Author: SmorgShow

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Chris, Dave and Jerry host this episode of the SmorgShow Podcast. Chris is very upset to learn that Baba Gonesh’s podcast has surpassed the SmorgShow in number of subscribers. Baba’s recent marketing blitz and updated podcast artwork has caused Apple to take notice. Baba’s show was recently featured in “New and Noteworthy” section and is among the Top 5 Indian Culture podcasts on Apple. Given that Baba has been given the SmorgShow as his creative platform for 35+ years, it was a little shocking to the gang that this “spinoff” show has become so successful. It prompts the gang to brainstorm on how to get more listeners. Perhaps the show needs a fresh makeover or some gimmick to attract more listeners.

On this episode we discuss the recent Supreme Court case of a California fashion designer who was denied a trademark registration due to its “scandalous” and “immoral” brand name, which uses the acronym for “Friends U Can’t Trust”.

This is the first episode of the new format where we will begin to publish more frequent episodes in a shorter, more concise format.

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The SmorgShow quartet returns with the first episode of 2019 after a rather long hiatus. A busy spring sent Ally to New York City to perform with the North Central College Women’s Chorale at Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Carnegie Hall. Ally talks about this amazing experience and some of the other things she has been involved with as she gets closer to graduation.

The second half of the episode picks up where Episode 99 left off. Chris and Dave interview Jim Swick from Downers Grove North High School class of 1966. Jim was largely responsible for making high school radio station WDGC-FM a reality.

Jim takes us back to the pre-launch days of the station’s origins and discusses how he established the first radio signals that would be the start of what would become an incredible legacy and would influence the lives and career paths of so many individuals.

Chris and Dave set the record straight that 2019 is actually the 50th anniversary of the station, not 2018 as was celebrated last fall with the station’s alum. Jim shares some of his favorite stories from his career in broadcasting.

Finally, Chris shares an embarrassing story about his childhood.

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Phillip Donald has completed his first new recording in 6 years. The song ‘Break Loose’ was written during Phillip’s 6-month stay in a federal penitentiary. Phillip was convicted of lewd public behavior in April 2018 and was sentenced to one year in prison. Phillip was released on parole 6 months early and came out to perform his song for the SmorgShow gang on their 100th episode.

Lyrics:

I’m not the kind of guy you think I am

Sophisticated all around I even roast yams

So don’t you say I don’t have class

I’m not the roaming creep that they say I am

Don’t make your accusations just because I drive a van

They took my every pound of dignity

How many times do I have to say

It’s not me that you should be taking away

I’ve got three bags of candy still left inside

But officers are clear about taking bribes

Chorus

Why is it a crime if I decide to share my smile with you

Here I wallow in my thoughts

Just hoping I will soon break loose

****

I never even got the chance to explain

Now there’s local news alerts and orders of restrain

How will I ever tell my mom?

I’m sleeping on a bed with no lumbar support

Breakfast lunch and dinner here are really a bore

Tallies on the wall and lyrics to this song

Hoping that I won’t be here for long

Chorus

Why is it a crime if I decide to share my smile with you

Here I wallow in my thoughts

Just hoping I will soon break loose

© 2018 SmorgShow Productions, Music and Lyrics by Phillip Donald

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One Saturday morning in early January 1979, I launched my own faux-radio station from my bedroom with the call letters WKID-FM.  This 12-year old’s humble configuration consisted of just a turntable and a Panasonic cassette recorder.  My early influences were Chicago radio station disk jockeys John Landecker, Larry Lujack, Bob Sirott and eventually Steve Dahl and Garry Meier.  Each Saturday morning, I would record myself spinning the Top 40 hits and announcing over the intros.  I did this religiously on a weekly basis to the point where I felt I was actually broadcasting to a real audience.  For the next two years, I partnered with my best friend at the time, Peet McCain, and we just recorded ourselves doing radio shows together.  It was a hobby that kept me off the streets and away from drugs. I was convinced that this was going to be my path in life.

By the time I got to high school a short two years later, I had become rather seasoned from doing these bedroom and basement recording sessions that I was able to land a pretty decent time slot for a freshman on my high school’s radio station WDGC-FM in Downers Grove, IL.  It was then and there that I met Dave Jackson.  After discussing my vision for the show, we launched the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord program in the fall of 1982. Our free-form talk show format pushed the limits for what was acceptable for a high school radio program.  The show was successful in terms of building a loyal following that by the time I got to college, I had intended to major in Communications and make a career out of radio.  Then reality hit me when I got assigned the 6-8am Sunday time slot on NIU’s campus radio station WKDI (coincidentally close to ‘WKID’ now that I think about it). I was prohibited from doing anything creative. I was told all I needed to do was read the weather, tell the time and announce the songs.  After only two shows, I quit radio for good and changed my major.

25 years later, in early 2010, after a successful career in market research, I got the creative itch again and launched the SmorgShow Podcast with my 11-year old daughter Ally.  Through the new medium of podcasting, I was able to relive my old passion for radio while at the same time share a very special activity with my daughter.  The SmorgShow Podcast was an attempt at taking the Chris and Dave Smorgasbord show to a new level.  We were pretty consistent with pushing out regular content for the next three years, learning the new technology and investing heavily in a state-of-the art recording studio along the way.  We then took a break in 2013 and published a few shows here and there over the next few years as Ally started to become busy with high school social events as any normal teenage girl would.  She eventually went to college, and had even less time to do shows with me.  In 2018, I decided to push forward with the show myself.  Starting with Episode 91, Dave Jackson as well as Jerry Malauskas (also from our old WDGC Smorgasbord days) began appearing as co-hosts on the show, carrying me to the finish line of having 100 episodes in the can at the end of 2018.

Episode 100 is very monumental to me. It marks a significant milestone on this journey.  On this special occasion, Ally returns as my co-host along with Dave and Jerry and we take a look back on our favorite moments on this 9-year journey together.  Baba Gonesh has traveled all the way back to the U.S. from Chennai, India to be on the show, so you know it has to be good.  Phillip Donald also makes a rare appearance after spending 6 months in prison and performs his new song live.  We have some other surprises in store as well.

So almost 40 years to the day since I fired up my Panasonic tape recorder in my bedroom studio of WKID, I bring you the latest installment of my life’s journey.

Welcome to the 100th episode of the SmorgShow Podcast, recorded live from Granny Rose’s barn.

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On the heels of the WDGC-FM 50th Anniversary Alumni Reunion (featured on Episode 98), Chris and Dave reflect on the special day.  Jerry Malauskas also joins us in the studio this week to keep things interesting.

