S1E5 – Red Skelton A Christmas Story

The podcast episode “A Christmas Story” features host Red Skelton and showcases an old-time radio show with Red Skelton. The episode begins with a sponsorship plug for Nord appliances, promoting their range and highlighting that they are a division of BorgWarner.

The narrative of “A Christmas Story” begins with a humorous look at the preparations for a Christmas show, involving characters like Junior, who is initially reluctant to participate, claiming the pageant is “sissy stuff.” There is a running joke about Junior potentially ruining his reputation with the “skunk patrol.”

The story transitions into a wacky comedy involving characters debating over participating in a Christmas tree pageant and facing various silly mishaps along the way. For instance, characters face embarrassing moments like Junior wearing a Christmas tree costume incorrectly and another character, mistakenly thinking Christmas lights are juicy because they resemble oranges.

Amidst these humorous anecdotes, the show takes a surprisingly somber turn as it narrates the life of a little Christmas tree from being in the forest to getting chopped down and sold in the city. The tree reflects on its existence and purpose, feeling confused and saddened by its transient life, ornamented yet unsure of its true meaning. This segment is interspersed with more product promotions from Nord, emphasizing their features such as the auto-defrost function.

Santa Claus eventually appears, explaining to the tree its meaningful existence as a symbol of freedom and Christmas spirit, emphasizing that as long as Christmas trees are celebrated, hope and faith in goodwill and peace will persist.

The episode concludes with a final commercial endorsing Norge appliances, encouraging listeners to consider them as long-lasting Christmas gifts, and ends with host OTRW inviting listeners to tune in again next week for more of the Red Skelton Show.

S1E4 – Bob Hope Show – 1948 with Jack Benny and Doris Day

In this episode, Bob Hope, also humorously referred to as Robert Hopalong Hope, hosts a lively variety show featuring guest appearances by Jack Benny, Doris Day, and several others including Irene Ryan. The show commences with Hope introducing the line-up and highlighting the sponsor, Swan Soap. He humorously dives into a segment that satirically covers post-election political commentary, poking fun at pollsters and politicians.

Following the political satire, Hope transitions into a series of entertaining advertisements for Swan Soap, cleverly integrating promotional messages into humorous skits. One notable segment involves a fictional Mercury car giveaway, creating a playful interaction by announcing false winners to capture audience attention.

Doris Day, referred to as the singing orchid from the national flower festival, delivers musical performances which pleasantly intersperse the dialogues. Her songs highlight her vocal talent and the romantic themes of her music.

An amusing skit unfolds next, where Hope, supposedly injured during a movie shoot at Paramount, humorously discusses the implications of his injury with studio personnel who ironically express relief over his mishap. This segment features comical exchanges that include studio heads and other guests like Irene Ryan, who contributes her quirky character’s anecdotal humor.

The scene shifts to a light-hearted interaction involving Hope, Doris Day, and other characters who play on the themes of injury and misfortune with a mix of sympathy and humor. The comical misunderstandings continue as characters mistake which of Hope’s legs is injured, adding to the frivolity.

Jack Benny then makes his guest appearance, initially blending in with the band and later engaging with Hope in a playful dialogue about celebrities and insurance selling, which Benny jokingly proposes to Hope. The conversation turns towards a mock scenario where both Hope and Benny imagine themselves as disc jockeys, spinning records and poking fun at various societal and personal quirks.

Towards the close of the episode, the program returns to more music and jesting advertisements, with the hosts playfully promoting Swan Soap and riffing on its merits. The episode wraps up with a tribute to President Harry S. Truman, reflecting on his unexpected election victory, and a final nod to the show’s sponsor through a humorous jingle about Swan Soap.

Overall, the episode blends humor, music, and advertisement into an entertaining radio show format, showcasing the charismatic rapport between Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and Doris Day, as well as their ability to engage the audience with wit and satire.

Old Time Radio Weekly – Trailer Episode

Welcome to the trailer episode of “Old Time Radio Weekly”—the show that transports you back to the Golden Era of Audio, one series at a time.

Each Sunday, we’ll bring you a classic episode from the world of old-time radio. Whether you’re a longtime fan of these timeless broadcasts or new to the magic of vintage audio, you’re in for a treat. From thrilling adventures and heartfelt dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, we’re diving deep into a rich audio history.

So, mark your calendars and get ready to gather around the radio—or whatever device you’re listening on—each week for a nostalgic journey. It’s a weekly escape into a world of classic storytelling, right at your fingertips.

Old Time Radio Weekly: Bringing the magic of radio’s finest era back to life. Don’t miss it—tune in this Sunday!