Baby Snooks 39-06-08 (x) Violet Ray

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Baby Snooks 39-06-08 – Violet Ray"

Harold's Old Time Radio – October 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this classic episode, Fanny Brice brings to life the mischievous and lovable Baby Snooks, accompanied by Hanley Stafford as her long-suffering Daddy. Set on a warm summer day at the beach, the comedic interplay between Snooks and her father offers a delightful glimpse into the humor and innocence of Golden Age radio. The episode centers on misunderstandings about swimming, beach traditions, and a comedic tangle over who Daddy waves at—culminating in clever wordplay about "violet rays."

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Daddy and Snooks at the Beach (00:07–01:41)

• Daddy hopes to rest at the beach but Snooks’s endless curiosity keeps him busy.
• Snooks asks if Daddy "swam the boardwalk," misunderstanding his story about swimming in Atlantic City.
  • Notable Quote:
    Snooks (Fanny Brice), 00:42: "You swam the boardwalk? ... Did you get any splinters?"
• Daddy tries to explain mermaids and myths, but Snooks’s literal interpretations make the conversation spiral:
  • Snooks, 01:13: "Is that who ate the holes in your bathing suit?"
  • Daddy stumbles trying to explain what a "myth" is as Snooks mishears for "Lady Moth."

2. Snooks’s Relentless Questions (01:41–02:33)

• Snooks inquires about the tide, thinking someone "tied" the ocean.
  • Daddy offers an overcomplicated explanation involving the moon and gravity.
  • Snooks, 02:12: "You feel swell, don’t you, Dad?"

3. Beach Activities and Story of Robinson Crusoe (02:33–03:56)

• Daddy tries to distract Snooks with building a sandcastle; she argues about flags but delights in dumping sand on Daddy.
• He spins a tale about Robinson Crusoe, but Snooks fixates on literal meanings (e.g., sitting on his "chest" vs. "nose").
• Snooks points out that Mommy made Daddy take her, emphasizing the running joke of Daddy’s unwanted beach day.
  • Notable Quote:
    Snooks, 03:58: "Cause Mommy makes you take me."

4. Daddy’s Attempt to Rest and the ‘Violet Ray’ Gag (03:56–05:04)

• Daddy bemoans his lack of rest at home and at the beach, mentioning "picking up a few violet rays" in the sun (meaning ultraviolet rays).
• Snooks mischievously confuses this with Daddy having waved at a woman named Violet, creating a running misunderstanding.
  • Notable Quote:
    Snooks, 04:57: "It was Violet." Daddy, 04:59: "Ray, now don’t you start that kind of stuff with me. The very idea."

5. Food Requests and Further Hijinks (05:05–06:11)

• Snooks tries to get Daddy to buy her a hot dog; he refuses, fearing Mommy will be upset.
• The running gag about "Violet" continues, with Snooks poking at Daddy with questions about Mrs. Lester and if he recognized her "without her street clothes."
  • Snooks, 05:29: "Could you recognize her without her street clothes, Daddy?"

6. The (Brief) Swim and Finale Antics (06:11–07:00)

• Daddy finally capitulates: they take a quick swim, but both are cold.
• Snooks immediately wants back into the water—this time, revealing she has sand in her bathing suit.
• Daddy’s closing lament humorously encapsulates parental exasperation.
  • Daddy, 07:00 (final line): "What a life."

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Notable Quotes & Comic Highlights

• Daddy, 01:49: "The tide."
  Snooks: "Who tied it?"
• Daddy, 04:41: "The only chance I get to pick up a few violet rays."
• Snooks, 05:11: "I want to bury you."
  Daddy: "No, you can’t bury me."
  Snooks: "Then I’ll tell Molly."
• Snooks, 06:47: "Take me back in the water."
  Daddy: "You just came out."
  Snooks: "I have to go back again quick."
  Daddy: "Why didn’t you say something while you were in there?"
  Snooks: "Because I just felt the sand in my bathing trunk."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:07–01:41: Beach arrival and Daddy's failed attempts to rest
• 01:41–02:33: The tide, gravitation, and Snooks's skepticism
• 02:33–03:56: Sandcastles and the Crusoe story derail
• 03:56–05:04: Beach rest sabotaged; the 'violet ray' confusion begins
• 05:05–06:11: Snooks plots for a hot dog, more mistaken identity
• 06:11–07:00: Quick swim, sandy mishap, and Daddy’s exasperation

