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Time Machine ready.
Setting the dials for another trip to our first season, and our old fashioned Retrobots to set the stage for fun.
Keith starts with some details with the odd custom of having women propose to men. What’s the deal with the link to leap year? Where did it come from? The early Irish custom stretches back to the 5th century, and the days of St Patrick and St Bridgette. Apparently as a way of empowering women in having some say in who they marry. Some call it superstitious. Some call it lucky, while others call it bad luck. tradition says that the man who was proposed to had to answer yes, or pay a price to get out of the marriage. Women had to write their proposals, and in the early 20th century postcard companies offered novelty postcards for the purpose. These days women are empowered enough, a special year, or day isn’t required, but
Digging into the Retro Vaults, our original show notes were unearthed. Here’s what Keith had to say back in January 2008.
Abbott and Costello was one of the best comedy teams of all times. They dominated during the war years of the 1940’s and on into the 1950’s. They were in films, TV and radio. In todays show, another comedy great of the day, Judy Canova guest stars. Lots of great jokes about love and marriage. There used to be a common tradition where it was OK for girls to propose to a man only during leap year, 1944 was a leap year. The custom seems to have fallen by the wayside in our modern times of womens lib and social freedoms.
The featured singer on the show is the popular Connie Haynes. This cute little Georgia Peach started singing at age 10 and by her late teens was a regular with Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby and several well known bands. At the time of this episode she was 21 and still a rising star. Her career would extend on into the 1950’s and beyond. She was as clean and wholesome as her lines in the show implies. At the time of this podcast, she is living in Florida and still putting on the occasional concert, performing those old swing tunes and gospel hymns.
Since the time of those notes, Connie Haines has passed away. She was 82 when she died on September 22, 2008. She was survived by her son, daughter, and 100 year old mother.
Elsewhere on the site, this episode is posted without the introductions. Here’s what was written up for the show at that time. More or less.
Lou is late after having to fight off women. It’s leap year, and the custom of the day was for single women to propose to men, rather than the other way around. Jokes about marriage, and mother in laws. Lou keeps the marriage jokes going when Ken Niles and his pretend wife, Alvea Almon arrive. A joke about Bud and Ken being married? How racy! After the commercial Freddie Rich plays, Just One of Those Things.
Still talking about girls, Connie Haines comes in to propose to Lou, and tell him about her dream she had. Bud tries to coach Lou on how to treat women. Will it help if Lou does a little role play, and dress as a woman? Connie Haines sings, How Sweet You Are.
A knock comes to the door. It’s a man who claims the Lou greeted his daughter on the street, and now he has to marry her. Guess who! It’s Judy Canova. The jokes about marriage and dating just won’t quit. Judy ends up taking Lou to the preacher. Is there a way for Lou to weasel out of going through with the marriage?
