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.
| Air Date |
Title |
Synopsis |
| 1942-11-08 |
Quiet Evening At Home |
NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Pabst-Ett. Gildersleeve wants to spend a quiet evening at home, so he starts by buying a piano! Harold Peary sings, "Why Do I Love You?" Billy Mills (composer, conductor), Earle Ross, Harold Peary, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Richard LeGrand, Shirley Mitchell (?), Verna Felton, Walter Tetley. |
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| 1942-11-15 |
College Chums Son Visits |
+ NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. The son of Gildersleeve's old college "pal" comes to visit, and turns out to be a chip off the old block! Harold Peary, Verna Felton, Walter Tetley, Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Shirley Mitchell, Earle Ross, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Billy Mills (composer, conductor). |
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| 1942-11-22 |
Thanksgiving, B Ration Book |
+ NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. Thanksgiving program. Gildersleeve tries to get a "B" ration book. Billy Mills (composer, conductor), Earle Ross, Harold Peary, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Richard LeGrand, Shirley Mitchell (?), Verna Felton, Walter Tetley. |
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| 1942-11-29 |
Date With A Star |
+ NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. A visit to the Summerfield Opera House for a performance of, "The Student Prince." Gildersleeve boasts of his old friendship with the star, Vera La Val. Arthur Q. Bryan, Billy Mills (composer, conductor), Earle Ross, Frank Bingman (announcer), Harold Peary, Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Richard LeGrand, Shirley Mitchell (?), Walter Tetley. |
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| 1942-12-06 |
Toothache |
+ NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve's got a toothache, but has no plans to visit the dentist! See cat. #17721 for a script that's similar, but not the same. Arthur Q. Bryan, Billy Mills (composer, conductor), Earle Ross, Harold Peary, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Richard LeGrand, Shirley Mitchell (?), Verna Felton, Walter Tetley. |
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| 1942-12-20 |
Christmas |
+ NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay. Christmas program. As Leila leaves for the South, Gildersleeve buys a present for Judge Hooker, the old goat! Arthur Q. Bryan, Billy Mills (composer, conductor), Earle Ross, Harold Peary, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Richard LeGrand, Shirley Mitchell (?), Verna Felton, Walter Tetley. |
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| 1942-12-27 |
Leroy Makes Nitro |
+ NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve gets a letter "S. W. A. K." from Leila Ransom, but he can't find a private place to read it. Then, there's Leroy's bottle of nitroglycerine! Arthur Q. Bryan, Billy Mills (composer, conductor), Earle Ross, Harold Peary, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Richard LeGrand, Verna Felton, Walter Tetley. |
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| 1943-01-03 |
Engaged |
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| 1943-01-10 |
McGees Visit |
+ NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. A visit from Fibber McGee and Molly. Earle Ross, Harold Peary, Jim Jordan, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Marian Jordan, Richard LeGrand, Walter Tetley. |
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