September 29, 2025 • 9 mins
This April 1, 1943, segment of Kraft Music Hall pairs Bing Crosby with a rising comedy talent who would one day become one of television’s most iconic stars—Lucille Ball. At this point in her career, Ball was a hardworking film and radio actress, known for her quick wit and growing comedic presence.
In this sketch, she plays a regal “Queen Lucille” in a playful routine filled with wordplay, royal suitors, and plenty of laughs. Lucille Ball’s radio appearances like this one helped showcase her timing and charm long before I Love Lucy made her a household name. These performances built the foundation for her future reign as the “queen of comedy.”
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.
In this sketch, she plays a regal “Queen Lucille” in a playful routine filled with wordplay, royal suitors, and plenty of laughs. Lucille Ball’s radio appearances like this one helped showcase her timing and charm long before I Love Lucy made her a household name. These performances built the foundation for her future reign as the “queen of comedy.”
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):
Excuse me, are you Adam Graham?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The very same? And this is my old time radio
snack wagon.
Speaker 1 (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):
One thing we love to serve off your old time
Radio snack wagon is samples of great comedians and comic actors,
and here we have one of the best. A decade
after this clip aired, she'd star in one of the
greatest sitcoms of all time and then cement her role
(00:47):
as one of television's greatest performers with years of success
on future sitcoms. But before all that, Lucille Ball was
a hard working, mean actress both on film and on radio,
with a growing reputation as a talented performer. Here's her
(01:09):
performance with Bing Crosby in the Craft Music Hall from
April the first, nineteen forty three.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
When Metro Golden There decided to prove that Duberr was
a lady, they calmbed the town for the gorgeous exotic
gal to portray the famed contest Jean Bacculdub. Naturally, they
came up with our good friend, Lucille bar probably the
glammiest gale between Burbank and Culver City. Nice to have
you with us once more, the old fast music, all Lucille,
(01:39):
But why didn't you hit us in the potted wig
in the hoopskirt of Guberre.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Oh no being I've been wearing hoopskirts so much as
gotten so that every time I see a telephone I
sit down on it.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I must get some damned the numbers of it.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Honestly think I've been at French court atmosphere so much
I actually dream about it. The other night I dreamt
I was a queen, Queen Lucille.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Queen Lucille, but Lucil I dropped the ball, took a
bad hop. Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And I dreamed I had a beautiful palace right outside
of Carrot.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yes, yeah, built by.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
My uncle, the Marquis de laskey Ball. He copied it
from his English place. Tin ball on the.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Coat, little meat an additional lord on Lemarquis de key Ball.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Well, his wife was eccentric. He was a school ball.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
I used the bowl with the old girl. Had a
humpball doing mighty.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Well. During my reign as tea. Three famous teams pleaded
for my hand and nerves my aide court. Tennis founded
his trumpets and called the court.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
To orders, called the Queen's deal of bulls of theirs.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
May I why not my chariographies at the Berlin Current,
I avte your first wide in a state of other timeorw.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
The people wish to know why you are queen? Have
such a strange di dialect?
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Well, the legend is that the old lady was frightened
by a Brooklyn Dodgers.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
I'll told of you're a grocer to bear it. Yeah,
your majesty has.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
The poor directive.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I uncertained an advertisement in.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
The Paris Daily Postcard stating, at your Highness, Queen Lucie,
you of Paul the fash disis of obtaining and maintaining
a husband. I stated that only kings with jack need apply.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
I also said they must be handsome and Paul. Yeah,
we don't like our three foot rulers.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Oh, definitely, no short tears.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Did any pay for antoy air?
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Three kings A wait outside?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Okay, tend the man that I'm a sucker to call
three kings.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
I don't think on the stop of proper media is
this corner? Wait two hundred and fifty seven and three
quarters pretender to the heavyweight of cows.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
You may kneel at my face.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
King John, I can't, your highness?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Once I kneel, I can't get un kneel.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Who robber gave you the idea that I would commit
matrimony with a guy like you?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
What do you got to offer, h your majesty, I
have advanced domain.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yeah, I can see that liquid as style of stout
count can that soul?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Looks like I'm getting the cartman's park at the quarter
running water at the half candy gap. And here's the winner.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
That's the sinner.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Got it, your majesty, King bing of cross Binya, await
your pleasure?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Hell I tell him.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
To come forth.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
If he's on one of his own legs, you'll be
lucky to come fit.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I'm king being I think I'm clean all right down,
Your royal Highness. Thou doest remind me of a beautiful cameo?
Now does resemble a flag flower? Thou doest bring to
mind madame pompadoor adam do? Now does? Yes? Do?
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I guess I gotta brush your off your two justice.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Oh Queenie, can we murder our kingdom?
