Retro Radio Podcast

When Jack is a little late for the show, only Dennis seems to know where he is,, if only the rest of the cast would let him talk. Eavesdropping on him in the hallway, we find Jack on the phone. Will he be able to convince the studio exec to let him premier his new movie with Fred Allen, where he wants? But…. But…. But…. The show starts in Ernest, and with the election over, and ballots all counted, Don introduces the new dog catcher of Beverly Hills. The cast seem less interested in Jack’s new political achievement, than in letting the jokes about Fred Allen fly. Phil continues showing off his night school education, then the studio exec phones back for more jokes on who gets top billing in Jack and Fred’s new film. Dennis sings, Blueberry hill. When Phil learns the exec is from the South, he thinks he may be able to talk to him for Jack. Jack turns down the offer, and amid interruptions, introduces the play. A tale about a drugstore soda jerk. More calls from the studio mean there won’t be a play. Phil plays Some jazzy traveling music. Rochester drives Jack and Mary to meet the studio exec in person. Jokes about dog catcher Benny continue. As a government official, should Jack get a siren for his car? Will the jokes endanger any expectations of Christmas gifts this year? Is there any hope of catching that exec when he tries to get away in a Cadillac?

Dipping into the vault, and another show from our first season, here’s my original show notes. First, consider supporting the podcast through my Patreon page. As little as $5 per month will go a long way. My robots are at it again. They temporarily hijacked my computer long enough to put this show together. They worked hard at it. They think I don’t know. Just humor them. It looks like we are in the old west today with Matt Dillon, Chester and the rest. The show gets clipped in the closing credits, but the episode is all there. Westerns have been around since the days when cowboys and Indians roamed the plains and deserts. It took until 1949 though before a program was developed for adults rather than kids. Instead of centering on gunfights, horse chases and general swashbuckling, Gunsmoke had its focus on relationships. The characters were meant to have flaws and be more realistic. Chester was just an average citizen, Kitty, as a saloonkeeper, was definitely not in nice society circles. Matt Dillon was a ranch hand who got tired of sitting in a saddle and took to upholding the law. Not what he would have picked as a career choice, but he normally had a solid sense of what was fair. The human interaction might easily be rewritten for any time period, not just the old west. That is what makes Gunsmoke such an appealing show for adults. People face the same kind of relationship issues all through the ages, and those relationships will always be relevant. The writers and show producers did all they could to show a version of reality, even if the characters sometimes make bad decisions or display flaws. Thanks for listening, Keith H PS: It’s that time of month again. Shows from last August have cleaned out of the server to make space. If anyone is interested, a CD will soon be available containing all the shows from my first year in podcasting. Let me know whether you would prefer to have the shows exactly as I posted them. With robot hosts and all. Or just the Old Radio shows. With No extra comments. The cost of the CD will be $10 and include shipping in the continental United States. When the CD is ready, I’ll put a button, or at least a link to a page with a button to order it. –kh A stranger rides to town, and has already been involved in gunplay. It was self defense, but if it keeps happening, Matt Dillon may be forced to intervene. The gunman lures his victims to get angry, and draw on him first. Chester figures if Mavis were to leave on the next stage coach, it could end the reign of terror. Matt tries to convince her boyfriend to be a gentleman, and join her on it. It takes a little gunplay, but Matt sees the gambler, France, is safely on the coach, and out of the way. Matt doesn’t usually insert himself into personal affairs of his citizens. Has he done the right thing? Doc is on hand to share a secret, and assure his friend. Bonus Tracks * After Keith introduces the episode, and gives some background on the Retrobot drama in the old episode, he tells how to support the show. * Connie Haines 1942 Cow Cow Boogie

Bob “Supposed to be in Alabama” Hope has a cold. So has to do his comedy part in Hollywood. While his cast are in Alabama to entertain the troops. He jokes about the California weather. Making love scenes with Dorothy Lamour, his cold. And the local military crowd. Back in Mobile Alabama, Wendel Niles delivers the straight lines to Jerry Kolonna. Francis Langford sings. Speak Low. Wendel Niles keeps up his part to let Francis and Jerry get the laughs with a southern flavor. Vera Veg gets in on the act with dating jokes. As well as the usual local military flavor. Cotton, tobacco, and southern belles get attention. Jerry answers a world wide request and sings. Mares Eat Oats. Returning to Hollywood, Bob is visited by Lum and Abner. The gents comment on Bob’s poor health. But Abner is confused. And thinks it’s about Bob’s nose. Can they cheer Bob up? What home remedies might they offer?

