Up The Pole 1948-11-01 First Show

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – "Up The Pole 1948-11-01 First Show"

Release Date: February 23, 2025
Title: Up The Pole 1948-11-01 First Show
Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Introduction

"Up The Pole" transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio, capturing the essence of family entertainment before the advent of television. In this inaugural episode, set on a brisk autumn morning in 1948, the audience is introduced to a delightful ensemble of characters navigating humorous and heartfelt situations. This first installment sets the stage for a series filled with adventures, camaraderie, and classic radio charm.

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Characters Introduced

• Jimmy Jewel: The affable and somewhat clumsy protagonist, striving to win the affection of Betty.
• Ben Warren: Jimmy's witty and supportive roommate, always ready with a quip or a solution.
• Betty: The love interest, kind-hearted and pragmatic, with high standards.
• Burpee: A quirky friend with dubious schemes, aiming to make quick money.
• Supporting Cast: Claude Dampier, John Pertwee, Roger Snowden, the five Smith brothers, and Stanley Black's orchestra add depth and ambiance to the storyline.

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Plot Summary

Early Morning Preparations

The episode opens with Jimmy Jewel meticulously preparing for the day, brushing his teeth while pondering over his plans to impress Betty. Ben Warren, observing Jimmy’s overzealous grooming, teases him lightheartedly:

Ben Warren (02:05): "Stop gargling. That'll be quite enough of that noise, James."

Jimmy reveals his nervousness about an upcoming visit from Betty, who is intrigued by his sudden eagerness:

Jimmy Jewel (03:08): "She's calling round to see me this morning."

The Birthday Dilemma

As the conversation unfolds, Jimmy confesses his desire to give Betty a meaningful birthday present but expresses his financial constraints:

Jimmy Jewel (06:34): "I'm going to get her a ring. And it's in the middle window and it's marked £50."

Ben attempts to boost Jimmy's confidence, suggesting that he himself approach Betty directly, but Jimmy remains hesitant:

Ben Warren (02:27): "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

Introducing Burpee and the Football Pools Scheme

Amidst Jimmy’s predicament, Burpee enters the scene with a questionable proposition to solve Jimmy's financial woes. He pitches a seemingly lucrative opportunity involving football pools:

Burpee (07:27): "I'm an agent for the help yourself football pools. I'm just calling around the houses, pick up some new clients."

Jimmy, desperate to impress Betty, eagerly signs up for Burpee’s scheme, hoping to win the £50,000 prize that would allow him to purchase the desired ring:

Jimmy Jewel (08:46): "Here, just think what I can buy Betty with that."

However, as the plot progresses, it becomes evident that Burpee's plan is more of a scam than a legitimate chance to win big. Despite Jimmy's enthusiasm, the narrative hints at impending trouble due to the dubious nature of the football pools scheme.

Climactic Tension

As the episode nears its end, the tension builds with Jimmy realizing the potential consequences of his actions if he fails to secure the necessary funds:

Jimmy Jewel (06:54): "But I haven't got £50. I'm going to faint."

Ben warns of the repercussions, emphasizing the urgency:

Ben Warren (07:09): "Well, if you don't get the ring for Betty, her cousin Roderick will."

Resolution and Cliffhanger

The episode concludes on a cliffhanger as Burpee continues to manipulate Jimmy into signing up for the football pools, leaving listeners eager to discover the fallout of Jimmy’s decisions in subsequent episodes.

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Notable Quotes

• Ben Warren (02:05): “Stop gargling. That'll be quite enough of that noise, James.”

• Jimmy Jewel (03:08): “She's calling round to see me this morning.”

• Jimmy Jewel (06:34): “I'm going to get her a ring. And it's in the middle window and it's marked £50.”

• Burpee (07:27): “I'm an agent for the help yourself football pools. I'm just calling around the houses, pick up some new clients.”

• Jimmy Jewel (08:46): “Here, just think what I can buy Betty with that.”

• Jimmy Jewel (06:54): “But I haven't got £50. I'm going to faint.”

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Conclusion

The first show of "Up The Pole" masterfully blends humor, romance, and suspense, setting up an engaging narrative that promises more adventures to come. Through the relatable struggles of Jimmy Jewel and the antics of supporting characters like Ben Warren and Burpee, the episode encapsulates the spirit of 1940s radio entertainment. Listeners are left anticipating how Jimmy will navigate the challenges of securing Betty's admiration and the potential pitfalls of Burpee’s schemes in future episodes.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content sections to focus solely on the narrative and character development within the episode.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

Do you know what's in store for you for the next half an hour, ladies and gentlemen?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, you'll never guess. Up the pole.

