Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihu1m.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!ihu1m!gadfly
From: gadfly@ihu1m.UUCP (Gadfly)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Re: no soap, radio explained
Message-ID: <369@ihu1m.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Apr-85 09:52:46 EST
Article-I.D.: ihu1m.369
Posted: Mon Apr  8 09:52:46 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Apr-85 02:14:48 EST
References: <266@npois.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 25

--
> 	I understand, from some older relatives, that a Boston or
> Rhode Island area radio station, or perhaps a small radio network
> including said area, before the days of TV, advertised that they did
> not carry soap operas. They stuck mostly to news and humor. So every
> couple of hours, they would tell something that sounded like a shaggy
> dog story, and the punch line would be... No soap, Radio. They were
> known for being pretty weird, and nonsensical.
> 
> 			Anton Winteroak

I read somewhere (where?  Did anyone else?) that "No soap, radio"
was the result of a psychological experiment gone haywire.  Some
researchers in the 50's at some eastern university were looking
at the effects of peer pressure and compliance behavior.  They
invented a joke with said nonsensical punchline, and spread it
around.  Lo and behold, in the social dynamics of joke-telling,
no one would admit to "not getting it".  And they still don't!
-- 
                    *** ***
JE MAINTIENDRAI   ***** *****
                 ****** ******  08 Apr 85 [19 Germinal An CXCIII]
ken perlow       *****   *****
(312)979-7188     ** ** ** **
..ihnp4!iwsl8!ken   *** ***