Amos & Andy - Madam Queen Gets Engaged

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Amos & Andy - Madam Queen Gets Engaged
Date: March 25, 2026

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio revisits the classic radio comedy “Amos & Andy,” focusing on a dramatic and humorous turn: Madam Queen’s engagement announcement. The show, set in the pre-television era, captures a slice of life in a tight-knit community, blending gossip, misunderstandings, and witty banter as Andy reacts to speculation about Madam Queen's situation and a newspaper surprise.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gossip About Madam Queen's Motives

Timestamps: 00:49–02:44

• Andy is convinced Madam Queen is "just trying to make me jealous" by stirring up rumors (00:52).
• Gwendell questions if the budding relationship between Madam Queen and Gwendolyn is serious, but Andy claims it's a bluff (01:03).
• Andy recounts calling Madam Queen under the pretense of another woman getting her hair done, keeping his true curiosity hidden (01:07–01:55).
• Through their banter, Gwendell challenges Andy’s bravado and suggests he may not be as wise about women as he claims:
  • Quote (Gwendell, 02:33): "If you can tell when a gal is bluffing, you can tell more than I can."
  • Andy, always quick with a comeback, retorts, “I knows women better than you do but...” (02:41).

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2. A Hasty Hide and a New Scheme

Timestamps: 02:44–06:49

• The conversation is interrupted as Andy scrambles to hide in a closet when Brother Grindel arrives unexpectedly (02:57–03:04).
• Gwendell and Kingfish (the head of the lodge) discuss the idea of starting a new newspaper, The Busy King Bee, seeking Grindel’s investment.
• Brother Grindel immediately dismisses the proposal and reveals deep distrust of Andy:
  • Quote (Grindel, 05:40): "If this fellow Andrew Brown was mixed up in it... I don't never want to get in nothing that he's got something to do with. And I tell him that to his face. He is the biggest no good man that I done ever met in my life."
• Grindel hands Gwendell a newspaper and leaves with another biting remark, intensifying the comedic animosity.

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3. The Engagement Reveal

Timestamps: 06:49–08:00

• Andy emerges from hiding, indignant at having heard all the insults (“There I is in that little closet locked up with a spider walking on my head…” – Andy, 06:59).
• Gwendell directs attention to the society column in the newspaper Grindel left, leading to a pivotal revelation.
• The engagement announcement is read aloud:
  • Quote (Gwendell, 07:47): “Say here, the middle carnation. James announces the engagement of her granddaughter, Madam Queen to Frederick Montgomery Gwendel.”
• Andy is left stunned and speechless, having firmly believed it was all a bluff minutes before.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Andy’s Confidence (02:41):
  “I knows women better than you do but...”

• Grindel’s Dismissal (05:40):
  “He is the biggest no good man that I done ever met in my life.”

• Andy’s Complaint (06:59):
  “There I is in that little closet locked up with a spider walking on my head and my friend Gwendell out here talking about me like that.”

• Engagement Twist (07:47):
  “James announces the engagement of her granddaughter, Madam Queen to Frederick Montgomery Gwendel.”

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Important Segments (with Timestamps)

• 00:49–02:44: Andy and Gwendell debate Madam Queen’s intentions
• 02:57–06:49: Grindel’s entrance, anti-Andy monologue, and the newspaper proposal
• 06:49–08:00: Andy’s reaction to overheard insults and the shocking engagement news

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode maintains a brisk, comedic tone, characteristic of classic “Amos & Andy.” The dialogue is packed with quick quips, misdirection, and escalating misunderstandings, all delivered in the playful, conversational style of the original show. The pivotal twist—Madam Queen’s announced engagement—turns Andy’s certainty on its head in classic sitcom fashion.

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For listeners: This episode is a quintessential showcase of radio comedy’s golden age, full of rapid-fire humor, social dynamics, and a surprise ending that would have kept any family glued to their radio set.

Transcript

[Howie Mandel]

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[Andy]

Oh, I don't think it amounts to nothing.

[Gwendell]

You do too.

[Andy]

Now, gentleman's eyes telling you that Madam Queen is just trying to make me jealous.

[Gwendell]

Well, I thought it was pretty serious being Madam Queen and Gwendolyn.

[Andy]

Oh no.

[Gwendell]

When did you change your mind, Birdie?

[Andy]

Well, I might as well tell you. I called up Madam Queen today. First of all, this gal, that sister, Ruby Taylor, Louella Walker, she asked me last night if I thought that it be a good idea for her to go to Madame Queen to get her hair fixed. Yeah, so I told her that yeah, it was a good idea. So this morning she went over there and I talked to Madam Queen right after she left.

[Gwendell]

Well, what Madam Queen say?

[Andy]

Well, she ain't told me exactly, but I think she's been putting up a big bluff.

[Gwendell]

Well, why did Madam Queen tell you on the telephone?

[Andy]

She say to me that she ain't been feeling so good.

[Gwendell]

Tell me this Andy. Did you call Madame Queen or did she call you?

[Andy]

Oh, she called me.

[Gwendell]

Tell the truth.

[Andy]

I called her.

[Gwendell]

Well, go ahead, what did she say?

[Andy]

Well, she say I fix you your girlfriend's hair this morning.

[Gwendell]

Oh, did he tell you that without you saying anything to her?

[Andy]

Well wait a minute now, tell me true. Well, I believe I did say something to her about the gal as visiting Ruby Taylor or something. I asked Madam Queen if she done met her yet.

[Gwendell]

Well, what make you think that Madame Queen been bluffing all this time with Gwendale?