Most of this week’s program is devoted to our SpookFest tradition as heard back on earlier episodes 37 and 61 (from 2010 and 2011, respectively).  SpookFest is where we discuss all things spooky as we approach Halloween.  Ally is back in recorded form and contributes to this episode with a couple of dramatic readings of her own that are guaranteed to give you thrills and chills.   Baba Gonesh delivers ‘Baba News’ and makes a very special announcement.

The second half of the show features our very special interview with Sandy Rizzo, WDGC-FM alum, class of 1978.   We exchange stories with Sandy about the old days of being on the radio on WDGC during the 1970’s.

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Chris and Dave attended the WDGC-FM 50-Year Anniversary and Alumni Reunion on Saturday September 29, 2018 and were given a one-hour on-air time slot where they took the opportunity to reflect on their memories of their old high-school radio station.  We bring you the entire broadcast here in Episode 98 of the SmorgShow Podcast.

For the first time in 34 years since they walked out of the WDGC studios at Downers Grove North High School in 1984, Chris and Dave step on ground zero where all the magic happened so many years ago.  The Smorgasbord duo discuss their favorite memories of the radio station, their early days of working together, and of the general manager Fred Moore.  Chris and Dave come full circle with their radio journey by broadcasting from the very same microphones they used on the original show.

This episode was also recorded on HD video, so check it out on our YouTube channel.

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Jerry Malauskas is our in-studio guest again for a very unusual installment of the SmorgShow.  For an episode where there was absolutely no show preparation, we managed to squeak out another 90-minute show.  An open conversation of two middle aged men that goes on a variety of paths.  Just some of the subjects discussed:

• Jerry introduces Chris to K-Pop music – is this the new male?
• Chris discusses all of the house projects that have been on hold that he is looking forward to completing once Ally graduates from college next year.
• How politics is infecting everything we do and used to enjoy.
• Politicizing the college classroom
• Ally attributes her interest in music to Chris playing ELO when she was younger.
• Remember the days when you bought a crummy album for one song and got stuck with it even if the rest of it sucked?
• Classic 80’s Smorgasbord Show Rewind: Mr. Brown Can Moo.

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Chris and Dave attended the WDGC-FM 50-Year Anniversary and Alumni Reunion on Saturday September 29, 2018 and were given a one-hour on-air time slot where they took the opportunity to reflect on their memories of their old high-school radio station.That broadcast is now available as SmorgShow Podcast Episode 98 which was released on October 13, 2018 in both audio and video formats.

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The Smorgasbord Woods Project: Dudes in the Woods.  Former Smorgasbord Radio Show Co-Host Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas join Chris on this episode.  As a closeout to summer ’18 and a kickoff to fall, the guys head to the hiking trails.

The guys hit the trails at two relatively secluded forest preserves, Saw Wee Kee Park, and Waa Kee Sha, located in Oswego, IL.

Our original intent was to record both audio and video for this adventure.  However, it didn’t take very long for us to realize how difficult it is to balance the content so that it worked equally as well on both platforms.  Therefore, we created an entirely separate video of the event which can be found on our YouTube channel as well as at SmorgShow.com.

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Jerry Malauskas is our in-studio guest again as we celebrate the end of summer and the start of Oktoberfest.  This episodes’s features include:

• An Oktoberfest quiz.
• Social media policing free speech:  Chris banned from Amazon and Jerry is given the second of three strikes for posting offensive content on YouTube.
• How Chris got on the internet for the first time.
• Roy Orbison has been dead for 30 years, yet he is kicking off his 2018 U.S. tour …in hologram form.
• Baba Gonesh brings back his ancient Indian folk tales.
• Resident tech nerd Geoffrey Gleason discusses the strange phenomenon of ads that follow you around the internet in another installment of Geoffrey Gleason Tech Talk.
• Classic 80’s Smorgasbord Radio Show Rewind:  Opening Jerry’s sexy birthday mail that was sent to the WDGC studio and a segment of a very risque ‘Date Line’.

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The second of two installments with special in-studio guests Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas.   This episode breaks from our traditional format where we delve into some of the latest social topics, including:

• The latest social media news including various Facebook scandals, the new Amazon Key launch, and dangerous apps for kids.
• Geoffrey Gleason Tech Talk – Lesson #2.  Check out Geoffrey’s YouTube channel for his library of helpful tech tips!
• A conversation with Alexa.
• Baba Gonesh answers your calls for an explanation on the India Caste system.
• Starbucks racial sensitivity training day.
• Classic Smorgasbord Radio Bit “Get a Life” – the one that could have permanently suspended Chris and Dave from their high school radio program.
• Baggy pants at the laundromat
• Ally’s award-winning podcast submission for her college music appreciation class.
• And many other surprises!

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An episode too hot to be contained to a single episode, so we broke it into two installments!  Episode 94 to be released 4.22.18.

For the first time since 2011, we are joined live in the studio with both Dave Jackson and Jerry Malauskas from the original Smorgasbord Radio days.   We went into the show with all good intentions of not discussing our medical issues, but unfortunately Chris had a pretty major medical scare last month that is worth talking about.  Other topics/features include:

• Dave is performing live again – and we are very proud of him!
• What’s the deal with all the Mattress Firms that are opening up across the country?
• Gender Pronouns
• The disturbing condom-snorting trend
• Baba Gonesh Breaking News
• Introducing Geoffrey Gleason, Tech Guy and a new segment called ‘Tech Talk”. Check out Geoffrey’s YouTube channel for his library of helpful tech hints.
• Chris’s contribution to Earth Day – 1981’s “Slime” from the Cow Dung and Chicken Tongue collection.

This episode was streamed on YouTube Live.  If you missed it, you can watch the video posted on our YouTube channel.

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Former WDGC-FM Smorgasbord Radio Show contributor Jerry Malauskas co-hosts this episode with Chris.  Jerry has been a close friend of the show for over 35 years and we are excited to have him back in our studio to share his perspective on all things Smorg.

Philip Donald uses his one-call allowance to call us from jail to set the record straight about his recent arrest on a Baltimore elementary school playground.  Baba sends in two updates from India while preparing for the upcoming 2018 Holi Festival.  He shares his perspective on what Holi is and why we all should care.  Baba also provides his exclusive beauty tips for celebrating this special occasion the right way.   Finally a shout-out to Ally who turns 20!!  Happy Birthday, Ally!

SmorgShow Flashback Bit: The Dating Game (2010).

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With Ally out of town on a youth group retreat, original Smorgasbord Radio Show Co-Host, Dave Jackson joins Chris in the studio for this first episode of the new year.  The show opens with a news flash concerning the shocking arrest of SmorgShow music contributor, Philip Donald.  We play a previously aired exclusive interview that Chris and Dave did with Philip back in 2011.

