December 28, 2025 • 11 mins
Aired: December 31, 1948
This New Year’s–themed episode from The Red Skelton Show features one of Skelton’s most popular characters — Junior, the Mean Little Kid — as he welcomes 1949 in his own mischievous way.
While Junior’s parents head out to celebrate the holiday, Junior remains behind, delivering wisecracks, mangled logic, and unexpected moments of warmth as the old year gives way to the new.
Originally broadcast on New Year’s Eve, this sketch blends slapstick, verbal humor, and gentle sentiment, capturing Skelton’s gift for turning childhood mischief into something both hilarious and oddly reflective.
As Junior spars with the adults around him and contemplates resolutions in his own crooked fashion, the program offers a snapshot of postwar comedy — lighthearted, chaotic, and full of heart. The episode also showcases Skelton’s skill at live performance, where small missteps become part of the fun, reinforcing why his radio work remains so enduring more than seven decades later.
Subscribe to the Old Time Radio Snack Wagon at https://www.snackwagon.net
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/old-time-radio-snack-wagon-rare-historic-radio-programs--5919985/support.
This New Year’s–themed episode from The Red Skelton Show features one of Skelton’s most popular characters — Junior, the Mean Little Kid — as he welcomes 1949 in his own mischievous way.
While Junior’s parents head out to celebrate the holiday, Junior remains behind, delivering wisecracks, mangled logic, and unexpected moments of warmth as the old year gives way to the new.
Originally broadcast on New Year’s Eve, this sketch blends slapstick, verbal humor, and gentle sentiment, capturing Skelton’s gift for turning childhood mischief into something both hilarious and oddly reflective.
As Junior spars with the adults around him and contemplates resolutions in his own crooked fashion, the program offers a snapshot of postwar comedy — lighthearted, chaotic, and full of heart. The episode also showcases Skelton’s skill at live performance, where small missteps become part of the fun, reinforcing why his radio work remains so enduring more than seven decades later.
Subscribe to the Old Time Radio Snack Wagon at https://www.snackwagon.net
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/old-time-radio-snack-wagon-rare-historic-radio-programs--5919985/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Are you, Adam Graham.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The very same? And this is my old time radio
snack wagon.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Welcome to the Old Time Radio snack Wagon, where we
serve up a bite sized portion of old time radio.
And now here's your snack wagon host Adam Graham.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
This week, as we prepare to bid farewell to twenty
twenty five, it seemed appropriate that we'd offer up a
snack with a New Year's themed feel. And for that,
we're going to the Red Skelton Show from December thirty first,
nineteen forty eight, and see how Junior, the mean widow Kid,
(00:48):
celebrates New Year's And now.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
A page from the Mean little Kid's dairy diaries.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Leave it dairy, We'll milk this the night.
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Remember when your folks used to get all dressed up
to celebrate New Year's.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
And you seem to be in the way, just like Junior.
The mean.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Is that you?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yes, yo, come I not ple yoch night? Now, bree yut, Junior?
What on earth are you doing that?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Cat?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Don't get excited. I'm not hurting him. I'm not hurting
him at all. Put it out. Come on. I overheard
the secretary of the of the Skunk Patrol say it
was two dollars in the kidding. Now, if I can
just give him to fit it out, I can start
off the new year very prosperously. Very Hey, what's you
all dressed up for?
Speaker 6 (01:43):
Your father and I going out to see the new year?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Well? Maybe with me here? It refused to come in.
Do you have a thing? Did I am?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
My name referred to in someone's conversation?
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Hop, Pop me stale bread winner? Hello, son Nike, Loreen on.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
My clean shirts back from sand I.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Need to.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Your dress shirts are in the top drawer of the bureau. Hey, Pop,
can you ride in the dairy?
Speaker 5 (02:09):
Hey?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
What are you wearing anyhow? What are you wearing tonight?
Speaker 4 (02:12):
My full dress? Tails?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Heil? What you're gonna do? Make a monkey? How are
you showing?
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Junior? I think you'd better get ready for bed? I
don't want to Loreen. You've seen my color but MAINI
color button.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
It probably rolled onto the bureau, probably rolled under the
bureau again, Well have you seen she may also probably
rolled under the bureau and probably rolled under the bureau.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I'll go ask your father, Junior, and you seeing Grandpa,
he probably rolled under the bule.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Go to your room and do something. Hey, Hey, Mommy,
what what you? Where's your pop going tonight? Probably going
the same place we went last New Year? You mean
poor o? Non mart got to get out of bed
at three o'clock in the morning. To Bailey out again?
Tell that to not No, Hey, what kind of dress
did get you wearing? I know she wasn't like that before?
