In my series, Thirty Days Has September, the radio program Chickenman was brought to mind.
Armed Forces Radio provided our troops, in the Vietnam War, the ‘opportunity” to listen to this inane and entertaining Radio series created by the genius of Dick Orkin
Here are the first 4 episodes we could resurrect
Episode #1
Finding the right costume ….
Episode #2
CHICKENMAN introduces himself to the Chief of Police
Episode #3
Benton Harbor, AKA Chickenman, leaps, falls and tear his wing…..
OMG, a fire starts while Miss Helfinger attempts to fix the tear……..
Episode #4
The White Winged Weekend Warrior enters a jet flying over the country, seeking direction to Minneapolis
so he can speak at the Poultry and Egg Association convention
Chickenman was on the radio In IOWA either KSO or KIOA Des Moines around 1965 or before long before I heard it in Vietnam 1968/69. Does anyone know where or when it started in Vietnam.?
I went to High School in northern Indiana in the 1960’s. Couldn’t wait for the next episode on Chicago radio. I think it was WLS with Larry Lujac. Loved hearing those episodes. In Vietnam I was a squad leader north of Da Nang Vietnam, Almost everyone had a nick name and we had a guy named Greg McElrone who was from Chicago who use to do Chicken Man shows for us. Sounded just like the original. Had some good laughs listening to him. When we went out on a mission on trucks he would do the Chicken Man yell as we left. We also had a Marine named Dick Jeffry whose name was Tarzan. He would also do his call on the way out. Everyone always knew that 2nd squad 3rd platoon was on the way out. I hope I get to hear some more from you. Thanks for the memories.
I remember listening to Chickenman *all* the time I could on AFN while stationed in “them colonies yonder” (Bragg, Benning) and a few other places , way back when. Good times (some, at least). Thank you, Sir! (snaps to TenSHUN) for bringing The Wonderful Whitewinged Weekend Warrior back! So many memories. Too many lost from the “family”.
Former 1LT. (OTL) SpecOps (Germany), ret.
Stay safe.
Thank you for your service. For your country.
Sadly, it seems to have a way to be forgotten, these here days…
I’d like to add a pic, but there is no option for that. Story of my life… 🙂
I discovered chicken man on armed forces radio in 1988 while stationed at Camp Casey in Korea. This brings back a lot of memories that’s for sure.
So glad to bring stuff like this back to the guys and gals who were there, and indelibly effected by the ‘flavor’ of such
different and original stuff.
Semper fi, and thanks for the comment.
Jim
I don’t remember where I was when I started listening. But it was very enertaining
I still have an 8mm cassette with several of the episodes. When I was back in my Vietnam ‘home’, a small RF/PF Montagnard/VN compound east of Pleiku, I would record these upon awakening. Hilarious. Our 5-man MAT team enjoyed it. We weren’t there very often, and I always wanted the entire series. I even mentioned it in the novel I finally wrote last year, PAWNS OF PLEIKU, on Amazon. Just one more little reminder of the life in Vietnam. Thanks!
Thanks for keeping Chickenman alive. When I was in 7th grade(1966-1967)I listened to it regularly and loved it,recording episodes with my old tape recorder. I met Dick Orkin in 1988 and got his autograph.(I introduced myself as the most fantastic Chickenman fan the world has ever known.He got a big kick out of that.) I also heard and recorded his later Chickenman shows(1973)(1977)and his 1971 series The Tooth Fairy.
Thank you for sharing.
Chickenman was a wonderful slice of life in almost a satirical tone.
Semper fi
Jim
Good morning James. Now that I’ve finally gotten the mud cleaned off from the last ride of 30 Days it was time to search your short stories section. Chickenman. This sure brings great memories back to light. You mentioned in a comment you would be posting 80 episodes. I only see four. Am I missing them somewhere or will more be posted at a later time? Thanks for all you share with us.
Thanks for the note, Jack
We will be posting more Chickenman,
but it seems other projects keep “getting in the way”.
Appreciate your support.
semper fi,
Jim
Amazing…how many Saturday morning serials gave up the ghost for getting burnt on the left or the right. Chickenman,like Superman fortunately, doesn’t need wings to fly…only to raise a flap! Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men? The Shadow knows… whether Superman’s x-ray vision could look right past kryptonite as
the one substance that could kill him! What did Fog horn Leg horn know about bein blower up that Chicken Little mistakenly interpreted a falling sky? A hawk eyed bird doesn’t cross the road just to get to the other side! Only this; When a hypnotic ride can get your feathers plucked…it’s a good thing to keep your feathers numbered…just in case of such emergencies!! Chickenman wouldn’t dismiss a good egg for being fowl anymore than he’d dismiss a good man for being hen-pecked!! Smiles to you and better-half, James! Semper Fi
Thanks a lot for reading and enjoying the Chickenman sequences.
Strange but enteretaining stuff, and deeply thought out in many segments.
Semper fi,
Jim
Your show help us endure the predicament of the location we found ourselves in and reminded us of the Real World where we came from and the people we were fighting for. Thanks so much! 🙂
Well, I am not sure what the comment really means. I presume you mean my story and not my ‘show,’ but I don’t know.
I am a bit of a character so my whole life might be called a bit of a show.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words and you taking the time to put them up here.
Semper fi,
Jim
I used to listen to Chickenman episodes when I was in Viet Nam…
We are putting all 80 episodes we’ve found so far Mike. For people like you
and me! Thanks for your comment and the reading.
Semper fi,
Jim
Enjoyed Chickenman episodes on KLIF 1190 in Dallas in my younger days. Thanks for the memories.
Thanks Ronnie. Chicken man was and is something else again. It makes me laugh to listen to the episodes now but it didn’t back
then. I just thought of it as adding more insanity to the insanity I was living.
SEMPER fi,
Jim