WLW The Fountain Of Fun: "Turkey Rationed" (1942-11-22)

Host: WLW Announcer, Frasier Thomas, Doc Fiddle Paddle, Toby Tuttle, Tommy & various cast
Date: November 3, 2025 (podcast airdate; original broadcast: Nov 22, 1942)
Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio

Overview

This episode of The Fountain of Fun brings listeners back to Thanksgiving during WWII, a time when turkeys were scarce due to wartime rationing. The show uses classic radio comedy and musical performances to blend light entertainment with prevailing cultural themes of sacrifice and community. The script features recurring gags about rationed turkeys, playful banter, character hijinks, and tongue-in-cheek commentary on contemporary issues. The episode is lively, quirky, and peppered with songs, jokes, and the gentle nostalgia of golden-age radio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Turkey Rationing and Wartime Shortages (00:43; 03:15; 12:46)

• Main Thread: Much of the episode humor centers on the difficulty of procuring a turkey for Thanksgiving due to the war effort.
• Banter: Toby jokes about scoring different turkey parts based on his pinball machine skills:
  • “If I got 40,000 on that pinball machine, I’d have got a whole turkey. 30,000 the drumstick. 15,000 the wings.” (00:47-00:57)
  • “How come Aunt Bertha’s turkey didn’t go to the army?—He’s a pre-Pearl harbor father. If you’re a turkey in one of those, you’re old.” (03:24-03:38)
• Wit about available meat: “Yes, if you want $0.50 worth of white meat, the butcher just rubs a piece of Kleenex over the turkey and you get what sticks to the fuzz.” (09:53)
• Thanksgiving Cards Satire: Rudolph J. Twitchem delivers tongue-in-cheek greeting cards about the scarcity of turkey,
  • “Because turkeys are scarce as elastic, they’ve had to take measures quite drastic. So don’t think it very fantastic if your turkey this year tastes like plastic.” (12:48)
  • “This year... we’re stuffing the stuffing with stuffing.” (13:25)
• Wartime Priorities: Tommy notes, “They need so many for the boys in the service.” (03:26)

2. Thanksgiving Traditions and Family Gatherings (03:15, 17:57, 18:00)

• Gags on Family Dinners: Banter about old turkeys and family quirks, including suburban, urban, and rural traditions.
• Penelope Bugle’s Family: Penelope’s unique humor on her family’s Thanksgiving:
  • “We’re all going out to Uncle Benji Bugle Box’s. The whole family is going to have a gathering of the pans.” (18:00-18:10)
  • “When our family gets together, everyone’s put on the pan.” (18:11)

3. Character Comedy & Recurring Gags

• Old Doc Fiddle Paddle's Raffle:
  • Running for a turkey at his lodge’s raffle, with “three for 35 cents” to discourage gambling—and crooked gambling. (05:38-06:02)
• Hotel Crowdedness Joke:
  • Doc “living in one of the dumb waiters.” (04:51)
• Kids and High Society:
  • Penelope Bugle’s snark at being assumed “high society.” (10:24)
• Thanksgiving Card Humor:
  • Featuring verses about scarce turkeys, substituting stuffing for turkey, and math-based puns about pies. (12:46-14:22)

4. Wartime Homefront References / Satire

• For the Troops:
  • “Our boys can't help mother roast turkey or help grandma fry fillet of mousse. But they are a great help this Thanksgiving, for they're all helping cook Hitler's goose.” (14:32)
• Subtle Political Commentary:
  • Lines like “You can tell this happened before the New Deal.” (24:08)
  • Republican jokes: “When things get tough, it lies low and seems to be dead. Then unexpectedly, it comes to life, more active than ever.” “Oh, sure, like a Republican.” (25:54-26:04)

5. Imaginative Skit: Pilgrim Thanksgiving Reenactment (23:14-28:55)

• Toby and Tommy imagine themselves as pioneer settlers, sent by the Governor (Doc) to hunt for wild turkey in Indian territory.
• The skit humorously mingles anachronisms (airplanes in 1621), wordplay, and vaudeville-style Indian gags.
• Chief Running Water’s introduction:
  • “I am Chief Running Water. These are my sons. Hot, cold, and luke.” (27:05)
• Saved by the Belle: Just when they're in peril, Chief's daughter (Penelope Bugle) pleads for their release: “Father! Let pale faces go. Please, let pale faces go.” (28:16-28:27)
  Toby: “Just when we were done for, saved by the bell.” (28:40)

