Arthur Smith's Corner Store 52-11-18 First Song - I'm Saving My Coupons

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Arthur Smith's Corner Store (52-11-18): First Song – "I'm Saving My Coupons"
Air Date: October 26, 2025
Theme: A nostalgic visit to the golden age of American radio variety shows, centering around music, comedic banter, and slices of small-town life inside Arthur Smith's fictional “Corner Store.” The episode is filled with period humor, lively tunes, sponsor tie-ins (notably Blue Cheer detergent), and a charming window into mid-century Americana.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Warm, Comedic Banter and Storytelling

• The episode opens with a classic vaudeville-style joke involving a "gangster" and an Englishman in a saloon, setting the lighthearted, folksy tone.
  • Notable moment: Exaggerated delivery, poking fun at British stoicism:

    "The gangster walked up to him and said... Well, Englishman said, 'By Jove. There was a mob of them, wasn't it?'"
    (00:35)

2. Introduction of Show Regulars & Sponsor

• Bill Mack takes over, inviting listeners to join Arthur Smith’s Corner Store, promising music and shenanigans with the whole gang: The Cracker Jacks, Crossroads Quartet, Log Cabin Boys, and "Esau Jabber Jaw, the hired hand."
  (00:56–01:25)
• The show smoothly integrates a sponsor segment for "New Blue Cheer" detergent, blending advertisement with entertainment.

3. Feature Song: "I'm Saving My Coupons"

• Arthur Smith’s performance of "I'm Saving My Coupons": A witty, narrative-driven song about saving trading coupons for store prizes, filled with clever family-and-community humor.
  (01:32–03:22)
• Notable lyrics:
  • "My wife's been saving her coupons too. She's saved 9602. She wants a new hat, but I don't know what for; To get a new hat, she needs 9 million more." (01:50)
  • Subtle satire is presented regarding post-war consumer culture and family life.

4. Folksy Domestic Wisdom & Sponsor Chatter

• A playful dialogue between Bill Mack and Sonny, discussing how much you can "learn about a family just by looking at the laundry."
  (03:22–04:43)
• The conversation keys into domestic situations to promote Blue Cheer detergent, using lines like:
  • “You can tell what kind of housekeeper mom is, too, by the suds she uses to get every piece in her family wash spanking, brand new, clean.” — Sonny (03:51)
  • “If it's Cheer, well, she's a smart lady, because she knows how to save her energy and still hang out the cleanest, whitest wash possible.” — Bill Mack (04:02)

5. Musical Numbers and On-Air Camaraderie

• The program features additional musical performances, anchoring the show’s variety format.

a. Tommy Fail Sings "I'm a Ladies' Man"

• Introduced as the head of the meat counter, Tommy sings a lighthearted, self-deprecating song about his supposed luck with women, in classic novelty style.
  (05:32–07:29)
• Lyrics packed with tongue-in-cheek bravado and humor:

  "Been the ladies’ man since I was three, the women used to bounce me on their knee... What it is I’ve got, plenty of, make way for me, I’m a loving ladies’ man."
  (06:08)

b. Hymn of the Day: The Log Cabin Boys, "I Have Found the Way"

• Transitioning into gospel harmony, the Log Cabin Boys perform a heartfelt hymn, reflecting the era’s musical diversity and cultural values.
  (07:41–09:15)

6. Friendly Farewells and Store Values

• Arthur Smith and the ensemble close with neighborly words and another plug for Blue Cheer, reinforcing the program’s blend of homespun charm, community spirit, and product placement:

  "The doors of the corner store have been open for several years now, featuring quality products... and our number one item, Procter and Gamble’s new Cheer."
  (09:15–09:35)

