Rexall Hollywood Revue - 1944-11-01 (02) - Toast of Texas, or, Bread on the Range

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Rexall Hollywood Revue - 1944-11-01 (02) - Toast of Texas, or, Bread on the Range
Release Date: September 17, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio features a classic broadcast from the Rexall Hollywood Revue (original air date: November 1, 1944): "Toast of Texas, or, Bread on the Range." The show blends musical performances, comic sketches, and parodic advertisements from Hollywood’s Golden Age of Radio. Headlined by Robert Benchley, Cass Daly, and Charles Butterworth—with music by Ray Eberly and Lud Gluskin’s orchestra—the episode satirizes Western movie tropes with sharp banter and period humor.

A persistent theme is the promotion of the Rexall drugstore's "$0.01 Sale," humorously woven into the drama and variety acts.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Introduction & Cast [01:03–02:02]

• Harlow Wilcox introduces the cast: Robert Benchley, Cass Daly, Charles Butterworth.
• The show is billed as a "tuneful gay review" supporting the Rexall $0.01 Sale.
  • Quote (Wilcox, 01:04): "Rexall brings you an all star Hollywood cast... Rexall offers this tuneful gay review..."

2. ‘Toast of Texas’ – The Western Parody [02:02–05:19]

A rapid-fire, self-referential "radio trailer" lampoons sweeping Westerns:

• Outlandish plot and star introductions ("a girl with her faith in a boy, a boy with his faith in a horse, and a horse with its faith in a water trough" [Benchley & Butterworth, 02:31]).

• Absurd song titles:

  • "Just a Little Bit South of North Dakota"
  • "Give a Man a Horse that Can Cook"
  • "When It’s Roundup Time in Oregon, I’ll Meet You in Portland, Maine."

• Ridiculous highlights:

  • Massively exaggerated numbers of scenes and costumes.
  • Quote (Wilcox, 03:03): "See it today. 5,000 exciting scenes, 4,000 actors, 3,000 costumes..."

• Comic exchange (03:57):

  • Benchley: "We got a goat down at our house and it ain't got any nose..."
  • Butterworth: "Well, how does it smell, folks? See the Toast of Texas and find out."

• Reviews from made-up publications:

  • Quote (Butterworth, 04:13): "No buffaloes!"

• A ludicrously suspenseful climax ("rushing Apaches, cattle stampede, forest fire, and Tonto Dam bursting" [Wilcox, 04:28]).

• Quote (Butterworth, 05:00): "If you think this is bad, come back next week and see the rest of the picture."

3. Musical Interlude: "I'll Be Seeing You" [05:19–07:48]

• Ray Eberly, with Lud Gluskin's orchestra, performs the sentimental ballad "I'll Be Seeing You."
• The musical break offers classic, nostalgic radio ambiance.

4. The Rexall "$0.01 Sale" Infomercial (Satirical) [07:48–09:47]

• Harlow Wilcox humorously details the sale: "two standard items for the price of one plus one cent."
• Benchley interjects with light-hearted banter:
  • Quote (Benchley, 08:01): "Oh, let me at my brother’s penny bank."
• Light, playful urgings for listeners to take advantage of the sale, with comic interruptions and sly jokes from Butterworth.

5. "Daily, Benchley and Butterworth Ride Again" - The Western Sketch [09:47–13:17]

A full-length spoof featuring:

• Classic Western dynamics:
  • Benchley (Cassie Girl) returns to town, banters with Sheriff (Butterworth).
  • Repeated wordplay around cowboy tropes ("bears – only one spur" [Benchley, 10:03]).
• Introduction of villain "The Bicarbonate Kid" and "Wild Bill Hiccup"
  • Quote (Butterworth, 10:40): "There’s a dangerous killer at large... The Bicarbonate Kid."
• Over-the-top confrontations:
  • Comic duels, mistaken identities, and fake-out dramatic tension.
• Love triangle subplot, with "health, wealth and obscurity" promised as marriage vows.
  • Quote (Butterworth, 11:29): "Cassie, gal, come away to the mountains with me and I'll give you health, wealth and obscurity."
• Absurd Western climaxes—gunfights, rescues, and classic last request before a hanging.
  • Quote (Butterworth, 13:00): "If you're going to hang me, hang me from the highest tree... I guess I'm just a show off."

