The Great Gildersleeve’s writer in its first year was Leonard L. Levinson. Although he would only be with the show for a year, Levinson set the standard by which the show would develop with his writing style. Moving away from the blowhard braggart that Gildy had been on Fibber McGee and Molly, Levinson worked empathy and compassion into the windbag’s personality. Even though the arguments continued with the likes of Judge Hooker, Levinson expanded Gildersleeve in a way that made him care about those around him, something that would contribute more than anything else to the best episodes.
Leonard L. Levinson entered the army in 1942. Sam Moore and John Whedon took over as lead writers and, using the improvements Levinson had made in the character, took both Gildy and Summerfield in even better directions. Even though most of the stories took place within an eight-block radius in Summerfield, Whedon and Moore made the locale authentic simply by recreating a 1940s era small town on the air, replete with patriotism and antics. Both writers also added new characters, like neighbor Bullard, and expanded on existing characters around Gildy, adding to the feel that the people in the show were real and lived just down the street.
Over the years, the various writers would transform Gildersleeve from essentially a laugh with legs into an almost real character. . His originally abrasive personality was toned down quite a bit. At the start of the series, Gildersleeve owned a girdle manufacturing company in Wistful Vista whose motto was: “If you want a better corset, of course, it’s a Gildersleeve.” He would later become Summerfield’s water commissioner, with all past references to his former business no longer being mentioned.
Discover why The Great Gildersleeve is not only considered a great comedy, but also one of the best shows of classic radio in the twelve original broadcasts in this collection, The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 36, complete with Kraft Foods commercials and restored to sparkling digital quality.
#479 Gildy and Sidney Help Leila
Wednesday, January 14, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#480 Uncle Bert Sends Leroy a Great Dane
Wednesday, January 21, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#481 Gildy and Grace Tuttle
Wednesday, January 28, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#482 Rivals, Leila & Grace, Meet
Wednesday, February 4, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#483 Two Dates for Mayor's Valentine Party
Wednesday, February 11, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#484 Gildy in Trouble With Leila & Grace
Wednesday, February 18, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#485 Gildy's Great Dane Causes Peavey Trouble
Wednesday, February 25, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#486 Extra Help at the Water Department
Wednesday, March 4, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#487 Leroy Moves Out to Marjorie's
Wednesday, March 11, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#488 The Jam Session
Wednesday, March 18, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#489 Cleaning House - Rummage Sale
Wednesday, March 25, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#490 Easter Sunrise Service
Wednesday, April 1, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
