Podcast Summary: Dixieland Club 52-06-04 Ep0096 Bugle Call Rag

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Hal Murray (Harolds Old Time Radio)
Original Air Date: June 4, 1952 (Rebroadcast September 20, 2025)
Episode Focus: Dixieland Jazz and Classic Radio Variety

Episode Overview

This episode of Dixieland Club is a vibrant celebration of classic Dixieland jazz, performed by celebrated musicians of the era, including Preacher Rallo and the Five Saints. Host Hal Murray welcomes listeners to a warm, nostalgic gathering intent on brightening moods and rekindling fond radio memories from the golden age. The show features live music performances, sentimental favorites, audience shout-outs, and playful banter—capturing the essence of family entertainment before the dawn of television.

Key Discussion Points & Musical Highlights

1. Opening Welcome and Show Introduction

• [01:18] Hal Murray greets the audience:
  “This is the spot where you'll always find the welcome mat out. And we gather together on a Monday through Friday schedule…for the purpose of making your day a little brighter, a little fun laughter, we hope as we go along. And lots of fine Dixieland jazz…”
  • Hal sets a friendly, inviting tone and introduces the featured artists: Preacher Rallo and the Five Saints, Tony Perenni and the Rag Pickers, Marie Marcus, Tommy Justice, and Jerry Gorman.

2. Kicking Off with “Bugle Call Rag”

• [02:10]
  The episode opens musically with Preacher Rallo and the Five Saints performing the “Bugle Call Rag,” a lively Dixieland standard.
  • Murray comments: “Real fine start. That gets us off on a little toot with the Bugle Call Rag.”

3. Memory Melody Time

• [02:50]
  This segment aims to transport listeners “back through the past of yesteryear,” with melodies designed to “bring back many pleasant memories.”
  • Preacher Rallo comments:
    “One of the loveliest melodies ever written starts us on our way. A little old tune called ‘Home’.”
  • Feature: Jerry plays “Don’t Take Your Love From Me” on the trombone.
    • Murray praises: “Thank you, Jerry. That was real pretty.”
  • Another selection: “Love in Bloom” is presented, followed by “Sensation,” a special request for Tommy Staley at the US Navy Station in Adar, Alaska, from his parents in Corpus Christi, Texas.
  • Hal transitions with warmth and gratitude after every number, highlighting the communal spirit of the broadcast.

4. Visit to Marie Marcus

• [06:30] Hal sets the scene for a recurring sketch:
  “Now it's time for our daily visit to the home of Marie Marcus. I didn't see any brass buttons in front of the snack roof, so she must be at home at her sack Roost. Number seven, Melody Lane. Let's drop in on her.”
• Lighthearted banter between Hal and Marie:
  • Marie jokes about her missing belongings and her suspicion of her boarder being a crook. Hal replies:
    “Don't judge a man by his appearance. I'm not. It's the disappearance.”
  • Hal shares another quip: “Like the employer who didn't know whether his cashier had gone away for arrest or to avoid it.”
  • [07:30] Marie Marcus performs “Canadian Capers.”

5. Episode Close and Community Spirit

• [14:50] Hal Murray wraps up:
  “That's all there is for today, but we'll be back. Monday through Friday is our schedule, you know, with a complete roster of the music America has taken to its heart. Dixieland jazz…Have a wonderful day. So long, so short. For now, this is Hal Murray speaking. Dixieland Club was a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.”
  • Reinforces sense of community, musical appreciation, and regular show cadence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hal Murray’s Welcoming Tone (01:18):

  “This is the spot where you'll always find the welcome mat out.”

• Bantery Wisdom (At the Marie Marcus segment, ~06:50):

  Marie: “I think my border is a crook.”
  Hal: “Don't judge a man by his appearance. I'm not. It's the disappearance.”

• Humorous Closing (14:55):

  “So long, so short. For now, this is Hal Murray speaking.”

Segment Timestamps

• [01:18] — Hal Murray’s Welcome and Artist Introduction
• [02:10] — Opening Number: “Bugle Call Rag” by Preacher Rallo and the Five Saints
• [02:50] — Memory Melody Time (featuring “Home,” “Don’t Take Your Love From Me,” “Love in Bloom”)
• [06:30] — Visit to Marie Marcus, Banter, “Canadian Capers” Performance
• [14:50] — Episode Close, Ongoing Invitation to Tune In

Summary Takeaways

This episode is vintage radio at its best, blending effervescent Dixieland jazz with community shout-outs, playful sketches, and a steadfastly positive spirit. Hal Murray’s warmth, the musical highlights from renowned performers, and the running jokes with Marie Marcus evoke the universal appeal and simple joy of the golden age of broadcast radio. Whether you’re in it for nostalgia, the music, or the camaraderie, Dixieland Club delivers “music America has taken to its heart,” inviting everyone back again—Monday through Friday.