What happens
Fred Allen opens his new fall season on the radio, returning from summer vacation with his regular cast. The show begins with a guessing segment in which a contestant tries to identify himself from clues, then Allen greets his cast, including Harry von Zell, Portland Hoffa and Peter Van Steeden. Allen argues with Van Steeden, and a sponsor's representative named Mr. Sprague tries to reshape the program with a swing band and a quiz segment. The contestants Frank Killian, Helen McGuckin and Si Fraser answer history and right-or-wrong questions for prizes, and Win Murray is introduced as a new singer. Guest star Ned Sparks then joins the program. The broadcast is chaotic and full of interruptions, and it ends with Allen talking with Sparks.
A radio studio during the opening broadcast of Fred Allen's new fall season.
Characters: Fred Allen, Harry von Zell, Portland Hoffa, Peter Van Steeden, Mr. Sprague, Frank Killian, Helen McGuckin, Si Fraser
Listen for: The mock quiz segment with contestants Killian, McGuckin and Fraser, and Allen's exchange with guest star Ned Sparks.
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.