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Can You Top This

Can You Top This? was a hilarious show where audience members sent in jokes and funny men "Senator Ed Ford", Harry Hershfield, and Joe Laurie Jr. tried to top them. Jokes could be sent in about any subject except religion, politics, or arson.

Can You Top This

41 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 16 hours, 2821 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
17 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from April 21, 1942:

"Restaurants"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Can You Top This

Comedy and Audience Participation Show (1940-1954)

old time radio imageCan You Top This? was a hilarious show where audience members sent in jokes and funny men "Senator Ed Ford," Harry Hershfield, and Joe Laurie Jr. tried to top them. Jokes could be sent in about any subject except religion, politics or arson. Although they were not told any of the jokes or subjects ahead of time, Ed, Harry and Joe then had to top the joke with another joke of the same subject. Peter DonaldWhether the joke was "topped was judged by the Colgate Laugh Meter, a giant smiling man's face with a meter that moved with the live audiences laughter.

The shows roots sprouted from Ed, Harry and Joe's joke-swapping extravaganzas at the New York Lambs Club. Friends from vaudeville days, the three could go on for hours at the club. Peter Donald, who went on to play Fred Allen's Ajax Cassidy, hosted the show. "Senator Ed Ford, "senator in name only, added the title in order to increase his prospective charisma. Harry Hershfield was a cartoonist.He was awarded New York's Best After Dinner Speaker. In his heyday, he would make over 200 after dinner speeches a year. Joe Laurie Jr was a 1920s vaudevillian. Before Can you Top This?, he wrote jokes for Al Jolson. As a small fry, there were frequent jokes about Joe's size on the show.

Ed, Harry and Joe were hard to top on the show. But 6,000 listeners' letters poured in weekly to give it a try. If their joke was read on the air, listeners received $5. They received an additional $2 per non-topping jokester. If their jokes were topped, listeners received a joke book in the mail.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    9
    9     0


    COMMENTS

    Great programs, comedy has left today's media.

    Roy Verified Purchase

    Love this radio show

    Steve Verified Purchase

    Can You Top This was maybe the only comedy show you KNEW would be funny every week. All the great comedians had their off-nights and the sitcoms would have an occasional weak episode, but this one was always great.

    Ken

    I have always been a fan of Can You Top This? I am old enough to have heard some of these programs when they first aired. Today some of the ethnic/racial jokes would be considered inappropriate so bear that in mind. But there are some hilarious stories. I have repeated some of these stories at cocktail parties and people love them. I am so thankful that recordings of these programs were saved.

    Brian Verified Purchase

    Great Jokes, one of my favorites.

    Roy Verified Purchase

    I have been a customer and listener to this site for very many years. Having purchased an extensive collection of radio relics I still keep coming back because they keep adding new stuff. I may not like it all but there are still what I consider gems being posted here. Many thanks to the hard workers behind the scenes. Jim

