MDMD2: Magnetical Stupors

[John Lundy]

I grew up watching my mother wet herself laughing at Morecambe and Wise. 
 There was something unique about the way Eric Morecambe could get a laugh 
simply by being there.  It wasn't just anarchic Morecambe (though I take 
your point), but you got the feeling that Morecambe was saying any world 
crazy enough to include him just had to be laughed at.  And when he used to 
say "Arsenal" out of nowhere, for no reason at all, it never failed to get 
a laugh.  Fabulous stuff!

On Tuesday, 25 September 2001 09:41, Paul Nightingale 
[SMTP:paulngale at supanet.com] wrote:
> Perhaps there is a punchline; I'd be interested in hearing it as well.
> However, welcoming this opportunity to lower the tone, I would like to 
refer
> to the British comedians Morecambe & Wise, whose act was based on the
> music-hall tradition of risque 'humour'; some of it was funny, some of it
> wasn't, it was usually in bad taste. They had a running-gag that survived
> many years precisely because we never heard the punchline. Morecambe 
would
> start by saying: "There were two old men in deckchairs." Wise, the
> straight-man/ would interrupt and say: "You can't tell that one on
> television." Morecambe the anarchist would look disappointed and move on 
to
> another topic; he always managed to give the impression he was ready to 
defy
> the censors, maybe next time. After many years of this he finally 
revealed
> the punchline in an interview; I have to say the joke was better without.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Judy Panetta" <judy at firemist.com>
> To: "Terrance" <lycidas2 at earthlink.net>; "Paul Nightingale"
> <paulngale at supanet.com>
> Cc: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 11:24 PM
> Subject: RE: MDMD2: Magnetical Stupors
>
>
> >
> >
> > Our Terrance in response to Paul N. wrote:
> >
> > "...but Mason prevents him from Reproducing and English Lady's 
language,
> > perhaps saving him from the sailors who might be excited by a Quaker in
> > a red coat of military cut, speaking  like an English lady.  Recall 
that
> > Zoyd Wheeler (in drag)  has a bit of trouble in the Log Jam. Also, as
> > Dave noted, while Dixon did sport a red coat, no Friend ever did, they
> > wore dull greys and dingy browns, and of course he has dropped the
> > Quaker forms of YOU.
> >
> > A Fallen Friend? I hope he doesn't Whip the baby out with the filthy
> > bath water."
> >
> > I believe Dixon was trying to fit in. Notice he was not comfortable 
with
> the
> > usage. And I get the impression that the sailors attention was not
> directed
> > to his coat but to the punch line, which brings me to...
> >
> > Please...someone...at the risk of presenting my very best portrayal of 
a
> > very dim bulb...could someone tell me what the punch line was gonna be?
> What
> > was the English woman gonna say?
> >
> > Is there a punch line? Or is he (Mr. P) just being a tease? Oh, c'mon,
> there
> > must've have been a punch line.
> >
> > Any response, speculation, hint would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Best, Judy
> >
> >
>