Meet Me At Owl's 49-12-27 xxx Drugstore is in Pasadena

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Meet Me At Owl's 49-12-27 xxx Drugstore is in Pasadena

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Stu Wilson (recorded episode from original airdate: December 27, 1949)
Release Date: September 18, 2025 (podcast re-airing)

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Overview

This episode brings listeners to the bustling self-serve Owl Drugstore located at Walnut and Los Robles in Pasadena, California. Stu Wilson, the charming host, interviews local customers—most of them everyday folks and families—and hands out gifts for on-the-spot trivia. Sprinkled with period-appropriate commercials and light-hearted banter, the show is a time capsule from radio’s Golden Age, offering a glimpse of community life and retail culture just before the 1950s.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Community at the Drugstore

• The episode is broadcast from the newly opened Owl Drugstore in Pasadena, inside the Alpha Beta market.
• Host Stu Wilson greets patrons, engages them in friendly interviews, and provides small gifts, reflecting the era’s focus on neighborly interaction and service.
• Notable is the self-service model, considered a novelty at the time.

2. Interview with Local Youngsters

Betty Engfall (Marshall Junior High, Pasadena)

• Age 13, in 8th grade, planning to attend Muir High School, and aspires to go to Stanford, inspired by her sisters.
• Asked about desired marriage age: “About 22. Because that's when you get out of college.” (03:40)
• Wins beauty and bath products for correctly answering a trivia question on U.S. coastlines (Florida).

Claude McKinnon (Madison School, Pasadena)

• Age 11, youngest and only brother still at home, wants to become a police officer.
• Has three older, married brothers.
• Gets a simple quiz on Columbus’ ships—needs a hint for “Santa Maria,” but receives gifts regardless.

Oliver Mensch

• Age 12, German heritage.
• No question segment for Oliver; he’s simply given candy as a participant.

3. Conversation with Senior Patron

Mrs. Myrtle M. Dalton

• Long-time Pasadena resident (from Worcester, Ohio, in CA for 42 years), has watched the store “grow from months back.”
• Describes herself as alone but part of a close neighborhood.
• Grandmother, proud of her new granddaughter Victoria Ann Dalton.
• Misses a question on the upcoming Grand Marshal of the 1950 Tournament of Roses parade (“Paul G. Hoffman”) but receives stationary and beauty products.

4. Trivia and Gifts—Engagement and Encouragement

• The host emphasizes fun: “You don't have to know the right answer to be able to get a prize or get our gifts, you see. So we'll just have some fun with it.” (03:44)
• Audience members are encouraged to send in their own questions for a chance to win prizes.

5. Retro Commercials and Period Products

• Commercial spots (skipped in detail here): Rexall cough syrup (“Cherisote”), beauty products, Lord Baltimore vellum stationary, and electrical home appliances such as waffle irons and toasters.
• Notable: Dr. West's “new beauty treatment for your teeth.”
• “Save a dollar a minute. Buy the Value Minute specials at Owl Rexall Drugstores.” (09:25)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Time | Speaker | Quote | |--------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:29 | Stu | “Oh, well, how come Stanford? That's the place where ... they only take in about 500 girls, isn't that it?” | | 03:23 | Stu | “In other words, you'll go to college and then you'll waste that fine education just by going and getting married, huh?” | | 04:29 | Betty | “Florida.” (correctly answering the longest coastline state) | | 05:51 | Mrs. Dalton | “It's a lovely place. I've been watching this grow from months back and they put it up in very fast order.” | | 06:12 | Mrs. Dalton | “Well, I'm alone, but I still call myself we.” | | 07:01 | Mrs. Dalton | “I have babysitted. Not very much, but a little.” | | 07:31 | Mrs. Dalton | “I'm certainly glad to see him. I just got a new granddaughter which we're all very proud [of].” | | 10:23 | Stu | “Four boys in the house. I bet your mom has a Time of it, huh?” | | 11:12 | Claude | “Be an officer.” (career ambition) | | 12:09 | Stu | “Yeah, it was the—I'll whisper it to you—it was the Santa Maria. Say the Santa Maria. But with this program, you don't have to worry a bit about whether you get the right answers or not, because we have gifts for you anyway.”| | 13:01 | Oliver | “12.” (age, succinct and shy) |

