Little Orphan Annie - Second Grade Logs Used In Bridge

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Little Orphan Annie - Second Grade Logs Used In Bridge
Date: May 27, 2026

This episode revisits an adventurous chapter from the classic radio serial Little Orphan Annie. The storyline centers on Annie and her friend Joe as they explore the excitement of bridge construction, get introduced to the hardworking people involved, and find themselves at the heart of an unexpected accident involving the chief engineer, Mr. Strong. The episode draws listeners into a tale of friendship, responsibility, and danger at the worksite, wrapped in the nostalgic and wholesome tone of 1930s American radio drama.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene – Ovaltine and Orphan Annie (00:12 - 03:05)

• The show opens with a cheerful theme song praising Orphan Annie’s positive, energetic spirit.
• A host (B) reads a testimonial about Ovaltine, highlighting its role in helping a sick child regain health. Children are encouraged to drink Ovaltine for strength and “Orphan Annie Pep.”

“Every single cupful of Ovaltine...gives important minerals and vitamins to help build up strength and energy.” — (B, 02:28)

2. At the Bridge Construction Site (03:05 - 06:48)

• Annie, Joe, and their friend Caesar discuss the bustle and importance of bridge building.
• Caesar introduces them to the realities of bridge workers’ lives: traveling for jobs, living in barracks or temporary homes.
• The trio aims to meet Mr. Amos Strong, the chief engineer, but first encounters Red Hogan, a gruff construction boss who shoos them away.

“Bridge building is a finer work, my father says. Once a bridge builder, always a bridge builder.” — Caesar (E, 03:39)

• Mr. Hogan’s tough attitude is softened by Caesar’s reassurance: “Red Hogan's bark is a lot worse than his bite.” (E, 04:58)

3. Meeting Mr. Amos Strong (06:48 - 08:05)

• Mr. Strong, described as an imposing, tan, white-haired man, welcomes the children and mentions his own family in Texas.
• Strong’s background is revealed—including previous bridge work in Peru—and is characterized by warmth and a sense of responsibility.

"On a job like this, I guess a clean shirt wouldn't stay clean very long." — Mr. Strong (H, 06:14)

4. Trouble with Bridge Construction Materials (07:09 - 08:05)

• Mr. Strong identifies a problem on the site: substandard, second-grade logs being used in a critical part of the bridge.

"Those logs are second grade timber. They're not strong enough to hold up the formwork while the concrete hardens.” — Mr. Strong (H, 07:15)

• He orders Hogan to replace the faulty logs with Grade A timber, standing firm on safety over cost.

“This bridge is going to be built according to specifications, so long as I'm on the job.” — Mr. Strong (H, 07:51)

5. Mr. Strong’s Bridge Stories (08:05 - 11:24)

• After Hogan leaves, Mr. Strong explains bridge construction methods to the kids.
• He shares stories of adventure and challenge from his career, especially building a daring bridge a thousand feet above an Andean gorge in Peru.

“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.” — Mr. Strong (H, 10:16)

• He warmly invites the children to visit again for more stories.

“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 (H, 11:17)

6. Disaster at the Log Pile (12:06 - 13:14)

• The kids and Caesar watch as Mr. Strong heads to check the logs.
• Suddenly, logs roll toward him—an accident potentially turns deadly.

"They're rolling right down on top of Mr. Strong!" — Annie (C, 12:23)

• Workers rush to help; Mr. Strong is trapped, his leg injured.
• Tony, Caesar’s father, reveals he saw someone deliberately push the logs.