While dining out at a quaint Russian restaurant, Pam finds a body in the hat check room. As the Norths probe into the matter they learn of a high profile, big time mobster connected with the killing. The dead woman is his wife. Why was a wife of a big time gangster doing such menial work? It won’t take a genius to figure that she was on the outs with her crooked hubby. Chuck Moran, claims to have an air tight alibi, but what about his latest love interest and torch singer in his nightclub? Jerry North puts together the clue that the dead woman left behind, and Pam holds the clue to pinning the murder on the killer.

Birthdays of celebrities are mentioned, including Bing’s. Playlist * Thousand Islands. (Bing) * Friendly Mountains. (Bing) * the studio is made spic and span for the guest, Claudette Colbert. Bing jokes with her about her movie co-stars, going to movie theaters, and present a short sketch of a married couple planning an evening out. Secret codes, and dangers abound for movie goers of the future. * You’re Too Dangerous Cheri. (Bing) * Cllaudette helps with the French version of the hit song. * I May Be Wrong. ((Bing)

Rollercoasters aren’t as much fun, unless you can take a kid along, like the ever hungry Teeny. As the McGee’s enjoy the fair, Teeny suggests getting their pictures made, and they enjoy the automatic picture booth. The Old Timer runs the photo concession, and tells the secret of his automatic booth. Gale Gordon is a huckster, but will Fibber regret shooing him away? What will Teeny think of the tunnel of love? Billy Mills plays,. She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain. Teeny drives the activity , and attention to Billy Mills 10,000th broadcast. The band leader tells that he has done as many as 12 shows a day. He plans to celebrate on the Merry Go Round. Harlowe Wilcox is a side show barker to do what else… pitch the sponsor. As Teeny parts ways to ride the rides, the McGee’s encounter Gale Gordon again. Fibber resists his con game, then Abigail Uppington arrives. How was her trip through the tunnel of love? The Kingsmen sing Billy Mills latest hit, I’m In Love with the Sound Affects Man. Molly is distressed when Teeny can’t be found. Maybe Gildersleeve will help? Through their bickering, Gildersleeve mentions Fibber’s write up in Look Magazine. Teeny manages to show up on her own. Gale Gordon makes yet another appearance, and reveals who he is. will the McGee’s be in the movies soon?

Lum is in a highly nervous state as he paces the Jot Em Down Store. He tells Abner that he was followed the other day. Coming home after his date with Miss Platt. He also tells Abner he has told her about the diamond,. And plans to show it to her soon. Abner has to come clean, and tell him the diamond is back in the county seat. He shares how the jeweler died of heart attack when he was appraising the stone. Lum thinks Abner is pranking him. And gets Maimie to phone the jewelry store. Will he believe in the curse now? A stranger enters the store with a message. Will Lum still be oblivious to the curse. Or its drew consequences

Homicide Detail. A 22 year old girl has been abducted, and the worried family is counting on Joe Friday. Joe Friday wakes up his partner at 3 AM to investigate the case of the abducted 22 year old Sullivan girl. The family is far from wealthy, so a kidnapping doesn’t make sense. The cops interview the girl’s dad. He shows the ransom note that specifies the deadline and the $30k amount. The stakes increase when the kidnapper learns the cops are involved. A fingerprint on the ransom note, and a handwriting match leads to an out of state connection. what will the massive dragnet operation turn up? Should the cops be suspicious of Mr Sullivan’s behavior, or his trips to the bank? The body of Judy Sullivan is found. Has the kidnapper gotten tired of the cat and mouse game? The tearful reaction of Mr Sullivan seems legitimate, and the search for the killer heats up. A suspect is identified. his apartment searched. And evidence is clear/ Cops blanket the area. When their man is cornered in a movie theater, a chase begins that ends in gunplay.

