Fibber McGee & Molly! 1930s (63 Eps)


(4.8 stars; 27 reviews)

The Fibber McGee & Molly Show, one of the longest-running radio sitcoms, premiered on NBC Radio Network in 1935, remaining popular until its demise in 1959, long after radio had ceased to be the dominant form of American household entertainment.

Much of the show's humor relied on recurring gags, unseen regulars, and punchlines that popped up here and there for its many broadcast years. One of the running jokes was about the McGee's hall closet, with episodes like "Fibber Snoops For Presents In Closet" and "Hall Closet" highlighting this comedic element.

The program usually opened with the audience in full laughter, as Harlow Wilcox announced: "The Johnson Wax Program with Fibber McGee and Molly!" Each episode featured a mid-show appearance by announcer Harlow Wilcox, who cleverly wove advertisements into the plot without breaking the flow of the show.


This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

License

Chapters

Smackout 19:30
Motorcycle Cop 28:39
Hot Dogs & a Blowout 29:07
A Dip in the Ocean 29:13
The Baseball Instructor 28:14
The McGee's Win 79 Wistful Vista 29:48
Anything to Get Out of Scrubbing Back Porch 29:37
Gildy's Halloween Party 28:28
Christmas Shopping 29:26
New Year's Celebration 29:42
Amateur Show One Long Pan 58:05
Encyclopedia Salesman 28:44
Streetcar Motorman McGee 23:52
The Haircut 21:44
The Employment Agency 29:27
They Take off for Hollywood 28:09
Molly Loses Her Diamond Ring 28:27
The Human Cannonball 25:22
Getting out of Hollywood Lease 29:55
Homecoming Program 28:52
Drama in Ancient Rome 30:39
Shopping for a New Car 29:02
Heir to Oil Wells Estate 10:33
McGee Minds a Baby 21:13
McGee Builds A Fireplace 19:54
Xmas Gift for McGee's Nephew 29:46
Missing Shirt Collar Button 29:09
Military Advisor For Army Manoeuvers 28:42
Faulty Window Shade 31:12
Out of Coal & Frozen Water Pipes 30:02
After Dinner Speaker at the Rotowantis 25:01
Mouse in the House 29:54
McGee's Hamburger Joint 29:58
The Gildersleeve Memory Course 29:33
The Spring Haircut 29:40
Inherited Yacht 29:54
Antique Furniture 28:56
The Mailmen 30:15
Molly Returns - Sets up Budget 31:23
McGee Gets Glasses 29:43
Zither Lessons and Buried Treasure 28:53
The Stork 29:50
Escaped Convicts 28:33
McGee the Wrestler 29:37
Advice Column (Aunt Molly) 29:43
Toothache 28:56
McGee's Fish Fry 29:47
15th Anniversary (Elopement) 29:46
Newspaper Column 29:53
Fibber Fakes Illness To Avoid Fixing Screens 29:51
Killer Canova's Autograph 29:43
Rummage Sale - Bazaar 29:52
Raking Leaves 29:54
Halloween Party At Gildersleeves' 28:46
Annual Auto Show 29:40
Hiawatha 29:58
Traffic Ticket 29:07
Overdue Library Book 29:49
Finance Company Is After Car 29:54
McGees Are Adjusters at Bonton Dept Store 29:44
Jewelry Store Robbery 29:51
Package from Uncle Sycamore Arrives 29:36
Butler Gildersleeve 29:49

Reviews

441114 Fibber goes to night school


(5 stars)

'Fibber goes to night school': wonderfully wacky! the cast is in fine form, even Johnson Wax pitchman Harlow Wilcox, who Fibber dubs 'Waxy' . Great malaprops, a clever song in act 2, and a trip to THE closet, which is even opened ! (If you are fortunate enough to be just discovering this show, the closet was used very sparingly to tease the wildly popular show's fans. It might be only mentioned; or Fibber begins to open it and is distracted = no closet. The longer the sound of things crashing out IF he does open it, the happier the fans! This was so popular it has become an expression you may have used yourself-- even if you were born decades after the show went off the air: 'Fibber McGee's closet'.)

A few errors in dates.


(5 stars)

Thanks for posting these! Just a note on a couple of shows. FM&M 1936-01-22 Amateur Show One Long Pan is a Fred Allen. FM&M 1936-05-04 #0056 The Haircut is really a cut version of fm390321 Fibber Thinks he is going bald. FM&M 1937-06-07 #0113 Molly Loses Her Diamond Ring is really fm420203 Lost Diamond Ring. FM&M 1937-07-19 #0119 Homecoming Program is really fm400409 Returning from acting in Lux Radio Theatre.

Harlow call me "Harpo" Wilcox


(5 stars)

I had to listen to the series a couple of times before I was sure but, for at least part of the first season, Harlow Wilcox introduced himself as "Harlow, call me 'Harpo' Wilcox. I imagine conflict with the popular Marx Brother of that name resulting in the new, and certainly more apt, nickname "Waxy".

Good to have the '30s in one place


(5 stars)

The Fibber '30s clips have been absent from Archive for a long time. One tech note: the clip labeled 1935-07-22 #0015 The Baseball Instructor is actually from 1942. It's really this episode: 420421_Out_To_The_Ballgame.mp3 though it may not be the same physical recording.

Fiber McGee & Molly


(5 stars)

Someone should check dates. Gildys first appearance was 10-03-39. Earlier shows dated here have his name in title. If he wasn't yet on the show show,how could that happen?

To jbenny


(4 stars)

The reason possibly (I haven't listened to them yet) is that Harold Peary appeared on several episodes of The Johnson Wax Program (Fibber McGee & Molly or Fibber McGee & Company while Marian Jordon was away from the show dealing with her alcoholism) prior to the character of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve becoming the next door neighbor. As of 1/21/2013 - I've finally listened to some of these "Gildersleeve" episodes. The Gildersleeve as a dentist, was Wilberforce Gildersleeve (Harold Peary) who went to grade school with Fibber and Molly. The GIldersleeve Memory course also had Harold Peary as a sales person with a different name, but promoting the Gildersleeve Memory Course. Apparently Don Quinn was using "Gildersleeve" initially as a comedic name before Harold Peary became the character of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve. He also had different jobs before owning the Gildersleeve Girdle Works.

Fibber McGee & molly cherished OTR program


(5 stars)

Fibber McGee I did not discover the show until relatively recent- even tho' I listen to a LOT of otr programs- not sure why I didn't listen to them earlier, but I adore them. Sure wish I had grown up during the era these were aired on radio. What a wonderful time, and what great, really hilarious skits & jokes! I am no where near old enough to "remember OTR" but these are gold.

Greatest Radio Show - Just My Opinion


(5 stars)

Fibber McGee & Molly is my all time favorite show, especially the pre-war years.