Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: NBC Good News Of 1940 (1939-11-23 – Here Come The Pilgrims)
Date: November 1, 2025
Host: Edward Arnold and ensemble
Special Guests: Walter Houston, Raymond Walburn
Featured Players: Fanny Brice, Hanley Stafford, Connie Boswell, Meredith Wilson, Warren Hull

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode of NBC Good News of 1940 revisits a classic broadcast from November 23, 1939, blending star-studded comedy, heartfelt drama, and musical numbers with a Thanksgiving and early American theme. The show is a vibrant showcase of radio variety from the Golden Age, headlined by prominent entertainers, a Thanksgiving sketch lampooning Pilgrims and early settlers, as well as moving dramatic pieces and musical premieres meant for the whole family.

Major Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. Festive Opening and Musical Interlude

[00:32-03:50]

• The episode opens with warm introductions and a special parody musical number, “Winter Underwear Wonderland”.
• Notable exchange: Humorous banter about Thanksgiving dinner at Edward Arnold's house, poking fun at dinner etiquette and guests (the “collie dogs” and lingering gravy).
• Song Feature: Connie Boswell and cast perform “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”.
• Quote:
  • Warren Hull: "It was awfully annoying to have them [the dogs] sitting there for half an hour licking my fingers." (05:08)
  • Edward Arnold: "Well, if you'd eat with a knife and a fork, you wouldn't be so friendly." (05:13)

2. Variety Banter and Featured Song

[06:13-09:42]

• Song Feature: Connie Boswell sings “Scatterbrain,” demonstrating vocal prowess and 1930s musical style.
• Joking rivalry among cast members, with playful teasing about actors’ backgrounds and musical abilities.
• Quote:
  • Connie Boswell (to Meredith Wilson): "Well, Meredith, he's been in 400 fights. What's your excuse?" (05:50)

3. “Baby Snooks” Comedy Sketch: Jury Duty

[11:41-18:17]

• Fanny Brice (as Baby Snooks) and Hanley Stafford (Daddy) perform a beloved segment about Daddy’s fate as a reluctant juror.
• Snooks’ persistent questioning creates increasingly convoluted and hilarious explanations about the justice system.
• Key Themes: Jury composition, legal terms (“subpoena”), and courtroom rituals, all through the lens of childhood misunderstanding.
• Memorable Dialogue:
  • Snooks: "You want to wear my Mickey Mouse suit, Snooks." (12:37)
  • Daddy: "If they were all ladies on the jury, what would I be doing there?" (13:58)
  • Snooks: "I want some Peanuts too." (15:03)
  • Daddy: "These briefs are just paper. These papers contain the evidence in the case." (16:31)
• Ends with a domestic “trial” over stolen cookies, quickly solved by Snooks’ confession.

4. Sketch: Raymond Walburn’s Turkey Enterprise

[22:13-28:32]

• Character Spotlight: Raymond Walburn as “The Deacon,” a comical schemer.
• “Deacon” pitches a dubious turkey subscription business, satirizing investment scams.
• Fun with wordplay, investor naivety, and quick-witted refutation from other cast members.
• Quote:
  • Raymond Walburn: "By careful manipulation and diplomatic treatment, mind you, the turkey is persuaded to lay eggs." (24:29)
  • Edward Arnold: "As one crook to another, let me tip you off. There's nobody around here dumb enough to put money in your scheme." (25:16)
  • Walburn, selling “shares”: “For $300, I'm going to let you have 300 shares of stock in the spurious gold mine Incorporated.” (27:55)

5. Music Spotlights

[29:18, 43:43]

• Meredith Wilson and orchestra present hits like “100 to 1” and “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.”
• Showcases musical trends of the era, blending popular song with characterful performances.

