Little Orphan Annie 36-xx-xx (1021) Second Grade Logs Used In Bridge

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: Little Orphan Annie - "Second Grade Logs Used In Bridge"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Little Orphan Annie 36-xx-xx (1021)
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

---

Episode Overview

This classic episode of Little Orphan Annie transports listeners to the golden age of radio, as Annie and her friends explore the construction of a new bridge and become entangled in a dramatic event involving faulty materials and a near-fatal accident. Through their adventure, the characters encounter hardworking bridge builders, learn about the challenges of civil engineering, and unveil an act of sabotage. The story serves as both a thrilling drama and a window into the everyday heroics of early 20th-century American workers.

---

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Ovaltine Promotional Letter ([01:30])

• Opening segment features a testimonial from a parent praising Ovaltine for helping her sick daughter regain health and appetite.
  • The host reads:

    “Before, she only weighed 36 pounds, but now weighs 44 pounds and is on her third can. We will always be loyal to Ovaltine, for it surely brought my daughter back to health.” (Host, [01:30])

• The segment underscores the importance of vitamins and minerals for children’s strength and energy, tying it to Annie’s vitality.

2. Annie, Joe, and Caesar Arrive at the Bridge ([03:36])

• Annie and Joe marvel at the scale of the bridge construction, led by the seasoned chief engineer, Mr. Amos Strong.
• Caesar explains that his father is a bridge builder:

  • “Bridge building is a finer work, my father says. Once a bridge builder, always a bridge builder.” (Caesar, [03:53])

• They plan to meet Mr. Strong, excited by the prospect of learning from him.

3. Confrontation with Mr. Hogan ([04:51])

• The children are brusquely sent away by Mr. Hogan, the gruff bridge foreman, who is wary of kids getting in the way.
• Hogan’s tough exterior is described humorously:

  • “It's no wonder. Didn't you see his hair, Annie? He could stick his head out the back window of a car at night and he wouldn't need any daylight.” (Joe, [05:39])

4. Meeting Mr. Strong ([06:02])

• Mr. Strong is introduced as charismatic, experienced, and friendly toward children, reflecting on his own kids back in Texas.
• Discussion of bridge work and Strong’s background—including adventures in Peru building a high-altitude railroad bridge:

  • “Before he started this bridge, he was building one down in Peru.” (Caesar, [06:16])

  • “It was a railroad bridge and it swung across a gully in the Andes Mountains that was a thousand feet high.” (Mr. Strong, [10:46])

5. Discovery of Inferior Timber ([07:40])

• Mr. Strong notices a serious safety issue: second-grade logs used in an important part of the bridge.

  • “Those logs are second grade timber. They're not strong enough to hold up the form work while the concrete hardens.” (Mr. Strong, [07:45])

• He insists on immediately replacing the subpar timber despite cost or managerial objections:

  • “This bridge is going to be built according to specifications so long as I'm on the job.” (Mr. Strong, [08:18])

6. Mr. Strong’s Mentorship ([09:48]–[11:55])

• He shares insights about engineering challenges and encourages Annie and Joe’s curiosity.
• Mr. Strong’s pride in his work and life wisdom are emphasized:

  • “I've never built a weak bridge in my life.” (Mr. Strong, [09:48])

  • “Remember, everything that glitters isn’t gold. This job of mine is sometimes a pretty tough business.” (Mr. Strong, [10:27])

• He promises to share more stories about bridge-building:

  • “You come around to me someday when I'm not so busy, and I'll tell you a lot of stories about bridges you never dreamed.” (Mr. Strong, [11:48])

7. Disaster at the Log Pile ([12:36])

• Suddenly, logs roll from the pile and crash down onto Mr. Strong as the children watch in horror:

  • “Leaping lizards, they're rolling right down on top of Mr. Strong! Come on—he'll be killed!” (Annie, [12:48])

• Mr. Strong is trapped but alive, his leg injured.
• The children rush to help, and chaos ensues as workers arrive.
• It is revealed there was a witness to the incident:

  • “You say someone—see, see?” (Annie, [13:34])

  • “Yes, says someone pushed the logs down on Mr. Strong. Tony, he see them do it.” (Narrator, [13:37])

• The episode ends with suspense—an act of sabotage has been witnessed, and the culprit is unknown.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bridge Building:

  “Boy, oh, boy, now I know I'm half an engineer already.” (Joe, [06:28])

• Mr. Strong’s Integrity:

  “Now, I want you to go down to the log pile, Hogan, and pick out good timber… This bridge is going to be built according to specifications as long as I'm on the job.” (Mr. Strong, [08:04–08:18])

