Any Bonds Today - Walter Pidgeon, Barry Wood

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Any Bonds Today" – Walter Pidgeon, Barry Wood

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: April 1, 2026
Stars: Walter Pidgeon, Barry Wood, John Percival, Dr. Frank Black’s Orchestra
Source: Harold's Old Time Radio Podcast

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Episode Overview

This special episode features a patriotic Treasury Department radio program from the World War II era, designed to encourage Americans to buy war bonds and stamps. With a medley of musical performances and stirring monologues by prominent figures such as Walter Pidgeon and Barry Wood, the broadcast blends entertainment and civic messaging. The episode offers a glimpse into how popular culture was harnessed during the 1940s to bolster national morale and participation in the war effort.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Patriotic Numbers and Call to Action

• The episode opens with the popular song "Any Bonds Today?" performed by an ensemble, framing war bonds as "Bonds of freedom."
• Refrain throughout: "Have you bought any bonds today?" is used both as a tagline and a direct appeal. (00:33, 13:15, 13:50)

2. Historical Reflection: The Spirit of Sacrifice

• A narrator emphasizes the unprecedented scale of the war effort, inviting “every man, woman and child” to share in both hardship and triumph.

  “Today every man, woman and child is a partner in the most tremendous undertaking of our American history.” (01:21, Speaker E)

3. Homage to Abraham Lincoln – “Abe Lincoln Had Just One Country”

• Tribute song commemorates Lincoln's legacy of unity and freedom (02:32–04:50).
• Lyrics highlight the endurance of American ideals and the fight “to stay” free.

4. Dramatic Monologue: "What is America?"

• Walter Pidgeon delivers an evocative meditation on American identity, drawing vivid contrasts between material symbols and the abstract ideal of freedom.
• Notable quotes:
  • “America is an idea, and the USA a dream…The simplest and most difficult idea ever hatched by the human mind. The idea of freedom.” (05:16–09:43, Walter Pidgeon)
  • “The USA is the dream that a human being is better than a red ant. And the soul of man is a bigger flag than the biggest swastika …” (06:51, Walter Pidgeon)
  • “Our history reveals that Americans have fought and fought damned well only for the defeat of things that tormented the soul of man: tyranny, slavery and intoler[ance].” (09:32, Walter Pidgeon)

5. Musical Interludes – Unity and Patriotism

• “One for All, All for One,” an energetic choral number by Barry Wood, underscores national unity.
  • “Let a song tell the world, united and we'll carry on, one for all, all for one.” (09:43–10:44)
• Chorus repeats, “Freedom is king, there are three colors we can be proud of – red, white, and blue.” (10:18–10:33)

6. Renewed Call to Action: Financial Support for the War Effort

• The host reminds listeners that purchasing bonds and stamps is both a civic duty and a familial act to safeguard the country:

  “This is the America that Hitler would destroy. Only a constant flow of dollars can keep America’s war chest filled. Pledge yourself to put every possible dollar into defense bonds.” (10:44–11:42, Speaker E)

7. New Patriotic Song – “Back the Red, White and Blue with Gold”

• Written for the Treasury and performed by Barry Wood:
  • “Back the red, white and blue with gold, make it shine with each bond that’s sold.” (11:42–13:04)
  • “Show America your spirit with a stamp of defense, buy yourself a bond and let your dollars make sense.” (12:00–12:43)

8. Closing Reprise – “Any Bonds Today?” & Farewell

• Program concludes with another spirited chorus of “Any Bonds Today?” reinforcing the episode’s central appeal. (13:20–13:50)
• The announcer closes by thanking the performers and noting the Treasury Department’s sponsorship.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Walter Pidgeon, on American values:

  “America is an idea that people can live in without having the wits scared out of them, without a gag in their mouths or a straightjacket in their spirits.” (06:15)

• Host’s direct challenge:

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we present Walter Pidgeon.” (05:16)

• Lyric – On Unity in Song:

  “Let a song tell the world...one for all, all for one.” (10:00, chorus)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:33 – Opening musical number: “Any Bonds Today?”
• 02:32 – “Abe Lincoln Had Just One Country”
• 05:16 – Walter Pidgeon’s “What is America?” monologue begins
• 09:43 – “One for All, All for One” performed by Barry Wood
• 11:42 – “Back the Red, White and Blue with Gold” song debut
• 13:20 – Final reprise: “Any Bonds Today?”

