
The Life of Riley
Comedy
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.
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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."
Location:
United States
Genres:
Comedy
Description:
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."
Twitter:
@goldenclassics
Language:
English
Website:
https://www.myclassicradio.net/
The Life of Riley 1946-05-04 #111 Rileys Take In The Gillises After A Fire
Duration:00:30:06
The Life of Riley 1946-04-27 #110 Gambling Doesn't Pay
Duration:00:29:28
The Life of Riley 1946-04-20 #109 Giant Easter Bunny
Duration:00:27:35
The Life of Riley 1946-04-13 #108 The Bread Shortage (Riley Thinks Jr. is a Shoplifter)
Duration:00:28:39
The Life of Riley 1946-04-06 #107 Riley Finds A Silver Fox Fur Coat
Duration:00:27:42
The Life of Riley 1946-03-23 #105 Junior Races Egbert - Poison Ivy
Duration:00:29:16
The Life of Riley Louella's Farewell Party
Duration:00:14:22
The Life of Riley 1947 Are We Ever Going to Get a Car
Duration:00:29:20
The Life of Riley 1950-05-08 (LUX Theatre Play #702)
Duration:00:49:06
The Life of Riley 1951-04-13 #313 Riley Is In A Rut
Duration:00:29:05
The Life of Riley 1951-03-30 #311 Riley The Rent Collector
Duration:00:28:45
The Life of Riley 1950-10-13 #288 Traffic Court
Duration:00:28:41
The Life of Riley 1950-03-10 #270 (AFRTS Re-Broadcast) Leaking Roof (Tape Waver)
Duration:00:27:35
The Life of Riley 1949-10-28 #251 Riley Buys a Television
Duration:00:28:38
The Life of Riley 1949-10-14 #249 The Geiger Counter (Tape Waver)
Duration:00:28:52
The Life of Riley 1949-05-20 #246 Junior Drops Out of School (aka Jrs Deliv. Bus)
Duration:00:28:44
The Life of Riley 1949-04-22 #242 Riley Breaks Pegs Chinese Bowl
Duration:00:28:59
The Life of Riley 1949-04-15 #241 Riley Talks in His Sleep About Gertrude
Duration:00:28:59
The Life of Riley 1949-04-01 #239 Won't Let Peg Help Jr. With Homework
Duration:00:28:44
The Life of Riley 1949-03-04 #235 Riley's Movie Premier (Riley Family are guests at Premier)
Duration:00:28:40