On the afternoon of July 31, 1978, members of one of the finest improv groups of all time—Andy Goldberg, Wendy Cutler, Wayne Powers, Paul Wilson, Susan Elliott, Tony Delia, and director Dee Marcus—walked into the KMPC Radio studios at 5858 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood to record bits for The Sonny Melendrez Show.
That session captured lightning in a bottle.
This episode features rare recordings of improvisational brilliance—hilarious bits that, until now, have remained unheard for decades. What listeners will hear is pure radio magic, created in the moment by seven master improvisers at the height of their creative powers.
History
A few weeks before the radio appearance, Dee Marcus invited me to “come play with us” at an Off the Wall performance in a small dance studio tucked beside a hamburger stand in West Hollywood. Standing in the back of the room, I watched as one member of the troupe absolutely dismantled the audience with fearless wit and astonishing physical comedy.
After the show, once the audience had cleared out, the group gathered together. That performer shared some news—he had just landed a starring role in a new television sitcom and would be leaving the troupe. The show was Mork & Mindy. The performer was Robin Williams.
That night, I invited Off the Wall to come play on the radio.
Closing Tribute
Off the Wall is the longest running improve group in the Los Angeles area, celebrating 50 years of comedy excellence
They continue to be a creative force—bold, generous, and endlessly inventive. Their work shaped a generation of performers and proved that collaboration, trust, and fearless imagination could create something timeless.
This recording stands as a tribute to their chemistry, their courage, and their lasting influence on comedy, improvisation, and storytelling itself.
-Sonny.
Show notes and Links: SonnyRadio.com/show
