The Great Gildersleeve, thanks to its writers and actress Lillian Randolph, did something that other shows either shied away from or could not do as successfully. Randolph played Birdie Lee Coggins, the maid in charge of the Gildersleeve household. While she was written to fit a stereotype early on, writers John Whedon and Sam Moore added dimensions to Birdie that Randolph took to immediately. Birdie proved to be spirited as the show progressed, able to stand toe to toe with Gildersleeve and usually prove smarter than him. She was not afraid to share her thoughts, but always did so in a respectful manner. This made the character appealing to all listeners and crossed racial boundaries others could not.
Gildersleeve may have been the man of the house, but Birdie, the maid, ran things in the home on The Great Gildersleeve. Birdie over time was revealed as the real brains behind the operation of the family she took care of. This was due in part to writers wanting a more realistic portrayal of the character, but also much credit must be given to actress Lillian Randolph. She brought a whole range of emotions to the role of Birdie, from a joyous laugh to a compassion unmatched when necessary.
Although portrayals of African American characters often fell into unfortunate stereotypes on radio. Lillian Randolph as Birdie actively, even at the time of her appearing on the program, worked to lift her role above that. When chastised in an article in Ebony in 1946, Randolph and one of the show’s authors printed a rebuttal, citing that Birdie was different than other characters of color on the air and that Randolph hoped that fact would make the role matter more.
Listen in as Gildy, Judge Hooker, Birdie and everyone else in Summerfield make laughter and life happen in the twelve original broadcasts in this collection, The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 35, complete with Kraft Foods commercials and restored to sparkling digital quality.
#459 Cousin Emily Comes for a Visit
Wednesday, August 27, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#460 Winning Leroy Back From Emily
Wednesday, September 3, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#461 Cleaning Bullard’s House
Wednesday, September 10, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#462 Driver’s License Test
Wednesday, September 17, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#463 Hooker and Peavey Are Feuding
Wednesday, September 24, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#464 Economize
Wednesday, October 1, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#465 Ladies Man
Wednesday, October 8, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#466 Watch Trouble
Wednesday, October 15, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#467 Gildy the Athlete
Wednesday, October 22, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#476 Gildy and Leroy Alone for Christmas
Wednesday, December 24, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#477 New Year’s Eve With Peavey
Wednesday, December 31, 1952 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
#478 Leila Back in Town - Sidney Tuttle
Wednesday, January 7, 1953 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft
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