The Real Leroy Mercer: The Original Recordings of John Bean

The Great Hal Holbrook has made a life's work doing the stage show "Mark Twain Tonight." If you've seen it, it's the next best thing to actually being able to hear Samuel Clemens as Mark Twain, doing one of his famous storytelling lectures. The thing is, Holbrook never once claimed to have created Mark Twain. Sadly, the Oklahoma disk jockey who's made a killing imitating these John Bean recordings is no Hal Holbrook. He's no John Bean, either, and he's certainly a weak impersonation of the characters you'll hear on this collection. Imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery, but impersonation and borderline plagiarism of a guy who's too dead to defend himself are just plain lousy. John Bean didn't invent the prank call, but he invented these characters. This is the real deal. All crankiness aside, I first heard these years ago on a cassette copied off of a cassette copied off of a cassette. They're hilarious. They were done back in the days before caller ID. The belligerence and in some cases decency above the call of duty of the folks on the other end of the line are a genuine study of human character.

I have looked for this for 20 yrs. I can't believe it's him. Funniest prank calls ever!!!!

Bean was the original and a comedic genius. All those who ripped him off deserve an authentic whuppin. Thanks for preserving this audio. Huh!