Everyone alive in the 50's, especially in Massachusetts where I am from, knew of Bob and Ray and their hilarious deadpan routines from their radio program on WHDH. If you were a Red Sox fan, you would certainly know the Piel's Beer ads from game broadcasts.
Much of my video from the 70's is deeply indebted to them. A good example of their influence on me is the piece Name Board:
Later when I moved to New York I became an avid fan of Mary Backstage, Noble Wife from the CBS radio show, and of their appearances on Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and The Tonight Show.
As luck would have it I later met my heroes in person in the green rooms of SNL and Letterman. They were secure enough not to take offense to my unabashed plagiarizing. In 2006 I had a chance to walk through my retrospective exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum of Art with Bob Elliott and as we progressed cascades of Bob and Ray resounded in my head.
Since as long as I can remember not a day goes by when, as Matt Neffer, I update Todd as to my current whereabouts.
-- WW
Bob Elliot, of the comedy duo Bob and Ray, turned 90 years old today.
