Amos & Andy - Out of Gas

Summary

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Amos & Andy: "Out of Gas"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: March 25, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode commemorates the start of Amos & Andy's eighth year on the air, blending their signature comedic misadventure with a heartfelt celebration of radio history. The plot centers around Amos and Andy’s misfortune of running out of gasoline in the mountains, leading them to an unexpected and reflective encounter with a hospitable stranger, portrayed by guest star Walter Huston. The episode also features congratulatory messages and a retrospective on the show’s legacy.

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Episode Structure & Key Segments

1. Opening Tribute & Anniversary Reflections

[00:59 – 02:24]

• The announcer introduces Amos & Andy, framing them as beloved American personalities with a significant place in radio history.
• Lennox R. Lohr, NBC president, delivers a special message commending Amos & Andy for their contributions to radio:
  • "The National Broadcasting Company takes pride in recognizing the achievement of Amos and Andy... our appreciation of the many pleasant hours we have spent together." (01:13–02:24)

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2. The Plot: Out of Gas in the Mountains

[02:24 – 10:14]

Getting Lost and Seeking Help

[02:24 – 03:31]

• Amos and Andy, while exploring the mountains near Lake Arrowhead, realize they’re lost and have run out of gas.
  • Andy: "Here we is 100 miles away from Los Angeles, up in the mountains. Done lost our way, and we're out of gasoline. I can see us sleeping in this taxi cab up here now or walking my seats off to get some gas." (03:06)

Encounter at the Farmhouse

[03:48 – 09:47]

• They approach a farmhouse looking for a telephone and meet Mr. Walter Huston (played by the actor himself).
• Mr. Huston doesn’t have a telephone but offers assistance and gasoline.
  • Walter Huston: "The nearest filling station, boys, is quite a long ways. But I think I could let you have a little gasoline." (05:06)
  • He declines payment, expressing neighborliness: "Oh, no, that's all right. Maybe someday I'll run out of gasoline in front of your place and I'll call on you. You can pay me." (06:43)
• Huston warmly invites them to rest and offers a sandwich, prompting a conversation about work, rest, and life in Hollywood.
  • Walter Huston: "You know, I find that if a man will get away from his work part of the time… it does you a lot of good." (07:37)
  • "But after you hit the ball and work night and day, it's nice to get away." (07:53)
  • "But, boys, this little place up here. Well, I think every man in his heart would like to come to such a place someday and spend some time." (08:50)

Departure and Warm Farewell

[09:11 – 10:14]

• Amos and Andy express heartfelt thanks and, again, Huston refuses payment:
  • Walter Huston: "No, no, no, no. I've been paid by talking to you. I'm kind of glad you dropped in." (09:23)
• Walking away, Amos reflects: "You know, he's one of the nicest fellows I ever met in my life. His fierce. Kind of made you feel at home, didn't it?" (09:47)

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3. Retrospective & Anniversary Tribute

[10:14 – 12:53]

A Note from Walter Huston

[10:14 – 11:57]

• Narration reveals the character was played by Walter Huston, who then gives a congratulatory speech on the show’s longevity and creative excellence.
  • "These humorous episodes have been a joy to many people for an awful long time. I congratulate these boys not only upon their ability to impersonate these characters... but for writing this material each day." (11:51)
• Huston shares historical background, noting that Amos & Andy originated as “Sam and Henry” in 1926 and debuted as Amos & Andy in 1928, now marking their 2,395th broadcast.

Amos & Andy Respond

[12:53 – 13:32]

• Amos and Andy express gratitude:
  • Amos: "Well, our program is almost up. We just want to tell our listeners how grateful we are to have passed another milestone in radio broadcasting... We want to thank you and tell you we are very, very thrilled tonight to say good night." (13:03–13:32)
  • Andy: "Good night." (13:32)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On hard work and the value of rest:

  • Walter Huston: "I've seen some of my friends try to keep going. And I've seen them crack, crack under the string. You know, boys, when I come up here, I find that I can think better. I get something out of life that I didn't know existed." (08:04)

• On kinship and community:

  • Walter Huston: "Maybe someday I'll run out of gasoline in front of your place and I'll call on you. You can pay me." (06:43)

• Heartfelt appreciation from Amos & Andy:

  • Amos: "You know, he's one of the nicest fellows I ever met in my life. His fierce. Kind of made you feel at home, didn't it?" (09:47)