“Someone pushed the logs down on Mr. Strong. Tony, he see them do it.” — Tony (I, 13:06)

7. Cliffhanger and Outro (13:14 - 14:45)

• The narrator underscores the danger and mystery: Who sabotaged the bridge construction? Why target Mr. Strong?
• The episode teases pending excitement and urges listeners to “tune in next Monday.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ovaltine’s magic:
  "She was eating like a trooper and getting right back to good health again." — (B, 01:48)

• On the life of a bridge builder:
  "They go wherever a bridge is being built...Once a bridge builder, always a bridge builder." — Caesar (E, 03:27, 03:39)

• On leadership and safety:
  "Now, I want you to go down to log pile Hogan and pick out good timber...this bridge is going to be built according to specifications." — Mr. Strong (H, 07:41, 07:51)

• On the bridge in Peru:
  "It was rough country, too. Rocky and jagged as the teeth of a saw...But they were good workers, and we got the thing done after a time." — Mr. Strong (H, 10:34, 10:45)

• On danger and sabotage:
  "Someone pushed those heavy logs down on top of Mr. Strong." — Tony (I, 13:06)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:12] – Cheerful theme song & show intro
• [01:00] – Letter about Ovaltine, setting up the adventure
• [03:05] – Kids arrive at bridge site, discuss bridge building
• [04:50] – Red Hogan’s first appearance
• [06:02] – First meeting with Mr. Strong
• [07:09] – Mr. Strong confronts Hogan about second-grade logs
• [08:33] – Mr. Strong explains bridge building process to kids
• [10:16] – Mr. Strong recounts building the Andes bridge
• [12:21] – Logs start to roll, Mr. Strong is in danger
• [13:06] – Tony claims to have witnessed sabotage
• [14:45] – Episode’s cliffhanger and sign-off

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Conclusion

This Little Orphan Annie episode blends wholesome adventure, educational insight about bridge construction, and a suspenseful turn that promises more excitement ahead. Anchored by strong, likable characters—especially the affable but firm Mr. Strong—the show delivers its story in a tone that’s earnest, heartwarming, and fit for its original young audience. Even as nostalgia, the drama's appeal and the earnestness of its messages clearly endure.

Transcript

[A]

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 healthiness handy Mite size Always on the go if you want to know Art says Sandy always wears a sunny smile now wouldn't it be worth the while if you could be like Little orphan Annie?

[B]

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 homesick 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 cupful 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 stronger and huskier than ever, just bubbling over with good old orphan Auntie Pep. And now for our adventure. You remember yesterday when Annie and Joe went down to see the new bridge? They met Caesar Renelli, 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.

[C]

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

[D]

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

[C]

I never saw so many people working before. One place in my life where they all come from, Caesar.

[D]

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

[E]

Most of them come, like my father, from other bridges. They're called bridge builders. They go wherever a bridge is being built.

[C]

But where they all live, Cesar.

[E]

There are barracks 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. Once a bridge builder, always a bridge builder.

[D]

Shucks, I wouldn't mind. I don'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.

[C]

Suffering sunfish. Let's go meet him. Can we now, Caesar?

[D]

Sure.

[E]

Mr. Strong likes me. He say he likes all young people. Come on.

[D]

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

[E]

That's the office. Looks down over the whole construction. We'll find him there if he's here today.

[D]

Shucks. Aren't you even gonna knock, Caesar?

[E]

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

[F]

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

[E]

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

[F]

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

[E]

I don't mean to get in your way, Mr. Hogan.

[G]

I just wanted some friends.

[F]

Come on out of here. Come on, out with you. I'm busy. Ain't got no time to be wasting on a pack of kids. Outside. I said outside.

[C]

Yes, sir. We're going jumping grasshoppers. Who was that, Caesar?

[E]

I thought it was Mr. Hogan. He's the boss of the bridge construction.

[D]

Boy, oh, boy, he sure sounded tough.

[C]

I guess he doesn't want us around here.

[E]

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.

[G]

Red Hogan?

[E]

That's what a man call him.

[D]

Shugs. 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.

[E]

His honor so 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.

[A]

Hmm.

[E]

Say, here comes Mr. Strong now.

[D]

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

[E]

That's him.

[D]

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.

[C]

I didn't think he'd be so old.

[E]

Caesar, he's not a really old Danny. That's just cause he got white hair and his face is so tan from being out in the open. See, before he started this bridge, he was building one down in Peru.

[C]

Peru?

[D]

You mean Peru, South America?

[E]

That's right.

[D]

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

[E]

Hello, Mr. Strong.