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Tone & Style

• The episode is earnest, heartfelt, and overtly patriotic, reflecting the urgent atmosphere of 1940s wartime America.
• The language is direct and occasionally poetic, particularly in Walter Pidgeon’s central monologue.
• The mood is both uplifting and communal, inviting all listeners to see themselves as active participants in the nation's struggle and victory.

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For listeners craving a taste of the golden age of radio—where entertainment, messaging, and national purpose align—this episode stands as a moving testament to the era’s spirit and its power to unify.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Any Bonds Today Starring Walter Pidgeon, John Percival and Dr. Frank Black's Orchestra on a special recorded program of the United States Treasury Department. By the way, have you bought any bonds today?

[C]

Any bonds today? Bonds of freedom that's what I'm selling Any bonds today? Scrape up the most you can Here comes the freedom man Asking you to buy a share of freedom today Any stamps today? We'll be blessed if we all invest in the USA Here comes the freedom

[D]

man can't make tomorrow's plan not unless

[C]

you buy its share of freedom today

[E]

Today every man, woman and child is a partner in the most tremendous undertaking of our American history. We must share together the bad news and the good news, the defeat and the victory, the changing fortunes of war. America has been faced with war before, but throughout our history, the spark of patriotism has kindled flame to burn the midnight oil in the lamps of American songwriters. The Treasury Department is happy to present a number which epitomizes that spirit in the hearts of American men of music. Three great American musicians collaborated in writing our first selection. Abe Lincoln Had Just One Country. The writers, Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein were inspired by the work and ideals of the man who said,

[F]

with malice toward none, with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right Let us strive to finish the the work we are in.

[E]

We present now a feature production of Abe Lincoln Had Just One country with John Percival, Dr. Frank Black's orchestra and chorus.

[D]

Had just one country and one banner to wave One union of brave brothers where no brothers and slave others we're still marching along with Lincoln with one man. Take a lesson from old Abe Lincoln in times of stormy weather Take a lesson from old Abe Lincoln let's pace the storm together if we can have just one country and one banner to fame One union of brave brothers with all brothers and slave mothers they're still watching along with one and a two way this union was born in freedom and this union was living freedom and this freedom is Wednesday and we're fighting to stay.

[B]

We now present a dramatic musical production, what is America? Based on the poem by Ben hecht and Charles MacArthur. Our star of this production is Walter Pidgeon of stage and screen. Featured will be a new song, One for All, all for One, by Man Curtis and Maxwell Rich, sung by Barry Wood, with the Treasury Department orchestra and choir. Ladies and gentlemen, we present Walter Pidgeon.

[F]