Baba Gonesh uses Dropbox to send in a new installment of “Thought for the Day” from India.  We then place a phone call to former WDGC-FM radio host, Jerry Malauskas who discusses his blood report.  And as expected from a bunch of guys now in their 50’s, we hear more than we need to know about lipid panels, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Ally’s band ‘Wanderlove‘ and the band’s first single “New Kids”.

We are all very shocked and saddened to learn that world-renowned recording artist and frequent guest on the SmorgShow Podcast, Phillip Donald, has been arrested on lewd behavior charges at a Baltimore, MD elementary school playground.

Details are being closely guarded.  As soon as we have  more information to share we will report them on this website.

Update 4/15/18:  Phillip has been convicted of lewd public behavior and has been sentenced to one year in prison.  

Geoffrey Gleason takes a break from the tech world to show you a step-by-step approach to making some of the finest sushi ever seen on the planet.

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We are so excited to finally present our latest radio play that we have been working on since August.  Normally the SmorgShow players re-enact classic radio dramas, but in this episode, we aim to deliver something a bit different.  This time, we present to you a radio adaptation of “Rope”, a 1948 American psychological crime thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the 1929 play of the same name by Patrick Hamilton.  

In our story, just before hosting a dinner party, Philip Morgan and Brandon Shaw strangle a mutual friend to death with a piece of rope, purely as a Nietzsche-inspired philosophical exercise. Hiding the body in a chest upon which they then arrange a buffet dinner, the pair welcome their guests, including the victim’s oblivious fiancée and the college professor whose lectures inadvertently inspired the killing.

The Cast (In Order of Appearance):

• Brandon Shaw – Thomas Larsen

• Phillip Morgan – Geoff Wells

• Mrs. Wilson – Chris Wells

• Kenneth Lawrence – Kip Coon

• Janet Walker – Ally Bockay

• Mr. Henry Kentley – Jerome Malauskas

• Mrs. Anita Atwater – Kim Bockay

• Rupert Cadell – Chris Bockay
• Man on Street – Baba Gonesh

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Chris and Dave reunite again for another episode of the SmorgShow.  This time, prepare yourself to kick back in the SmorgShow jazz lounge while Chris and Dave take a journey down memory lane and discuss how they met and decided to pair up together on high school radio station WDGC-FM.

The duo revisit their passion for radio and the individual life paths each has taken.  Ally then visits the studio and talks about what pairing up with her dad for the SmorgShow Podcast has meant to her during her formative years.   This is a very nostalgic and introspective episode compared to prior episodes, but one that gives a very intimate glimpse into the lives of three individuals.

The complete video of Tisha’s journey.

Part One: So I finally found a hobby that gets me off the couch, but still allows me to mess around with electronic gadgets. In this clip, I attempt to explain the strange world of geocaching. This was recorded at Saw Wee Kee Park in Oswego, IL.

Part Two: In this clip, I explain the concept of Travel Bugs and how that will help us with our mission of sending Tisha to Chicken, Alaska. Unfortunately, we decided to hold off on launch today after discovering that the cache we had intended to use for her was a bit too small. We will try again over Labor Day weekend.

Part Three: Well, she is finally off! We came out to Saw Wee Kee Park again and found a great spot near the Fox River for the start of Tisha’s adventure to Chicken, Alaska. For navigation geeks, the official launch point is N 41° 40.402 W 088° 23.605.

We will be tracking her progress along her journey at Geocaching.com and reporting it back here as we get updates along her trip.

Geoffrey Gleason tutorial on working with Google Earth.

Geoffery Gleason explains how to work with Garageband.

We are in the final production stages of our latest installment of SmorgShow Theater.  This time we have created a radio adaptation of the classic 1948 Alfred Hitchcock movie, Rope, starring Jimmy Stewart, Farley Granger, and John Dall.

This promises to be unlike anything we have ever produced before and therefore it is taking a bit longer to assemble to the level of quality you have come to expect from our programs.  Our plan is to have ready in time for Thanksgiving.  Thanks for your interest in our programming – and check back again soon!

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As we prepare for Christmas and to close out 2016, we present to you the 10th installment of SmorgShow Theater.  “Letter from Cynthia” is a re-enactment of an episode from “The Whistler” old-time radio drama series.

Originally aired on 12-25-1949, “Letter from Cynthia” finds a medical intern receiving a letter from a lost love, the love he lost to his best friend. In a strange turn of events, the man who took his love, his best friend, ends up in an accident at the hospital where he is interning. He has to make a decision between getting revenge and doing what’s right.

This episode has a different feel to it when compared with our previous radio plays.  We hope you take some time out this holiday season to kick back and listen.  Turn out your lights, bask in the glow of your fireplace or Christmas tree lights and let our story transport you back to a simpler time when families sat around their radio for entertainment.

The Cast

• Narrator – Geoff Wells
• Dr. Neil Andrews – Chris Bockay
• Patty – Ally Bockay
• Cynthia – Kim Bockay
• Dr. Peters – Thomas Larsen
• Charlie – Steve Larsen
• Police Officer – Anthony Luperini
• Intern – Thomas Larsen
• Dr. Graham – William Bockay

We then discuss Ally’s performance in the “Let It Be Christmas” musical and play a clip of her promoting the show on the Steve Cochran radio show on WGN-AM 720.

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Chris and Ally return to the studio for the first time in over a year and catch on a variety of topics including Ally’s first job at Chick-Fil-A and going off to college.  

Baba calls in from the Ratha Yatra festival in West Bengal.  Ally performs live in the studio.  This was our first attempt at video streaming the show via Periscope.

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We are excited to bring you our 9th installment in the SmorgShow Theater series.   This time around we bring to you a re-enactment of 1943’s radio classic ‘Sorry, Wrong Number’, originally starring Agnes Moorehead.

But wait a minute, you say!  Didn’t you guys already do this one before?   As a matter of fact, yes we did…way back in 2010 on Episode 9 of the SmorgShow Podcast.   However, back then Ally was only 11 years old and we were working with really basic editing equipment.

It sounded good at the time, but listening to it now, we’ve come to realize that we really didn’t do this classic play justice.  We decided to tackle this project again.  Coincidentally, the date this is being aired is April 11, 2015 (or 4-1-1).

Mrs. Stevenson is a spoiled, bedridden daughter of a millionaire. The telephone is her sole connection with the outside world. One day, while listening to what seems to be a crossed phone connection, she eavesdrops on two men planning a woman’s murder. Mrs. Stevenson calls the phone company and police, only to be ignored. Adding to her dilemma is the fact that her husband is missing.   After a number of phone calls, the terrorized Mrs. Stevenson begins to piece together the mystery.