Speaker 7 (02:56):
We haven't ye, how do you like it?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Well? Don't look now, okayto, but you got too much
stuff crammed in your hip pocket. That's a bustle. A
bushel looks more like a bushel. That's not now. Please please, Junior,
go to your room. Oh, and so I'll know where
you are. Lock yourself in and bring me the key.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
Okay, go to me room, lock meself in and bring
you nuts the whole family.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Mother, Yes, will you please take care of Junior.
Speaker 8 (03:38):
No, that would be against the law. Snake, you'll please
come down here and miss all of this.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
I guess not, girl.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
I have something for you.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Well, you just bright your hair with it. I mean that.
Speaker 8 (04:03):
Dark game you got for Christmas, the one you lost
or you found it.
Speaker 6 (04:07):
I found one of the darts. You left it in
my chair.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
You didn't sit on it.
Speaker 6 (04:15):
Not flow.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Finish me.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
You probably bended all our shame in me dark game.
I'm gonna slide down the banister. It's quicker, I'll get me.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Well, boy, I know do yag again? No you ya boy?
Somebody put tune gum on the banister and derailed me here.
Speaker 6 (04:34):
Now what were you doing up there to upset your mother?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Everything I could? I have my reputation to think of.
You know they're planning to get blottholed tonight, junior.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
Your parents are only going to celebrate the New Year.
That is an American custom.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Here.
Speaker 7 (04:51):
Tonight is the night when people get carried away.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Some by the police and somebody the am Look, you
make them take a taxi tab wherever they're going, because
I know me, Papa. I know me Papa, that stagger
juice boy. Besides, I have no desire to attend the
Orphans Plicnic next year.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
That's a very good suggestion.
Speaker 7 (05:15):
But instead of showing so much concern about them, what
plans are you making for next year?
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Will I hope to be the imperial potent take of
the skunk Patrol?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I just hope I'm potent enough. Hey, you know what
the skunk shady the bear? No, what the bear shadykirk,
He said, where do you get that stuff?
Speaker 6 (05:39):
Ride me out of my mind?
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Yet you're already past the intersections.
Speaker 6 (05:42):
You don't well? Happy new you now?
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Happy mother and you too?
Speaker 7 (05:50):
Son?
Speaker 5 (05:52):
Good night, he's loaded already remembered.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I've well here we is all.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
Yes, but I'm not afraid. I'm going to let you
stay up with me and welcome in the new year. Now,
come on, sit on my lap?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Okay, who say you lost them weight? You're not a
spring is. You're just getting heavier, Junior.
Speaker 7 (06:25):
It won't be long before I won't be able to.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Hold you on my lap? Any word?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Do I hold you on me? Laugh? You will?
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Yeah, which I'm gonna need a lot of lap, you know,
a large economical.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Like that tub of shaving Queen Nemma? What you said
there looking in a fireplace that they're doing for?
Speaker 7 (06:44):
I'm thinking of you and myself? Really, how closely related
we are to this hour? You're nineteen forty nine and
I'm nineteen forty eight.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
The new and the old? Are you not your old?
Why you got more teaching? I haven't a newer than mine?
Shall I go get the glass?
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Or you?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Pretty right? And then what do you think I'll be
a smarter you is.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Oh, you'll be much smarter, junior, dear, because in this
atomic age we have very few hidden facts. Almost every
question can be answered with intelligence, not ignorance.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Are gonna know what you mean?
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Well?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
You will there, you.
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Will there in time. Now, let's talk about your plans
for nineteen forty nine. Okay, are you going to be
destructive and show a loss or will you be better
in character and.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Show a prophet. I'm going to try to be good
on my own two. I'm not going to say I'll
be good if you give me a nickel. I'll be
good if you buy me ice cream. This year, I
going to be good for nothing.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Well, that's one way of making a resolution and not breaking.
But you're not really bad.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
I won't be able to start off new year with
a clearly slate. I'll tell you that there's so much
any things left to do in nineteen forty eight, and
there you have a few hours left, Go ahead and
do them.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
You realize what you're shay, you's a natural born sport.
Ain't here?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Well?
Speaker 1 (08:10):
First I want to do it.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Slam the door, just to see what would happen. Real
hard what I got get well, I'm getting ready for
nineteen forty nine. Now for that statue of little egg Wife,
Little Egypt.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I'm sick looking at that thing.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Oh my beautiful graduation test.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
He won't hear of me, not until I do one
thing that I wanted to do for a long time.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Seems you a candadate Spinnach's so good for me.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Now you come here to me.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
You can't stop me. I'm hot tonight.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah, I might really do this upright, I might burn
up me play tin, But have I even burn up
the house?
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Everybody see you scant yourself?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
No, I just remembered I don't have no matches. Well
maybe next year. Thanks for being with us Tonightley. Hope
you liked that program, will enough to be with us
(09:24):
next week. Welcome that.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
The one vital skill in live comedy is the ability
to handle the mistakes. Most of the greats of both
radio and live television had that to at least in
an extent, but Skelton and his cast were very adept
at taking the little bloopers and making them as fun
(09:52):
and organic as the material that was written, which was
quite funny in its own right. I hope you enjoyed
this bit of laughter, and we'll join us back here
on New Year's Day for a bit of music as
we celebrate with our third Public Domain Day record party.