[Narrator]

Yes, it's the first in a new series of adventures with Claude Dampier, John Pertwee, Betty Paul, Roger Snowden, the five Smith brothers, Stanley Black in the orchestra, and of course, that crazy couple, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warren. Since we last heard from our two heroes, they've moved into an apartment over a disused fire station. And our story begins there, one brisk morning in early autumn. Jimmy is cleaning his teeth.

[Ben Warren]

All right, all right, all right. Stop gargling. That'll be quite enough of that noise, James.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, will I?

[Ben Warren]

Of course it will. That's no way. That is no way to say hello to the ladies and gentlemen. Of course not. If you're going to sing at all, if you're going to sing at all, you should sing a little song like this. Oh, welcome to you all, ladies and.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Gentlemen welcome, ladies and gentlemen Sweet ladies and gentlemen Sweet ladies and gentlemen welcome to you all.

[Ben Warren]

Well, that's better out than in, isn't it? Well, I wish you'd come out of the bathroom, James. You know you've been in there for hours. Come on. Yes, and tell me, why are you getting all dressed up this morning?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, I don't like to tell you.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, go on.

[Jimmy Jewel]

No, I'm shy.

[Ben Warren]

Go on, tell Benny. What? I know, I know.

[Jimmy Jewel]

I shall tell you. I shall tell you.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, yes, you will. And I. I've guessed it. It's something to do with Betty.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, you're so clever, Ben. Go to the top of the class. She's calling round to see me this morning.

[Ben Warren]

You mean to say you've asked a pretty young girl like Betty round to this dirty old fire station? Yes.

[Jimmy Jewel]

It's her birthday on Saturday and I want to find out what she liked for a present. So there.

[Ben Warren]

Well, listen, why don't you ask her yourself?

[Jimmy Jewel]

I can't, Ben.

[Ben Warren]

Why not?

[Jimmy Jewel]

You ask her.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, no, no.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Every time I see Betty, I go all to pieces.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, you don't?

[Jimmy Jewel]

I wish I was more the kind of man she admires.

[Ben Warren]

Really?

[Jimmy Jewel]

I wish I were a film star.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, it's not.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, so Robert Taylor.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, that's not all. Being wonderful, being a film star.

[Jimmy Jewel]

I love to be Robert Taylor.

[Ben Warren]

Don't you realize that one day you're kissing Betty Grable, Lana Turner, Dorothy Moore, the next day you're just a has been.

[Jimmy Jewel]

But, brother, just look where you has been.

[Ben Warren]

Hello? Someone at the door.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, it'll be better. It'll be better.

[Ben Warren]

Don't worry. Don't.

[Jimmy Jewel]

I'll faint. I'm going to faint.

[Ben Warren]

I'm going to faint. No, you're not.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yeah. I can't stand it.

[Ben Warren]

I'm going to catch me. No, no.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, go and catch me.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, no.

[Jimmy Jewel]

I want to be calm. Oh, stop it.

[Ben Warren]

Listen, I wish you'd stop larking about, Jimmy.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Well, out the way. Go on, open the door, Ben. I will, I will.

[Betty]

Hello, Ben.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, good. Good morning, Betty.

[Betty]

Hello, Jimmy.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Hello, Betty. Won't you come? Come in.

[Betty]

But I am in.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yes, you are in.

[Ben Warren]

Aren't you in? Take a seat. Betty, darling, I. I think Jimmy wants to ask you something.

[Betty]

Really, Jimmy?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yes. You see, Betty, Saturday's your. Your birthday.

[Ben Warren]

Yes.

[Jimmy Jewel]

At such a time I feel that the time has come for it to be the right time for the time. What is the time, Ben?

[Ben Warren]

10 o'clock.

[Burpee]

Good gracious.

[Jimmy Jewel]

No. Bed's made. Well, I feel I'd like. That is, if you don't mind. Or you tell her, Ben.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, don't be silly. You tell her.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Well, I just want to tell you. I'd like to give you a little present, that's all.

[Ben Warren]

A little present.

[Betty]

Oh, Jimmy Kin.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, she called me Jimmy Kim. Catch me.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, stop larking about. I don't want Betty to know I'm living with an idiot.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Why not? She knows I'm living with one. Oh, shut up.

[Betty]

Oh, it was awfully sweet of you, Jimmy, to want to give me a present. But my cousin, Roderick Porch Bellows has brought me nearly everything I need.

[Ben Warren]

Roderick Forge Bellows?

[Betty]

What? That windbag oh, you mustn't say that, Jimmy. He thinks a lot of me and is the most generous man I know.

[Ben Warren]

Yes, but surely there's something Jimmy could get for you, Betty?

[Betty]

Well, there's one little thing, but it's much too expensive for Jimmy to buy it. Name it.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Name it.

[Ben Warren]

Just name it, that's all. You can have it.