The Cast:

• Ally Bockay – Mrs. Stevenson
• Chris Bockay – Man, George, Sergeant Martin
• Kim Bockay – Operator, Chief Operator, Directory Assistance Operator, Hospital Operator
• Anthony Luperini – Western Union Rep

In another feature, International News Correspondent, Baba Gonesh delivers the news to us in 90 seconds in a call from Mumbai – a story of Needle Man.

Featured Artist of the Week: Echosmith

Original words and music by Ally Bockay

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This episode of the SmorgShow Podcast includes the latest installment of SmorgShow Theater where the SmorgShow Players re-enact Ray Bradbury’s classic short story, ‘The Ravine’.    Written around 1936 during Mr. Bradbury’s formative high school years, ‘The Ravine’ emerged as a true story of his childhood fears of a dark, foreboding ravine that existed just a short distance away from his Waukegan, Illinois hometown.   The SmorgShow Players:

• William Bockay – Narrator
• Ally Bockay – Lavinia
• Kim Bockay – Francine, Neighbor
• Gabriella Vogel – Helen
• Geoff Wells – Drugstore Clerk
• Baba Gonesh – Mr. Tubbs
• Anthony Luperini – Police Officer
• Chris Bockay – Frank, The Lonely One
• Charlie Snyder – Douglas

Chris and Ally also catch up on events that have taken place since our last program one year ago!

We are excited to announce that we have completed post production on our latest installment of ‘SmorgShow Theater’.   Our next radio play will be released with Episode 85 of the SmorgShow Podcast on August 30, 2014.  This time around we have re-enacted Ray Bradbury’s short story classic, The Ravine.   It will be a chilling episode!

We had a great time recording this, our first full-length radio play production since 2011’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.   This is our second Ray Bradbury re-enactment, the last one being ‘Zero Hour’ that was published in May 2011.

The SmorgShow Podcast has been on a lengthy hiatus since August 2013, so this upcoming episode will be the first show Chris and Ally have done in a year.

I thought it would be a good time to re-introduce myself.   I am Chris Bockay, webmaster of this site, and I realize I have some explaining to do.   I have been off the scene for a good year now, and even when you go back a year, my creative contributions were starting to become just a light trickle.   I recently came back to this site and realized just how stale some of the material had become.   I have been working on updating things to give it a better feel.   The videos in the SmorgTube section should now all be playable by any Internet Browser now that they have been posted to YouTube.    But besides all that, let’s go back and figure out where I went off the tracks.

Back in January of 2010, I set out to recreate the old high school radio show I did with Dave Jackson.   Only this time around, it would be with my 11-year old daughter.   I had heard about podcasting and the concept really intrigued me.    It started out as a fun little hobby for us that would create some fond memories for us when we got older.  But then it caught fire.   A creative spark had hit me like no other time over the past 25 years.   For nearly 3 years we cranked out 85 episodes of the new show, culminating in September of 2012 when we did the 30th anniversary celebration of the original show from Carlisle Banquets.    That show took the life out of me.   I poured everything into that episode and when it was over I really felt there was nothing else to do with the show.  Over the next year, we put out only two more episodes.    We never officially said goodbye and we technically never canceled the show.   We just faded away.

Along the 3-year journey, the podcast became an obsession with me.   I gave it as much energy as I possibly could.  My radio broadcasting ambitions that I had since I was 7 years old started to come alive again.   Along the way, what started out using only a 1979 Radio Shack mixer and microphone gradually grew into a very expensive venture.  Before I knew it, I had invested several thousands of dollars into new broadcast quality equipment as well as a dedicated space in my basement for a recording studio.    Given that the SmorgShow itself wasn’t generating any income, I thought I would try and make some of the money back by jumping into the voiceover business.   For about 18 months, I was finding little projects here and there, but the money I made from that came no where near what I needed to leave my day job that paid in the six figures.

That leads me to my professional career.   I had hit a point in my career where I was completely miserable.   I desperately wanted to make the voiceover thing work out so that I could leave that job.     In November of 2012, my company did the best thing I could ask for – they laid me off.    I decided that this was my lucky break – I figured I would spend 50% of my time doing a traditional job search and the other 50% of my time doing voiceover work.   Whatever path succeeded would be my next life phase.    Well, just 3 months later I landed an AWESOME job with a company that I have had my sights on since college.   I took the job and I closed the door on my voiceover ambitions and all things related to the SmorgShow.

Well, another year has passed and I am now writing this latest blog entry.    My daughter is now 16 and as I type this, she has taken the car out for her very first independent drive.  I am becoming extremely sensitive to the passage of time.  In just two years she could be leaving home.   I really treasure the time we spent together doing the SmorgShow.

So what is next for us and the show?    Personally, I would like to do one more season of the show before she begins college.   I think I could muster the strength and creative energy to do another 10-20 episodes before officially killing off the program.    Whether that happens this fall, next summer, or two summers from now, I don’t know.    However, I can tell you this – we have started to lay down the tracks for our next old-time radio drama, our first in nearly two years!    This will be another Ray Bradbury original called ‘The Ravine’.    We are targeting a September 2014 release.    It’s possible that this will be a new spark to get the show going again.   Continue to check back here for new updates on this project and the future state of the SmorgShow.  Thanks for checking in!

Original words and music by Ally Bockay

Computer tech expert Geoffrey Gleason offers assistance to those who have struggled with the challenge of setting your computer clock.

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Chris and Ally are finally back behind the mic after another rather lengthy hiatus.    This time, Chris’s Dad and Ally’s Grandfather Conrad Cardello is in the studio.    Chris’s roots and passion for radio broadcasting are traced back to his dad’s early days when he also recorded spontaneous skits with his best friend.    An early recording from circa-1963 was recently unearthed and played here.

We then ask the deeply philosophical questions, “If you had a time machine, would you travel to the past or future?” and “What time period would you visit?”.    This then leads into a discussion around American life in the 1950s and whether all that we see in TV shows accurately represent that decade.     We then play a trivia game around the classic TV series “The Honeymooners”.

Baba Gonesh has left the country, this time perhaps for good, but he presents “Baba News” from India where he informs us about the end of the telegraph service.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Winner of The Voice Season 4, Danielle Bradbery.

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Happy New Year and Happy St. Patrick’s Day – The first episode of 2013!   Chris and Ally have a lot of explaining to do about why six months have passed since the last episode.