It's time for me to close up the Old Snackwagon,
(10:15):
but don't worry. We'll be back with another serving of
old time radio goodness before you know it. If you
want to enjoy some of our longer form podcasts, you
can feast away at my website at Great Detectives dot net.
Your emails are also welcome at Adam at snackwagon dot net.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
The Old Time Radio Snackwagon comes to you from Boise, Idaho.
Your host is Adam Graham. Sound production is by Ryn's
Media LLC. You can listen to past episodes of the
Old Time Radio Snackwagon as well as connect on social
media at our website at snackwagon dot net. Email suggestions
(10:54):
for episodes to Adam at snackwagon dot net. This has
been the Old Time Radio snack Wagon.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Until next time. Goodbye,
Are you, Adam Graham.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The very same? And this is my old time radio
snack wagon.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Welcome to the Old Time Radio snack Wagon, where we
serve up a bite sized portion of old time radio.
And now here's your snack wagon host Adam Graham.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
This week, as we prepare to bid farewell to twenty
twenty five, it seemed appropriate that we'd offer up a
snack with a New Year's themed feel. And for that,
we're going to the Red Skelton Show from December thirty first,
nineteen forty eight, and see how Junior, the mean widow Kid,
(00:48):
celebrates New Year's And now.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
A page from the Mean little Kid's dairy diaries.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Leave it dairy, We'll milk this the night.
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Remember when your folks used to get all dressed up
to celebrate New Year's.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
And you seem to be in the way, just like Junior.
The mean.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Is that you?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yes, yo, come I not ple yoch night? Now, bree yut, Junior?
What on earth are you doing that?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Cat?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Don't get excited. I'm not hurting him. I'm not hurting
him at all. Put it out. Come on. I overheard
the secretary of the of the Skunk Patrol say it
was two dollars in the kidding. Now, if I can
just give him to fit it out, I can start
off the new year very prosperously. Very Hey, what's you
all dressed up for?
Speaker 6 (01:43):
Your father and I going out to see the new year?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Well? Maybe with me here? It refused to come in.
Do you have a thing? Did I am?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
My name referred to in someone's conversation?
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Hop, Pop me stale bread winner? Hello, son Nike, Loreen on.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
My clean shirts back from sand I.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Need to.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Your dress shirts are in the top drawer of the bureau. Hey, Pop,
can you ride in the dairy?
Speaker 5 (02:09):
Hey?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
What are you wearing anyhow? What are you wearing tonight?
Speaker 4 (02:12):
My full dress? Tails?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Heil? What you're gonna do? Make a monkey? How are
you showing?
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Junior? I think you'd better get ready for bed? I
don't want to Loreen. You've seen my color but MAINI
color button.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
It probably rolled onto the bureau, probably rolled under the
bureau again, Well have you seen she may also probably
rolled under the bureau and probably rolled under the bureau.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I'll go ask your father, Junior, and you seeing Grandpa,
he probably rolled under the bule.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Go to your room and do something. Hey, Hey, Mommy,
what what you? Where's your pop going tonight? Probably going
the same place we went last New Year? You mean
poor o? Non mart got to get out of bed
at three o'clock in the morning. To Bailey out again?
Tell that to not No, Hey, what kind of dress
did get you wearing? I know she wasn't like that before?
Speaker 7 (02:56):
We haven't ye, how do you like it?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Well? Don't look now, okayto, but you got too much
stuff crammed in your hip pocket. That's a bustle. A
bushel looks more like a bushel. That's not now. Please please, Junior,
go to your room. Oh, and so I'll know where
you are. Lock yourself in and bring me the key.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
Okay, go to me room, lock meself in and bring
you nuts the whole family.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Mother, Yes, will you please take care of Junior.
Speaker 8 (03:38):
No, that would be against the law. Snake, you'll please
come down here and miss all of this.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
I guess not, girl.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
I have something for you.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Well, you just bright your hair with it. I mean that.
Speaker 8 (04:03):
Dark game you got for Christmas, the one you lost
or you found it.
Speaker 6 (04:07):
I found one of the darts. You left it in
my chair.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
You didn't sit on it.
Speaker 6 (04:15):
Not flow.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Finish me.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
You probably bended all our shame in me dark game.
I'm gonna slide down the banister. It's quicker, I'll get me.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Well, boy, I know do yag again? No you ya boy?
Somebody put tune gum on the banister and derailed me here.
Speaker 6 (04:34):
Now what were you doing up there to upset your mother?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Everything I could? I have my reputation to think of.