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Episode Highlights by Timestamp

| Segment | Description | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |---------|-------------|-------------------| | NBC President Tribute | Lennox R. Lohr salutes Amos & Andy | 01:13 | | Stranded in the Mountains | Amos & Andy realize they’re lost and out of gas | 03:06 | | Meeting Walter Huston | Hospitality, reflection on life and work | 05:06–08:50 | | Farewell at the Farmhouse | Departure and expressions of gratitude | 09:23–09:47 | | Walter Huston's Anniversary Speech | Career retrospective and congratulations | 10:51–11:57 | | Final Thanks from Amos & Andy | Expressions of gratitude to listeners and supporters | 13:03–13:32 |

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Tone & Style

The episode balances its signature light comedic banter (in Amos and Andy’s exchanges and mishaps) with a reflective and warm-hearted tone during their encounter with Walter Huston. The themes of community, the kindness of strangers, and the value of slowing down and appreciating life’s quieter moments come through in the dialogue.

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For Listeners

This episode is both a classic Amos & Andy misadventure and a charming time capsule from radio’s golden era. It’s a gentle reminder of bygone days when entertainment was communal and often centered on stories of ordinary folks facing extraordinary (or hilariously mundane) circumstances. The appearance by Walter Huston adds a heartfelt layer, reflecting on industry, work, and gratitude—making this anniversary episode especially resonant and memorable.

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Transcript

[Howie Mandel]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

For years, this hour and this music have meant to millions of Americans a welcome visit from two beloved personalities. In fact, through the seasons, Amos and Andy have become more than personalities.

[Andy]

They are real people.

[Narrator/Announcer]

On this occasion we present Mr. Lennox R. Lohr, the president of the National Broadcasting Company, who will bring a special greeting to them. Mr. Lohr, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the National Broadcasting Company, it is a pleasure to salute Amos Mandy, who for seven years of that period have played a leading role in making R2 Networks famous. My early appreciation of this outstanding program has quickened interpersonal interest through association with Amos and Andy at a century of progress. Chicago, where the Skyride towers were dedicated to Vance. As this program now commences its eighth year, the National Broadcasting Company takes pride in recognizing the achievement of Amos and Anders. It is to these pioneers and friends of long standing that we give our congratulations tonight and our appreciation of the many pleasant hours we have spent together. We take them now to Amos and Andy and Hollywood with the hope that this program tonight will is only an early milestone on a long road of happy birthdays ahead.

[Narrator/Stage Direction]

Today, Amos and Andy drove their taxicab up in the mountains through Lake Arrowhead. They decided to explore that section of the country and after driving for almost an hour, they found themselves lost by mistake.

[Narrator/Announcer]

They turned on a narrow dirt road

[Narrator/Stage Direction]

and unfortunately the car stopped out of gasoline. As the scene opens now we find the boys walking down the road about 100 yards from their taxi cab, headed for a modest farmhouse to use the telephone.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Here they are.

[Amos]

Well, I didn't know that we was out of gas. We must have a leak in the tank or something.

[Andy]

Yeah. Where in the world is it?

[Amos]

Well, I don't know where we are we Somewhere up near Lake Arrowhead, up in the mountains. That's all I know.

[Andy]

Well, how did we ever get on this road we was on?

[Amos]

Well, you was the one that told me to turn down this road.

[Andy]

This ain't a mess. I don't know. Here. Here we is 100 miles away from Los Angeles, up in the mountains. Done lost our way, and we're out of gasoline. I can see us sleeping in this taxi cab up here now or walking my seats off to get some gas.

[Amos]

Well, the thing for us to do is to go to this house down here and ask the man. Let us use the telephone.

[Andy]

And don't forget, if somebody brings us some gasoline out here, it's going to cost us plenty of money.

[Amos]

Well, if the man would let us use the telephone, we just got to call up the nearest filling station and ask them to send it out and pay them whatever they want.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Charges, that's the one.

[Amos]

To walk to the nearest place and get it. But that might be miles away from here.

[Andy]

Well, here's the house. Yeah. There's the man's mailbox with his name on it.

[Amos]

What does that spell say on the mailbox? W A L T E R H U S T O N. W A

[Andy]

L, T E R H U S T O, N. Yeah. Well, let's get on in there and ask them.

[Amos]

I guess it's all right if it go up to the front door, ain't it?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Andy]

There's a lady over there working in the garden here.

[Amos]

Yeah. Well, come on, let's go up there. If he wants us to pay him for using his telephone, let's pay him.

[Andy]

Yeah. Well, go ahead. Go ahead, Knock on the front door.

[Amos]

Well, come on with me. Walk up on the porch. Whitman, don't start talking big enough. Now, when you see him, you do

[Andy]

all the talking if you want. This thing of running out of gasoline this far from home here is bad.

