Contract Worries: The Phil Harris (May 27, 1951)

The Phil Harris, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“Contract Worries” is an episode of The Phil Harris, the old-time radio show, first broadcast May 27, 1951. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

Play The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show free: the episodes out so far, or subscribe in any podcast app.

What happens

Phil Harris and Alice Faye face the possibility of not being rehired for next season. The RCA Victor board of directors is split over whether to keep the show, and the decision is passed to the stockholders. Phil tries to find summer work and then tries to persuade acquaintances to buy shares so that he will win the stockholders' vote. Alice takes an interest in the outcome, and the stockholders' meeting decides the question. The series, The Phil Harris, aired on NBC on May 27, 1951, with Phil Harris and Alice Faye in the leading roles.

The RCA Victor boardroom, the Harris home, and the stockholders' meeting at RCA Victor.

Characters: Phil Harris, Alice Faye, Frankie Remley, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Scott, Julius, Grogan

Listen for: The board vote deadlock, Phil's attempt to buy stockholder votes through his friends, and the stockholders' meeting result.

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.