“Yakety Sax,” perhaps more popularly known as the Benny Hill Show theme, echoes in the halls of Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine. It can only mean one thing. It’s time for “Schwobble.”
Through a closed circuit television channel, hospital patients can watch an interactive game show created just for them put on by a lively team of senior volunteers. “Schwobble,” a word blend of Scrabble and “Wheel of Fortune” has been going strong for more than 30 years.
The program is staffed largely by members of Sweet Adeline singing groups, Marge Cook among them. “Sweet Adeline is a different breed of people: You want to entertain and sing and have fun and make people smile.” Cook says.
Just to get a smile out of people going through hospitalization, Marge and the “Schwobble” team go live on-air encouraging patients to call in with solutions to word puzzles. Hangman-style, another letter is added and viewers compete to be the first to call in with the answer.
One regular, Katrina, always schedules her monthly medical procedure to fall on a “Schwobble” day. “When you see a patient smile, I mean it’s phenomenal. It’s just so wonderful.” enthuses Cook.
Kristine Hincz, like Cook a “Schwobble” on-air host agrees, “Sure, who wouldn’t want to make someone happy.”
Singing quartet Cooler By The Lake sings “It Had To Be You”
