This series was originally made in the 30s with Groucho and Chico Marx taking the roles of Waldorf T. Flywheel and Emmanuel Ravelli respectively, and contrary to popular belief, the shows, although live, were recorded onto disc. Sadly these were subsequently destroyed (well all except the last of the shows) and the scripts were lost also (only turning up in 1988 in the National Library of Congress), so very little was actually known about the series until about a decade ago. It had started life as Beagle, Shyster, and Beagle, but an impending lawsuit from a real lawyer called Beagle prompted the name change to Flywheel.
The show was then produced by the BBC in 1990, and proved to be a great hit. With the original scripts of Nat Perrin and Arthur Sheekman being adapted by Mark Brisenden with many additions, they were performed by Michael Roberts as Groucho Marx as Waldorf T. Flywheel and Frank Lazarus as Chico Marx as Emmanuel Ravelli, with other vocals by Lorelei King, Graham Hoadly, Vincent Marzello, with guests including Spike Milligan. The shows ran over three series with repeats of all three, and the subsequent issue of a BBC Radio Collection Double Cassette of the entire first series. In 1992, the second series actually received the Gold Medal at New York's International Radio Festival!!!!
Well folks, the page would not be complete without the details of the BBC broadcasts. I will later on try to add the original show details, but with only the one recording in the vaults, this is not pressing.
:: Series 1
This was six episodes and went out June/July 1990. The entire first series is available on the BBC double cassette listed below. Note that the titles are ones that I have given to the shows where I have them, and have gleaned from others when I am missing a show.
| Episode | Title | Trans. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Stolen Rembrant | 2/6/90 | Episodes 1, 4, & 17 with material common to Animal Crackers |
| 2 | The Theatre Company | 9/6/90 | Episode 14, with Lydia from At the Circus |
| 3 | Big Joe Crookley | 16/6/9 | Episodes 1, & 12, with a song from Horse Feathers |
| 4 | Foo Foo | 23/6/9 | Episodes 3, & 9 |
| 5 | The Prize Fighter | 30/6/9 | Episode 10 with song from Cocoanuts |
| 6 | The Election | 7/7/90 | Episode 5, 6, & 16 with song from Horse Feathers |
:: Series 2
A further six episodes. I have given the shows my own titles, and will try to indicate which of the original scripts are used for the shows when I have some time to research them!
| Episode | Title | Trans. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doctor Hackenbush | 11/5/91 | |
| 2 | Uncle Abner | 18/5/91 | |
| 3 | Ravelli goes to jail | 25/5/91 | |
| 4 | Shoplifters | 1/6/91 | |
| 5 | John Smith's will | 8/6/91 | |
| 6 | Hollywood | 15/6/91 |
:: Series 3
The last series was another seven episodes, and is notable as Spike Milligan appears in a couple of the episodes.
| Episode | Title | Trans. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Haunted House | 11/7/92 | Episode 24 |
| 2 | Laughing Hyena | 18/7/92 | Episode 11 and new material |
| 3 | The Tour Bus | 25/7/92 | Episode 20 |
| 4 | Chicago Clarion | 1/8/92 | Episode 22 |
| 5 | Coney Island Fair | 8/8/92 | Episode 18 |
| 6 | Flywheel at Xmas | 15/8/92 | Episode 5 |
| 7 | Uncle Abner | 22/8/92 | Episode 13 |