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Summary & Tone

This episode delivers fast-paced, innocent childhood banter, brimming with the literal humor and misunderstandings for which "Baby Snooks" is beloved. The rapport between Brice’s precocious Snooks and Stafford’s beleaguered Daddy perfectly encapsulates vintage radio comedy’s wholesome, quick-witted spirit.

Whether nostalgic for old-time radio or new to Baby Snooks, this episode’s classic parent-child repartee and wordplay—like the mix-up between "violet rays" and waving at a woman named Violet—make for an engaging and heartwarming listen.

Transcript

[A]

And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's Fanny Brice as Baby Snooks.

[B]

Summer has just about arrived.

[A]

And Daddy, played by Hanley Stafford, figures the weather is warm enough for the beach. Of course, he didn't figure on taking Snooks with him. So we find them both on the sand, enjoying the ocean.

[B]

Listen. Ah, what a pleasure. Breathe deeply, Snooks. Fill your lungs with the fresh ozone.

[C]

Let's go swimming, Daddy.

[B]

I told you we'll go swimming soon. Right now I want a rest.

[C]

Can you swim, Daddy?

[B]

Can I swim? I'm just about the best swim in the world, that's all. Do you know, when I was in Atlantic City. I swam the whole length of the boardwalk on my back.

[C]

You swam the boardwalk?

[B]

The entire length?

[C]

Did you get any splinters?

[B]

No, I didn't get any splinters. I mean, I swam in the water along the boardwalk. Now, I want to lie quietly for a few minutes. So you go play with your pail and shovel.

[C]

All right. Daddy?

[B]

Yes?

[C]

I want to see the mermaids.

[B]

There's no such thing as mermaids.

[C]

Why?

[B]

Because there isn't. A mermaid is a legendary figure. That's supposed to be half woman and half fish. It's a myth.

[C]

Is that who ate the holes in your bathing suit?

[B]

Eight holes in my bathing suit. I said it was a myth. Don't you know what a myth is?

[C]

It's a Lady Morse, ain't it?

[B]

No, it's not a Lady Moth. And stop shoveling that sand in my mouth.

[C]

Ms. Mouth.

[B]

Mort.

[C]

Martha. I want to go swimming.

[B]

Snopes, I'll take you in the water if you let me rest a little while.

[C]

How long?

[B]

Until the waves recede a little. Now, just play and don't bother me or ask me any more questions.

[C]

All right, buddy. What makes the water go away like that?

[B]

The tide.

[C]

Who tied it?

[B]

Nobody tied it. I said tide, not tide. The rise and fall of the tide. It's caused by the moon attracting every particle of the Earth and the ocean. And by the law of gravitation, the force acting on any particle is directed toward the moon's center. And is jointly proportional to the masses of the particle in the moon. And inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the particle and the moon's center.

[C]

You feel swell, don't you, dad?

[B]

Yes, I feel fine. Well, I suppose I'd better make it a little simpler for you. Now, suppose I were to lay two eggs right here. What do you like?

[C]

I don't believe you can do it.

[B]

Oh, forget it. Go on. And build a sandcastle.

[C]

Shall I put flags in it?

[B]

Yes, put flags in it.

[C]

I don't like flags.

[B]

All right, then don't put flags in it.

[C]

Why?

[B]

Well, I don't know. Do what you like.

[C]

All right.

[B]

Oh, snugs. Why are you throwing that sand down my neck?

[C]

I like it.

[B]

Well, cut it out, can't you? Play like the other children. Make mud pies. Dig in the sand. Go on. Pretend you're Robinson Crusoe.

[C]

Who he?

[B]

Oh, you know, I've told you the story of Robinson Crusoe hundreds of times. About the man who was shipwrecked and lived on the cracker for a whole week.

