Elgin Holiday Specials 48-11-25 – 7th Annual Elgin Thanksgiving Show

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: November 19, 2025
Episode Title: Elgin Holiday Specials 48-11-25 (x) Elgin Thanksgiving Show – 7th Annual
Recorded: Originally broadcast, November 25, 1948

Overview

The 7th Annual Elgin Thanksgiving Show is a grand variety program that captures the warmth, humor, and musical spirit of post-war America. Conceived as a tribute to American servicemen and their families, the show blends music, comedy, and heartfelt messages from some of the era’s biggest radio and entertainment stars. Hosted by Don Ameche, the special brings together luminaries like Mario Lanza, Jimmy Durante, Gary Moore, Jack Benny, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, The Mills Brothers, Francis Langford, Andre Previn, Red Skelton, and others for two hours of festive performances and comedic sketches. The message of gratitude, fellowship, and community rings throughout, making it a nostalgic centerpiece for listeners then and now.

Key Segments and Highlights

Opening—Setting the Thanksgiving Spirit

[00:25–03:00]

• Don Ameche welcomes listeners on behalf of Elgin Watch Company:

  “Happy Thanksgiving. …May I say happy Thanksgiving and welcome to Two Hours of Stars… as Elgin’s way of bringing a little bit of home to our men and women in the service during the holidays.”

• The introduction captures the intent of the broadcast: to unite Americans in celebration and gratitude, especially those serving abroad.

Mario Lanza’s Musical Kickoff

[03:13–05:57]

• Young opera sensation Mario Lanza opens with a lighthearted Italian number, demonstrating his warm tenor voice:

  “There's an old Italian frame…It's a wonderful word… nowadays we all should learn to sing.”

• His performance sets a jovial, inviting mood for the show.

Comedy Team: Gary Moore & Jimmy Durante

[05:58–18:00]

• Gary Moore enters with a parody of radio quiz shows, lampooning America's obsession with giveaways:

  “Entertainment on the radio nowadays is passé. Giveaway programs are the big thing. …When a person answers the telephone, he no longer says, ‘Who is it?’ He just says, ‘How much?’” [06:01]

• Jimmy Durante’s entrance brings a blend of music and self-deprecating humor:

  “Get the beak on that turkey. While he was alive, my job was in jeopardy.” [09:15]

• Classic slapstick exchanges about the price of turkeys, “bundling” customs, and mock Thanksgiving poems.
• Performance Highlight: Durante’s signature “Ink a Dink-a-Doo”, with Moore’s comedic interruptions:

  "Show me ‘blue bleep’ in the music. There it is. Blue Bleep." [18:13]

The Mills Brothers’ Vocal Harmony

[24:50–27:25]

• The Mills Brothers perform “Confess,” showcasing their hallmark smooth vocal ensemble:

  “Why don’t you confess? If you really care for me, then darling, confess…” [27:26]

Comic Interludes: Vera Vague & Andre Previn

[30:04–34:56]

• Vera Vague (Barbara Jo Allen) brings quirky, flirtatious banter, playing the patron of the musical arts.
• Andre Previn displays piano virtuosity, is described as a “boy wonder”; there’s gentle ribbing about his youth and musical sophistication.

Bob Hopkins and Star Imitations

[37:13–41:01]

• Bob Hopkins delivers rapid-fire impersonations of celebrities (e.g., Hugh Herbert, Frank Morgan), adding a whimsical, meta-radio feel to the broadcast.

Jack Benny’s Turkey Hunt

[41:04–55:37]

• Jack Benny stars in a sketch about his comically frugal efforts to buy a Thanksgiving turkey, filled with quips about thrifty shopping:

  “Can you get anything a little further south, selling for about sixty or forty cents?” [52:11]

• Exchanges with a butcher, price negotiations, and a classic Benny punchline:

  “What can you possibly want with a turkey head?”
  “Well, if it’s any of your business, I have a badminton court and it makes a very good shuttlecock.” [54:18]

• Ends in a warm moment about the value of gratitude, even for a “Mexican turkey.”

Romantic and Operatic Interludes

[60:26–66:47]

• Francis Langford delivers a tender rendition of “Just One of Those Things,” her signature smooth crooning style offering a moment of reflection and romance.
• Mario Lanza returns for a stirring aria from Tosca (“E Lucevan le Stelle”), showcasing the show’s musical depth and verve.

The Bickersons: Thanksgiving Domestic Chaos

[96:53–108:19]

• Don Ameche and Francis Langford revive their roles as the perpetually squabbling Bickersons in a sharply written Thanksgiving sketch:

  Blanche: “No other man snores like you.”
  John: “How do you know?”
  Blanche: “I talk to my women friends!” [98:33]

• Classic sitcom misunderstandings: turkey mishaps, window drafts, lost headaches, and a farcical purchase of a “bald mink” coat.

