The Great Gildersleeve, a sitcom aired on NBC Radio from August 31, 1941 to 1957, was a spin-off from another popular comedy series Fibber McGee and Molly, or FMAM. It centered on the story of Throckmorton Philharmonic Gildersleeve, who was also the main character of the FMAM. Harold Peary, a popular radio and television personality, was given the lead role. The Great Gildersleeve, which was well-accepted back then, was sponsored by Kraft Foods for its product called Parkay Margarine.
In its first three years on air, The Great Gildersleeve was heard for 30 minutes, and then reduced to 15 minutes from 1954 up to its last episode. Although it was actually pretty different from its parent show, The Great Gildersleeve became as successful as FMAM. In fact, it was dubbed as one of the funniest shows ever aired on the radio.
Old Time Radio's first bona fide spin-off, Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve was one of the most popular of the oddball characters that lived in Wistful Vista, the home of Fibber McGee and Molly. He moved to Summerfield, where he and takes on an instant family in the form of Leroy and Margerie Forrester.
Harold Peary had made Gildersleeve into a multi-faceted character.He was shrewd,but in ways that rarely worked out like he planned. He was a ladies man, but mainly in his own mind. He was a public-minded neighbor, but always seemed to be getting into arguments and entanglements with them. The boys down at Floyd Munson's barbershop knew he was a singer, but often he seemed more an opinionated blowhard. And he was a loving uncle to his niece and nephew.
Walter Tetley played Leroy as a classic young wise guy nephew whose "ah, Unk" line was famous. Margerie (first played by Lurene Tuttle, Louise Erickson in the mid-`40s and then Mary Lee Robb) was the all-American girl-next-door type, and had the level head in the family. Birdie was their family cook and maid, played by Lillian Randolph. She ran the house with wit and warmth, while letting the men think they were in charge.
Catching Gildersleeve in his latest scheme were the druggist Peavey with his "I wouldn't say that, Gildersleeve" Rumson Bullard was Rumson Bullard, the pompous, rich neighbor across the street. Gale Gordon played both Mayor LaTrivia and Fogg Williams. Earle Ross was Judge Hooker. Arthur Q. Bryan was Floyd, the barber.
Gildersleeve wasn't married, but had several ladies he was interested in, namely the Widow Ransom. She was a southern belle type, but she also had a cousin, Adeline Fairchild, who got interested in the successful, if somewhat pompous Gildey.
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Please enjoy these 553 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
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02.18.1948 | leilas cousin adeline fairchild arrives |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Adeline Fairchild, a cousin of Leila Ransom, i... | |
02.25.1948 | gildy thinks adeline is stealing birdie |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve suspects that his beautiful, new ... | |
03.03.1948 | girl shy leroy |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Leroy is reluctant to go to a party and go out... | |
03.10.1948 | gildy considers marriage |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve starts entertaining thoughts of m... | |
03.17.1948 | adelines beau cecil |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. It looks as if Gildersleeve's romance with Adeline Fa... | |
03.24.1948 | adeline wants to visit the jolly boys |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve plans to invite his new girlfriend Adeli... | |
03.31.1948 | marjorie in love with her french teacher |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. Marjorie seems to have fallen in love with her French... | |
04.07.1948 | raising money for baseball field |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve is organizing a baseball team Boy's Club... | |
04.14.1948 | the water commissioners radio speech |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve is invited to give a talk about the city... | |
04.21.1948 | gildys new secretary |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. The mayor thinks that Adeline Fairchild is Gilderslee... | |
04.28.1948 | dinner courtesy of hercules kitchenware |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (cake and pie knife premium), Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve and Adeline Fair... | |
05.05.1948 | fish fry |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (cake and pie knife premium), Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve takes Leroy fish... | |
05.12.1948 | gildy stays home sick |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (cake and pie knife premium), Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve plans to call in... | |
05.19.1948 | green thumb womans club |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (cake and pie knife premium), Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve attends a meetin... | |
05.26.1948 | gildy drives a mercedes |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Pabst-Ett (cake knife premium). When Gildersleeve borrows a bra... | |
06.02.1948 | gildy fired as water commissioner |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett (cake knife premium). The last show of the season. The last... | |
09.08.1948 | baby girl left in gildys car |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. The first show of the season. Gildersleeve finds a ba... | |
09.15.1948 | taking care of baby |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve is left alone with the baby! Harold Pear... | |
09.22.1948 | leroy jealous of baby |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Cheese. Leroy's feelings are hurt when Gildersleeve moves him o... | |
09.29.1948 | name the baby contest |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Cheese. What to name the new baby? The Jolly Boys sing, "Mighty... | |
10.06.1948 | gildy reforms for welfare investigator |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay ("Name The Baby" contest), Kraft Cheese. Making a good impression for ... | |
10.13.1948 | visit by aunt hattie |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay ("Name The Baby" contest), Kraft Cheese. A visit from Aunt Hattie. Net... | |
10.20.1948 | marjorie ready to marry to keep the baby |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay ("Name The Baby" contest), Kraft Cheese. Marjorie decides to get marri... | |
10.27.1948 | gildy proposes to adeline |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay ("Name The Baby" contest"), Kraft Cheese. Since marriage seems to be t... | |
11.03.1948 | secret engagement |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay ("Name The Baby" contest), Kraft American Cheese. Gildersleeve's secre... |
Josh
Joe
Tim
Tim
Linda
David
Steve
Peter
Tim
Tim
Walter
Scott
Lan
Tim
Andrew
Michelle
Mike
Edwin
Deborah
Jim
Marc
Chris
Dainel
Sink
Chris
Brain
Susan
Mike
John
Dennis
George
Eleizabeth
Tracy
Greg
Liz
Mike
GREAT GILDERSLEEVE
Cheri
Jeff
Walt
Jim
Jim
Mike
Joe
James
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