Writing team Sam Moore and John Whedon left The Great Gildersleeve in 1947. Although a string of writers came behind them, the core of the show, the true heart of the program didn’t shift. Gildersleeve and his family and friends were so fully realized by this point that writers simply had to keep the stories fresh and new in content for the characters were almost alive enough to do that on their own. Even when a new actor took over the lead role, The Great Gildersleeve didn’t skip a beat for several years, continuing to turn out stories fans enjoyed and came back each week to hear.
When Willard Waterman stepped into the role of The Great Gildersleeve, many people were anxious. According to one review of the first Waterman show, however, no one had anything to worry about. Dropping the Gildersleeve laugh and many of the other gestures associated with the character, Waterman still captured the attention and affection of the audience and his fellow cast members. Waterman retained all the right aspects of Gildersleeve, including his propensity to be a windbag as well as his true, often hidden heart for people, and added enough of his own turn to the character that the transition happened with little to no issue.
The Great Gildersleeve had a sixteen-year run on the air. Unlike most comedies, this show changed and shifted in ways that allowed the audience to experience, even grow up with the characters. Listeners tuned in as Leroy and Marjorie grew up, even getting to be a part of Marjorie and Bronco’s marriage and the birth of their children. Gildy himself grew from a two dimensional laugh to a fully realized character. This sort of storytelling gave listeners a connection to The Great Gildersleeve that is still present and effective today.
Listen in as Gildy, Judge Hooker, Birdie and everyone else in Summerfield make laughter and life happen in this collection of twelve original broadcasts of The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 30, complete with Kraft Foods commercials and restored to sparkling digital quality.
#376 Weight Problems
Wednesday, October 18, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#377 The Sons of Summerfield
Wednesday, October 25, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#378 Election Day
Wednesday, November 1, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#379 A Better Man Than Bullard
Wednesday, November 8, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#380 Summerfield Centennial Pageant
Wednesday, November 15, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#381 Water Department Calendar
Wednesday, November 22, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#382 Leroy's First Date
Wednesday, November 29, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#383 Leroy's Laundry Business
Wednesday, December 6, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#384 Chief Gates on the Spot
Wednesday, December 13, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#385 A Present for Kathryn
Wednesday, December 20, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#386 Gildy and Bullard Double Date New Year's Eve
Wednesday, December 27, 1950 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#387 Marjorie Craves Sauerkraut
Wednesday, January 3, 1951 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
