Podcast Summary: "Quiz of Two Cities 44-11-05 xxx Chicago vs New York"
Podcast Information:
- Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
- Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
- Description: Radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio. The time before television and the family all sat around the radio and listened to the shows of the time like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, Dragnet, and many more.
- Episode: Quiz of Two Cities 44-11-05 xxx Chicago vs New York
- Release Date: January 20, 2025
Introduction
The episode titled "Quiz of Two Cities 44-11-05 xxx Chicago vs New York" opens with an enthusiastic introduction to a competitive quiz show format pitting teams from Chicago and New York against each other. Hosted by Mike Bismarck and Bud Collier, the show aims to engage listeners in a battle of wits, testing knowledge across various categories.
Notable Quote:
Bud Collier (00:10): "Make way for the quiz of two cities presented by Listerine toothpaste."
Round One: New York Team
The New York team, representing the Advertising Club of New York, is introduced with Philip J. Kelly as their first contestant. Philip, a seasoned advertising professional with 25 years of experience, shares insights into his role managing veterans' campaigns through the War Advertising Council.
Key Discussions:
- Philip's Role: Managing campaigns to aid veterans' reintegration into civilian life.
- Hobbies: Philip mentions a recent hunting trip, highlighting personal interests outside of his advertising career.
Notable Quotes:
Philip J. Kelly (01:37): "I try it, but it doesn't do much good."
Mike Bismarck (01:43): "Are you pretty good?"
Question Highlights:
- Amos and Andy Trivia: Philip correctly identifies Amos as Brother Crawford (02:27).
- Women's War Organizations: He correctly answers the Cadet Nurse Corps as the newest and largest organization (02:52).
- Company Abbreviations: Philip accurately deciphers Alcoa, Conoco, and Nabisco (03:39).
Philip's performance earns him extra rewards, including Listerine toothpaste, emphasizing the show's recurring sponsorship.
Round One: Chicago Team
Representing Chicago is G.D. Crane Jr. from the Chicago Federated Advertising Club and Homer J. Buckley of Buckley Demet Company. Homer, a publicity publisher, discusses his multifaceted role in advertising and his involvement with various publications.
Key Discussions:
- Homer's Role: Overseeing multiple publications and handling extensive advertising tasks.
- Hobbies: Minimal personal disclosures, focusing more on professional responsibilities.
Notable Quotes:
Homer J. Buckley (05:32): "Absolutely not."
Bud Collier (05:32): "That's because the quiz of two cities takes place in different studios in different cities."
Question Highlights:
- Amos and Andy Trivia: Homer correctly identifies Amos as Brother Crawford (06:04).
- Women's War Organizations: Confirms the Cadet Nurse Corps (06:52).
- Company Abbreviations: Accurately explains Alcoa, Conoco, and Nabisco (07:03).
Homer also receives Listerine toothpaste as a reward for his correct answers.
Midway Scores
At the midpoint of the episode, both teams are tied with 70 points each, setting the stage for an intense second half. The host announces that the competition remains open, with both sides having equal opportunities to claim victory in the remaining rounds.
Notable Quote:
Mike Fitzmaurice (15:42): "Well, the midway scores on Today's quiz of two cities are 70 points for Chicago and 70 points for New York."
Round Two: New York Team
The New York team introduces Charles E. Murphy, a past president of the New York Advertising Club and counsel for the Advertising Federation of America. Charles engages in a series of questions focusing on advertising and general knowledge.
Key Discussions:
- Charles's Role: Balancing leadership in advertising with counsel responsibilities.
- Hobbies: Brief mention of playing golf casually.
Question Highlights:
- War Dogs Trivia: Confirms that canines have been trained as mine detectors (10:07).
- Kingdom Classification: Correctly identifies Celanese as a mineral, Pekingese as an animal, and Manganese as a mineral (11:33).
- Trade Names in Common Usage: Recognizes that brands like Cellophane, Kodak, and Listerine have become part of everyday language (11:51).