• On Past Adventures:

  “That bridge was a mighty serious proposition. It was a railroad bridge and it swung across a gully in the Andes Mountains that was a thousand feet high… Steel netted cable swinging across a great gulf against the sky. I'm a little proud of that bridge.” (Mr. Strong, [10:46] & [11:23])

• Dramatic Turn:

  “Leaping lizards, they're rolling right down on top of Mr. Strong!” (Annie, [12:48])

• Cliffhanger/Suspense:

  “Yes—says someone pushed the logs down on Mr. Strong. Tony, he see them do it.” (Narrator, [13:37])

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:30] — Parent’s Ovaltine testimonial and health segment
• [03:36] — Annie, Joe, and Caesar arrive at the bridge
• [04:51] — First confrontation with Mr. Hogan
• [06:02] — Introduction of Mr. Strong, the chief engineer
• [07:40] — Mr. Strong discovers inferior logs and asserts his authority
• [09:48] — Mr. Strong explains bridge construction, reflects on his career
• [12:36] — Disaster at the log pile, Mr. Strong is injured
• [13:37] — Sabotage revealed, setting up future drama

---

Tone and Style

The episode is characterized by energetic, childlike curiosity (Annie and Joe’s excitement), warm adult mentorship (Mr. Strong), and suspenseful, cliffhanger drama (the log accident and hint of sabotage). There's an emphasis on community, hard work, American ingenuity, and "old-time" values, all delivered with a sincerity and directness emblematic of 1930s radio storytelling.

---

Conclusion

This episode deftly weaves practical lessons about bridge construction, character values, and suspenseful storytelling. Listeners witness both the marvels and perils of building the nation’s infrastructure and are left eager for the next chapter in Annie’s adventures—both to resolve the mystery and to hear more from the memorable Mr. Strong.

---

Transcript

[SpinQuest Announcer]

I'm here with spinquest, where you can play and win from the comfort of your own home with hundreds of slot games and all of the table games you love with real cash prizes. Right now, $30 coin packs are on sale for $10. For new users, it's [e-mail] that's s p I n q U-E-T.com SpinQuest is.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

A free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

Who's that little chatterbox the one with pretty auburn locks Whom do you see? It's Little Orphan Annie she and Sandy make a pair they never seem to have a care Cute little she this little orphan Annie Bright eyes, cheeks a rosy glow There's a store of healthy nests Handy mite size Always on the go if you want to know I'm so Sandy Always wear the sunny smile now wouldn't it be worth the while if you could be like Little orphan Annie?

[Narrator / Radio Host]

It's 5:45 now, and time to hear about Orphan Annie's adventures and all about Ovaltine, too. But before we hear Annie today, here's an important letter about Ovaltine that'll be mighty interesting to you boys and girls who've been home sick lately and find it a mighty slow business getting back to your old pep again. This letter came in from Mrs. Harvey Treesor, 1019 Lynn Avenue, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. And here's what she says. My daughter was very ill last winter. The doctor advised me to give her Ovaltine, and she's getting it regularly now. My daughter started to eat as she never ate before. She has gained 8 pounds in the last two months. Before, she only weighed 36 pounds, but now weighs 44 pounds and is on her third can. We will always be loyal to Ovaltine, for it surely brought my daughter back to health. Well, isn't it great the way Ovaltine helped Mrs. Treesor's daughter? Just think, by the time she was on her third can of Ovaltine, she had gained eight pounds. She was eating like a trooper and getting right back to good health again. And so, if you've been sick lately and it's taking you so long to feel well that you're missing out on all kinds of fun, just remember that Ovaltine may be the very thing to help you, because every single cup full of Ovaltine, you know, gives important minerals and vitamins to help build up strength and energy. So ask your mother to get you a can at her drug or grocery store right away. Drink it regularly, every day, and then just see if you don't begin to pick up fast and become strong. Stronger and huskier than ever. Just bubbling over with good old Orphan Annie Pep. And now for our adventure. You remember yesterday when Annie and Joe went down to see the new bridge? They met Caesar Ranelli, an Italian boy whose father, Tony, works at the bridge. And here are Annie and Joe now, standing on the riverbank. And Caesar's promise to introduce them to Mr. Amos Strong, the chief engineer. Listen to what Annie says.

[Annie Waterbox]

Leaping lizards. It's sure gonna be great meeting this big engineer, isn't it, Joe?

[Joe Grundfast]

I'll say. Shucks, anybody who could plan all this must be a great man.

