Allen's Alley was great. Stereotypes? Sure, but it seemed like (well, at least for Titus Moody and Mrs. Nussbaum), that the characters really fit the actors. Ajax Cassidy wasn't much to write home about, but the other three were hilarious. This is the sort of feature that works perfectly on Fred Allen's program, but wouldn't work anywhere else, especially on television.

Here's a transcription of one of the songs from Brooklyn Pinafore. It's sung to the tune of Ruler of the Queen's Navy. However, there was one word I couldn't make out. If anyone can tell me what it is, I'd be grateful.

When I was a lad I could not see
A hand held up in front of me
In spite of how I'd squint and peer
I couldn't tell my father from my mother dear
My eyes were oh so very, very weak
That now I am an umpire in the National League
His eyes were oh so very, very weak
That now he is an umpire in the National League
As an umpire I gained great fame
I called a player out who wasn't in the game
Another decision which you may have heard
I'm the guy who made ******* stay on third
My life is a failure, I'm up the creek
That's why I am an umpire in the National League
His life is a failure, he's up the creek
That's why he is an umpire in the National League

I'm trying to think of infamous umpire decisions up to that time. Let's see here...there are some, but none I can remember off hand (I haven't heard the episode). What year was the show from?

1945. I recall this because the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagisaki were mentioned as being recent.

Don't know about infamous umping, but there's a whole pile of lore about the battles between John McGraw and Bill Klem. Klem ultimately "won".

If you want to discuss further, take it to the sports board over in The Kitchen Sink.