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:14]: Host Stu Wilson opens at the Owl Drugstore.
• [02:02 – 04:51]: Interview with Betty Engfall.
• [05:40 – 08:25]: Interview with Mrs. Myrtle M. Dalton.
• [10:04 – 12:47]: Interview with Claude McKinnon.
• [12:51 – 13:01]: Introduction and brief chat with Oliver Mensch.
• [13:07 – 14:34]: Closing remarks, value minute, and final commercial tag.

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Overall Tone & Style

The tone is warm, family-friendly, and gently humorous. Stu Wilson blends quick wit, neighborly affection, and genuine curiosity. The rhythm is relaxed, celebrating everyday people and their aspirations in a small-town setting—complete with a little showmanship and plenty of giveaways.

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Perfect For

Listeners who love Americana, vintage broadcast styles, or those interested in mid-century daily life and retail culture. The episode re-creates the experience of local radio as both entertainment and community touchstone, with an easy flow between interviews, trivia, and sponsor messages.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Why told owls at you youu. You better shop and save. Save that owl wrecks all drugstores. Why you. Yes you.

[C]

You better shop and save.

[B]

Save that owl wrecks all drug stores. Greetings everyone. This is Steve Wilson inviting you to meet me at Owl each day. As you know, we travel around to different Owl drugstores, have a little chat with the customers, a question or two, and some very lovely gifts for our friends. Well, as we've been doing for the last week or so, today is our last day. We're transcribing our way from the new self service Owl drugstore at the corner of Walnut and Los Robles in Pasadena. And as usual, people are here for some of this fine Alpha Beta shopping and for some of these excellent Owl bargains. So come on, you and I, let's get out here and meet the people. Here's a young lady over here. Come here, young lady. Don't get scared now. My goodness sakes, a youngster here with a nice blue sweater on. And she has pretty brown hair and brown eyes and, oh yes, and then she has the traditional blue jeans rolled up to her knee. Who are you?

[C]

My name's Betty Engfall.

[B]

Betty Engfall. Where do you go to school, Betty?

[C]

Marshall Junior High.

[B]

Is that a good school?

[C]

Wonderful.

[B]

That's here in Pasadena, huh?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

What grade you in, Betty?

[C]

8Th.

[B]

8Th grade. And what would that make you? About 14?

[C]

13.

[B]

13. And if you decide where you're going, you of course know where you're going to go to high school, don't you?

[C]

Well, yes, I'm going to Muir.

[B]

Muir High School. And how about college? So if you look that far ahead.

[C]

Stanford.

[B]

Oh, well, how come Stanford? That's the place where out of an enrollment about 3,000, they only take in about 500 girls, isn't that it?

[C]

Yes, uh huh.

[B]

Pretty tough to get in there. Those entrance requirements are real tough up there. Why had you picked on Stanford, Betty? Did you decide what you wanted to be?

[C]

Well, my two sisters went to college, one went to Pomona and one went to Stanford. And I like Stanford better a lot.

[B]

I see. You talked to the two of them and you decided that Stanford was the better of the two. Well, I tell you, between Pomona and Stanford, when I was talking about Stanford there, I should have remembered to mention Pomona too. Either one of those two schools have very, very tough entrance requirements. And boy, you have to. What is. You have to maintain a B average, I think, to stay in, don't you, after you're in there?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Well. Well, you've decided on Stanford because your sister recommended it. But are you going to follow any particular profession or vocation that's going to demand that kind of.

[C]

Well, not any particular one, though.

[B]

You haven't decided on being a nurse or anything like that? You are going to get married.

[C]

I hope so.

[B]

What do you think? Well, I. There's not a chance of you missing, believe me. Little pug, nose hair and real dark brown eyes and some very, very cute freckles. And I hope I'm not embarrassing you because you're a very lovely young lady and you needn't worry at all about someday somebody coming along. But have you decided a good age to be married?