Speaker 4 (05:18):
May I process? How you get along with your posl.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Oh fin, I love it because I rule with a
wise hand and an iron head.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I believe it.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
How do you get along with your subjects?
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Oh? Pretty good? But I keep suning.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Algebra, allow not a few actions to where your fishing
tented copies for Queen Lucille, for I love you, I
love you, dummy, you are.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Honestly Kane Jing. You say the sweetest thing. Why I
think I'm blessing you?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Nothing, nothing beats a royal flesh.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I must say. You've made Chrisman person on me, Kane Dan,
I'll give you my so soon. In the meantime, I'll
have my bouncer try you out. Hi, Kenni kennioy I
keep them offle busy? He works like a dog.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Where's enough? Didn't prop I thought your Majesty's answer would
be favorabill you see, Queen, I want to be greater
than I am now, I want to be higher.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Than a king.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
What do you want to do? Make an eighty yourself?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I strive for that, johannahs. I await your decision. I
shall be in the royal swimming pool. But I shall
join the ladies in waiting.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
John is next, King town Kenny.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
Regretfully anout thing, King Yuki of Yuki Mania, right this
way past.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Hi, Queen, I'm kaing Yuki. Well, I don't know whether
I want to marry anything like you.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
You're pretty short, okay, Ain King Time.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
You look very famedia to me. Could have say that
you're the guy who used to company with snow white
Ian Prince Tommy No docy, Queen, Listen, I ain't like
those other kings.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I ain't got no domain, I ain't got no castle,
I ain't even got gold.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I'm just a great lover.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
That's all.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
King Yuki, the lover.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Ah, you just the poison I've been waiting for. I
ain't person who's got poisoned. Oh, Tom Kenny, send everybody in.
I made a church all in all.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Instead of the coffee, the Queen has made her church.
I mean church.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Listen. I've decided to marry King you see.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Oh, but your majesty, he's the end of the dynasty.
He's a nasty party, hasn't even got a frank to his.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Name, pony, though he's rich without it. Oh he is?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
What's he using for money? He's got butterfingers, butter fingers, and.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
He's got a rubberneck, robber neck, and he's got copy
her again. But what do you using for me, who's
a bigger hand than you?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
All.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, a nice little bit of fluff that helped to
promote Lucy's film mark and of course the Craft Music
Hall was a major what we would call a platform,
and her appearances on programs likes at help bring her
to the public and set the stage for the day
(08:31):
when Lucy would be truly crowned a queen, a queen
of comedy. It's time for me to close up the
Old Snackwagon, 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
(08:53):
dot net. Your emails are also welcome at Adam at
Snackwagon dot net.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
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 for
(09:20):
episodes to Adam at snackwagon dot net. This has been
the old time radio Snackwagon.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Until next time. Goodbye,
Excuse me, are you Adam Graham?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The very same? And this is my old time radio
snack wagon.
Speaker 1 (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):
One thing we love to serve off your old time
Radio snack wagon is samples of great comedians and comic actors,
and here we have one of the best. A decade
after this clip aired, she'd star in one of the
greatest sitcoms of all time and then cement her role
(00:47):
as one of television's greatest performers with years of success
on future sitcoms. But before all that, Lucille Ball was
a hard working, mean actress both on film and on radio,
with a growing reputation as a talented performer. Here's her
(01:09):
performance with Bing Crosby in the Craft Music Hall from
April the first, nineteen forty three.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
When Metro Golden There decided to prove that Duberr was
a lady, they calmbed the town for the gorgeous exotic
gal to portray the famed contest Jean Bacculdub. Naturally, they
came up with our good friend, Lucille bar probably the
glammiest gale between Burbank and Culver City. Nice to have
you with us once more, the old fast music, all Lucille,
(01:39):
But why didn't you hit us in the potted wig
in the hoopskirt of Guberre.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Oh no being I've been wearing hoopskirts so much as
gotten so that every time I see a telephone I
sit down on it.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I must get some damned the numbers of it.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Honestly think I've been at French court atmosphere so much
I actually dream about it. The other night I dreamt
I was a queen, Queen Lucille.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Queen Lucille, but Lucil I dropped the ball, took a
bad hop. Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And I dreamed I had a beautiful palace right outside
of Carrot.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yes, yeah, built by.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
My uncle, the Marquis de laskey Ball. He copied it
from his English place. Tin ball on the.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Coat, little meat an additional lord on Lemarquis de key Ball.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Well, his wife was eccentric. He was a school ball.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
I used the bowl with the old girl. Had a
humpball doing mighty.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Well. During my reign as tea. Three famous teams pleaded
for my hand and nerves my aide court. Tennis founded
his trumpets and called the court.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
To orders, called the Queen's deal of bulls of theirs.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
May I why not my chariographies at the Berlin Current,
I avte your first wide in a state of other timeorw.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
The people wish to know why you are queen? Have
such a strange di dialect?
