Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: People Are Funny – Woman Drops In to Visit a Family with Circus Giant ‘Husband’
Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Art Linkletter (original host), presented by Harold’s Old Time Radio

Overview

This episode features a delightful broadcast from the classic radio show People Are Funny, renowned for its quirky social experiments and stunts designed to showcase the humor and kindness of everyday people. The main focus this week is an elaborate gag where a single woman, Dr. Elsie George, pretends to drop in unexpectedly on a random family, accompanied by a “husband” provided by the show—a nine-foot-tall circus giant! Additional segments feature an “elephant memory” challenge and a playful competition between a husband and wife over household efficiency, keeping the tone light, witty, and full of warm Golden Age charm.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. The Vacation Drop-In Prank (00:00–05:57; revisited from 18:06)

Setup & Instructions

• Participants: Dr. Elsie George (a young, single medical doctor) is the main participant.
• Premise: Dr. George is to impersonate an acquaintance of the target family’s friends from Cincinnati, dropping by for a visit as many people casually promise during summer vacations—but never expect to happen.
• “Husband” Addition: To increase the challenge, the show provides her a “husband” (Ted Evans, a nine-foot-tall Ringling Brothers circus giant).
• Host’s Instructions:
  • Art Linkletter coaches Dr. George to act like an old friend, “breeze in for a visit,” and introduces Ted as her towering spouse.
  • “Would you like to have the loan of a husband for half an hour?” (Art Linkletter, 02:12)
  • “Come on in, honey, this is the place.” (Dr. George, rehearsing at 04:17)
  • Dr. George is to escalate the awkwardness if needed by eventually hinting that they’re tired and “expecting a little stranger” (i.e., possibly pregnant).

Memorable Moments

• Dr. George’s Wit:
  • On facing the potential shock to the family, she quips, “Is there any way we can resuscitate them?” (Dr. George, 04:54)
• Host’s Banter:
  • “For a girl who came to CBS without a man, you must admit you have hit the jackpot.” (Art Linkletter, 03:10)

2. The Elephant Never Forgets (06:15–17:09)

The Stunt

• Contestant: Mrs. Rose Bar from St. Louis
• Premise: Mrs. Bar is tasked with feeding candy bars to an elephant, Ruth, and later participating in an experiment to test if “an elephant never forgets.”
• Host’s Humor:
  • “Don’t you think our season got off to a good start this year? We might say a big start.” (04:21)
  • “Me be careful with the elephant? Yes, I’ll try not hurt him.” (Mrs. Bar, 07:37)
• Memory Test:
  • Several people, including Mrs. Bar and three strangers, call for Ruth; if the elephant chooses her, she wins a freezer.
  • Elephant selects the Marine instead—he wins $100, and Mrs. Bar receives $50 in merchandise as a consolation.

3. Husband vs. Wife: Who’s the More Efficient Housekeeper? (08:06–14:24)

The Challenge

• Couple: Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Schwartz
• Context: Mr. Schwartz contends he can outdo his wife in domestic tasks.
• Efficiency Expert: Dr. Vernon Keiller evaluates both on making beds, cleaning, and sewing machine use.
• Key Insights:
  • Mr. Schwartz’s confidence: “I could bounce a half dollar off it.” (ref. to making the bed, 10:31)
  • Expert’s report: “I don’t think he could bounce a tin pan on it… Mrs. Schwartz had to come to his rescue.” (Dr. Keiller, 10:34)
  • Mrs. Schwartz scores 78% efficiency; Mr. Schwartz only 35%.
• Outcome: Mrs. Schwartz wins a $250 outfit; Mr. Schwartz must diaper the baby for a month and gets blueprints and supplies for a kitchen step ladder.

Memorable Quote

• “How would you rate your efficiency at home around the household as compared with your wife?”
  “Oh, in the household she’s 99 and 99 hundredths percent and I’m one hundredth of 1%. I’ve got to go home, you know.”
  (Art Linkletter with Dr. Keiller, 14:12–14:24)

4. The Vacation Drop-In Results (18:06–22:09)

The Family’s Reactions

• Recounting the Visit: Dr. George describes how Mr. Waymar (Waymire) greeted her hospitably, and, upon seeing her “husband,” the family did their best to remain polite and accommodating, even pretending the giant’s height was unremarkable.
• “Nobody could say a word but Mr. Wayhour. And he was really brave about it…they tried to pretend that he was just no taller than this.” (Dr. George, 18:42)
• When asked to stay: The family hesitated but maintained their politeness. Mrs. Waymire recalls, “I’m still shaking. But I was going to put him up…I mean, on the floor.” (20:16)
• Host’s Praise:
  • “This family has proved that people are pretty wonderful too…to be confronted by this giant and this stranger and to have them come in—you folks proved something very interesting tonight.”
• Rewards: The Waymire family receives 21-inch television sets for their good-natured hospitality.

Notable Quotes

• On unexpected hospitality:
  • “I always thought that the South was the place where hospitality reigned supreme. But I think it’s out here too.” (Dr. George, 21:20)
• Art Linkletter’s closing:
  • “Thanks for proving that people are funny. Good night.” (22:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00–05:57]: The setup of the “vacation drop-in” prank with Dr. George and Ted the giant
• [06:15–07:40]: Feeding the elephant and the setup for the memory challenge
• [08:06–14:24]: Efficiency challenge between Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz
• [14:45–17:09]: The elephant memory experiment results
• [18:06–22:09]: The prank’s resolution; family reactions and rewards

Overall Tone

• Warmly humorous, playful, and rooted in the wholesome camaraderie characteristic of mid-century radio entertainment. Art Linkletter’s gentle teasing keeps the pace brisk and fun, while the participants show grace, good humor, and a remarkable capacity for kindness.

Conclusion

This episode exemplifies the gentle fun and underlying affirmation of human goodness celebrated on People Are Funny. Through offbeat challenges—from adopting a circus giant as a spouse to being bested by a tidy wife—the show finds “funny” in the quirks, and “wonderful” in the warmth, of everyday people.