The Great Gildersleeve (1941–1957), initially written by Leonard Lewis Levinson,[2] was one of broadcast historys earliest spin-off programs. Built around Throckmorton Philharmonic Gildersleeve, a character who had been a staple on the classic radio situation comedy Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve enjoyed its greatest success in the 1940s. Actor Harold Peary played the character during its transition from the parent show into the spin-off and later in a quartet of feature films released at the height of the shows popularity.
On Fibber McGee and Molly, Pearys Gildersleeve was a pompous windbag who became a consistent McGee nemesis. "Youre a haa-aa-aa-aard man, McGee!" became a Gildersleeve catch phrase. The character was given several conflicting first names on Fibber McGee and Molly, and on one episode his middle name was revealed as Philharmonic. Gildy admits as much at the end of "Gildersleeves Diary" on the Fibber McGee and Molly series (10/22/40).
Show Names : a_night_at_the_opera, anual_estate_report_due, ben_returns_from_the_navy, ben_sells_life_insurance, christmas_at_home, doomsday_picnic, facing_old_age, flashback_gildy_meets_leila, flashback-gildy_plays_cyrano, flashback-jolly_boys_fourth_of_july, gildy_is_in_a_rut, gildy_meets_leilas_new_beau, gildy_needs_a_hobby, gildy_sponsors_the_opera, gildy_the_diplomat, gildy_traces_geneology, gildys_new_car, helping_leroy_with_homework, jolly_boys_falling_out, labor_day_at_grass_lake, leila_returns_home, leroy_arrested, leroy_breaks_a_vase, leroy_goes_to_a_party, leroy_has_the_flu, leroy_suspended_from_school, leroys_horse, leroys_new_teacher, lightfoot_visits_leila, marjorie_the_ballerina, marjories_dance_date, new_years_eve_at_home, opera_committee_chairman, raking_leaves, rumor_mrs_peavey_is_ill, state_water_inspector, teaching_marjorie_homemaking, the_bank_robber, the_football_game, the_palm_reader, the_petition,