Ok - I guess I've sufficiently gotten over it.
I finally got down and looked inside the right front wheel well and saw the green turn signal wire hanging loose having come disconnected at the spade connection. Don't ask me how one of those l/4 inch spade connectors just suddenly comes apart. I tested the right bulb for conntinuity on both elements and switched it to the other side to verify it was good - but didn't think to check the connection in back.
I knew there was something even more screwed up with the right side since even the front wouldn't flash over there, but most of the problems were in the rear on both sides). When Bob says that a front signal light will prevent the rear one from working, that might mean both sides in the rear.