Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Our Miss Brooks "Thanksgiving Turkey" (Originally aired November 19, 1950)
Summary:
This classic episode of Our Miss Brooks brings listeners a comedic look at Thanksgiving preparations gone awry. English teacher Connie Brooks faces the prospect of a solitary holiday—until a well-meaning prank and some tangled invitations lead her into a farcical turkey hunt, culminating in chaos at her principal's home. The episode highlights friendship, mistaken intentions, and slapstick humor amid the nostalgia of radio’s golden age.

Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. Introduction to Thanksgiving Plans

• Ms. Brooks (Eve Arden) and her landlady Mrs. Davis discuss their modest past Thanksgiving and current plans. Mrs. Davis is heading to her ailing sister’s house, leaving Ms. Brooks potentially alone for the holiday.
  • “I can hardly believe it, Connie. A whole year has gone by since last Thanksgiving.” (01:11)
  • Memorable gag: Last year’s feast was a single roast stuffed pepper.

2. Hints and Hopes for an Invitation

• Mrs. Davis suggests Ms. Brooks might spend the day with shy biology teacher Mr. Boynton, who hasn’t yet invited her.
• Ms. Brooks jokes about always going Dutch with Mr. Boynton:
  • “It's just a coincidence that I'm buying him a pair of wooden shoes for Christmas.” (03:12)

3. Stretch’s Well-Meaning Newspaper Prank

• Walter Denton reveals that student Stretch Snodgrass printed a notice in the school paper urging people to invite Ms. Brooks to Thanksgiving.
• Ms. Brooks reads the embarrassing notice:
  • “If somebody wants to share his or her meal with this lonely human person, all you have to do is walk up and say, you can have Thanksgiving dinner with me, Ms. Brooks.” (05:00)

4. Seeking a Dinner Companion

• Mr. Boynton, upon reading the notice, awkwardly approaches Ms. Brooks but instead of inviting her, hopes to join her if she gets multiple invitations:
  • “Miss Brooks, if that notice brings you more than one invitation to dinner, could I make use of the extra?” (06:56)
• Later, Principal Mr. Conklin has the same idea, planning to join Ms. Brooks if possible:
  • “Well, if that notice brings you more than one invitation, could I make use of the extra one?” (09:48)
• Ms. Brooks sardonically notes:
  • “Why should you be an exception?” (10:00)

5. A Plan for the Group Thanksgiving

• Harriet Conklin, Mr. Conklin’s daughter, reveals her grandmother is coming, so her father won’t be alone.
• Budget constraints are clear: only $5 for an eight-pound turkey. Ms. Brooks volunteers to help shop, bringing everyone together for a group dinner.
  • “Give me the $5 and I'll see that we get a big enough turkey for all of us.” (11:37)

6. The Quest for a Turkey

• Ms. Brooks and Mr. Boynton agree to chip in, but still need a bigger bird cheaply.
• Mr. Boynton proposes buying a live turkey from a farm:
  • “By merely eliminating the butcher.” (16:28)
  • “Once we get a good one, we can kill it ourselves. Pluck the feathers, clean it and dress it.” (16:50)
• Comedic interplay as Ms. Brooks is uneasy about killing the turkey.

7. The Turkey, Bernice, Enters the Scene

• The pair buy a hen turkey (“Bernice”) and transport her—along with Boynton’s pet frog, McDougal.
• Comical animal banter ensues:
  • “Now, I ain't bluffin', dance too hard and you'll lose your stuffin'.” (19:47)

8. Farce at the Conklins’ House

• The group brings Bernice home, but she escapes and wreaks havoc:
  • “She’s going through the dining room window!” (21:17)
  • The friends scramble to recapture Bernice before Mr. Conklin returns.
• Mr. Conklin, home early and groggy from a tea party, sees the turkey and thinks he’s dreaming:
  • “Look. Turkey. Nice turkey. I know you're not there, but please go away.” (24:18)
• Chaos mounts: Walter is discovered with a hatchet, Conklin becomes increasingly flustered, believing it’s all a nightmare.

9. The Punchline and Fallout

• The truth is revealed: everyone planned to surprise Mr. Conklin, but he’s now on a strict diet and the family will spend Thanksgiving elsewhere.
  • “You can have the turkey. All I want is my money.” (27:06)
• Ms. Brooks is left holding a live turkey and no dinner invitation:
  • “Well, I've celebrated some Thanksgivings in my time, but this is the biggest bird I ever received.” (27:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ms. Brooks’ signature dry wit:
  • “Isn't it awful? The years do that every year.” (01:16)
  • “Maybe I can help. I promise not to order anything over a dollar fifty.” (06:31, repeated with Mr. Boynton and Conklin)
• Walter’s dramatics:
  • “I step over this threshold with fear and trepidation.” (03:57)
• Animal rom-com:
  • “You have just heard the frog's version of a wolf whistle.” (19:02)
• Mr. Conklin’s exasperated dream logic:
  • “How can I close my eyes with Walter standing over me with a hatchet?” (25:33)
• End cap from Ms. Brooks:
  • “But we can't get a refund now. The used turkey market is shot to pieces. What will Mr. Boynton and I do with an entire turkey?” (27:09)
  • “For once, I might add, the joke is on you.” (27:18)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Key Event | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:11 | Mrs. Davis and Ms. Brooks discuss last year’s meager dinner | | 03:12 | Ms. Brooks quips about “wooden shoes” and going Dutch | | 05:00 | Ms. Brooks reads Stretch’s pitiful Thanksgiving ad | | 06:56 | Mr. Boynton’s awkward “extra invitation” request | | 09:48 | Mr. Conklin follows with the same “extra invitation” line | | 11:37 | Harriet and Ms. Brooks plan to buy the turkey on a budget | | 16:28 | Mr. Boynton’s live turkey scheme proposed | | 19:47 | Brooks’s barn dance turkey jokes | | 21:17 | Bernice the turkey flees into the house, chaos erupts | | 24:18 | Mr. Conklin’s “dream” encounter with the turkey | | 25:33 | Conklin discovers Walter lurking with a hatchet | | 27:09 | Conklin abandons the dinner, demands his money back | | 27:24 | Ms. Brooks’s parting Thanksgiving punchline |

Tone and Style

• Witty, quick-paced banter.
• Playful teasing among characters (Ms. Brooks, Mr. Boynton, Conklin, Harriet, Walter).
• Slapstick humor around the turkey chase.
• Undercurrent of warmth despite mock complaints and mishaps.

Conclusion

This episode offers a playful, nostalgic portrait of holiday mishaps, peppered with sharp one-liners and affectionate ribbing. Listeners are treated to the best of Eve Arden’s understated delivery, Mr. Conklin’s high-strung exasperation, and the zany community spirit of Madison High. Ultimately, “Our Miss Brooks: Thanksgiving Turkey” is a comedic reminder that Thanksgiving togetherness often comes out of chaos, and sometimes leaves you holding the “biggest bird” of all.