Or, Spanish Gold. King is in a singing mood. And Shannon is in no mood to be rushed into taking on a new job, especially when it involves chasing phony Spanish gold around a bogus treasure map. Mr Whit is insistent, and has his reasons he and his partner, Cheney, are onto some real gold. Little do Shannon or Sailor know, their college boy and partner are a couple of greedy opportunists. Cheney had stumbled on Spanish treasure on a previous excursion, but was chased away by a scientist and his wife. On this trip, he’s letting nobody stop him, and he’s leaving no witnesses. The coral reefs are tough enough, but resistance increases with the grumpy old scientist. What’s going on between him, and his lonely, young, red headed wife? Guns blaze, but Mr BNryant is OK. Meanwhile, Whit seduces the location of the Spanish treasure out of Mrs Bryant. His powers of seduction don’t do so well on Sailor, and he resorts to his pistol. Cheney knocks Shannon out, and the two force Sailor to take thm to the gold/ they aren’t home free when a hurricane blows in. Before its all over, there’s plenty of danger, gunplay, and fistfights to go around. Let’s just say the body count piles up, but Shannon and Sailor live to see another long walk on the beach.

A 2 hour playlist of some of the songs I found in my archive. Maybe they’re not all the top hits, but they all come from the years 1941 and 1946. Swing on down, and boogie to the songs from just before the Rock n Roll era. Playlist * Andrews Sisters 1941 Aurora * Tex Ann – I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes. From Dinner Bell Round-Up 460326 * Benny Goodman 1941 Birds Of A Feather (vocals: Helen Forest) * Cab Calloway 1946 Hey Now Hey Now * Spike Jones 1946 Hawaiian War Chant * Jimmy Cash 1941 Yippie Kai Yea * Spike Jones 1946 Laura * Glenn Miller Orchestra with Tex Benneke, Marion Hutton and the Modernaires – 1941 Chattanooga Choo Choo * Andrews Sisters 1941 Apple Blossom Time * Tommy Dorsey 1941 HeatWave (Vocals: Sentimentalists) * Phil Harris 1946 Bill Jackson * Benny Goodman 1941 I Found A New Baby (with Charlie Christian, Count Basie) * Tommy Dorsey 1946 Clowie * Andrews Sisters 1941 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy * Betty Hutton 1946 Don’t Tell Me That Story * Carmen Miranda 1941 La Gusta (with the Andrews Sisters) * Johnny Mercer 1946 Everybody’s Got A Laughing Place * Kingsmen 1941 My Darling Clementine * Phil Harris 1946 Thats What I Like About The South * Tommy Dorsey 1946 I’m Beginning To See The Light (DukeEllington) * Artie Shaw 1941 Dancing In The Dark * Betty Hutton 1946 It’s Lovin’ Time * Bing Crosby 1946 South America Take It Away (with the Andrews Sisters) * Johnny Mercer 1946 How Do You Do * Kingsmen 1941 Let’s Get Away FromItAll * Phil Harris 1946 Doing What Comes Naturally * Tommy Dorsey 1946 Solitude (Duke Ellington) * Andrews Sisters 1941 Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree * Betty Hutton 1946 The More I Go Out With Somebody Else * Bing Crosby 1946 Get Your Kicks On Route 66 (with the Andrews Sisters) * Andy And Kingfish 1946 Blues In The Night * Betty Hutton 1946 Walkin’ Away With My Heart * Bing Crosby 1946 Everybody Loves My Baby * Kingsmen 1941 The Hutsa Song * Phil Harris 1946 Lullabye Of Broadway * Tommy Dorsey 1946 The A Train (Duke Ellington) * Andrews Sisters 1946 Avocado * Betty Hutton 1946 What Did You Put In That Kiss * Tommy Dorsey 1946 The Voices Of Spring * Betty Hutton 1946 Wherever There’s Me There’s You