Chris discusses his days on the government dole and his victorious return to the workplace.    Baba Gonesh returns for a belated 70th birthday and delivers the long awaited ‘Baba News’.

Former Smorgasbord Radio Show Co-Host Dave Jackson guest stars.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Celtic singer-songwriter, Marc Dunn

First installment in a series of technical ‘how-to’ videos, Geoffrey Gleason offers guidance to those new to the internet.

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It’s really hard to believe that it has been 30 years since Dave Jackson and I kicked off the original Smorgasbord Radio Show at Downers Grove North High School radio station, WDGC 88.3 FM.    Dave and I had a unique chemistry that made the show special.     Sadly, at the pressure of parents who wanted me to amount to something, I never pursued a professional radio career, so there was a 25-year gap between my last radio show at my college station and the time that I brought the Smorgasbord show back in podcast form in early 2010.

Over the past 82 episodes, I have been blessed to have another fantastic partner by my side for this new adventure – my daughter, Ally.    If you listen to the shows that have been recorded over the span of the past three years, you can hear how she has grown into a strong partner.   The SmorgShow Podcast has been a great hobby for Ally and me as it has created a bond and special memories between us that will forever last.   It’s also allowed me to get the creative juices flowing again after two long decades of an office career.   Thanks to 21st century technological advances, we have been able to take the show to a level that was not possible when Dave and I did the original show back in the 80’s.    For the most part, Ally and I have tried to make the new show our own rather than try and recreate what Dave and I did 30 years ago.    But on this particular anniversary episode, we could not let the milestone occasion pass without looking back and celebrating what we did all those years ago.

I think we created something special with episode 82.   Those with an acute attention to detail will notice that the anniversary show where we look back on 1982 actually falls on episode #82.   Coincidence?    Of course, it would not be a complete celebration if we did not have one of the original co-founders of the Smorgasbord Show, Dave Jackson, present for the event.     On this particular occasion, we chose to return to our original stomping grounds and host the event at the fabulous Carlisle Banquets in Lombard, IL.    This is where Dave and I hosted “The Taste of the Smorg, 1984” (a nod to Taste of Chicago where local restaurants set up their stands and sell samples of their menu items).    We were able to line up quite a variety of food vendors this time around.   In addition to sampling some of the great foods from around the country, we couldn’t resist the urge to dust off some of the old Smorgasbord Show recordings and give them a spin.   Admittedly, some stood the test of time better than others.

This episode is nearly 3 hours long because in addition to going down memory lane, we booked a list of great entertainers who performed live on two different stages at the Carlisle.    On the Oakbrook Room Stage: Hawaii’s David Kamakahi & Ikaika Brown, Iceland’s Sjonni’s Friends, the SmorgShow’s very own Phillip Donald,  and Ally performs her brand new ballad, “Untold Stories” to an adoring crowd.    Also, we are very excited that our good friend from Cheltenham, England – Jordan Martyn – came all the way to Chicago for our show and decided to debut two brand new songs never heard before tonight.    Finally, on the Butterfield Room Stage, we are entertained by the sounds of Richard Cheese and his band ‘Lounge Against the Machine’.

I’d like to thank everyone who has been with us on this journey.  Whether you listened to us during the original run or just recently stumbled upon us, we really appreciate our audience.  I hope we can provide additional entertainment value to you for many years to come.

Original Words and Music by Ally Bockay

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We are proud to present Ally’s new song – an original composition called “Untold Stories”.

We discuss the death of a 44-year old man out of Kalispell, Montana who was killed by a motorist while dressed in a ghillie suit, trying to stage a fake Bigfoot sighting.

We then go to Rockwood Tap House in Downers Grove, IL where we find Chris and Dave having lunch together.   They just came back from putting down the final deposit for the upcoming 30th anniversary show at Carlisle Banquets.   They discuss how they used to think being in radio impressed girls.

This episode is shorter than usual because we are preparing for what we hope to be an amazing show on September 15.   The SmorgShow will be doing a live podcast event from the Carlisle in Lombard, IL.   We have just confirmed that Jordan Martyn, one of our featured artists of the week, will be traveling from the UK to Chicago to perform at our special event.   In case you missed our exclusive interview with Jordan, you can check it out at Episode 56.

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Campfire S’morgs ’12:  Live from Waa Kee Sha Park in Oswego, IL.   Last year at this time, we took the remote equipment out to the woods to do a live streaming podcast event.   We called it ‘Campfire S’morgs’, a clever play on words if you didn’t figure it out.   If you missed it, you can head over to Episode 57 and listen to us do the show from around the campfire.    Given that the weather was absolutely perfect this weekend, we decided to do this show a week earlier than planned.

In light of a recent tragic campfire accident where two young girls were badly burned from a campfire explosion, Anthony provides helpful tips for keeping safe when building and extinguishing a campfire.    Baba tells some jokes to lighten up the atmosphere, and shares some unusual games that you can play around the campfire.    We then take turns reading some extremely scary ghost stories.    Finally, it wouldn’t be an official campfire without singing, so we all take a stab at singing a John Denver song.   Maybe we should have practiced a bit more before doing this one live.

Also, on a totally unrelated topic, I talk about how I met Verne Troyer, the actor best known for playing the Austin Powers character, “Mini Me”.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Jenna Jentry

I would like to apologize to our featured artist of the week in that I back-announced her as “Jenny Jentry”.   I must have been reading ahead to one of our ghost stories called “Screaming Jenny”.   There is no relation as it turns out.    Anyway, head over to her Facebook page and check her out.

Greetings SmorgShow Listeners! We hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of summer.   This is always a busy time of year, especially if you or your kids are going back to school.    I just wanted to give everyone an update on what is happening out at SmorgShow Studios.   Even though our production schedule has slowed down a bit in recent weeks, we have been quite busy working on some special upcoming programming events that we think you will agree was worth the wait.   Here’s what you can expect from us over the next couple months:

Episode 80 – Campfire S’morgs ’12:  Last year at this time, we took the remote equipment out to the woods to do a live streaming podcast event.   We called it ‘Campfire S’morgs’, a clever play on words if you didn’t figure it out.   If you missed it, you can head over to Episode 57 and listen to us do the show from around the campfire.    We are getting ready to do it again this year.   Weather permitting, we are planning to do the show again from Waa Kee Sha Park in Oswego, IL on Saturday August 25.   This will be another live streaming event.

Episode 81: September 8, 2012 – Just a plain old, regular in-studio show.   We will be debuting Ally’s new song, an original composition that she is excited to play for our audience.   As her father, I am really proud of what she has written and I really hope you enjoy it.