6. Dramatic Sketch: "Bright World" by Arch Oboler

[32:37-40:04]

• Walter Houston delivers a moving drama about a blind orphan boy, Ted, grappling with loss and the absence of laughter.
• An older man (Houston) encourages Ted to “see” with his mind and heart, rekindling hope and the joy of imagination.
• Emotional crescendo as the boy re-learns to laugh, guided by Houston’s wisdom and support.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Houston: "You'll see more clearly than you ever saw before. Oh, see, yes, but not with eyes— with heart." (35:45)
  • Houston: "You'll never be afraid again. Boy, you'll live with goodness and with courage. And you'll make the world a better place because of your life in it." (38:24)
  • Child: "It’s good to laugh, isn’t it? Yes. Yes, it’s good to laugh." (39:12)

7. Thanksgiving Reflection and “Gettysburg Address”

[40:12-41:29]

• Meredith Wilson reminds listeners that Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday (in 1863), then reads the Gettysburg Address.
• Quote:
  • Lincoln (performed by Houston/Wilson): "That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." (41:41)

8. Thanksgiving Day Sketch: "Here Come the Pilgrims"

[48:12-53:13]

• The entire cast participates in a comedic reimagining of the Pilgrims arriving on the Mayflower and their first Thanksgiving.
• Features parody, anachronistic jokes, and farcical action (e.g., Blackfoot vs. hot foot, Pilgrims negotiating with the “Indians,” and distributing the turkey by geographic origin).
• Memorable Moment:
  • Fanny Brice (as Snooks): "I want that rock!" (48:45)
• Surreal, zany group dynamics, ending with a “hot foot” prank and a tongue-in-cheek turkey feast.

9. New American Music

[53:28-58:20]

• Premiere of Dana Suesse’s American Nocturne followed by the announcement of new American compositions for future episodes.
• Emphasizes the show’s support of contemporary talent and the arts.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• Warren Hull: "It was awfully annoying to have them [the dogs] sitting there for half an hour licking my fingers." (05:08)
• Edward Arnold: "Well, if you'd eat with a knife and a fork, you wouldn't be so friendly." (05:13)
• Connie Boswell (to Meredith Wilson): "Well, Meredith, he's been in 400 fights. What's your excuse?" (05:50)
• Fanny Brice (as Snooks): "When you dance it's so delightful. When you talk it's so insane still it's yawning. Shadow Scatterbrain." (06:40)
• Daddy: "If they were all ladies on the jury, what would I be doing there?" (13:58)
• Snooks: "I want some Peanuts too." (15:03)
• Raymond Walburn: "By careful manipulation and diplomatic treatment, mind you, the turkey is persuaded to lay eggs." (24:29)
• Edward Arnold: "As one crook to another, let me tip you off. There's nobody around here dumb enough to put money in your scheme." (25:16)
• Walter Houston (Bright World): "You'll see more clearly than you ever saw before. Oh, see, yes, but not with eyes— with heart." (35:45)
• Lincoln (via Houston/Wilson): "That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." (41:41)
• Fanny Brice (Snooks): "I want that rock!" (48:45)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:32-03:50]: Musical opening and seasonal banter
• [06:13-09:42]: "Scatterbrain" by Connie Boswell
• [11:41-18:17]: "Baby Snooks" jury duty sketch
• [22:13-28:32]: Raymond Walburn’s turkey enterprise sketch
• [29:18, 43:43]: Musical performances
• [32:37-40:04]: "Bright World" dramatic sketch
• [40:12-41:29]: Gettysburg Address and Thanksgiving reflection
• [48:12-53:13]: Pilgrims/Thanksgiving comedy sketch

Tone and Style

The tone balances light-hearted, quick-witted comedy with moments of genuine emotion and American idealism. Character-driven banter, musical interludes, and educational asides embody the communal, family-centric entertainment of classic radio. The playful spirit, quick repartee, and sentimentality stay true to the original performers, with timeless messages underpinning the laughs.

Final Thoughts

This Good News of 1940 episode stands as a nostalgic, lively slice of radio history—evoking the Thanksgiving season, celebrating American resilience and humor, and reflecting the best of pre-war radio’s heartwarming and hilarious variety format. With famous voices, timeless sketches, and a blend of comedy, music, and inspiration, it is a compelling listen for fans of Golden Age radio and newcomers alike.