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The Life of Riley

1940s radio sitcom
from archive.org

"The Life of Riley", starring William Bendix as lovable, blundering, Chester A. Riley, was a radio situation comedy broadcast during and after wartime 40s. Because of its overwhelming radio popularity, Riley graduated as easily to a 1949 feature film, as it did to 1950s television. Also, in 1958, it hit the newsstands, when Dell Comics released "The Life of Riley" in comic book form.

Although "The Life of Riley" had originally begun as a proposed Groucho Marx radio series "The Flotsam Family," the sponsor balked at what would have been essentially a straight head-of-household role for the comedian. Groucho went on to host Blue Ribbon Town from 1943 to 1944 and then "You Bet Your Life" from 1947 to 1961. Producer Irving Brecher saw Bendix as taxicab company owner Tim McGuerin in Hal Roach's The McGuerins from Brooklyn (1942). "The Flotsam Family" was re-worked, with Bendix cast as blundering Chester A. Riley, a wing riveter at the fictional Cunningham Aircraft plant in California.

His frequent exclamation of indignation became one of the most famous catch phrases of the 1940s: "What a revoltin' development this is!" The radio series greatly benefited from the immense popularity of a supporting character, Digby "Digger" O'Dell (John Brown), "the friendly undertaker."

* TELEVISION:
A young Jackie Gleason starred as Riley during the 1st television season of "The Life of Riley." Bendix took over the role of Riley in the 2nd - 6th seasons, after completing a previous committment, which kept him from taking on the role during the 1st season of the TV program.

* WILLIAM BENDIX (1906-01-14 to 1964-12-14)
Bendix, an American film, radio, & television actor, was best remembered for his title role in the movie 'The Babe Ruth Story' as well as for his portrayal of clumsily earnest aircraft plant worker, Chester A. Riley in the radio, cinema & TV show, "The Life of Riley." William Bendix also received an Academy Award nomination for 'Best Supporting Actor' for his role in 'Wake Island' (1942).

Willim Bendix died in Los Angeles in 1964, the result of a chronic stomach ailment which brought on malnutrition and ultimately lobar pneumonia. He was survived by wife of 37 years, Theresa & their two daughters, Lorraine and Stephanie, he was interred in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
* SOURCE: Wikipedia
OTR * def gp ddh

