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

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: A Song and A Story: First Song - Oh, Miss Hannah
Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Featured Performers: Jimmy Newell, Pat

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Episode Overview

This episode brings the atmosphere of the Golden Age of Radio to life with beloved songs, lighthearted banter, and nostalgic storytelling. The episode features Jimmy Newell entertaining listeners with classic songs, peppered with humorous and friendly exchanges with his co-host, Pat. The centerpiece is the performance of "Oh, Miss Hannah," followed by popular tunes from both Broadway and Americana.

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Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Opening Musical Performance: “Oh, Miss Hannah”

• Segment Start: [00:38]
• Jimmy Newell opens the show singing the upbeat tune "Oh, Miss Hannah."
• The song captures the lively and communal spirit of old-time gatherings, inviting listeners to imagine a moonlit Southern scene, complete with fiddling, banjo strumming, and dancing.

2. Pat and Jim's Friendly Banter

• Segment Start: [02:14]
• Pat compliments Jimmy’s performance, mentioning the nostalgia attached to the song.
• Jim reveals his familiarity with "Oh, Miss Hannah" comes from performing it in an old Western film, which sparks a playful exchange about the fast-paced, action-heavy nature of Westerns:

  Jim [02:49]: "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."

3. Second Song: “All Through the Day”

• Segment Start: [03:12]
• Jimmy transitions into a gentle performance of "All Through the Day," evoking themes of longing and devotion.

4. Light-Hearted Word Play: “They Say It’s Wonderful”

• Segment Start: [05:47]
• Pat requests a song from Irving Berlin's new hit musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," leading to a classic who's-on-first style misunderstanding about the tune's title.

  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. Third Song: “They Say It’s Wonderful”

• Segment Start: [06:28]
• Jimmy performs "They Say It’s Wonderful," a popular standard from “Annie Get Your Gun,” capturing the romantic optimism of Broadway.

6. Broadway Musings and Ethel Merman

• Segment Start: [09:50]
• Pat praises the song and the musical's success.
• Jim credits Ethel Merman’s star power and personal warmth for the show's popularity, reminiscing about rehearsing with her for "Rain" in New York:

  Jim [10:09]: "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 jokes about Merman’s "grand comeback," with Jim quick to note she never really left the spotlight.

7. Finale Song: “I'm Always Chasing Rainbows”

• Segment Start: [11:01]
• Jimmy closes the musical portion by performing “I'm Always Chasing Rainbows,” reflecting on dreams and disappointment in a wistful tone.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jim on Westerns:
  "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." ([02:49])

• Song Title Mix-Up:
  "The name of the song I'm going to sing is quote, they say it's wonderful. Unquote." – Jim ([06:09])

• On Ethel Merman:
  "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." – Jim ([10:09])

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Important Timestamps

• Oh, Miss Hannah: [00:38]
• Banjo Strumming & Westerns Banter: [02:14–03:03]
• All Through the Day: [03:12]
• Pat & Jim Comedy About Song Titles: [05:47–06:17]
• They Say It’s Wonderful: [06:28]
• Ethel Merman Reminiscence: [09:50]
• I'm Always Chasing Rainbows: [11:01]

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a light, warm, and nostalgic tone, blending humor with musical nostalgia. Friendly banter and playful misunderstandings between Pat and Jim echo classic radio comedy routines, making for an engaging and comforting listen.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a charming tribute to the era when radio was America's main stage. Through lively songs, cheerful dialogue, and nods to Broadway stars and western films, Jimmy Newell and Pat offer listeners both entertainment and a heartfelt glimpse into the family-oriented radio era.

Transcript

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[Pat]

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

[Jimmy Newell (Singing)]

Oh, Ms. Hannah, it's coming out tonight the mocking bird I'm singing and the moon I'm shining bright the roses I'm a nodding and a sweat 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 a fellow we'll go strolling down the levee by the light of the moon A listening to the fiddle and a mockingbird's tune O Miss Hannah, ain't you coming out tonight? The mockingbirds and the singing and the moon and shining bright the roses and the nodding and the swayin in the breeze Hit 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 a picture.

[Pat]

Western, no doubt.

[Jim]

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

[Pat]

What was the name of the picture?

[Jim]

In fact, 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.

[Jimmy Newell (Singing)]

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.

[Jim]

Sa.

[Jimmy Newell (Singing)]

I run to meet you the evening mist melts away don't smile 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 your 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.

[Jimmy Newell (Singing)]

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 grand. 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 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 be saying?

[Jim]

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

[Jimmy Newell (Singing)]

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 the rain Some fellows make a winning sometime I never even make a game again. Believe me, I'm chasing rainbow Waiting to find a little bluebird in there. 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 the rain Some fellows make a winning sometime I never even make a win again. Believe me, I'm always chasing rainbow Waiting to find a little bluebird.

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