Abbott and Costello Children’s Show – 1948-01-31: “I'll Be Home for Christmas”

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Broadcast Date: January 31, 1948
Episode Released: November 29, 2025

Overview

This episode transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio with an airing of a 1948 episode of the Abbott and Costello Children’s Show. Hearty vaudeville laughs, charming banter, live musical numbers, and wholesome contests are all presented in classic style, creating a joyful and nostalgic experience reminiscent of family evenings gathered around the radio.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Comedy Banter: Abbott & Costello’s Trademark Wit

Timestamps: 00:44–02:26

• Bud Abbott and Lou Costello exchange their classic rapid-fire jokes and slapstick banter.
  • Costello humorously recounts mishaps with his nephew and uncle (“I got it last night. I was playing piggyback with my little 3 year old nephew, Tony. … I fell off his back.” [00:49])
  • Abbott teases Costello about always getting into trouble.
  • Topics include foggy days in the valley, mistaken identity with his brother, and playing harmless tricks on family (painting a train engine on glasses to make someone wait for the Super Chief train).

Notable Quote:

Costello (joking about his nose being broken in three places): "I'm staying out of those three places." [01:13]

2. Musical Performances

Timestamps:

• 10-year-old Anna May Slaughter: 02:26–03:53

• Lillian Roth: 05:36–10:47

• Anna May Slaughter, the show’s child singing star, delivers renditions of holiday standards:

  • “I'll Be Home for Christmas” (02:26), with heartfelt innocence.
  • “White Christmas” (03:53), with audience interjections.

• Lillian Roth, a celebrated Broadway performer, is welcomed as guest star. She performs a medley of her hits from stage and screen, including “Ain’t She Sweet,” “I’m in Love with You, Honey,” and “Goody Goody.” [08:50–10:47]

Memorable Moments:

• Abbott and Costello banter with Roth about singing and musical accompaniment, featuring classic wordplay:

  Roth: “Well, I should have some wind instrument. Do you suppose you could get a tuba player for me?”
  Costello: “Oh sure. I'll run over to the drugstore and get you one. … A tuba toothpaste?” [06:13–06:26]

Notable Quote:

Lillian Roth: “Kids, Lou Costella and Bud Abbott are two of the best kid ever had. I know. I've seen the grand work Abbott and Costella are doing to fight juvenile delinquency at the Lou Castella Jr. Youth Foundation. So keep listening to your Uncle Bud and your Uncle Luke, kids, and you won't go wrong.” [10:51]

3. Children’s Games and Prizes: Bubble or Nothing

Timestamps: 11:31–23:22

• An audience-participation bubble-gum blowing contest where studio kids chew Fleer’s Double Bubble Gum and compete for prizes.
  • The largest bubble wins a radio.
  • Other kids receive prizes like art sets, candy, and toys.
• The hosts delight in interviewing contestants, who share their names, ages, and often cute or funny answers about siblings, boyfriends, drinks (mostly “Coca Cola” [14:14]), and dreams.
• Laughter is abundant as Costello quizzes children like Beverly, Jeffrey, Marilyn, Bobby, Sherry, and Derek, offering gifts for correct answers (“What do you blow with? Bubble gum.”—“Bubble gum. You're right.” [14:24]).

Memorable Child Responses:

Q: “How many boyfriends do you have?”
A (Beverly, age 5): “Two.” [13:51]

Q: "Are you good at figures? If I gave you 10 ice cream cones, Abbott gave you six more..."
A (Bobby): "What would you have? A party!" [18:38]

4. Community Spirit: Gum Donations

Timestamp: 23:22

• The show donates “a thousand pieces of Fleer’s Double Bubble Gum” to a local orphanage, exemplifying the program’s spirit of giving.

5. Youth Foundation Award and Dramatic True Story

Timestamps: 23:22–28:48

• Weekly “Lou Costello Jr. Youth Foundation Award” honors a heroic or civic deed.
• This week’s recipient is William Hodges, a 16-year-old from Sylvania, Georgia, who displayed bravery trying to save his family from a farm fire.
  • The retelling features a dramatic radio recreation.
  • The tragedy resulted in the loss of his father and brothers, while his mother survived thanks to his bravery.
  • The hosts use this moment to deliver a heartfelt safety message about fire risks.

Notable Quotes:

Abbott: "Kids, please listen. Uncle Lou, be careful of fires. Go through your house right now and make sure that anything and everything that could cause a fire is put in its proper place. And above all, don't play with matches." [26:19]

Noteworthy Quotes & Comedic Highlights

• Abbott (to Costello): “Costello, I'm the boss around here.”
  Costello: “What am I?”
  Abbott: “You're nothing.”
  Costello: “Boy, you got a lousy job.” [05:51–06:06]
• Costello: "When I get to a high note, my voice sinks." [07:54]
• Lillian Roth (recommending Costello’s singing improvement): “Why don’t you stand back about 50ft from the microphone … That’s the idea!” [08:06–08:16]

Episode Flow

• 00:44–02:26: Abbott and Costello perform classic comedy routines.
• 02:26–03:53: Anna May Slaughter sings Christmas songs.
• 05:36–10:47: Lillian Roth guests, sings, and banters.
• 11:31–23:22: “Bubble or Nothing” contest; children are delightfully interviewed and awarded prizes.
• 23:22: Fleer's Double Bubble Gum donated to charity.
• 23:22–28:48: Youth Foundation Award dramatization and prizes for heroism; poignant fire safety message.

Tone and Style

The show exudes a spirit of cheer, warmth, and gentle humor, mixing slapstick with wholesome messages. The improvisational banter captures the vaudevillian roots of Abbott and Costello, while musical moments and audience participation invoke nostalgia for radio’s golden past.

For New Listeners

This episode is a vivid window into 1948 American radio, blending humor, music, community engagement, and heartfelt real-life stories in a lively, family-friendly package. Whether you’re a fan of old-time comedy, enjoy vintage musical numbers, or appreciate heartwarming tales of real-life heroism, the Abbott and Costello Children’s Show stands as a delightful historical gem.