Harold's Old Time Radio – "Fountain of Fun 42-10-25" (First Joke – Box Of Cigars)

Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Setting: A lively, comedic variety show set at the Crossroads Soda Parlor, celebrating the spirit of the 1940s radio era.

Episode Overview

This episode of "Fountain of Fun" transports listeners to a classic radio soda parlor, bubbling with period jokes, musical performances, Halloween shenanigans, and friendly banter among regulars like Bob Jellison, Doc Fiddlefaddle, Veronica Lagoon, John Cornell, and the Thrasher Sisters. The episode is a time capsule of Golden Age radio, replete with wartime references, wordplay, lighthearted teasing, and hit tunes—an ode to a time when Americans gathered around their radios for entertainment.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Opening Banter and First Joke (00:58–01:13)

• Bob Jellison greets Veronica Lagoon while serving a customer (Doc Fiddlefaddle), leading to the inaugural joke involving cigars and a mother-in-law:

  "You wanted a box of cigars, didn't you?"
  "That's right. We just had a pleasant event at our house."
  "Well, congratulations. What is it?"
  "My mother-in-law went back home."
  — Doc Fiddlefaddle & Bob Jellison (01:00–01:13)

• The segment moves to Bob helping Mrs. Updike with a puzzle, revealing the show's silly, pun-filled tone.

2. Halloween Preparations & Wartime Jokes (03:58–05:46)

• Talk turns to Halloween, costumes, and contemporary (1942) political satire.

• Jokes link historical figures to Halloween ideas, including references to Mussolini and Hitler (notable for period-specific humor and double entendres):

  "What has canvas got to do with Mussolini?"
  "Well they're both stiff and crude and they both got stepped on by a house painter."
  — John Cornell & Bob Jellison (04:56–05:03)

• The banter segues to Halloween party plans, everyone’s invites, and who will wear what.

3. Musical Performances

"10 Little Soldiers" by The Thrasher Sisters (05:46–07:45)

• A whimsical song follows a group of soldiers and sailors on leave and humorously riffs on wartime adversaries:

  "There were 10,000 Germans on the Russian front... but when the winter came... they cried out to leave, a getting cold..." — Veronica Lagoon (06:40–06:50)

"You Are My Sunshine" by Del Reno & Thrasher Sisters (12:24–14:05)

• A familiar, sentimental tune showcasing warm harmonies and uplifting group singing.

"Abraham" by The Thrasher Sisters (21:38–23:25)

• Tribute song to Abraham Lincoln, blending history and American pride.

Phil Davis's Theme Song — "Mr. Five by Five" (24:24–26:55)

• Rollicking, comedic number poking fun at bandleader Phil Davis’s size and persona.

4. Doc Fiddlefaddle’s Antics & Ghost Stories (07:49–12:24, 19:17–21:38)

• Doc Fiddlefaddle describes his busy day and Halloween tasks—highlighting the show's slapstick humor:

  "Got to go to the hotel and check the mileage on that roller towel. Getting close to a new record."
  — Doc Fiddlefaddle (08:05–08:09)

• Classic ghost story, ending with a punch line:

  "I seen a ghost... And just as soon as I get my breath back, we're gonna do some."
  — Doc Fiddlefaddle (11:36–12:24)

• Light-hearted ghost jokes continue:

  "The ghosts turned in their chains to the scrap metal drive and now they go around dragging plastics."
  — Bob Jellison (21:13–21:20)

5. Wartime Home Front Comedy (14:05–18:25)

• Jokes about gas and tire rationing, broad-minded nurses, and life during the war:

  "Those are four Fs." (about skeletons seen around town—referring to military draft classification.)
  — Bob Jellison (14:27)

• First aid jokes and sugar rationing references flavor Veronica and Bob’s banter:

  "He proposed to me... Let him get his own sugar ration coupon."
  — Veronica Lagoon (16:17–16:19)

6. Group Planning & Lighthearted Teasing (19:17–21:09)

• Doc Fiddlefaddle offers to bring everyone to the party in his Stanley Steamer; joking about cramped cars and large personalities:

  "I guess I can take you and Phil Brito and Veronica and the Thrasher kids over easy enough. Might have to make two trips for Phil Davis, though."
  — Doc Fiddlefaddle (19:28–19:37)

• Running gag about sitting on laps and pushing the car gets the cast (and audience) laughing.

Memorable Quotes & Standout Lines

• Bob Jellison: "Well, they're both stiff and crude and they both got stepped on by a house painter." (04:59)
• Doc Fiddlefaddle: "Just like a mule in a briar patch, Bucky. Still, I can't understand why they don't take me in the army." (09:55)
• Veronica Lagoon: "He proposed to me... Let him get his own sugar ration coupon." (16:17–16:19)
• Bob Jellison: "You know, Bobby, Myrtle told me that I'd make a good nurse, so now I'm studying first aid at business school." (15:19)

Noteworthy Song Performances (with Timestamps)

• "10 Little Soldiers" – Thrasher Sisters (05:46–07:45)
• "You Are My Sunshine" – Del Reno & Thrasher Sisters (12:24–14:05)
• "Abraham" – Thrasher Sisters (21:38–23:25)
• "Mr. Five by Five" – Bob Jellison, Veronica Lagoon, Thrasher Sisters, et al. (24:42–26:55)

Closing Gags & Final Bits

• Bob and Veronica chat about the "First Lady" visiting Buckingham Palace, misunderstanding a newspaper headline in classic radio-comedy fashion:

  "Just last week I read a headline that said first lady to enter Buckingham Palace."
  — Veronica Lagoon (29:07)

Episode Flow Recap

• Welcoming period sponsors and cast introductions
• Banter, puns, rapid-fire jokes, and running gags among the regular characters
• Several musical interludes mixed with comedy skits
• Halloween party planning laced with topical wartime humor
• Light, irreverent gossip and self-deprecating asides
• Closing with an invitation to the next week's show

For First-Time Listeners

This episode captures the joyful, communal energy of 1940s radio variety shows. Expect quick-witted repartee, topical references (like WWII home front life), gentle ribbing, and toe-tapping music. The tone is breezy and good-natured, with jokes landing fast and the camaraderie of the Soda Parlor gang at the heart of the hour.

Listen if you enjoy:
Classic comedy, nostalgic music, witty wordplay, and a window into America's radio golden age.