[C]

About 22. Because that's when you get out of college.

[B]

About 22. In other words, you'll go to college and then you'll waste that fine education just by going and getting married. Huh? I tried to trap her on that one. Well, let's see. Here is a question Betty, I'd like to ask you. Mrs. Stella Baumgart sent it in. She lives down in Santa Monica, down in Ocean Avenue, down there. And there's one peculiar thing, one particular thing about this show is you don't have to know the right answer to be able to get a prize or get our gifts, you see. So we'll just have some fun with it. And she says here, what state has the longest coastline? Now you have to think of a state where the coastline goes all the way around the State, you see? Uh huh. Yeah, she's really thinking away. Here, let me see. The north east. No, I mean, I should say the south. Southeastern part of the United States.

[C]

Florida.

[B]

Oh my goodness. I don't know how you got that answer. I really don't. Well, let's see Betty. For you, some Carinam face powder and Carinome perfume and some Noreen super satin cream shampoo and oh boy, you will be swell for that. Well, I don't know what it is. The eighth grade junior prom or whatever it might be. There's some Helen Cornell bubble bath. Very swell, young lady. Thank you, Betty for allowing me to talk to you.

[C]

Thank you very much.

[B]

Appreciate it so much. Friends, if you're tormented by a cough these winter days, try Cherisote. Now that's Rexall's famous cough remedy, always available at your Al Rexall drugstores. Ruby red, pleasant tasting. Cherisote contains scientifically selected ingredients that help fight your cough two ways. First, cherisote soothes the raw and irritated membranes of your throat and bronchial tubes. Second, it helps to loosen your cough by stimulating expectoration and Cherasote, that's spelled C H E R R O S O T E. Cherosote with its red cherry flavor is actually pleasant to take. Add Rexall Cherisote to your family medicine chest today. It's a regular feature at your Alrexol drugstores. Well, let's see, we could. Here's a lady here. Very, very nice smile. Very pleasant lady. Who are you?

[C]

Mrs. Myrtle M. Dalton.

[B]

Mrs. Dalton. I'm Stu Wilson, Ms. Dalton. And it's very good to talk to you. Over here at the self service Owl drugstore in the Alpha Beta market in Pasadena.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

What do you think of this particular place?

[C]

It's a lovely place. I've been watching this grow from months back and they put it up in very fast order.

[B]

Oh, do you live close by the.

[C]

Close by just above orange grove on Los Robos. This must have been my first attempt at visiting here.

[B]

Uh huh. Then of course you were pretty thrilled to know that you were going to have a big market and drugstore right there.

[C]

Oh yes, we were quite happy about it. Not very far from home, you see. And we can't come.

[B]

What? What do you mean by we, Mrs. Dalton?

[C]

Well, I'm alone, but I still call myself we.

[B]

Uh huh. Well that's your neighbors you might have talked with. Where do you come from, Ms. Dalton?

[C]

Ohio.

[B]

What part?

[C]

Worcester, Ohio.

[B]

Oh, I'm an old. I'm an ex buckeye myself. Is that I come from Cleveland.

[C]

Oh, I see. That's a neighboring town.

[B]

Yes, Worcester's not too far away. Or should I say Cleveland's not too far away from Worcester at all. How long you been out here?

[C]

42 years.

[B]

Oh, my goodness. You don't know a thing about Worcester, Ohio anymore.

[C]

I'm going to try to go back next year and see.

[B]

Well, fine. I hope you can. I hope so, too. Were you, Ms. Dalton, ever a school teacher?

[C]

No, I never was.

[B]

You weren't? No. You look like you'd make a real fine school teacher.

[C]

Well, I don't know about that. I've been fantasia work quite a great year, so I've been associated with the school.

[B]

How about. How about your family? Is it grown up and married and moved away and your grandma? Are you.

[C]

I sure am.

[B]

Do they let you babysit?

[C]

I have babysitted. Not very much, but a little.