[Amos]

Yeah. Wait a minute. I hear somebody coming.

[Narrator/Announcer]

How do you do?

[Amos]

How you do, sir?

[Andy]

How you do, sir?

[Amos]

Mister? Could we use your telephone, please, sir?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, I'm very sorry, but I don't have a telephone.

[Andy]

Oh.

[Amos]

Oh, you ain't got none, huh?

[Narrator/Announcer]

No. Is there anything wrong? Could I be of any assistance to you?

[Amos]

Well, we got on this road out there in front of your house and we run out of gasoline. And we was going forward to the filling station or something. We didn't see no automobiles going by.

[Andy]

You see, we kind of lost mister.

[Amos]

I guess we can walk to the fill and say no if you tell us which way is the nearest one here.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, the nearest filling station, boys, is quite a long ways. But I think I could let you have a little gasoline.

[Amos]

Yes, but we'll pay you for it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, that's all right. Let's walk out here and go around in the back, Yasser.

[Andy]

Well, thank you, sir.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes. Where are you boys from, Los Angeles?

[Andy]

Well, we is from New York.

[Amos]

We drove out from New York to Hollywood on our vacation with a trailer, and we left the trailer in Hollywood. He drove up that lake Arrowhead over there. And I don't know, we're starting nothing around up here.

[Andy]

And we got lost and run out of gasoline.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, that's too bad, boys. Now, let's see. What have we here? Ah, here's some gasoline. You boys don't have a can or anything, do you?

[Amos]

No, sir. We ain't got nothing. But we look around, see if we can find something.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah. Oh, here's one you can have. You can keep this.

[Andy]

Well, this show is nice of you, mister.

[Amos]

Yes, and we won't pay you for.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, no, that's all right. You forget about that down there. There's a little bench there that I keep out here. And this can hold. Now, let's see about. About three gallons. I'll fill it up for you.

[Amos]

Oh, north, we don't need that much. That's all right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I've got plenty of gasoline. Now, here's a funnel. The boys are a long way from home.

[Andy]

Yes, sir. That's a bad feeling, too.

[Narrator/Announcer]

How would you like to have a sandwich before you go?

[Amos]

Well, no, thank you, sir. We just had something to eat while ago. Oh, that's plenty of gasoline. There ain't no. You filling it?

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, no, no. That's all right. I might just as well fill it up.

[Amos]

It sure wasn't nicer. We didn't want to bother you. We just wanted to use your telephone. And yours was the only house that we could see around here.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, there's. That's three gallons of gasoline you can have.

[Amos]

I wish you let me pay you for this.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, no, no, no. That's all right. Maybe someday I'll run out of gasoline in front of your place and I'll call on you. You can pay me.

[Andy]

Yes, sir. How come you live up here in the mountains by yourself?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, I'll tell you. Come over there. I'll sit down with you a minute. Sit down, young fella.

[Amos]

Yes, thank you, sir.

[Andy]

You live up here alone, huh?

[Narrator/Announcer]

How come? Well, no, I don't live alone. I live here with my wife part of the year. She's out there in the garden now.

[Andy]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You see, I'm in a business that. Well, it's. It's a sort of a nerve. It's sort of nerve wracking When I'm working, it feels like I'm on a merry go round.

[Amos]

You work in Los Angeles or Hollywood or someplace?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes, I've worked in Hollywood quite a bit. I've worked in New York quite a bit too, in Chicago. When I finish my work. Well, I. I just have a feeling that I'd like to get away. So I come up here and enjoy this little place.

[Amos]

Just a two of you, huh?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes. You know, I find that if a man will get away from his work part of the time, just think without the turn. Turmoil of worry going here and there, well, it does you a lot of good.

[Andy]

Yeah. That rest do anybody good. That's what I preach all the time.

[Narrator/Announcer]

But you can't rest too much. But after you hit the ball and work night and day, it's nice to get away.

[Amos]

Yeah, the man gotta have some rest already.

[Narrator/Announcer]

A lot of them think, though, that they don't need it. But when I work, I work pretty hard. And I've seen some of my friends try to keep going. And I've seen them crack, crack under the string. You know, boys, when I come up here, I find that I can think better. I get something out of life that I didn't know existed.

[Amos]

Yes,

[Andy]

Hollywood is a busy place, all right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes, Hollywood is a busy place. I guess a lot of people think it's sort of a playground. A lot of people work awfully hard in Hollywood. And I've seen them. I've seen the work there drive them almost insane.

[Andy]

Yeah, that moving picture business is a tough business.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes, I'm afraid you're right.