Martin & Lewis: Comic Mayhem

[76:28–89:44]

• Dean Martin croons “Rambling Rose” in his relaxed, charismatic style.
• Jerry Lewis crashes in for wild repartee with Dean and Vera Vague, blending vaudeville and new-school antic comedy:

  Vera: “You’d make a perfect mate for an idiot.”
  Jerry: “Thank you, but you’ll have to ask my father.” [81:00]

• They finish with a harmonized “That Certain Party,” a playful callback to vaudeville.

Red Skelton as The Mean Widdle Kid

[113:42–124:24]

• Red Skelton stars as Junior, the Mean Widdle Kid, in a Thanksgiving sketch with his mother and grandmother:

  “Why, that was dog food.”
  “Dog food?”
  “Don’t get excited about it. I’ve had me distemper shots, you know.” [120:00]

• The segment ends on a surprisingly sincere note about gratitude, Native American contributions, and social responsibility:

  “He once told me something that made us kids really thankful that we are here now…if we’ll remember to keep our hearts closed to defeat fear, greed and hate...we’ll only have love and understanding for the children of tomorrow.” [123:14]

Show Finale: Thanksgiving Reflections and Musical Closing

[124:24–End]

• Don Ameche delivers a heartfelt passage on the growth of the nation, gratitude, and social responsibility:

  “It is not enough to give thanks that we have our homes as long as there are Americans who live in shacks and slums…let us dedicate ourselves to the improvement of conditions…so that others less fortunate may join us in giving thanks.” [124:50]

• Massed chorus closes with the hymn “Come Ye Thankful People,” evoking unity and hope for the coming holiday season.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Radio Giveaways:
  Gary Moore: “When a person answers the telephone, he no longer says, ‘Who is it?’ He just says, ‘How much?’” [06:01]
• Jimmy Durante’s Turkey Troubles:
  “Three months ago, I bought a turkey and put him in the backyard to fatten him up. Yesterday I wanted to check on his habits, so I took the turkey to the drugstore to weigh him…he escaped and flew south with a valise full of cranberry sauce.” [10:22]
• Jack Benny’s Penny-Pinching:
  “I want the feet. Yes, I use them for back scratchers. They really dig in, you know.” [54:13]
• The Mean Widdle Kid’s Altruistic Twist:
  “It was just wittle kid’s idea…us kids thought that he deserved a nice Thanksgiving dinner too…Because he’s an American. And besides, it was his folks that made it possible for us to celebrate this day of thanks…” [121:12–122:09]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Performer | Highlights | |-------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:25–03:00 | Don Ameche/Elgin Watch Introductions| Setting the tone; Thanksgiving message | | 03:13–05:57 | Mario Lanza | Italian pop song, jovial start | | 05:58–18:00 | Gary Moore & Jimmy Durante | Skits on giveaways and Thanksgiving misadventures | | 24:50–27:25 | The Mills Brothers | “Confess” vocal performance | | 30:04–34:56 | Vera Vague & Andre Previn | Musical flirtation, comic interlude | | 41:04–55:37 | Jack Benny | Sketch: Turkey-buying on a budget | | 60:26–66:47 | Francis Langford, Mario Lanza | Romantic and operatic performances | | 76:28–89:44 | Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis | Musical comedy duo antics | | 96:53–108:19| The Bickersons | Thanksgiving domestic farce | | 113:42–124:24| Red Skelton as Junior | Mean Widdle Kid’s Thanksgiving story | | 124:24–End | Don Ameche, Chorus | Reflections and closing hymn |

Tone and Language

The show is suffused with warm, Americana wit and wordplay—a blend of gentle ribbing, satirical jabs at consumerism and media, alongside sincere, sentimental passages about family, gratitude, and community responsibility. The mixture of fast-paced comedic banter (especially in scenes involving Benny, Moore, Durante, Martin & Lewis, and The Bickersons) and lush, evocative musical numbers creates a rich variety that mirrors the family gatherings it celebrates.

In Summary

The 7th Annual Elgin Thanksgiving Show is a time capsule of post-war American entertainment, combining comedy, music, and social conscience. Listeners are treated to not only classic routines and songs but also a broad, heartfelt Thanksgiving message—encouraging unity and thankfulness, parodying commercial radio culture, and reminding everyone of the ongoing responsibilities that come with privilege and prosperity.

For listeners: If you want to experience the Golden Age of Radio’s unique blend of laughter, nostalgia, and warmth, this episode is a joyous (and sometimes biting) holiday feast.