A production for a studio of soldiers, and likely for airing over AFRS, since the commercials are missing, and extra music is added throughout the show.

George politely complains about the new maid. Mrs Regan may be a good enough cook, and family servant, but he’s getting tired of having chowder all the time, especially for breakfast. Bill enters to hear about how George was offended at Gracie defending Mrs Regan. Will it end up in a sponsor message? Will Gracie be able to snap George out of his mood?

Jimmy Cash sings, Pretty Soon. As George tinkers with the plumbing, Gracie is extra supportive of him. Despite mixups like attaching the water into the gas, she keeps assisting, and trying to offer subtile hints at the right way to connect pipes.

Taking a break from the disaster, Gracie answers the door to chat with the postman. The exuberant dynamo of a man gives a manly roar strength for her. Back in the basement, George is handling the work on his own. Can another visit from Bill be the thing he needs to accept friendly plumbing advice? The pipes are soon fixed, and George proudly shows off to Gracie the result of his handiwork.

Felix Mills plays, Me and My Gal. The proof in the pudding is when George continues to show that the fixtures, and circuitry, in the house work… sort of. Jimmy Cash is back to sing, Time Waits for No One.

Faced with the problem of injuring George’s ego, or floating out of the house, Gracie has to go to a real plumber. Realizing his limits, George hires a plumber to bail him out, but there’s one secret about the arrangement he isn’t in on. Felix Mills and the Swantettes perform, Sweet and Lovely.

Taxes in Fibber’s day weren’t due until March 15, but he’s getting an early start on it to have time to figure out the complicated forms. Alice Darling pops in to hear a little about Fiscal Fibber McGee. Her method of dealing with the forms might not be the way to go. Getting all fired up, Fibbers phone call to complain to the government gets intercepted. He learns about Mirt the phone operator’s Christmas gift. Harry Vonzell returns as a follow up to a substitute appearance he did the previous week. Will he be paid for his troubles this week? A trip to the hall closet to look for a phone book leads to disaster, and a musical number from

Billy Mills.

As the deductions and calculations continue, Mr Wellington, the theater manager visits. He shows off his poetic skills, but what did he come for? Harlowe Wilcox enters, but is surprised to find that Harry didn’t substitute for him voluntarily. How will this work into a commercial? Don’t worry. It does.

Harry sneaks back to defend his request to be paid, and avoid an encounter with Harlowe. Teeny pops in to pester Fibber, and tell the latest happenings down at the Bon Ton department store, and the monster sale there. Too bad they were all out of monsters. The Kingsmen sing, Skip to My Loo.

The tax form is filled out, and sent to the mail. Doc Gamble visits to bicker with his favorite patient. Harry makes yet another appearance, but he’s not going to stay around is he? Doc may have a secret for Fibber that undoes alll his hard tax filing work.

The Golden Era Discussion Club is meeting again, and Lum reviews the situation of grandpap being gone to Toledo. The meeting is called to order, and Dr Snide is to give the dentistry lecture he didn’t get to give last time.

Though he talks on clear articulation, the doc falls short in the area. The gents get confused over his pronunciation of medical terms, and when the dentist steps out Lum takes over. Being self appointed dental assistant, he feels it’s only right.

Questions about the difference between bicuspids and molars turn into yet another review of the docs glory days as a broad jumper in high school. The doc has to step out again, and it’s up to Lum to take over. Why does the doc keep stepping out? Why does he seem to be avoiding answering questions?

Don announces that Don Juan, that answer to a maiden’s prayer… Jack Benny. Is there an ulterior motive for the image of a lady’s man? Phil enters to talk about sophisticated, blaze, women… er… make that blasé women. Mary is critical of the class of women that Jack has allegedly been dating. Even Kenny enters with woman trouble of his own. Jack gets right to announcing the play, but

is interrupted as the cast challenge him for not announcing the play last week. Instead of dwarves, the guys will be gangsters, and Jack calls attention to the fact that Walt Disney is in the audience tonight. Kenny Baker sings, One Song.

