Podcast Summary: "Answer Man – Skywriting"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Format: Classic "Answer Man" Q&A, hosted by Albert Mitchell

Episode Overview

This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" features a vintage installment of "The Answer Man," a program where the host, Albert Mitchell, answers a wide variety of listeners' questions submitted by mail. Set during the golden age of radio, the show provides rapid-fire, factual, and quirky responses to curiosities ranging from skywriting techniques to unusual historical facts. The style is upbeat, informative, and peppered with bits of humor and period-appropriate context.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Curious Facts and Quick Answers

[01:04] Skywriting Letter Height

• Question: How high are skywriting letters made?
• Answer: "A skywriting pilot usually makes the letters about one mile high." (C, 01:12)

[01:17] Cricket Chirping

• Only male crickets chirp; females remain silent.
• Quote: "The female remains silent and just listens." (C, 01:23)

[01:29] Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving Weather

• No snow; tables were set outdoors.

[01:46] Ivy League Name and Members

• Named for ivy-covered walls and similar athletic standards.
• Original group: Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, Pennsylvania, Army, Navy. (Note: Slight factual errors by today’s records.)

[02:16] Heaviest Steer Record

• "Jerry," a Holstein-Friesian steer, weighed in at 4,628 lbs at age 10.

[03:02] Benjamin Franklin’s Burial Place

• Buried beside his wife at Christ's Church Burying Ground, 5th and Arch, Philadelphia.

2. Historical Oddities & Everyday Wisdom

[03:25] Boston Police Strike

• Boston police strike: September 9, 1919.
• Related: Winnipeg strike (spring 1919), Montreal police strike (Dec. 14–15, 1943).

[04:01] Rifles and Obstructions

• Cautionary advice for removing obstructions from a rifle: use light oil, heat, and a cleaning rod.

[04:22] Golden Gate Bridge Flexibility

• The bridge is designed for up to 20 feet of horizontal movement in heavy wind.

[05:05] Plymouth Rock

• Weighs about 7 tons and is still visibly cracked from attempts to move it post-Revolution.

[05:33] Amusing Calculation: Baby Carriage to California

• Push a baby carriage for 10 hours a day from Connecticut to California: "your baby would be about five months old." (C, 05:49)

[06:10] Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving Leftovers

• The feast lasted nearly a week due to surplus food.
• Quote: "So much food was prepared... it took almost a week to eat it all up." (C, 06:10)

3. Fascinating Nature and Language Insights

[07:36] Fastest Growing Grass

• "Bamboo... will grow from six to fourteen inches in a single day." (C, 07:36)

[07:42] Bees and Hive Air Conditioning

• Worker bees ventilate the hive by wing fanning.

[08:08] Veterans’ Medical Checkups

• Free medical attention under the GI Bill is for line-of-duty injuries.

[08:15] Native American Cuisine: Pumpkin Pie

• Indians did not make pie but created pumpkin pudding with maple syrup.

[08:40] 1939 "Stop Hitler" Parade in NYC

• Occurred March 25, 1939; about 10,000 people participated.

4. Games, Origins, and Odds & Ends

[09:07] Pinochle Rules

• Bonuses for "hundred in aces" must be agreed upon before play; not in official rules.

[09:26] Russian Name Suffixes

• "Vich" (e.g., Ivanovich) means "son of" in Russian.

[09:51] Domestic Fishhook Expenditures (1939)

• Yearly value: $1,208,118 (manufactured + imports); retail likely double.

[10:25] Byproducts from Coal (Besides Nylon)

• Includes vitamins, sulphur, drugs, and perfumes.

[10:41] Movie Reference: "This Love of Ours"

• Actor Charles Corvin noted for taking off (and putting back on) Merle Oberon's stockings.

5. Quirks, Language, and Literature

[12:02] Number of American Card Games

• 77 different games, excluding variations.

[12:16] Burundukee Fur Source

• Comes from a Siberian chipmunk.

[12:28] Old Bailey’s History

• Built in 1905; stands on the site of the old Newgate Prison.

[13:00] George Herbert’s "Iacula Prudentum"

• Collection of proverbs: “darts of wise men.”
• Example: "He that lies with the dogs riseth with fleas" — also in Franklin's Poor Richard.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Skywriting:
  "A skywriting pilot usually makes the letters about one mile high."
  — Answer Man (C), [01:12]

• On Cricket Chirping:
  "The female remains silent and just listens."
  — Answer Man (C), [01:23]

• On Thanksgiving Leftovers:
  "So much food was prepared... it took almost a week to eat it all up."
  — Answer Man (C), [06:10]

• On Pushing a Baby Carriage Across the Country:
  "When you reached California, your baby would be about five months old."
  — Answer Man (C), [05:49]

Memorable Segments & Timestamps

• How high do skywriting pilots draw letters? – [01:12]
• Did the Pilgrims encounter snow at their first Thanksgiving? – [01:37]
• How much does Plymouth Rock weigh? – [05:11]
• How fast does grass grow? – [07:36]
• Did Native Americans make pumpkin pie? – [08:21]
• What does 'Vich' mean in Russian names? – [09:38]
• How many different card games are played in the US? – [12:02]
• Old Bailey history and alternate name – [12:28]

Style & Tone

The episode captures the cheerful, brisk, and slightly formal tone of 1940s American radio. Albert Mitchell as the "Answer Man" delivers factual and succinct answers, often including a bit of extra historical color or gentle humor, making the knowledge accessible and engaging for all listeners.

For Those Who Haven’t Listened

This episode is a fascinating time capsule: a window into peculiar facts and collective curiosities of the first half of the 20th century. The "Answer Man" delivers a mix of earnest answers and charming, period-specific references, supported by an engaging, friendly delivery. Whether you’re intrigued by American traditions, animal behavior, language oddities, or quirky trivia, this episode offers a fun, informative journey through radio’s golden questions.

(Note: All timestamps refer to offset within the podcast content, ignoring sponsor and intro material.)