Up The Pole 1948-11-01 First Show

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Up The Pole 1948-11-01 First Show"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Episode: Up The Pole 1948-11-01 First Show
• Release Date: January 31, 2025

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1. Introduction to the New Series

The episode kicks off with an enthusiastic announcement from the narrator, setting the stage for the first installment of the new adventure series featuring beloved characters from the Golden Age of Radio. Listeners are introduced to the main cast, including Claude Dampier, John Pertwee, Betty Paul, Roger Snowden, the five Smith brothers, Stanley Black’s orchestra, and the dynamic duo, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warren.

Narrator [00:30]: "Do you know what's in store for you for the next half an hour, ladies and gentlemen?"

2. Setting the Scene: The Disused Fire Station Apartment

The story unfolds in an apartment situated above a neglected fire station, where Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warren have recently moved. The setting is a crisp autumn morning, establishing a cozy yet slightly nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the era.

Narrator [00:48]: "Since we last heard from our two heroes, they've moved into an apartment over a disused fire station."

3. Character Dynamics: Jimmy's Preparations and Ben's Frustrations

The episode delves into the personalities of the two central characters. Jimmy Jewel is depicted as a lovable yet somewhat bumbling figure, meticulously cleaning his teeth and rehearsing a song to impress the audience. Meanwhile, Ben Warren showcases his exasperation with Jimmy’s antics, highlighting the humorous tension between the two.

Ben Warren [01:35]: "All right, all right, all right. Stop gargling. That'll be quite enough of that noise, James."

Jimmy Jewel [02:00]: "Sweet ladies and gentlemen."

Their banter continues as Ben urges Jimmy to come out of the bathroom, leading to a playful exchange about Jimmy’s unexpected effort to greet the audience with a song.

4. The Heart of the Plot: Jimmy's Quest to Impress Betty

The central plot revolves around Jimmy's affectionate feelings for Betty Paul and his desire to gift her a special present for her upcoming birthday. Jimmy is both nervous and conflicted about how to approach Betty, revealing his insecurities and genuine intentions.

Jimmy Jewel [02:24]: "Oh, I don't like to tell you."

Ben Warren [02:31]: "Oh, yes, you will. I've guessed it. It's something to do with Betty."

Jimmy confesses his admiration for Betty and his longing to be someone she admires, even wistfully mentioning his desire to be a film star like Robert Taylor.

Jimmy Jewel [03:01]: "I wish I were a film star."

5. Betty's Entrance and the Ring Request

Betty arrives, bringing a mix of charm and practicality to the conversation. She graciously accepts Jimmy’s offer to give her a present but mentions that her cousin, Roderick Porch Bellows, has already been generous. However, she specifies her desire for a particular ring priced at £50, setting the stage for Jimmy’s ensuing dilemma.

Betty [05:07]: "Well, there's one little thing, but it's much too expensive for Jimmy to buy it."

Jimmy Jewel [05:24]: "It shall be yours."

Despite Jimmy's heartfelt promise, he realizes he lacks the funds to purchase the ring, leading to a humorous yet poignant moment of anxiety.

Jimmy Jewel [06:04]: "It's marked £50, Ben. What? She said the ring was marked £50."

Ben Warren [06:22]: "Well, that's what I thought she said."

6. Introduction of Burpee: The Friend with a Scheme

As Jimmy grapples with his financial woes, Burpee enters the scene, bringing a subplot of comedic relief and potential solutions. Burpee boasts about his escapades in currency trading and introduces the "help yourself football pool," attempting to entice Jimmy and Ben into participating with promises of substantial rewards.

Burpee [07:50]: "I'm an agent for the help yourself football pool."

Burpee [08:07]: "Well, listen, mates, only last week with one of my fear nothing forecasts a bloke won 50,000 nicker."

Jimmy contemplates the possibility of winning the money needed for the ring, showcasing his desperation and the lengths he's willing to go to win Betty's favor.

Jimmy Jewel [08:14]: "£50,000?"

7. The Cliffhanger: Signing Up for the Football Pool

The episode reaches a suspenseful moment as Burpee persuades Jimmy to sign up for the football pool, suggesting that this could be his chance to secure the £50 needed for Betty's ring. The interaction ends abruptly with hints of potential complications, leaving listeners eager for the next episode.

Jimmy Jewel [08:30]: "That's it. Now go on, give me the £50,000."

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Warren [02:38]: "You mean to say you've asked a pretty young girl like Betty round to this dirty old fire station?"

