A Parody Outline of History

A Parody Outline of History is hilarious but scathing anti-war satire of The Outline of History (1920) by H. G. Wells, written by Donald Ogden Stewart, in the styles of popular authors of the day, and first published in 1921 only a year after World War I ended.

This ear-popping audio dramatization was produced and voiced by Joe Bevilacqua (aka Joe Bev)—enhanced with music and sound effects—in the style of the popular performers of 1920s and 30s, including The Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Jack Benny, W.C. Fields, Gary Cooper, and John Wayne.

Stories in this set:

1. CRISTOFER COLOMBO: A Comedy of Discovery Written in the manner of James Branch Cabell Performed in the manner of a Marx Brother movie Cast of Characters Narrator: Paul Frees Cristofer Columbo: Chico Marx Rusty the Sorcerer: Harpo Marx King Ferdinand: Groucho Marx Queen Isabella: Margaret Dumont

2. MAIN STREET: Plymouth, Mass Written in the manner of Sinclair Lewis Performed in the manner of a Laurel and Hardy movie Cast of Characters Narrator: Paul Frees Pricilla: Zasu Pitts Kennicut: James Finlayson Miles Standish: Stan Laurel John Alden: Oliver Hardy Manager of Heaven: Oliver Hardy Drunk: Arthur Housman Friend: Edgar Kennedy Heaven Reporter: Walter Winchell

3. THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH Written in the manner of F. Scott Fitzgerald Performed in the manner of a Laurel and Hardy movie Cast of Characters Narrator: Paul Frees Miles Standish: Stan Laurel John Alden: Oliver Hardy Pricilla: Zasu Pitts Auntie Brewster: Billie Burke

4. THE SPIRIT OF ‘75: Letters of a Minute Man Written in the manner of Ring Lardner Performed in the manner of The Jack Benny Show Cast of Characters Minute Man: Jack Benny Wife: Mary Livingstone Driver: Rochester Waiter: Frank Nelson Tea Party Indian: Dennis Day, Tea Party Indian: Don Wilson, Bystander: Fred Allen English Horse: Mel Blanc Drunken Singers: Mel Blanc with The Sportsman Quartet

5. THE WHISKY REBELLION Written in the manner of a bedtime story Manner of Thornton W. Burgess Performed in the manner of a W.C. Fields movie Cast of Characters Storyteller: W.C. Fields Aunt Polly: Mae West Jed: Walter Brennan Assorted Drunken Yodeling Children with Guns

6. HOW LOVE CAME TO GENERAL GRANT Written in the manner of Harold Bell Wright Performed in the manner of a Frank Capra movie Cast of Characters Narrator: Paul Frees General Ulysses S. Grant: Gary Cooper Geraldine Rhinelander: Olivia De Havilland Mrs. Rhinelander: Emma Dunn Ella Flowers: Katherine Hepburn Mrs. Vandergriff: Margaret Dumont Reverend: Charles Ruggles Drunk #1: Arthur Housman Drunk #2: W.C. Fields The Crippled Newsboy: Jackie Cooper

7. CUSTER’S LAST STAND Written in the manner of Edith Wharton Performed in the manner of a John Ford movie Cast of Characters Narrator: Paul Frees Philip Custer: John Wayne General George Custer: Walter Brennan Mary Custer: Maureen O’Hara Little George Little Mary French Waiter

8. FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD: A Drama of the Great War Act I—Written in the manner of Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews Act 2—Written in the manner of Eugene O’Neill Performed in the manner of a Laurel and Hardy movie (directed by Preston Sturges) Cast of Characters Narrator: Paul Frees American Soldiers: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, James Finlayson, Ned Sparks American Lieutenant Edmund Kockenlocker: William Demarest Prussian Soldiers: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Leon Askin Ellen Ratzkywatsky: Betty Hutton Mrs. Finlayson: Esther Howard The Landlady: Mary Carr Angels: Zasu Pitts, W.C. Fields, Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Jack Benny, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Arthur Housman Construction Site Foreman: Billy Bletcher

© 2019 A Joe Bev Production LLC (Audiobook): 9781982692513

Release date

Audiobook: 6 August 2019