You know they're planning to get blottholed tonight, junior.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
Your parents are only going to celebrate the New Year.
That is an American custom.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Here.
Speaker 7 (04:51):
Tonight is the night when people get carried away.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Some by the police and somebody the am Look, you
make them take a taxi tab wherever they're going, because
I know me, Papa. I know me Papa, that stagger
juice boy. Besides, I have no desire to attend the
Orphans Plicnic next year.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
That's a very good suggestion.
Speaker 7 (05:15):
But instead of showing so much concern about them, what
plans are you making for next year?
Speaker 5 (05:19):
Will I hope to be the imperial potent take of
the skunk Patrol?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I just hope I'm potent enough. Hey, you know what
the skunk shady the bear? No, what the bear shadykirk,
He said, where do you get that stuff?
Speaker 6 (05:39):
Ride me out of my mind?
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Yet you're already past the intersections.
Speaker 6 (05:42):
You don't well? Happy new you now?
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Happy mother and you too?
Speaker 7 (05:50):
Son?
Speaker 5 (05:52):
Good night, he's loaded already remembered.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I've well here we is all.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
Yes, but I'm not afraid. I'm going to let you
stay up with me and welcome in the new year. Now,
come on, sit on my lap?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Okay, who say you lost them weight? You're not a
spring is. You're just getting heavier, Junior.
Speaker 7 (06:25):
It won't be long before I won't be able to.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Hold you on my lap? Any word?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Do I hold you on me? Laugh? You will?
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Yeah, which I'm gonna need a lot of lap, you know,
a large economical.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Like that tub of shaving Queen Nemma? What you said
there looking in a fireplace that they're doing for?
Speaker 7 (06:44):
I'm thinking of you and myself? Really, how closely related
we are to this hour? You're nineteen forty nine and
I'm nineteen forty eight.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
The new and the old? Are you not your old?
Why you got more teaching? I haven't a newer than mine?
Shall I go get the glass?
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Or you?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Pretty right? And then what do you think I'll be
a smarter you is.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Oh, you'll be much smarter, junior, dear, because in this
atomic age we have very few hidden facts. Almost every
question can be answered with intelligence, not ignorance.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Are gonna know what you mean?
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Well?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
You will there, you.
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Will there in time. Now, let's talk about your plans
for nineteen forty nine. Okay, are you going to be
destructive and show a loss or will you be better
in character and.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Show a prophet. I'm going to try to be good
on my own two. I'm not going to say I'll
be good if you give me a nickel. I'll be
good if you buy me ice cream. This year, I
going to be good for nothing.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Well, that's one way of making a resolution and not breaking.
But you're not really bad.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
I won't be able to start off new year with
a clearly slate. I'll tell you that there's so much
any things left to do in nineteen forty eight, and
there you have a few hours left, Go ahead and
do them.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
You realize what you're shay, you's a natural born sport.
Ain't here?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Well?
Speaker 1 (08:10):
First I want to do it.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Slam the door, just to see what would happen. Real
hard what I got get well, I'm getting ready for
nineteen forty nine. Now for that statue of little egg Wife,
Little Egypt.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I'm sick looking at that thing.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Oh my beautiful graduation test.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
He won't hear of me, not until I do one
thing that I wanted to do for a long time.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Seems you a candadate Spinnach's so good for me.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Now you come here to me.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
You can't stop me. I'm hot tonight.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah, I might really do this upright, I might burn
up me play tin, But have I even burn up
the house?
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Everybody see you scant yourself?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
No, I just remembered I don't have no matches. Well
maybe next year. Thanks for being with us Tonightley. Hope
you liked that program, will enough to be with us
(09:24):
next week. Welcome that.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
The one vital skill in live comedy is the ability
to handle the mistakes. Most of the greats of both
radio and live television had that to at least in
an extent, but Skelton and his cast were very adept
at taking the little bloopers and making them as fun
(09:52):
and organic as the material that was written, which was
quite funny in its own right. I hope you enjoyed
this bit of laughter, and we'll join us back here
on New Year's Day for a bit of music as
we celebrate with our third Public Domain Day record party.
It's time for me to close up the Old Snackwagon,
(10:15):
but don't worry. We'll be back with another serving of
old time radio goodness before you know it. If you
want to enjoy some of our longer form podcasts, you
can feast away at my website at Great Detectives dot net.
Your emails are also welcome at Adam at snackwagon dot net.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
The Old Time Radio Snackwagon comes to you from Boise, Idaho.
Your host is Adam Graham. Sound production is by Ryn's
Media LLC. You can listen to past episodes of the
Old Time Radio Snackwagon as well as connect on social
media at our website at snackwagon dot net. Email suggestions
(10:54):
for episodes to Adam at snackwagon dot net. This has
been the Old Time Radio snack Wagon.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Until next time. Goodbye,
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