. Food touching. Chicago diners. Mohicans. And Billy Joel's drinking, um, issues. SKETCHES: Side Tracker, a detective who can't stay on task. The elephant in the room. A pretty complete back-to-college sale. And unless business advice. Plus more!

What'd you like? Send us a text.The guys talk about Walt's new haircut. Ozzy, of course. Old geezer musical acts. Judgmental state fairs. And comedians lip-syncing jokes.THEN sketches: Limericks from Pipefitters Union 597. Mini memorabilia. And an audio art project.

What'd you like? Send us a text.TALK: Shopping on the cheap. Defective foods. The passing of a stand-up we knew. Way too alternative bands. Roller rink tunes. And the tiny civilization that lives under a theater stage.SKETCHES: Tales from the last tollbooth attendant. A highly opinionated traveler. A filter for the dumb things you say at work. And very durable condoms.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Talk: Jurassic Park sequels. The joy of scooterboards. The violence of The Honeymooners. Old TV war shows. Spinoff podcasts like: shirts vs. screwdrivers.Sketches: Disinterested theater productions. Incoherent political shows. Suburban bars. Questionable grocery stores. Realistic porn.

What'd you like? Send us a text.The guys talk about A.I. rock bands, A.I. commercials, and A.I. manifestos. Plus, crop dusting (the smelly kind), Jayne Mansfield, mac and cheese gummies, and Tim has mic trouble.Then sketches… Poetic tributes to Benny Hill, notes from Walter's brain, summer bars, and ancient poop.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Insects in basements. Bats in toilets. Laser scopes. Really bad movies. Watching the neighbor's TV.Then: the truth about the constitution, jacked up mid-summer sale prices, a fool's errand. Plus, more.

What'd you like? Send us a text.The Duck Logic guys talk about worm farmers, competitive kite flying, grocery stores on wheels, and the children's show Diver Dan.Then: rhetorical questions, mushy cigarettes, a needless health class film, and a must-have unless kitchen item.

WRFI talks to author and Cornell Associate Professor of Literature, Jeremy Braddock, about the history and culture of the 60's-70's era (and beyond) surrealist comedy troupe Firesign Theater. Jeremy recently published the book “Firesign: The Electromagnetic History of Everything as Told on Nine Comedy Albums” (University of California Press). Jeremy discusses Firesign Theater with Peter B (of WRFI's Burning Airlines) about the background, methods, and connections to the troupe. Topics includes their use of the audio technology of the time, responses to historical events, and long standing cultural impact. Classic albums such as Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers and I Think We Are All Bozos On This Bus are explored.This interview with Jeremy Braddock aired on May 18th 2025, hosted by WRFI DJ Peter B..

What'd you like? Send us a text.This week, the conversation is about drug dens, how there used to be stereos, welding, shop class mishaps, Ferris Bueller and the joys of southern Illinois. Then: sketches about a sale on matzas and the Shroud of Turin. Pajamas. Well-read mountain folk. And a song about water.

What'd you like? Send us a text.The guys discuss goiters versus gout, then reminisce about the movie they made. Or did they? Plus the man with the most things. A little TMI at the morning status meeting. And: Terror.

What'd you like? Send us a text.New superhero movies, old Batman villains, Japanese schoolgirls, and blind drunk businessmen. Then sketches about Sammy Davis impersonators, Bob Dylan's migraine, space janitors, and guys with unrealistic expectations.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Jim gets a voicemail from a kinky/leather website and tells us about his “special friendship” he had with a goat. Tim tells us how he lived under the family sink. And Walt had a pet alligator.Then sketches: a way-below-average doctor, a very basic truck driving school, a not-so-amusing amusement park, and a rug full of coffee.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Jim finds some cigs. Walt gets creeped out by a guy with a piggy bank head. And Tim tells us where memes come from. And, of course, Attack Squirrels. Then sketches about firm handshakes. Adequate construction. On hold hell. Cheery-flavored beer brewed far away from here.

What'd you like? Send us a text.Peeing in the Stanley Cup. Flinging a Wimbledon platter. Or wearing Masters green jackets with or without pants. The guys discuss them all. And Tim tells us how he's tight with the new pope because they were childhood buds. Then sketches about where to go after prom. Where not to get your car fixed. And Ken Burns finally runs out of topics.• Get more laughs! Visit our website ducklogiccomedy.com• Special thanks to zapsplat.com for most of our “canned” SFX Thanks for listening! Listen to more. You'll laugh... and how!

What'd you like? Send us a text.The guys discuss cheating on book reports, turning the dark film classic “Taxi Driver” into a musical, and how Walter got a subscription to Playboy for his 14th birthday.Plus: the hard-driving dedication of Jehovah's Witnesses, very specific Zodiac predictions, a prescription strength breakfast cereal, and a lawyer who can get anyone off the hook. Plus a few more things.• Get more laughs! Visit our website ducklogiccomedy.com• Special thanks to zapsplat.com for most of our “canned” SFX Thanks for listening! Listen to more. You'll laugh... and how!

What'd you like? Send us a text.We're Back!! Tim's putting his “miter” in the ring to be the new Pope and the tells us all about it. Then we wonder why scientists would make robots that can run!Then sketches about a new religious murder-solving show, temporary mobsters, teaching kids about the real world of work, and a song that's just asking for it.• Get more laughs! Visit our website ducklogiccomedy.com• Special thanks to zapsplat.com for most of our “canned” SFX Thanks for listening! Listen to more. You'll laugh... and how!