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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12.03.1944 | a date with miss del rey |
+ , AFRS rebroadcast. Judge Hooker is planning to propose to Miss del Rey, the Latin dance instruct... | |
06.17.1953 | a gift for miss tuttle |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Deluxe Slices, Miracle Sandwich Spread. Leroy has give Miss Tuttle, his teach... | |
01.21.1953 | a gift from cousin bert |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Salad Oil. Leroy gets a present from Uncle Bert in Canada, a one-hundred-fort... | |
11.16.1949 | a job for bronco |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Pabst-Ett (kitchen knife premium). Gildersleeve gets a job for Bron... | |
02.03.1954 | a lesson in puppy love |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Oil, Kraft Mustards. Leroy's not doing too well in school, Gildy's not doing ... | |
01.18.1942 | a new bed for marjorie |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Buying a new bed for Marjorie. Sam Hearn appears as, "Schlepperman."... | |
12.16.1945 | a night at the opera |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. After the opera, Gildy runs through a little aria, "E... | |
11.01.1942 | a pal to leroy |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve is determined to spend the entire weekend wit... | |
10.26.1954 | a pal to leroy |
+ Sponsored by: Viceroy. Gildersleeve thinks he hasn't been "pals" enough with Leroy. The script is... | |
06.04.1952 | a visit from miss katie lee |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Miracle Whip, Kraft Sandwich Spread. Gildersleeve is head over heels in love ... | |
10.26.1941 | a visit from oliver |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Marjorie's friend Oliver spends the night when Gildersleeve's cat get... | |
12.29.1948 | a wedding is imminent |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft American Cheese. To marry or not to marry, that is the question... | |
02.04.1948 | acting mayor |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Mayor Terwilliger has to leave town on busines... | |
03.30.1949 | acting police commissioner |
The day the great Gildersleeve became temporary Police Commissioner the dreaded Whistling Bandit str... | |
03.24.1948 | adeline wants to visit the jolly boys |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve plans to invite his new girlfriend Adeli... | |
03.17.1948 | adelines beau cecil |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Dinner. It looks as if Gildersleeve's romance with Adeline Fa... | |
02.02.1949 | adelines hat shop |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft American Cheese. Adeline Fairchild is planning to open a hat sh... | |
05.14.1952 | alone with marjorie |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Salad Oil. Bronco's homecoming. How can he be alone with Marjorie for five mi... | |
01.23.1952 | alone with paula |
+. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve and his girlfriend Paula never seem to ... | |
06.10.1945 | an evening with a good book |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. The night Gildersleeve almost read a book! The Jolly ... | |
04.02.1947 | an evening with miss piper |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildersleeve goes for Miss Piper, Leroy's piano teacher, in a big way... | |
01.07.1948 | ann tuttle back in town |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Ann Tuttle has returned to Summerfield and Gil... | |
05.06.1953 | anniversary present |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Miracle Whip, Kraft Mustards. It's the anniversary of Marjorie and Bronco's w... | |
04.07.1946 | annual dinner with judge hooker |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve tries to cut short a formal dinner wit... | |
04.05.1950 | apartment for bronco and marjorie |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards (Gildersleeve kitchen knife premium). Gildersleeve wou... |
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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