Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Answer Man - How High Are Sky Writing Letters
Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Albert Mitchell (The Answer Man)
Episode Overview
This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" features a broadcast from the Golden Age of Radio: Albert Mitchell’s "Answer Man" program. The Answer Man addresses a wide variety of listener questions with facts and anecdotes, ranging from the science of skywriting and the history of Thanksgiving to quirks of language and curious statistics. The show is delivered in a friendly, authoritative style, offering both amusement and education—true to the classic radio tradition.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Skywriting: Height of Letters
- Q: How high are skywriting letters made?
- A: “A skywriting pilot usually makes the letters about one mile high.”
- (01:08, Answer Man)
2. Animal Facts
- Crickets’ Chirping
- “Yes. The male cricket does all the chirping. The female remains silent and just listens.”
- (01:18, Answer Man)
- “Yes. The male cricket does all the chirping. The female remains silent and just listens.”
- Bees & Hive Cooling
- “Some of the worker bees have nothing else to do but stand at the opening of the hive and circulate fresh air through it by flapping their wings.”
- (07:44, Answer Man)
- “Some of the worker bees have nothing else to do but stand at the opening of the hive and circulate fresh air through it by flapping their wings.”
- Fastest Growing Grass
- “The grass that grows the fastest is bamboo, which will grow from 6 to 14 inches in a single day.”
- (07:31, Answer Man)
- “The grass that grows the fastest is bamboo, which will grow from 6 to 14 inches in a single day.”
3. History & Origin Questions
- Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving: Was There Snow?
- “The tables for the first Thanksgiving were set outdoors, so we can surmise there was no snow at the time.”
- (01:32, Answer Man)
- “The tables for the first Thanksgiving were set outdoors, so we can surmise there was no snow at the time.”
- Benjamin Franklin’s Burial Site
- Clears confusion about Franklin’s resting place: “Franklin is buried in the Christ’s Church burying grounds at 5th and Arch.”
- (02:58, Answer Man)
- Clears confusion about Franklin’s resting place: “Franklin is buried in the Christ’s Church burying grounds at 5th and Arch.”
- Boston Police Strike & Canadian Strikes
- “The Boston police went on strike September 9, 1919...Winnipeg, Canada City police...spring of the same year.”
- (03:26, Answer Man)
- “The Boston police went on strike September 9, 1919...Winnipeg, Canada City police...spring of the same year.”
- Origin of ‘Ivy League’ & Member Colleges
- “The Ivy League got its name because the colleges are all old institutions with ivy-covered walls...”
- Lists all ten members (noting both Army and Navy, alongside traditional Ivy schools).
- (01:50, Answer Man)
- “The Ivy League got its name because the colleges are all old institutions with ivy-covered walls...”
- Name Meaning: ‘Terhune’ and Russian ‘-vich’
- “‘Terhune’ likely comes from Old Norse meaning hound, and ‘Ter’ is a Teutonic article.”
- (04:33, Answer Man)
- “‘Vich’ in Russian means ‘son of.' Therefore Ivanovich means ‘son of Ivan.’”
- (09:34, Answer Man)
- “‘Terhune’ likely comes from Old Norse meaning hound, and ‘Ter’ is a Teutonic article.”
4. General Knowledge & Trivia
- Golden Gate Bridge Sway
- “The Golden Gate Bridge is constructed so that it can take a horizontal movement of a little more than 20 feet without overstressing the structure.”
- (04:24, Answer Man)
- “The Golden Gate Bridge is constructed so that it can take a horizontal movement of a little more than 20 feet without overstressing the structure.”
- Weight of Plymouth Rock
- “Plymouth Rock weighs about 7 tons. It was originally one big boulder, but...a split appeared...the upper part was afterwards cemented onto the base.”
- (05:07, Answer Man)
- “Plymouth Rock weighs about 7 tons. It was originally one big boulder, but...a split appeared...the upper part was afterwards cemented onto the base.”
- Heaviest Deer/Steer on Record
- Reference to Jerry, a steer that weighed 4,628 pounds.
- (02:18, Answer Man)
- Reference to Jerry, a steer that weighed 4,628 pounds.
- Amount Spent on Fish Hooks
- Details total expenditure and imports in 1939, estimating the retail value at over $2 million.
- (09:47, Answer Man)
- Details total expenditure and imports in 1939, estimating the retail value at over $2 million.
- Boronduki Fur
- “Borondoki fur comes from a little Siberian chipmunk.”
