Podcast Summary: CBS Screen Guild Theater 1943-01-11 – "Holiday Inn" Starring Bing Crosby & Dinah Shore

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date of Episode: December 18, 2025 (Original Radio Airdate: January 11, 1943)
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio (with performances by Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore, Truman Bradley, et al.)
Episode Feature: A musical radio dramatization of Paramount's "Holiday Inn," performed by the Lady Esther Screen Guild Players.

Episode Overview

This episode revisits a Golden Age radio classic: the 1943 adaptation of "Holiday Inn," featuring musical highlights and key moments from the beloved film. Starring Bing Crosby as Jim Hardy and Dinah Shore as Linda Mason, the dramatization weaves together narrative, comedy, and iconic songs such as "White Christmas," "Happy Holiday," and "Easter Parade." The broadcast creates a nostalgic, family-friendly atmosphere, echoing the era when Americans gathered around their radios for top-tier entertainment. The adaptation is structured as a musical play, blending dialogue, humor, and performances that evoke movie magic in audio form.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Highlights

Introduction and Cast

• Opening Remarks:
  • [01:03] Bing Crosby: "This is Bing Crosby and this is Diana Shore."
  • [01:20] Host (Truman Bradley): Introduces the episode as a presentation of musical highlights from "Holiday Inn," with Bing Crosby as Jim Hardy and Dinah Shore as Linda Mason.

Jim Hardy’s Journey: Love, Loss, and Reinvention

• Jim's Dreams and Setbacks

  • [01:55] Story begins with Jim (Crosby) explaining his original idea: to leave show business, marry Lila, and retire to a Connecticut farm.
  • [02:19] Bing Crosby: "I've had better ideas, I think."
    Ted wins Lila over, and Jim ends up alone.

• Idea for Holiday Inn

  • [02:41] Jim’s next idea is to transform the farmhouse into a “Holiday Inn”—a nightclub open only on holidays, with themed musical shows.
  • Unforgettable quip about Hitler's funeral:
    [03:03] Bing Crosby: "Any day he's buried will be a holiday."

• Meeting Linda Mason

  • [03:36] Dinah Shore (Linda): "Could you use me in your show, Mr. Hardy?"
    • Jim offers Linda a job with a humble promise:
      [03:56] Bing: "Pay off in eggs later. You've either got me mixed up with Bob Hope or some millionaire."

Musical Performances

• "White Christmas" (Iconic Duet)

  • [04:19]–[06:56] Bing and Dinah perform the legendary "White Christmas."
  • [06:56] Singer/Chorus (humorously): "Well, Mr. Hardy, you're hired."

• "Happy Holiday" (New Year's Eve Opening)

  • [07:22] Jim and Linda pull together musicians and launch the Holiday Inn on New Year's Eve, featuring "Happy Holiday."

• "Abraham" (Lincoln’s Birthday Segment)

  • [13:34]–[14:58] A light-hearted, patriotic tribute to Abraham Lincoln, celebrating American unity and history.

Romantic Rivals and Classic Comedy

• Ted Hanover Makes Trouble

  • [09:29] Ted Hanover, Jim's old partner and rival, drunkenly stumbles into the inn and takes immediate interest in Linda.
  • [10:55] Bing (trying to throw Ted off): "Oh, I would say she was a medium. Medium built sort of a girl with a medium face..."

• Comic Deceit – The Blackface Gag

  • [12:26] To hide Linda's identity from Ted during Lincoln’s Birthday, Jim has her perform in blackface, leading to comic banter between Jim and Linda.
  • [13:06] Dinah: "Was it a proposal?"
    [13:08] Bing: "Well, it sure will be when I get a few bucks in the bank."
  • Their budding romance is laced with humor and warmth.

The Love Triangle Intensifies

• Be Careful, It’s My Heart

  • [18:20] Bing sings “Be Careful, It’s My Heart” to Linda for Valentine’s Day, aiming to win her affection.
    • [19:44] Bing (wistfully): "I thought it was pretty beamy, you know, nice low key and everything, but nothing happened."

