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The Life of Riley 132 Eps

(4,964 Sterne; 14 Bewertungen)

(132 Episodes) "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

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

License

Chapters

LOR 1943-07-25 (Pilot) Riley Wants To Build A House (Starts at 34 sec)

28:03

LOR 1944-01-16 #001 Riley Plans to Build a House

27:38

LOR 1944-01-30 #003 The Butler Pt 2 (Low Vol)

21:46

LOR 1944-02-06 #004 Riley Rents a Hse-Moves from Hotel

30:27

LOR 1944-02-13 #005 Telephone Story (Low Vol)

31:01

LOR 1944-02-20 #006 Van Planten Thtr Pt 1

31:00

LOR 1944-03-26 #011 The Barber Chair

31:00

LOR 1944-04-02 #012 Riley's Birthday (Thinks Baxter Giving Party) (Low Vol)

31:01

LOR 1944-04-09 #013 Riley Is Best Dressed Man (Top Volume)

29:38

LOR 1944-04-23 #015 Proxy Wedding Pt 2

27:32

LOR 1944-04-30 #016 Baxter Goes To NY (High Volume)

29:44

LOR 1944-05-07 #017 The Dog Catcher

21:04

LOR 1944-05-14 #018 Riley Fixes Dinner for Mother's Day

22:20

LOR 1944-06-04 #021 Fish Story

13:42

LOR 1944-06-25 #024 Riley Tries to Marry Baxter to Miss Grimshaw, Waldo's Aunt …

28:17

LOR 1944-08-27 #033 The Houseboat Vacation Pt 1

28:58

LOR 1944-09-03 #034 The Houseboat Vacation Pt 2

25:40

LOR 1944-09-24 #037 Making Each Other Jealous (High Vol)

29:40

LOR 1944-10-08 #039 Muley's Surprise Party for Riley

28:20

LOR 1944-10-22 #041 The Boss's Son-In-Law

28:35

LOR 1944-10-29 #042 Halloween Haunted House

29:58

LOR 1944-11-05 #043 Piano Lessons for Junior

29:52

LOR 1944-11-12 #044 Big Football Bet

29:44

LOR 1944-11-19 #045 Turkey Hunt

22:36

LOR 1944-11-26 #046 Bridesmaid Babs

28:40

LOR 1944-12-03 #047 Most Popular Boy

29:19

LOR 1944-12-10 #048 Riley's Mash Note at Night School

29:24

LOR 1944-12-17 #049 Special Christmas Present

29:33

LOR 1944-12-24 #050 Roswell's a Guest for Christmas

30:07

LOR 1944-12-31 #051 New Yr's Eve Party

31:00

LOR 1945-01-07 #052 Silver Gloves Boxing

30:07

LOR 1945-01-14 #053 The Wedding Anniversary

24:09

LOR 1945-01-21 #054 Riley Takes Phone Booth Nickels

29:43

LOR 1945-01-28 #055 $5.00 Is Missing

29:21

LOR 1945-02-04 #056 The BPLA Initiates New Member

27:50

LOR 1945-02-11 #057 Riley Trains Junior's Dog

29:36

LOR 1945-02-25 #059 Riley Helps Luigi Pass English Exam

28:39

LOR 1945-03-04 #060 Expectant Fathers

30:20

LOR 1945-03-11 #061 Junior Runs Away

29:46

LOR 1945-03-18 #062 Riley is a Pal to Junior

30:17

LOR 1945-03-25 #063 Five Dollars is Missing

29:50

LOR 1945-05-13 #069 Peg's Mother Visits

30:21

LOR 1945-09-15 #078 Neighbor Feud Over Jr's Goat

29:49

LOR 1945-09-22 #079 Jr is Head of Household

23:03

LOR 1945-09-29 #080 Change of Time

29:17

LOR 1945-10-06 #081 Riley Refuses to Let Babs See Simon (Thinks he's a Suicide)

29:17

LOR 1945-10-20 #083 Sidney Monahan is a House Guest

29:47

LOR 1945-10-27 #084 The Football Game

29:37

LOR 1945-11-03 #085 Roswell Visits

29:01

LOR 1945-11-24 #088 Babs & Simon Married (aka Will Babs & Simon Marry)

29:47

LOR 1945-12-01 #089 BPLA Lodge Election - Phonograph Record Saves Riley

28:42

LOR 1945-12-08 #090 Job Promotion Exam

27:37

LOR 1945-12-15 #091 Grandma's Boyfriend

29:52

LOR 1946-01-26 #097 Riley's Tonsillectomy

24:59

LOR 1946-02-02 #098 Junior's School Play (aka 1946-02-26)

