BillieThe Brownie 49-06-02

Summary

Podcast Summary: “Billy the Brownie” Episode (49-06-02) – Harold's Old Time Radio

Release Date: January 15, 2025
Podcast Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Title: BillieThe Brownie 49-06-02
Host/Author: Harolds Old Time Radio

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Introduction

In this episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio, highlighting beloved characters and programs that captivated families before the advent of television. The episode focuses on the charming character Billy the Brownie, exploring his origins, popularity, and eventual decline with the rise of television.

Segment 1: Advertisements and Promotions

The episode begins with an advertisement from [00:02] featuring Dr. Dennis Black, a naturopathic doctor, promoting Ruff Greens and Meow Greens—innovative pet nutrition products. He emphasizes improving pet health with live vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and more:

“All pet food is dead food. Which is why we created Ruff Greens and Meow Greens in the first place.”
— Dr. Dennis Black [00:02]

He offers a promotional trial bag using the code "Best Friend," aiming to enhance pets' coats, digestion, and energy levels.

Segment 2: Introduction to Billy the Brownie

At [01:00], Richard Hernowiecki introduces himself as an expert from the Milwaukee County Historical Society, setting the stage to discuss Billy the Brownie, a cherished local character.

Larry Tyke describes Billy's appearance:

“A little elf, sort of a real cute smiley face, green and red costume, a little like a Santa hat, big shoes.”
— Larry Tyke [01:02]

Segment 3: Origins of Billy the Brownie

Larry Tyke delves into the creation of Billy the Brownie by Schuster's Department Store art department. Schuster's, a prominent Milwaukee area department store later acquired by Gimbel's, initiated a Christmas parade in 1927 to promote the character:

“They created the idea of Billy the Brownie and the Billy the Brownie program to promote.”
— Larry Tyke [01:21]

Segment 4: The Billy the Brownie Radio Program

After five years of initial success, the popularity of Billy the Brownie led to the creation of a daily radio program on WTMJ radio. Richard Hernowiecki explains:

“Billy the Brownie would run for 15 minutes every day from early November right up until Christmas Eve.”
— Richard Hernowiecki [02:00]

Larry Tyke reminisces about the show's daily broadcast schedule and its impact on children:

“All kids came home from school and they went and they glued themselves to the radio to listen to Billy the Brownie.”
— Larry Tyke [02:24]

Segment 5: Program Structure and Audience Engagement

The program featured a recognizable tune that signaled Billy's appearance, followed by interactive segments where children's letters to Santa were read aloud. Larry Tyke describes the engaging format:

“They would take about five or six minutes of the program and they'd read letters that the kids wrote to Santa.”
— Larry Tyke [03:36]

An example letter from a child in Dallas showcases the personal touch:

“Here is one from 1216 Lois Avenue West Dallas... please may I have a doll, bring a hunting knife for my brother Timmy...”
— Narrator [03:48]

Schuster's Department Store also sent acknowledgments to the children, enhancing community connection.

Segment 6: The Magic Storybook

A unique feature of the program was the Magic Storybook segment, encouraging children to affirm their good behavior:

“All right, kids, we're now going to get out the magic storybook... if they were good, the magic storybook cover would open.”
— Larry Tyke [04:03]

The segment included interactive elements with Billy the Brownie and Santa Claus, culminating in the telling of a classic story:

“A one word description of our story. All right, it's the Pied Piper of Hamelin.”
— Santa Claus [05:53]

Segment 7: The Final Broadcast and Transition to Television

Larry Tyke reflects on the final broadcast on December 24th, highlighting its special format and heartfelt goodbye:

“They tried to create something for a television program. They never aired. It just didn't work. And I think that Larry Tyke, the creator, probably put it better than anybody could have put it when he said, you can't put on a screen a picture as pretty as a kid can dream.”
— Larry Tyke [07:01]

The show's end in 1955 marked the decline of radio's dominance as television emerged, despite attempts to transition Billy the Brownie to the new medium.

Conclusion

The episode of Harold's Old Time Radio provides a nostalgic look at Billy the Brownie, celebrating his role in bringing joy to children and families during the pre-television era. Through interviews and archival content, listeners gain insight into the cultural significance of radio programs and their enduring legacy in American history.

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Notable Quotes:

• “All pet food is dead food. Which is why we created Ruff Greens and Meow Greens in the first place.” — Dr. Dennis Black [00:02]
• “All kids came home from school and they went and they glued themselves to the radio to listen to Billy the Brownie.” — Larry Tyke [02:24]
• “You can't put on a screen a picture as pretty as a kid can dream.” — Larry Tyke [07:01]

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the “Billy the Brownie” episode, preserving the charm and historical context of radio's golden age for both longtime enthusiasts and new listeners alike.

Transcript

[Dr. Dennis Black]

With New Year's resolutions, many of us will make a vow to eat healthier. And that's a good thing. But what about our beloved pets and their Nutrition? Greetings. Naturopathic Dr. Dennis Black here and I'm on a mission to provide better nutrition for cats and dogs. Because truthfully, all pet food is dead food. Which is why we created Ruff Greens and Meow Greens in the first place. We bring their food back to life with live vitamins, minerals, probiotics, enzymes, omega oils, antioxidants and so much more. All in a tasty formula that your dog and cat will love. You can improve your pet's coat digestion energy and have less vet bills. Let 2025 bring a new year and a new pet. Get a Jump Start trial bag. Normally $20 get 100% discount with promo code Best Friend. You just cover the shipping. Go to roughgreens.com use promo code best friend. Bring your pet's food back to life with Rough greens. So good your petal asked for it by name.

