Christopher Program 195x-xx-xx What One Person Can Do

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – "Christopher Program 195x-xx-xx What One Person Can Do"

Release Date: June 2, 2025

---

Introduction

In this insightful episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, titled "Christopher Program 195x-xx-xx What One Person Can Do", host Father James Keller explores the profound impact an individual can have on the world. The program delves into personal responsibility, the power of love, and the significance of each person's contributions to societal betterment.

Opening Message: The Power of One

Father James Keller sets the tone with an inspirational message:

"What one person can do, and if everyone lives just one little candle, what a bright world this would be." [00:09]

He emphasizes the ripple effect of individual actions in creating a brighter, more compassionate world.

Segment 1: The Purpose of the Program

Fred Allen introduces the episode's theme:

"The purpose of this program is to show that you personally and individually can do something to change the world for the better." [00:28]

Father Keller elaborates on this by sharing stories that illustrate how individual faith and love can lead to meaningful change.

Segment 2: Stories of Individual Impact

Father Keller narrates compelling anecdotes demonstrating personal influence:

1. The Faith of a Child:

   • A five-year-old boy, taught to pray diligently by his parents, surprises them with his heartfelt prayer:

     "God bless Mommy, God bless daddy, and God bless grandma. And then... please God, take care of yourself because if anything happens to you." [00:45]

   • This story underscores the boy's deep understanding of love and responsibility, highlighting how even the youngest individuals can exhibit profound empathy and care.

2. A Mother's Dedication During Wartime:

   • A young mother balancing part-time work and childcare during the war exemplifies unwavering commitment:

     "There's a big difference... When the love of God is in your heart, the love of others, everything becomes comparatively easy." [Various timestamps]

   • Her story illustrates how love and dedication can overcome challenges, making seemingly insurmountable tasks manageable.

3. Choosing a Career in Teaching:

   • A young man sacrifices a lucrative business career to pursue teaching, driven by his desire to assist others:

     "If I were there, shouldn't I do something for others? And shouldn't I assist in every way I could?" [Various timestamps]

   • This decision reflects the profound impact one individual's choice can have on the lives of many students.

Segment 3: Guest Interview with Fred Allen

Father Keller welcomes Fred Allen, a beloved figure known for his contributions to entertainment:

"Fred, I want to tell you right now that I've always had a great admiration for you." [04:33]

Fred Allen's Reflections on Show Business

Fred Allen shares his journey into show business, emphasizing the organic and passionate entry many took during the Golden Age of Radio:

"I started up in Boston many years ago after school... I was a juggler and whatever I could afford to get a hold of, I used to juggle in front of people." [06:34]

He discusses the evolving nature of entertainment, highlighting the reach and responsibility that come with larger audiences:

"Some of the older comedians... would never be heard or seen by as many people as Jack Benny or our show would be heard or seen by in one week." [07:54]

Maintaining High Standards and Personal Responsibility

Fred emphasizes the importance of quality and integrity in showmanship:

"We tried to have clean shows... People like good material and you survive longer that way." [08:34]

He reflects on the joy and fulfillment derived from creating content that positively influences millions.

Segment 4: Listener Engagement and Testimonials

Father Keller highlights the program's outreach efforts, sharing a heartfelt letter from a young college student:

"Dear Father Keller, the Christopher spirit has been a boon to my college years... God bless you and those who are working with you." [09:53]

This testimonial exemplifies the program's impact on individuals striving to make a difference in their respective fields.

Segment 5: Thought for the Week – The Gift of Free Will

Concluding the episode, Father Keller presents a thoughtful reflection on free will and personal responsibility:

"The whole Christopher movement is based on the premise that you have free will... You can go to heaven or you can go to hell. It's up to you." [11:04]

He encourages listeners to embrace their free will to love God and others, fostering a world built on compassion and respect:

"Try to practice it and respect the free will of others. Don't force them. Don't press them... God will bless you for it." [11:04]

Father Keller reiterates the central message that individual actions, driven by love and responsibility, can illuminate the world:

"And if everyone lit just one little candle. What a bright world this would be." [13:01]

Conclusion

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio masterfully combines personal anecdotes, inspirational messages, and engaging interviews to underscore the profound truth that one person truly can make a difference. Through Father Keller's heartfelt narratives and Fred Allen's insights, listeners are reminded of the enduring power of individual actions rooted in love and faith.