  1. 1943-07-25 (Pilot) Riley Wants To Build A House (Starts at 34 sec) (11.2Mb)
  2. 1944-01-16 #001 Riley Plans to Build a House (6.3Mb)
  3. 1944-01-30 #003 The Butler Pt 2 (Low Vol) (5Mb)
  4. 1944-02-06 #004 Riley Rents a Hse-Moves from Hotel (7Mb)
  5. 1944-02-13 #005 Telephone Story (Low Vol) (7.1Mb)
  6. 1944-02-20 #006 Van Planten Thtr Pt 1 (7.1Mb)
  7. 1944-03-26 #011 The Barber Chair (7.1Mb)
  8. 1944-04-02 #012 Riley's Birthday (Thinks Baxter Giving Party) (Low Vol) (7.1Mb)
  9. 1944-04-09 #013 Riley Is Best Dressed Man (Top Volume) (6.8Mb)
  10. 1944-04-23 #015 Proxy Wedding Pt 2 (12.6Mb)
  11. 1944-04-30 #016 Baxter Goes To NY (High Volume) (6.8Mb)
  12. 1944-05-07 #017 The Dog Catcher (4.8Mb)
  13. 1944-05-14 #018 Riley Fixes Dinner for Mother's Day (5.1Mb)
  14. 1944-06-04 #021 Fish Story (3.1Mb)
  15. 1944-06-25 #024 Riley Tries to Marry Baxter to Miss Grimshaw, Waldo's Aunt (starts at 50 sec) (12.9Mb)
  16. 1944-08-27 #033 The Houseboat Vacation Pt 1 (13.3Mb)
  17. 1944-09-03 #034 The Houseboat Vacation Pt 2 (11.8Mb)
  18. 1944-09-24 #037 Making Each Other Jealous (High Vol) (13.5Mb)
  19. 1944-10-08 #039 Muley's Surprise Party for Riley (6.5Mb)
  20. 1944-10-22 #041 The Boss's Son-In-Law (6.5Mb)
  21. 1944-10-29 #042 Halloween Haunted House (6.9Mb)
  22. 1944-11-05 #043 Piano Lessons for Junior (6.8Mb)
  23. 1944-11-12 #044 Big Football Bet (6.8Mb)
  24. 1944-11-19 #045 Turkey Hunt (5.2Mb)
  25. 1944-11-26 #046 Bridesmaid Babs (6.6Mb)
  26. 1944-12-03 #047 Most Popular Boy (6.7Mb)
  27. 1944-12-10 #048 Riley's Mash Note at Night School (6.7Mb)
  28. 1944-12-17 #049 Special Christmas Present (6.8Mb)
  29. 1944-12-24 #050 Roswell's a Guest for Christmas (6.9Mb)
  30. 1944-12-31 #051 New Yr's Eve Party (8.9Mb)
  31. 1945-01-07 #052 Silver Gloves Boxing (6.9Mb)
  32. 1945-01-14 #053 The Wedding Anniversary (5.5Mb)
  33. 1945-01-21 #054 Riley Takes Phone Booth Nickels (6.8Mb)
  34. 1945-01-28 #055 $5.00 Is Missing (6.7Mb)
  35. 1945-02-04 #056 The BPLA Initiates New Member (6.4Mb)
  36. 1945-02-11 #057 Riley Trains Junior's Dog (6.8Mb)
  37. 1945-02-25 #059 Riley Helps Luigi Pass English Exam (6.6Mb)
  38. 1945-03-04 #060 Expectant Fathers (6.9Mb)
  39. 1945-03-11 #061 Junior Runs Away (6.8Mb)
  40. 1945-03-18 #062 Riley is a Pal to Junior (6.9Mb)
  41. 1945-03-25 #063 Five Dollars is Missing (6.8Mb)
  42. 1945-05-13 #069 Peg's Mother Visits (6.9Mb)
  43. 1945-09-15 #078 Neighbor Feud Over Jr's Goat (6.8Mb)
  44. 1945-09-22 #079 Jr is Head of Household (5.3Mb)
  45. 1945-09-29 #080 Change of Time (13.4Mb)
  46. 1945-10-06 #081 Riley Refuses to Let Babs See Simon (Thinks he's a Suicide) (13.4Mb)
  47. 1945-10-20 #083 Sidney Monahan is a House Guest (6.8Mb)
  48. 1945-10-27 #084 The Football Game (6.8Mb)
  49. 1945-11-03 #085 Roswell Visits (26.6Mb)
  50. 1945-11-24 #088 Babs & Simon Married (aka Will Babs & Simon Marry) (6.8Mb)
  51. 1945-12-01 #089 BPLA Lodge Election - Phonograph Record Saves Riley (6.6Mb)
  52. 1945-12-08 #090 Job Promotion Exam (6.3Mb)
  53. 1945-12-15 #091 Grandma's Boyfriend (6.8Mb)
  54. 1946-01-26 #097 Riley's Tonsillectomy (5.7Mb)
  55. 1946-02-02 #098 Junior's School Play (aka 1946-02-26) (7Mb)
  56. 1946-03-09 #103 Babs Music Scholarship (6.7Mb)
  57. 1946-03-16 #104 Riley Buys An Insurance Policy (6.8Mb)
  58. 1946-03-23 #105 Junior Races Egbert - Poison Ivy (6.7Mb)
  59. 1946-04-06 #107 Riley Finds A Silver Fox Fur Coat (6.3Mb)
  60. 1946-04-13 #108 Riley Thinks Jr. is a Shoplifter (6.6Mb)
  61. 1946-04-20 #109 Giant Easter Bunny (6.3Mb)
  62. 1946-04-27 #110 Gambling Doesn't Pay (6.7Mb)
  63. 1946-05-04 #111 Rileys Take In The Gillises After A Fire (6.9Mb)
  64. 1946-05-11 #112 Junior Forgets Mother's Day (6.2Mb)
  65. 1946-05-25 #114 Junior Sells Peanuts at the Circus (5Mb)
  66. 1946-06-01 #115 The Riley Family of Actors (6.8Mb)
  67. 1946-06-08 #116 The Bread Shortage & the Black Market (6.7Mb)
  68. 1946-06-22 #118 Morris Buys The Riley House (6.4Mb)
  69. 1946-06-29 #119 Paper Route Subscription Contest To Go To Camp (6.8Mb)
  70. 1946-09-07 #121 Riley Gets Promoted (aka 1946-09-17) (6.9Mb)
