Dave's Gone By

Dave's Gone By is a humorous talk program that currently airs weekly, Saturdays, 10am-1pm(MT), on UNC Radio (uncradio.com), the radio station of the University of Northern Colorado. A mix of comedy, talk, music and interviews, the program continues to be produced and hosted by its founder, David Lefkowitz. From October 2002-June 2009, the show aired on Long Island, NY's WGBB AM radio. In summer 2009, David Lefkowitz moved to Colorado and, for several months, produced new episodes exclusively online at the program's website, davesgoneby.com. In August 2010, the program returned to a live, weekly format on UNC Radio (UNCRadio.com), where the host also serves as the station's Programming Director.

Internet

The official website for Dave's Gone By is http://www.davesgoneby.com.
Since August 2010, new episodes have been airing live, Saturdays, 10am-1pm(MT), on UNCRadio.com, the radio station of the University of Northern Colorado. Within a few days after airing, episodes are then archived as free audio streams and podcasts at davesgoneby.com. Davesgoneby.com includes audio archives of nearly every episode of the program (more than 330 to date), as well as photos, schedules and a history of the show and its guests.

History

The first episode of Dave's Gone By aired at 11pm on Oct. 6, 2002 from WGBB's studio, then located in Merrick, NY. Setting the eclectic style for most episodes to come, the debut program included host David Lefkowitz greeting listeners, talking about the (then-missing) monologist Spalding Gray, reviewing theater and the Neil Young biography "Shakey," and playing clips of Shooby Taylor, Joan Rivers, the Beatles and Husker Du. Rabbi Sol Solomon, a recurring comic character, also made his first appearance here.

In June 2003, the hour-long program expanded to 90 minutes and moved to Mondays at 6:30pm. April 2004 would see the show move to Thursdays at 7pm and return to its 1-hour format. In January 2006, the show returned to its original Sunday night, 11pm timeslot.
December 2008 saw the program reach its 300th episode.
The final program on WGBB, which aired June 7, 2009, was the Fifth Annual Tony Awards Special (episode #313). The first "internet only" episode, #314, was webcast June 14, 2009. After a two-month hiatus, the program's first Colorado-based show debuted (#315), Aug. 28, 2009.

Segments

Recurring segments on the program include:
Dave Goes In - The show's intro, including the program's content, sponsor mentions, and light banter
Inside Broadway - Since the host is a theater critic and co-publisher of a theater journal (Performing Arts Insider), the program has a weekly theater segment, which is generally divided into theater news and gossip, followed by reviews of Broadway and off-Broadway shows.
The News Gone By - A satirical look at current events, much in the mold of "The Daily Show" and Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update.
The World Weird Web - Devoted to odd or helpful sites on the internet
Dave Goes Off - Dave's chance to expound upon or rant about various topics
Dave's Gone Cultural - A segment related to the arts that eventually morphed into "Inside Broadway," though the segment occasionally returns for other art forms.
Dave Says Bye - Generally a remembrance of a well-known figure who died the previous week
Dave Goes Out - Wrapping up the show with thank yous, sponsor mentions and a final song.

Characters

Although much of the program's humor derives from the host's interviews, monologues and banter, Dave also portrays a handful of comic characters, often based on broad but gently mocking stereotypes.
Rabbi Sol Solomon is the best known and most controversial character. Billed as the "spiritual leader of Temple Sons of Bitches in Great Neck, New York," the Rabbi strongly promotes Yiddishkeit and Jewish themes, though he's just as easily driven to inappropriate flirtation and angry tirades. His truncated interview with Mandy Patinkin (see below) remains the show's most talked-about moment, while is chats with singer-songwriter Jill Sobule and sex therapist Karinna Kittles-Karsten are generally regarded as being among the program's funniest. Responding to the Rabbi's cult appeal, in 2007, TotalTheater Productions aired ten episodes of "Shalom, Dammit! Rabbi Sol Solomon's Peace, Love and Acid-Reflux Hour - A Television Miracle" on Long Island and Manhattan Public-access television cable TV, as well as on Youtube. Starting Jan. 2011, Dave's Gone By Rabbi began airing Reb Solomon's weekly "Rabbinical Reflections" on such topics as Egypt, Regis Philbin and Taco Bell.
Peter Fitzgerald, Vice President of WGLFAR (The Woodmere Gay/Lesbian Front...and Rear), is an openly gay character often used to interview cabaret performers or traditionally female-oriented topics. Fitzgerald's best-known expression is "wiggle!", which he exclaims whenever excited or delighted.
Yoni Huttenanni, of unspecified Swedish/Norwegian descent, is a how-to expert who has offered handy tips on folk music and caulking. His accent, however, tends to make the topics sound naughty.
Herman Glogauer is an extremely old and decrepit gentleman whose topics have included young girls and football.
Blarney O'Bunions is best known for his disgustingly inebriated 2006 St. Patrick's Day show appearance to caution listeners against drunk driving.

Guests

Many of the guests visiting what the host calls "the Daverhood" are in the entertainment field, with a special emphasis on folk/indie pop musicians and cabaret/theater personalities.

Among the musicians who have appeared on the program:
Rusty Warren (March 2011), Dan Bern (March 2011), Stan Ransom (February 2011), Charles Fox (January 2011), Keith Nelson (December 2010), Lucy Kaplansky (March 2010), Ute Lemper (May 2009), Wing (October 2008), Dave Jay (August 2008), Karen Mason (July 2008), Jane Siberry/Issa (January 2008), Athena Reich (November 2007), Jill Sobule (September 2005 & July 2007), Peter Tork (February 2006 & April 2007), The Randy Bandits (March 2006), Wreckless Eric (January 2006), Christine Lavin (December 2005), Oscar Brand (December 2005), Art Paul Schlosser (September 2008) (Feb. 2005), Dr. Elmo (January 2005), Chris Smither (January 2005), Rob Szabo (November 2004), Tom Paxton (September 2004), Jeff Labes (August 2004), One Last November (June 2004), Neil Sedaka (May 2004), October Project (October 2003), Steve "The Whistler" Herbst (December 2002).

