Don Wilson in Hell(o)

 

I've been listening to Old Time Radio (Internet Archive, natch) while doing jigsaw puzzles; Fibber McGee and Molly (ibid) and Jack Benny, formally known as "The JELLO Program, starring Jack Benny, with Mary Livingstone, Rochester, Dennis Day, Phil Harris and yours truly, Don Wilson."

Don was Jack's announcer basically the entire 100 or so years he was on the radio.  Many words passed between him and the microphone in that time, but the heaviest must have been the weekly Jello ad.  They even had him (comically) complaining about it.  Listening to the show, from October 1941 through the next summer, I can understand why.

When it comes to the Hard Sell, modern-day advertising has nothing on 1940's radio.  It was the heyday of the Jingle, for cryin' out loud.  (shudders)  

So, not only is Jello the most amazing dessert ever devised by man (Jello?), but their breakthrough- locked-in flavor!- is reported as if it's just been discovered this very week!  Week after week.  In the same words every time.  

Poor Mr Wilson.  Imagine the resolve it must have taken, not only to read the same hyped-up script every week, but to be wildly enthusiastic.  (Fortunately, I see they changed sponsors soon, back then in the past, so the poor announcer will finally get a break.)

So this is my reaction to that.  It's not intended to reflect support or disdain for Jello (c), a product of General Foods, or the US War Department.  

The title is from George Bernard Shaw's Don Juan in Hell.  (Kind of Jello Hell).  It refers to Mr Wilson's situation, not Jello in general.  Actually, many people find the "what the heck is it?" approach strangely appetizing.  

 Don Wilson in Hell(o) (0:58)