What is the USA Some people think it's a piece of map shaped like a wisdom tooth and colored like a handful of lollipops. Some people think America is a dollar sign with a halo over it. Some people think USA Is an ostrich with a red, white and blue tail feather. Some people think America is a smokestack and a gas filling station, an adding machine and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Some people think the USA Is a skyscraper with a moon hanging over it like a for rent sign. Some people think America is a feather bed where freedom can snooze till the cows come home. Some people think the USA Is the Gol darndest collection of railroad ties, window panes, manhole covers, wheat fields, electric signs, apple pies and steel mills ever assembled within the boundaries of one nation. Nobody can deny that we are all these things. And you can throw in a jazz band and the wizard of Oz and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the inventory isn't even begun. You can keep piling up figures enough to stump Einstein and painting enough pictures to fill the Grand Canyon and you won't have begun to add up or show our thousand faces. But we're here to tell you what this inventory reaching from hell to breakfast is nothing. We're here to tell you that all the smokestacks and the railroad trains, all the gold in all the counting houses and all the boulder dams, electric lights, high bridges, grain mills and jazz bands, all of these are nothing. They are the window trimming. They are the Nickelsworth out front. The real show is inside them and behind them. We are here to tell you America is an idea and the USA a dream. On the first day it dawned on the world, it dawned as an idea. And with all its industry in gold, all its power and mountains of materials, it has remained since it came leaping out of its cradle. A dream since the hour it was born and to the hour it dies, if it ever dies, it has been and will remain an idea. The simplest and most difficult idea ever hatched by the human mind. The idea of freedom. America is an idea that people can live in without having the wits scared out of them, without a gag in their mouths or A straight jacket in their spirits. The USA is the dream that a human being is better than a red ant. And the soul of man is a bigger flag than the biggest swastika ever tacked upon a Nazi platform. This idea and this dream were born in the bloodshed at Lexington. And ever since that blood ran, Americans have died in defense of the idea of freedom. No foreign nation has ever held our land. Yet we have fought. No nation has come goose stepping to our shores as of tonight. And yet we have fought. We have fought because our frontiers have been those of the spirit. Our history is the history of men and women who have fought for the dream of freedom. Of men and women who have believed that whatever freedom is threatened there, they stand in danger. Of men and women who have believed that wherever freedom perishes, there a part of themselves lies dead. This, say our enemies, is democratic twaddle. This, say our enemies, is the cry of a warmonger. They lie. History proves they lie. History proves that our battlefront has never been the line of conquest. But always since the barefoot soldiers of Stony Point and Valley Forge. The frontiers of freedom. Our history reveals that Americans have fought and fought damned well only for the defeat of things that tormented the soul of man. Tyranny, slavery and intoler.

[D]

While it rings all is well Sing, sing, sing Let a song tell the world Night and reunited and we'll carry on One for all Also one get

[C]

together Never before has there been more

[F]

reason to sing let's sing Heed the

[C]

call One and all stand together Reading each day Able to say Freedom is

[D]

king Freedom is king There are three colors we can be proud of One

[C]

of them red One of them white One of them blue Let it ring from every steeple we're the luckiest of people People need the sun One for

[D]

all One for all all for one all for one.

[E]

What is America? It's the house you live in. It's the place where you work at your job. It's the little plot of ground where your grandparents lie in everlasting sleep. It's the school where your children learn to be citizens of the future. This is the America that Hitler would destroy. It's what you have to defend. Only a constant flow of dollars can keep America's war chest filled. Pledge yourself to put every possible dollar into defense bonds. Now, every payday, buy more and keep buying. Get defense bonds and stamps at your bank, post office or savings and loan association. Buy defense stamps from your newspaper carrier boy or your retail dealer. Buy as many as you can, as often as you can now another new song. Back the Red, white and Blue with Gold written for the Treasury Department by Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman. Barry Wood sings Back the red, white and blue with gold Back the red,

[C]

white and blue with gold make it shine with each bond that's sold each

[D]

bond that's sold your interest in the USA we'll bring you interest on a

[C]

few Let the flag never lag on

[D]

hard so this land that we love won't die Show America your spirit with a stamp of defense Buy yourself a bond and let your dollars make sense

[C]

Build a front that's fearless and bold

[D]

Back the red, white and blue and gold Back the red, white and blue with gold make it shine with each bond that's your interest in the USA Will bring you interest on a future

[C]

day Let the flag never lag on harbor so this land that we love

[D]

won't die Show America your spirit with a stamp of defense Buy yourself a bond and let your dollars make sense

[C]

Build a front that's fearless and bull

[D]

Back the red, white and blue we're bond

[B]

thank you, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman for contributing that sparkling new song to the music of today. We all want to back the red, white and blue by the way, have

[D]

you bought any bonds today?

[C]

Any bonds today? Bonds of freedom that's what I'm selling Any bonds? Scrape up the most you can Here comes the freedom man Asking you to buy a share of freedom today Any stamps today? We'll be blessed if we all invest in the USA Here comes the freedom man can't make tomorrow's plan not unless you buy a share of freedom Ladies

[B]

and gentlemen, you have been listening to Any Bonds Today a recorded program of the United States Treasury Department. For defense bonds and stamps. Our stars were Walter Pidgeon, John Percival and Dr. Frank Black's orchestra. This is Larry Elliott speaking for the Treasury Department.

[G]

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