Great Gildersleve Radio Show

First Episode: August 31, 1941

Last Episode: March 21, 1957

Number of Episodes: Approximately 645

NOTE: The photo to the right is of Harold "Hal" Peary as the Great Gildersleeve ------->

Network: NBC Radio Network

Cast Members: Harold 'Hal' Peary (Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve 8/31/41-6/14/50), Willard Waterman (Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve 9/6/50-3/21/57), Bea Benaderet, Tommy Bernard, Arthur Q Bryan, Hans Conried, Dick Crenna, Gale Gordon, Richard Legrand, Forrest Lewis, Una Merkel, Shirley Mitchell, Lillian Randolph, Marylee Robb, Earle Ross, Walter Tetley, Lurene Tuttle

Producers/Directors: Karl Gruener, Fran Van Hartesfeldt, Cecil Underwood

Announcers: Ken Carpenter, John Hiestand, John Wald, Jay Stewart, Harlow Wilcox

Sound Effects: Floyd Caton, Monty Fraser, Virgil Reimer

Music: Jack Meakin Orchestra

Writers: Virginia Safford Lynne, Sam Moore, John Whedon, Andy White

Sponsor: Kraft Foods

Typical Episode Length: 30 minutes

The Great Gildersleeve radio show was the first spinoff of another radio show. On the series, "Fibber McGee and Molly", Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve left when he took a job as the water commissioner of Summerfield. The plotline often involves one of Gildersleeves many romances and his challenge in raising his niece and nephew.

The Great Gildersleeve was also one of the first situation comedies. Most comedy shows up to the 1940s had been sketch comedies where the stars used the talents they'd learned during their days in vaudeville.

Listen to a Great Gildersleve Radio Show episode by clicking on a link below:

Witness To A Wedding - May 27, 1953 - 29 Minutes

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