Oldsmobile Program - Etting and Green 34-02-16 (1)

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Oldsmobile Program – Etting and Green 34-02-16 (1)
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: January 15, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio with a recording from the Oldsmobile Program, originally aired in 1934. The show features Ruth Etting—celebrated as America’s favorite girl singer—and composer-arranger Johnny Green, with orchestral performances and era-appropriate sponsor messaging. The episode blends nostalgic musical performances, delightful banter, and vintage automotive advertisements, evoking the intimate family atmosphere of 1930s radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Celebration of Ruth Etting

• Host Ted Husing introduces Ruth Etting, highlighting her as “America's favorite singing star” and noting her recognition in a national radio poll.
  • Notable Quote (Ted Husing, 01:19):
    “...like a port in a storm is an easy chair by the fire with the radio tuned to the voice of Ruth Etting singing.”

2. Ruth Etting’s Performance: “You’re Such a Comfort to Me”

• Ruth Etting delivers a heartfelt rendition of “You’re Such a Comfort to Me,” praised for its warmth and charm.
  • The lyrics draw poetic comparisons: comfort as a “coat when you’re cold” or “honey to a bee”—a touching metaphor for love and companionship.
  • Memorable Lyric (Ruth Etting, 02:01):
    “Like sugar in your tea, you're such a comfort to me.”

3. Song Commentary & Advertisement Transition

• Ted Husing pivots to discuss the song “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” with Johnny Green, lauding its place in musical theater history and musicianship.
  • Notable Quote (Ted Husing and Johnny Green, 05:22):
    “Far and away one of the loveliest songs ever written for the theater.”
    “Like all of Jerome Kern’s tunes, it combines good music with that certain thrilling something that reaches the heart.”
• This smoothly segues into a detailed, period-style advertisement for the new 1934 Oldsmobile models—highlighting their modern features and affordability.

4. Ruth Etting’s Performance: “The Old Spinning Wheel”

• Ruth Etting sings “The Old Spinning Wheel,” a nostalgic piece evoking longing for simpler times and the warmth of family and home.
  • The song conjures vivid imagery: “Spinning dreams of an old fashioned garden and a maid with her old fashioned ball.”
  • Etting’s delivery is soft, stirring, and evocative of bygone years.
  • Lyric Highlight (Ruth Etting, 09:07):
    “There’s an old spinning wheel in the parlor, spinning dreams of the long, long ago.”

5. Classic 1930s Car Advertisement

• Ted Husing wraps up with another extended Oldsmobile ad, emphasizing how their new cars deliver luxury and value.
  • He outlines the economic logic of choosing Oldsmobile, targeting both past luxury car owners and budget-minded families.
  • Notable Quote (Ted Husing, 12:12):
    “Many families who've been used to paying $1,000 or more for their cars are now reasoning like this: This new Oldsmobile 8 offers more than I have ever had in my high priced cars. It cost me much less to run. By buying this car, I can reduce my automobile investment without sacrificing comfort, performance, style or prestige.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ted Husing’s Introduction (01:19):
  “This is Ted Husing speaking for Oldsmobile and raising the curtain for Ruth Etting...”
• Ruth Etting—Song Lyric (02:01):
  "Like sugar in your tea, you’re such a comfort to me."
• Johnny Green on Jerome Kern (05:25):
  “Like all of Jerome Kern’s tunes, it combines good music with that certain thrilling something that reaches the heart.”
• Ruth Etting—Song Lyric (09:07):
  “There’s an old spinning wheel in the parlor, spinning dreams of the long, long ago.”
• Ted Husing’s Advertisement Wisdom (12:12):
  “By buying this car, I can reduce my automobile investment without sacrificing comfort, performance, style or prestige.”

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Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 01:19 | Introduction of Ruth Etting | | 02:01 | “You’re Such a Comfort to Me” | | 05:22 | Discussion about “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” & Oldsmobile ad | | 09:07 | “The Old Spinning Wheel” performance | | 12:12 | Final Oldsmobile advertisement & closing remarks |

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Conclusion

This episode is a quintessential window into 1930s American family radio: an artful blend of live music, showmanship, and period marketing. Ruth Etting’s melodic performances and the conversational rapport with Johnny Green and Ted Husing evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia. For listeners seeking an authentic Golden Age radio experience—with soulful songs and charming sponsor spots—this episode delivers in true vintage style.