6. Final Promotion & Closing Banter [13:17–15:34]

• Wilcox recaps Rexall's $0.01 sale, giving more humorous product details.
• Wrap-up with cast reminders and encouragement to visit local Rexall stores.
  • Quote (Wilcox, 14:42): "Make a list of all your drugstore needs and save practically 50%..."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the "movie trailer":

  • "The story of a girl with her faith in a boy, a boy with his faith in a horse, and a horse with its faith in a water trough."
    — Charles Butterworth, [02:31]

• Comic set-up and punchline:

  • "We got a goat down at our house and it ain't got any nose..."
    — Robert Benchley, [03:57]
  • "Well, how does it smell, folks? See the Toast of Texas and find out."
    — Charles Butterworth, [04:00]

• Absurd plot escalation:

  • "Don’t miss the thrilling climax when Charlie and Cass are trapped: Apaches left, cattle stampede right, forest fire ahead, dam burst behind..."
    — Harlow Wilcox, [04:28]

• Silly villain name:

  • "The Bicarbonate Kid... Even his guns are repeaters..."
    — Charles Butterworth, [10:40]

• Marriage proposal:

  • "Cassie, gal, come away to the mountains with me, and I'll give you health, wealth and obscurity."
    — Charles Butterworth, [11:29]

• Last request:

  • "If you’re going to hang me, hang me from the highest tree... I guess I’m just a show off."
    — Charles Butterworth & Robert Benchley, [13:00]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction & Cast Announcements — [01:03–02:02]
• Parodic Western "Toast of Texas" (Radio Trailer) — [02:02–05:19]
• Musical Interlude: "I'll Be Seeing You" — [05:19–07:48]
• Rexall "$0.01 Sale" Advertisements (Comic Banter) — [07:48–09:47]; [13:17–14:40]
• Western Parody Skit: "Ride Again or Empty Saddles" — [09:47–13:17]
• Closing Remarks and Promotions — [13:17–15:34]

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Tone & Atmosphere

The show is lighthearted, rich with surreal humor and exaggerated Western drama. The tone is very "showbiz radio"—cheery, winking at the audience, and packed with zingers and puns. The cast are game for self-parody, poking fun at both themselves and radio conventions of their era.

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In Summary

This episode offers a pitch-perfect parody of 1940s radio Westerns, full of rapid witty exchanges, silly plot twists, and mock-serious deliveries. The ongoing jokes about Rexall’s $0.01 sale serve as both comic fodder and period advertising, seamlessly integrated into the lively skits and musical numbers. For fans of vintage radio, it’s a trip back to the days when families gathered for clever, rollicking entertainment—complete with all the nostalgia and humor you’d expect from the era’s best performers.

Transcript

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[Rexall Announcer]

Rexall Presents.

[Harlow Wilcox]

The Rexall Hollywood Review. Rexall brings you an all star Hollywood cast including Robert Benchley, Cass Daly, Charles Butterworth, Ray Eberly, Lud Gleskin and his orchestra and yours truly, Harlow Wilcox. Rexall offers this tuneful gay review to remind you that Thursday of this week is a red letter day from coast to coast. Because Thursday is the opening day of the Rexall original $0.01 sale. The stores holding this sale are also sponsoring these programs. So if you like the show, don't thank us.

[Rexall Announcer]

Thank you.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Now folks, here are our big three. Benchley, Daly and Butterworth. Cass and Bob and Charlie have just finished a colossal picture together and they want you to hear the radio version. So for the next two hours.

[Robert Benchley]

How long did you say it would take?

[Harlow Wilcox]

Oh, about two hours.

[Rexall Announcer]

Oh, no.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Hmm. Well, maybe we better give you the radio version of the trailer for the picture. You know, the preview of next week's attraction. So, from Hollywood, Dingy Films present its stupendous, gigantic, terrific new western triumph.

[Charles Butterworth]

Toast of Texas or Bread on the Range.

[Robert Benchley]

The story of a girl with her faith in a boy, a boy with.

[Charles Butterworth]

His faith in a horse. And a horse with its faith in a water trough. Starring Baa Baa Baa Ba Benchley, the crooning Caruso of the Canyons. His voice thrills the heart of every cow in the country.

[Robert Benchley]

With Cass Daly as the lady gambler who left town under a cloud and came back with a silver fox lining.

[Charles Butterworth]

And Charles Butterworth of the Scarlet Shadow of the Purple Sage. A two fisted terror with lots of muscle. Hustle and bustle. Oh, what a muscle. Oh, what a hustle oh, what a bustle.

[Harlow Wilcox]

See it today. 5,000 exciting scenes, 4,000 actors, 3,000 costumes. It's drenched with daring drama.

[Robert Benchley]

Did they get your Benchy? Yes, yes, yes, yes. Ah, changing the subject, eh?

[Charles Butterworth]

You know what this means, don't you, Cassie girl?

[Robert Benchley]

No, Benchy boy.

[Charles Butterworth]

What means could be.

[Robert Benchley]

Well, good. We've been needing curtains for months.