[C]

How did he move around?

[B]

He was on an island. The only thing he managed to save from the shipwreck was the tool chest.

[C]

Tell me more, Daddy.

[B]

Well, I started this myself when he was cast ashore. He?

[C]

Who was cast?

[B]

Robinson Crusoe. He was washed onto this desert island and then.

[C]

Why?

[B]

Because he was shipwrecked.

[C]

Who was?

[B]

Robinson Crusoe?

[C]

Ah.

[B]

It was a good thing he had his tool chest because he was able to build a hut. Then he started to build some chairs.

[C]

And did he? Did he want chairs? Why did he want chairs?

[B]

Because he didn't have anything to sit on.

[C]

I got something.

[B]

Never mind. At the end of the day, when his work was done, he sat down on his chest.

[C]

Could he stand on his nose?

[B]

No.

[C]

How could he sit on his chest?

[B]

I mean his tool chest.

[C]

Oh.

[B]

Why did I have to drag you along to the beach?

[C]

Cause Mommy makes you take me.

[B]

Sure, sure. I get one day to myself. She ties you around my neck, work like a dog. Never get a chance to recuperate.

[C]

What's a cooperate, dad?

[B]

Alice, I work every day in the office, don't I?

[C]

I don't know.

[B]

Well, I do. I have to regain my energy. So when I come to the beach and line the sun, what do I do?

[C]

That's what Mommy sent me to find out.

[B]

Oh, she did, didn't she? Well, now you listen. You go about your business and dig holes in the sand.

[C]

I want to bury you. Daddy.

[B]

No. I just want to lie here and get a sunburn.

[C]

Why?

[B]

Because that's what I came to the beach for. The sun is beneficial. The only chance I get to pick up a few violet rays.

[C]

I know. I seen you waved at snorks.

[B]

You know very well that lady I waved at was mummy's friend, Mrs. Lester. What are you laughing at? I know. What do you know?

[C]

It was violet.

[B]

Ray, now don't you start that kind of Stuff with me. The very idea.

[C]

The very idea.

[B]

All right. Now go on and play nicely in the sand with your pail and shovel, collect some lovely shells, and then we'll take them home.

[C]

I want to bury you.

[B]

No, you can't bury me.

[C]

Then I'll tell Molly.

[B]

Now, you just stop that. I told you that lady was Mrs. Lester, and you know her as well as I do.

[C]

Didn't look like Mrs. Lester.

[B]

Well, you probably couldn't recognize her because she didn't have her street clothes on.

[C]

Could you recognize her without her street clothes, Daddy?

[B]

Why, of course why. Leave me alone. Why can't you play like those other children?

[C]

I'm hungry.

[B]

Well, we'll soon go home and you have your dinner.

[C]

Come buy me a hot dog, dad.

[B]

No. It'll spoil your appetite. Mummy will give me the dickens.

[C]

But waving a Violet?

[B]

Her name's not Violet. And there was nothing wrong with my waving at hers. She was with her husband.

[C]

Oh, is that why you moved away?

[B]

Oh, and Frank Morgan thinks he's a great spy. Oh, look at all the pretty boats on the water. Snooks, isn't it wonderful to be here at the beach in the sunshine?

[C]

I want to go swimming.

[B]

Oh, all right. We'll take a fast dip and go right home. I'm sick of this anyway. Come on. And don't splash too much.

[C]

Come on, Daddy.

[B]

Oh, this water's icy cold. Snooks, hang on to my hand.

[C]

Are you scared, Daddy?

[B]

No, I'm not scared. I don't want you to go beyond your death. It's freezing.

[C]

I don't want to go out, Daddy.

[B]

So do I. Come on. Here, grab this towel and rub yourself all over. Now, don't sit down in the sand again.

[C]

Daddy.

[B]

What do you want?

[C]

Take me back in the water.

[B]

You just came out.

[C]

I have to go back again quick.

[B]

Why didn't you say something while you were in there?

[C]

Because I just felt the sand in my bathing trunk.

[B]

Ah, come on.

[C]

What a life.