As colorful as Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve was, in name and everything else, it would take a supporting cast of some talent to not only deal with him as characters, but to endear listeners to their work as actors. Fortunately for all involved in The Great Gildersleeve, that was exactly what they had.

 

If Gildy had a problem or needed to blow off steam or, even more so, toot his own horn, Peavey the druggist was the poor soul who got to listen to all of it. With a store on the corner of Lakeside and State, Peavey often played host to Gildy, and other cast members as well, forced into the role of beleaguered counselor, or unwilling bended ear. Richard LeGrand, the actor behind the long-suffering druggist, was a long time professional, having perfected his craft first in vaudeville. He’d also had a series of his own, Ole and the Girls, and performed on shows by radio legend Carlton E. Morse, including One Man’s Family and I Love a Mystery. LeGrand played Peavey with an understated midwestern tone that simultaneously made him easy to listen to, yet always had him sounding as if he was on the edge of frustration with Gildersleeve.

 

Much of the show’s focus over the years was on Gildersleeve’s many attempts to find true love. Shirley Mitchell brought Gildy’s most popular suitor, The Widow Ransom, to syrupy Southern life. This love affair was so popular that members of a woman’s club in California actually protested at NBC, holding up signs for Gildy not to marry the Widow.

 

Una Merkel also courted Throckmorton for a while, playing the Widow’s cousin Adelaide. Of course, the writers made sure that Gildy handled this with his usual lack of style and grace. He ended up engaged to both of them at the same time.

 

Listen in as Gildy, Judge Hooker, Birdie and everyone else in Summerfield make laughter and life happen in the twelve original broadcasts of The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 24, complete with Kraft Foods commercials and restored to sparkling digital quality.