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Well, the legend is that the old lady was frightened
by a Brooklyn Dodgers.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
I'll told of you're a grocer to bear it. Yeah,
your majesty has.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
The poor directive.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I uncertained an advertisement in.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
The Paris Daily Postcard stating, at your Highness, Queen Lucie,
you of Paul the fash disis of obtaining and maintaining
a husband. I stated that only kings with jack need apply.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
I also said they must be handsome and Paul. Yeah,
we don't like our three foot rulers.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Oh, definitely, no short tears.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Did any pay for antoy air?
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Three kings A wait outside?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Okay, tend the man that I'm a sucker to call
three kings.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
I don't think on the stop of proper media is
this corner? Wait two hundred and fifty seven and three
quarters pretender to the heavyweight of cows.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
You may kneel at my face.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
King John, I can't, your highness?
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Once I kneel, I can't get un kneel.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Who robber gave you the idea that I would commit
matrimony with a guy like you?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
What do you got to offer, h your majesty, I
have advanced domain.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yeah, I can see that liquid as style of stout
count can that soul?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Looks like I'm getting the cartman's park at the quarter
running water at the half candy gap. And here's the winner.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
That's the sinner.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Got it, your majesty, King bing of cross Binya, await
your pleasure?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Hell I tell him.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
To come forth.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
If he's on one of his own legs, you'll be
lucky to come fit.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I'm king being I think I'm clean all right down,
Your royal Highness. Thou doest remind me of a beautiful cameo?
Now does resemble a flag flower? Thou doest bring to
mind madame pompadoor adam do? Now does? Yes? Do?
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I guess I gotta brush your off your two justice.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Oh Queenie, can we murder our kingdom?
Speaker 4 (05:18):
May I process? How you get along with your posl.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Oh fin, I love it because I rule with a
wise hand and an iron head.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I believe it.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
How do you get along with your subjects?
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Oh? Pretty good? But I keep suning.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Algebra, allow not a few actions to where your fishing
tented copies for Queen Lucille, for I love you, I
love you, dummy, you are.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Honestly Kane Jing. You say the sweetest thing. Why I
think I'm blessing you?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Nothing, nothing beats a royal flesh.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I must say. You've made Chrisman person on me, Kane Dan,
I'll give you my so soon. In the meantime, I'll
have my bouncer try you out. Hi, Kenni kennioy I
keep them offle busy? He works like a dog.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Where's enough? Didn't prop I thought your Majesty's answer would
be favorabill you see, Queen, I want to be greater
than I am now, I want to be higher.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Than a king.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
What do you want to do? Make an eighty yourself?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I strive for that, johannahs. I await your decision. I
shall be in the royal swimming pool. But I shall
join the ladies in waiting.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
John is next, King town Kenny.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
Regretfully anout thing, King Yuki of Yuki Mania, right this
way past.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Hi, Queen, I'm kaing Yuki. Well, I don't know whether
I want to marry anything like you.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
You're pretty short, okay, Ain King Time.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
You look very famedia to me. Could have say that
you're the guy who used to company with snow white
Ian Prince Tommy No docy, Queen, Listen, I ain't like
those other kings.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I ain't got no domain, I ain't got no castle,
I ain't even got gold.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I'm just a great lover.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
That's all.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
King Yuki, the lover.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Ah, you just the poison I've been waiting for. I
ain't person who's got poisoned. Oh, Tom Kenny, send everybody in.
I made a church all in all.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Instead of the coffee, the Queen has made her church.
I mean church.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Listen. I've decided to marry King you see.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Oh, but your majesty, he's the end of the dynasty.
He's a nasty party, hasn't even got a frank to his.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
Name, pony, though he's rich without it. Oh he is?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
What's he using for money? He's got butterfingers, butter fingers, and.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
He's got a rubberneck, robber neck, and he's got copy
her again. But what do you using for me, who's
a bigger hand than you?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
All.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, a nice little bit of fluff that helped to
promote Lucy's film mark and of course the Craft Music
Hall was a major what we would call a platform,
and her appearances on programs likes at help bring her
to the public and set the stage for the day
(08:31):
when Lucy would be truly crowned a queen, a queen
of comedy. It's time for me to close up the
Old Snackwagon, 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
(08:53):
dot net. Your emails are also welcome at Adam at
Snackwagon dot net.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
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 for
(09:20):
episodes to Adam at snackwagon dot net. This has been
the old time radio Snackwagon.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Until next time. Goodbye,
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