6. Songs and Musical Interludes

• "Stormy Weather" by Judy (01:10, 15:04, 15:45)
• "Shoo Shoo Baby" by Mary Jean, Betty, and Chief Running Water (07:14)
• "Sleepytime Gal" by Norman Revelle, Mary Jean, Betty (20:41)
• Live orchestra—Phil Davis & his orchestra—performs throughout

7. Memorable Quotes & Exchanges

• “Me? Oh, sure. There’s nothing I like better than teas afternoon strip.” —Toby Tuttle (05:21)
• “That's what I thought, but she double crossed me.” —Penelope on not getting into private school (12:01)
• “They like for me to go around with a moron.” —Penelope on her family’s dating advice (18:41)
• “You can tell this happened before the New Deal.” —Toby, on moving Thanksgiving (24:08)
• “Gosh, our only chance is for the Governor to send help.” —Toby, in the skit (27:20)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "[If I got 40,000 on that pinball machine, I’d have got a whole turkey. 30,000 the drumstick. 15,000 the wings... 4,000. And I don’t like that part.]" —Toby Tuttle (00:47–01:05)
• "Because turkeys are scarce as elastic, they’ve had to take measures quite drastic. So don’t think it very fantastic if your turkey this year tastes like plastic." —Rudolph J. Twitchem (12:48)
• "This year, with no bird to stuff full of stuff, we’re stuffing the stuffing with stuffing." —Rudolph J. Twitchem (13:25)
• “Our boys can’t help mother roast turkey... but they are a great help this Thanksgiving, for they're all helping cook Hitler’s goose.” —Toby Tuttle (14:32)
• "When things get tough, it lies low and seems to be dead. Then unexpectedly, it comes to life, more active than ever." —Toby Tuttle (25:54)
• "Oh, sure, like a Republican." —Tommy (26:04)
• "Father. Let pale faces go. Please, let pale faces go." —Penelope Bugle (28:18)
• "Gee, I was a close call, Thomas. What do you know? Just when we were done for. Saved by the bell." —Toby Tuttle (28:40)

Musical Highlights

• [01:10, 15:04, 15:45] “Stormy Weather,” performed by Judy and by Norman Revell.
• [07:14] “Shoo Shoo Baby,” ensemble.
• [20:41] “Sleepy Time Gal,” Norman Rebelle, Mary Jean, Betty.

Comic Highlights

• Thanksgiving-card poetry riffs on turkey scarcity (12:46–14:22)
• Pilgrim skit with modern references and puns (23:14–28:55)
• Recurring snark from Penelope Bugle, especially about her private school and dating (10:24–12:05, 18:00–18:52)

Episode Flow and Tone

• Language & Tone: Light, pun-filled, vaudevillian with patriotic undertones
• Atmosphere: Family-friendly, nostalgic fun with topical WWII-era resonance
• Originality: Skewering contemporary headlines with relatable family scenes and musical breaks

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Turkey on Pinball & Rationing Gags: 00:43–03:32
• Jokes about Outdated Turkeys: 03:32–04:06
• Doc’s Turkey Raffle: 05:38–06:02
• Thanksgiving Card Comedy: 12:46–14:22
• Wartime Homefront Satire: 14:32–15:04
• Thanksgiving Pilgrim Skit: 23:14–29:00

In Summary

"The Fountain of Fun" (Turkey Rationed) is a joyous, clever radio comedy that masterfully folds in the spirit and hardships of 1942 America. The rapid-fire quips, musical numbers, and lampooning of rationing remind listeners that laughter and music were essential homefront ingredients for morale. The episode—packed with gags about turkey scarcity, witty repartee, and lively performance—captures the warmth and wit of a bygone radio age, making it a cornerstone for lovers of classic entertainment and historic comedy.