Podcast Summary: Harold’s Old Time Radio — The Danny Kaye Show 1945-06-01 (022): “Danny Has a Dream”
Release Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a classic broadcast of The Danny Kaye Show from June 1, 1945, marking the end of its season. The show is framed around Danny Kaye hosting a farewell party as Harry James and his band prepare to take over the timeslot for the summer. The episode mixes comedic sketches, lighthearted musical numbers, and a hilarious dream sequence, all delivered in Kaye’s signature fast-paced, playful style. It wraps up with warm goodbyes, a song about the magic of radio, and plenty of appreciation for the whole cast.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. The Farewell Party Setup (01:19–06:00)

• Diary Narration: Danny is journaling about the upcoming summer break and his party plans.
• Evie Arden’s List: Eve and Danny check last-minute party preps:
  • “Sandwiches all made, that's done. Silverware all polished, that's done. Rugs rolled back for dancing, that's done. Floors all waxed.” (01:50–02:09)
• Ken Niles’ Directions Gag: Ken calls, unsure how to find Danny’s house, prompting a running joke about celebrity neighbors.
  • Danny: “Lana Turner lives right alongside.”
  • Ken: “Who does?”
  • Danny: “Marjorie Maine.” (02:55–03:01)
• Harry James Arrives: Danny gives a warm welcome to Harry James, Kitty Callan, and the band, riffing about band members and their quirks.
  • Danny: “Who's that little fella standing in the corner?”
  • Harry: “Oh, that's Joe.”
  • Danny: “I never can remember his name.” (04:30–04:34)
• Swingin’ Party Banter: Jokes fly about musicians, dancing, and party games.
  • Danny: “We’ll streamline it, huh? I’ll turn out the lights and everybody kisses the person nearest them... Where’d you learn to pucker like that?”
  • Harry: “I am James the trumpet player.” (05:41–05:45)

2. Musical Performance: "Bally Boogie" (06:37–09:19)

• Danny performs “Bally Boogie,” a playful and nonsensical tune from his movie Wonder Man, with musical backup from Kay Thompson and the band. The performance is filled with inventive scat and energy.
  • Danny: “With the expert assistance of Kay Thompson and the boys, we’ll run through a chorus or two of Bally Boogie.” (06:45)
  • Full of tongue twisters and onomatopoeic lyrics:
    “A waka song song a waka slick lick a waka song song a waka head step...” (08:08)

3. Light-hearted Party Scenes (09:53–11:23)

• Toasting with Pabst Blue Ribbon: The cast jokes about serving drinks, using Pabst as a symbol of fellowship and good times.
  • Ken: “When good friends get together, everybody calls for Pabst Blue Ribbon. Why, this great beer just seems to have good fellowship blended right into it.” (10:38)
  • Evie: “Have Blue Ribbon, of course.” (10:05)

4. Swing Instrumental: "King Porter's Dance" (12:12–15:18)

• Harry James and his Music Makers perform a lively swing number, inviting the cast and listeners to “put on your dancing shoes.”

5. The Dream Sequence / Radio Play (15:18–23:32)

This extended sketch is the comedic highlight, structured as a surreal radio drama inside Danny’s dream:

