Summary: "Rays A Laugh 1949-12-06 The Forgotten Man – Tailcut"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: November 7, 2025 (original airdate December 6, 1949)
Featured Show: "Rays A Laugh"
Cast: Ted Ray, Kitty (Ted's wife), Tommy Rumble, Stanley Black's Orchestra

Episode Overview

This episode of "Rays A Laugh" delivers a comedic slice of 1940s British domestic life, starring Ted Ray and his wife, Kitty. The radio comedy blends zany one-liners, playful marital banter, musical interludes, and slapstick misunderstandings, all emblematic of post-war radio entertainment. The main theme is marital trust—and the comic pitfalls of suspicion—woven through sketches and lively dialogue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Musical Families and Orchestra Jokes

(01:07 – 03:11)

• Ted Ray launches into the show with jokes about "forgotten men," referring to Stanley Black's orchestra. He shares gags about the bass player and pokes fun at musicians’ quirks.
• Quote:

  "The most conscientious man of the lot is the bass player. There he is. How he loves that bass. Well, it's his home. He lives in the back, you know." — Ted Ray (01:19)

• More musician humor as Ted describes his father playing violin with a hair from his own head, culminating in a wry line about "playing his own hair on a G string."

2. Photographer Skit and Double Entendres

(02:02 – 03:11)

• Ted’s passport photo experience spirals into classic British wordplay about marble stools and hot water bottles.
• Quote:

  "When you're going to Dublin nowadays, they don't photograph your face, they take a profile of your stomach." — Ted Ray (02:23)

3. Domestic Song & Interlude

(03:34 – 05:32)

• The ensemble sings "In the Good Old Summertime," adding nostalgic charm and further rooting the show in its era.

4. The Marital Comedy of Errors

(05:32 – 13:58)

• Central plot: Ted comes home late, triggering Kitty’s suspicions. A barrage of banter ensues, touching on dinner plans, ruined meals, trust, and playful accusations. Ted and Kitty spar about each other's trustworthiness, age, and appeal to others.
• Memorable exchanges:
  • Kitty:

    "You can't go. I've done the housework, made the beds, stood in queues, argued with tradesmen, and now you tell me you can't go to the pictures." (06:27)

  • Ted:

    "I suppose you think we have orgies at the office, eh? Paper caps and cups of cocoa. Chase me around the waste paper basket and hunt the paperclip? No." (06:40)

• Light-hearted jealousies flare over Ted’s new secretary, with Kitty refusing to leave and plotting to keep a close eye on him.

5. Neighbourly Mischief and Social Satire

(07:07 – 08:07)

• The couple jokes about nosy neighbors, stolen wash leathers, and the small-town antics of their friend Mrs. Higgins.
• Quote:

  "I love Mrs. Higgins. I could sit and thumb my nose at her all day." — Ted Ray (08:07)

6. Escalation of the Secretary Mix-up

(09:18 – 14:51)

• Kitty refuses to leave as Ted’s "secretary," Frances, is due. The farce builds: Kitty dresses up, ready to wage "war" on this supposed femme fatale—only to discover Frances is a man!
• Quotable twist:

  "Meet my new secretary there, Mr. Francis Clark, the fastest male typist in the business. How are ya?" — Ted Ray (14:39)

• The mistaken-identity gag draws the comedy to a close, poking fun at expectations and marital jealousy.

7. Notable One-Liners & Marital Jabs

• "Your mother? The Gestapo in bloomers." — Ted Ray (06:54)
• "The early bloom may have gone, but the fruit is still ripe." — Kitty (09:29)
• "Now, Kitty, you're jumping to conclusions." — Ted Ray (11:48)
• "I bet you've even noticed her legs, too." — Kitty (12:03)
• "Yes, yes, I have. Two legs. Yes, two legs." — Ted Ray (12:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 01:19 | Ted Ray | "The most conscientious man of the lot is the bass player. There he is. How he loves that bass. Well, it's his home. He lives in the back, you know." | | 06:40 | Ted Ray | "I suppose you think we have orgies at the office, eh? Paper caps and cups of cocoa. Chase me around the waste paper basket and hunt the paperclip? No." | | 09:29 | Kitty | "The early bloom may have gone, but the fruit is still ripe." | | 12:05 | Ted Ray | "Yes, yes, I have. Two legs." | | 14:39 | Ted Ray | "Meet my new secretary there, Mr. Francis Clark, the fastest male typist in the business. How are ya?" |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:07] – Ted Ray’s opening monologue and orchestra jokes
• [03:34] – "In the Good Old Summertime" musical number
• [05:32] – Introduction of the episode’s domestic plot: Ted home late, argument begins
• [09:40] – The "new secretary" subplot develops
• [14:39] – The big reveal: Frances is a man

Tone and Style

The humor is warm, quick-witted, playfully sardonic, and filled with jokes that gently lampoon domestic life. Ted Ray and Kitty's bickering is filled with affection, British understatement, and clever reversals, capturing the comedic essence of postwar radio.

Concluding Notes

For listeners who love classic domestic comedy and sharp, affectionate banter, this "Rays A Laugh" episode is a brilliant period piece. The musical numbers, social commentary, and plot twist about the secretary sustain both energy and amusement throughout, making it a timeless example of British radio fun.