Laff Parade-1934-xx-xx_0030_1st - I Hate to Talk About Myself (Three Ambasadors)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Laff Parade (1934) – "I Hate to Talk About Myself (Three Ambassadors)"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Date: January 6, 2026
Episode Theme: A journey into radio’s Golden Age, featuring classic skits, musical performances, and lively banter centered around themes of modesty, love, and romance.

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Main Overview

This episode of Laff Parade transports listeners to the heyday of radio variety shows, spotlighting musical acts and comedic sketches. With humor, sentimentality, and catchy tunes, the episode highlights both the glamour and charm of 1930s radio entertainment. The central motif weaves through acts that play on love—whether in bashful self-praise, romantic longing, or comedic misunderstandings.

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Key Segments & Notable Moments

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1. Opener and Introductions

[00:06 – 02:29]

• The show bursts to life with its signature parade theme: music, laughter, and spirited crowd ambiance.
• Announcer: "Come on and join our great beat la Parade! We're here to entertain you..." (00:15)
• Ken Niles is introduced as the host (the “drum major”), setting the jovial tone.

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2. The Three Ambassadors: "I Hate to Talk About Myself"

[02:29 – 04:31]

• Ken Niles introduces the Three Ambassadors, lauding their trouble-free track record—save for the occasional "jam session."
• Quote:
  Ken Niles: "Probably the only three ambassadors who have never gotten their country into a jam. Of course, I suppose that being musicians, they occasionally have a jam session." (02:34)
• The Ambassadors perform a playful, self-effacing swing number, professing bashfulness while secretly reveling in their own charms.
  • Lyrics touch on being “in love” and a whimsical inability to keep achievements private.
• Notable Lyric (paraphrase):
  "Hate to talk about myself...but I just can’t help the things I do. Everything you talk about is on account of you, dear..." (03:05)

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3. Comedy Sketch: Jeanette Gilmore & Charlie Wells

[04:31 – 06:43]

• Ken Niles introduces Jeanette Gilmore and Charlie Wells with tongue-in-cheek assurance of their entertainment value.
• Their repartee revolves around mistaken identity, faux modesty, and the confusion of love:
  • Jeanette claims she’s just “carrying on” for the real Jeanette (who’s on vacation).
  • Charlie, feigning illness, reveals it’s actually love that ails him.
  • The mood is cheeky and quick-witted, filled with teasing and playful innuendo.
• Memorable exchange:
  • Charlie Wells: "You never kissed her? Aw, what are your lips for?" (05:55)
  • Charlie Wells: "Hamburgers?" (05:58)
• The banter seamlessly shifts from comedic misunderstanding to a touching description of true love:
  • Jeanette Gilmore: "Then you look up and you see two little lovebirds cooing to one another...Ah, that's love. That's true love." (06:17 – 06:43)

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4. Featured Song: Gayle Page – "Don't Mention Love to Me"

[06:43 – 09:25]

• Ken Niles humorously confuses Gayle Page’s song title, before spotlighting her performance.
  • Ken Niles: "Ah, well, that's life, I guess. Go ahead, Gail. The spotlight's yours." (07:11)
• Gayle delivers a heartfelt ballad about restrained romance, fear of heartbreak, and the tension between longing and caution.
  • Lyrics emphasize “let’s be friends on the morrow...don’t mention love to me.”
• Notable Quote:
  "I can’t love you discreetly nor halfway measures for me. I must love you completely; if this should end where would I be?" (07:55)
• Ken Niles compliments her with an old-timey pun:
  Ken Niles: "Well, folks, there goes Gail, a page from my book of life." (09:31)

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5. The Three Ambassadors: "That's How Rhythm Was Born"

[09:30 – 12:04]

• The Ambassadors return to perform a lively, rhythmic song tracing the mythic “origin” of rhythm—inventive, spirited, and brimming with jazz-age flair.
• The number references cultural tropes and syncopated beats typical of the era.
  • Lyric Highlight:
    "They pay they was the sins in a river, cold waters made a mock quiver—that's how rhythm was born..." (10:12)
• A brief song fragment follows, delivering warm musical harmony about love and caring.