30:31

LOR 1946-03-09 #103 Babs Music Scholarship

29:27

LOR 1946-03-16 #104 Riley Buys An Insurance Policy

29:34

LOR 1946-03-23 #105 Junior Races Egbert - Poison Ivy

29:18

LOR 1946-04-06 #107 Riley Finds A Silver Fox Fur Coat

27:43

LOR 1946-04-13 #108 Riley Thinks Jr. is a Shoplifter

28:43

LOR 1946-04-20 #109 Giant Easter Bunny

27:36

LOR 1946-04-27 #110 Gambling Doesn't Pay

29:29

LOR 1946-05-04 #111 Rileys Take In The Gillises After A Fire

30:07

LOR 1946-05-11 #112 Junior Forgets Mother's Day

27:13

LOR 1946-05-25 #114 Junior Sells Peanuts at the Circus

29:04

LOR 1946-06-01 #115 The Riley Family of Actors

29:39

LOR 1946-06-08 #116 The Bread Shortage & the Black Market

29:23

LOR 1946-06-22 #118 Morris Buys The Riley House

27:53

LOR 1946-06-29 #119 Paper Route Subscription Contest To Go To Camp

29:33

LOR 1946-09-07 #121 Riley Gets Promoted (aka 1946-09-17)

30:04

LOR 1946-09-14 #122 Riley Doesn't Want Peg to Work for Sidney Monahan

29:55

LOR 1946-09-28 #124 Riley Bribes Jr. to win Football Game

29:29

LOR 1946-10-05 #125 Good Neighbor Week

25:44

LOR 1946-10-12 #126 The School Formal Dance (Helene's Swap Shop Dress For Babs)

24:47

LOR 1946-10-19 #127 Riley Sues Bus Company

23:10

LOR 1946-10-26 #128 Job In South America

23:01

LOR 1946-11-02 #129 Peg & Riley Both Run For Park Supervisor

22:41

LOR 1946-11-09 #130 Egbert & Jr go to Boy Scout Camp

27:19

LOR 1946-11-16 #131 Music Brings Riley And Peg Together (starts at 46 Sec)

26:57

LOR 1946-11-23 #132 (AFRS Re-Broadcast) Riley, Football Hero for the Night Club…

29:02

LOR 1946-11-30 #133 Riley Gets Free Medical Advice From Simon's Uncle, A Horse …

25:41

LOR 1946-12-28 #137 New Year's Eve - 10 Dates For Babs

25:58

LOR 1947-01-11 #139 Efficiency Expert

29:52

LOR 1947-01-18 #140 Riley & Simon, Business Partners

29:37

LOR 1947-01-25 #141 Riley's Honeymoon

28:36

LOR 1947-02-01 #142 Riley Switched At Birth

28:56

LOR 1947-02-08 #143 Riley's Birthday Forgotten

28:51

LOR 1947-03-15 #148 (AFRS) Simon Is Advice to the Lovelorn Column Editor

29:46

LOR 1947-03-22 #149 Riley, The Milkman

28:55

LOR 1947-03-29 #150 Riley The Gentleman (New Chair)

28:44

LOR 1947-04-05 #151 Riley the Child Beater

28:53

LOR 1947-04-12 #152 Real Life Soap Opera `Marriage Can Be Beautiful'

29:00

LOR 1947-04-19 #153 Riley the Boxer - Jr The Coward

28:32

LOR 1947-04-26 #154 Simon the Waiter, Blackmails Riley

28:56

LOR 1947-05-03 #155 Launching Babs In Society

29:05

LOR 1947-05-10 #156 Model Son, The Mother's Day Speech

29:47

LOR 1947-05-31 #159 The Accident Insurance Policy

29:01

LOR 1947-06-21 #162 Babs Almost Gets A Job In San Francisco

29:50

LOR 1947-06-28 #163 Riley & Gillis Spend AWeek at the Lake

30:55

LOR 1947-07-05 #164 Riley Thinks Peg Is Leaving Him

30:55

LOR 1947-09-06 #165 Riley Enrolls At PIP Instead Of UCLA

30:39

LOR 1947-09-13 #166 Babs Has Two Dates

29:45

LOR 1947-09-20 #167 Jr Wants To Run Away From Home

29:05

LOR 1947-09-27 #168 Venus w Radio in Stomach is Art Object (Statue) for the Pia…

31:09

LOR 1947-10-04 #169 Riley Gets A Promotion - Old Age Sets In

29:12

LOR 1947-10-11 #170 Riley, The Cop

29:08

LOR 1947-11-01 #173 Football Pool Card (Tape Waver)