• Battle Over Linda & Easter Parade

  • [20:20] Jim and Linda perform “Easter Parade.”
    • [20:38] Dinah: "I’ll be all in clover, and when they look us over, we'll be the proudest couple in the Easter parade."

• Ted’s Hollywood Move

  • [21:51] Ted brings Hollywood scouts, snags Linda as his dance partner, and secures a movie deal. Jim is left alone, shuttering Holiday Inn.

Mamie’s Pep Talk and the Resolution

• Mamie’s Advice

  • [22:33] Mamie, Jim’s housekeeper, lambasts him for sulking and presses him to fight for Linda.
    • [22:41] Mamie: "If you hadn't made Miss Linda mad… she'd still be here… If you went to Hollywood and told Ms. Linda how much you love her… I bet you she'd be the quickest ex movie star that ever exed."

• Heartfelt Conclusion

  • [24:17] Jim tracks Linda to Hollywood, where she’s filming "Holiday Inn," and wins her back as she sings "White Christmas."
  • [25:10] Dinah: "May your days be merry and bright, And may all your Christmases be…"

Farewell and Mutual Admiration

• Gratitude & Light Banter

  • [26:32] Dinah: "It's nice to hear you say that, Truman. But I know somebody who will remember the program longer than anyone, really."
  • [26:42] Bing: "Well, that makes it a standoff then, Dinah, because Crosby has always wanted to sing with Dinah and the Dixie Diva."

• Acknowledgement of Good Cause

  • [26:49] Dinah (on singing for charity): "We couldn't have found a better place to do it… for the benefit of the Motion Picture Relief Fund."

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On failed plans in love:

  • [02:19] Bing: "When I walked out to go to the farm, I walked out alone. I've had better ideas, I think."

• On “Holiday Inn” nightclub concept:

  • [02:41] Bing: "I decided to change the farmhouse into a roadside nightclub, open on holidays only... I wrote special songs for all the holidays."

• On classic dueting:

  • [06:56] Singer/Chorus: "Well, Mr. Hardy, you're hired."
    [06:58] Dinah: "Gee, thanks. Thanks a lot, Mr. Hardy."

• Linda’s playful acceptance:

  • [13:20] Dinah: "Well, I guess I’m sort of engaged."

• Mamie’s memorable advice:

  • [22:41] Mamie: “Nothing but tricks. If you hadn’t made Miss Linda mad… she’d still be here. If you went to Hollywood and told Ms. Linda how much you love her… I bet you she’d be the quickest ex movie star that ever exed.”

• Playful closing exchange:

  • [26:42] Bing: "Well, that makes it a standoff then, Dinah, because Crosby has always wanted to sing with Dinah and the Dixie Diva."

Key Musical Numbers (Timestamps)

• [04:19]–[06:56] — "White Christmas" (Bing Crosby & Dinah Shore)
• [07:22]–[08:33] — "Happy Holiday"
• [13:34]–[14:58] — "Abraham"
• [18:20]–[19:39] — "Be Careful, It’s My Heart"
• [20:20]–[21:46] — "Easter Parade"
• [24:17]–[25:38] — "White Christmas" (reprise)

Overall Tone and Legacy

• The episode radiates warmth, wit, and nostalgia, with trademark banter between legendary performers.
• The interplay of romance, rivalry, and redemption is peppered with memorable quips and hearty comic relief, remaining true to the spirit of 1940s radio entertainment.
• The songs are performed with sincerity and style, making for a rich audio experience—even for modern listeners unfamiliar with the original film.
• The ending emphasizes camaraderie, charity, and the magic of classic musical storytelling.

Recommendation:
This radio adaptation of "Holiday Inn" is a must-listen for fans of classic American entertainment, holiday nostalgia, and iconic musical performances from two of the era’s brightest stars. Its balance of music, romance, and gentle humor makes it a timeless piece of radio history.