The Great Gildersleeve" was one of the first spin off's of another radio show. Having become so popular on "FibberMcGee and Molly" producers and sponsors decided the talented Harold Peary could carry his own show. One of the funny things to notice about the show is when Gildersleeve was in Wistful Vista on the "Fibber McGee and Molly" show, he worked at a girdle factory and had a wife, neither is mentioned in new show. Continuity wasn't as important in those days as at least a week or more went by between shows and people were likely to forget details. The series begins with Gildersleeve arriving to Summerfield (and meeting his soon to be friend and rival, Judge Hooker on the train where they have the first of their many fights) to take care of his late brother's children, Marjorie and Leroy. Gildersleeve is caring and loving, but tends to be a bit pompous and full of himself. He thinks himself a ladies man and romances several of the local women, including his next door neighbor from the south, Leila Ransom. After a dispute with NBC, Willard Waterman replaced Peary as Gildersleeve. The two men sounded so alike, most people didn't notice the difference. Everyone knows a Gildersleeve in their life and that's what makes the show all the more funny and most everyone can relate when he says one of his famous catch phrases "This is going to be one of my baaaad days"
 
1941 - 1953
 
Harold Peary     - Throckmorton P. Glidersleeve
Willard Waterman
 
Lurene Tuttle
Louise Erickson - Marjorie Forrester
MaryLee Robb
 
Walter Tetley - Leroy Forrester
 
Birdy - Lillian Randolph
 
Judge Horace Hooker - Earle Ross
 
Leila Ransom - Shirley Mitchell
 
Peavey - Richard LeGrand
 
Trivia Facts: During the show's heyday in the 40's, there were four Glidersleeve movies made, all with Peary as Gildersleeve. In 1955, a T.V. show was made with Waterman as Gildersleeve. It only lasted one season.
 
C.M.