    Jim Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    41 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 16 hours, 2821 min
    41 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 16 hours, 2821 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 41 shows – total playtime 16 hours, 47 minutes
    2. Can You Top This 420421 Restaurants.mp3
    3. Can You Top This 450815 Suitors.mp3
    4. Can You Top This 460726 Names.mp3
    5. Can You Top This 470201 Stupidity.mp3
    6. Can You Top This 470531 Employers.mp3
    7. Can You Top This 470705 Secretary.mp3
    8. Can You Top This 470726 Service.mp3
    9. Can You Top This 470809 Second Half Only Health.mp3
    10. Can You Top This 471107 Bus.mp3
    11. Can You Top This 471128 Psychiatry.mp3
    12. Can You Top This 471205 Indignation.mp3
    13. Can You Top This 480430 Barbers.mp3
    14. Can You Top This 480514 Hats.mp3
    15. Can You Top This 490403 Salesmen.mp3
    16. Can You Top This 540514 Gossip.mp3
    17. Can You Top This 740125 Campaign.mp3
    18. Can You Top This 740919 Railroads.mp3
    19. Can You Top This 740926 Reprimands.mp3
    20. Can You Top This 741017 Punishment.mp3
    21. Can You Top This 741024 Economy.mp3
    22. Can You Top This 741103 Help.mp3
    23. Can You Top This 741107 Automobile.mp3
    24. Can You Top This 741121 Receptions.mp3
    25. Can You Top This 741128 Ghosts.mp3
    26. Can You Top This 741212 Advertising.mp3
    27. Can You Top This 741226 Panhandler.mp3
    28. Can You Top This 750116 Conceit.mp3
    29. Can You Top This 750130 Quarrel.mp3
    30. Can You Top This 750201 Information.mp3
    31. Can You Top This 750205 Bragging.mp3
    32. Can You Top This 750213 Jobs.mp3
    33. Can You Top This 750220 Sailor.mp3
    34. Can You Top This 750223 Tramp.mp3
    35. Can You Top This 750227 Treatment.mp3
    36. Can You Top This 750306 Mishap.mp3
    37. Can You Top This 750313 Customer.mp3
    38. Can You Top This Choose Your Own Subject.mp3
    39. Can You Top This Irish Wit.mp3
    40. Can You Top This Jail.mp3
    41. Can You Top This Office.mp3
    42. Can You Top This Suggestion.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    41 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 16 hours, 2821 min
    41 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    484 MB – total playtime 16 hours, 47 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 41 shows – 484 MB – total playtime 16 hours, 47 minutes
    2. Can You Top This 420421 Restaurants.mp3
    3. Can You Top This 450815 Suitors.mp3
    4. Can You Top This 460726 Names.mp3
    5. Can You Top This 470201 Stupidity.mp3
    6. Can You Top This 470531 Employers.mp3
    7. Can You Top This 470705 Secretary.mp3
    8. Can You Top This 470726 Service.mp3
    9. Can You Top This 470809 Second Half Only Health.mp3
    10. Can You Top This 471107 Bus.mp3
    11. Can You Top This 471128 Psychiatry.mp3
    12. Can You Top This 471205 Indignation.mp3
    13. Can You Top This 480430 Barbers.mp3
    14. Can You Top This 480514 Hats.mp3
    15. Can You Top This 490403 Salesmen.mp3
    16. Can You Top This 540514 Gossip.mp3
    17. Can You Top This 740125 Campaign.mp3
    18. Can You Top This 740919 Railroads.mp3
    19. Can You Top This 740926 Reprimands.mp3
    20. Can You Top This 741017 Punishment.mp3
    21. Can You Top This 741024 Economy.mp3
    22. Can You Top This 741103 Help.mp3
    23. Can You Top This 741107 Automobile.mp3
    24. Can You Top This 741121 Receptions.mp3
    25. Can You Top This 741128 Ghosts.mp3
    26. Can You Top This 741212 Advertising.mp3
    27. Can You Top This 741226 Panhandler.mp3
    28. Can You Top This 750116 Conceit.mp3
    29. Can You Top This 750130 Quarrel.mp3
    30. Can You Top This 750201 Information.mp3
    31. Can You Top This 750205 Bragging.mp3
    32. Can You Top This 750213 Jobs.mp3
    33. Can You Top This 750220 Sailor.mp3
    34. Can You Top This 750223 Tramp.mp3
    35. Can You Top This 750227 Treatment.mp3
    36. Can You Top This 750306 Mishap.mp3
    37. Can You Top This 750313 Customer.mp3
    38. Can You Top This Choose Your Own Subject.mp3
    39. Can You Top This Irish Wit.mp3
    40. Can You Top This Jail.mp3
    41. Can You Top This Office.mp3
    42. Can You Top This Suggestion.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    41 recordings on 17 Audio CDs. Total playtime 16 hours, 47 min
    41 recordings on 17 Audio CDs
    total playtime 16 hours, 47 min

    Can You Top This Disc A001

    1. Can You Top This Choose Your Own Subject
    2. Can You Top This Irish Wit

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A002

    1. Can You Top This Jail
    2. Can You Top This Office

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A003

    1. Can You Top This Suggestion
    2. Can You Top This 420421 Restaurants

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A004

    1. Can You Top This 450815 Suitors
    2. Can You Top This 460726 Names

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A005

    1. Can You Top This 470201 Stupidity
    2. Can You Top This 470531 Employers

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A006

    1. Can You Top This 470705 Secretary
    2. Can You Top This 470726 Service

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A007

    1. Can You Top This 470809 Second Half Only Health
    2. Can You Top This 471107 Bus

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A008

    1. Can You Top This 471128 Psychiatry
    2. Can You Top This 471205 Indignation

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A009

    1. Can You Top This 480430 Barbers
    2. Can You Top This 480514 Hats

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A010

    1. Can You Top This 490403 Salesmen
    2. Can You Top This 540514 Gossip

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A011

    1. Can You Top This 740125 Campaign
    2. Can You Top This 740919 Railroads
    3. Can You Top This 740926 Reprimands

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A012

    1. Can You Top This 741017 Punishment
    2. Can You Top This 741024 Economy
    3. Can You Top This 741103 Help

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A013

    1. Can You Top This 741107 Automobile
    2. Can You Top This 741121 Receptions
    3. Can You Top This 741128 Ghosts

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A014

    1. Can You Top This 741212 Advertising
    2. Can You Top This 741226 Panhandler
    3. Can You Top This 750116 Conceit

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A015

    1. Can You Top This 750130 Quarrel
    2. Can You Top This 750201 Information
    3. Can You Top This 750205 Bragging

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A016

    1. Can You Top This 750213 Jobs
    2. Can You Top This 750220 Sailor
    3. Can You Top This 750223 Tramp

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Can You Top This Disc A017

    1. Can You Top This 750227 Treatment
    2. Can You Top This 750306 Mishap
    3. Can You Top This 750313 Customer

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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