Podcast Summary: "Hamlins Wizard Oil Show 19xx.xx.xx Blue Grass Roy"
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: October 19, 2025
Overview
This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio revisits the nostalgia of radio’s Golden Age and features a recreation (or actual broadcast) of a "Hamlins Wizard Oil Show," complete with musical performances, homespun storytelling, witty banter, and classic radio advertising for the famed remedy, Hamlin's Wizard Oil. The show weaves together humorous and sentimental songs, comedic sketches, regional shout-outs, and comforting sales pitches, evoking the world of a pre-television, family-gathered-around-the-radio era.
Key Discussion Points & Segments
1. The Wizard Oil Opening Jingle (00:01)
- Begins with a jaunty promotional song about Hamlin’s Wizard Oil, framing the product as a trusted remedy for aches and pains, ever-present in the family medicine chest.
- Quote (A, 00:01): “Got some more to tell you about Hammond's wizard oil. In the medicine chest on the family shelf. You'll find it ever there to relieve muscular aches and pain. The druggists everywhere.”
2. Good Morning Banter and Family Warmth (00:30)
- The hosts greet the "happy family" (listeners) with cheerful wishes and playful instructions for starting the morning.
- Quote (B, 00:30): “How’s all the members of the happy family today? ... Dad, you get the home fire going so mother can get breakfast on.”
3. Sentimental Song: "The Little Shirt That Mother Made For Me" (00:46 – 03:33)
- Extended strophic song, humorously and tenderly recalling stages of boyhood—the embarrassment of early clothes, schoolyard mischief, seaside adventures, and the ever-present shirt made by his mother. Recurring theme: the comfort and significance of family-made artifacts.
- Memorable Lyric (A, 02:31): “I had the map of Scotland printed on me, neath that little shirt that mother made.”
4. Listener Shout-outs (03:33)
- A string of friendly dedications to listeners across the country, connecting the show to its wider community.
- Mentions: Charles Cooper (New Kensington, PA), Roger Shriver (Jerusalem, OH), Mr. & Mrs. Clarence McGar (Nashville, TN).
5. Comic Song: "The Barefoot Boy with Boots On" (03:47 – 06:29)
- A playful, nonsensical number filled with puns, reversals, and childhood absurdities, poking fun at family structure and small-town quirks.
- Quote (A, 03:52): “The night was dark and stormy. The moon was shining bright. The stars were casting burning rays on the stor. That night the lightning struck the cowshed..."
- Highlights the show's penchant for wordplay and homespun humor.
6. Wizard Oil Sales Pitch (06:35 – 08:13)
- Traditional radio advert for Hamlin's Wizard Oil, presented with warmth and assurance, addressing common ailments (rheumatism, muscle aches), assuring satisfaction or money back.
- Quote (B, 06:35): "If you do, then you'll certainly be glad to know that there is a liniment on the market today that will bring you quick, pleasant relief… That liniment is none other than Hamlin's Wizard Oil... Rub it on and rub it in."
- Personal touch added by referencing real requests and testimonials from listeners (Mrs. Bessie Fenner, Mrs. C.M. Sparks, Mrs. Golden Hicks).
7. Ballad: "The Story of the Mississippi Flood" (08:13 – 10:28)
- Emotional musical retelling of a devastating Mississippi flood, highlighting loss, resilience, and the unexplainable challenges of life.
- Memorable Lyric (A, 09:00): “But gold can never bring them a loved one who is lost. We can't explain the reason these great disasters come but we must all remember to say thy will be done.”
- Captures both historical tragedy and a note of hope through faith and community.
8. Songbook Promotion (10:28 – 11:59)
- An enthusiastic endorsement of a songbook featuring 58 cowboy ballads, mountain songs, and hymns, including musical notation and chord charts. Encourages listeners to learn and perform the songs themselves, fortifying the participatory spirit of old-time radio.
- Quote (B, 10:57): “Don't forget, the chords are all marked and you can use them for ukulele or banjo. Piano music complete, bass and treble clef... The original price of these books, friends, are 75 cents... I offer them to you at the remarkably low price of 50 cents, one half a dollar.”
9. Closing Well-Wishes and Reminder (12:00 – End)
- The host wraps up with warm wishes for happiness and encouragement to keep Hamlin’s Wizard Oil on hand.
- Quote (B, 11:59): "It's time to go now, friends, but I'll be back tomorrow at the same time. I hope it brought you a little sunshine and happiness this morning."
- The episode closes with the recurring Wizard Oil jingle and a farewell from the host.
- Quote (A, 12:11): “Go to your druggist right away. Relieve muscular aches and pain. Get your bottle of wizard oil before I come back again.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I had the map of Scotland printed on me, neath that little shirt that mother made.” (A, 02:31)
- “His only sister was a girl and his brother was a boy. He never was a triplet even one of being twin.” (A, 04:18) — a sample of the show's clever, tongue-in-cheek humor.
- “That liniment is none other than Hamlin's Wizard Oil. H A M L I N S ... Rub the affected parts thoroughly ... in a few minutes you'll feel that cooling, soothing muscular relief.” (B, 06:35) — embodying classic mid-century radio advertising style.
- “We can't explain the reason these great disasters come but we must all remember to say thy will be done.” (A, 09:35) — a moment of reflection and poignancy.
Timestamps Overview
- 00:01 – Wizard Oil Intro Jingle
- 00:30 – Friendly morning banter
- 00:46 – "The Little Shirt That Mother Made For Me" (sentimental song)
- 03:33 – Listener shout-outs
- 03:47 – "The Barefoot Boy with Boots On" (comic song)
- 06:35 – Wizard Oil advertisement
- 08:13 – "The Story of the Mississippi Flood" (ballad)
- 10:28 – Songbook sales pitch
- 12:00 – Closing remarks and Wizard Oil jingle
Tone and Style
Warm, conversational, affable, and nostalgic—with a blend of humor, musicality, and earnest salesmanship, capturing the communal, interactive spirit of Golden Age radio.
Whether you’re after a taste of vintage entertainment, regional humor, or the roots of American radio commerce, this episode offers a charming window into the world before television—complete with catchy jingles, storytelling, and the promise of relief from "muscular aches and pain."