Talk:Ogden Edsl

If someone knows names of members, it would be good to have them in the article.71.215.56.225 12:38, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

IIRC, I once heard Dr. Demento give the full name of the band as 'The Ogden Edsl Roto-Rooter Goodtime Christmas Band'  LorenzoB 01:59, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

While I was a member myself for a couple of periods in the early to mid 70s, that could be said for anyone in the Omaha area at that time who possessed a modicum of musical ability and a sense of humor.

My nominations for additional band names run as follows:

1. Rich Thieman. He was part of the trio when they went to LA. Otis (nee Douglas Wesselman) did not go with them, I think. Rich also wrote/co-wrote many of their tunes. He is a wonderful multi-instrumentalist, but he mainly played the electric bass with the trio.

2. Jim Celer, whose nom de band was "Diver Dan Dumee." He was a founding member when Otis and Bill were at Creighton University in Omaha. He also co-wrote (with Bill and Otis?) the full-evening musical delight STRANGER THAN SPENDING THE NIGHT AT A FORT DODGE TRUCK STOP, that featured some of Jim's great tunes - WHY AM I STRANGE?, and one I still play, I'D CLIMB A MOLEHILL FOR YOU, which was featured by the band for years.

3. Dennis Sponsler. He was the lead singer, keening through such tunes as YOU AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE and COMIN' INTO LOS ANGELEEZ. We did covers in those days in addition to the originals, such as I WANT SOME DOPE, MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE BLUES and the topical MUSIC BOX.

I was the erstwhile piano player - David Keith Johnson. My time with the group was relatively brief. I do not suggest adding my name. It would be a disservice to too many others.

For the radio serial, Jim played Absorbo Junior, a character wielding a temporal-spatial cucumber, Dennis was the star, Heavy Duty, the ultimate hippy, and I was his counselor and eventual agent, Hymie Wartfloater.

During the shows I played, I also was known as Joe Green, or Guiseppe Verdi, who sang FUNKY VENICE, a reflection of the similar tune about Nassau that was current at the time.

They started their musical/satiricial lives as The ELECTRIC BATHWATER BAND. As Ogden Edsl, they were the house band for an functioning satirical theatre group whose name escapes me, where I first saw them. Eventually we all played for Megan Terry and wrote some tunes for her Omaha Magic Theatre production of CHOOSE A SPOT ON THE FLOOR.

Any of us who were part of this must look back with amazement and gratitude to Bill Frenzer. He is a phenomenon. I can only wish his continuing efforts to amuse and inform the world enjoy some real success. Hire him. He will make you laugh, guaranteed. Ignatius Gerumpany 19:05, 29 December 2006 (UTC)DK Johnson

OGDEN EDSEL WAHALIA BLUES ENSEMBLE MONDO BAZARIO BAND