A Song and A Story First Song - Oh, Miss Hannah

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: A Song and A Story – "Oh, Miss Hannah"

Release Date: August 1, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Featured Performers: Jim & Pat

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Episode Overview

This delightful episode brings listeners straight into the golden age of radio, delivering a nostalgic blend of classic American songs, playful banter, and old-time radio storytelling. The format—"a song and a story"—is brought to life by Jim, a charismatic performer, and Pat, his quick-witted co-host. Together, they reminisce about Western movies, Broadway musicals, and share laughs while introducing classic songs such as “Oh, Miss Hannah,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” and “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.” The warmth, humor, and authenticity of the era shine through in every exchange.

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Key Discussion Points and Highlights

1. Opening Song: "Oh, Miss Hannah"

• [00:39 – 02:14]
  • Jim opens with a lively rendition of “Oh, Miss Hannah,” capturing the spirit of communal gatherings and dances by the levee.
  • Notable Lyric (Jim, 00:39):

    "Can't you hear the banjo strumming? Can't you hear the fiddle call? Can't you hear the folks a dancing in the old fellow's hall..."

2. The Origin of “Oh, Miss Hannah” & Western Movie Banter

• [02:14 – 03:03]
  • Pat reminisces about the fondness of the song, prompting Jim to recount its origins performing in a Western film.
  • Memorable Exchange:
    • Pat [02:14]: “Say, Jim, that's a swell song. I haven't heard it in years.”
    • Jim [02:23]: “You shouldn't ask me a question like that... it was either rustlers on the range, bandits in the brush, coyotes in the canyon, or something like that…”
  • Humorous commentary about Western films’ brevity and fast-paced romances.
    • Jim [02:50]:

      “Most Westerns only run 59 minutes, of which 48 are used up in fights and chasing bandits. So that only leaves 11 minutes to meet the heroine, save the old homestead, get married and live happily ever after.”

3. Song Interlude: "All Through the Day"

• [03:13 – 05:48]
  • Jim serenades with “All Through the Day,” a gentle ballad about longing and romantic anticipation, setting a mellow tone.

4. “Annie Get Your Gun” & the ‘They Say It’s Wonderful’ Comedy Routine

• [05:48 – 06:17]
  • Pat requests a song from Irving Berlin’s hit, “Annie Get Your Gun,” launching into a comedic routine about the song title’s ambiguity.
  • Classic Abbott & Costello-style Bit:
    • Pat [06:01]: “I know that, Jim, but what's the title?”
    • Jim [06:03]: “They say it's wonderful.”
    • Pat [06:05]: “Look, we both agree it's wonderful. But please, what is the name of the song you're going to sing?”
    • Jim [06:09]: “The name of the song I'm going to sing is quote, they say it's wonderful. Unquote.”
    • Pat [06:17]: “Oh. Oh.”

5. Song Feature: "They Say It’s Wonderful"

• [06:29 – 09:51]
  • Jim delivers a heartfelt version of “They Say It’s Wonderful,” exploring romance and the allure of falling in love.

6. Ethel Merman Tribute and Broadway Anecdotes

• [09:51 – 10:24]
  • Jim and Pat discuss Ethel Merman’s enduring stardom and her acclaimed performance in “Annie Get Your Gun.”
  • Jim [09:56]:

    “The star of the show, Ethel Merman, is not only one of Broadway's greatest stars, but also one of Broadway's finest people.”

  • Jim shares a personal story about working with Merman on “Rain in New York,” highlighting her professionalism and warmth.

7. “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” & Running Gag

• [10:27–14:26]
  • Jim introduces “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” quipping about song title confusion similar to the previous exchange.
  • The number is rendered poignantly, reflecting themes of longing and elusive dreams.
  • Jim [11:02]:

    “My schemes are just like all my dream / Ending in the sky. Some fellows look and find the sunshine / I always look and find the rain...”

8. Closing Musical Moments

• [14:24 – 15:23]
  • Jim reprises parts of “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” lingering on the motif of searching for happiness.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Western films' fast plot:
  • Jim [02:50]:

    “Most Westerns only run 59 minutes, of which 48 are used up in fights and chasing bandits. So that only leaves 11 minutes to meet the heroine, save the old homestead, get married and live happily ever after.”

• ‘They Say It’s Wonderful’ Comedy Bit:
  • Pat [06:05]: “Look, we both agree it's wonderful. But please, what is the name of the song you're going to sing?”
  • Jim [06:09]: “The name of the song I'm going to sing is quote, they say it's wonderful. Unquote.”
• About Ethel Merman:
  • Jim [09:56]:

    “The star of the show, Ethel Merman, is not only one of Broadway's greatest stars, but also one of Broadway's finest people.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:39] – "Oh, Miss Hannah" performance
• [02:18] – Pat and Jim discuss the song’s origins and move into Western film tropes
• [03:13] – "All Through the Day" performance
• [05:48] – Comedy routine about “They Say It’s Wonderful”
• [06:29] – Full "They Say It’s Wonderful" song
• [09:51] – Tribute to Ethel Merman and Broadway anecdotes
• [11:02] – "I’m Always Chasing Rainbows" introduction and performance

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode exudes warmth, camaraderie, and a deep affection for early American entertainment. The playful exchanges and gentle ribbing between Jim and Pat evoke the spontaneous fun of classic radio, while the song choices and stories invite listeners to reminisce about a time when families gathered around the radio for music and laughter.

