Retro Old Time Radio

Alan Young is facing a financial crunch when his rent is due. To raise the money he decides to enter a radio contest. Though it's for married couples, Alan does his research and tries to crash the quiz show. Bonus Track: Tommy Dorsey. Yes Indeed. PS: for more

Ann Southard is macie, and is in the dumps after catching her playboy boyfriend out with a rival. When Eddie comes back into her life, so does Macie's rival, but misunderstandings almost ruin the whole relationship. Bonus Track: Buddy Clark. 1948. I'll Dance

Art Linkletter polls the audience for tourists to volunteer for the stunts on the show tonight. Audience volunteer, Eric Right gets a tough question but answers it right anyway. Eric is an instructor in aeronautics in Louisianna, and Art talks to him about Income Tax, and the new operation that the IRS has been doing lately to go door to dor to make sure people have paid their tax.   To see how many folks in the neighborhood agree with the National polls, Art sends the man out with a special offer. He is to ask to see how many people are against the new operation, and to see if they would be interested in buying a sign that might help. He isn't supposed to sell any signs, but just to see if anyone will be willing to buy one of the quarrantine signs. Eric leaves, and has all the details, except that one house in the neighborhood has an IRS agent living there. Next is Mr slater who appears without his wife, and talks to Art about his job back in Illinois. He has a travelling companion who is an old

The cast members all sit around to complain about Andy's latest failed attempt at marriage. No steady job, no prospects, always chasing after several girls at once. Later in the lodge hall, Andy talks with Kingfish about his failed attempt at getting married. Particularly with his relationship with Madam Queen. What ever happened to old Madam Queen anyway? Andy doesn't care much, his main concern is getting a job as he reads the classifieds with Kingfish.   Elsewhere, a well to do man talks with his woman about leaving town, and the need to hire a driver for her while he's gone. Guess who? It's Madam Queen with her new man. I have a feeling that some paths are about to recross.   The man stops in to talk to Andy, but Kingfish is on hand to help handle the business management of his friend. What is needed is a man who is going to be unappealing, and keep Madam Queen from having a roving ye. After seeing Andy, the man is satisfied.   Later, Andy drives up in the fancy new Cadillac. Andy begins to get

Fibber talks to Molly about a car, but is shortly interupted by the mailman, Gale Gordon. A guy who takes the liberty to filter through the junk mail, and read over Fibber's shoulder. A letter from city hall says that Fibber needs a new dog license. To ignore the law puts Fibber in position to face a stiff penalty. He is indignant and phones, but gets Mirt the Phone Operator instead. There's a couple political jokes in the mix that poke fun at the Postmaster General, and the President of the time, FDR.   There's just one problem that Fibber needs to make plain to City Hall, he doesn't even own a dog. Should be a simple chore, right?  On the way, Fibber meets up with Teeny. She tries to comfort the disgruntled Fibber, and get talking about her easter rabbit. Billy Mills transitions into Harlow Wilcox delivering a commercial break.   Old Timer jokes around about Fibber's license trouble. He somehow ends up talking about Bob Hope, and dentists. He points Fibber to the right office in City Hall. Wil

Though he may be the water commissioner, Gildersleeves has had trouble with Birdie over a leaky water faucet. Finally the drip, and Birdie, has annoyed him long enough, and there's no more hiding from it. Gildy goes poking around the musty, cluttered basement, and gets distracted by some of the old things stored there.   All those distractions wear him out, and he dozes, dreaming of times and fashions gone by in the year of 1903. Gildy is all duded up in his white linen suit, Leroy in his buster brown suit, and Marjorie in a bustle and listening to that new fangled ragtime music. What are kids coming to these days.   Gildy goes to watch the train come in, which is bringing the new school teacher to town. Along the way he stops in to talk to Peavey before heading down to the station. That practical, sly, old Peavey gets Gildy to buy more stuff than the judge did. Then Gildy parts ways with a quick joke about the president.   At the station, the judge and Gildersleeves argue over the teacher, but Gi

