Special Sub-Topic: The Firesign Theatre Click Here To Play: The Firesign Theatre

Why, 'Firesign'?

All the members were born under the astrological element of fire. Members Phil Austin, David Ossman, Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman first met at a California radio station in 1966 in a show called, 'Radio Free Oz'.

Some of their influences include, but are not limited to:

Anything and Everything. In a recent interview, Phil Procter also lists, 'Bob and Ray, Stan Freberg, Laurel and Hardy, the Amish, Spike Jones, Ish Kabibble, Ogden Nash, Robert Benchley, silent comedies, old radio, new radio, etc.'

What is NOT an example of the 'Five Lifestyles of Man'?

Goonies. The five lifestyles are: BEZERKERS (anyone with a gun or acts like one), ZIPS (those with thin moustaches and are fashionable), BOZOS (band together for fun and profit), BOOGIES (take it easy and don't clone) and BEANERS (those outside the law of gravity, often on color TV)

'If you push something hard enough it will fall over' is an example of this:

Fudd's Law. Other rules first enunciated by Sir Sidney Fudd are, 'If you dig a hole deep enough, everyone will want to jump into it' and 'If you give the people a light, they'll follow it anywhere'. However, it was the first law of opposition that gave rise to the phrase, 'He's no fun, he fell right over'.

Who is the constant foil of Nick Danger, Third Eye?

Lt. Bradshaw. Lt. Alvin Bradshaw (played by Harry Ames), was loosely based on Officer Bradshaw from the TV series,'Highway Patrol'. He not only pesters Danger, but his Javanese counterpart, Young Guy, Motor Detective.

Which is not an alias of 'Nancy'?

Ida Lupino. The other alias was 'Melanie Haber'. 'The Further Adventures of Nick Danger, Third Eye' is particularly full of Beatles references including this, a take on 'Rocky Racoon'(everyone knew her as Nancy). From 'Two Places'.

Many of the Firesign Theatres' recordings featured a nameless 'Everyman' character that was the focal point of the comedy, Which one of these was not a reference for this person?

Ace. 'P' was a reference to Franz Kafka's 'K' from 'Electrician', Babe was on the 'Two Places' album and Clem toured Future Fair in 'Bozos'. Another reference was 'Player' on the 'Eat Or Be Eaten' album and George Tirebiter on 'Dwarf'.It was Tirebiter who called Nick Danger asking for the 'pizza to go and no anchovies'. The other side of the conversation is on the 'Dwarf' album.

Which is not the title of a Firesign Theatre album?

Still Smokin'. Too easy, was it? Others include, 'Everything You Know Is Wrong', Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death' and 'I Think We're All Bozos On This Bus'.

'It's in the water...that's why it's yellow!' describes what FT product?

Bear Whiz Beer. Other products include October Blind, the duck flavored coffee, Napalmolive, Edible steering columns, Dead Cat Soap, Erzats Bros. Coffee and Coke ('I understand it comes in bottles in this country...')

What disease was not diagnosed in 'Beat The Reaper'?

Dysentery. A gameshow where the contestant was injected with a disease and has to identify it before it kills him. Our hero made it to Symptom Seven before losing by misdiagnosing the Plague. From 'Electrician'.

Which pyramid opened after our hero read the hieroglyphics?

The one with the ever-widening hole in it. The hieroglyphics included 'the body of a lion, paws (pause) that refreshes, a tail (tale) told by idiots and the head of a fox'. From 'Two Places'.

Which FT character ran for President on the campagn slogan that he's 'Not Insane!'?

Papoon. From 'Not Insane Or Anything You Want To', a parody on Thomas Eagleton, a real-life running mate to George McGovern who was removed from the 1972 ticket after it was disclosed he had psychiatric help.

What does Nick Danger see on the glass of his office door?

'regnaD kciN'. His name spelled backwards.

When not together as the FT, the members (particularly Phil Proctor)have often lent their vocal talents to some animated shows. Which show does not have a Firesign member in the cast?

Histeria. Proctor currently has a regular role in 'Rugrats' as Howard DeVille, father of twins Phil and Lil (Kath Soucie).

Procter and Peter Bergman have also written for several motion pictures. Which of these was NOT a Procter or Bergman script?

Kentucky Fried Movie. 'J-Men Forever' used black and white film of the members intersperced with footage of classic B-mystery serials in a remarkable spoof, 'Americathon', based on a play by Procter, was produced by Neil Isreal, who went on to produce the 'Police Academy' series. 'Zachariah' was an early Western outing for a young Don Johnson.