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8 unusual facts about The Great Gildersleeve


Barbara Stuart

Her first television role was as Bessie, the secretary, on the 1955 syndicated series The Great Gildersleeve, starring Willard Waterman and based on the Fibber McGee and Molly radio program.

Draftee Daffy

The demon takes off his mask to reveal he's the man from the draft board, who then replies with the popular catchphrase of the "Richard Q. Peavey" character from The Great Gildersleeve, "Well, now, I wouldn't say that," (same as what Bugs Bunny, in his elderly form, says at the end of the Merrie Melodies cartoon, The Old Grey Hare) and proceeds to chase Daffy into the distance, letter still in hand.

Gildersleeve on Broadway

Gildersleeve on Broadway is a 1943 American film starring Harold Peary as his radio character The Great Gildersleeve.

Jerry Farber

Among the other radio shows on which he appeared were The Great Gildersleeve, Lux Radio Theatre, The Screen Guild Theatre, The Mercury Theatre on the Air, and Suspense.

Mary Lee Robb

As Mary Lee Robb, she's best known for playing Marjorie, Gildersleeve's niece, on The Great Gildersleeve.

Michael Winkelman

Winkelman's first television appearance was as 9-year-old Bruce Fuller in the 1955 television series The Great Gildersleeve.

The Bashful Buzzard

However, when the camera moves down, it is revealed that he has eventually caught the dragon, who dismisses the mother's claim by saying "Well now, I wouldn't say that!" (a la Mr. Peavey of The Great Gildersleeve).

The Old Grey Hare

However, Bugs suddenly pops in and repeats the popular catchphrase of the "Richard Q. Peavey" character from The Great Gildersleeve, "Well, now, I wouldn't say that," plants a kiss on Elmer, then hands him a large firecracker with a lit fuse, and quickly departs.


Arthur Q. Bryan

Although his first forays into that medium were inevitably accompanied by instructions that he use the Fudd voice, Bryan soon came to the attention of Don Quinn and Phil Leslie, the production and writing team responsible for Fibber McGee and Molly and their supporting characters, two of whom spun off into their own radio hits, The Great Gildersleeve and Beulah.

Rexall

Both shows were often opened by an advertisement from an actor (Griff Barnett) portraying "your Rexall family druggist", and included the catch phrase "Good health to all from Rexall." They also sponsored the Jimmy Durante Show and there are references by the character Mr. Peavey in some of The Great Gildersleeve radio shows.

WRPO-LP

"The Best of Old Time Radio" featuring vintage episodes of Fibber McGee and Molly, The Green Hornet, Lum and Abner, The Great Gildersleeve, Gunsmoke among others were also aired to coincide with its earlier formats.


see also

Children's music

Many of the biggest names in theater, radio, and motion pictures were featured on these albums, such as: Bing Crosby, Harold Peary ("The Great Gildersleeve"), Orson Welles, Jeanette MacDonald, Roy Rogers, Fanny Brice, William Boyd ("Hopalong Cassidy"), Ingrid Bergman, Danny Kaye, and Fredric March.