[Annie Waterbox]

I never saw so many people working before, all in one place in my life. Where'd they all come from, Caesar?

[Joe Grundfast]

Gosh, yes. There aren't this many people in Simmons Corners.

[Annie Waterbox]

Most of them come, like my father, from other bridges. They're called bridge builders. They go wherever a bridge is being built. But where they all live, Caesar, they're barrage. Down on the riverbank where the men live. They are married, with a family like my father, Tony. They find a little house or a shack somewhere. Bridge building is a finer work, my father says. Wants a bridge builder. Always a bridge builder.

[Joe Grundfast]

Shucks, I wouldn't mind building bridges myself when it's as exciting as this. Maybe I'll get to be a big engineer like this, Mr. Strong.

[Annie Waterbox]

Suffering sunfish. Let's go meet him. Can we now, Caesar? Sure. Mr. Strong likes me. He say he likes all young people. Come on.

[Joe Grundfast]

Will he be in that little house there with the glass front?

[Annie Waterbox]

That's the office and looks down over the hulk and stone destruction. We'll find him there if he's here today.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

Shucks.

[Joe Grundfast]

Aren't you even gonna knock, Caesar?

[Annie Waterbox]

It wouldn't do any good to knock with all of these noises going on. Come on.

[Mr. Hogan]

Well, well, what do you want? Not sure, is it?

[Annie Waterbox]

Yes, sir, Mr. Hogan, it's me. I come to see Mr. Strong.

[Mr. Hogan]

Yeah, well, Strong's not here now. You can see that, can't you? Oyster off on my house. You're always hanging around here, getting in my way.

[Annie Waterbox]

I don't mean to get in in your way, Mr. Hogan. I just wanted some friends.

[Mr. Hogan]

Come on out of here. Come on, out with you.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

I'm busy.

[Mr. Hogan]

Ain't got no time to be wasting on a pack of kids.

[Narrator / Radio Host]

Outside. I said outside.

[Joe Grundfast]

Yes, sir.

[Annie Waterbox]

We're going jumping grasshoppers. Who was that, Caesar? That was Mr. Hogan. He's the boss of the bridge construction.

[Joe Grundfast]

Boy, oh, boy, he sure sounded tough.

[Annie Waterbox]

I Guess he doesn't want us around here. It's all right. Red Hogan's bark is a lot worse than his bite. We'll just wait out here for Mr. Strong to come. Red Hogan. This is what a man called him, Shugs.

[Joe Grundfast]

It's no wonder. Didn't you see his hair, Annie? He could stick his head out the back window of a car at night and he wouldn't need any daylight.

[Annie Waterbox]

Things are not as bad as he sounds. They say Mr. Flint put the whole job of construction in his hands. Mr. Flint has, eh? That's one of my father says. Say, here comes Mr. Strong now.

[Joe Grundfast]

You mean that big man coming up the bank there? Caesar?

[Annie Waterbox]

That's him.

[Joe Grundfast]

Gosh, he sure does look the part, doesn't he? With that khaki suit and that big leather belt. I guess I am gonna be an engineer.

[Annie Waterbox]

I didn't think he'd be so old, Caesar. He's not really old, Danny. That's just cause he got white hair. And his face is so damp from being out in the open. See, before he started this bridge, he was building one down in Peru.

[Joe Grundfast]

Peru? You mean Peru, South America?

[Annie Waterbox]

That's right.

[Joe Grundfast]

Boy, oh, boy, now I know I'm half an engineer already.

[Annie Waterbox]

Hello, Mr. Strong.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, hello, Caesar. I'm glad to see you. Has your mother got those shirts of mine done yet?

[Annie Waterbox]

I guess she's ironing on them now, Mr. Strong. I'll bring them over tonight.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Oh, that's all right. No hurry, Caesar. On a job like this, I guess a clean shirt wouldn't stay clean very long.

[Annie Waterbox]

Anyhow, Mr. Strong, here are two friends of mine who want to meet you. This is Annie Waterbox and this is Joe Grundfast.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Howdy. I'm glad to meet you. Glad to meet both of you.

[Annie Waterbox]

Hello, Mr. Strong.

[Joe Grundfast]

Oh, gee.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Come in the office, won't you? Got some orders to give and then we'll have a little chat. I'm always glad to meet children. You got two more on back home in Texas. Fine strapping youngsters and seeing others the next best thing to see in them. Come on in.

[Mr. Hogan]

Hey, hey, are you kids back here again? I told you to get away from here, didn't I?

