Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Avalon Time – Purchase of Manhattan

Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Featured Performers: Red Skelton, Del King, Red Foley, Ms. Stillwell, and others

Episode Overview

This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" presents a classic installment of Avalon Time, a variety comedy and music show from the golden age of radio, headlined by comic Red Skelton. The main comedic feature is a sketch satirizing the legendary purchase of Manhattan, with Skelton playing "Chief Skelton." The episode is rich in period jokes, musical performances, playful banter, and the recurring tongue-in-cheek promotion of Avalon Cigarettes.

Key Segments & Highlights

Opening Banter and Comedy

[01:18-02:16] Red Skelton’s Monologue

• Red Skelton launches into his signature style, poking fun at Del King and riffing on “Sunday driving.”
• Notable quote:

  "You stick out your hand to make a left turn and a taxi cab runs up your sleeve." — Red Skelton (02:16)

• Lighthearted back-and-forth with Del King about clothes, cars, and city life.

Musical Highlights

[04:25-06:19] Red Foley Sings "We've Come a Long Way Together"

• Red Foley performs a gentle ballad, adding warmth and nostalgia in keeping with the era’s family-friendly tone.

[16:58-18:50] Jeanette: "Don't Worry About Me"

• Jeanette, another cast member, delivers a smooth, jazzy song, echoing popular 1930s/40s musical styles.

[21:52-23:52] Red Foley: "There's Silver on the Sage Tonight"

• A serene Western-inspired piece fitting the radio show’s variety format, with Skelton introducing the number with his comedic flair.

Comedy Sketch: The Purchase of Manhattan

[24:52-30:39] The Main Comic Feature

• Skelton stars as "Chief Skelton," with castmates as settlers and tribe members, retelling (and lampooning) the story of Manhattan's sale.

• The sketch makes use of anachronisms, puns, and self-deprecating humor.

• Memorable exchanges:

  "I'll take the part of Chief Skelton, the guy who sold it to Peter Minuit." — Red Skelton (24:52)
  "Old boy, old boy. How, how and how? Why you bring squaw?" — Red Skelton as Chief Skelton (27:09)
  "What good money to Indians to buy food? Indians shoot food." — Chief Skelton (28:37)

• The "medicine man" provides a comic prophecy of New York's future involving the Yankees and Tammany Hall politics, lampooning 20th-century New York through a 17th-century lens.

  "He see Yankees mall Indian. He also Sig Dewey make it hot for Tammany tribe." — Chief Skelton (29:43)

• The purchase is sealed for "beads and trinkets and marbles and stuff... probably worth some $24." (29:30)

• Signature Skelton irreverence runs through the sketch, ending with:

  "You take island. Me take ferry boat Hoboken. Two minutes. So long!" — Chief Skelton (30:37)

Regular Cast Interplay & Humor

Office Gags and Travel Service

• Skelton proposes a fictional “Skelton Vacation and Travel Bureau,” claiming "My office is my hat" (12:40) and turning everyday situations into light sketches.
• Flirtatious humor with Ms. Stillwell:

  "Say, you look nice tonight. You know, I like you."
  "Yes, but would you like me if I were old and ugly?" — Ms. Stillwell (12:44)

Avalon Cigarettes Commercial Parodies
Scattered throughout are spirited, often farcical ad reads mocking the overwrought style of period sponsorships.

• [19:29-21:21] Skelton derails Del King's ad copy with baby talk and jokes, turning a commercial into a comic routine:

  Del King: "But who is dettin me all. I can't weed stray."
  Skelton: "Listen, from hearing that song tonight on the radio lately I seem to think great either. Down in the meadow in her itty bitty puke..." (19:49)

• Avalon’s hallmark jingle closes out the show:

  "Like all of us Avalon brothers... So why not always travel on with Avalon?" — Red Skelton (31:54)

Lighthearted Take on Contemporary Life

• Jokes about vacationing, courtroom mishaps ("Don't that two dollar safety sticker entitle me to any privileges?" — 03:40), city driving, and modern (for the time) society abound.

Timestamps of Notable Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Red Skelton’s Opening Monologue | 01:18-02:16 | | Red Foley sings "We've Come a Long Way Together" | 04:25-06:19 | | Skelton’s Vacation Bureau skit with Ms. Stillwell | 12:22-14:18 | | Jeanette performs "Don't Worry About Me" | 16:58-18:50 | | Skelton interrupts Del King’s Avalon Cigarettes commercial | 19:29-21:21 | | Red Foley sings "There's Silver on the Sage Tonight" | 21:52-23:52 | | Comedy Sketch: The Purchase of Manhattan | 24:52-30:39 | | Avalon jingle and closing banter | 31:38-32:26 |

Standout Quotes

• "You stick out your hand to make a left turn and a taxi cab runs up your sleeve." — Red Skelton (02:16)
• "My office is my hat." — Red Skelton (12:40)
• "You take island. Me take ferry boat Hoboken. Two minutes. So long!" — Chief Skelton (30:37)
• "Like all of us Avalon brothers... So why not always travel on with Avalon?" — Red Skelton (31:54)

Overall Tone and Style

Avalon Time combines quick-witted, vaudeville-style wordplay, puns, and gentle satire with a playful, anything-for-a-laugh energy. The episode is filled with comic interruptions, slapstick one-liners, and musical interludes – all hallmarks of classic variety radio. While some jokes, characterizations, and references are particular to their time period, the energy is light, silly, and warm—crafted for family listening around the radio.

For Newcomers

This episode serves as a time capsule of 1930s-40s American radio, with Red Skelton’s antics front and center. The playful lampooning of historical events and contemporary quirks, interwoven with live music and tongue-in-cheek commercials, offers an entertaining (and sometimes zany) glimpse into the style and humor of classic radio variety shows.