Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Red Skelton Show 52-06-18 (368) "Cauliflower Fights Tonight"

Date: August 30, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Airdate: June 18, 1952

Overview

This episode features a full-length rebroadcast of the classic "Red Skelton Show," titled "Cauliflower Fights Tonight." The show is a comedic farce centered around Red Skelton’s recurring character Cauliflower McPug, a not-so-bright prizefighter caught up in confusion, gangsters, and a big boxing match. The episode delivers a barrage of rapid-fire one-liners, slapstick, and musical interludes, evocative of the radio comedy style that captivated mid-century American audiences.

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

1. The Setup: Red's Prizefighter Predicament

[02:21–04:50]

• Red Skelton talks with Mr. Fret about his new acquisition: the punch-drunk prizefighter Cauliflower McPug.
• Skelton reveals he’s in a bind: after boasting about McPug’s fighting prowess, a gangster named Trigger Happy McGeehan bets $50,000 on McPug and threatens Red if he loses the fight.
• Quote:

  "Pay attention. This is the plot. That dopey gangster believed it and he bet $50,000 on McPug to win. And then he threatens to kill me if I don't pay off if McPug loses the fight."
  — Red Skelton [02:58]

2. Trigger Happy McGeehan’s Threats

[03:39–04:28]

• Trigger Happy McGeehan checks in over the phone, making it clear he’s watching Red and expects his money if the fight doesn’t go his way.
• The exchange is full of tongue-in-cheek threats and classic gangster bravado.
• Quote:

  "If McPug loses, you'd better have my 50 grand ready."
  — Trigger Happy McGeehan [03:53]

3. Red and Company Plan an Escape

[09:41–10:43]

• Red is nervous; Rod O’Connor and Mr. Fret try to devise a way out, suggesting life insurance companies as a joke.
• The humor pivots on Red’s panic and his friends’ dry wit.
• Quote:

  "Well, what do you suggest now?"
  — Red Skelton
  "Oh, I don't know. Prudential and Metropolitan are both good."
  — Rod O'Connor [10:20]

4. Dead Eye Texas Arrives

[11:17–15:05]

• The tough-talking cowboy Dead Eye Texas (another of Skelton's characters) appears, looking for Trigger Happy McGeehan.
• Several slapstick gags follow: bending metal with his teeth, absurd drink recipes, and more.
• Quote:

  "I'll have to turn sideways. You see, this door is a little narrow..."
  — Dead Eye Texas/Red Skelton [12:00]
  "You know, he's wanted down in Texas...for robbery, murder and stealing two drums of TNT and selling oil stock. That's no good. Phony."
  — Dead Eye Texas/Red Skelton [12:36]

5. Escape to the Fight – and Car Troubles

[17:13–18:36]

• Red, Mr. Fret, and Rod attempt to get to the fight, using Mr. Fret’s decrepit car.
• The vehicle’s poor state becomes a running gag.
• Quote:

  "Me buy him a new car? Look, boy, I got news for you. I got a wife, two kids and a tax collector to support."
  — Red Skelton [17:33]

6. Pre-Fight Musical Number

[19:20–21:42]

• The Smith Twins and Dead Eye Texas perform "When I Dream," serving as the lighthearted, melodic interlude typical of the era’s variety shows.
• Notable moment: The group sings comedic and romantic verses, reinforcing the good-natured tone before the climactic boxing match.

7. Backstage Antics and Fight Preparations

[22:51–25:37]

• Backstage banter as Cauliflower McPug prepares for the big fight. McPug’s punchy confusion, nonsensical logic, and misunderstanding of boxing rules (Queensberry rules) take center stage.
• Several gags revolve around McPug's state of mind and readiness.
• Quote:

  "I'm not punchy. Don't get me wrong, I never forget my biggest fight..."
  — Cauliflower McPug/Red Skelton [24:01]
  "My pants are a little tight under the armpit."
  — Cauliflower McPug/Red Skelton [25:02]

8. The Big Fight: Slapstick at Its Finest

[25:55–28:48]

• The actual fight is absurd: Cauliflower is hopelessly outmatched, the ring is full of confusion, and the action is carried by a storm of Groucho Marx-style one-liners.
• Highlights include a “horseshoe in the glove for luck,” a call to “open the window and let them crows out,” and Cauliflower swinging wildly, never landing a punch.
• Quote:

  "Fight. What do you want for 50 cents a revolution?"
  — Cauliflower McPug/Red Skelton [28:05]

9. Climax: Showdown with Trigger Happy McGeehan

[28:53–30:25]

• After the fight ends farcically, Trigger Happy McGeehan confronts Red, but Dead Eye Texas takes charge, orchestrating a comic “shootout” to disarm the gangster.
• The gangsters’ antics, jokes about TNT, and Dead Eye’s definitive justice wrap up the mayhem.
• Quote:

  "I'll blast you full of ad libs."
  — Red Skelton [28:58]
  "Now, I'll use my high powered pistol and try to hit that flask of TNT that he's carrying in his back pocket..."
  — Dead Eye Texas/Red Skelton [29:24]
  "Well, Skelton's safe... That's where you're wrong, partner. We Texas Rangers always bring back our man. You got a blotter?"
  — Dead Eye Texas/Red Skelton [30:01, 30:05]

10. Closing Remarks and Next Week's Teaser

[30:25–31:15]

• The show ends with standard radio sign-offs and a reminder for listeners to tune in next week for more Red Skelton comedy.

Notable Quotes

• "Pay attention. This is the plot..." — Red Skelton [02:58]
• "If McPug loses, you'd better have my 50 grand ready." — Trigger Happy McGeehan [03:53]
• "Oh, I don't know. Prudential and Metropolitan are both good." — Rod O'Connor [10:20]
• "My pants are a little tight under the armpit." — Cauliflower McPug/Red Skelton [25:02]
• "Fight. What do you want for 50 cents a revolution?" — Cauliflower McPug/Red Skelton [28:05]
• "I'll blast you full of ad libs." — Red Skelton [28:58]
• "We Texas Rangers always bring back our man. You got a blotter?" — Dead Eye Texas/Red Skelton [30:05]

Memorable Moments

• The absurd recipe for a “Texas Humdinger” drink [13:50]
• Musical interlude with the Smith Twins and Dead Eye Texas singing “When I Dream” [19:20–21:42]
• Cauliflower’s nonsensical fight preparations and rules misunderstandings [24:01–25:37]
• The slapstick “boxing match” and its farcical resolution [25:55–28:48]
• Red threatening to defend himself with “ad libs” and Dead Eye’s over-the-top lawman bravado [28:53–30:05]

Classic Red Skelton Humor in Context

• The show is packed with Skelton’s signature blend of corny puns, double entendre, playful physical humor (described vividly for a radio audience), and zany situations.
• The variety format (comedy, music, sketches) reflects the era’s style and its family-friendly, communal listening experience.

For Listeners

This episode is a classic dose of wholesome, slapstick Americana, brimming with nostalgia and the clever wordplay that made Red Skelton a household name. If you enjoy sharp-witted, character-driven farce with retro flair, "Cauliflower Fights Tonight" is a perfect showcase from the Golden Age of Radio.