- Radio Announcer: What chu gonna play first?
- The Washboard Serenaders: What we're gonna play my old nationality song. A little Russian number. Will you pardon my Yiddish accent.
- [first lines]
- Radio Announcer: And this, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the dance music from the Honest-to-Barber Dinner Club. This is the Black Network Company, presenting for the first time the Pullman Porter Shoe Polish Variety Program, introducing the Harlem Gondolier.
- Babe Wallace: [singing] Am I dreamin' or am I awake, I can't believe my eyes, Is it really true, Is it all just a lovely mistake...
- Mezzanine Johnson: She's not gonna be on my program.
- Brutus Johnson: You're program? Who's shoe polish is this?
- Mezzanine Johnson: Huh, it may be your shoe polish, but, brother, it's my money and I'm not gonna pay one penny for that dame singin'.
- Mezzanine Johnson: [singing] I got a whole lots of this 'n' that, But the men all leave me flat, Oh, somethings wrong with me, Now, I'm not skinny and I'm not fat, Just pleasingly plump and all of that, But I don't know where I'm at, Oh, somethings wrong with me...
- Nina Mae McKinney: [singing] T'ain't weak, T'ain't strong, T'ain't right, T'ain't wrong, I'm striving to do what I should, But heaven I'm in a mess of trouble, Half of me wants to be good, Only half of me wants to be good, Half of me says let's find salvation, Half of me says, oh, be low down...
- Agent: Now, don't forget, we have Nina Mae McKinney too.
- Brutus Johnson: Now, that's what I want to talk to you about. My wife insist she can sing on this program instead of that McKinney gal.
- Agent: Your wife?
- Brutus Johnson: Yes.
- Agent: Now, listen, Brother Brutus, what do you want to sell - shoe polish or your wife?
- Brutus Johnson: Well, I want to sell shoe polish. But, I'll make you a present of my wife.
- Agent: You don't care how you cheat your friends, do you?