Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Alka Seltzer - When Love Goes Wrong
Date: March 22, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Featured Performers: Kurt Massey, Martha Tilton
Musical Guest: Country Washburn and Orchestra

Overview

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio brings listeners back to the cherished "Alka Seltzer Show," a classic variety program from the Golden Age of Radio. Themed around love and its ups and downs, the show features beloved singing duo Kurt Massey and Martha Tilton as they perform a collection of sentimental, romantic, and playful songs interspersed with light banter and humor. In addition to the musical numbers, there are period-appropriate discussions and witty exchanges that capture the whimsical tone of mid-century radio entertainment.

Key Discussion Points & Performances

1. Setting the Scene and Opening Number

[00:34–00:55]

• Introduction by Kurt Massey and Martha Tilton: They welcome listeners and set the cheerful, nostalgic mood with the familiar “Alka Seltzer Time” jingle.
• Memorable Quote (00:50):
  • Martha Tilton: “Morning, noon and night, it’s Alka Seltzer time.”
  • Kurt Massey: “I’m Kurt.”
  • Martha Tilton: “I’m Martha.”
  • Kurt Massey: “And here we go with the Alka Seltzer Show.”

2. Musical Medley: When Love Goes Wrong

[01:10–02:16]

• The duo sings “When Love Goes Wrong,” reflecting on how everything seems out of sorts when romance sours.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • Martha Tilton (01:10):
    “When love goes wrong, nothing goes right. There’s one thing I know: when love goes wrong, a man takes flight, and a woman gets uppity.”
  • Kurt Massey (01:29):
    “A clock won’t strike and a match won’t light. When love goes wrong nothing goes right.”

3. Ballad: Easy to Remember, Hard to Forget

[02:30–04:13]

• Martha takes the lead with the nostalgic “It’s Easy to Remember (But So Hard to Forget),” a heartfelt ballad about lingering memories of a lost love.
• Standout Lyric (02:53):
  • Martha Tilton: “It’s easy to remember but so hard to forget. I hear you whisper ‘I’ll always love you.’ I know it’s over and yet it’s easy to remember but so