Lost: Gunga Din Parody

? | 1970's-ish | unknown

[Reaganesque]

I grew up in the Boston area. Lived there from 1966 through the early 1990's. During the 70's there was a parody of the film Gunga Din that was played on the radio that was one of the funniest things I have ever heard. I can't remember who made it or even if it was a local creation.

Basically it starts with a brief introduction (from the poem) and then features a bugle sounding the alarm as the sound of horses and gunshots can be heard in the background. As the sound of horses and gunshots gets louder, the bugler is hit. Slowly, the bugler starts playing again only a little less enthusiastically this time. He is shot again. Again, he musters up the strength to play (even more feeble this time) and again he is shot. This goes on and on like this until the bugler can barely play at all. The whole thing wraps up with the "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din" followed by a pathetic blurb from the mortally wounded bugler.

Does any one else remember this and if so, do you know where I can get a copy of it? I tried Google but didn't find it. Please help!

[durasell]

Firesign Theater. Available on CD or DVD

[bt_dooftlook]

You may also wnt to check out a movie, Blake Edwards' "The Party" (1968), featuring Peter Sellers as a Bollywood actor in Hollywood (groovy soundtrack by Henry Mancini) and featuring the debut - I think - of Claudine Longet (sp?), famous later for shooting Olympic skier Spyder Savage.

Opening scene is similar to what you describe, but the rest of the movie gets better as Mr. Sellers' character destroys a Hollywood dinner party...

[durasell]

Parrot scene is hysterical.

[durasell]

HA! Cracks me up every time!

The Firesign Theater album, I believe, was Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Plier.

[maine-iac7]

I seem to remember a group "The three----" something or other. I used to have the record. they also did one about the "Beware the Jabawock" (sp?) (I think?)

[Reaganesque]

When I couldn't find it on Google, I knew I could count on you guys/gals! Thanks!

[durasell]

We know everything. Go ahead, ask a question about string theory.

[Socratic]

Jimmy Launce, a radio personality at WJR in Detroit, also played this occasionally. For those who have never heard it, all I can say is "Looooooooooooooooosers!" It's a classic.

[LexBaird]

We know everything. Go ahead, ask a question about string theory.

Okay. How do you get Silly String back into the can?

[durasell]

That falls under the heading of extestential crisis. I don't do extestential.

[LexBaird]

Okay, try this one. How long is a piece of string?

[durasell]

It's exactly from one end to the other, unless folded in the center, then it is exactly half as long.

[LexBaird]

If it is only half as long as it is, how can it get to the center and back?

[LexBaird]

And what is the deal with string cheese? Do you eat it with string beans? Can you use it to tie the toppings onto your pizza?

[durasell]

In a complex and unknown manner, what was once the center of the string transforms into an end when the string is folded in half. Scientists are working to figure out exactly how this happens and with what frequency.

[durasell]

Trick question -- because string cheese is neither string nor actually cheese. It's a product whose only ingredient is "marketing."

[LexBaird]

Scientists are working to figure out exactly how this happens and with what frequency.

Probably somewhere around 870 mhz. I heard a string quartet on the radio around that frequency, once.

[LexBaird]

Trick question -- because string cheese is neither string nor actually cheese. It's a product whose only ingredient is "marketing."

Ahh. Like Cheez-Whiz.

Which brings us back to Silly String.

[durasell]

And if you doubled the 870, then you'd be on your way to a full orchestra.

[LexBaird]

And if you doubled the 870, then you'd be on your way to a full orchestra.

This String Theory stuff is easier than I thought. Stephan Hawkings, eat your heart out.

Now, on to Black Holes. Is it true that they are thought to originate in Calcutta, as a result of it's proximity to Big Bangalore?

[durasell]

Yeah, the Black Hole of Bangalore sucks jobs out of developed countries.

[LexBaird]

As opposed to the Black Hole of Bangladesh, which just sucks, period.

[FoxInSocks]

Probably somewhere around 870 mhz.

880 Hz is an A note.

[LexBaird]

If I had 880 Hz, I'd see a doctor for some morphine.

[durasell]

There once was a fellow named Swope,
Who fell in love with an oscilloscope
The cyclical trace, of their carnal embrace
Had a d@mned near infinite slope.

with apologies to TP

[LexBaird]

A poster who was named Durasell
Claimed FReeper knowledge was really swell.
But when asked about cheese,
Or strange frequencies,
He claimed science was unable to tell.

[durasell]

I'm not a scientist. I only play one on TV.

[bt_dooftlook]

For some reason, my two favorite scenes are:

1. "I'm trying to cut down but, oh, what the heck" taking his shoe from the pupu platter; and

2. The extended scene where the toilet goes nuts

"It will be worth it, if not for the sake of this song, but for your own peace of mind"

[LexBaird]

[durasell]

Sorry. I don't watch the Simpsons regularly enough to get it..

[LexBaird]

I'm not a scientist. I only play one on TV.

Homer is also not a scientist, who plays one on TV.

Okay, it wasn't funny, but I do get half points for speed.

[durasell]

...and the limerick wasn't bad. :)

[ntnychik]

PING

[LexBaird]

My bad ones would get me admonished by the Admin.

[durasell]

Dorothy Parker was the Queen of the dirty/non-dirty limerick...it's an art form.

[LexBaird]

There once was a fellow named Bill
Who built a Lie-brary on top of a hill.
Though he hailed from the South,
He declared with his mouth:
He wished it had been in Nantucket.

(think about it...)

[durasell]

...got it. Nantucket, land of a thousand limericks. None of them clean.

Must get to work now.

It's been fun chatting with you.

[ApplegateRanch]

The Last Gasp of The Blasted Bugler, as I recall. Every time the shooting stops, he gets out another, more strained, tootle? Ends up sounding like an elephant phart?

Is that the one?

[ApplegateRanch]

Make that Last Blast of the Blasted Bugler,

Sonny Giannotta (w/ Phil Camarata & Tommy Cardinale) (released 1962

[Reaganesque]

Certainly sounds like it.

Say, what happened to my thread? I go to bed and you guys get string all over it. Sheesh!

[Reaganesque]

Found It!!! Thanks Applegate, once I knew the title, it came right up on Google. Thanks everyone!!

Check it out here.

[jocon307]

"Go ahead, ask a question about string theory."

LOL, I like your attitude! Freepers really do, collectively, know EVERYTHING!

[durasell]

I'm only feeling cocky because I've been reading up on string theory.