Over the years, several reasons have been given for Hal Peary leaving The Great Gildersleeve in 1950. In some regards, probably all of the explanations are true to a degree. At the time, the rumor was that Peary asked for more money due to the show’s success. Peary also admitted in later years that he had grown bored and also felt typecast as Gildy. To his credit, he had been a singer as well as an actor and was extremely accomplished as a dialect and voice man before Gildersleeve became a single character on Fibber McGee and Molly. Regardless, Peary moved on to NBC in 1950.
Although switching a lead actor is often a nightmare for a program, The Great Gildersleeve did not suffer much when Willard Waterman took on the lead role. The similarities between his and Hal Peary’s voice not only garnered him that role, but had gotten Waterman voice work playing other parts Peary had done and would do.
The careers of the two men to play Gildersleeve actually had several similarities, but one glaring difference. Peary, allegedly taking advice from John Barrymore according to Peary himself, focused much of his career on Gildy, a single character. Waterman, on the other hand, took the journeyman’s route into radio acting, essentially playing bit roles and taking what he could get until his big break, which would be when Gildersleeve presented itself.
At one point prior to taking on Gildersleeve, Waterman was playing up to 40 parts a week. The similarity, though, between the two men’s voices also kept Waterman from getting roles on Fibber McGee and Molly because he sounded so much like Hal Peary.
Visit Summerfield and laugh with and at The Great Gildersleeve in this collection of twelve original broadcasts of The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 29, complete with Kraft Foods commercials and restored to sparkling digital quality.
#364 Wedding Day
Wednesday, May 10, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#365 Fishing Trip to Grass Lake
Wednesday, May 17, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#366 Bronco the Real Estate Salesman
Wednesday, May 24, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#367 Sadie Hawkins Day Dance
Wednesday, May 31, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#368 House Boat
Wednesday, June 7, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#369 Vacation Plans on the House Boat
Last show with Harold Peary
Wednesday, June 14, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#370 Marjorie Is Pregnant
First show with Willard Waterman
Wednesday, September 6, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#371 Visiting in-Laws - Mrs Thompson’s Sister
Wednesday, September 13, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#372 Gildy Looking for New Secretary
Wednesday, September 20, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#373 Gildy Shares Leroy’s Piano Lessons
Wednesday, September 27, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#374 Community Chest Football Game - Leroy
Wednesday, October 4, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#375 Bullard Runs for Mayor
Wednesday, October 11, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