---

Notable Quotes:

• "What one person can do, and if everyone lives just one little candle, what a bright world this would be." – Father James Keller [00:09]

• "There's a big difference... When the love of God is in your heart, the love of others, everything becomes comparatively easy." – Father James Keller [Multiple Timestamps]

• "The whole Christopher movement is based on the premise that you have free will... You can go to heaven or you can go to hell. It's up to you." – Father James Keller [11:04]

---

Final Thoughts

For listeners seeking motivation to enact positive change, this episode serves as a powerful reminder of the impact each individual holds. By fostering love, embracing personal responsibility, and utilizing free will wisely, everyone can contribute to a brighter, more compassionate world.

Transcript

[Father James Keller]

What one person can do, and if everyone lives just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.

[Fred Allen]

The purpose of this program is to.

[Father James Keller]

Show that you personally and individually can.

[Fred Allen]

Do something to change the world for the better. And now to bring you examples of what one person can do.

[Father James Keller]

Here's the founder of the Christopher Movement, Father James Keller.

[Fred Allen]

Hello, friends. A little story I'd like to tell you about a little boy who did a big job. He had great faith. He was only five years old. And his mother and father taught him to say his prayers very faithfully. They helped him, but they thought the time had come when he ought to go out on his own, say his prayers by himself. So they put him in his room and told him he must start to say his prayers by all on his own. And so he started and they asked him to say him out loud, but he didn't know they were listening outside the room. And as he finished his prayers, they heard him say, as usual, God bless Mommy, God bless daddy, and God bless grandma. And then they were very much surprised to hear him say, and please God, take care of yourself because if anything happens to you, we're all stunned. Well, there's a lot in what he says. Thank God for God. We needn't worry about him. All we have to do is to think of how we can cooperate with the love of God. If we have the love of God in our hearts, it's comparatively easy to have the love of others. You can't do much if you don't have a love of people. You can't do much in bringing the peace of God to the world, the peace of Christ to everybody. But if you do, if you do realize it, that everything takes on a different meaning. It's a labor of love, no matter how hard it is. I learned a great lesson from a lady during the war in our office. We had quite a bit of work to do and we were short handed. And one young mother whose husband was overseas came for part time work and I offered her extra work. Oh, she said, I'd like to, but I'd like to work. I need the money. But I have used most of my time taking care of my little baby. And she mentioned all the things she had to do and it only allowed her two or three hours a day in which she could work. Well, I made the very serious mistake of saying, I guess your baby's a lot of trouble. And she looked at me and she said, my baby a lot of trouble. My baby's not a lot of trouble. There's a big difference. When the love of God is in your heart, the love of others, everything becomes comparatively easy. Not over easy. No. It requires an effort. So in whatever you do, just remember that as a basic principle, if you have the love of God and the love of man in your heart, you're going to reach out to everybody. Things take on a different meaning. You have a purpose in life, and even if you lose, you feel that you're winning. I think now of a young chap who gave quite a bit to go into teaching. He didn't like to do it. He had a certain advantage in a business career laid out for him. But he felt this love of others. He said, if I were there, shouldn't I do something for others? And shouldn't I assist in every way I could? Well, he felt he could dedicate his life to assisting everyone he could. He thought the classroom would be a wonderful way to do that. Now, rather than go into other examples. Now I believe we should have a visit with our guest of the week. Friends, you all know Fred Allen. I don't have to introduce him or you to him. Fred, I want to tell you right now that I've always had a great admiration for you.

[Toby Reed]

Well, thank you, Father.