27:51

LOR 1947-11-22 #176 Bean Counter (aka Win a Buick Contest)

29:13

LOR 1947-11-29 #177 Foreman's Job (aka Thanksgiving at Gillise's)

58:42

LOR 1947 Are We Ever Going to Get a New Car

58:42

LOR 1948-01-10 #183 Equal Rights For Women

29:08

LOR 1948-01-24 #184 Lay-Offs (aka 1945-09-08 #077 Layoffs)

28:57

LOR 1948-01-24 #185 Babs Quits School

29:45

LOR 1948-03-06 #191 Riley Punches his Foreman

29:01

LOR 1948-04-03 #195 Juvenile Delinquency

28:42

LOR 1948-04-10 #196 Riley Meets a Gangster (Burt Lancaster) (or Peg Studies Fre…

25:36

LOR 1948-10-08 #214 How to Pick a Mate

29:03

LOR 1948-10-22 #215 Problem Child

28:55

LOR 1948-12-24 #225 Christmas Bonuses from Mr. Stevenson (aka 1946-12-24 Christ…

27:37

LOR 1949-03-04 #235 Riley's Movie Premier (Riley Family are guests at Premier)

28:41

LOR 1949-04-01 #239 Won't Let Peg Help Jr. With Homework

28:45

LOR 1949-04-15 #241 Riley Talks in His Sleep About Gertrude

28:59

LOR 1949-04-22 #242 Riley Breaks Pegs Chinese Bowl

29:00

LOR 1949-05-20 #246 Junior Drops Out of School (aka Jrs Deliv. Bus)

28:45

LOR 1949-10-14 #249 The Geiger Counter (Tape Waver)

29:34

LOR 1949-10-28 #251 Riley Buys a Television

28:38

LOR 1950-03-10 #270 (AFRTS Re-Broadcast) Leaking Roof (Tape Waver)

27:35

LOR 1950-10-13 #288 Traffic Court (Tape Waver)

29:21

LOR 1951-03-30 #311 Riley The Rent Collector

28:47

LOR 1951-04-13 #313 Rileyis in a Rut (aka Civil Serv Exam-Riley Contemp. Job Ch…

29:05

LOR Louella's Farewell Party

58:23

LUX 1950-05-08 #702 The Life of Riley (LUX THEATER)

49:07

Bewertungen

A Timeless Treasure .... too funny for words

(5 Sterne)

I always wondered the origin of the phrase "-leading the Life of Riley" now that I've found it I want to stay in this classic show. The writing is surburb and the delivery pure comical genius.

Classic comedy

(5 Sterne)

Life of Riley has got to be the greatest radio comedy ever. Its rare that the old radio comedies have held up as well as Riley. Most of them are kind of dated and corny, but Riley along with The Great Gildersleeve and a couple others are as hilarious today as they were back then.

ITEM 132 ON LIST

(0 Sterne)

INCOMPLETE. SEE https://archive.org/download/Lux15/Lux_50-05-08_Life_of_Riley.mp3 FOR FULL LUX THEATER BROADCAST. THIS WAS A DARN GOOD SERIES. WILLIAM BENDIX WAS AN ACTOR OF GREAT ABILITY, AS EARNEST FAMILY MAN, OR AS THUG OF ...WELL, WATCH "THE GLASS KEY"

Tops!

(5 Sterne)

One of the best comedy shows, like FKB and the GG, it is well written and has a good cast, if your looking for a good laugh its in LOR.

love it!

(5 Sterne)

I’ve always loved the life of Riley. Maybe it’s because we share the same name and birthday... 🤔😊

1joker - I'm with you...

(5 Sterne)

Me too: my votes go for LOR, FKB and GG all the way, with A&A thrown in for good measure. And the skits of Bob&Ray. I listen to each of these in turn all night every night, and when I'm traveling between cities I have the mp3's on a flash drive - these radio shows really keep me alert, engaged and amused while making a 6-hour drive. I support archive.org for a lot of reasons, but even if all they had online were these radio sitcoms I'd still support them just as I do now. These radio shows are invaluable treasures.