Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Comic Weekly Man 50-08-20 ep174 – Anxious about Flash Gordon / First Comic - Snookums

Date: December 29, 2025
Host: Comic Weekly Man (Harold’s Old Time Radio)
Guest/Co-host: Child Listener ("Miss Honey")

Episode Overview

This episode of Comic Weekly Man takes listeners back to a time when families gathered around the radio for their favorite Sunday comic strips. The host, playing the jolly Comic Weekly Man, guides a young, enthusiastic listener (referred to as Miss Honey) through a spirited and playful reading of “Puck: The Comic Weekly.” The stories covered include Little Snookums, Flash Gordon, Dick’s Adventures, Rusty Riley, Roy Rogers, Donald Duckle, Blondie, Uncle Remus, and Prince Valiant. The format mixes plot narrations, live reactions, and childlike excitement to create an immersive nostalgic experience.

Key Discussion Points & Story Progressions

1. Anxious about Flash Gordon (00:34–04:36)

• Miss Honey is eagerly anticipating Flash Gordon’s fate:
  • "All week long I've been wondering what's going to happen to Flash Gordon." (Child Listener, 01:13)
• Comic Weekly Man first covers Little Snookums—a short strip involving baseball mishaps before diving into Flash Gordon.
• Flash Gordon gets captured by the villain Zinn:
  • Flash is forced into a “liquigen chamber” to lose his will—but Rubia secretly helps him resist the drug.
  • "Rubia has taken Flash out of the slave barracks where Zinn has placed him. She tells Flash she saved him from the slave gas because she loves him." (Comic Weekly Man, 02:23)
  • Flash must pretend to be under Zinn’s control, witnesses Dale (his true love) being alive, and plots to tunnel into her prison to rescue her.
• Excitement and relief as both Flash and Dale realize the other is alive.
  • "Now maybe Flash can do something to help Dale and then they can both escape." (Child Listener, 04:30)

2. Dick’s Adventures in Dreamland (04:38–07:40)

• Dick dreams he’s back in revolutionary Boston with Paul Revere.
  • Paul Revere asks Dick to deliver mysterious boxes to John Hancock—hints they're not just silverware but weapons for the revolution.
  • "A redcoat motions Dick to halt... Are you quite sure there's no muskets and bullets hidden in this wagon?" (Comic Weekly Man, 06:49)
• Miss Honey predicts correctly about the boxes’ illicit contents:
  • "Well, I’ll bet that is what's in the boxes. Bullets and guns." (Child Listener, 07:24)
  • The segment ends on a cliffhanger.

3. Rusty Riley – Protecting Big Blaze (07:47–11:31)

• Rusty must protect Big Blaze, the racehorse, from sabotage.
  • Taffy (the villain) plots with Corky to harm Big Blaze so he can’t race.
  • "Rusty quickly unties Blaze and leads him out of the stall... right now it's a lot safer." (Comic Weekly Man, 09:02)
• Rusty’s quick thinking saves Blaze by hiding him in an old cave, but a switch means his own horse, Hillbilly, could be in danger next.
• Simultaneous subplot: a stolen wallet is planted by Taffy’s wife Goldie in Rusty’s room to frame him.
  • "That mean, mean woman… She wants to get Rusty into trouble." (Child Listener, 11:26)

4. Roy Rogers – The Pyromaniac Prospector (11:37–14:16)

• Resolution of previous week’s story:
  • Roy captures “old Quartz,” a hermit who was using a giant magnifying glass to set fires and signal with sunlight—motivated by his competition with the telegraph company.
  • "No wonder he hated the telegraph company competition." (Comic Weekly Man, 12:49)
• Comic relief as Roy and friends discuss the prospector’s zany methods.
• The adventure ends without harm, and Roy is called to Mesa City for a new adventure next week.

5. Donald Duckle – Chaos at the Beach (14:20–16:29)

• Donald Duck boasts of his acrobatic talents to his nephews at the beach, but ends up causing chaos:
  • Lands on a cake, gets a pie smashed on his head.
  • "Donald smiles sheepishly, which looks very funny in a duck..." (Comic Weekly Man, 16:09)
• The humor centers around slapstick and Donald’s indignities.

6. Blondie – Cleaning out the Attic (18:01–21:25)

• Blondie insists Dagwood clean out the attic.
  • Dagwood drags everything out, family members rediscover sentimental items, and promptly put nearly everything back—undoing his hard work.
  • "Oh, it's amazing how much stuff a family can accumulate over the years." (Dagwood/BM, 18:34)
  • "There's no place like home. Absolutely no place." (Comic Weekly Man as Dagwood, 21:13)
• Family comic relief about the futility of organizing clutter.

7. Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit – The Mysterious Letter (21:27–24:54)

• Brer Rabbit receives a mysterious letter.
  • Curious animals bribe him to share the contents. The letter is a mail-order advertisement, and Brer Rabbit outsmarts everyone.
  • "Smart head and closed mouth is first cousin." (Uncle Remus/Comic Weekly Man, 24:51)
• The story’s lesson: cleverness and discretion.

8. Prince Valiant – The Art of Peace (24:58–28:26)

• Resolution of a long-standing war:
  • Princess Alita ingeniously orchestrates a peace where both warring kings can save face.
  • "She first had King Aguar give Hap Atla the papers saying that Hap Atla had won... then had him give another saying he’d give it back." (Comic Weekly Man, 27:50)
  • Humorous moment with executioners revealed behind curtains as a warning.
• Memorable quote from King Hap Atla:
  • "Solemn statesmen labor long months on treaties that can be broken in a minute. But you've shown me that simple friendliness and trust are permanent." (King Hap Atla, 27:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Child’s anticipation:
  • "All week long I've been wondering what's going to happen to Flash Gordon." (01:13)
• Comic Weekly Man’s narrative magic words:
  • "Rig a rigadoondoon saskamatash. Let's have music for heroic Flash." (02:23)
• Rusty Riley’s tension:
  • "Gee willikins, I just remembered that old cave that used to be a mushroom cellar. I'll put Blaze in there." (Comic Weekly Man, 09:41)
• Blondie and domestic comedy:
  • "It's amazing how much stuff a family can accumulate over the years." (Dagwood/BM, 18:34)
  • "There's no place like home. Absolutely no place." (Comic Weekly Man/Dagwood, 21:13)
• Prince Valiant—wisdom and humor:
  • "But you've shown me that simple friendliness and trust are permanent. And I ... will forever remember your generosity. And I will also remember never to underestimate a woman ruthless common sense." (King Hap Atla, 27:38)
• Brer Rabbit’s lesson:
  • "Smart head and closed mouth is first cousin." (Uncle Remus, 24:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening & Miss Honey's Anxieties: 00:34–01:20
• Flash Gordon’s Peril and Rescue Plot: 01:55–04:36
• Dick’s Revolutionary Dream: 04:38–07:40
• Rusty Riley’s Heroics: 07:47–11:31
• Roy Rogers – Caught the Prospector: 11:37–14:16
• Donald Duckle’s Beach Mishaps: 14:20–16:29
• Blondie – The Neverending Attic: 18:01–21:25
• Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit: 21:27–24:54
• Prince Valiant – The War Ends in Laughter: 24:58–28:26

Recap

This episode delivers an energetic, charming audio recreation of mid-century American comic strips, blending dramatic readings, innocent humor, and moral lessons. The Comic Weekly Man’s rapport with Miss Honey injects a sense of wonder and anticipation into each segment, making Golden Age classics feel fresh. Fans of Flash Gordon’s pulp adventures, family comics like Blondie, and rural wisdom from Uncle Remus alike will enjoy this delightful trip back in time.