Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Avalon Time - Robin Hood

Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners back to the golden age of radio with a classic episode of Avalon Time, featuring Red Skelton and company. The show blends witty comedic sketches, musical interludes, live-read advertisements, and a whimsical parody—the “Gaga saga” of Robin Hood Skelton. With a lively, vaudevillian flair, the cast delivers laughs, wordplay, and a lighthearted ensemble performance that calls to mind a bygone era when the family gathered around the radio.

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

1. Opening Banter & Comedy Monologue [01:30 - 06:30]

• Red Skelton’s comedic monologue:
  • Jokes about golf woes and physical comedy:
    • “I dug a hole so deep that I came up with a Chinese accent.” (Red Skelton, 03:10)
  • Lighthearted stories about meeting celebrities and golf mishaps.
• Recurring comedic bits:
  • Skelton’s rapport with guests and jabs at the noisy microphone.
  • “Boy, that’s the toughest hole I ever played. Now I really played 19 holes. There’s only 18—I dug another one.” (Red Skelton, 02:40)

2. Musical Performances & Advertisements [06:31 - 11:40]

• Red Foley Performance:
  • “The Cowboy and the Lady,” a sweet, classic western ballad [06:40].
• Orchestra Interlude:
  • Bob Strong debuts a new arrangement: “Sing a Song of Sunbeams” from Bing Crosby’s picture East Side of Heaven.
• Avalon Cigarettes Advertisements:
  • Frequent, earnest product plugs in period style, emphasizing value and union-made quality:
    • “You can pay more, but you can't get finer quality cigarettes than Avalon's.” (Avalon pitch, 09:10)

3. Red Skelton’s Open House Comedy Sketch [11:45 - 21:10]

• Party at Skelton’s “house”:
  • Red invites the cast for a mock open house; comical run-down home full of eccentricities.
  • Verbal sparring and visual gags about home inconveniences:
    • “Well, not so loud. People will think you’re a termite.” (Ms. Stilwell, 12:40)
    • “That roof leaks like a sieve.” “That’ll be $3 extra for a shower bath.” (Red Skelton and Landlord, 15:25)
  • Presents are exchanged, including a picture of Herky as a “gift”, and running gags about finding food and using household items in unexpected ways.
  • Memorable moment:
    • “What was that noise?” “That was my uncle upstairs. He’s a nice fellow, only he’s a little reckless. In fact, he came home tonight reckless to the gill.” (13:15)

4. Jeanette Sings – “A Plaintive Lover’s Lament” [21:11 - 23:58]

• Emotional musical interlude:
  • “Be still, my heart / Even though our love has gone away / He’ll be coming back to us someday...” (Jeanette, 21:50)
  • A touching, sentimental moment balancing the episode’s comedic tone.

5. “Little Sir Echo” Sketch and Song [24:00 - 28:20]

• Echo Comedy Routine:
  • Skelton is interrupted by his “echo,” leading to a fast-paced, repetitive joke sequence referencing Avalon cigarettes:
    • “Avalons are 3 to 5 cents less per pack than other popular price packs.” (Echo, 24:45)
    • “You’d never guess they cost you less!” (Echo, 25:00)
    • Escalates into “I’m a nut!” and playful insults between Skelton and his echo.
• Musical number:
  • “Little Sir Echo” performed by Red Foley and chorus, light and catchy [26:10].

6. Comedy Parody: Robin Hood Skelton [30:30 - 38:50]

• “Gaga saga” of Robin Hood:
  • Parody sketch set in medieval Sherwood Forest.
  • Skelton as Robin, with ensemble as merry men, Dame Stillwell, Little John, Friar Tuck.
  • Puns and meta-comedy throughout:
    • “Who am I supposed to rob today, Dame Stillwell?” “Nobody. Sheriff of Nottingham is out looking for you again.” (Robin and Dame Stillwell, 31:45)
    • “I’ve only got 35 men.” “You afraid he’s gonna lick you?” “Got me outnumbered so bad I’m afraid some of his men will get away.” (Robin and Little John, 33:10)
    • Marriage gag: “You, Little John, do you agree with Dame Stillwell when she says I’m scared of you? I do. Then I pronounce you man and wife.” (Robin Hood, 33:40)
    • Friar Tuck’s slapstick: “I just wanted him to help me find my arrow.” “Where was your arrow?” “Stuck in my... my back.” (Friar Tuck, 34:30)
  • Ends with chaotic disorder among the band when Dame Stillwell removes all the bowstrings because Robin told her to “go fly a kite.”

Notable Quotes and Moments

• “They call me the Hazard Kid. I was in one bunker so long that a guy came around, handed me a paycheck. He thought I was working there.”
  (Red Skelton, 03:00)

• “Do you call those conveniences? Sure, and if I ask the landlord, he’ll even put in a bathtub.”
  (Red Skelton, 13:00)

• “Where do you keep the coal? In the china closet. And where’s the china? In the bread box. What’s in the linen closet? My uncle.”
  (Red Skelton & Herky, 16:05)

• “You better give it to the orphans, the widows, and last year’s sweepstake winners.”
  (Robin Hood saga, 32:45)

• “As fast as we chop them down, they chop them up.”
  (Robin Hood, about fighting the Sheriff’s men, 33:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------------|------------------------------------------------| | 01:30 – 06:30 | Red Skelton’s opening monologue & golf comedy | | 06:40 – 09:10 | “The Cowboy and the Lady” by Red Foley | | 09:11 – 11:00 | Avalon Cigarettes advertisement & orchestra | | 11:45 – 21:10 | Open house party sketch at Skelton’s home | | 21:11 – 23:58 | Jeanette sings “A Plaintive Lover’s Lament” | | 24:00 – 28:20 | Little Sir Echo comedy and song | | 30:30 – 38:50 | “Gaga saga” Robin Hood Skelton parody |

Episode Tone and Style

• Warm, quick-witted, and playful: True to 1930s-40s radio comedy with a mix of groan-worthy puns, banter, and slapstick.
• Frequent musical breaks: Reflecting the era’s blend of entertainment.
• Chummy ensemble: Running gags and audience asides, making listeners feel part of the fun.

In Summary

This episode of Avalon Time is a testament to old-time radio’s charm—featuring Red Skelton’s signature humor, zany premises (a dysfunctional house party, a “Robin Hood” parody), and catchy musical numbers. The cast’s easy banter, quick jokes, and innovative use of radio’s possibilities make for an enjoyable, nostalgia-packed listen that’s as inviting as it is funny. Perfect for fans of classic radio and clever comedy alike.

“You’d never guess, but Avalons cost you less!” (Recurring catchphrase, multiple segments)