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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01.14.1953 | gildy and sidney help leila |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Salad Oil, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve suspects that Grace's mooching brothe... | |
01.11.1942 | gildy arrested as a car thief |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildersleeve switches cars and a box of rabbits becomes a load of dyn... | |
08.31.1941 | gildy arrives in summerfield |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. The first show of the series. Gildersleeve leaves Wistful Vista to vi... | |
10.12.1949 | gildy at hospital with expectant father |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay ("Name My Song" contest, record offer), Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve i... | |
09.23.1953 | gildy babysits |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Oil, Kraft Mustards (Ford-a-year contest). Birdie sings on the radio, while G... | |
10.29.1944 | gildy back as water commissioner |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildersleeve lines up a job with International Bolt and Screw...based... | |
03.07.1957 | gildy causes water shutoff | ||
03.10.1948 | gildy considers marriage |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve starts entertaining thoughts of m... | |
03.15.1950 | gildy considers marriage |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards (Gildersleeve kitchen knife premium). Gildersleeve is ... | |
10.16.1946 | gildy contemplates early retirement |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve is starting to consider an annuity for his re... | |
03.31.1954 | gildy dating two women again |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Velveeta, Cheez-Whiz. Gildersleeve is dating two different girls; exotic Mari... | |
10.01.1952 | gildy decides to cut costs |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Miracle Whip, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve tries to save money by going out o... | |
01.09.1952 | gildy disappears |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildersleeve has disappeared! Willard Waterman speaks only briefly tw... | |
05.26.1948 | gildy drives a mercedes |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Pabst-Ett (cake knife premium). When Gildersleeve borrows a bra... | |
01.14.1948 | gildy encourages marjories new romance |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay (jingle), Kraft Dinner. Marjorie is going steady with Oscar! Gildersle... | |
05.14.1944 | gildy engaged to eve but kissing leila |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve confesses to his fiance Eve Goodwin that he's kissed ... | |
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... | |
01.04.1942 | gildy goes on a diet |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Gildersleeve bets Judge Hooker $100 that he can lose ten pounds in a... | |
02.11.1953 | gildy has two dates |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Salad Oil, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve has invited both Leila Ransom and Gra... | |
12.09.1945 | gildy head of opera committee |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve becomes head of the opera committee, but... | |
02.06.1952 | gildy hires lovey |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Miracle Whip, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve hires Floyd Munson's wife to help ... | |
01.09.1944 | gildy in hospital |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve plans to stay in bed a little longer, an... | |
01.13.1954 | gildy in the doghouse with irene |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Natural Swiss, Kraft Mustards. While trying to keep a date with Irene Henshaw... | |
N/A | gildy invents a water filter |
+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. Gildersleeve has invented a new water filter, and takes a train trip to the... | |
08.05.1953 | gildy is fired rewrite |
+ Sponsored by: Kraft Miracle Whip, Kraft Miracle Sandwich Spread. Gildersleeve is fired as water c... |
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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