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 |
---|---|---|---|
03.04.1945 | gg (159) hiding from aunt hattie(re creation) | ||
03.11.1945 | chairman of womens committee |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildersleeve becomes temporary chairman of the Red Cross fund raising... | |
03.18.1945 | laughing coyote ranch |
+ Gildy is depressed because Leila seems to have left town. She's at "The Laughing Coyote" dude ran... | |
03.25.1945 | old flame named violet |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Gildersleeve gets a letter from and a visi... | |
04.01.1945 | raising a pig |
+ , AFRS rebroadcast. Gildy buys a baby pig to solve the bacon shortage. A funny show with some goo... | |
04.08.1945 | leroys pet pig tiger |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve is forced to get rid of Leroy's pet pig. I... | |
04.22.1945 | leilas party |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve wears his tuxedo to Leila's party, sings "Chl... | |
04.29.1945 | new neighbor bullard |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Rumson Bullard moves to Summerfield and nearly destroys "T... | |
05.06.1945 | gildy picks a husband for marjorie |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildersleeve decides Marjorie should be married, and he has just the ... | |
05.13.1945 | meet craig bullard |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve is scheduled to debate Judge Hooker on the su... | |
05.20.1945 | unclaimed savings account buy stock |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve has rediscovered $209.24 that he had forgotte... | |
05.27.1945 | bessie quits |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Gildy finally fires Bessie, and is very sorry he's done so... | |
06.03.1945 | new secretary leila |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve hires Leila to be his secretary, not the... | |
06.10.1945 | an evening with a good book |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. The night Gildersleeve almost read a book! The Jolly ... | |
06.17.1945 | bullards have a party |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. The last show of the season. Gildersleeve sings, "Goodnight Sweethear... | |
09.02.1945 | going to grass lake |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. It's the Labor Day weekend, and Gildersleeve finds himself... | |
09.09.1945 | leroys new teacher |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Pabst-Ett. Leroy is doing so well in school that Gildersleeve b... | |
09.16.1945 | leroy suspended from school |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Pabst-Ett. Leroy has been suspended from school and is being sh... | |
09.23.1945 | leila returns home |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Pabst-Ett. Leila Ransom's back in town, and is being serenaded ... | |
09.30.1945 | marjorie the ballerina |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Pabst-Ett. Marjorie has started to take ballet lessons. These a... | |
10.07.1945 | raking leaves craigs party |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. After a session of leaf raking, Leroy gets un-invited to C... | |
10.14.1945 | leroy breaks a vase |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Leroy has broken a vase and has to work every Saturday to ... | |
10.21.1945 | lightfoot visits leila |
+ Let us see what fate has in store for the great Gildersleeve. Fate moves in mysterious ways, here ... | |
10.28.1945 | rumor mrs peavey is ill |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Rumor has it that Peavy's wife is sick. The Jolly Boys sin... | |
11.04.1945 | helping leroy with his studies |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildy is shamed into trying to improve himself.Now let’s join the G... |
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