Among the writers, directors and performers who have appeared on the program:
Dave Konig (July 2011), Richard Pilbrow (June 2011), Mark Russell (May 2011), Shecky Greene (April 2011), Ari Gold (April 2011), Pat Cooper (April 2011), Dr. Demento (March 2011), Elliot Tiber (March 2011), Linda Lavin (February 2011), Jim Caruso (February 2011), Vicki Lawrence (January 2011), Joel Samberg (January 2011), Ward Morehouse (November 2010), Max McLean (November 2010), Carol Channing (October 2010), Philip Wuntch (October 2010), David Newell (January 2010), Marshall Efron (December 2009), Alfa-Betty Olsen (December 2009), Gerald Nachman (December 2009), Theodore Bikel (November 2009), Burt Edwards (September 2009), Jill O'Hara (May 2009), Martin Vidnovic (April 2009), Avi Hoffman (March 2009), Albert Bergeret (January 2009), Linda Eder (November 2008), John "Dr. Dirty" Valby (July 2008), Karen Mason (July 2008), Charles Bloom (June 2008), Eleanor Reissa (May 2008), Juliana Hatfield (May 2008), Gary Lucas (April 2008), Paul Tracey (March 2008), Tony Powers (March 2008), Tovah Feldshuh (March 2008), Sheldon Harnick (Feb. 2008), "Uncle" Floyd Vivino (Feb. 2008), Jason Graae (Oct. 2007), Marilyn Maye (Oct. 2007), Dick Van Patten (Sept. 2007), Robbie Benson (Sept. 2007), Fyvush Finkel (July 2007), Julie Wilson (July 2007), Christine Pedi (June 2007), Joe Franklin (April 2007), Maude Maggart (March 2007), Richard Skipper (March 2007), Bruce Adler (Dec. 2006), Ray Jessel (Dec. 2006), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Nov. 2006), Barry Levitt (Oct. 2006), Anita Velez Mitchell (Sept. 2006), Blanche Baker (April 2006), Paulette Attie (Oct. 2005), Frank Wildhorn (Sept. 2005), Mandy Patinkin (June 2005), Julie Hagerty (April 2005), Joyce Castle (Oct. 2004), Jay Kholos (March 2004), Jamie deRoy (Feb. 2004), Karen Grassle (Jan. 2004).

Co-Hosts

During the last three years of its run on WGBB, Dave's Gone By was frequently co-hosted by Jeff Goodman, a theater critic and co-host on Manhattan cable television's "Two on the Aisle" program.
Former radio talk show host Joe Salzone, an alum of WGBB, also co-hosted a handful of episodes.

Music

From the beginning, the program has opened with "Tropical Hot Dog Night," by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. The official closing theme is the Waterboys' rendition of Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing," though in recent years, the show has tended to close with music relevant to that episode's content or guest.

Dave has also written and sung several novelty songs on the program, including "Crappy Days are Here Again" and "Jeopardy Ken," both of which had the distinction of being played on the nationally syndicated "Dr. Demento Show" (Nov. 2, 2008 and Oct. 10, 2004, respectively). Other ditties by Dave have included: "Joey, the Spastic Kangaroo," "Makin' Poopies," "The Ballad of Pete Townshend," "Captain Liflander's War Madrigal," "Psycho Blues," "The Enema Blues" and "99 Barrels of Oil." Notable holiday songs include: "We Killed Santa Claus," "Pubic Hair," Peter Fitzgerald's "(I'm Having a) Gay Christmas," and Rabbi Sol Solomon's "Anal Dreidel" and "The Twelve Days of Nothing."

Notable Events

Among the most memorable happenings on the program included studio visits by the pop band October Project and singer-songwriters Christine Lavin, Wreckless Eric and The Randy Bandits. Dave has mentioned that his favorite interviews included TV/radio talk host Joe Franklin and folk legend Tom Paxton. He's also expressed gratitude at being able to interview outsider rock journalist Al Aronowitz shortly before his passing.

One of the program's prouder moments included Dave's novelty song, "Jeopardy Ken" (a tribute to "Jeopardy" TV contest uber-winner Ken Jennings), being played on the nationally syndicated "Dr. Demento Show."

The show's most notorious moment remains Rabbi Sol Solomon's interview with Mandy Patinkin (June 2005). Patinkin apparently objected to the tone and style of the character and politely hung up less than 30 seconds into the chat. The Rabbi's impromptu and angry comic rant that followed has become a Daverhood favorite.
Rabbi Sol's interviews with singer-songwriter Jill Sobule and sex therapist Karinna Kittles-Karsten are generally thought to be among the program's all-time funniest segments. Responding to the Rabbi's cult appeal, in Fall 2007, TotalTheater Productions aired ten episodes of "Shalom, Dammit! Rabbi Sol Solomon's Peace, Love and Acid-Reflux Hour - A Television Miracle" on Long Island and Manhattan Public-access television.

Though not technically part of Dave's Gone By, Dave Lefkowitz hosted five Tony Award specials and two New Year's Eve specials for WGBB, which were then included as part of the show's archives. in 2010 and 2011, live Tony Award specials were aired on UNC Radio. Those, also, are archived as Dave's Gone By episodes.