Transcript

[A]

Sam.

[B]

How do you do, everybody? This is Ted Husing speaking for Oldsmobile and raising the curtain for Ruth Edding, America's favorite singing star, who was recently chosen by radio editors all over the country as the most popular girl singer. This annual popularity poll was won by Ruth Edding for the second consecutive year. You know, like a port in a storm is an easy chair by the fire with the radio tuned to the voice of Ruth Etting singing. You're such a comfort to me.

[A]

Like a pour in a storm like a breeze when you're war like sugar in your teeth you're such a comfort to me. Like a coat when you're cold, like a cane when you're old like honey to a bee you're such a comfort to me I'm sure that you're as refreshing as rain to a fading roan, a fireside when it rolls a stroll in the park, a kiss in the dark like a nest to a dark like a song when you're in love you will always be such a comfort to me. When you're at my side, I feel at my best I fill up with pride and throw out my chest. My darling, I mean every syllable. You're caressable, lovable, thrillable like a fort in a storm. Oh, like a breeze when you're warm and like sugar in your te. You're such a comfort to me like an old coat when you're cold like a cane when you're old like honey to a bee you're such a comfort to me I'm sure that yours as refreshing has rained to a fading road a fireside when it snow strolling the park, a kiss in the dark like a nest to a dove like a song when you're in love oh, you will always see. Such a comfort to me. J.

[B]

Smoke gets in your eyes Far and away one of the loveliest songs that has ever been written for the theater. As a songwriter, I think Johnny Green will agree. I do, Ted. Like all of Jerome Kern's tunes, it combines good music with that certain thrilling something that reaches the heart. To every family. Thinking of getting a new car this year? Here News. The 1934 Oldsmobile is priced so low that 9 out of 10 who are buying a new car can afford it. The new straight eight is a bigger, finer car than last year, yet the price is the same. $845 and up FOB Lansing in this time of rising prices, Isn't that news? Well, here's more. Oldsmore invades the low price field with a big new all feature six. It's priced at $640 and up fob Lansing, only a few dollars more than the lowest priced cars. This new low priced six will soon be on display. The new straight eight is ready for you to see and drive. Now both new Oldsmobiles have been engineered with all the features a 1934 car must have to be completely modern. Knee action wheels, center control steering, ride stabilizer, super hydraulic brakes. Call your nearest Oldsmobile dealer for a ride in the car that has everything but is not. Like everybody. There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor. Will you spin it for us, Ruth?

[A]

I'll try to sing it for you, Ted. Good.

[B]

Then it's Ruth Edding at the old spinning wheel.

[A]

Covered with dust and forgotten like the face upon the wall the one of the days gone by I treasure most of all. There's an old spinning wheel in the palace Spinning dreams of the long, long.

[B]

Ago.

[A]

Spinning dreams of an old fashioned garden and a maid with her old fashioned ball Sometimes it seems that I can hear her in the twilight at the organ Softly singing for black Joan Are the days when my heart was young and gay Gone are the friends from the cotton field he is away Gone from the earth To a better land I know I hear their gentle voices calling Old black joy Turn back the years of my childhood as you turn old spinning wheel Just show me your lane With a barefoot voice the shadows softly steal there's an old spinning wheel in the parlor Spinning dream of the long. Gone.

[B]

Next to your home, your car is your most important purchase. Many families who have been used to paying $1,000 or more for their cars are now reasoning like this. This new Oldsmobile 8 offers more than I have ever had in my high priced cars. It cost me much less to run. By buying this car, I can reduce my automobile investment without sacrificing comfort, performance, style or prestige. And the thousands of families whose pocketbooks limit them to one of the low priced cars are figuring it out this way. Even the lowest priced car will cost me five or six hundred dollars. Well, isn't it wiser to add only a few dollars more and get an Oldsmobile? After all, an Oldsmobile 6 costs only six to seven dollars a month more than the lowest priced car. Your nearest Oldsmobile dealer will be happy to give you a ride in the new Oldsmobile. You'll find him listed in the classified section of your telephone directory. And come back every Tuesday and Friday at the same time and hear Ruth Edding and Johnny Green and his orchestra. This is Ted Husing Speaking for Oldsmobile, good night. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.