[Narrator / Radio Host]

I told you.

[Mr. Hogan]

Ah, not you, Mr. Strong. I thought it was them kids come back to bother the life out of me.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Yeah, it's me, Hogan. Kids too. They won't bother you.

[Mr. Hogan]

Yeah, they're always getting under my feet.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, maybe if you didn't look at your feet so much red and looked at the stars a little more, you wouldn't Be bothered so much. Say, listen.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

Yes, sir.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

I don't like the way they're thinking. Those piles down there, Number three fear.

[Mr. Hogan]

Yeah? Well, what's the matter with them?

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

I just looked over the job, random. Those logs are second grade timber. They're not strong enough to hold up the foreman while the concrete hardens.

[Mr. Hogan]

They looked all right to me.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, they're not. I don't know where Mr. Flint got that timber. Everything in this job supposed to be grade A number one. Somebody must have sold him a bad lot.

[Mr. Hogan]

I guess Flint knows what he's doing, all right.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, not when he got those logs, he didn't. Now, I want you to go down to log pile Hogan and pick out good timber. Understanding then substituted for that bad lot in number three.

[Mr. Hogan]

Yeah, but that'll run up the cost. Now, Fred won't like that.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

I don't care whether he likes it or not. This bridge is going to be built according to specifications so long as I'm on the job. Now, you got your orders read. Go to it.

[Mr. Hogan]

All right. Only Flint won't like.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, right now you're getting orders from me, not Mr. Flint. Now, hop to it.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

Yes, sir.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Hogan's a good Irishman. Yeah, but he's stubborn, is immune. He hates to take orders.

[Annie Waterbox]

What's the matter with a number three fire, Mr. Strong?

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, what do you know? I forgot you kids were here all the time listening. Oh, it's just a bad lot of logs, Caesar, that I guess Mr. Flint must have got stuck with. And some smart salesman must have sold him second grade stuff instead of first. You see that big heap of logs out the window there where Hogan's heading?

[Annie Waterbox]

I see him.

[Joe Grundfast]

Boy, oh, boy, that's a big heap, all right. Gosh, they're piled up high. They'd make some smash if they ever fell over.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, we use those logs in sinking piles. Yeah, sink them way down in the riverbed, you see. Then we build timber up around them in forms till we got a hollow square the size of a house. Then we pump the water out of it and fill it up with concrete. That makes a big solid block of pure concrete that holds up part of the bridge. Gee, but the inferior logs, second grade stuff might not hold the frame solid enough for the concrete to harden. Even that would mean that that section of the bridge would be weak. And I've never built a weak bridge in my life.

[Joe Grundfast]

Sure, so I'll bet you haven't, Mr. Strong.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Yeah. Let me look at you kids. I've been so busy, I. Well, what do you Know, Annie, you the spitting image of my daughter at home in Texas. Yes, sir, if I didn't know, I'd think it was my Annette standing right here before me. Caesar, looks to me as if you'd picked a couple of pretty good friends for yourself.

[Annie Waterbox]

You bet I have, Mr. Strong.

[Joe Grundfast]

Shucks. Are you really from Texas, Mr. Strong?

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Why, sure. He used to be a cow puncher when I was young. Before I went to college and learned to be an engineer.

[Joe Grundfast]

Gosh, that's what I want to do, Mr. Strong.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

What?

[Joe Grundfast]

Be an engineer like you.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Wait a minute, young man. I remember everything that glitters isn't gold. This job of mine sometimes a pretty.

[Joe Grundfast]

Tough business, but gee, building big bridges down in Peru and South America.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Whoa there, Whoa. Has my press agent been working?

[Annie Waterbox]

I told them, Mr. Strong, that you built a bridge in Peru.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

I thought so. Well, kids now don't think it was all romance and picture stuff. That bridge was a mighty serious proposition. It was a railroad bridge and it swung across a gully in the Andes Mountains that was a thousand feet high.

[Annie Waterbox]

Leaping lizards.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

How?

[Annie Waterbox]

How high?

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

A thousand feet, and that's pretty deep. It was rough country, too, rocket and jagged as the teeth of us all. And we didn't get help for the caliber we get here. They were mostly half breed Indians, old Incas. But they were good workers and we got the thing done after a time.

[Joe Grundfast]

Shucks, it must have been some bridge.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Ah, it was handsome a bridge as I ever saw. Steel netted cable swinging across a great gulf against the sky. I'm a little proud of that bridge. Well, it makes this one look. Well, I guess I'm not as young as used to be. A man has to take the jobs that comes across his path. But I tell you, if you kids are interested in bridges, I'll say we are.