[Harlow Wilcox]

It sizzles with spine stirring suspense. A triumph of turgid teeming Technicolor coming to you in six delicious colors. Purple, lavender, scarlet, orange, lemon and lime.

[Charles Butterworth]

Dear Baba Baba Benchley the Cactus Crosby singing his new song hits just a little bit south of North Dakota. Give a man a horse that can cook. When it's roundup time in Oregon, I'll meet you in Portland, Maine. The picture that's full of chuckable chuckles like this.

[Robert Benchley]

We got a goat down at our house and it ain't got any nose.

[Charles Butterworth]

You gotta go down at your house Ain't got any nose. Well, how does it smell, folks? See the toast of Texas and find out.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Listen to the critics. The Hollywood Citizen says. The Buffalo Inquirer says, what?

[Charles Butterworth]

No buffaloes.

[Harlow Wilcox]

And time says, when you hear the.

[Robert Benchley]

Tone, the time will be exactly Tuesday.

[Charles Butterworth]

It's the story of a love that will never die. For one week only.

[Robert Benchley]

Yes, yes. And a woman who paid and paid and paid at popular prices.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Don't miss the thrilling climax when Charlie and Cass are trapped in Tombstone Canyon. Rushing toward them from the left comes a savage band of Apaches. Thundering at them from the right pours a maddened cattle stampede. In front of them ranges a mighty forest fire. And behind them the old Tonto Dam suddenly bursts. As tons of water descend upon them in an enveloping current. Our hero speaks. Say, this is bad.

[Charles Butterworth]

If you think this is bad, come back next week and see the rest of the picture.

[Harlow Wilcox]

And now Ray Eberly, accompanied by Lud Gluskin and his orchestra in his rendition of I'll Be Seeing you.

[Rexall Announcer]

I be seeing you in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces all night through in that small cafe the park across the way the children's carousel the chestnut tree the wishing well.

[Charles Butterworth]

I.

[Rexall Announcer]

Be seeing you in every lovely summer's day in everything that's bright and gay I'll always think of you that way I'll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new I'll be looking at the moon But I'll be seeing You I'll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new I'll be looking at the moon But I'll be seeing you.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Tomorrow is the opening day of the Rexall Original $0.01 sale at Rexall Drugstores from coast to coast. During this sale you can get two standard Rexall items in the sale for the regular price of 1 plus 1 cent.

[Robert Benchley]

Oh, let me at my brother's penny bank.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Now here's how the Rexall $0.01 sale works. Let's say you need a drugstore item.

[Charles Butterworth]

Come on now, Olla, get down to cases.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Okay, here are a couple of examples. Famous pure test aspirin is regularly priced at 100 in a bottle for 49 cents. During the sale you get 2 bottles 200 tablets for only 50 cents. Pure test ABDG vitamin capsules sell regularly at 50 capsules for $1. During the sale you get 100 capsules for $1.01. 2 boxes for the regular price of 1 plus 1 cent.

[Charles Butterworth]

If I may make a sly remark, why not be nice to a friend and still save money? Maybe you don't need two boxes, but maybe your friend needs one too. See what I'm driving at? Eventually you all rogue your head.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Well, due to present day conditions, some items you've purchased at previous $0.01 sales may not be available. But the examples I just gave you are only two of many, many other equally attractive medicines, cosmetics, dental needs and so on. All at two for the regular price of one plus one cent. Go to your local Rexall drugstore tomorrow if you can. But get there for sure before closing time Saturday night. Save practically 50% on many items. And only Rexall drugstores feature The Rexall original $0.01 SAL. Now back to cast daily Robert Benchley and Charlie Butterworth. A short while ago we heard the trailers of their great western epic comes time now to present the full length feature. This drama is entitled Daily Benchley and Butterworth Ride Again or Empty Saddles.

[Robert Benchley]

Ah, there you be, Sheriff.

[Charles Butterworth]

Cassie girl, I'm glad to see you. I rode by your place yesterday in Boni posse and when I saw you sitting on the corral fence I said to the boys I Fellas, there's a woman for you. There is a woman?

[Robert Benchley]

Well gee, you said that?

[Charles Butterworth]

Yup, I lost $50 in bets.

[Robert Benchley]

Ah, Sheriff, you say the gold darnedest things. Say, how do you like my new outfit? These chaps are genuine bearskin.

[Charles Butterworth]

Genuine bearskin? How comes you're wearing only one spur?

[Robert Benchley]

Oh, that's no spur. That's the trap Yoo hoo.

[Charles Butterworth]

Fancy. This town is no place for a gal like you.

[Robert Benchley]

Ah, yes, I know it's tough, but I like this town. My grandfather used to hang around here.

[Charles Butterworth]

He did?