[Jimmy Jewel]

I'll show Roderick Forge Bellows he's not the only man who knows how to treat a girl.

[Betty]

Very well, then. I'd like the ring I've seen in the jewelers down the road.

[Jimmy Jewel]

It shall be yours.

[Betty]

Oh, Jimmy, I could kiss you for being so sweet.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Help yourself.

[Betty]

Oh, Jimmy, where did you learn to kiss like that?

[Ben Warren]

Siphoning petrol.

[Betty]

Well, I must be on my way now. Oh, thank you so much for promising to get me the ring. Jimmy.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Think nothing. Think nothing of it. Think nothing of it. But how shall I know which ring it is?

[Betty]

Oh, you can't miss it. It's in the middle window in a little Velvet case marked £50. Salong. Ben.

[Ben Warren]

Shimmy. Help.

[Betty]

Goodbye, Jimmy Hughes. Sweet, sweet boy.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, she called me a sweet, sweet boy. Oh, I'm going to get her a ring. And it's in the middle window and it's marked £50. It's marked £50, Ben. What? She said the ring was marked £50.

[Ben Warren]

Well, that's what I thought she said.

[Jimmy Jewel]

But I haven't got £50. I'm going to faint.

[Ben Warren]

Do you want to be caught?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yes, I think I've been caught already.

[Ben Warren]

Well, if you don't get the ring for Betty, her cousin Roderick will.

[Jimmy Jewel]

No, I've just got to get that £50, even if it means selling everything I possess.

[Ben Warren]

Jimmy, that would still leave you £48, 10 shillings short. Hello? Maybe that's Betty back. Perhaps she left something behind.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Well, open the door quickly, Ben. She might have called to say she was only joking about the ring.

[Ben Warren]

Okay.

[Burpee]

Watch your mate, Burpy.

[Ben Warren]

Well, well, well, well. Burpee. Fancy. See?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yes. Where have you been doing all these months? Working?

[Burpee]

No, no, no. Only mugs work. I've been doing the old currency lark. You know, all around out.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, you mean in the bun factory?

[Burpee]

No, not that sort of currants. I'm in the old do re me.

[Ben Warren]

Well, this sounds Very interesting, Mr. Burp. Did you.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Did you do well?

[Burpee]

Oh, yes, I say I did.

[Ben Warren]

You did.

[Burpee]

First of all, I took me £35 in English money over to France. Yes, and they give me 40,000 French fronds.

[Ben Warren]

Go on, then. Go on.

[Burpee]

Yes, then I took me throngs over to Holland and I gave me 10,000 Dutch guilders.

[Ben Warren]

That's good.

[Burpee]

Yes, and I took my gilders to Russia.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Did you?

[Burpee]

They gave me 50,000 rubles.

[Ben Warren]

Did they?

[Burpee]

Then I d away all me rubles. You know what they gave me when.

[Ben Warren]

I got back to England now?

[Jimmy Jewel]

What?

[Burpee]

Six months.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Poor old Burpee.

[Burpee]

Oh, well, never mind, mate. I've got a smashing job now, you know.

[Ben Warren]

Have you a smashing job now?

[Burpee]

Oh, I've got a smashing job.

[Jimmy Jewel]

What is it?

[Burpee]

I'm an agent.

[Ben Warren]

An agent?

[Burpee]

Yes. An agent.

[Jimmy Jewel]

What, a 10 percenter?

[Burpee]

That's it? No, no, no. I'm an agent for the help yourself football pools. I'm just calling around the houses, pick up some new clients. Wait a minute.

[Ben Warren]

How about.

[Burpee]

How about you two boys having a bash?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, now, Burpee, I'm never lucky with football pools.

[Burpee]

Oh, yeah, but listen, mate, only last week with one of my fear nothing forecasts, a bloke won 50,000 nicker.

[Jimmy Jewel]

£50,000?

[Ben Warren]

Yes.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Here, just think what I can buy Betty with that bed.

[Ben Warren]

Well, all right.

[Burpee]

It's all right. Then sign this here paper, Mr. Jewel.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yes.

[Burpee]

And I'll fill in your coupon for you there.

[Narrator]

Right.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, pass me the paper. Burpee, pass me a pen.

[Burpee]

Here you are, then.

[Ben Warren]

Here you are, James. There you are.

[Burpee]

Jimmy, is it?

[Ben Warren]

George? That's fine.

[Burpee]

That's it, Murphy.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Now go on, give me the £50,000.

[Burpee]

Well, hold on, mate. Oh, don't you got to send the coupman in first? What do you want is your bank list?

[Ben Warren]

Well, I'll take Barclays.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yeah, and I'll take the Midland.

[Burpee]

And I'll be in Scotland before ya. No, no, no, no. Look, when you're doing Lisa now, when.

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