[B]

Say, how would you do that? I just happen to think when you said babysitted. Now, let's work this out. Would you say you had baby sat or you had baby sot? I had baby sat and it wouldn't make any difference how you say it. Anyway, it's a great thrill to a grandmother. We've talked about that several times in this program. How it seems to be you appreciate your grandchildren possibly a little bit more than even your own. You have a little bit more time.

[C]

With them at all.

[B]

And of course, it's a thrill, too, to see that next generation coming along.

[C]

I'm certainly glad to see him. I just got a new granddaughter which we're all very proud.

[B]

What's her name?

[C]

Victoria Ann.

[B]

Victoria Ann. And is that a Dalton? That's a Dalton. It's your son.

[C]

That's right. First one for him.

[B]

Oh, well, fine. Well, this question here comes from La Crescenta, California, and it's Phyllis Barone of 3920 New York Avenue in La Crescenta who says, who will be the grand Marshal of the 1950 Tournament of Roses parade. Hey, I didn't even know we had this question in here. Well, here's one right for you. Living out here in Pasadena as you do, you're.

[C]

I'm just like all the rest of them. I've heard that and I know what it is, but I can't say it.

[B]

Well, it's Paul G. Hoffman. That's who it is. Huh. Let me see now. You must have people back there in Worcester you still write to now and again. Take a look at that box of Lord Baltimore Vellum stationery. Thank you very Much this Carnome face powder, Carinome perfume and Noreen Super Satin cream shampoo.

[C]

Thank you very much.

[B]

That's all yours. And thank you a lot for being with us. Appreciate it. Talking with you. Okay, well, now just a few seconds out to tell how each of you listening in may take part in our program. Send me questions I can use. Don't make them too hard. This is all in fun. Send your questions to meetmeatowlkhj. Hollywood28. Each day we use a few questions and the writers of the two best for the week will each receive a dependable and durable Evans compact and silver cigarette lighter. So you'd better get those questions in the mail today to meet me@ Owl. KHJ Hollywood 28. All questions used become the property of Meet Me at Owl and and will be judged on the basis of originality and adaptability. Well, now here's Value Minute, a sample list of after Christmas values on faultless electrical home appliances. Now featured at Owl Rexall Drugstores. Twin grid waffle iron. A chrome plated beauty that bakes two 6 inch waffles in just 5 minutes. Accurate heat indicator in each lid. Yours for only $8.95. Beautiful two slice toaster. That's the drop door model. Only $1.98. Popular round style waffle iron. The indicators in the lid for foolproof baking. Seven and a quarter inches in diameter for man sized appetites. Just $6.95. Automatic iron, highly polished chrome with stay cool handle indicator for correct heats of linen, rayon, silk, wool and cotton. Only $4.95. Remember, all faultless electrical appliances carry an immediate replacement guarantee at any Owl drugstore. That's in the event any failure occurs within one year. Save a dollar a minute. Buy the Value Minute specials at Owl Rexall Drugstores. Well, a young fella here. Let's talk to him. He's got on a Roy Rogers and Trigger sweatshirt here and a stocking cap. Who are you, son?

[C]

Claude McKinnon.

[B]

Claude McKinnon Howell. Claude.

[C]

11.

[B]

And you live here in Pasadena? Go to school? What school?

[C]

Madison.

[B]

Is that in Pasadena? Yes, Madison. What grade you in, Claude? You're in the fifth grade. Who's your teacher?

[C]

Mrs. Baldwin.

[B]

Do you like her?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Is she pretty?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh boy, Right? Big grin here and he says yes, you betcha. How about your family, Claude? What kind of family do you have?

[C]

Real nice.

[B]

And you have a lot of brothers and sisters or what?

[C]

I have three brothers.

[B]

Three brothers. Any sisters?

[C]

No.

[B]

Four boys in the house. I bet your mom has a Time of it, huh?

[C]

Well, three of my brothers, all married.

[B]

Oh, I see. You're the only one left at home then, are you an uncle?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

We just talked to a lady who was a grandmother and we were asking her about babysitting. Do you do any babysitting?

[C]

No, they don't.