[Richard Hernowiecki]

What did Billy look like?

[Larry Tyke]

A little elf, sort of a real cute smiley face, green and red costume, a little like a Santa hat, big shoes.

[Richard Hernowiecki]

The person who seems to know the most about this former local character Billy the Brownie is Richard Hernowiecki of the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

[Larry Tyke]

Billy the Brownie actually was a creation of Schuster's Department Stores art department. Schuster's was a large department store in the Milwaukee area. They were purchased later on by Gimbel's, but they did have three stores in the Milwaukee area. And Schusters had a Christmas parade they started. They had their first Christmas parade in 1927. And what they did is they created the idea of Billy the Brownie and the Billy the Brownie program to promote.

[Richard Hernowiecki]

The parade that was on local radio. Hernwicke says the first Billy programs ran for only two weeks from early November until the day of the parade. But after five years of the show, it and the character became so popular that a daily program was created on WTMJ radio. Billy the Brownie would run for 15 minutes every day from early November right up until Christmas Eve.

[Larry Tyke]

It was always every day, 5:00 to 5:15. And all kids came home from school and they went and they glued themselves to the radio to listen to Billy the Brownie. It started out the program. You could always tell when Billy was going to come on because there was a little tin horn that played a little four note tune. Started with that. Right after that it went to a vocal recording of Jingle Bells. I Remember, every day at 5:00, that was what we had to do. Everything else stopped because you listened to Billy the Brownie.

[Richard Hernowiecki]

The person who wrote and produced the show was Larry Tyke. He was also the host, Billy's friend. They would mainly carry the show during the first few weeks before Santa came on the scene.

[Billy the Brownie]

Hello.

[Santa Claus]

Hi. And let me say, two weeks from today is Christmas Day.

[Narrator]

That's right, Billy. And every minute counts if you and Santa are going to be ready to leave and display early enough so we can broadcast. That's right. The boys and girls love to hear that.

[Santa Claus]

They can help.

[Larry Tyke]

The next thing they would do is they'd take about five or six minutes of the program and they'd read letters that the kids wrote to Santa and they would actually give the kid's name, what town or city they're in, and so forth.

[Narrator]

Here is one from 1216 Lois Avenue West Dallas. It says, please may I have a doll, bring a hunting knife for my brother Timmy, a tapestry knitting bag for my mother, a knit dress for Nancy and also for Marlene.

[Larry Tyke]

Every kid in the city must have written letters to Santa. And Schusters actually returned a little postcard or an acknowledgement of those cards to all of those kids. And so this became a very big thing, the last part of the program. And this is what made it really sort of unique. There was a story that would be told. The way it would start out is Billy would say or Larry would say, all right, kids, we're now going to get out the magic storybook. All the kids had to face the radio and say that they've been good. If they were good, the magic storybook cover would open and boys and girls.

[Narrator]

Face the radio and say, I have been good.

[Billy the Brownie]

If enough, say it. The magic book opens.

[Santa Claus]

If not, nothing happens. Washed out, busted, gone for broke, kaput. Well, anyway, today I chose a new one. Magic index. Ready.

[Billy the Brownie]

Mistletoe and jellybeans Holly wreaths and evergreen.

[Narrator]

In the name of Christmas joys tell a story for good girls and boys.

[Billy the Brownie]

Abracadabra.

[Narrator]

Not yet. Come on, say it.

[Richard Hernowiecki]

There.

[Billy the Brownie]

There, the book so far.

[Santa Claus]

Thank you, Good boys and girls.

[Billy the Brownie]

Pages slow down.

[Santa Claus]

Here comes our story. Here it is. Ready on siege. Curtain going up.

[Narrator]

Say, I know this story. Did we ever tell it before?

[Billy the Brownie]

Oh, so long ago. Larry, we might say this is a new story.

[Santa Claus]

A one word description of our story.

[Billy the Brownie]

All right, it's the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

[Larry Tyke]

The last program of the year. Always December 24th was very special that had a little bit different format. It starts out the Same with the horn and the jingle bells. But then you hear Santa loading his sleigh, checking out all the reindeer.

[Narrator]

Now, the reindeer, it's two by two. Out in front are Prancer and Dasher. Yep. Then Dancer and Vixen. And then Cupid and Comet. Then nearest the sleigh are Dunner and Blitzen. The great sights. But now I see Santa's headed this way. Hello, Larry. Hello, Santa.

[Billy the Brownie]

Hello, dear boys and girls. Got your bells. Prancer, be careful there. Those dolls.

[Santa Claus]

Larry, before somebody hollers, here I am. Well, this is it.

[Narrator]

Got something fancy for us?

[Santa Claus]

Well, no, Larry. More like Thanksgiving Day. So, boys and girls and shusters, mothers and dads and you, Larry, and the engineers here, I want to say with all my might, thank you.

[Larry Tyke]

It was. It was a time of innocence. It was a time where kids really believed. You might wonder why the program came to an end in 1955. Well, in 19. By 1955, television was really starting to eat into radio audience. And because Billy was so popular, they were thinking, well, what's the obvious thing to do? Put this into a TV show. And they actually tried two times in two different venues. They tried to create something for a television program. They never aired. It just didn't work. And I think that Larry Tyke, the creator, probably put it better than anybody could have put it when he said, and I'm just quoting from him, he said, you can't put on a screen a picture as pretty as a kid can dream.