Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 1st Nighter 1948-02-19 "Oh Bury Me Not"
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: August 27, 2025
Golden Age of Radio Series

Episode Overview

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio transports listeners to the days before television, when families gathered around to enjoy “Theater Time on Broadway.” The featured presentation is the original 1948 broadcast of “Oh Bury Me Not,” part of the Campana’s First Nighter series. This comedic play, performed by an all-star cast including Barbara Luddy and Olin Soule, tells the story of a city-bred radio cowboy’s mistaken identity and misadventures on a Texas ranch. Listeners are treated to period-accurate performances, classic radio humor, and plenty of on-air hijinks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Theater Atmosphere and Opening Night on Broadway

• The play opens with the First Nighter taking listeners to a glamorous Broadway premiere, setting the tone for excitement and anticipation ([00:13]-[01:32]).
• Audience is immersed into the experience of “the Little Theater off Times Square,” complete with descriptions of celebrities, a bustling crowd, and humorous banter.

2. Introduction of Main Characters

• Billy Martin/Wild Bill Smith: A city-raised radio “Texas Troubadour” who is suddenly fired from his sponsor, Zippy’s, due to lack of authenticity ([03:32]-[04:08]).
• Anne Lane: The tough, witty Texan lady who runs the Bar X Ranch and expects a real cowboy for a challenging task ([05:30]-[06:07]).
• Laramie: The skeptical and protective foreman who instantly doubts Billy’s cowboy credentials, providing much of the episode's dry humor and Texan flavor.
• Supporting characters include Mr. Lane (Billy’s boss, who hatches the plan), Wild Bill Smith, and the infamous Bar X horse, Diablo.

3. The Mistaken Cowboy: A Comedy of Errors

• Billy is sent “incognito” to Anne’s ranch to absorb genuine Texan experience, using the alias “Smith” ([04:55]-[05:04]).
• Upon arrival, Billy’s city ways and “fancy cow suit” amuse and annoy the ranch hands, who immediately suspect he’s a fraud ([09:00]-[09:38]).
• Laramie and Anne believe they’ve hired the real “Wild Bill Smith,” a notorious and dangerous rodeo rider.
• Anne reveals that “Judge Carver told us that Smith won't sleep anywhere but with the horses," leading to a classic fish-out-of-water scenario ([06:34]-[07:29]).

4. Slapstick, Suspicion, and Pandora’s Stable

• Billy struggles to keep up his cowboy act, being forced to sleep in the stable with Diablo, the meanest horse on the ranch ([14:47]-[15:43]).
• Laramie, increasingly suspicious, uses comic threats (“You do? Judge Carver told us. That’s why we put your cot down here” – Anne Lane, [15:28]).
• There’s a hilarious sequence where confusion about identities, names, and cowboy prowess leads to comic confrontations and threats of violence.

5. The Big Unraveling (Act Two and Three)

• Billy and Laramie flee the ranch, both confused about each other’s identities and roles. Laramie believes he himself is “Wild Bill Smith,” intensifying the comic confusion ([19:39]-[20:41]).
• Upon returning to the ranch, there’s a tangle as all characters attempt to confront the “imposter,” culminating in slapstick chases and mistaken accusations ([25:01]-[26:14]).

6. The Climactic Revelation & Happy Resolution

• Mr. Lane arrives in dramatic fashion to explain the entire confusion: Billy was mistakenly fired, and the real imposter was Brubaker, the news commentator. Billy gets his job back—with a raise—and is tasked with broadcasting live from the ranch… atop a horse ([27:32]-[28:58]).
• The play closes with a tongue-in-cheek reconciliation between Anne, Laramie, and Billy, all riding off together in radio (and comedic) harmony ([29:52]-[30:13]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Broadway Excitement:
  “And now up ahead is the Little Theater off Times Square. Well, here we are.” — Host/First Nighter ([01:20])

• On Cowboy Authenticity:
  “Martin, have you ever been in Texas?” — Mr. Lane
  “Well, no, but I go to all the movies.” — Billy Martin ([04:14])

• Anne Lane’s Sharp Observation:
  “Mr. Smith, what part of Texas do you come from? Your accent goes on and off like an electric light.” — Anne Lane ([15:06])

• Western Comic Menace:
  “Now, you be careful. They say he shot eight men... just because he didn’t like the way they lit the cigarette.” — Anne Lane ([06:12]-[06:19])

• Comic Threatening:
  “There's a snake around here somewhere... a two-legged one!” — Laramie ([23:17])

• The Big Reveal:
  “Why, this is Billy Martin of the Texas Troubadour!” — Mr. Lane ([28:00])

• Happy Ending with a Radio Twist:
  “For the first time in radio history, a singing cowboy broadcasting directly from a horse’s back!” — Mr. Lane ([29:18])

• Signature Wisdom:
  “You'll never know how pretty you can be until you try Magic Touch.” — Narrator/Announcer, during recurring cosmetic ads ([12:36])

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:13] – Opening Broadway scene, introduction of host and setting
• [03:32] – Billy Martin fired from radio show
• [05:30] – Anne Lane and Laramie discuss Wild Bill Smith’s upcoming arrival
• [07:52] – Billy (as “Smith”) arrives at the Bar X ranch
• [13:18] – Porch swing scene: Billy’s cowboy stories and dinner with Anne
• [15:06] – Anne calls Billy out on his inconsistent accent
• [19:23] – Laramie and Billy flee the ranch, comic confusion escalates
• [25:01] – Showdown and comic mistaken identity sequence
• [27:32] – Mr. Lane’s return: reveals the mix-up and reinstates Billy
• [29:18] – Announcement: Billy to broadcast as a “horseback cowboy”
• [29:52] – Play’s conclusion; the cast rides off together, show wraps up

Episode Tone and Language

The tone is warm, nostalgic, and comedic, with a blend of quick banter, slapstick sequences, and affectionate parody of Western radio tropes. The dialogue is peppered with period slang (“fancy pants,” “two-legged snake”) and tongue-in-cheek references to radio culture and cowboy mythos. The cross-talk between characters is brisk and witty, making full use of the “mistaken identity” comic device throughout.

For New Listeners

This episode is an excellent example of postwar radio’s combination of music, comedy, and live theater, all delivered with breezy charm and sharp timing. Fans of classic radio plays, vintage Western parodies, or just old-fashioned storytelling will find “Oh Bury Me Not” both engaging and representative of its era.

Recommendation: Tune in next week for more theatrical adventures and a new play, as teased by the host!