Charles earns additional rewards, reinforcing Listerine's presence throughout the episode.
Round Two: Chicago Team
Chicago's representative, Holland Engel from the Chicago Federated Advertising Club, steps up to answer questions. Holland discusses his extensive involvement in advertising and sponsorships, particularly supporting a local boys and girls club.
Key Discussions:
- Holland's Role: President of the Chicago Federated Advertising Club, actively sponsoring community initiatives.
- Hobbies: Gardening, albeit hindered by back stiffness.
Question Highlights:
- Amos and Andy Trivia: Successfully identifies Amos as Brother Crawford (20:04).
- Women's War Organizations: Reiterates Cadet Nurses Corps (20:05).
- Kingdom Classification: Correctly identifies Celanese and Manganese but struggles with Pekingese (20:34).
Holland receives Listerine toothpaste for his correct answers, maintaining the product's promotional integration.
Mid-Round Conclusion
Both teams continue to showcase their knowledge, with Chicago and New York maintaining competitive scores. The balanced scoring keeps listeners engaged, anticipating the final rounds to determine the ultimate victor.
Round Three: Final Battle
As the competition intensifies, both teams strive to outscore each other with challenging questions.
New York Team:
- Contestant: Francis Lawton Jr., president of General Business Films Incorporated and a founder of the Advertising Club of Baltimore.
- Question Highlights:
- Trademark Identification: Correctly associates Abraham Lincoln with Lincoln Life Insurance and Prince Albert with a cigar brand (24:07).
- Musical Productions: Correctly identifies Showboat (18:11).
- Shakespearean Quotes: Accurately attributes quotes to Hamlet but falters on others (18:32).
Chicago Team:
- Contestant: Elon G. Borton, AD Director of La Salle Extension University.
- Question Highlights:
- Trademark Identification: Correctly identifies Abraham Lincoln and struggles with others (27:08).
- Musical Productions: Confirms Showboat (27:41).
- Shakespearean Quotes: Accurately attributes quotes to Julius Caesar and Hamlet but misses some (21:18).
Both teams continue to earn points and rewards, including five extra dollars and more Listerine toothpaste, maintaining the show's thematic consistency.
Jackpot Question
The final jackpot question poses a rapid-fire challenge, testing the teams' knowledge of U.S. vice presidents associated with specific presidents.
New York Team:
- Performance: Accurately identifies Vice Presidents for Franklin D. Roosevelt (Henry A. Wallace), Herbert Hoover (Charles Curtis), Calvin Coolidge (Charles G. Dawes), Warren Harding (Calvin Coolidge), and Woodrow Wilson (Thomas Marshall) within the 25-second timeframe.
- Outcome: Secures a significant point advantage, leading to New York's victory.
Chicago Team:
- Performance: Matches some of New York's answers but falls short in the rapid-fire segment.
- Outcome: Unable to overcome New York's lead, resulting in a tied score before the jackpot question.
Final Scores:
- Chicago: 100 points
- New York: 120 points
Conclusion
The episode concludes with New York triumphing over Chicago with a final score of 120 to 100. The competitive spirit between the two cities highlights the depth of advertising knowledge and general trivia prowess among participants. The recurring presence of Listerine toothpaste underscores the nostalgic sponsorship ties, reminiscent of the Golden Age of Radio's integrated advertising approach.
Notable Quotes:
Bud Collier (22:17): "Listerine toothpaste, Listerine shaving cream and Listerine antiseptic. Three excellent candidates with long, clean records behind them."
Mike Fitzmaurice (29:09): "New York wins."
Listeners are encouraged to tune in next Sunday for another exciting episode of Quiz of Two Cities, continuing the tradition of engaging and competitive radio entertainment.
Final Remarks: This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio successfully blends competitive quizzing with nostalgic advertising, providing both entertainment and informative content. The structured format and engaging interactions between contestants from Chicago and New York offer a rich listening experience reminiscent of classic radio shows.