Doc Benny briefs his gangsters on the bank job they are to do. As soon as the dynamite arrives, they set off singing. In the home of Snow White, she deals with her wicked witch of a step mother, who blocks phone calls from prince Charming. Mary sings a few bars of, Someday My Prince Will Come.

Will Snow White fall victim to a poison apple? She flees, and in the woods, she finds shelter in the gangster’s house. Will the affects of a good woman make the gangsters go straight?

Note: This is an encore production of the same play performed last year. It’s nearly the same script, but with different opening jokes, and some of the support actors are different. Also, Mary’s bird in the play makes a different bird call. Funny, but the laugh isn’t as big as before. Previously it was Schlepperman, and today, Andy Divine fills the role.

Presenting part 1 of a feature on singer, actress, and entertainment personality, Betty Hutton. Enjoy this blend of her history, with sound bites of her early performances.

Born in 1921, on February 26: as Elizabeth June Thornburg in Battle Creek, Michigan. She wased wither her older sister, Marion, by their mother, Mabel Lum Thornbird.

Their father, depending on the source was either a railroad brakeman, or foreman. Possibly both at different times. He left for another woman, and wasn’t heard from for years. About the time the girls were coming into some notoriety, a telegram came to tell of his suicide.

Mable made bathtub gin, and beer, and sold it in a makeshift speakeasy during prohibition. Eventually moving the family to Detroit to work in the automobile industry, money from a speakeasy was more profitable.

In later interviews, Betty shares how she started singing bawdy songs on the kitchen table to earn pocket change from customers. When life got rough, she would run to hide with the nuns in a local convent. Also that by age 9 she was singing on the street, and completed the ninth grade when she dropped out of school at age 14 or 15. Meanwhile Marion finished school, Betty sang with high school dance bands, saved her money, and went to New York to try to break into the recording business.

Returning home, she and Marion sang with the Vincent Lopez orchestra. Both were noticed by Glenn Miller while he was reforming his band in 1938, but he felt Marion would be the easier one to manage. Glenn and Helen Miller became Marion’s legal guardian, and the only father she ever remembered. The guardianship also allowed Marion to get into the nightclubs where the underage teenager would otherwise have been barred from entering.

As 1939 came, Betty continued singing with Vince Lopez, signing a contract that paid him 10% of her current, and any future earnings. A legal problem that would follow her, but be cleared up as her movie career was taking off.

Going to the studio on May 25: Betty records “Igloo” and “Concert In The Park” with Sonny Skyler for Bluebird Records. Within 2 weeks, July 5, Betty recorded “The Jitterbug” for Bluebird Records.

Her hit won her the title of America’s #1 Jitterbug, though she admits in later interviews that she never learned to dance the jitterbug.

It was in the Summer of the year the family learned of the suicide of Percy Thornbird. Marion collapsed from exhaustion, and had to be temporarily replaced by Kay Star. September 6: Betty appears with Vincent Lopez at the Avalon Ballroom in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

In 1940 Marion was married to Jack Filbin, later a TV producer for Jackie Gleason.

Meanwhile, Betty won a part in the production of Two For The Show, which opens on February 8 at the Booth Theatre. Then on May 25: Two For The Show closes after 124 performances.

As Betty prepares to take on another role, Marion has to go on maternity leave to have her first son. Discovered by Broadway producer Buddy DeSylva, he casts Betty in his next show, August 13, Cole Porter’s Panama Hattie. It takes until October 30: before Panama Hattie opens at the 46th Street Theatre.

Marion’s career grows in 1941, and outshines her sisters, for now. June 1: Betty drops out of Panama Hattie to relocate to Los Angeles, where Buddy DeSylva casts her in his first film for Paramount Pictures. However, She is replaced in the show by Ann Barrett. Movies are destined for Betty, and on September 20: Filming begins on The Fleet’s In. Dorothy Lamour is the star, with Betty as her supporting actress, and shooting wraps up quickly on October 31.

