Bob Elliott (1923—) and Ray Goulding (1922-1990) brought a new kind of low-key satire to radio in the late 1940s. They developed such memorable characters as the drawling cowboy Tex and Wally Ballou, "radio's highly regarded and totally inept" remote broadcast reporter who invariably began his reports in mid-sentence, having forgotten to turn on his microphone. Wally often spoke of his wife "Hulla Ballou" and son "Little Boy Ballou." Another popular creation was Mary McGoon, a quirky talk show hostess who was a combination of Mary Margaret McBride (the First Lady of radio talk shows from 1934 to 1954) and Julia Childs, the radio and television chef.

Bob Elliot (left) and Ray Goulding

The creative pair also set their satiric stun guns on popular long-running radio shows of their day, running their version, One Feller's Family, as a parody of the popular program One Man's Family. Also...