Writers John Whedon and Sam Moore introduced an amazing technique that had been used excellently in earlier shows, like Amos ’n’ Andy, into The Great Gildersleeve in 1942. Focusing first on Gildy’s romance with the Widow Ransom, Moore and Whedon turned the show from a one and done program to an episodic serial. This was repeated many times over the years, both continuing to chronicle Gildy’s love life and leading to characters aging, like Marjorie getting married and having twins. What had been a show originally centered around a character that might have been a one trick pony grew into a fully realized episodic character comedy.
The serialized aspect of The Great Gildersleeve did not just allow for wonderful storytelling and character development. Because they had a platform to tell continuing tales, writers John Whedon and Sam Moore were able to make Summerfield even more real. Listeners could get a real idea of just how small Gildy’s Water Commissioner office was. The audience almost felt like they could gather around the old rickety piano with The Jolly Boys. Summerfield became the town everyone wanted to live in. Whedon would carry the concept of this sort of small town into his work in the 1960s on The Andy Griffith Show.
The humor in the program not only came from the catchphrases that developed or Gildy’s laughter or tumultuous love life. What makes The Great Gildersleeve still humorous to listeners even today was the fact that the comedic moments felt so much like real life. People in the audience knew others like the Jolly Boys or had their own Widow Ransom to deal with, or were raising kids like Leroy and Marjorie. The Great Gildersleeve proved to be a fantastic example of character comedy done right.
Find out just what sort of love and trouble Gildy gets into in the twelve original broadcasts in this collection, The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 38, complete with Kraft Foods commercials and restored to sparkling digital quality.
#503 Togetherness
Wednesday, July 1, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#505 Buying a Spray Gun
Wednesday, July 15, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#506 Mae Home From Vacation
Wednesday, July 22, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#507 Leroy Going to Visit Aunt Hattie
Wednesday, July 29, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#508 The Water Commissioner Is Fired
Wednesday, August 5, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#509 Deciding on a Lake Cabin
Wednesday, August 12, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#511 Sufficient Unto One's Self
Wednesday, August 26, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#512 Leroy's Girl - Jo Mac
Wednesday, September 2, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#513 Gildy Helps Raise Ronnie
Wednesday, September 9, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#514 Birdie's Mystery Cake Recipe
Wednesday, September 16, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#515 Baby Sitter Gildy
Wednesday, September 23, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#516 Flattery
Wednesday, September 30, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