• Jimmy Jewel [03:09]: "Don't you realize that one day you're kissing Betty Grable, Lana Turner, Donatha Moore, the next day you're just a has been."

• Burpee [07:18]: "First of all, I took me £35 in English money over to France."

• Burpee [08:16]: "It's all right. Then sign this here paper, Mr. Jewel."

8. Conclusion and Tease for Future Episodes

While the episode concludes before resolving Jimmy’s predicament, it effectively sets up multiple storylines for future exploration. Listeners are left anticipating how Jimmy will obtain the necessary funds and whether Burpee’s football pool scheme will pay off—or lead to further comedic misadventures.

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Overall Impression:

"Up The Pole" masterfully captures the essence of Golden Age radio with its engaging characters, witty dialogues, and relatable predicaments. The episode balances humor with heartfelt moments, particularly through Jimmy's earnest efforts to win Betty's affection. The introduction of Burpee adds an exciting layer of potential fortune and the classic radio trope of too-good-to-be-true schemes. With its rich storytelling and nostalgic charm, this first show promises an entertaining series that harkens back to a beloved era of family radio entertainment.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

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

[Ben Warren]

Oh, you'll never guess.

[Jimmy Jewel]

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 it?

[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 gentlemen. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Sweet ladies and gentlemen.

[Ben Warren]

Sweet ladies and gentlemen.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, welcome to you all. Well, that's better out than in, isn't it?

[Ben Warren]

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 it. I know, I know.

[Jimmy Jewel]

I shan't tell you. I shan't tell you.

[Ben Warren]

Oh, yes, you will. 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 around 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?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yes, it's her birthday on Saturday and I want to find out what she like for the present. So there.

[Ben Warren]

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

[Jimmy Jewel]

I can't.

[Ben Warren]

Then why not you ask her? 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. Been wonderful being a film star.

[Jimmy Jewel]

I would love to meet Robert Taylor.

[Ben Warren]

Don't you realize that one day you're kissing Betty Grable, Lana Turner, Donatha 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 Betty. It'll be Betty.

[Ben Warren]

Don't worry. Don't.

[Jimmy Jewel]

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

[Ben Warren]

No, you're not.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yeah. I can't stand it. I'm going to.

[Ben Warren]

Catch me.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Catch me.

[Ben Warren]

No, no.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, go on, 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 and open the door, Ben.

[Ben Warren]

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. Aren't you in?

[Ben Warren]

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. Yes. 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. A little present.

[Betty]

Oh, Jimmy kin.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh, she called me Jimmy. Kim, catch me again.

[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's most awfully sweet of you, Jimmy, to want to give me a present. But my cousin Roderick Porch Bellows has bought me nearly everything I need.

[Ben Warren]

Roderick Forge Bellows?

[Jimmy Jewel]

What, that windbag?

[Betty]

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.

[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. So long, Ben.

[Ben Warren]

Cheers.

[Betty]

Goodbye, Jimmy. 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.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Burpee.

[Ben Warren]

Burpee. 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 that. I know.

[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. 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.

[Ben Warren]

Yes.

[Burpee]

And they give me 40,000 French frogs.

[Ben Warren]

Go on, then. Go on. Yes.

[Burpee]

Then I took me throngs over to Holland. They gave me 10,000 Dutch guilderies. That's good. Yes. And I took my guildies to Russia.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Did you?

[Burpee]

They gave me 50,000 rubles.

[Ben Warren]

Did they?

[Burpee]

And I danced away all my 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, mates. I've got a smashing job now.

[Ben Warren]

You know, 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 per center, that's it?

[Burpee]

No, no, no, I'm an agent for the help yourself football pool. I'm just calling around the houses, pick up some new clients that. Wait a minute. How about, how about you two boys having a bash?

[Jimmy Jewel]

Oh no, Burpee, I'm never lucky with football pools.

[Burpee]

Oh yeah, but listen, mates, 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 could buy better with that bed.

[Ben Warren]

Well, all right.

[Burpee]

It's all right. Then sign this here paper, Mr. Jewel. Yes. And I'll fill in your coupon for you. Right.

[Jimmy Jewel]

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

[Ben Warren]

Here James. There you are.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Jimmy. Is it Jewel?

[Ben Warren]

That's fine.

[Jimmy Jewel]

That's it. 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, what do you want is your bank list?

[Ben Warren]

Well, I'll take Barclays.

[Jimmy Jewel]

Yeah, and I'll take the Midland and.

[Burpee]

I'll be in Scotland before we out. No, no, no, no, look, when you're doing Lisa now, when you're doing football.