Episode 82: Smorgasbord Radio Show 30th Anniversary Celebration.   I really think this will be the crown jewel of our show to date.   We have some really amazing things lined up for this show.   As loyal followers know, back in September 1982 I began my high school radio show with partner Dave Jackson.   Dave has made several appearances on the new SmorgShow and we could not let this special milestone date pass without some formal acknowledgment.

For this show we have booked the Oak Brook Room at Carlisle Banquets in Lombard, Illinois.    This is where Dave and I originally hosted “The Taste of the Smorg”, back in June of 1984.   For this time around we have lined up over 40 restaurants from around the country, each of which will have their own stations where you can sample selections from their menu.   Baba Gonesh’s “Hidden Palace, A Taste of Baba” will be one of the featured restaurants.     We also have some special live entertainment planned.    As of this writing, we have confirmed the following talent:

• Hawaii’s ‘David Kamakahi & Ikaika Brown’
• Favorite Lounge Performer ‘Richard Cheese’
• The SmorgShow’s very own Phillip Donald
• Iceland’s ‘Sjonni’s Friends’

After the Carlisle 30-year anniversary show, Ally and I will be taking some time off from producing the SmorgShow Podcast as we begin to roll out a brand new program, scheduled to debut in October.  The show will focus on the teen years and specifically the challenges that come along with the high school years.   Important Note: This will NOT be the end of the SmorgShow.   We will just need some time to launch the new show, so we will need to take some time off from producing the Smorgasbord Show.   More details will follow as we know more.

That’s it for now!    Thanks again for listening!

-SmorgShow Chris

Featured stories include: A teacher is jailed for beating up and cutting the hair of a 10-year old student for not conforming to the appropriate code, India pampers its pooches, and the debut of the India National Museum of Toilets. If you would like to see the full video of the event, check out Baba’s site: DeathByCeilingFan.com

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In this episode, I prep Ally for returning to school – this time as a high school freshman. It reminds me of a feature that Dave and I used to do on the old Smorgasbord radio show. We would help the incoming freshman survive their first week by making their transition to the big school a little easier. Although 30 years later, I am not sure I know all the right moves myself. It’s a good thing for Google. I did some extensive research on the important things to keep in mind when starting high school. This segment transitions nicely to the discussion I have with Ally and my wife Kim about the new girls social group that they are starting, and how that feeds into my new idea for a family-oriented podcast I am launching this fall.

We then weigh in on the Chik-Fil-A controversy without getting too political. Regardless of where you stand on the same-sex marriage issue, you have to admit that they make a pretty darn good chicken sandwich. So we present the official Chik-Fil-A chicken sandwich recipe that you can make at home if you are not in close vicinity to one of their restaurants.

Baba Gonesh stops in to present another installment of Baba News. Featured stories include: A teacher is jailed for beating up and cutting the hair of a 10-year old student for not conforming to the appropriate code, India pampers its pooches, and the debut of the India National Museum of Toilets.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Adrianne Richards

Ever wondered what a museum dedicated entirely to the history of toilets would be like? If that peculiar question ever crossed your mind, you need to seek professional help! But if you really want to know, you can visit Sulabh in New Delhi, India or just browse this section of our website where we bring the museum onto your screens, virtually.

The Museum

Museums as repositories for the preservation and exhibition of the objects of historical, scientific and cultural interest are found all over the world. But rare are the museums that display the evolution of toilets and their various designs.

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, the Founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, a pioneering non-profit voluntary organisation (NGO) in the field of Sanitation in India, envisioned the need for the setting up of a museum of toilets in the sprawling campus of his central office at Mahavir Enclave, Palam Dabri Road in New Delhi, India and has consultative status with Economic and Social Council of the U.N.The idea engaged his mind for long, eventually leading him to make hectic worldwide search for minutest details of the evolution of toilets, as also of various toilet designs used in different countries at different points of time. Sulabh International is grateful to the professionals, embassies and high commissions in setting up this museum by furnishing information on the subject and also providing details / photographs of various toilet designs used in their respective countries.

The Museum has been established with the following objectives :

• To educate students about the historical trends in the development of toilets;
• To provide information to researchers about the design, materials, and technologies adopted in the past and those in use in the contemporary world;
• To help policy makers to understand the efforts made by predecessors in this field throughout the world;
• To help the manufacturers of toilet equipment and accessories in improving their products by functioning as a technology storehouse; and
• To help sanitation experts learn from the past and solve problems in the sanitation sector.

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Pizza, beer, and Baba…that’s how Chris spends his bachelor week while his wife and daughter are on vacation in Arizona.

Chris hosts this week’s show alone and discusses a brand new podcast he will be starting up this fall that will focus on issues facing high school students.

Baba Gonesh calls in to talk about his new business venture and then joins Chris live in the studio for another installment of ‘Baba News’.  Featured stories include:  Bridge in India could collapse due to human spit, Cook is killed for a delay in serving tandoori chicken, and Weird ‘blood red’ rain in India panics people .   Baba also talks about the top reasons for suicide in India which has prompted him to purchase a new domain name “DeathByCeilingFan.com“.

Also featured:  SmorgShow Family Feud (previously aired on episode 26).

Featured Artist of the Week:  Mark Knopfler

It’s hard to believe, but this September will mark the 30-year anniversary of the Smorgasbord radio show.    To celebrate this event, we will be taking our show live on the road to the Carlisle Banquet Hall in Lombard, Illinois.   Loyal fans may remember that we first hosted our live radio show at the Carlisle back in 1984, where we were joined by 40 restaurants from around the world in an event that we called “Taste of the Smorg”.

We are still sorting out all the details of the new event, currently scheduled for September 15, 2012.   As we firm up the details, we will share them here.    Original Smorgasbord Co-Host Dave Jackson has already agreed to join Chris and Ally for this special live-streaming podcast.

Listen to the original Chris and Dave show – Live at the Carlisle from back on 6-29-84.

Phillip Donald’s New CD, “For the Kiddies” will be released this fall.  In the meantime, enjoy the brand new single “Hide and Seek”.

This is the first original work from Phillip Donald since 2011’s classic “Such a Good Ugly Thing“, which debuted at #671 on the Bulgaria pop charts and yielded such hits as “Revenge Time”, “Shut Your Face” and “I’d Rather Eat All Day”.

Now Phillip has returned to the scene with a collection of children’s songs which will certainly join the ranks of other classics by Peet Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Burl Ives.

International News Correspondent Baba Gonesh delivers the latest news from India.   Stories include:  Runaway Bride Returns Home to New Toilet, Laughing Yoga Club is Banned by India Court, Poisonous Spiders Invade Indian Village, Man with Record 14-ft mustache offers grooming tips.