[B]

They don't get you over to do that, huh? Do your brothers live here in Pasadena?

[C]

Yes, sir.

[B]

Have you decided what you're going to do when you. When you grow up, Claude?

[C]

No.

[B]

You haven't. Haven't figured out a job that you want to get into? I mean, the policeman or engineer or anything like that?

[C]

I like being officer.

[B]

You like what?

[C]

Be an officer.

[B]

Oh, a policeman, that is, huh?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, dog on it, you're starting out with a build for it. 11 years old.

[C]

What do you weigh for just Exactly.

[B]

Just exactly 100. £100, huh? Well, doggone it, I don't think I could wrestle you myself. No kidding about that. Here's a good sized boy, and no fooling about that. £100. Yeah, yeah. You're gonna have to watch this little tummy here, Claude. I mean, when you get along about my age, that becomes a worry. See, you should start worrying about it now and then maybe you wouldn't have to worry about it later. Oh, I don't know. Probably later you'd still have to worry about it. So don't have any worries at 11 years old. That's a better idea. Well, we have a question here from Mrs. E.J. bishop of 1718 East Ocean Avenue in Long beach, who says, what was the name of the ship that brought Columbus to America in 1492? Now, he had three ships there, the Neenah and the Pinta. And he's supposed to have been on the other one. Do you know the name of it?

[C]

No.

[B]

Have you touched that yet in your history?

[C]

Yes, but we.

[B]

Forget it, huh? Yeah, yeah, it was the. I'll whisper it to you. It was the Santa Maria. Say the Santa Maria. But with this program, you don't have to worry a bit about whether you get the right answers or not, because we have gifts for you. Anyway, I think this is something your mom might like. It's Carinome After Bath Cream cologne. And then for you, this box of Gail's Party Pops. You can polish those off this afternoon without any trouble at all. And you have a dad, Claude.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Uh huh. All right. Your dad, I think, would like this bottle of Stag aftershave lotion. You just take that all along with you. And a mighty fine 11 year old boy. Thanks for allowing me to talk with you, Claude. Real good to talk with you. Thank you. You're welcome, I'm sure. Let me see. We have a half a minute, Dewey Bob. We'll just real fast we can talk to this youngster and say who are you?

[C]

Oliver Mensch. Oliver Mensch.

[B]

M E N C H. M O.

[C]

E N C H M O E.

[B]

N C H. Is that a Germany, Oliver?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Uh huh. And you're how old?

[C]

12.

[B]

12 years old. He weighs. I would say you weigh just about £100 too. Don't you see that, that kid there, he's. He's a year ahead of you. Well, Oliver, we're not going to bother to ask you any questions here. We want you to take along this box of Gail's party pops anyway. And thanks for allowing me to talk with you. Appreciate it. Well, it's a miracle. Yes, it's Dr. West's new beauty treatment for your teeth now featured at your Al Rex all drug stores in a great $0.01 offer. Two 50 cent size tubes for only $0.51. This remarkable new formula, Dentifrice combines the foaming cleansing action of a powerful yet gentle detergent with the polishing power of the finest dental buffing agent. In addition, it has a genuine cosmetic effect on the mouth because it has in it a special lasting breath freshening deodorant. See for yourself how much brighter your teeth look, how much cleaner your whole mouth feels. After using Dr. West new beauty treatment formula toothpaste. It's featured now at your Owl rex all drugstores. Two 50 cent size tubes for only 51 cents. Well, right now it's time to close our little get together with all customers for today. But we'll be back again tomorrow at this very same time transcribing our way from the owl Drugstore at 101 W. 7th St. In downtown Los Angeles. If you can't get down to see the show in person, be sure to listen in at the same time tomorrow. And don't forget, send me your questions to meet me@ Owl Khj Hollywood 28. You might be one of our weekly winners. So until the same time tomorrow, this is Stu Wilson saying make your shopping minutes save you dollars at Owl drugstores. The wise old house says you, you.

[C]

You better shop and save, save.

[B]

At Owl Rex all drugstores. Why you, yes you, you better shop and save, save. And Owl wrecks all drug.