[Fred Allen]

I never met you until today, and it's been a joy for me. You've given a lot of fun to me, and you've done it to millions of others. And God bless you for it.

[Toby Reed]

Well, thank you very much.

[Fred Allen]

What do you think of our show on the air? This is your first visit with us.

[Toby Reed]

That's true.

[Fred Allen]

And do you think we do the right thing in keeping it informal?

[Toby Reed]

Well, I'm quite sure that you do, because you seem to get a natural talk with the people that you have here. And I think it comes from the heart rather than from the mouth or from the script, as most shows are.

[Fred Allen]

Yes, that's true. Well, everybody is. Each one that has come to us, incidentally, has been a very good instance of what one person can do and they really have something to talk about. And I'm sure you do.

[Toby Reed]

Well, if a person survives and is strong enough to get here, it shows.

[Fred Allen]

You one person can do.

[Toby Reed]

If you last through the show and are able to leave here, then one person can do that, too. I mean, I haven't seen anyone lying around the studio from the other show, so I assume.

[Fred Allen]

Well, they all got out alive. One thing to get in, it's another thing to get out of. Well, Fred, what I would like you to tell me, and I know the audience would Be interested how you ever got started in show business.

[Toby Reed]

Well, I don't think you. Anyone sets out in early life to get into show business. It's. You're either going. Passing through a state, passing by a open stage, though, and you get to look in there and follow your intent in order to see what's going on. Back of the theater, back of the stage, and you stay in the business. Or some people get in theater years ago and would be asked to come up. A magician would want a committee to come up from the audience. The man would get up on the stage and stay on the stage for the rest of his life. It was a little easier in those days to get in the theater.

[Fred Allen]

Well, how did you actually start?

[Toby Reed]

Well, I started up in Boston many years ago after school. I used to go on amateur nights. I was a juggler and whatever I could afford to get a hold of, I used to juggle in front of people. And amateur nights were very popular at that time. There was a man up in Boston who put them on and met a gentleman named Sam Cohen, and he used to have various contests. And all of the younger kids were more or less interested in the theater in those days because there were prizes involved. And if you had any skill or ability, why, you'd have a tendency to go and see Mr. Cohen and try to get on one of the amateur shows and see what happened to you.

[Fred Allen]

Well, that was your start.

[Toby Reed]

Yeah.

[Fred Allen]

And you've been.

[Toby Reed]

Well, I'm still an amateur. I haven't ever.

[Fred Allen]

Well, I wish I was as good as an amateur as you are.

[Toby Reed]

If I ever perfect it, I'll probably ruin myself.

[Fred Allen]

You've been a great joy to many, many people all over. And I think that's something that.

[Toby Reed]

Well, in the early days, of course, when you worked in the theater, you didn't reach as many people because you just had a few hundred people in the theater. But what with the mechanized approach to the theater business, the movies and the radio you met, you were seen and heard by many millions of people.

[Fred Allen]

That's right.

[Toby Reed]

Some of the older comedians, like Hitchcock and Eddie Foy and those men would never be heard or seen by as many people as Jack Benny or our show would be heard or seen by in 1, 1 week. As a matter of fact, that's true.

[Fred Allen]

Well, that puts a greater responsibility too, on the moves of the present data.

[Toby Reed]

Well, it does, except that you don't know where you're talents of being appreciated or resented and you don't know what. You just hope for the best. I mean, in Business when it gets.

[Fred Allen]

Well, I think you followed a pretty high standard all the way through.

[Toby Reed]

Well, we tried to have clean shows. And from my experience in vaudeville and meeting or seeing and coping with thousands of people around the country and in Europe and in Australia. Why, I just assume that people like good material and.

[Fred Allen]

That's right. Yeah.

[Toby Reed]

You survive longer that way.

[Fred Allen]

Well, you have much more fun in life and you. The Lord blesses you for it many different ways.

[Toby Reed]

Well, I've been fortunate in that respect, Fred.