Sitting in Cedric’s broken down car. He and Abner are stranded somewhere between the county seat and Pine Ridge. while they wait for Dick Huddleston to get back. Cedric is apologetic. As Abner complain. They read through an old newspaper Cedric has in his car. Neither have any luck at the crossword puzzle, but Abner keeps trying to work it. So Cedric turns to reading up about lakes. As they talk out loud, their comments confuse what the other is doing. They get each other so mixed up,. Neither knows what think any more. Can they think of something else to clear their thoughts? Abner gets the answers right. But doesn’t know it since he can’t spell the word. Dic is seen approaching. Will they gents be back on the road anytime soon?

An adaptation of a short story by John Collier A typical middle class family spend a rainy day at home, but with one problem at hand. It seems young Millie has killed a suitor who came calling on her. Now its up to Mr Princy to cover up the unintended murder to save face, and protect his daughter; Just when the story is about ironed out, a neighbor comes calling to ask about gardening advice. Captain Smollet finds himself being framed for the murder. Forced at gun point to dispose of the body, leave fingerprints, and other forensic evidence, the master plan seems perfect. All that’s left is to phone the police and report the crime. Imagine the surprise of Mr Princey when he learns the cops are already on the scene. Just who is Captain Smollet, and what is he a captain of?he quickly points out the evidence against him, and proves how it is all fabricated. The roles are reversed, and its now Princey who has to do the begging. But who will be blamed for the crime in the end?

Rolling back the clock to just after the end of the first world war, we join a team of scientists. They’re working on a curious new metal, uranium. It’s a difficult job to refine it to pure uranium. Time goes by and we follow the life of Tom, the mechanical engineer of the team. He meets and marries the love of his life, and eventually has a baby, but no progress has been forthcoming with metal x. By the time Tom’s baby is a year old, he moves on, only to learn the years wasted on research only seems to prove the strange metal is useless for it’s intended purpose in lamp filaments. Elections come and go, and we learn the jury is still out on metal x. With a new war looming, the scientists get a break when the government wants tons of the new metal. A new problem arises due to the difficulty in producing enough of the metal from it’s ore. Methods of refining it are pushed to its limits. The benefit is the mass production greatly reduces the cost of metal x. Another benefit is that metal x played a part in freedom, and in shortening the war.

Recently, Dick Huddleston advised Abner to take the diamond to the county seato sell it. The price would pay off their mortgages, and put a stop to the curse. To top it off, Ulises Quincey,. Who Lum left the diamond with for safekeeping was run down by a car. Is this curse business getting out of hand? Cedric talks with Dick over jewelry,. And have the merchants lunch with Abner. The three wait for word from the jeweler in the county seat. Conversation turns to Cedric’s job at the defense plant, and how much longer the war will last. As Dick tries to explain supply logistics in the Pacific to Cedric, Abner rushes in. Did he get a good deal on the diamond? Time passes. The gents finish lunch. Hey, what are those people gathered over outside the jewelry store doing? When Abner returns, he lets Dick and Cedric know about the mysterious death of the jeweler.

Good Audio quality. A little draggy in the beginning. An Italian tale of extortion. The mafia, or black hand, has a stranglehold over Italy until the extortions were defeated by the dictator, Muscilini. An insider helps topple the kingpin family, Capalini. Note: The gang boss in the show seems loosely modeled after that of Al Capone. By this time, his career was ending on grounds of tax evasion, and he would spend most of the 1930’s locked up. Al did have a son who he was very fond of, and tried to shield him from his fame as a tycoon of the underworld, but they were never separated until his incarceration. Capone was a music fan, but probably more of Louisiana jazz bands, which he imported to Chicago to play in his night clubs. it is said that he could play mandolin to some degree. not sure how true that is. Several times, Capone tried to retire, but the law abiding citizens in the parts of the country he wanted to take it easy in, caused him trouble. Just a few tidbits of similarity found in this episode to real life.