Will She Come Out

# The Fred Allen Show: "Will She Come Out" (1936)

Step into the smoky green room of a 1936 vaudeville house as Fred Allen orchestrates another evening of delightful mayhem. "Will She Come Out" crackles with the particular energy of a show teetering on the edge of chaos—a mysterious leading lady has vanished just minutes before curtain, and Allen's trademark rapid-fire wit becomes the glue holding the evening's entertainment together. Expect the unexpected: slapstick confusion bleeding into sharp satirical sketches, a parade of character comedians emerging from the wings, and Allen's familiar cast of eccentrics adding their own combustible talents to the fray. The tension between the missing actress and the show's relentless momentum creates genuine dramatic stakes beneath the comedy, while Portland Hoffa's sardonic observations and the orchestra's perfectly-timed cues heighten every comedic beat.

By 1936, The Fred Allen Show had become appointment listening for millions of Americans, representing something genuinely innovative in broadcast comedy. Unlike his competitor Jack Benny's more intimate approach, Allen embraced the vaudeville tradition he'd mastered on stage—fast-paced, densely-packed with gags, and unafraid to skewer contemporary politics and entertainment itself. This episode exemplifies Allen's fearless approach to the medium; his rapid-fire delivery and willingness to let sketches sprawl and surprise listeners made NBC the network to beat. Allen's influence would shape comedy broadcasting for decades to come.

This is your chance to experience why Fred Allen commanded such devoted listener loyalty during radio's golden age. Tune in to "Will She Come Out" and discover a master comedian operating at full throttle, proving that the best entertainment never needs a net.