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Selected Quotes & Memorable Lines

• Ken Niles: "Thank you, everybody...By way of illustration, there are the three ambassadors, probably the only three ambassadors who have never gotten their country into a jam..." (02:29)
• Charlie Wells: "Oh, stop clowning. You know, Charlie, you don't look so good. How do you feel?"
  "Oh, that. I don't know. It's a long, long story. And a dirty one too." (05:14–05:18)
• Jeanette Gilmore: "Did you ever take your girl out in the moonlight?"
  Charlie Wells: "Oh, we moon in the moonlight." (05:49–05:51)
• Jeanette Gilmore: "That's love. That's true love." (06:43)
• Gayle Page: "I can't love you discreetly nor halfway measures for me...if this should end where would I be?" (07:55)

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Episode Timeline (Key Segments)

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 00:06 | Lively parade intro with musical number | | 02:29 | Ken Niles welcomes listeners and introduces Ambassadors| | 03:05 | "I Hate to Talk About Myself" performed | | 04:31 | Jeanette & Charlie’s rapid-fire romantic comic sketch | | 06:43 | Gayle Page: “Don’t Mention Love to Me” | | 09:30 | Ambassadors return: “That’s How Rhythm Was Born” |

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Tone and Style

• Warm, playful, and quick-witted: The cast’s exchanges are full of double entendres, puns, and old-fashioned romantic ideals.
• Nostalgic and musical: With charming vocals, period harmonies, and intricate arrangements, the episode evokes the friendly, communal atmosphere of pre-TV radio.

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a delightful time capsule of 1930s radio, balancing clever banter with heartfelt music. The show offers a mosaic of musical numbers, courtship humor, and period-true personalities. Whether for fans of old-time entertainment or those curious about the roots of broadcast variety, it’s a lively, feel-good listen—leaving you with a smile and maybe a song stuck in your head.

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Transcript

[Charlie Wells]

The life parade.

[Announcer]

Come on and join our great beat la Parade we're here to entertain you so take your joy and laughter Matter what the rhetor has made Parade all the cracks and music in the with you.

[Roberts Brothers]

Come on, let's go.

[Announcer]

This is the laugh of. Introducing the drum major of our Laugh Parade, Ken Niles. Thank you. Thank you, everybody.

[Roberts Brothers]

Thank you.

[Ken Niles]

It's certainly a pleasure to welcome you again. And of course, we're going to present our usual array of sparkling talent. By way of illustration, there are the three ambassadors, probably the only three ambassadors who have never gotten their country into a jam. Of course, I suppose that being musicians, they occasionally have a jam session. But that's neither here nor there. The fact remains that they are the very first act on our bill. And very, very modestly, they're singing I Hate to Talk About Myself. Okay, boys, we'll give you the red spotlight to help your modest blushes.

[Roberts Brothers]

I got a way of doing Hate to talk about myself Got a way about myself with the one I love Got away telling things I can tell that I'm basis By the tender embraces of the one I love I wonder if she's easy to please I wonder if I'm that good but nevertheless I have to confess that she keeps on telling the neighborhood that got away doing things Hate to talk about myself Got a way about myself with the one that I love I got a way of doing things Hate to talk about myself But I just can't help the things I do Everything you talk about Is on account of you, dear Got away telling things like plans for the future and the wedding rings by your tender embrace I can tell it is true that I'm gonna rate four stars with you I wonder if she Wonder if she's easy to please Easy to please Nevertheless, I gotta confess she likes checkers and I like chess but got away doing things Hate to talk about myself Got away about myself Am sure about myself can you blame me if I'm in love with you?

[Ken Niles]

Two more outstanding entertainers make their appearance on our show. They are Jeanette Gilmore and Charlie Wells, guaranteed to be public nuisances of the first water. However, don't let them scare you away, because I'll personally guarantee you'll be entertained. Okay, Jeanette and Charlie, do your stuff.

[Announcer]

I say, Jenny.

[Charlie Wells]

Jenny.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Now what do you want?

[Charlie Wells]

There's a man out here wants to know if you're the original Jeanette Gilmore.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Oh, no, I'm not the original Jeanette Gilmore. No, Jeanette's away on a vacation. I'm just carrying on for Jeanette while she's away.

[Charlie Wells]

She's huh?

[Jeanette Gilmore]

I say, she's away on a vacation. I'm just carrying on.

[Charlie Wells]

You're just carrying on?

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Just carrying on.

[Charlie Wells]

Well, if there's any married men out here that would like to take a vacation, I'll carry on for her.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Oh, stop clowning. You know, Charlie, you don't look so good. How do you feel?

