What happens
Fred Allen hosts a Town Hall broadcast of the Fred Allen show, opening with a mock bulletin about a flea-control service and a satirical newscast about a telephone wedding. He then interviews Art Mogan, contest editor of the Boston American, about the business of prize puzzle contests. Their conversation covers how contests are run, how prize money is distributed, and the role of professional contestants. Allen's regular cast, including Portland Hoffa and Harry Von Zell, joins the banter, and the segment later turns to a comic exchange about Allen's health and a vacation at a seaside hotel. The transcript ends partway through that sketch, so the story is not resolved here.
The Town Hall studio, a summer evening broadcast with a live audience, followed by comic sketches about a contest editor's office and a seaside hotel.
Characters: Fred Allen, Art Mogan, Portland Hoffa, Harry Von Zell, Peter Van Steeden, Uncle Jim
Listen for: Art Mogan's explanation of how contest answers are checked and how much of a contest's budget goes to prizes.
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.