Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: What's Doin Ladies 47-10-30 – "Best Sellers, What's the Definition of a Good Housewife"

Release Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Jay Stewart (as presented in 1947 original radio broadcast)

Overview

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio revisits an old-time radio show segment, “What’s Doin Ladies,” which aired on October 30th, 1947. The featured program is a snapshot of mid-century domestic life—blending lighthearted interviews with housewives, playful audience interaction, and energetic quiz segments. The centerpiece is a candid discussion exploring the definition of a “good housewife,” as seen through the eyes of real women. The episode then transitions to trivia games involving studio participants, decked with the humor and sponsor plugs signature to golden-age radio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining a "Good Housewife" (00:43–07:25)

• Jay Stewart introduces the day's theme, polls the audience, and then “jaywalks” to interview several housewives present in the studio:

  • Reads Webster’s dictionary definition: “Housewife, one who manages with skill and economy” (01:30) but notes this feels incomplete.
  • Three housewives offer their own definitions:
    • Mrs. White (02:14–02:56):
      • “A woman’s work is never done. They always say a man’s work is done at the setting of the sun, but a woman’s work is never done. She can always find something, especially if she has a family.” (02:18)
      • Emphasizes constant chores—especially mending and caring for her three children.
    • Mrs. Marie Benson (03:05–03:47):
      • “A housewife is really a jack of all trades. She’s got to be a teacher, seamstress, cook, housekeeper and entertainer. A little bit of everything, I would say.” (03:16)
      • Jokes about salary management and handling most of the family money.
    • Mrs. Roma Murphy (04:01–04:56):
      • “A housewife has to keep things running smooth...they have to be economical too. Make every penny count.” (04:09)
      • Highlights thrift and penny-stretching, using household products.
  • Host asks audience to clap for their favorite definition, establishing the community’s appreciation for each viewpoint.

• Notable Moment:
  Mrs. Benson is awarded a set of muslin sheets and matching pillowcases for her answers, and the ladies are given canned tomato sauce as a token of appreciation. (06:50)

• Memorable Reflection:
  Mrs. Benson adds:

  • “I think they forgot one very essential thing of a housewife...my mother, instead of joining woman’s clubs, she was always at home. When children came home from school, they found their mother there.” (07:15)
  • Host agrees: “Mother there. Well, I think that’s a very great point to make. There’s a lot of them that don’t these days. Right.” (07:24)

2. The “We’ll Show Them” Club & Skirt Lengths (07:30–08:20)

• Host lightheartedly mentions a club for women who prefer their skirts shorter—inviting listeners to join the "We’ll Show Them Club" by mail.
  • “They’re the women who don’t like the long skirts and want to wear their skirts right where they are now… by golly, we’ll show them!” (07:33)
• A window into the evolving norms of women’s fashion and independence.

3. Booklover's Game: Best Seller Trivia (08:51–13:10)

• Contestant: Mary Lyons, self-professed avid reader from Clinton, Indiana, now in L.A.
  • She enjoys reading magazines and love stories for relaxation.
• Host quizzes Mrs. Lyons on best-selling books:
  • Q: "A lone bit of vegetation that grew in… the eastern U.S.?"
    A: "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." (10:54)
  • Q: "A funny book about rural life, full of yolks?"
    A: "The Egg and I." (11:20)
  • Host jokes about his own (fictional) book: “The Peach and I.”
• Mrs. Lyons receives Hunt’s Peaches and a Parker pen-and-pencil set as prizes.

4. The Quiz Show Segment: "Win, Place or Show" (13:10–24:41)

• Format: Game show segment with horse-racing flair—contestants pick a “horse” (category) and answer questions to “win, place, or show.”
• Mr. Kowski: Hopes to “bring the horse in to win,” answers questions on kingdom classification—oil (vegetable), coal (missed: it's technically decomposed vegetable matter). (13:35–15:00)
• Mr. Hefman from Seaside Heights, NJ:
  • Service member, played the "Smoker" category (cigarette brands).
  • Q: "What cigarette would you walk a mile for?"
    A: "Camel." (17:13)
  • Q: "Smoke to retain composure?"
    A: "Murad." (17:25)
• Mrs. Carrie Kemper from Covington, KY:
  • "Lady Killer" category (feminine terms in songs and society).
  • Q: “Who’s the woman in 'Frankie and Johnny'?”
    A: "Frankie." (19:29)
  • Q: “Feminine counterpart of ‘hero’?”
    A: "Heroine." (20:14)
• Heron Stevens, Dallas, TX, U.S. Marine:
  • Selects “Interpreter” (translations).
  • Successfully translates proverbs in highfalutin language:
    • “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” (22:28)
    • “All that glitters is not gold.” (23:11)

5. The Grand Finale: The “American Handicap” Group Quiz (24:41–27:50)

• All previous contestants line up with hobbyhorses, answer rapid-fire trivia:
  • Q: "Can cats see in the dark?"
    A: "They see better in semi-light but not in total darkness." (24:43)
  • Q: "How many humps does a dromedary have?"
    A: "One." (25:03)
  • Q: "Would you call a postcard a government card that requires no stamp?"
    A: "No, it requires a stamp." (25:21)
  • Q: "What language is spoken by more people than any other?"
    A: "Chinese." (26:32)
• "Smoker" wins the race and takes home $57, exclaiming:
  • “Better than a Navy payday!” (27:13)
• Host signs off with tongue in cheek: “Until then, so long, suckers. See you at the races!” (27:53)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Mrs. White:
  “A woman’s work is never done.... She can always find something, especially if she has a family.” (02:18)
• Mrs. Benson:
  “A housewife is really a jack of all trades. She’s got to be a teacher, seamstress, cook, housekeeper and entertainer.” (03:16)
• Mrs. Murphy:
  “A housewife has to keep things running smooth... Make every penny count.” (04:09)
• Mrs. Benson:
  “My mother, instead of joining woman’s clubs, she was always at home. When children came home from school, they found their mother there.” (07:15)
• Host, on skirt lengths:
  “By golly, we’ll show them!” (07:39)
• "Smoker" after his winnings:
  “Better than a Navy payday!” (27:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Defining a Good Housewife: 00:43–07:25
• We’ll Show Them Club (Fashion): 07:30–08:20
• Booklover’s Best Seller Game: 08:51–13:10
• "Win, Place, Show" Quiz Round: 13:10–24:41
• American Handicap (Final Quiz Race): 24:41–27:50

Episode Tone & Style

The tone is warm, witty, and steeped in Americana. Stewart’s manner is playful and genial, often joking with the contestants and gently poking fun at both the definitions of domestic life and the quirks of the quiz. The feel is classically mid-century, charmingly naive, and a time capsule of shifting gender roles, family dynamics, and sponsorship culture.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a fascinating look back at the roles, expectations, and humor surrounding women—and especially housewives—of the 1940s. Through its casual interviews and interactive quizzes, it offers both entertainment and insight into how everyday heroics and routines were valued and celebrated in the Golden Age of Radio.