Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding did life commercials 

Bob Elliott and his partner Ray Goulding were the kings of hyperbole and parody on radio in Boston (WHDH) and New York, then later on television.  Their on-air characters included Mary Margaret McGoon, a take-off on Mary Margaret McBride; Wally Ballou, fumbling newscaster;  Mary Backstayge, Noble wife, a parody on radio soap, Mary Noble, backstage wife;  Mr. Trace, keener than most persons, a parody on a popular radio serial, Mr. Keen, tracer of lost persons; Buff Burns, sportscaster, whose famous closing line to his baseball reports was “this is Biff Burns rounding third and being thrown out at home.” 

Three Non-Smoker Policy commercials 

Bob & Ray did three life insurance radio spots for State Mutual Life Assurance Company, Worcester, when I was advertising director at the company.  We wanted to promote our then innovative non-smoker life policy, and we wanted to do it in a memorable way.  I can recall meeting with Bob at his unpretentious office/studio in the Woolworth Building.  We reviewed our objectives and left some literature.  Within a month, we had scripts for three hilarious commercials. 

A couple of weeks later, we were in a tiny recording studio in the city.  Bob & Ray did three or four takes.  The best from each take was spliced together by a miracle working engineer---yards of old recording tape and some scotch tape and a razor blade! 

Still have an audiotape 

I kept a couple of tapes for the dustbin.  Every once and a while, I revisit them.  They never fail to make me chuckle.  One spot, in particular, gets me every time. Bob, representing a State Mutual life insurance agent, makes a cold call.  He knocks on the door and introduces himself and his purpose.  Ray, the prospect, welcomes him with open arms saying, “Oh, a life insurance agent.  Come right in, I was hoping you’d call.  I love those charts and graphs.”   

What a memorable take-off this was during the days when people at a neighborhood party used to scramble for cover if they heard there was a life insurance agent in the room! Bob & Ray always had a way of hitting the sweet spot with their way-out parodies.  The three State Mutual life insurance commercials were no exception.  

Want a laugh? Try some Bob & Ray. 

Go to www.bobandray.com. Ray died some years ago, but Bob lives on.  He has a summer vacation home in Harpswell, Maine.  This month he is receiving a prestigious award at the Radio Hall of Fame in NYC. 

He son Chris has carried on the family tradition as a television and movie comedian.