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Former Smorgasbord Radio Show Co-Host Dave Jackson is in the studio this week.   Chris and Ally are back from their Mackinac Island vacation and share some stories from the trip.    It’s also Chris’s 17th wedding anniversary, so his wife Kim makes a rare appearance on the show.

Dave discusses the restaurant review of Baba’s Restaurant that he planned to have appear in the New York Times but instead was bumped to the Libby Elementary School publication in Montana.  Baba Gonesh has returned from India with some fresh new stories he personally covered while abroad.

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Ally has graduated middle school and we discuss the awards that were given, including the one for being disciplined no more than once per quarter over the duration of three years.   Really?  Is this an accomplishment?  Has the bar been lowered to the point where this deserves an award?

We give a special shout-out to Tim Janus, the winner of the first ever World Burping Championship who delivered an 18.1 second long belch.

We also discuss 9-year old Martha Payne from Scotland who has been blogging about her school cafeteria lunch program.   She has won the censorship battle against her school council who tried to silence her for posting photos of her school lunch and writing reviews about it.   Ally commented that her lunches are much better than the ones served at her school.    Martha’s blog is now back up and running at NeverSeconds.blogspot.com

For the upcoming Father’s Day weekend, we play a flashback recording of Baba Gonesh from a few years back.  Baba discusses the Father’s Day tradition in India and shares a very touching story about him and his son.   You better have some tissues handy for this one!

Finally, Phillip Donald has returned to our studio with a brand-new track from his forthcoming children’s CD.   Chris and Ally are concerned about his behavior.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Codie Prevost

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After an extended hiatus, Chris and Ally return with another episode.   Chris discusses the technical disasters that have plagued the production studio since the Titanic episode.   We get to hear a couple of Chris’s recent voiceover jobs including an online dictionary reading as well as a farmer character he did for a computer video game.    Chris talks about his new turntable purchase and how fun it was to demonstrate it for Ally and one of her friends.  Chris demonstrates to Ally how the turntable was used to uncover secret backwards messages in rock music.

Other Features include News Balls:  Panda Dung Tea, a man saws off and cooks his own foot in order to continue collecting unemployment insurance, an IT worker is arrested after urinating on his co-workers’ office chairs, Dog Poo-powered WiFi, and a Chinese kid sells his kidney for an iPad.     Baba Gonesh returns to the studio with another installment of ‘Baba News’.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Daniel Link

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On this episode, we travel back in time and take a special look at voyage of the RMS Titanic for this special 100th anniversary of that tragic night of April 14-15, 1912.

This episode originally streamed live at exactly 100 years after the Titanic struck the iceberg.

Our special episode is chock full of facts and statistics about the Titanic:  the construction, the launch, the passengers and crew, the food that was served to both first class and third class passengers including the last meal.   We discuss the tragic accident, the lifeboats, the sinking, and the wreckage.   We get a flavor of what life on the Titanic was like by listening to readings of letters written by some of the passengers.  Music was a special part of the voyage and we play a few tracks that were played on board.       We close out the show with a special rendition of Ally singing, “My Heart Will Go On”.

Baba delivers a dramatic reading of a classic Indian folk tale, “The Hunter and the Doves”.

Two and a half years after her original launch with the goal of reaching Chicken, Alaska, Tisha has returned home.    Her total milage was slightly over 5400 miles with Seattle being her farthest reaching travel point.   Unfortunately once she got to Seattle, someone didn’t read the directions carefully and brought her back to the midwest instead of pushing her northward toward her ultimate goal of Alaska.

It really isn’t the same chicken that was originally launched in Saw Wee Kee park in Oswego back in September of 2010.   The rubber chicken that was attached to the registered dog tag became detached and somewhere along the way it was replaced by a laminated photo of a chicken.   Still, it is good to have her home.   She will get a makeover and we will try it again.   Stay tuned…

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Former WDGC-FM Smorgasbord Co-Host Dave Jackson joins Chris in the studio while Ally is on her 8th grade spring break trip in Florida.

Chris and Dave look back on some of their old radio bits including the time when Chris got fired from his job at Time Life Telemarketing.   They discuss a disturbing new product – Twitter toilet paper where you can get your favorite Twitter feed printed on 4 rolls of toilet paper for the low price of $35.

Other features include everyone’s favorite game show, ‘Get a Life’. In addition to giving away a brand new life, Chris and Dave play some of the original ‘Get a Life’ bits from the old high school radio days.    There is an update on Tisha Chicken, the SmorgShow geocache travel bug, who makes a complete return trip home after two and a half years of trying to get to Chicken, Alaska.  Baba Gonesh visits the studio and delivers a dramatic reading of  a classic Indian Folk Tale, “The Hunter and the Doves”.   Finally, Chris and Dave take the show on the road to the local Starbucks where Dave shares a tragic fertilizer story.

Featured Artist of the Week: Damon Hill

International News Correspondent Baba Gonesh delivers the latest news from India. Baba discusses “Angry Brides”, a very popular game in India based on Angry Birds, only this game allows brides to get their revenge against opportunistic dowry seekers.

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We review some listener feedback from Chris’s Podcast Mastermind group. The consistent theme is that they enjoy the chemistry and interaction between Chris and Ally and want more of that going forward.

Ally is just days away from her spring break trip to Florida with her science class and she walks through her itinerary.    Chris thinks Ally is too young to be heading to Florida for spring break, but thinks spending a day at a turtle hospital is probably harmless.

Chris officially launches his voiceover business website and gives an update on some recent jobs he was awarded.    In conjunction with the website launch, Chris discusses a new podcast he is launching devoted to the voice over acting industry.  The Voice Acting Journey Podcast will debut in April.  

Baba Gonesh visits the studio and presents “Baba News”.   He discusses “Angry Brides”, a very popular game in India based on Angry Birds, only this game allows brides to get their revenge against opportunistic dowry seekers.

Finally, Ally debuts the audio from her award-winning science class video project.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Jonnie Murphy

I was so very pleased to receive the following custom-made birthday card posted to my Facebook page today from one of my fans.   I cannot express enough the deep gratitude that I feel from this kind gesture.

The only mystery to me is that my birthday is in November.

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Terror in Mumbai!! Baba Gonesh returns from India where he witnessed first hand the chaos and mayhem resulting from wide-spread panic of the rumored “Monkey Man”.  Local residents believe that a peculiar figure resembling a black monkey runs on their roofs at night, swings from tree to tree, kidnaps children, and attacks women before consuming them.  Baba plays actual testimonials from the local villagers describing their personal experiences.