[Andy]

Well, just the way she acts. He say that she wish me and Luella a lot of luck and hope we is happy together.

[Gwendell]

And you think Madam Queen is bluffing? Hu. Oh yeah. Well if you can tell when a gal is bluffing, you can tell more than I can.

[Andy]

Well, I knows women better than you do but.

[Gwendell]

And I've been married close on for 17 years and I can't know them that good myself. Well, I hope you're right. And of course I know you hoping yourself that Madam Queen has been Bluffing. I'll read them and hear somebody coming. Must be Gwendell. Where can I run?

[Andy]

Quick, quick.

[Gwendell]

Don't look at me. I don't know. Listen, I tell you. Jump in that clothes closet right there. Get in that clothes closet.

[Andy]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gwendell]

All right.

[Andy]

I'll get in the clothes closet. Right.

[Gwendell]

And be quiet when you get in there. Well, hello, Brother Grindel. Come in. Hi, Brother Grindel. Well, did you want me for some service things, then? Well, yes. Sit down a second. Make yourself at home. I ain't got much time to sit down here and waste no time. Cause I's a phishing expert at the OK Hotel, and I gotta keep on my toes every minute. Take this seat if you want. Emil, how is everything going at the OK Hotel nowadays? The LV is doing pretty good over there. We got about seven or eight people staying, but all of them his relatives of the Ferdinand Percy is getting along all right. Well, I'm glad to hear you doing so good, Brother Grindel. As the king feature of our wonderful lord, the Mystic Knights of the Sea, it is my duty to look out for his brother. And although I let you in the lodge on the Cutway Basin, I've got to look out for you just as though you paid the full price to get in. Well, that's very nice of you. I always look out for my brothers, don't, Amos? Yeah, that's what you say all the time. Well, if you want to talk to me, Kingfish, I wish you would go ahead and tell me what you got on your mind. Brother Gwendell, I've got a great idea how to make some money, and I want to let you in on it. Well, what is your idea? You want me to get out here, Kingfish? Oh, no, no, that's all right. Keep your seat, Emma. Now, Brother Gwendell, we has been thinking about starting up a newspaper here in Har. Called the Busy King Bee, and we want to buy a printing press and gonna take a little cash to make a down payment. Is I right, buddy? Emil? Yeah, he sure is right about that. Just don't take cash. All right? Now, Brother Wendell, knowing that you is the fisher's expert that you is, and knowing that you know is a good thing like you do, we're gonna let you in on the ground floor, baby. Kingfish, I ain't got but a minute to stay here, and I can tell you what I gotta say in less time than that. Mm. First of all, I sent heard about this newspaper that you was trying to get started around here, and I think you was on the wrong track. I know you was in it and I know Amos is in it. And I know this fellow Andy is in it. I want to tell you right here and now that I don't want to get in no newspaper. And if I did wrong getting it, I wouldn't do it. If this fellow Andrew Brown was mixed up in it. Well, now, let's forget about for the second. I can't forget about a man like that and I can't get him off my. I don't never want to get in nothing that he's got something to do with. And I tell him that to his face. He is the biggest no good man that I done ever met in my life. Well, you see. Mr. Grendell. Yeah, we better go out into Lodge hall and talk. We can discuss it out there. We got more room. Pretty sting, Finch. I ain't got time to go out there. I gonna leave you right now. But before I go, I want to tell you what I think of Andy. I think he is the biggest good for nothing I done ever met since I've been here in New York and I was here before and I ain't never seen nobody as bad as he is. And before I leave you, I want to give you this here newspaper. You look into society column there and you'll see something and you can show it to your friend Andy too. Don't forget about me getting in your newspaper special with that big bum Andrew bound. I'll see you again sometime. So long. So long. Well, well, is that. Come on out there, Andy. Come on. Oh, come on now.

[Andy]

He gone, that big bum. I'll get even with him.

[Gwendell]

Well, don't pay no attention to that now. I know you was hearing the whole thing. No, just forget about it, Andrew.

[Andy]

There I is in that little closet locked up with a spider walking on my head and my friend Gwendell out here talking about me like that.

[Gwendell]

Well, that's the way it is. I know that you was in there and I know you could hear what he's saying. I'm glad you didn't come out and start no argument. What is you looking for there, King? Cider column, like I told you. Yeah, where is it? Oh, yes, it is right here. Let me get my glasses on.

[Andy]

Well, I know that Madam Queen is bluffing and just trying to make me jealous. That's all it is to that.

[Gwendell]

Can you find anything in there, Kingfish? Yeah. Wait a minute.

[Andy]

Yeah, what do I say? What's he talking about?

[Gwendell]

Yeah, here it is right here. Look here, read it. Kingfish what do you say?

[Andy]

Read it out loud.

[Gwendell]

Say here, the middle carnation. James announces the engagement of her granddaughter, Madam Queen to Frederick Montgomery Gwendel.

[Andy]

Uh. Oh.

[Gwendell]

Oh, well. Oh.

[Howie Mandel]

The global gaming league is presented by Atlas Earth, the fun cashback app. Hey, it's Howie Mandel, and I am inviting you to witness history as me and my how we do it gaming team take on Gilly the king and wallow. $267 million gaming in an epic global gaming league video game showdown. Plus a halftime performance by multi platinum artists Trav McCoy. Watch all the action and see who wins and advances to the championship match right [e-mail] that's globalgamingleague.com in partnership with Level Up Expo.

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[Gwendell]

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[Andy]

Liberty.

[Gwendell]

Liberty.