Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Answer Man - Hitler's Phone Number
Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode Theme: A classic "Answer Man" segment from the Golden Age of Radio, in which the erudite Answer Man (Albert Mitchell) provides factual, rapid-fire responses to a fascinating array of audience questions, ranging from the quirky (Hitler’s phone number) to the scientifically precise (the weight of a hydrogen molecule). The episode captures the spirit of a pre-television era when families gathered around the radio for both education and entertainment.

Main Theme & Purpose

The episode’s purpose is to present a nostalgic and lively selection of listener-submitted questions and answers, showcasing both odd curiosities and practical knowledge as delivered by the expert “Answer Man.” The show entertains and informs, demonstrating how, in a bygone era, radio was a trusted source of both wisdom and wonder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Factual Oddities and Historic Details

• Hitler’s Telephone Number

  • Question: “Does the British Who's Who still list Hitler's telephone number?”
  • Answer: “Oh, yes. Berlin, 116191.”
  • (00:48)
  • Memorable Quote:
    • “Oh, yes. Berlin, 116191.” – Answer Man (00:53)

• The Cross of Malta vs. the George Cross

  • Question: “Who is entitled to wear the Cross of Malta?”
  • Insight: There is no ‘Cross of Malta’; the Maltese Cross is worn by Knights of Malta. The George Cross was awarded to the island of Malta, and "no one in particular wears this award; it is shared by every man, woman, and child of Malta."
  • (01:55)
  • Quote:
    • “No one in particular wears this award, but it's shared in common by every man, woman and child of Malta who together withstood the ordeal.” – Answer Man (02:17)

2. Science & Nature

• Criminal Forensics (Hair Analysis)

  • Question: What can be determined from a single strand of hair?
  • Answer: "The approximate age, sometimes the race and sex, and the part of the body." (01:07)

• Gobi Desert Water Sources

  • Question: Is there any water in the Gobi Desert?
  • Answer: "Yes, though rains are infrequent, water is in some places quite plentiful. There are several lakes." (01:21)

• Weight of a Hydrogen Molecule

  • Question: Precisely, what is the weight?
  • Answer: "No one knows exactly... we can estimate the weight of a molecule of hydrogen at 2016, 10 octillionths of a gram." (01:36)

3. American Culture & Curiosities

• Grimm's Fairy Tales Authors

  • Question: Were these the only works by the Grimm brothers?
  • Answer: "Oh, no. The Grimm brothers were quite active writers," founding the chair of Germanic Languages and Archaeology at Göttingen. (02:31)

• Horse Racing Records

  • Longest Odds: Wishing Ring paid 941 to 1 (02:59)
  • Shortest Odds: Man O War, 1 to 100, twice
  • Biggest Daily Double: 1939, paid out $10,772.40 for a $2 ticket

• Barber Shop Law

  • Question: When were barbershops required to close at 1pm on Sundays?
  • Answer: 1st June 1895 in NYC and Saratoga, elsewhere closed all day. (03:34)

4. Fun & Unusual Facts

• Mudskipper Fish

  • Quote: “The mudskipper...is so called because when the tide goes out, this fish leaves the water and goes skipping about over the mud flats chasing insects.” (03:52 – 04:29)

• Trombone "Cracking"

  • Meaning: "That the notes were broken and not fully on pitch?" (05:06)

• Origin of "Potter's Field"

  • Answer: The term traces to Judas using his silver to buy land for pottery and burial, but “this explanation is not too well authenticated.” (05:12)

5. History & Technology

• Battle of Bunker Hill

  • Fact: British fired from the hip, Americans sighted muskets. (05:38)

• Death Valley Scotty Special – Engine Change

  • Memorable Story: Changing train engines without stopping, using a "flying switch." (05:56 – 06:37)
  • Quote:
    • “If we didn't make it in 30 seconds, we came close to it, but we changed engines without the train stopping...” – Correspondent (06:09)

• Yankee Stadium Grass

  • Answer: “A mixture of Kentucky blue, fancy red top and domestic Y.” (07:02)

6. Legal & Institutional Oddities

• Patrolman Authority
  • Fact: “When a special patrolman is on duty, his authority is the same as a regular patrolman, except that the special patrolman cannot serve a summons.” (07:07)

7. Military & War

• Japan vs. Russia over Manchuria

  • Summary: They fought an undeclared war with over 2,000 armed clashes from 1931 for a decade. (08:52–09:40)

• V2 Rockets Altitude

  • Fact: “Man has gone about 14 miles above the earth in a balloon, but it's believed that the Nazis V2s went up 60 miles.” (11:49–11:54)

8. American Pastimes

• Unassisted Triple Plays in Baseball

  • Fact: Seven have occurred since 1900, with full details provided for each. (12:05–13:01)

• First Allied Soldier in 1944 France

  • Fact: Captain Frank Lilliman of Syracuse, first to jump from the lead plane. (13:11)

9. Science Trivia

• Size of a Clock's Minute Hand Travel in a Year

  • Answer: “A little over two and a half miles.” (10:35)

• First Railroad in France

  • Fact: The line between Saint Etienne and Andre Zieux, opened in stages between 1827 and 1832 with horse-drawn carriages; steam added in 1844. (14:01–14:14)

10. Memorable Listener Quotes & Expert Answers

• “No one knows exactly, and very likely no one will know in our lifetime, for there is no known method of weighing a single molecule.” – Answer Man (01:36)
• “The mudskipper...able to live out of water without difficulty for several days.” – Answer Man (04:29)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Does the British Who's Who still list Hitler's telephone number? Oh, yes. Berlin, 116191.” (00:48–00:53)
• “No one in particular wears this award, but it's shared in common by every man, woman and child of Malta…” (02:13–02:17)
• “The longest odds on a winning horse were paid by wishing ring 941 to 1.” (02:59)
• “Man has gone about 14 miles above the earth in a balloon, but it's believed that the Nazis V2s went up 60 miles.” (11:54)
• “After the deceased jockey had been weighed, the race was declared official and the bookies paid off at closing odds of 5 to 1.” (10:04)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |--------|-------------------------------------------------| | 00:48 | Hitler's telephone number | | 01:07 | Forensics – Hair analysis | | 01:21 | Water in the Gobi Desert | | 01:36 | Weight of hydrogen molecule | | 02:59 | Horse racing – biggest wins/losses | | 03:34 | Barbershop closing laws | | 05:38 | Bunker Hill – firing style | | 06:03 | Death Valley Scotty engine change | | 07:02 | Yankee Stadium grass species | | 08:52 | Japan-Russia conflict over Manchuria | | 10:04 | Jockey death and official race result | | 11:49 | Nazi V2 rockets altitude | | 12:05 | Unassisted triple plays in baseball | | 13:11 | First Allied soldier to land in France (1944) | | 14:01 | First railroad in France |

Tone and Original Language

The Answer Man’s tone is assured, slightly formal, and brisk—peppered with expertise and occasional gentle humor. Listener questions range from earnest to oddball, reflecting a genuine curiosity about the world. The language is precise, not condescending, with an intent to inform as quickly and directly as possible.

Closing

This "Answer Man" episode offered a whirlwind tour of mid-century trivia, scientific fact, and historic lore, creating a charming snapshot of public curiosity and expert knowledge before the age of Google. For fans of historical radio or anyone interested in the moving, whimsical questions of a past era, it’s a time-capsule worth opening.