It’s Ally’s birthday and Granny Rose visits the SmorgShow studio to celebrate.    Peet McCain joins us live from Cleveland to give us an update on his bread and breakfast venture as well as his pursuit of a Tuk Tuk.    Returning to the show this week is “Get A Life”, the game where we give away an exciting new life to someone who is in desperate need of one.  If you would like to trade your worthless life in for a new one, call our studio hotline at 312-95-SMORG.  Tell us why you feel you are deserving of a new life and then choose door number one, two, or three.    Your new life will take affect almost immediately, so you better prepare by saying goodbye to your friends and family before calling into the show.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Ed Hale

International News Correspondent Baba Gonesh delivers the latest news from India.   Terror in Mumbai!! Baba Gonesh returns from India where he witnessed first hand the chaos and mayhem resulting from wide-spread panic of the rumored “Monkey Man”.  Local residents believe that a peculiar figure resembling a black monkey runs on their roofs at night, swings from tree to tree, kidnaps children, and attacks women before consuming them.  Baba plays actual testimonials from the local villagers describing their personal experiences.

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We realize that Valentine’s Day is not a happy occasion for everyone, so we went out of our way to make sure this is not a warm and fuzzy and “everything is so wonderful when you are in love” episode.

Chris and Ally discuss Valentine’s Day gifts that guarantee to get you dumped, Baba Gonesh returns with “Thought for the Day: How to Prepare for a Date” as well as his annual reading of his carefully selected love poems.   Ally performs a duet with Phillip Donald, “My Heart Will Go On”.   Chris plays his classic love song written when he was 14.

Also, with the untimely death of Whitney Houston, we share a YouTube video performance of someone trying way too hard to sing Whitney’s classic “I Will Always Love You”.

Featured Artist of the Week : Aitan

On this Valentine’s Day, Baba Gonesh gives you advice for making your date an evening to remember for a lifetime.

Baba Gonesh presents his carefully selected love poems for Valentine’s Day.

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Former Smorgasbord Radio Show co-host Dave Jackson joins Chris and Ally in the studio this week.    On this episode, we celebrate our 2-year anniversary of podcasting by listening to some of the highlights and lowlights of the show.

Chris talks about the Podcast Mastermind group that he has joined.   Baba Gonesh is back with us in the studio to share an update on how his colonoscopy went and then presents Baba News including a tribute to one of his favorite actors and singers, Shammi Kapoor.   Ally and Phillip Donald perform a duet together.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Adam Woodall Band

International News Correspondent Baba Gonesh delivers the latest news from India.

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Chris and Ally talk about the SmorgShow being added to the Stitcher Radio Network.

Stitcher allows you to listen to the SmorgShow directly from your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android devices, Kindle Fire, Blackberry or WebOS phones!  Please support our show by downloading the free app and entering the promo code SMORGASBORD when you register.

Also featured:  Baba Gonesh calls Chris and Ally to tell them about his upcoming colonoscopy appointment.   He decided not to visit the studio in person while he preps for his procedure.   Finally, more strange Craigslist listings.

Featured Artist of the Week:   Avi Wisnia

We have some great news to kick off 2012!  Smorgasbord Radio is now a part of the Stitcher lineup.   We are excited to be a part of this growing network of news and talk radio shows.  This allows our show to be heard all over the world on virtually all listening platforms – mobile phones, tablets, SONOS systems, and even in-car dashboards (via Ford SYNC)!   It is exciting to be on the cutting edge of an entirely new way to share our content.

Stitcher allows you to listen to the SmorgShow and your other favorite shows directly from your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android devices, Kindle Fire, Blackberry or WebOS phones!  On Demand, On-the-Go!    The latest episode is always available for you – no synching needed…and no memory or storage wasted.

Don’t have Stitcher?   Download it free today at Stitcher.com or in the iTunes or Android app stores.

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Chris and Ally ring in the new year by counting down their favorite SmorgShow events of 2011.   Chris discusses Christmas at the Dave Jackson household.

Other topics:  The creepiest Craigslist listings of 2011; Baba Gonesh returns from a long hiatus and presents Baba News.   He is rather boastful after receiving much attention from his performance in our “It’s a Wonderful Life” radio play.

Featured Artist of the Week:  Loretta Hagen

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SmorgShow Theater is proud to present its latest radio play production.  This time, we bring you Frank Capra’s classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life” on the 65th anniversary of the original release.    We had an absolute blast creating this!   We had a cast of dozens out to the SmorgShow studio this past month to lay down their tracks.   The main cast includes:

• Chris Bockay – George Bailey
• Ally Bockay –  Narrator, The Bailey Kids, Tilly, Mrs. Hatch
• Kim Bockay – Mary Hatch-Bailey
• Geoff Wells – Clarence
• Dave Jackson – Joseph, Burt the Cop, Nick the Bartender, Bridgekeeper
• Jerry Malauskas – Mr. Potter
• Daryl Woltman – Mr. Gower, Uncle Billy
• Chase Woltman – Young George Bailey
• Peet McCain – Harry Bailey
• Baba Gonesh – Ernie the Cab Driver
• Domenico DeFazio – Martini
• Terrylynn DeFazio – Ma Bailey
• Larry Coon – Peter Bailey
• Joe Personality – Sam Wainwright

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SmorgShow Theater returns with a new re-enactment of Charles Dickens’  “A Christmas Carol”.   We have updated our 2010 production so that we could include Dave Jackson in the performance.

The Cast:

Chris Bockay: Ebenezer Scrooge

Ally Bockay: Ghost of Christmas Past

Peet McCain: Marley, Ghost of Christmas Present, Nephew Fred

Geoff Wells: Bob Kratchit

Kim Bockay: Mrs. Kratchit

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A special treat for those who have been with us for the past 30 years. On this episode, the original Smorgasbord Radio Show team – Chris Bockay, Peet McCain, Dave Jackson, and Jerry Malauskas – reunite together for the first time in 10 years.

Ally does not make an appearance during this episode because she could not deal with four old men going down memory lane and complaining about the current state of affairs.

Among the various topics discussed:    Peet and Jerry duke it out to play the best Mr. Potter on the forthcoming SmorgShow Theater production of  “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  In the spirit of that classic story, we discuss what life would have been like if there had never been a Jerry Malauskas.     We discuss the culture of high school radio WDGC-FM before and after the Smorgasbord show era, and the impact General Manager Fred Moore had on us.     We discuss the trend of moving away from terrestrial radio and toward internet radio and podcasting.  We also discuss the current state of the music industry.      On a positive note, we do not discuss any of our medical issues.