[Annie Waterbox]

You bet, Mr. Strong.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

All right, then. You come around to me someday when I'm not so brave, and I'll tell you a lot of stories about bridges you never dreamed.

[Annie Waterbox]

Will you? Jumping grasshoppers?

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Why, sure I will. Just now I'm going down there by that log pile to see that hogan picks out a mess of good timber. Come in and see me some other time, will you?

[Annie Waterbox]

You bet we will.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Well, so long then. See you later.

[Joe Grundfast]

Gosh, Caesar, he's the swellest guy I ever met.

[Annie Waterbox]

You bet. Me too. Mr. Strong is one of the greatest engineers there is in the whole country.

[Joe Grundfast]

I can believe that all right.

[Annie Waterbox]

You can almost tell that from the way he walks. Look at him going down the riverbank there, out the Window. Every step he takes is just like his name. Strong, Chuggs.

[Joe Grundfast]

He told us, Annie, to come around and he'd tell us all about bridges.

[Annie Waterbox]

And you bet we'll come, Joe. I wouldn't miss hearing Mr. Strong talk for anything.

[Joe Grundfast]

Me neither. Look. He's down there by the big heap of logs.

[Annie Waterbox]

Now I see him. Mr. Hogan isn't there, though, and he told him to pick out good logs. I guess Mr. Stronger likes you, too.

[Joe Grundfast]

He was awful swell the way he asked us to come around.

[Annie Waterbox]

I'll say it was. What was that? It's a log pile. The logs that are rolling leaping lizards are rolling right down on top of Mr. Strong. Come on. He'll be killed. He's trying to jump away. Oh, that first log got him. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Be back.

[Mr. Hogan]

Be back. Now, all of you keep back. I tell you, those logs may start rolling again any second.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

That's all right. I heard for Mr. Strong. He's my friend.

[Mr. Hogan]

Now get back, I say. I don't want anybody else to get hurt.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

I heard for my friend. I heard for Mr. Strong.

[Annie Waterbox]

I'm coming, brother. I open the door, leave bit lizard so away.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

Who the boy says ar. Who the boy? Mr. Strong.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

That's you toing, cc get me out of here.

[Mr. Hogan]

All right, all right.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

Stretching my leg. All right, all right. Except for my leg, but I can't move.

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

We get you out, Mr. Strong. We get you out. Then we see about this. We see who push these logs.

[Annie Waterbox]

What's this, Father? You say someone see, see?

[Narrator / Little Orphan Annie]

Yes. Says someone push the logs down on Mr. Strong. Tony, he see them do it.

[Narrator / Radio Host]

Did you hear what Tony said? Someone pushed those heavy logs down on top of Mr. Strong. Who could have done a terrible thing like that? Luckily, Mr. Strong only hurt his leg, but he might have been killed. It looks as though we're going to see plenty of excitement around here before that bridge is built. But now, do you know why you hear these adventures of Orphan Annie every night? I'll tell you why. It's because the boys and girls who are real friends of Orphan Annie are drinking their Ovaltine every day. And that's the way they're helping to keep her adventures going on the radio. And if you like Orphan Annie and like to listen to her every day, you certainly want to prove it by drinking your Ovaltine, too. And by the way, when you fix your Ovaltine, be sure to add enough sugar so it will be as sweet as you want it. And boy, oh, boy, what a treat you get. Because Ovaltine's all chocolatey. Looking and so good you'll want to drink about a barrel full and every single thing in it is good for you too. So if you haven't been getting Ovaltine, ask your mother to get you a can at her drug or grocery store right now. And now you certainly want to be here right on time next Monday at 5:45 to see the exciting things that'll be happening to Annie next. Until next Monday at 5:45 then goodbye.

[SpinQuest Announcer]

I'm here with Spinquest, where you can play and win from the comfort of your own home with hundreds of slot games and all of the table games you love with real cash prizes. Right now, $30 coin packs are on sale for $10. For new users, it's [e-mail] that's s p I n q u e s.

[SpinQuest Legal Disclaimer / Mr. Strong]

T.Com SpinQuest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[RecycleOn Announcer]

From the cascades to PDX to your kitchen, we recycle like we live here. That's why governments, brands and recycling companies are all joining together to bring change to make recycling better. As in trusting that your recyclables end up in the right places to be made into new things and having brands help fund the cost of recycling. You can find the Latest updates at recycleon.org Oregon From Mount Hood to the bin under your desk, together we can do this.