Saluting the opening of the New York theater season with a salute to Broadway. Announced by Mr Gallop, Milton Berle comes out with the snappy one liners. He talks about flops that he has been in. The humiliation of small audiences, being snubbed, and general lack of respect. Milton gets teased about his time with the Ziegfield Follies.   The salute begins in earnest by honoring the backers of the theaters. A brief drama is presented where a young Milton gets funding for his early projects that consistently flopped. Milton shares some golden memories of his vaudeville days with Cynthia.   After poking a little fun at Ray Noble, Milton takes questions from the floor. Wacky audience members include a man claiming to have an elephant for a father, a man named Cynthia, a man with a question about his dress, and a housewife whose husband is stuck in the past with vaudeville and burlesque shows. Next, Otis Finster, Shakespearean acting coach, offers advice for the budding actors.   Dick Varney sings, Yo

I know this is a little out of season, a Christmas program, but what caught my eye was that it is a Bob Hope episode, and it has Jack Benny on it. It's a show that doesn't tell much of a story, although there's a shopping scene, and a run in with Santa. The rest is just a lot of joking around from some truly great comedians.   Bob jokes about his recent visit to Texas, which includes jokes about oil, football, and more. Les Brown and his band of Reknown back up as Bob and Doris Day sing, Lucky Us. Bob goes to the bank for some money for his Christmas shopping. He eventually makes it to the teller window, and marvels at the money. Next, Bob and Doris go to the department store to shop. They talk about celebrity themed dolls. They get a visit from Irene Ryan, who tells about a few mishaps of her own while doing her shopping.   Later, Bob and Doris encounter a grumpy bell ringing Santa. He grumbles to Bob about his wife, and housing situation.   Jack Benny gets a hard time from the parking lot attend

Eddie Cantor talks about his friends in show business. He first talks about his early days working with Jimmy Durante back in 1923. Eddie tells some secrets, anecdotes, and in general gives honors to Jimmy. He plays a clip of Jimmy with Helen Travo singing, It's Gotta Come from the Heart.   Recently Eddie ad been ill, and in the hospital, and tells how he was visited by Jack Benny. Also reflections of his earliest days in radio. Eddie sings, Now's the Time to Fall in Love. Eddie then remembers Jack from his vaudeville days in 1919, and Jack's ability to adlib despite Jack's famous reliance on his writers. He also bursts the myth that Jack is as stingy as his character lets on. A clip from the Jack Benny show is palyed where Rochester is trimming Jack's hair. Jack talks about his rigorous schedule.   Eddie shares a few words about his old friend, Groucho. Which leads to a star they both admire, Al Jolson. Eddie then plays a recording of Al singing, Sonny Boy. Afterward, he talks about two child sin

Something a little different. After the comic book became popular, the next step was to create a radio series, and of course to sell the idea, an audition was needed. In these four auditions that were produced, you'll notice the story line that kicked off the series for real. With some change ups in the actors, and minor script changes, the first two shows became the first appearances of Superman over the airwaves. The other two auditions, to my knowledge were never used in the series, but I could very well be mistaken.   The Origin of Superman, Audition Part 1 Attention boys and girls, introducing a new kind of hero, a superhero. Superman, the size of an ordinary man, but possessing powers beyond any normal man. Sworn to devote his existence on earth to help mankind.   Journey now to a planet, millions of miles from earth to a planet of supermen. the Planet Krypton. Jorel, Kryptons leading man of science addresses a gathering of government officials to warn of the impending doom of the planet. Th

The year 2370, and travel by spaceship is no longer the realm of scientists. It is now commonplace for families to take an excursion into space. Today, a space cruise ship, the Golden Star, is to blast off with it's variety of passengers for a luxury cruise on it's maiden voyage. Passengers talk about their expectations and facts about travel into space. They talk about the unique experience of being strapped in for lift off. All in all, the scenes portrayed are not too far off from a typical cruise on a se going ship.   Suddenly, disaster strikes. There may not be any icebergs floating around in space to worry about, but there is meteorites that will cause the same kind of damage. When a meteor strikes the spaceship, most of the on duty crew is dead. The captain, and a handful of passengers are all that remain. Automatic damage control has locked down the ruined parts of the ship, and the survivors try to come to grips with their fate.   Human emotions run high, and the fears of the passengers ar