• The invitation for listeners to return “same time, same station” underscores the ritual and family togetherness of the radio era.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “All right, all you dirty skunks, get out of here!” — Gangster joke narrative, capturing the playful, exaggerated storytelling (00:15)
• “If I die, my wife will go riding, I suppose. But if she do, I hope the darn thing is close. I'll just keep on saving and get one of those.” — Arthur Smith, singing "I'm Saving My Coupons" (03:10)
• “You may like a baseball game, but as for me, that’s a little too tame. I get my thrill just being a ladies’ man.” — Tommy Fail, "I'm a Ladies’ Man" (06:18)
• “White and bright, the modern way— and this new Blue Cheer guarantees the cleanest, whitest wash possible or double your money back.” — Blue Cheer ad copy (04:52)
• “We wouldn’t feel right coming into your home by radio unless we did just that.” — Bill Mack, before the hymn (07:35)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Opening Joke and Englishman Story | 00:01–00:39 | | Blue Cheer Sponsor Introduction | 00:45–01:25 | | Feature Song: "I'm Saving My Coupons" | 01:32–03:22 | | Folksy Blue Cheer Chatter, Family/Wash Day Talk | 03:22–04:43 | | "I'm a Ladies Man" – Tommy Fail | 05:37–07:29 | | Hymn: "I Have Found the Way" by Log Cabin Boys | 07:41–09:15 | | Farewell and Final Blue Cheer Endorsement | 09:15–09:47 |

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a warm, familial, and gently humorous atmosphere. The speakers use colloquial language, period-appropriate references, and easy banter to evoke community and nostalgia.

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Summary

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, featuring Arthur Smith's Corner Store, is a cheerful tapestry of music, homespun humor, and domestic wisdom. The episode encapsulates mid-century American values and entertainment, blending sponsor messages with lively performances and neighborly warmth—making it a delightful window into the golden era of radio for listeners today.

Transcript

[A]

The sophomore care what's first time to the gangster.

[B]

Oh, a gangster.

[A]

Yeah. He went in this saloon and he had a big revolver in each hand.

[B]

You mean a revolver?

[A]

Yeah, he was shooting right and left there.

[B]

Shooting right and left.

[A]

He walked right in the middle of the floor and said, all right, all you dirty skunks, get out of here. All the customers run for the windows, the doors and everywhere. Left one big tall Englishman standing over at the bar there. Oh, yeah, yeah. The big Englishman stand there. Gangster walked up to him and said, well, Englishman said, by Jove. There was a mob of them, wasn't it?

[C]

New Blue Tear invites you down to Arthur Smith's Corner Store.

[D]

We all get it out of the corner store.

[B]

Cheer is what we rave about Clothes are cleaner there's no doubt there's magic in them suds we say.

[C]

You need cheer on your wash day it's new, it blew, it's magic it's blue magic this is your old traveling salesman, Bill Mack, speaking for the makers of New Blue Cheer, inviting you to join us now for a transcribe visit in Arthur Smith Corner Store. Come on in and meet all the boys. The Cracker Jacks, the Crossroads Quartet. The Log Cabin Boys, Smiling Sonny Smith. And of course, we just heard from Esau Jabber Jaw, the hired hand. But right now, let's get some music started. Because here that man himself, the proprietor.

[B]

Of the corner store, Arthur Smith. Now, different cigar stores are giving away thousands and thousands of coupons each day. A lot of nice prizes, the catalog shows. I'm saving my coupons to get one of those. Now my wife's been saving her coupons too. She's saved 9602. She wants a new hat, but I don't know what for to get a new hat, she needs 9 million more. We've been married a year in a nice little flat all that we have is a dog and a cat the lady next door is bubbling over with joy the stork has just bought her brand new baby boy I'm saving my coupons to get one of those I'm so unluck it'll be twins I suppose that's better than triplets the Lord only knows I'll just keep on saving and get one of those My brother got married and right off the reel Started saving his coupons to get a new automobile the day that he got it from smoking he died from the house to the graveyard with brother's only ride I'm saving my coupons to get one of those if I die, my Wife will go riding, I suppose. But if she do, I hope the darn thing is close. I'll just keep on saving and get one of those.

[C]

Say, Sonny, did you ever stop to think how much you can find out about a family just by looking at the family wash? Hadn't given you much thought, Bill. Well, now, you take a laundry basket full of clothes, you pick up a pair of work pants, say, and you can tell right away that dad cleaned the car last Sunday. Sure. And you see a dirty little pair of blue jeans.

[E]

And you know that Junior's been pretty active playing in the street.

