Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Juvenile Jury 47-10-12 Son Wears Socks To Bed
Host: Jack Barry (Moderator)
Date: September 21, 2025 (original radio: October 12, 1947)
Theme: Problem-solving with the “wisdom” of children—listeners send in real-life family and childhood dilemmas and a panel of kids provides candid, humorous, and sometimes surprisingly insightful advice.

Overview

This episode of Juvenile Jury, originally aired in 1947 and presented by Harold’s Old Time Radio, centers on a lively panel of five children (ages 5-10), who respond to a variety of listener-submitted questions about children’s habits, chores, teasing, family dynamics, and fashion. There's also a recurring "dog guest" feature, quirky banter about dog food, and guest appearances by younger children sharing their own problems. The episode exudes postwar Americana charm, where the innocence and candor of children provide both laughter and unexpectedly sage advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should Kids Wear Shoes and Socks to Bed?

Listener’s Problem: A mother writes in about her 9-year-old son who insists on wearing his shoes and socks to bed to “save work” in the morning.

• Charlie Hankinson (06:46):
  “Tell him if he keeps that up, he'll have to wash his sheets in the morning... then he won't like that, so he'll have to take them off.”
• Peggy Bruder: Suggests maybe he can’t get them off.
• Kong Lu: Jokes about wanting to go skiing.
• Dickie Orland: Offers, “Maybe he wears his shoes during the night because it's a long hike to the bathroom.” (02:27)
• Robin Morgan: Suggests a bath before bed to make it harder to put shoes and socks back on.
• Humorous Moment:
  • Peggy Bruder: “Why doesn't he use a black sheet?” (03:36), referencing keeping sheets clean.
  • Charlie Hankinson: When asked what he wears to bed: “Just my feet.” (03:50)

2. Meet New Jury Member: Kong Lu

Jack Barry welcomes new member Kong Lu (04:00-05:12):

• Aspirations: Wants to be a businessman in construction: “Building.” (04:36)
• Family Info: “My daddy works for the United Service to China... sends help to Chinese people and children.” (04:40)
• Hobbies: “Airplanes, boxing, and eating noodles... and anything that's long.” (04:56)
  • Barry: “Why do you like noodles so much?”
    Kong Lu: “Because they're long.” (05:06)

3. Should Boys Wash Dishes?

A boy from Georgia doesn’t want to wash dishes, claiming “boys shouldn’t be seen in the kitchen.”

• Charlie Hankinson: Thinks too many chores at once is tiring—he suggests rest.
• Peggy Bruder:
  “There are lots of men that stay in the kitchen in the army.” (06:38)
• Robin Morgan:
  “If he's able to do all that, he'd make a wonderful wife.” (07:04)
• Dickie Orland:
  “He's getting good experience for when he gets married.” (07:19)
• Kong Lu:
  “Times are changing and the women are going into the factory. So why shouldn't the men go into the kitchen?” (07:34)
• Humorous Moment:
  • Robin Morgan: Maybe wash the dishes in the bathroom instead (07:51)
  • Dickie Orland: Claims he can’t since he doesn’t belong to the “dishwashing union” (08:02)

4. Gaines Dog Guest of the Week

Dog breed identification game; the kids guess the breed of a live dog guest.

• Most kids guess “Cocker Spaniel” correctly. (09:14-09:38)
• Robin Morgan: On what English Cockers are good for:
  “Wonderful watchdogs...good hunting dogs...wonderful pets.” (09:56)
• Peggy Bruder: They have “a very good dancing ability” and can hunt/retrieve. (10:11)
• Jack Barry explains the breed hunts “woodcocks”, hence “cocker spaniel.” (11:22-12:16)
• Kids discuss how dogs hunt by scent—or according to Robin, by their “tail.” (10:49-10:57)

5. Personal Problems from Young Listeners

Abby Faden, age 4:

Worried about being teased for pronouncing “thank you” as “thank you” when she was younger (15:05-18:13):

• Various jury suggestions: ignore the teasing, explain she was little, point out spelling doesn’t matter—“it’s what you mean that counts.” (17:20)
• Charlie Hankinson shares that he used to say “goo goo, baby”—everyone moves on.

