Going, Going, Gone

# The Fred Allen Show: Going, Going, Gone (1936)

Step into the parlor with Fred Allen on this riotous March evening in 1936, where an innocent trip to an auction house spirals into comedic chaos. Allen's deadpan delivery cuts through the roar of the crowd as he attempts to bid on a seemingly worthless painting, only to find himself in an escalating battle of wits with a cunning auctioneer and a gallery of eccentric bidders. Listen as Portland Hoffa's sharp interjections puncture Fred's schemes, and watch—er, hear—as the sketch builds from a simple misunderstanding into a farcical masterpiece. The studio audience erupts with laughter so genuine you can almost feel the seats shake beneath you, while the pit orchestra's comedic stings punctuate every pratfall and double-take. This is vintage Allen: urbane, unpredictable, and absolutely merciless in skewering human folly.

By 1936, The Fred Allen Show had already established itself as the thinking person's comedy program, a stark contrast to the gentler humor dominating American radio. Allen's rapid-fire wordplay and satirical edge made him the equal of any vaudeville headliner, while his willingness to mock advertisers, sponsors, and the radio industry itself was refreshingly bold. The show's variety format—blending sketches, musical performances, and Allen's biting monologues—made each episode feel like an evening at a premium nightclub, right in your living room. His feud with Jack Benny, conducted largely through on-air jabs and manufactured slights, became legendary even as it unfolded.

Don't miss this gem from radio's golden age. Tune in and discover why Fred Allen remains one of broadcasting's most fearless and inventive comedians.