Outside the Anderson home, dad and Bud give the family car a going over. Although the kids all comment that it is becoming old and worn down. Trying to prove its durability, dad accedentally knocks off a fender. After a quick fix with a little bailing wire, the family set out for a picnic. When the car won't start, and drama queen Bettypushes the issue, dad caves in and lets her go with some friends. Besides, there is to be a drawing for a new car at the community picnic.   After a host of ordeals with nursing the car into motion, the family get to the picnic. Even dad's patience is tried by the car troubles. Wen Kathy runs up with news that they won, dad lets her and Bud take out some frustrations on the troublesome fender. What a dad, he should know better. There's more than one prize to win at the raffle, and their prize wasn't the car.   After the commercial, dad takes the car to the repair shop, with the family in tow. They all drop hints that  it's time for a new car, but dad is more econom

Today's episode is a short one, so there's a few added bonus tracks to round things out. Watch the home page for more of Blair, and his adventures on the Royal Mounted Police Force. I'll run the whole series on the dates they actually appeared way back in 1938.   In this first episode, a wealthy Brittish woman has a dream about her son being kidnapped, and an image of where he might be. She goes to Canada to Blair with her story. The indian assistant, Joe, warns it off as a bad place.   After giving him a hard time, Joe takes Blair there. The local indians believed that a sacrifice of a white man would appease the bad spirits. Blair, and the help of a local indian maid rescue the kidnapped man just in time.   Bonus Tracks:     Incredible but True. Water Water Everywhere. A story about a shipboard fire, abandoning shipand a mysterious supply of fresh water. Charles King. 1929. Happy Days are Here Again.   Don't forget! If you can't get enough old time radio, stop in at the main home page for more. Yo

Connie Brooks talks about her let down over her New Years Eve celebrations. As she remembers, and goes into flashback, she talks with Mrs Davis. Mrs Davis is to visit her absent minded sister, Angela. Connie makes plans to go out with Mr Boynton. Minirva, the cat gets in on the absent minded fun.   The French teacher pops in. He wants to include Connie with the party that he and his wife are planning. The admission will only be a few old clothes to donate to help needy people in France continue to recover after the war. Through it all, Mr Monet tries out his EnglishConnie phones Mr Boynton on her party line to invite him to the party as well. Oh, the joys of having a party line. I wonder why Lum and Abner never had trouble like Connie does? Eventually, after some butting in, Connie asks Boynton out, but he doesn't quite get all the details.   As Connie gets ready, Mrs Davis tells her that the closet was already cleaned out for Goodwill. So now Connie is off to the Conklins where Harriot and Walte

Fibber gets a letter from the Postmaster General. It seems that the government wants a questionaire returned to tell how the mail service is performing in Wistful Vista. Fibber's first responce is to complain, but Molly talks sense to him, and to tell that things are fine.   The Old Timer visits, and he agrees with Molly that the US Postal Service is doing a fine job. He tells about his father, and his picture that hung in the Post Office.   A public service announcement proclaims the merits of stamping out bigotry, and promoting diversity.   Fibber keeps trying to find fault with the quality of the postal service. As Molly leaves the room to take care of a household chore, Teeny visits. Hey, how come Teeny always visits when Molly leaves anyway?   Fibber talks with Teeny about the mail service, still trying to find points to complain about. .   Doc Gamble visits, and Fibber picks his brain about trying to find any problems with their mail delivery. Doc gets a kick out of Fibber having to break do

Trivia alert: Normally I put any alerts, or notes at the bottom of the show notes, but I wanted to post this right at the top. The answer will follow at the bottom. In my bonus track, did you notice that both Tony Martin and Phil Harris are featured in this song? Do you know what significance this represents?   Art Linkletter searches the audience for the oldest father with a child under a year of age. A 62 year old man with a goatee turns up. He is a man who married into a circus family. He's a tattoo artist, and married to the fat lady. although Most women gain weight while they are in the family way, his wife lost 125 pounds to have her baby. Just for appearing, he wins Pilsbury flour, toiletry items for himself and baby supplies for the baby.   Mrs Meyers, a self proclaimed good cook, who has been baking for 30 years is interviewed about baking a cake. After 30 years, she has switched her ways, and just recently started using Pilsbury, and with great results. She wins a waffle iron, just for a