[Amos]

I guess when a man. Some of them people down there, them actors and all that in the moving picture business, or when they get on the stage or something, they is under a strain. Then that is a strain.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, you know, I don't know that there's any other business that takes up 24 hours of a man's time every day when he's working. But, boys, this little place up here. Well, I think every man in his heart would like to come to such a place someday and spend some time. Of course, some people might not like the dead silence of the night or the quietness of the day. But I love it. Yes, sir, I love it.

[Amos]

Yes. Well, let us. We get going now. You say I can have this can, all right?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes, keep that. Throw it away when you're finished with it.

[Andy]

Well, we sure appreciate it.

[Amos]

Yes. Will you let us pay you for this?

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, no, no, no. I've been paid by talking to you. I'm kind of glad you dropped in.

[Amos]

Yes, it will we sure was lucky. All right. And before we go, I want to tell you how much thank you for giving us the gasoline. Save us a long walk. All right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Bye, boys. Well, good luck to you.

[Andy]

Yeah, good luck to you.

[Amos]

Goodbye. Thank you very much.

[Andy]

Yes, sir. Is we lucky.

[Amos]

I say. Weird. You know, he's one of the nicest fellows I ever met in my life. His fierce. Kind of made you feel at home, didn't it?

[Andy]

It sure did. Nice place they got you, too. Yeah. There's the mailbox. What'd that say on there again?

[Amos]

W A L T E R H U S T O Nice fellow, wasn't it?

[Andy]

He sure was.

[Narrator/Stage Direction]

The character of Walter Houston was played by Mr. Walter Houston himself. Amos and Andy would like to extend their sincere appreciation for his kindness in appearing on the program tonight. On this, the first night of amos and Andy's eighth year on the air for Pepsid Father. The Pepsid Company wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for the loyalty and fine showmanship of these two boys. May we, on behalf of you, the Amos and Andy audience, salute them with cordial good wishes for their continued success. And now I know that Mr. Houston will be happy to say a few words to the Amos and Andy listeners at this time. Mr. Houston.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Thank you, friends. First, I want to tell you that it has been a great pleasure for me to work with the two boys whom I have listened to for many years. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I invariably listen to Amos and Andy. This is their anniversary, the starting of their eighth year on the network. I have read their biography. Many of you know this. But for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with the fact, here they are. These boys started working with colored dialect in January 1926 under the name of Sam and Henry. This program, which was similar to Amos and Andrew, was broadcast in the early days of radio over WGN in Chicago. After two years of Sam and Henry, the boys changed their names to Amos and Andy. In other words, Amos and Andy was actually started in March 1920. They broadcast at that time over station WMAQ in Chicago with additional stations added by means of electrical transcription. But it was seven years ago tonight that they started on what might be called the big time. As you all know, they have established a record in radio broadcasting. They have received today many congratulatory messages from people in every walks of life. They deserve it. Tonight's episode, in which I had the pleasure of participating, was their 2,395th day of broadcast. As you know, the boys broadcast twice each day I think these boys should be congratulated on their long record of daily broadcasting of these episodes which carries with it a streak of not only human interest, but a philosophy which I have often enjoyed myself. These humorous. Their humorous episodes have been a joy to many people for an awful long time. I congratulate these boys not only upon their ability to impersonate these characters, all which they do themselves, but for writing this material each day. They are seated by me now, squirming in their chairs, and I'm going to ask them to say just a few words. It has been a pleasure to have had the opportunity of talking to you. I thank you. And here they are, Ames and Andy.

[Amos]

Well, that's very nice of you, Mr. Houston. And it's certainly nice of you to say all those sweet things.

[Andy]

Yeah, me, I was blushing.

[Narrator/Stage Direction]

It ain't nobody ever heard me blush on the radio.

[Amos]

Well, our program is almost up. We just want to tell our listeners how grateful we are to have passed another milestone in radio broadcasting. We've been grateful to the cooperation we've received here in Hollywood. We want to thank major law for his kindness, the Pepsin Company for their nice message. Mr. Houston for his cordial greeting. And we want to tell you how grateful we are, you listeners who make these anniversaries possible. We want to thank you and tell you we are very, very thrilled tonight to say good night.

[Andy]

Good night.

[Narrator/Stage Direction]

This program has come to you through the national broadcasting company.

[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 Wallow 267's million dollars gaming in an epic global gaming league video game showdown. Plus a halftime performance by multi platinum artist Travy McCoy. Watch all the action and see who wins in advance to the championship match right [e-mail] that's globalgamingleague.com in partnership with Level Up Expo.

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