- (12:12, Answer Man)
- “Borondoki fur comes from a little Siberian chipmunk.”
- Old Bailey / Central Criminal Court History
- “Old Bailey was completed...in 1905 and is called the Central Criminal Court.”
- Provides history of site, previous prison.
- (12:23, Answer Man)
- “Old Bailey was completed...in 1905 and is called the Central Criminal Court.”
- Number of Card Games Played in America
- “There are said to be 77 different card games played in the United States. This does not include variations.”
- (11:57, Answer Man)
- “There are said to be 77 different card games played in the United States. This does not include variations.”
5. Curious Scenarios & Everyday Problems
- Removing an Obstruction from a .22 Rifle
- Detailed step-by-step advice with safety in mind.
- (03:56, Answer Man)
- Detailed step-by-step advice with safety in mind.
- Pushing a Baby Carriage from Connecticut to California
- “If you put your newborn baby in a carriage and pushed it for ten hours a day...your baby would be about five months old when you reached California.”
- (05:44, Answer Man)
- “If you put your newborn baby in a carriage and pushed it for ten hours a day...your baby would be about five months old when you reached California.”
- Leftovers After First Thanksgiving
- “So much food was prepared...it took almost a week to eat it all up.”
- (06:06, Answer Man)
- “So much food was prepared...it took almost a week to eat it all up.”
- Auction Pinochle Rules Debate
- “There is no provision for any bonus in the official rules, although it’s practiced in many localities.”
- (09:02, Answer Man)
- “There is no provision for any bonus in the official rules, although it’s practiced in many localities.”
- GI Bill & Veteran Medical Rights
- “If your husband received an injury in the line of duty, he is entitled to free medical attention.”
- (08:03, Answer Man)
- “If your husband received an injury in the line of duty, he is entitled to free medical attention.”
- Indians and Pumpkin Pie
- “No, because they didn’t know how to make pie crust. However, the Indians did make a pumpkin pudding with maple syrup.”
- (08:16, Answer Man)
- “No, because they didn’t know how to make pie crust. However, the Indians did make a pumpkin pudding with maple syrup.”
- Stop Hitler Parade in NYC, 1939
- “The anti-Nazi parade on Fifth Avenue took place...March 25, 1939. There were an estimated 10,000 people in the line of march.”
- (08:35, Answer Man)
- “The anti-Nazi parade on Fifth Avenue took place...March 25, 1939. There were an estimated 10,000 people in the line of march.”
6. Notable Quotes & Moments
- On the American Way and Thanksgiving:
- “The freedom to give thanks in any way you please. The freedom to live at peace with your neighbor, regardless of his race or color or creed... That’s the thing that will keep every American investing his dollars in Victory Bonds until Uncle Sam says the job is done.”
- (10:38, Answer Man, Thanksgiving Message)
- “The freedom to give thanks in any way you please. The freedom to live at peace with your neighbor, regardless of his race or color or creed... That’s the thing that will keep every American investing his dollars in Victory Bonds until Uncle Sam says the job is done.”
- Classic Sponsor Plug:
- “Tromer’s White Label, the premium beer that is two ways light...light as you drink it and light after you drink it. And there’s a reason for the extra lightening...”
- (06:13, Sponsor Message)
- “Tromer’s White Label, the premium beer that is two ways light...light as you drink it and light after you drink it. And there’s a reason for the extra lightening...”
Memorable and Informative Segments with Timestamps
- Skywriting Height – 01:08
- Pilgrims' Thanksgiving Weather – 01:32
- Plymouth Rock Weight – 05:07
- Push a Baby Carriage Cross-Country – 05:44
- Thanksgiving Leftovers – 06:06
- Bamboo Grows Fastest – 07:31
- Bees Air Conditioning Hive – 07:44
- Russian "-vich" Meaning – 09:34
- Total US Card Games – 11:57
- Boronduki Fur – 12:12
- Old Bailey History – 12:23
Episode Tone and Style
The episode maintains a warm, factual, and gently humorous tone emblematic of classic radio educational programs. The Answer Man answers each query with precise, sometimes surprising facts, infusing personal touches and context where necessary. Sponsor messages are enthusiastic and seamlessly integrated, often using holiday themes or analogies to reinforce the product's place in American life.
Final Thoughts
This Answer Man episode is a delightful snapshot of mid-20th-century curiosity and camaraderie, where no question is too odd, and every answer is delivered with clarity and wit. Fans of vintage radio or anyone intrigued by old-time wisdom will find it both informative and charming.