[Fred Allen]

We've been trying to encourage young people as well as old ones and everyone to make their influence for good self. And we've encouraged them to get into teaching in the government, in the writing field, labor relationship, so forth. The fields that affect the destiny of everybody. And all we want them to do above everything else is to show a sense of personal responsibility, Bring the love of God and the love of man into these fields. And we get many, many letters. And we got one letter. I'd like if you would read it to the audience. It's from a young man out in the middle West. He's in college and we don't know who he is. But our little idea, which isn't much, just do something about it. He wrote this letter. Would you mind reading it?

[Toby Reed]

Well, I only went to high school. I don't know what I could read a letter written by a boy from college. And my pupils are rather tired. I have to use this device to see what's going on.

[Fred Allen]

Very good friend.

[Toby Reed]

It says, dear Father Keller, the Christopher spirit has been a boon to my college years. It has given greater importance to my major subject, journalism. And there's a greater emphasis on the role I can play as a Christopher in my chosen field of newspaper work. Please continue to send me the Christopher news notes. Thank you and God bless you and those who are working with you. Sincerely. And the boy's name is Sign. Yeah, I think it's a wonderful note.

[Fred Allen]

Well, we get thousands of those, Fred, and we put them in our. In these little news notes that we send out over the country. We send about 700,000 of these out to people. We send them without any charge because we feel there's so many people who can do things who may not be able to give money. And so we provide them to them. And if any of you in the audience want these news notes, the Christopher news notes, you may have them without charge. All you have to do is to send a postcard to the Christopher headquarters. To Christopher's, 18 East 48th Street, New York, New York. Well, Fred, just before we close, I give a little thought to the week. It's just the final takeoff. Just take a minute. If you stay here.

[Toby Reed]

Fred.

[Fred Allen]

Thank you. Now for the thought for the week. Friends, the whole Christopher movement is based on the premise that you have free will. That God gave you free will, that you're. It's up to you to do as much or as little as you like. Now, we base this on the words of Christ himself. Our whole approach. And here are the words. Read them for yourself. Behold, I stand at the gate and knock. Wonderful, isn't it? Christ never pushes in. You can do anything you like. You can go to heaven or you can go to hell. It's up to you. He gives you everything, but he'll never force you and never press you. He wants you to be absolutely free all during life. As you do with your life. So you will be for eternity. But to remember that he is always waiting. That he is there. That he loves you. He'll never stop loving you as long as you're here. And all he wants you to do on your own is to love him and love others. Try to remember that. Try to always recall to yourself. That you have this precious gift of free will. Try to. To practice it and respect the free will of others. Don't force them. Don't press them. Even the worst of them. Appeal to them. Don't hurt them. Be kind to them and win them. Don't compel them. God will bless you for it. And may he be with you all the days of your life. If we all pray our prayer that the world would be free. The wonderful dawn of a new day will be.

[Father James Keller]

And if everyone lit just one little candle. What a bright world this would be.

[Fred Allen]

This is a presentation of the Christophers.

[Father James Keller]

Sa. Wait a minute. This is Toby Reed saying. If you think that Sinbad was a sailor. Don't you believe it, Ladies and gentlemen. If you think that long, slender fingers indicate artistic ability. That Admiral Robert Peary discovered the North Pole. Or that the battleship Graf Spee was scuttled on Hitler's orders. Don't you believe it. Once again, it's time for don't you believe it. The show that dares to explode. Heretofore accepted facts. Starring Toby Reed. And brought to you by the makers of Almond Rocco. America's finest confection. Almond Roca, the candy supreme made only. I keep going for this.

[Toby Reed]

L.

[Fred Allen]

We were all ready, though, Gordy. We were all ready.

[Father James Keller]

All we did was alienate this.

[Fred Allen]

Five years.

[Toby Reed]

Rocco. If that alley. Okay, let's Try it again.

[Father James Keller]

See, fellas? I'm sorry. Oh, wow.

[Fred Allen]

Another system.

[Father James Keller]

This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.