Riley At Night School (Aired December 10, 1944)
The first Life of Riley radio show was a summer replacement show heard on CBS from April 12, 1941 to September 6, 1941. The CBS program starred Lionel Stander as J. Riley Farnsworth and had no real connection with the more famous series that followed a few years later. The radio program starring William Bendix aired on the ABC Blue Network from January 16, 1944 to June 8, 1945. Then it moved to NBC, where it was broadcast from September 8, 1945 to June 29, 1951. The supporting cast featured John Brown, who portrayed not only undertaker Digger O'Dell but also Riley's co-worker Gillis. Whereas Gillis gave Riley bad information that got him into trouble, Digger gave him good information that "helped him out of a hole," as he might have put it. Brown's lines as the undertaker were often repetitive, including puns based on his profession; but, thanks to Brown's delivery, the audience loved him.
THIS EPISODE:
December 10, 1944. "Riley At Night School" - Blue network, KECA, Los Angeles aircheck. Sponsored by: American Meat Institute. While Riley's taking an algebra class at night school, he receives an anonymous love note. William Bendix, John Brown, Ken Niles (announcer), Dink Trout, Don Bernard (director), Lou Coslowe (music). 29:24. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.
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