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Don rolls the clock back to share with the listeners what happens in the studio after the show ends. Mel Blanc is a disgruntled audience member who makes a complaint to Jack.
Before the cast is cut loose, Jack offers a word of criticism to Phil Harris about his musical presentation. Mary hints that Jack’s unhappiness dates back to his former bandleader, Johnny Greene. After Mr KitZel pops in for a quick word, Dennis Day sings, the Anniversary Song.
Jack, Mary, and Dennis leave and pop into the drugstore. Frank Nelson gives Jack a hard time as he dishes out their ice cream sodas and tasty treats. Victor Moore makes another appearance to intervene with Jack, and keep him from making another mistake. Just how much intervention has that guardian angel made over the years? Don Wilson wants to have the Sportsmen sing to Jack on the street corner. Will Jack’s embarrassment change when he sees the public throwing money at them?
Back home, Rochester comments on the day’s program. Telegrams arrive with birthday greetings. What’s the big news that has Jack calling all the cast members? The build up makes Rochester happy, but somehow, Jack isn’t so thrilled. Hmm… why is it thundering and lightening so much all of a sudden?
PS: In the closing Jack makes a public service announcement to encourage parents to educate their children against racism and hatred towards others. He’s right, though we may think of formal teaching happening in the school, and that’s a good place to ensure measurable standards are met, a lot of learning takes place in the ome. We go to school to learn what the book says, but watch our parents to learn how it really works.
In light of the growing racial tensions of the 1950’s, and the civil rights movement in the 1960’s, do you think this kind of radio campaign was affective to make the public aware?
I think on some level it made people aware, but folks may have had their own, flawed maybe even sterile outlooks and ideas of what racism looked like.