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Summary:
A charming, music-filled journey through golden-era radio classics, this episode weaves songs, storytelling, and good-natured humor in authentic radio style—perfect for fans of nostalgia, musical theatre, or anyone curious about the spirit of entertainment before television’s reign.

Transcript

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[Pat]

A friendly program featuring Jimmy Newell with a song and a story.

[Jim]

Oh, Miss Hannah ain't coming out tonight the mockingbird I'm singing and the moon I'm shining bright the roses I'm a nodding and the swayin in the green get on your Sunday go to meet and close and come along please can't you hear the banjo strumming? Can't you hear the fiddle call? Can't you hear the folks a dancing in the old fellow's hall we'll go strolling down the levee by the light of the moon A listening to the fiddle and the mockingbirds tune O Miss Hannah, ain't you coming out tonight? The mockingbirds and the singing and the moon and the shining bright the roses I'm a nodding and the swayin in the breeze get on your Sunday go to meetin clothes and come along please.

[Pat]

Say, Jim, that's a swell song. I haven't heard it in years.

[Jim]

No, you don't hear it very much, Pat. I first became familiar with it when I did it in the picture.

[Pat]

Western, no doubt.

[Jim]

No doubt? Yeah. In fact, it was a western.

[Pat]

What was the name of the picture?

[Jim]

That. You shouldn't ask me a question like that. Let's see now. It was either rustlers on the range, bandits in the brush, coyotes in the canyon, or something like that. Anyway, in this picture, there was a situation which I rode up at breakneck speed, made a flying dismount and rushed over to a girl I'd never seen before and started to sing. Oh, Miss Hannah.

[Pat]

Say, they don't take long getting acquainted in the westerns, do they?

[Jim]

You can't, Pat. You know, most Westerns only run 59 minutes, of which 48 are used up in fights and chasing bandits. So that only leaves 11 minutes to meet the heroine, save the old homestead, get married and live happily ever after.

[Pat]

Well, do you do that every day?

[Jim]

Yes, Pat, every day and all through the day. And this is where I start saying

all through the day I dream about the night I dream about the night Here with you. All through the day I wish away until the time until the time When I'm here with you. Dawn falls the sun I run to meet you the evening mist melts away. Dawn smiles the moon and soon your lips recall the kiss I dreamed of all through the day. Sa. I run to meet you the evening mist melts away on smiles the moon and soon your lips recall the kiss I dreamed of all through the day.

[Pat]

Well, Jim, the song I'm anxious to hear you sing is from Irving Berlin's new show, Annie get yout Gun. The one Ethel Merman sings.

[Jim]

They say it's wonderful.

[Pat]

Yeah, what's the title?

[Jim]

They say it's wonderful.

[Pat]

I know that, Jim, but what's the title?

[Jim]

They say it's wonderful.

[Pat]

Look, we both agree it's wonderful. But please, what is the name of the song you're going to sing?

[Jim]

The name of the song I'm going to sing is quote, they say it's wonderful. Unquote.

[Pat]

Oh. Oh.

[Jim]

They say that falling in love is wonderful it's wonderful so they say. And with the moon up above Its wonderful It's wonderful so they tell me I can't recall who said it I know I never read it I only know they tell me that love is great. The thing that's known as romance Is wonderful Wonderful in every way so they say. Rumors fly and you can't tell where they start Especially when it concerns a person's heart I've heard tales that could set my heart aglow Wish I knew if the things I hear are so. They say that falling in love is wonderful it's wonderful so they say. And with the moon up above it's wonderful it's wonderful so they tell me I can't recall who said it I know I never read it I only know they tell me that love is grand. The thing that's known as romance Is wonderful Wonderful in every way so they say.

[Pat]

Well, I can understand now, Jim, why any show with songs like that is such a great hit.

[Jim]

That's not the only reason, Pat. The star of the show, Ethel Merman, is not only one of Broadway's greatest stars, but also one of Broadway's finest people.

[Pat]

Oh, that's right, Jim. You were her leading man on the musical version of Rain in New York last year.

[Jim]

Well, I was up until she left the show just before we opened in Philadelphia. However, those long weeks of rehearsal with Ethel were about as pleasant an experience as I ever had in the theater. She's a great entertainer and deserves her huge success.

[Pat]

Well then, Jim, we might say she is making a grand comeback.

[Jim]

Oh, no, we can't because she's never been away. However, I'm going to sing a song that is making a terrific comeback. I'm always chasing rainbows.

[Pat]

Yes, but what are you going to sing?

[Jim]

Look, Patty, me boy, let's not go into this again.

Chasing rainbow Watching clouds drifting by. My schemes are just like all my dream Ending in the sky. Some fellows look and find the sunshine I always look and find the rain Some fellows make a winning sometime I never even make a gain Believe me

[Pat]

I

[Jim]

mo chasing rainbow Waiting to find a little bluebird in vain. Sa.

[Pat]

It.

[Jim]

I always chasing rainbow Watching clouds drifting by. My schemes are just like all my dreams Ending in the sky. Some fellows look and find the sunshine I always look and find find the

rain

Some fellows make a winning sometime I never even make a game feeling. I'm always chasing rainbow Waiting to find a little bluebird.

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