It Pays To Be Ignorant

It Pays to Be Ignorant was a popular American radio comedy show that aired from 1942 to 1951. The program was a satirical take on academic quiz shows, featuring a panel of “experts” who were comically ignorant and provided outrageous answers to simple questions. The show’s premise was built around the idea that it was more entertaining to be humorously wrong than boringly correct.

The series was created by Tom Howard, who also served as the show’s quizmaster. Howard’s witty and sometimes exasperated interactions with the panel were a key element of the show’s humor. The program’s format was a spoof of more serious quiz shows of the era, such as Quiz Kids and Information Please, while also parodying elements of the popular Doctor I.Q. at the beginning of each episode.

It Pays to Be Ignorant enjoyed a successful nine-year run across three major radio networks: Mutual, CBS, and NBC. The show’s longevity and ability to attract sponsors such as Philip Morris, Chrysler, and DeSoto demonstrated its popularity with audiences of the time. The program typically aired as a summer replacement series, filling in for other shows during their off-seasons.

The show’s format involved Tom Howard posing questions to the panel, often with answers that were obvious or common knowledge. However, the panelists would invariably get the answers wrong, providing hilarious and often absurd responses. This was followed by even more outrageous explanations for their incorrect answers, tangential conversations, and playful insults between panel members. The show’s humor relied heavily on wordplay, misunderstandings, and the panel’s ability to find the most convoluted ways to misinterpret simple questions.

The Stars

The regular panel of “experts” on It Pays to Be Ignorant consisted of Harry McNaughton, Lulu McConnell, and George Shelton. These performers, along with host Tom Howard, formed the core of the show’s comedic ensemble.

Tom Howard (1885-1955), the Irish-born creator and quizmaster of the show, had a background in vaudeville and comedy film shorts. His role as the exasperated host trying to wrangle sensible answers from his panel was crucial to the show’s dynamic.

George Shelton (1885-1972) was Howard’s long-time comedy partner. The two had worked together in vaudeville and comedy film shorts before It Pays to Be Ignorant, bringing their established rapport to the radio show.

Lulu McConnell (1882-1962) and Harry McNaughton (1896-1967) both came from backgrounds in Broadway musical comedies and revues. Their theatrical experience served them well in creating larger-than-life comic personas for the radio audience.

The chemistry between these four performers was a key factor in the show’s success. Each developed their own catchphrases and running gags that became familiar to and beloved by listeners. For example, McNaughton was known for his recurring line, “Now we’re back to Miss McConnell again,” while Shelton would often interject with “I used to woik in that town” when a location was mentioned.

Key Dates

• June 25, 1942: It Pays to Be Ignorant debuts on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
• February 28, 1944: The show concludes its run on Mutual.
• February 25, 1944: It Pays to Be Ignorant moves to CBS, where it would enjoy its longest continuous run.
• September 27, 1950: The CBS run of the show comes to an end.
• July 4, 1951: The program begins its final radio run on NBC.
• September 26, 1951: The last episode of It Pays to Be Ignorant airs on NBC, marking the end of its radio run.

Other Information

Television Adaptations: The success of It Pays to Be Ignorant on radio led to several attempts to bring the show to television. The original radio cast first brought the show to CBS Television from June 6 to September 19, 1949. After a two-year hiatus, the series returned to NBC television from July 5 to September 27, 1951. Interestingly, in the 1951 version, Tom Howard appeared in an elaborate cap and gown outfit and did not acknowledge the earlier 1949 television episodes.

Syndicated Revival: In the 1970s, the show was revived as a syndicated television series. This version, produced by Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions, ran from September 10, 1973, to September 1974. The revival featured Joe Flynn as the host, with panelists Jo Anne Worley, Billy Baxter, and Charles Nelson Reilly. Worley and Reilly were concurrently appearing on the popular game show Match Game during this time.

Running Time and Format: Each episode of It Pays to Be Ignorant ran for 30 minutes. The show would typically begin with some jokes and an introduction of the “expert” panel. This was followed by three or four questions that would be discussed in comical detail. Some questions were posed by the host, while others were randomly selected by guests from the audience.

Question Types: The questions on the show were often designed to have obvious answers or were based on common knowledge. Examples include: “What town in Massachusetts had the Boston Tea Party?”, “How long does it take a ship to make a five-day journey?”, and “For what meal do we wear a dinner jacket?” The humor came from the panelists’ ability to misinterpret these simple questions in the most absurd ways possible . Catchphrases: The show developed several catchphrases that became popular with listeners. These recurring elements added to the show’s charm and helped build a sense of familiarity for regular audience members.

Preservation: A significant number of episodes of It Pays to Be Ignorant have survived and are available for modern listeners. At least 69 radio episodes are known to exist, with some held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Additionally, one 1951 television episode and two syndicated TV episodes are known to have survived.

Cultural Impact: The show’s popularity during its original run is evident from its longevity and ability to attract major sponsors. Its influence extended beyond its time, with a spoof of the show being done by Jackie Gleason in the mid-1950s, demonstrating its lasting impact on American comedy.

It Pays to Be Ignorant stands as a prime example of the clever, quick-witted comedy that characterized much of radio’s golden age. Its ability to satirize the more serious quiz shows of its era while creating its own brand of absurdist humor made it a unique and beloved part of American broadcasting history.

The show’s format, which rewarded comedic ignorance over actual knowledge, provided a refreshing counterpoint to the often staid and serious tone of many contemporary programs, offering listeners a chance to laugh at the absurdity of supposedly learned individuals getting simple facts comically wrong.