Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Avalon Time – Skelton's Flea Circus

Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Featured Cast: Red Skelton, Del King, Red Foley, Peter Grant, Nurse (character), Phil Davis

Main Theme

This episode is a classic re-broadcast of the Golden Age radio comedy “Avalon Time,” centering around Red Skelton’s whimsical antics as he pitches his “Flea Circus” as an attraction for the upcoming New York World’s Fair. The show features a blend of comedy sketches, musical performances, and period-style cigarette advertisements, delivered with the lively, quick banter characteristic of 1930s radio.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Opening Comedy Monologue: Spring Cleaning Blues

[01:13 – 06:41]

• Red Skelton kicks off with a rapid-fire comedic set about spring cleaning, riddled with gags about lazy relatives, household chores, and slapstick household mishaps.
• Memorable Line:

  “I made a little mistake while I was cleaning, though. I got the floor polish mixed up with a hair restorer. Now, every time the maid brushes the floor, she has to part it in the middle.” – Red Skelton [02:54]

2. Avalon Cigarette Comedy & Promotion

[06:41 – 09:00]

• Peter Grant humorously personifies an Avalon cigarette, dreaming of being “wrapped up with 19 other swell Avalons.” The exchange is lighthearted and layered with product promotion.
• Notable Exchange:

  “I wouldn’t mind being an Avalon cigarette. They really get around, those Avalons.” – Peter Grant [06:56]

3. Musical Interlude: “Rainbow Valley”

[09:00 – 11:37]

• Red Foley serenades with “Rainbow Valley,” bringing a gentle, melodic pause to the comedy.

4. Flea Circus Sketch: Main Comedy Feature

[14:24 – 21:19]

• Introduced as a “preview of one of the main attractions of the New York World’s Fair,” this segment is a showcase for Skelton’s wordplay and absurdity.
• Antics include confusing “fleas” with “fleece,” mistaken animal identities, and outlandish claims about the talents of his circus fleas.
• Top Quotes:

  “How are you gonna get to New York anyhow?” – Nurse [15:20]
  “I’ve been over to the bank all day trying to borrow some money on my collateral.” – Red Skelton [15:23]
  “I told you to bring some fleas. Oh, dear. I thought you said fleece. No, fleas. I’m going to have the flea circus at the World’s Fair.” – Red Skelton [16:23]
  “You won’t believe this, but in 1929, before the crash, that flea had three dogs of his own.” – Red Skelton [18:19]
  “She knows all the dives. … This one’s China Clipper. … just made a nonstop hop from a Boston bull to a French poodle.” – Peter Grant [19:47]

5. Musical Variety

[21:36 – 27:06]

• Features songs including “I Want My Share of Love” (Jeanette) and “Little Skipper” (Red Foley and the Avalon Chorus).
• Provides a soft, sweet counterpoint to the comedy.

6. Sneak Preview: Skelton’s New Warner Brothers Picture

[27:40 – 29:54]

• Red Skelton performs a one-minute dramatization from his latest film, set in a “sanatorium.”
• More friendly banter follows, emphasizing Skelton’s comedic persona.
• Sample Gag:

  “My, your face is red. Are you blushing or is it sunburn?” – Nurse [28:14]
  “Neither one. I hung my socks up last night and forgot to take them off.” – Red Skelton [28:18]

7. Final Comedy and Wrap-Up

[29:59 – 30:43]

• The cast riffs on movie serial tropes with:

  “Will he make the phone call? Will he marry the girl? Will the picture be released? Who cares?” – Del King [30:02]

• Spirited closing jingle about Avalon cigarettes.
• Cheery Outro:

  “So find Avalon and travel on with Avalon.” – Phil Davis [30:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the “Flea Circus”:

  “There’s something about a flea that gets under your skin.” – Red Skelton [15:08]

• On Ambition:

  “You want to be an Avalon, huh?” – Red Skelton [07:47]
  “I guess I’m just a dreamer.” – Peter Grant [07:55]

• On Rising Costs:

  “Friends, that saving of 3 to 5 cents on every pack really means something. … It’s not the big things that throw the budget out of balance. It’s the pennies you spend needlessly every day.” – Peter Grant [24:32]

Episode Flow At A Glance (Timestamps)

• [00:35–01:13]: Introduction, cast greetings
• [01:13–06:41]: Red Skelton’s opening monologue
• [06:41–09:00]: Avalon cigarette banter
• [09:00–11:37]: “Rainbow Valley” musical number
• [11:37–14:24]: Musical interlude and transition
• [14:24–21:19]: Flea Circus sketch (main comedic segment)
• [21:36–27:06]: Love songs, lullabies from various cast members
• [27:40–29:54]: Preview of Skelton’s Warner Brothers picture
• [29:59–30:43]: Serial-style wrap, Avalon cigarettes jingle

Tone & Style

The episode exemplifies vintage vaudeville-radio humor—zippy, self-deprecating, highly physical (despite being audio-only), with recurring puns and antics around “common man” struggles, celebrity, and household misadventures.

For New Listeners

This episode illustrates why Red Skelton was a beloved radio personality, deftly spinning everyday life and farcical situations into relatable, timeless comedy. Between musical numbers, character improvisations, and quippy product endorsements, “Avalon Time” is a pitch-perfect slice of radio’s golden age.