Gregory Amsterdam, age 4:

Wants to tell jokes, but his comedian father (Maury Amsterdam) says he should learn his ABCs first (23:33-27:34):

• Gregory jokes about being the youngest in the family (“no, Dad's old in the family”) (24:55), not sleeping because he “didn’t go to bed” (25:09), and picks a nickel over a quarter in a classic kids’ bit.
• The jury encourages Gregory:
  • Dickie: “If your father won't listen to your jokes, who will?” (26:53)
  • Robin: “Why don’t you compromise—study how to tell jokes?”
  • Kang Lu & Peggy Bruder: Express support for following his father’s example.

6. Should an 8-Year-Old Have Long Skirts?

A girl wants longer hems “because all ladies now have long skirts” (19:36-21:35):

• Charlie: “She should wait till she gets older.”
• Peggy Bruder jokes: “Keep her skirts short but walk around on her knees...people won’t tell the difference!”
• Kong Lu notes that buying too many long skirts will make her husband “bankrupt” (19:57).
• Robin Morgan suggests seasons dictate skirt length, with a tongue-in-cheek observation about “boys letting their pants down” in winter.
• Dickie admits he wears short pants “in wintertime” (21:09).
• Jack Barry: She should wait until she’s older for long skirts (21:35).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On shoes to bed:
  • Charlie Hankinson: “Just my feet.” (03:50)
  • Jack Barry: “I suppose you sing ‘I Ain’t Got No Body.’” (03:58)
• Gender & chores:
  • Robin Morgan: “If he’s able to do all that, he'd make a wonderful wife.” (07:04)
  • Kong Lu: “Times are changing and the women are going into the factory, so why shouldn't the men go into the kitchen?” (07:34)
• Fashion advice:
  • Peggy Bruder: “Why doesn't she keep her skirts short but walk around on her knees?” (19:49)
• Dog trivia:
  • Robin Morgan: “I think they hunt by their tails. Because whenever they see the bird, they'll give a wag of the tail which will notice the hunter that the bird is somewhere around.” (10:49)
• Children’s self-perception:
  • Robin Morgan (age 5): “Yes. I’m a grown up now.” (16:42)
• Comic timing with Gregory Amsterdam:
  • “No, Dad’s old in the family.” (24:55)
  • When asked why he didn’t sleep: “Because I didn’t go to bed.” (25:09)

Noteworthy Segments (Timestamps)

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-------------| | Panel Introduction & First Problem (Shoes) | 00:56-04:00 | | Meet new member Kong Lu | 04:00-05:12 | | Boys and Kitchen Chores Discussion | 06:05-08:25 | | Gaines Dog Guest of the Week | 08:42-12:16 | | Listener Abby Faden’s Problem | 15:05-18:13 | | Skirt Length Dilemma | 19:36-21:35 | | Listener Gregory Amsterdam’s Joke Problem | 23:33-27:34 |

Tone and Style

• Wholesome, playful, and peppered with genuine laughter.
• The children’s language is candid, sometimes naive, and always honest.
• Jack Barry gently guides the conversation, bringing out each child's voice while keeping humor at the forefront.

Conclusion

This Juvenile Jury episode is a time capsule of mid-20th-century family radio, brimming with kids’ charmingly direct logic, gentle teasing, and bursts of humor. As each “problem” is tossed to the panel, what emerges is less about right or wrong answers and more about the delight of hearing children reflect on the quirks of family life, chores, fashion fads, and even the merits of proper dog care—often with wisdom that belies their years.

Final Thought (Jack Barry, 28:27):
"Out of the mouths of babes oft times come gems."