Going on a Hike

"Going on a Hike" is a spoken word comedy single released by Coral Records in July 1955. Consisting of banter between two servicemen, it was written and performed by Tom D'Andrea and Hal March. The pair reprised their characters (using their own first names) from the short-lived sitcom The Soldiers which premiered the previous month. 
The record was used on Sam and Friends on the broadcasts of March 26, 1959Shemin, Craig. Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show. p. 356 and April 14, 1960.ibid. p. 449 The accomponying music is credited on the record to George Cates (Coral's music arranger and division head) and performed by harmonica player Jerry Hilliard.
==Performer background==
D'Andrea and March introduced their soldier characters in sketches on The Colgate Comedy Hour. D'Andrea was a comedy writer who, after being drafted during World War II, began performing as well (including in the film This Is the Army with Ronald Reagan). He was a regular as pal Gillis on The Life of Riley (based on the radio show) and played character parts on other sitcoms including The Addams Family and The Andy Griffith Show.
Hal March had a background in radio, playing neighbor Harry Morton on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and in the earliest TV episodes as well. He hosted the TV game show The $64,000 Question (which became the center of the 1950s quiz show scandals) and later guest starred on The Monkees and Gidget. 
==Sources==
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Category:Sam and Friends Segments
Category:Audio References