Texaco Town 1938 01 05 (67) Listener Poll

# The Eddie Cantor Show: Texaco Town, January 5, 1938

Picture yourself huddled around the radio on a crisp winter evening, the warm glow of the dial illuminating your living room as Eddie Cantor's unmistakable voice crackles through the airwaves with infectious energy. In this special Listener Poll episode, the maestro of comedy has something extraordinary planned—your voice matters tonight. Cantor, that irrepressible vaudeville legend with the rolling eyes and quicksilver wit, invites America to vote on the show's direction, polling listeners about their favorite bits, preferred musical numbers, and comedic styles. It's a revolutionary concept for 1938: a broadcast that transforms passive listeners into active participants. Expect the usual rapid-fire jokes and clever wordplay that made Cantor a household name, but tonight there's an electric undercurrent of genuine suspense. What will America choose? The comedy bits that leave you gasping for breath? The romantic crooning that accompanies the Texaco gasoline jingles? The zaniness of the supporting cast?

The Eddie Cantor Show had become an American institution by the late 1930s, sponsored by Texaco and broadcast live from the network studios. Cantor brought the spontaneity and timing of vaudeville to the microphone, creating radio comedy that felt genuinely unpredictable despite its live broadcast format. This particular episode represents the show at its commercial and creative peak, when Cantor's influence in entertainment was virtually unmatched. The listener poll concept reflects the era's growing understanding of radio's power—networks were beginning to recognize that audiences weren't just consumers of content, but potential collaborators.

Tune in to witness broadcasting history: a moment when America's most beloved entertainer asked his millions of listeners to help shape the future of radio comedy. This is intimate, live entertainment at its finest.