Amos & Andy – Cabin in Connecticut
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: March 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In this classic episode of the Amos & Andy Show, the comedic duo navigates a tangled web of real estate shenanigans after Kingfish tries to unload a neglected property in Connecticut. When Andy becomes the unlikely buyer, a series of deceptions, misunderstandings, and frantic deals spiral toward an unexpected reversal of fortune. Set against the familiar rhythms and lively banter of the legendary radio show, this episode highlights the characters’ get-rich-quick schemes, friendly ribbing, and the ever-present threat of comeuppance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Discovered “Valuables” (01:57–03:36)

• Sapphire and her mother return home with items from a safety deposit box Kingfish neglected to pay for.
  • The so-called “valuables” include outdated Spanish-American war bonds, a worthless property deed, and Mama's engagement ring.
  • Quote (Sapphire, 02:12):
    "The only thing valuable in here is Mama’s $2,500 engagement ring."
• Kingfish laments his failed attempt to sell a Connecticut property for a tidy sum to hotel developers, only for the hotel to build elsewhere.

2. Kingfish’s Sales Pitch to Andy (03:41–08:34)

• Andy arrives, and Kingfish seizes the opportunity to sell him on a vacation cottage instead of a pricey camping trip in the North Woods.
  • Kingfish employs exaggerated tales of camping dangers (sleeping bag tragedies, wild bears, and rattlesnakes) to discourage Andy.
  • Quote (Kingfish, 06:09):
    "Andy, why, the north woods is full of sleeping bags that's been kicking around and screaming since last summer!"
  • Andy, spooked and convinced, agrees to buy Kingfish’s Connecticut cabin for $400 sight unseen.
• Amos warns Andy against buying without seeing the property, warning:
  • Quote (Amos, 08:17):
    "You was crazy to put up your money before you see the thing. Make sure he show you the place."

3. Kingfish’s Worries and Schemes (09:49–11:32)

• Kingfish worries about showing Andy the ruined cabin, knowing he has already spent the money.
• Comic interlude: Jack Calhoun narrates an absurd story about feeding ducks to his dog and his cousin’s mishap in Paris.
• Calhoun suggests tricking Andy into believing hotel amenities come with the property, giving Kingfish an idea for further deception.

4. The Cabin Inspection (12:33–16:40)

• Kingfish gives Andy the grand tour of the hotel (from afar), then treks with Andy to the derelict cabin.
  • The journey involves hopping fences, dodging traffic, and crossing ditches — far from the promised “hop, skip, and a jump.”
  • Quote (Andy, 13:45):
    "You said it was a hop, skip, and a jump. We hopped over three barbed wire fences, skipped across a four lane highway just ahead of a Mack truck, and jumped over that drainage ditch to get here!"
• The cabin itself is ragged, doorless, and lacking a bathroom. Kingfish spins its defects as “Swiss cheese modern style” and touts the joys of “rustic living.” Andy protests but is told the deal is sealed.
  • Quote (Kingfish, 16:09):
    "Ignorance is nine points of the law. Oh, I got you, boy."

5. The Reversal – The Fake $3,000 Offer (16:40–17:41)

• Kingfish receives a letter (seemingly from the Monmouth Hotel) offering $3,000 for the land to expand their golf course.
• He panics, realizing he could have made much more than he did with Andy, and seeks to undo the sale.

6. Andy’s Turn – Flipping the Cottage (17:41–18:04)

• Kingfish calls Andy to break the deal, but Andy claims it’s too late:
  • Quote (Andy, 17:45):
    "I done changed my mind about living up there and sold the place to a Mr. Theodore Nelson for $700."
• The tables turn, and Kingfish must now negotiate with a third party.

7. The Airport Ruse (20:22–24:58)

• To try and scare off Mr. Nelson, Kingfish and Andy pose as airline executives, claiming a jet airport is being built — with Nelson's cottage at the end of the runway.
  • Kingfish introduces Andy as the accident-prone pilot “Nearsighted Brown,” who recounts missing entire airports.
• Nelson is startled but ultimately refuses to abandon his investment, even when Kingfish offers his money back.
  • Kingfish is forced to up his offer to $1,000, which Nelson happily accepts.

8. The Final Twist – The True Author of the Offer (26:12–27:25)

• Kingfish boasts about his impending $2,000 profit to Sapphire and her mother.
• Sapphire reveals the hotel’s $3,000 offer letter was a practical joke — she wrote it herself.
  • Quote (Sapphire, 26:41):
    "You poor sap. I wanted to play a joke on you. I writ you that letter offering you the $3,000."
• In his desperation, Kingfish had pawned Mama’s engagement ring to raise the $1,000 he paid to Nelson, leaving him with neither profit nor property.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kingfish, on Land Speculation:
  "If the boy that lost the Battle of Waterloo could swing a deal like that, think what a future there is for me in the real estate business." (03:52)
• Andy, on the Cabin’s Location:
  "The joys of rustic living include no bathroom?" (15:30)
• Kingfish, after realizing the joke:
  "Watch me rubbing this big deal into them two old goats. ... I done made $2,000 profit on that old broken down cabin." (26:16–26:23)
• Sapphire, revealing the truth:
  "Mama sure put a fast one on you, George." (26:54)
• Kingfish’s solution for raising money:
  "I pawned Mama’s $2,500 diamond." (27:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:57 – The “valuables” and property deed unpacked
• 03:41 – Kingfish plots to sell the cabin
• 06:09 – Kingfish’s “sleeping bag” sales scare
• 08:11 – Andy buys the property
• 13:45 – Arrival at the cabin in Connecticut
• 16:40 – Kingfish receives (fake) $3,000 offer
• 17:45 – Andy sells to Mr. Nelson for $700
• 21:12 – Kingfish and Andy stage the “airport ruse”
• 24:58 – Kingfish offers Nelson $1,000 to leave
• 26:41 – Sapphire reveals practical joke and the letter’s true origin
• 27:25 – Kingfish reveals he pawned Mama’s ring

Tone and Style

Maintaining its classic comedic tone, the episode is packed with wordplay, witty exchanges, good-natured jibes, and escalating absurdity. Each character’s personality shines—Kingfish’s scheming optimism, Andy’s guileless confusion, Sapphire’s sharp tongue, and the ensemble’s chemistry create the vintage, slapstick charm that defines Amos & Andy.

Summary

This episode is quintessential Amos & Andy: a tangle of get-rich-quick hopes and comic misfortune. Kingfish’s plans repeatedly backfire, Andy unwittingly outsmarts him (albeit briefly), and turnabout is fair play as Sapphire and her mother have the last laugh. The property deal, the “airport” con, and the final twist provide a classic showcase of the show’s enduring humor and lively characterization for both nostalgic fans and new listeners alike.