Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:17 — 7.8MB)
Audio Note: The audio is a bit scratchy with a few skips, and the musical numbers have been snipped, but overall it remains a fun listen.
Don teases Jack about his acting abilities before the conversation turns to comparing baby pictures. After a quick musical break, Jack introduces the main feature: a melodrama spoof based on the popular film of the day, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. Mary plays a mother abandoned with a houseful of kids, trying to explain their deadbeat dad while the mortgage comes due and eviction looms. Despite audio skips, the cast almost manages to stay in character until Mr. Schlepperman arrives to save the day!
To wrap up, Jack talks with actress, comedian, and impersonator Mitzi Green, whose performance of “If I Had a Million Dollars” is preserved intact. With Frank Black leaving the show shortly after and Kenny Baker taking over, this appearance offers a fascinating glimpse into Jack’s transition phase while testing out new talent for the broadcast.
Bonus Tracks:
- Ray Noble (1929) – “You’re the Cream in My Coffee” (vocals by Al Bowlly)
- Paul Whiteman – “I’m in the Mood for Love”
- Ozzie Nelson (1931) – “Dream a Little Dream of Me”
