Phil Is Drafted: The Phil Harris (January 2, 1949)

The Phil Harris, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“Phil Is Drafted” is an episode of The Phil Harris, the old-time radio show, first broadcast January 2, 1949. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Phil Harris opens a letter addressed to another man with the same name, and it turns out to be a draft notice. Phil, his wife Alice Faye, and his friends Willie, Frankie Remley and Curly debate what to do about it. Phil decides to visit the draft board to clear up the mistake, and the group heads down together. The Phil Harris series aired on NBC, and this episode dates from January 2, 1949. Phil Harris and Alice Faye star, with Elliott Lewis and Gale Gordon also in the cast.

The Harris home in Encino, California, and the local draft board.

Characters: Phil Harris, Alice Faye, Willie, Frankie Remley, Curly, Julius

Listen for: Phil's reaction to the draft notice and the group's visit to the draft board.

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.