Even though the change of lead actors in The Great Gildersleeve didn’t necessarily affect the show negatively, by 1952, cracks were beginning to show in the classic program. Characters who were essentially show staples, like Judge Hooker and Gildy’s niece, Marjorie (and her family), appeared less and less, sometimes for months. Other characters were introduced almost randomly, including Mrs. Potter, who suffered from hypochondria, and the egg man, Mr. Cooley, but none really stuck. A shift in focus occurred in 1953 from the general family/town comedy of before to almost exclusively focusing on Gildy’s love life.
The Widow Ransom would play a key part both in the early and later years of The Great Gildersleeve. Shirley Mitchell, the actress bringing the amorous Widow to life in the show, got the role, in a way accidentally. Hal Peary, apparently dropped into to see Dinah Shore. Shirley Mitchell, recently moving from Chicago, was living with Shore. It is debated that it was either Shore or her secretary using a Southern accent that caught Peary’s attention. Either way, whichever one it was didn’t wish to be in Perry’s new show when asked. Mitchell then proceeded to put on a Southern accent and asked ‘How about me?’ The Widow Ransom, according to Peary, had been found.
The Widow Ransom was definitely not Gildersleeve’s only love interest. Gildy finds himself attracted to Eve Goodwin, the principal of Leroy’s school. He also dates nurse Katherine Milford later in the show, as well as Principal Irene Henshaw and Rumson Bullard’s sisters, Ellen Bullard Knickerbocker and Paula Bullard Winthrop. He dates the Widow Ransom off and on again, ending up at one point engaged to both her and her cousin Adeline Fairchild at the same time.
Discover why The Great Gildersleeve is not only considered a great comedy, but also one of the best shows of classic radio in this collection of twelve original broadcasts of The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 32, complete with Kraft Foods commercials and restored to sparkling digital quality.
#423 Christmas Show
Wednesday, December 19, 1951 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#424 Opening Last Christmas Presents
Wednesday, December 26, 1951 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#425 Gildy Wants New Job to Keep Up With Bronco
Wednesday, January 2, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#426 Gildy Has Disappeared
Wednesday, January 9, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#427 Gildy Talks to Everyone About Operation
Wednesday, January 16, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#428 Trying to Be Alone With Paula
Wednesday, January 23, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#429 Gildy Protects Hooker From Mona
Wednesday, January 30, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#430 Gildy Hires Mrs Munson
Wednesday, February 6, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#431 Engagement Ring Mixup
Wednesday, February 13, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#432 Civic Coordinator
Wednesday, February 20, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#433 Leroy's Week of Freedom
Wednesday, February 27, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#434 Bullard Is House Guest
Wednesday, March 5, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