[Charlie Wells]

Oh, that. I don't know. It's a long, long story. And a dirty one too.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

You look a little like you're seasick.

[Charlie Wells]

Oh, I am.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

What's the matter with you?

[Charlie Wells]

I'm in love.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

No.

[Charlie Wells]

Gosh, yes.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Look who's in love.

[Charlie Wells]

You ever been in love?

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Oh, yes, I've been in love. I like it, don't you?

[Charlie Wells]

Oh, I'm goofy about it.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

It's invigorating.

[Ken Niles]

Uh huh.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

It sort of makes a man of you.

[Charlie Wells]

Whoopee. Whoopee Twice.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Tell me, is the feeling mutual?

[Charlie Wells]

Is the feeling, huh?

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Well, is the feeling mutual?

[Charlie Wells]

Oh, it's potential.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Did you ever take your girl out in the moonlight?

[Charlie Wells]

Oh, we moon in the moonlight.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Did you ever kiss her?

[Charlie Wells]

I never kissed her.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

You never kissed her? Aw, what are your lips for?

[Charlie Wells]

Hamburgers?

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Did you ever hug her?

[Charlie Wells]

I hugged her once.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Oh, did you show her gratitude?

[Charlie Wells]

Did she show her.

[Announcer]

Huh?

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Well, did she show her gratitude?

[Charlie Wells]

Say, I'll put soap in your mouth for talking like that in here.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Oh, you just don't understand what love is.

[Charlie Wells]

You know what it is?

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Do I know what it is?

[Ken Niles]

Will you tell me?

[Charlie Wells]

Uh huh. Uh huh.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Listen, have you ever been out in the moonlight all alone and all of a sudden you get a funny feeling? You want someone. Then you look up and you see two little lovebirds cooing to one another way up on a branch. And down below sit two sweethearts. And he's saying, I love you. Then all of a sudden, he takes her little face between his two hands. He looks deep into her eyes. She looks into his eyes. Ah, that's love. That's true love.

[Charlie Wells]

Oh, gosh, you do care for me, don't you?

[Ken Niles]

And now, guess who? Gayle Page, no less. And of course, she's singing a song of love entitled Don't Mention Love to Me. Oh, I wasn't mentioning it to you, Gail. I was mentioning it to our audience. You know, our dear, dear public. I just couldn't remember the name of your song for a moment.

[Gayle Page]

Well, that is the name of my song, Ken. Don't Mention Love to Me.

[Ken Niles]

It is such a song for one like you to be singing. Ah, well, that's life, I guess. Go ahead, Gail. The spotlight's yours.

[Gayle Page]

There is one thing I know.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

If.

[Gayle Page]

I let myself go and our lips should ever touch I would love you much too much. It is better far to share.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Just.

[Gayle Page]

A casual affair so before our love is born I must tell you do this to war. My heart is not a pleting Is not a gazing Darling, don't mention love to me. Romance may bring us sorrow let's be friends on the morrow Darling, don't mention love to me. I can't love you discreetly Nor halfway measures for me I must love you completely if this should end where would I be? You smile I'm overpowered at her But I'm a coward Darling, don't mention love to me.

[Ken Niles]

Oh, thank you, Gail. Thank you. Your singing exceeded only by your charming self.

[Gayle Page]

Why, Mr. Niles.

[Ken Niles]

Oh, Kim to you. Well, folks, there goes Gail, a page from my book of life. And now we bring you the Roberts brothers once more. Those three diplomats of harmony who have a very nifty and easy to listen to, theory to expound. That's how rhythm was born okay, boys, wing it.

[Roberts Brothers]

When the sun goes down much tide goes out the darkies get around and they won't begin. With the bands of grind 2 deep blue star. They pay they was the sins in a river Cold waters made a mock quiver that's how rhythm was born Whining folks came down to get the drum that old Swanee Shaw called Crees Sang his praise, cried give us more Asked Danny Creel a high brown who brought that movement to Jake down they'll give you higher slow that sound rhythm was I got rhythm I got music I got rhythm who could ask for anything more? Move up and move into Jaketown they'll give you I am that sound rhythm that sound rhythm that sound rhythm was born.

Lead to me I no whisper that.

[Ken Niles]

You care.

[Roberts Brothers]

There'S music in the air.

[Announcer]

And life is gone.

[Jeanette Gilmore]

Ra.