[Robert Benchley]

Yep. Right from that there tree over there.

[Charles Butterworth]

Well, I still think you ought to leave town, gal. Got your horse handy?

[Robert Benchley]

Nope. He's down at the ration board getting his new hay card. But why are you so anxious to have me leave?

[Charles Butterworth]

Well, there's a dangerous killer at large in town. The Bicarbonate Kid.

[Robert Benchley]

The Bicarbonate Kid?

[Charles Butterworth]

Yep. Wild Bill Hiccup. Even his guns are repeaters.

[Robert Benchley]

Say, I knew him when he was called Hop Along Acidity.

[Charles Butterworth]

Look who it is. It's the killer. Stand where you are, hombre, or I'll pull the trigger on my pistol. Here. Now, nobody move till I pick myself up. All right, Sheriff. I ain't taking any chances. Drop your weapons on the floor. Okay. Thought so, Sheriff. Carrying a concealed yo yo, eh? And you, gal, you look mighty suspicious. What's that bulge in your hip pocket?

[Robert Benchley]

My hip?

[Charles Butterworth]

Cassie, gal, come away to the mountains with me and I'll give you health, wealth and obscurity. Forget him, Cassie. Marry me and we'll live a life of ease. There'll be Palm Beach. There'll be the Riviera. There'll be Switzerland. There'll be Mexico.

[Robert Benchley]

Do you mean we'll go to all those places?

[Charles Butterworth]

No. They'll be there, though. And we'll be in Glendale. Come here, gal. You and I are headed for the hill.

[Robert Benchley]

Put me down. Put me down. Sheriff, don't let him take me away. Help.

[Charles Butterworth]

That low down vomit made off my. Cassie. Gal, I'll catch up with him if it's the last thing I do. I'll show him a thing or two. When it comes to shooting, I'm the only man alive that can shoot the yolk out of a new laid egg without making the hen get. I've been on that killer's trail now for 10 days and I'm on the spot. No food, no water, my horse is tired and the Bicarbonate Kid's got my gal. There's only one thing left to do. I gotta get word through to Gene Autry. Listen, there's something hiding behind that rock. Can it be the killer? Yeah. That's the Bicarbonate Kid. Come out from behind that rock, killer, and reach for the sky. All right, I'll reach, but I'll never make it.

[Robert Benchley]

Oh, Sheriff Benchley. I knew you'd save me.

[Charles Butterworth]

Are you all right, gal?

[Robert Benchley]

Yes, yes. I nearly escaped by myself last Night, though. I tried to saddle old paint and make getaway. But it was a tough job.

[Charles Butterworth]

Why?

[Robert Benchley]

Well, it isn't easy getting a saddle and a bucket of old paint.

[Charles Butterworth]

As for you, Killer, you're going to pay for this with your life.

[Robert Benchley]

Okay, I'll get the noose ready.

[Charles Butterworth]

Killer. Have you got any last requests? Yes. If you're going to hang me, hang me from the highest tree. Why the highest tree? I don't know. I guess I'm just a show off.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Remember, folks, The Rexall original $0.01 sale starts tomorrow. You can get two standard Rexall items in the sale for the regular price of one plus one cent. For instance, popular Rexall milk of Magnesia tooth powder sells regularly for 35 cents. During the sale, you can get two for 36 cents. Two for the price of one plus one cent.

[Robert Benchley]

Why?

[Harlow Wilcox]

What's that, Cass?

[Robert Benchley]

I said why?

[Harlow Wilcox]

Okay, I'll tell you. Because. Maybe others want to know why Rexall holds this $0.01 sale. Well, it's your Rexall druggist's way of making new friends. His regular customers know his reputation and his service. But he wants more of you to know the high quality of Rexall items and how they give you so much value. Value for your money. Even at the regular price. This big $0.01 sale gives you a special reason to come in and get acquainted. And remember, all items in this sale are standard, high quality Rexall merchandise. Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, you can buy two for the price of one plus one cent. Look for that familiar oval sign that says Rexall Drugs. And go in with a list of all your drugstore needs. And so, until tomorrow when we'll be seeing you again with another exall Hollywood Review with Ray Eberly, Lud Gluskin and.

[Charles Butterworth]

His orchestra, Robert Benchley, Charles Butterworth and.

[Harlow Wilcox]

Cass Daly, who is heard regularly on the Frank Morgan Show. This is Harlow Wilcox reminding you to listen in again tomorrow and Saturday for more music and fun. With this cast, you'll find correct times in your newspaper. Meanwhile, make a list of all your drugstore needs and save practically 50% on many of them at the opening of The Rexall original $0.01 sale tomorrow. And remember the Rexall Drugstore for the best values in town. Every day.

[Charles Butterworth]

It.