Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Answer Man xx-xx-xx Skywriting
Air Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Main Feature: The Answer Man – "a program that answers your questions"
Focus: Showcasing quirky, educational Q&A from the Golden Age of Radio

Episode Overview

This episode features a nostalgic recreation of “The Answer Man,” a popular radio show format from the pre-television era. The format is a rapid-fire session of fascinating listener-submitted questions, delivered with wit and expertise, covering everything from the physics of skywriting to historical tidbits, advice on domestic mishaps, and reflections on American traditions. The tone is conversational, breezy, and rooted in the Americana of the 1940s.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Interesting Facts from Listener Questions (01:25-13:50)

• Skywriting Letter Size

  • Q: “How high does a skywriter make the letters?”
  • A: “A skywriting pilot usually makes the letters about one mile high.”
  • (01:38, Answer Man)

• Chirping Crickets

  • Q: “Is it true only the male cricket chirps?”
  • A: “Yes, the male cricket does all the chirping. The female remains silent and just listens.”
  • (01:49, Answer Man)

• First Thanksgiving Weather

  • Q: “Did the Pilgrims have snow during their first Thanksgiving?”
  • A: “Evidently not. History tells us the tables… were set outdoors, so there was no snow.”
  • (02:02, Answer Man)

• Ivy League Name Origin & Members

  • Comprehensive explanation linking “ivy covered walls” to the old and prestigious institutions; includes a brief error by listing Army and Navy among members.
  • (02:20, Answer Man)

• World-Record Steer

  • Q: “What was the heaviest steer on record?”
  • A: “A steer named Jerry weighed 4,628 pounds at 10 years old.”
  • (02:48, Answer Man)

• Benjamin Franklin’s Burial Place

  • Clarifies confusion over graveyard location; historical detail about Christ’s Church in Philadelphia.
  • (03:28, Answer Man)

• Boston Police Strike

  • Q: “When was the Boston police strike?”
  • A: “September 9, 1919. Also, Winnipeg and Montreal had police strikes in 1919 and 1943, respectively.”
  • (03:56, Answer Man)

2. Domestic & Practical Advice (04:13-04:48)

• Unclogging a Rifle Barrel
  • An elaborate, period-appropriate solution involving penetrating oil, heat, and a cleaning rod for removing objects wedged in a rifle barrel.
  • (04:26, Answer Man)

3. Record Setters and Quirky Calculations

• Golden Gate Bridge Sway

  • “It can take a horizontal movement of a little more than 20ft without overstressing the structure.” (04:55, Answer Man)

• Plymouth Rock Weight and Structure

  • Details its weight (about 7 tons) and history of splitting and being cemented. (05:37, Answer Man)

• How Long to Push a Baby Carriage to California?

  • “If you pushed 10 hours a day, your baby would be about five months old when you arrived.” (06:14, Answer Man)

4. Historical & Language Origins

• Terhune Name Origin

  • Links the name to Old Norse and Teutonic roots. (05:16, Answer Man)

• Vich in Russian Names

  • “Vich in Russian means son of. Therefore, Ivanovich means son of Ivan.” (10:04, Answer Man)

• Old Bailey’s History and Name

  • Origin as Central Criminal Court, replacing the old Newgate Prison. (12:54, Answer Man)

• George Herbert’s "Jacula Prudentum"

  • Noted as a collection of “darts of wise men”—familiar proverbs, including “He that lies with a dog riseth with fleas.” (13:26, Answer Man)

5. Natural Curiosities

• Fastest Growing Grass

  • “The grass that grows the fastest is bamboo, which will grow from 6 to 14 inches in a single day.” (08:01, Answer Man)

• How Bees Cool Their Hive

  • Bees “stand at the opening of the hive and circulate fresh air… by flapping their wings.” (08:14, Answer Man)

6. Cultural Americana & Thanksgiving Insights

• Thanksgiving Leftovers

  • “So much food was prepared… it took almost a week to eat it all up.” (06:36, Answer Man)
  • Commentary on cold turkey sandwiches as a modern treat. (06:43, Host)

• Indigenous Pumpkin Pie

  • “No, because they didn’t know how to make pie crust. However, the Indians did make a pumpkin pudding with maple syrup.” (08:46, Answer Man)

7. Social & Legal Rights

• GI Bill Medical Rights
  • “If your husband received an injury in the line of duty, he is entitled to free medical attention.” (08:35, Answer Man)

8. Card Games, Furs, and More Oddities

• Number of American Card Games:

  • “There are said to be 77 different card games played in the United States. This does not include variations.” (12:27, Answer Man)

• Burunduke Fur Source:

  • “Comes from a little Siberian chipmunk.” (12:42, Answer Man)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Strange Family Names:

  • “It is quite possible that the huen of Terhune is derived from an Old Norse term which appears in English as hound.” (05:16, Answer Man)

• On American Values and Thanksgiving:

  • “One of the characteristics of the American way is the love of seeing a job through. That’s what made our men keep on fighting until the enemy was beaten on every front, east and west, land and sea...” (11:05, Host – Sponsor Message)

• On the Motivation for Listener Participation:

  • “If you have a question you want answered, ask the answer man. Ask any question you wish, and provided it’s not of a personal nature and does not violate professional ethics, you will get the answer by mail and without charge.” (13:50, Host)

Memorable & Novel Elements

• Quirky Calculations:

  • Estimating the time to push a baby carriage across the country based on ten hours daily walking.

• Historical Details:

  • Specifics on Old Bailey, Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite, and early 20th-century labor strikes.

• Eclectic Mix:

  • The episode features everything from zoology to etymology, sports rules, and home-troubleshooting—an authentic slice of curiosity-driven entertainment.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:30] Skywriting letters height
• [01:49] Male cricket chirping
• [02:02] Pilgrims' Thanksgiving weather
• [02:20] Ivy League name and colleges
• [02:48] Heaviest steer
• [03:28] Benjamin Franklin’s grave
• [03:56] Boston Police Strike history
• [04:26] Removing an obstruction from a rifle
• [04:55] Golden Gate Bridge sway
• [05:16] Origin of "Terhune"
• [05:37] Weight and history of Plymouth Rock
• [06:14] Baby carriage cross-country trek
• [06:36] Thanksgiving leftovers
• [08:01] Fastest growing grass
• [08:14] Bees air conditioning their hive
• [08:35] GI Bill and veteran medical rights
• [08:46] Indigenous pumpkin pie
• [10:04] Russian name endings explained
• [12:27] Number of American card games listed
• [12:42] Source of burunduke fur
• [12:54] History of Old Bailey in London
• [13:26] Jacula prudentum proverbs

Tone & Style

• The dialogue is warm, direct, and expert—in the fashion of knowledgeable but approachable radio hosts of the 1940s.
• Answers are succinct but informative, reflecting the “just the facts” approach.

This episode is a playful, fact-filled journey through Americana and puzzling curiosities, reflecting not only the breadth of popular knowledge in the mid-20th century, but also the radio era’s close connection to its audience and everyday lives.