• Setup:
  • Danny (as Daniel Okay): “I dreamed I was about to do a play in which I was going to act the characters of Daniel. Okay, Inspector Hijk, Danny Kewpie, K. And Donovitz Gaeoff.” (15:52)
• Parody & Puns: They spoof detective stories and gangster tropes:
  • “N A G E I R R A H spells Nagira. That's Harrigan spelled backwards.” (16:14)
  • Danny counting his toes: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… Wait a minute. I ain’t through with this one. 8, 9, 10, 11.” (16:40)
• Case of the Missing Boy: Overlapping absurdities as Danny plays multiple roles:
  • Inspector (in British parody): “Hand me the sodium phosphate... Now a dash of oxohydro carbosulfate. There we are. Sergeant, take this down to headquarters immediately.”
    Sergeant: “What is it?”
    Inspector: “That is the solution. Amazing.” (19:10–19:32)
• Hollywood Satire: A movie producer wants to star the missing boy in a “super colossal short.”
  • Producer Koff: “When I find this boy, I will star him in a super colossal short. Short.”
    Secretary: “Trip.”
    Producer: “Who wrote this section here?” (20:25–20:31)
• Child Actor Riff: Danny as “Danny Cupycane,” an odd, tragic youngster:
  • “When I was born, my father said, this boy looks just like Danny Kay. Then he took me out and drowned me.” (22:00)
  • “For 10 years I lived on the bottom of the sea, and I married a mermaid, and we raised little octopopy pussies.” (22:09)
• Ending Gag:
  • Danny: “You can’t see me.”
  • Evie: “I can’t see you?”
  • Danny: “Uh, I’m invisible.” (22:38–22:40)
• Wake-up Call: “Danny, wake up.”
  • Danny: “Wake up. Where am I? What happened? What happened?” (23:05–23:06)
  • Ken: “Take it easy now. Danny, you’ve been dreaming. You had a nightmare.” (23:09–23:12)
  • Danny: “All I had was just lobster, a little ice cream, Welsh rabbit, fried onions, a strawberry shortcake, Spanish omelette, Boston cream pie, chopped liver...” (23:19–23:32)

6. “The Magic of Radio” Song & Reflections (25:18–27:26)

• Danny sings a witty Gilbert & Sullivan–style number about the joys and quirks of performing on radio:
  • Danny:
    “The radio, to me, will always be a major miracle.
    My feelings on the subject are distinctly panegyrical.
    I never can accept it as a very simple case at all,
    That lots of people know me though they’ve never seen my face at all...” (25:38–25:56)
  • On the peculiarity of not seeing one's audience:
    “You do a show but never know if anyone is listening.” (25:58–26:01)

7. Farewells, Thanks, and Season Wrap-Up (27:26–30:01)

• Seasonal Goodbye: Danny and the cast bid a gentle, sentimental “au revoir,” promising a return after the summer.
  • Danny:
    “But now, alas the time has come for me to take my leave of you.
    But if you think I’m gone for good that really is naive of you.
    It’s only for the summertime and I will see you all again
    When August and July go by and autumn starts to fall again...” (26:50–27:26)
• Acknowledgements: Danny thanks the entire cast and crew.
  • “It was a real pleasure to know and work with all the members of our cast. Evie Arden, Bob Jellison, Ken Niles, and of course, Harry James and his boys. Also, a deep bow of appreciation to our authors, Jay Summers, Jack Harvard, Stanley Davis...” (29:25–29:34)
• Harry James Teases Next Season: Plans to broadcast from army and navy bases all summer.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Evie & Danny prepping the party:
  “Sandwiches all made, that's done. Silverware all polished, that's done. Rugs rolled back for dancing, that's done. Floors all waxed.” (01:50–02:09)
• Ken and directions gag:
  Danny: “Lana Turner lives right alongside.” (02:55)
  Ken: “Who does?”
  Danny: “Marjorie Maine.” (03:00)
• Post office kissing game punchline:
  Danny: “Where’d you learn to pucker like that?”
  Harry: “I am James the trumpet player.” (05:45)
• “Bally Boogie” musical chaos:
  “A waka song song a waka slick lick a waka song song...” (08:08)
• Dream sequence, Danny counting toes:
  “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… Wait a minute. I ain’t through with this one. 8, 9, 10, 11.” (16:40–16:56)
• The “solution” joke:
  Inspector: “That is the solution. Amazing.” (19:32)
• Child’s tragicomic monologue:
  “My sister ran away with the iceman. The roof is leaking, my dog's got fleas, and my grandmother lost her teeth playing pinochle.” (21:41–21:48)
• Radio song—on audience invisibility:
  “You do a show but never know if anyone is listening.” (25:58–26:01)

Final Thoughts

This classic episode is a showcase of Danny Kaye’s rapid-fire wit, musical comedy, and affectionate send-offs. The episode’s warmth, zaniness, and playful interaction among cast members provide a nostalgic window into mid-century radio comedy. Its blend of sketches, songs, and improvisational energy make it an endearing listen for old time radio fans, perfectly capturing the communal spirit of radio’s golden age.

For Next Week:
Harry James and his Music Makers will entertain through the summer season, including special broadcasts for the troops—promising more music, fun, and Golden Age radio charm!