[H]

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

[E]

I guess it's just ironing her damn numbs, Mr. Strong. I'll bring them over tonight.

[H]

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

[E]

Anyhow, Mr. Strong, here are two friends of mine who want to meet you. This is Annie Waterblocks. And this is Joe Contest.

[H]

Well, howdy, I'm glad to meet you. Glad to meet both of you.

[C]

Hello, Mr. Strong.

[D]

Hello.

[H]

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

[F]

Hey, hey, are you kids back here again? I told you to get away from here, didn't I? I told you. Ah, not you, Mr. Strong. I thought it was them kids come back to bother the life out of me.

[H]

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

[F]

Yeah, they're always getting under my feet.

[H]

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.

[A]

Yes, sir.

[H]

I don't like the way they're sinking those piles down there. Number three pier.

[A]

Yeah.

[F]

Well, what's the matter with them?

[H]

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

[F]

Well, they looked all right to me.

[H]

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

[F]

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

[H]

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, understand? And then substitute it for that bad lot in number three.

[F]

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

[H]

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.

[F]

All right. Only Flint won't like.

[H]

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

[A]

Yes, sir.

[H]

Yeah, Hogan's a good Irishman. Yeah, but he's stubborn as a mule and he hates to take orders.

[E]

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

[H]

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 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?

[C]

I see them.

[D]

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.

[H]

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. And 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. And that would mean that that section of the bridge would be weak. And I've never built a wheat bridge in my life.

[D]

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

[H]

Yeah. Let me look at you kids. I've been so busy, I. Well, what do you know? Annie, you're the spitting image of my daughter at home in Texas. Yes, 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.

[E]

You bet I have, Mr. Strong.

[D]

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

[H]

Why, sure. You used to be a cow puncher when I was young, before I went to college. And learned to be an engineer.

[D]

Gosh, that's what I want to do, Mr. Strong, of course. Be an engineer like you.

[H]

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

[D]

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

[H]

Whoa there.

[F]

Whoa.

[H]

Has my press agent been working?

[E]

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

[H]

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.

[C]

Leaping lizards. How?

[E]

How high?

[H]

A thousand feet, and that's pretty deep. It was rough country, too. Rocket and jagged as the teeth of a saw. 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.

[D]

Shucks, it must have been some bridge.

[H]

It was handsome a bridge as I ever saw. Steel net of 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. Well. But I tell you, if you kids are interested in bridges, I'll say we are.

[C]

You bet, Mr. Strong.

[H]

All right, then 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.

[C]

Will you jump and grass up?

[H]

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?

[C]

You bet we will.

[H]

Well, so long in and see you later.

[D]

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

[G]

You bet.

[C]

Me too.

[E]

Mr. Strong is one of the greatest engineers there is in the whole country.

[D]

I can believe that all right.

[C]

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.

[E]

Strong.

[D]

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

[C]

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

[D]

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

[C]

Now I see him. Mr. Hogan isn't there, though. And he told him to pick out good logs.

[E]

I guess Mr. Stronger likes you, too.

[D]

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

[E]

I'll say it was. What was that? It's a log pile.

[G]

The logs that are rolling. Leaping lizards.

[C]

They're rolling right down on top of Mr. Strong.

[G]

Come on.

[D]

He'll be killed.

[G]

He's trying to jump away. Oh, that first log got him. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong.

[I]

Keep back.

[F]

Keep back to all of it. Keep back, I tell you. Those logs may start rolling again any second.

[I]

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

[F]

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

[I]

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

[G]

I'm coming, Father. I helped for the school leap. Bitter lizard. So are we good.

[I]

The boy says ar. Good. The boy, Mr. Strong.

[H]

That's you, Tony.

[I]

See? See?

[H]

Get me out of here.

[F]

All right, all right.

[H]

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

[I]

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

[G]

What's this, Father?

[E]

You say someone see, See?

[I]

Yes, says Arab. Someone pushed the logs down on Mr. Strong. Tony, he see them do it.

[B]

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.

[H]

It.