[C]

And you take those cat towels. Mom must have entertained her club. Well, you sure can tell a lot about a family.

[E]

And you can tell what kind of a housekeeper mom is too, by the sud she uses to get every piece in her family washed, spanking, brand new, clean.

[C]

And if it's cheer, well, she's a.

[E]

Smart lady because she knows how to save her energy and still hang out the cleanest, whitest wash possible.

[C]

Sure, if she knows about new Blue Cheer, she's sure up on the newest dope in Wash Day suds. Because Blue Cheer is Procter and Gamble's most exciting wash day discovery in 115 years. It's made with an exclusive formula and it's the first and only wash day suds of its kind.

[E]

It really is blue Magic the way those blue granules burst into mountains of bright white suds.

[C]

Not just plain blue magic, Sonny. Blue Magic. Say, that's right. And it's Blue magic the way those.

[E]

Suds get the dirt out of even the grimiest things in the wash. To.

[C]

Say nothing of the fact that new Blue Cheer contains a Blue Magic whitener, a special ingredient for getting clothes white and bright.

[E]

Yep, white and bright. The modern way. And this new blue tier guarantees the cleanest, whitest wash possible or double your money back. The brightest washable colors too. So if I were you ladies, I'd hot foot it out right to the store and make sure I had some new blue tear on hand for next wash day. Remember, it works like.

[C]

Magic.

[F]

Well, we hope everybody enjoyed that. We gotta call the guy, the head of our meat counter up to do a little singing for you. And of course, that's Tommy Fail. Don Reno there. We're going to put him to work on tomorrow's program with a special number. Wants you to be listening in. Don is head of our cash register.

[E]

Ringing down here in the daytime, Right.

[C]

Though Tommy fell up to sing one.

[F]

Of the currently popular tunes, I'm a.

[C]

Ladies Man.

[G]

I'm a ladies man oh yes siree I like the gals and the gals like me Can I make them swoon? Oh yes I can don about me they love but what it is I've got plenty of make away for me I'm a loving ladies man I'm a ladies man and that's no crime I.

[B]

Like them around me all of the.

[G]

Time I got a lot of talk that they all understand now you may like a baseball game but as for me that's a little too tame I guess my thrill just being the ladies man Been the latest man since I was three the women used to bounce me on their knee they'd always say when he grows up watch out now when the girls all see is big blue eyes they'll hang around like a bunch of clothes Women knew what they were talking about I'm a ladies man I get the break I guess I've got everything it takes and when it comes to loving they like my brand oh, the girl just won't leave me alone I had disconnect my telephone that's how it is when you're a lady's man I'm a ladies man oh yes sir, me I love the gals and the gals love me and when it comes to daytime in demand oh, I like them short and I like them tall As a matter of fact I love them all make way for me I'm loving ladies man.

[B]

Hey, thank you.

[C]

There, Arthur Smith and Bill Mack. Right now we got a couple of.

[E]

Cheer boosters up to sing our hymn of the day. And we wouldn't feel right coming into your home by radio unless we did just that.

[C]

So here are the log Cabin boys.

[E]

To sing I have found the way.

[D]

I found the way that leads to endless day Thunder in the glory land and the road is by far Jesus is alive and I hope all his guiding hand I found the way I found the glory way I found the way I have found the way Glory Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah I find I found a way I found a way.

[A]

Through.

[D]

The journeys in led by vamp Heaven more intu by the way called Spread out east the golden gate of the Sody Penal Home. I have found the way I have found the glory way I have found the way Glory hallelujah Hallelujah.

[C]

Neighbors, you.

[F]

Know the doors of the corner store here have been open for several years now featuring quality products we are very proud to display and sell as our number one item. Procter and Gamble's new sheer.

[E]

It works like blue magic that you're hearing so much about here of late. We do hope that you'll try it.

[F]

And we hope that you'll tune us in every day, the same time, the same station, until we see you tomorrow. Arthur Smith saying, ralph, hit the theme song. It's time to go off.

[C]

Well, neighbors, we do hope that you'll be with us again tomorrow, same time, same station for another visit in Arthur Smith's corner store. Arthur will be here, of course, along with all the crackers.