Radio is the next medium for Betty to conquer and makes her first appearance on November 4: on Bob Hope’s radio show. The response is so great that she negotiates a thirteen week comedy and singing contract with the sho...

The same as the pilot show, but this is a reproduction of that script, with Ronald and Bonita Coleman to kick off the series.

Ivy is a typical small college that might be located any where in America. Today the board of regents meets to debate whether Mr Hall should be reappointed as president.

In the home of the Halls, we find them nervously awaiting the decision. We catch a glimpse of the personalities of Dr and Mrs Hall through their casual conversation. Mr Hall is capable enough, and we see a little of the popularity that Mrs Hall has among students. Especially when she tutors one in the art of dancing. Both are passionate in their own ways to the school, and the students.

Flashback mode kicks in, and we learn how the Halls met. He was on sabatical to England, and fell in love with an actress on the stage. After the introduction to the background of the Halls, and discovering how college presidents feel about their stodgy fellow faculty leaders, the tension and frustrations of the wait are over.

Note: For a presentation with added comments, See Halls Of Ivy – Reappointment. 500106. (retro367)..

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, Verna Felton 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. Connie Haines sings, How Sweet You Are.

After another commercial, the show continues. 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?

The new dentist is getting settled in, and has gone to start looking at the teeth of the students at the school house. Mousey is seen in town, and pops in to tell the gents what he has been up to in the Army. His time is limited, and he needs to meet up with his wife Gussie before he has to leave again.

Eager to hear everything he has to say, Lum and Abner begin telling Mousey about all the latest developments in town. The new dentist, grandpap’s amnesia and disappearance to Toledo, and more. When will they ever let Mousey get in a word to tell how he’s been doing?

Lum goes on a rant to tell Abner the importance of buying war bonds to support Mousey and the troops while he’s gone. He maps out a plan to ship the troops across the pond to fight the enemy in Europe.

Abner is confused and thinks the pond is the mill pond. If it is, Lum needs to draw it more accurately. And those marks to indicate friendly and enemy troops, Abner wants to warn people about enemy in the area. Why ship the troops use boats when they can easily walk around the pond? Mousey’s time is soon up, and its a good thing he got to tell the gents all about his Army life.

Dreaming of their post war home, Gracie wants George to buy a vacant lot to build on. The trouble is that it belongs to Joe Bagley, and he doesn’t want to sell. Mrs Regan proves to be quite the truth teller for Gracie. What does that mean for the maid, and dishppearing food? As she returns to the kitchen to feed her policeman friend, Gracie reminds her to save the cooking grease for the war effort. Bill Goodwin pops in for a sponsor message, then a neighbor girl, Susan arrives to tell of her wedding plans with Bill… after she grows up. When Joe Bagley shows up, how will George handle his friend to get the land?

George and Gracie spend the day watching Joe’s little niece, Susan.

The mischievous little girl has been pushing some limits for George. Will the ordeal be worth it? Bill is back with another sponsor message, but will he also have some advice for dealing with Susan? The Happy Postman drops off the mail, but isn’t much help in advice dealing with little girls either. Jimmy Cash sings, It Could Happen to You.

Maybe a dose of child psychology will work? While George chokes down her carrots, Susan has disappeared to the kitchen to enjoy George’s steak. The big payoff, or lack of it, comes when Susan has a note for George.

In the Jot Em Down store, Lum announces that Doc Snide will stay and is settling in at the boarding house. Abner gets confused at the topic of hanging out a shingle, as used with the doctor setting up his practice. Does the dentist fix roofs too? Or maybe he oughtta to just carry business cards to hand out, instead of a bundle of shingles.

The confusion is cut short to tell Abner the dentist will use the feed room for his office. Though he claims to only be quiet, and listen, Abner has hardly stopped talking, jumping from one conclusion to the next. He’s still stuck on the idea of carrying shingles around, and the feasibility of it.

What kind of sign should they make, and what should it say? Champion dentist, or maybe a catchy, rhyming slogan? Lum makes a comment about making a better mouse trap, but is surprised when Abner doesn’t get confused over the saying.