Pabst Blue Ribbon 1948 05 06 (72) Going After The Smith Vote
# The Eddie Cantor Show – May 6, 1948
Picture yourself settling into your favorite armchair on a Thursday evening in May, tuning the dial to catch Eddie Cantor at his comedic best. Tonight's broadcast crackles with the electricity of an election year, as the beloved entertainer and his supporting cast dive headfirst into the absurdities of American politics. With the 1948 presidential race heating up and "the Smith vote" hanging in the balance, Cantor and company conjure up a hilarious scenario that skewers the earnest desperation of politicians chasing every last ballot. Expect rapid-fire gags, snappy one-liners, and Cantor's trademark physical comedy coming through loud and clear—all wrapped around the Pabst Blue Ribbon jingle that America had come to know and love. The orchestra swells, the audience roars with laughter, and for thirty minutes, the nation's worries melt away in pure vaudeville magic.
By 1948, The Eddie Cantor Show had become an institution of American radio, a weekly refuge where the legendary entertainer's tireless energy and impeccable timing could transform even the most mundane topics into comedy gold. Cantor himself—a veteran of stage, screen, and now radio—brought decades of show business savvy to every broadcast, while his capable supporting players and the crisp NBC/CBS production standards ensured the show remained fresh and vital even as the medium itself was beginning to face competition from an upstart called television. Political humor was Cantor's specialty, whether skewering elected officials or celebrating the everyday American, and this episode captures him in his element.
Tune in now to experience a snapshot of mid-century American entertainment, when radio comedy meant clever writing, breakneck pacing, and the unmistakable voice of Eddie Cantor himself guiding you through an evening of unscripted-sounding spontaneity and carefully crafted mirth.