The Los Angeles Breakfast Club: ON THE AIR

Thanks for coming back for more "Ham an' Eggs in the Age of Covid-19"! For the 4th consecutive month of life during the pandemic, we depart from the normal structure of our audio time travel expeditions into the history, happenings and colorful characters that comprise the now 95 year story of the one and only Los Angeles Breakfast Club ...

The show begins with a phone conversation between host Phil Leirness and announcer Marc Hershon about the reasons behind Phil's departure from Los Angeles and the recent death of his father, as well as about an hilarious audio pilot that Marc wrote and produced (and which you can enjoy at https://succotash.libsyn.com/succotash-shut-in-epi209-special-presentation-sleevetalkers-pilot).

Legendary explorer, adventurer and hunter Frank Buck ("Bring 'em Back Alive") was honored at the club back in the 1930's. On this month's show, we offer up a clip from that event, as well as a story Buck tells the assembled ham an' eggers about headhunters in Borneo!

Phil makes the rounds of the various Breakfast Club tables, starting with the dais table and Reverend Barbara Adams, who takes us down the path that leads to our continuing "Adventures in Friendship". Phil then drops in at the nurse's table, where he interviews Rachel Skytt. It's then on to the Konrad Monti smoking section for a chat with Adam Mellema. The 60's Mafia table's Dorothy Rupert is visited, and the Roosters' very own Grand Cockelorum, Robert Nichols, rounds things out. You will learn things you never knew about these people, you will hear heartening tales of how they are embracing these challenging times, and you will enjoy a lot of laughs.

All that, PLUS the Don Snyder Orchestra takes us on a "Sentimental Journey" and Carole Nese wakes up our brains!

Welcome to the "Los Angeles Breakfast Club: ON THE AIR" in the age of Covid-19! For the 2nd consecutive month of quarantine, we depart from the normal structure of our audio time travel expeditions into the history, happenings and colorful characters that comprise the now 95 year story of the one and only Democracy of Ham an' Eggs ...

Former club president Jerry Zerg gets the ball rolling, offering up good advice for those who have a hard time making it to our early 7 am Wednesday morning meetings in the best of times! Phil Leirness and his intrepid announcer, Marc Hershon, then guide you through member birthdays and two classic clips from presentations past - one from the year 1984, featuring the Harmony Headliners, and the other from 2016 feating a Jet Propulsion Laboratory lecture about Saturn.

The bulk of the show involves Phil checking in with each of the five Breakfast Club tables, finding out how quarantine is treating the dais table's Reverend Barbara Adams, the nurses table's Myrtle Nelson, the Konrad Monti smoking section's Celeste Hong, the 60's Mafia table's Carole Nese, and the Roosters' very own Sherry Chovan. You will learn things you never knew about these people, you will hear heartening tales of how they are embracing these challenging times, and you will enjoy a lot of laughs, especially when Phil pays a surprise telephonic visit on announcer Marc Hershon.

Former president Zerg wraps things up with the man who for more than 70 years led Breakfast Clubbers down the path that led to their continuing "Adventures in Friendship", Reverend Jim Brougher.

Welcome to the "Los Angeles Breakfast Club: ON THE AIR" in the age of Covid-19! This is far from a normal installment of our regular audio time travel expedition into the history, happenings and colorful characters that comprise the now 95 year story of the one and only Democracy of Ham an' Eggs. And that's okay, because these are far from normal times. Fortunately, the Shrine of Friendship is at least as much a state of mind as it is a physical space, and you will be treated to an hour of good music, hearty laughs and uplifting fellowship ...

Host Phil Leirness gets the ball rolling with the inspiring "My Resolution" presented at the Los Angeles Breakfast Club at the start of 1942. He and his intrepid announcer, Marc Hershon, then guide you through new member initiations, featuring individually-crafted rituals by club president Lily Leirness, and member birthdays. Foundation president Bob DeWees then introduces Reverend Barabara Adams who takes us down the path that leads to our continuing "Adventures in Friendship" with a remarkably prescient and uplifting reading. Bob then introduces legendary NBC 4 weather forecaster (and longtime stand-up comedian) Fritz Coleman, who brings the funny. Kevin Segall introduces actor-writer Steven Banks, who offers up a song.

The 2nd half of the show involves Phil checking in with each of the five Breakfast Club tables, finding out how quarantine is treating the dais table's Richard Gilson, the nurses table's Sandy Boucher, the Konrad Monti smoking section's Christopher Hanson, the 60's Mafia table's Don Snyder, and the Roosters' very own Kahlil Nelson. You will learn things you never knew about these people, you will hear heartening tales of how they are embracing these challenging times, and you will enjoy a lot of laughs.

It's our first episode in more than four months, out just in time to celebrate the 95th birthday of the one and only "Democracy of Ham an' Eggs!" Let your host Phil Leirness, and his faithful announcer Marc Hershon, guide you on this time travel expedition exploring the history, happening and colorful characters that comprise the story of the Los Angeles Breakfast Club.

Club emcee Richard Gilson and Chicago Chapter member Diane Terenzio get the festivities started. The great Reverend Jim Brougher offers remembrances of the club's founding. Multiple gold-winning diver Pat McCormick regales the club members in 1984 with tales of Olympic glory. The Richard Earl Orchestra offers up a toe-tapping tune. Reverend Barbara Adams ruminates on Valentine's Day while taking us down the path that leads to our continuing "Adventures in Friendship". Club President Lily Leirness initiates new members AND previews what is on tap for March (as well as a Sunday night concert in April that is a yearly tradition no one will want to miss).

All that plus a long-ago "banned" song, legendary actress Annette Andre sings the praises of the Breakfast Club, and beloved "Cathy" cartoonist Cathy Guisewite shares humorous pearls of wisdom. This is one birthday party you won't want to miss!

During one of our longest episodes ever, we not only celebrate the history, happenings and colorful characters that comprise the 94 year story of the one and only Democracy of Ham an' Eggs, we also say goodbye to our dear friend, and devoted Breakfast Clubber, Darrell Hughes.

We get into our audio time machine and journey to 1984 for an orchestral rendition of a song about Darrell's home state of Pennsylvania and to be regaled with humorous anecdotes by multi-Oscar-nominated composer (and conductor) Frank De Vol.

Reverend Barbara Adams performs an invocation as she takes us down the path that leads to our continuing "Adventures in Friendship".

Magician Michael Borys holds us spellbound.

Great L.A. Times communications specialist Darrell Kunitomi offers profoundly stirring remembrances of Darrell Hughes the teacher, educator and role model.

Robert Nichols releases Darrell from his duties as one of the Breakfast Club's heckling roosters.

Don Snyder performs a breathtaking rendition of "I'll Be Seeing You".

Brilliant author, artist, animator and illustrator (and good Ham an' Egger) Tina Kugler discusses her "Picture Book Process".

Host Phil Leirness gets better acquainted with the Grand Cockleorum of the Roosters, Robert Nichols.

All that plus Club President Lily Leirness initiates new member Tom Sanchez into the Democracy of Ham an' Eggs and previews the upcoming events taking place at the Shrine of Friendship between now and Thanksgiving.

The Don Snyder Orchestra closes the proceedings with their final ever performance of Darrell Hughes' official Breakfast Club theme song.

As always, host Phil Leirness and his trusty announcer Marc Hershon curate the entire affair.