  71. 1946-09-14 #122 Riley Doesn't Want Peg to Work for Sidney Monahan (6.8Mb)
  72. 1946-09-28 #124 Riley Bribes Jr. to win Football Game (6.7Mb)
  73. 1946-10-05 #125 Good Neighbor Week (5.9Mb)
  74. 1946-10-12 #126 The School Formal Dance (Helene's Swap Shop Dress For Babs) (7.1Mb)
  75. 1946-10-19 #127 Riley Sues Bus Company (5.3Mb)
  76. 1946-10-26 #128 Job In South America (5.3Mb)
  77. 1946-11-02 #129 Peg & Riley Both Run For Park Supervisor (5.2Mb)
  78. 1946-11-09 #130 Egbert & Jr go to Boy Scout Camp (6.3Mb)
  79. 1946-11-16 #131 Music Brings Riley And Peg Together (starts at 46 Sec) (6.2Mb)
  80. 1946-11-23 #132 (AFRS Re-Broadcast) Riley, Football Hero for the Night Club Team (6.6Mb)
  81. 1946-11-30 #133 Riley Gets Free Medical Advice From Simon's Uncle, A Horse Doctor (5.9Mb)
  82. 1946-12-28 #137 New Year's Eve - 10 Dates For Babs (5.9Mb)
  83. 1947-01-11 #139 Efficiency Expert (6.8Mb)
  84. 1947-01-18 #140 Riley & Simon, Business Partners (6.8Mb)
  85. 1947-01-25 #141 Riley's Honeymoon (6.5Mb)
  86. 1947-02-01 #142 Riley Switched At Birth (6.6Mb)
  87. 1947-02-08 #143 Riley's Birthday Forgotten (6.6Mb)
  88. 1947-03-15 #148 (AFRS) Simon Is Advice to the Lovelorn Column Editor (6.8Mb)
  89. 1947-03-22 #149 Riley, The Milkman (6.6Mb)
  90. 1947-03-29 #150 Riley The Gentleman (New Chair) (6.6Mb)
  91. 1947-04-05 #151 Riley the Child Beater (6.6Mb)
  92. 1947-04-12 #152 Real Life Soap Opera `Marriage Can Be Beautiful' (6.6Mb)
  93. 1947-04-19 #153 Riley the Boxer - Jr The Coward (6.5Mb)
  94. 1947-04-26 #154 Simon the Waiter, Blackmails Riley (6.6Mb)
  95. 1947-05-03 #155 Launching Babs In Society (6.7Mb)
  96. 1947-05-10 #156 Model Son, The Mother's Day Speech (6.8Mb)
  97. 1947-05-31 #159 The Accident Insurance Policy (6.6Mb)
  98. 1947-06-21 #162 Babs Almost Gets A Job In San Francisco (6.8Mb)
  99. 1947-06-28 #163 Riley & Gillis Spend AWeek at the Lake (7.1Mb)
  100. 1947-07-05 #164 Riley Thinks Peg Is Leaving Him (7.1Mb)
  101. 1947-09-06 #165 Riley Enrolls At PIP Instead Of UCLA (7Mb)
  102. 1947-09-13 #166 Babs Has Two Dates (6.8Mb)
  103. 1947-09-20 #167 Jr Wants To Run Away From Home (6.7Mb)
  104. 1947-09-27 #168 Venus w Radio in Stomach is Art Object (Statue) for the Piano (7.1Mb)
  105. 1947-10-04 #169 Riley Gets A Promotion - Old Age Sets In (6.7Mb)
  106. 1947-10-11 #170 Riley, The Cop (6.7Mb)
  107. 1947-11-01 #173 Football Pool Card (Tape Waver) (6.4Mb)
  108. 1947-11-22 #176 Bean Counter (aka Win a Buick Contest) (6.7Mb)
  109. 1947-11-29 #177 Foreman's Job (aka Thanksgiving at Gillise's) (6.7Mb)
  110. 1947 Are We Ever Going to Get a New Car (6.7Mb)
  111. 1948-01-10 #183 Equal Rights For Women (6.7Mb)
  112. 1948-01-24 #184 Lay-Offs (aka 1945-09-08 #077 Layoffs) (6.6Mb)
  113. 1948-01-24 #185 Babs Quits School (6.8Mb)
  114. 1948-03-06 #191 Riley Punches his Foreman (6.6Mb)
  115. 1948-04-03 #195 Juvenile Delinquency (6.6Mb)
  116. 1948-04-10 #196 Riley Meets a Gangster (Burt Lancaster) (or Peg Studies French) (5.9Mb)
  117. 1948-10-08 #214 How to Pick a Mate (6.7Mb)
  118. 1948-10-22 #215 Problem Child (6.6Mb)
  119. 1948-12-24 #225 Christmas Bonuses from Mr. Stevenson (aka 1946-12-24 Christmas Eve) (6.3Mb)
  120. 1949-03-04 #235 Riley's Movie Premier (Riley Family are guests at Premier) (6.6Mb)
  121. 1949-04-01 #239 Won't Let Peg Help Jr. With Homework (6.6Mb)
  122. 1949-04-15 #241 Riley Talks in His Sleep About Gertrude (6.6Mb)
  123. 1949-04-22 #242 Riley Breaks Pegs Chinese Bowl (6.6Mb)
  124. 1949-05-20 #246 Junior Drops Out of School (aka Jrs Deliv. Bus) (6.6Mb)
  125. 1949-10-14 #249 The Geiger Counter (Tape Waver) (6.8Mb)
  126. 1949-10-28 #251 Riley Buys a Television (6.6Mb)
  127. 1950-03-10 #270 (AFRTS Re-Broadcast) Leaking Roof (Tape Waver) (6.3Mb)
  128. 1950-10-13 #288 Traffic Court (Tape Waver) (6.7Mb)
  129. 1951-03-30 #311 Riley The Rent Collector (6.6Mb)
  130. 1951-04-13 #313 Rileyis in a Rut (aka Civil Serv Exam-Riley Contemp. Job Change) (6.7Mb)
  131. Louella's Farewell Party (3.4Mb)
  132. LUX 1950-05-08 #702 The Life of Riley (LUX THEATER) (11.2Mb)

MP3 files hosted by archive.org.