McGee and Molly

Newspaper Column

Originally Aired: September 19, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #214, "Newspaper Column,"
Fibber has landed himself a job as a gossip columnist for the Wistful Vista Gazette, filling in while the regular columnist takes a vacation. Eager to prove himself in the newspaper business, he throws himself into the work with characteristic enthusiasm, though Molly worries about the personal nature of gossip reporting. Her concerns prove justified when a gentleman arrives at the office brandishing a horsewhip, apparently angered by something Fibber has written. McGee hastily considers printing a blanket retraction before he and Molly make a quick escape out the back door.
The pair head to Will Hooley's Grand Terrace Cafe and Pool Room, the hottest nightspot in town, where Fibber hopes to dig up fresh gossip items for his column. After exchanging jokes with the Old Timer at the door, they settle in for dinner and ask their waiter to point out any celebrities. The waiter obliges by identifying debutante Brenda Axel Biddle and another notable patron across the room, but his final identification catches Fibber completely off guard.

The McGees Elope

Originally Aired: September 12, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #213, "The McGees Elope,"
When Molly tries to remind Fibber about an important date, he hilariously guesses everything from Uncle Dennis's bootlegging arrest to a special on caramel ice cream at Kramer's Drugstore before she finally reveals it's their fifteenth wedding anniversary. In a burst of romantic nostalgia, Fibber proposes they celebrate by eloping all over again, complete with Molly climbing down a ladder just like the first time. As the couple prepares for their whimsical do-over wedding, Fibber sets off to borrow a ladder while Molly packs her bag.
Their unconventional anniversary plans quickly become neighborhood news when the elegant Mrs. Uppington stops by and offers her gold-leaf ladder complete with handrail. Donald Novis serenades the couple with "My Wild Irish Rose" and presents them with an unusual wedding gift from the cast. As Fibber positions the ladder and Molly heads upstairs to the window, the stage is set for their anniversary elopement adventure, though interruptions and the couple's characteristic confusion threaten to derail their romantic evening.

Fibber’s Fish Fry

Originally Aired: September 5, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #212, "Fibber's Fish Fry," the McGees return home to Wistful Vista after a nine-week vacation, bursting with energy and ready to host a fish dinner to share their vacation bounty with friends. They immediately invite their neighbor Harlow Wilcox, only to discover he's gotten married over the summer to a woman who calls him "Cuddles"—much to Fibber's disgust and Molly's amusement. As they settle back in, they face the chaos of homecoming: a milk bill for deliveries that should have stopped, sour milk piling up on the porch, and amusing neighborhood gossip from the little girl next door about supposed burglars.
The episode captures the McGees' transition from vacation back to everyday life, filled with comic misunderstandings and the familiar characters of their neighborhood. As Molly tries to organize their unpacking and prepare for the evening's fish dinner, Fibber claims to have already taken care of everything, though the mounting mishaps suggest otherwise.

Toothache

Originally Aired: June 20, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #210, "Toothache," Fibber is suffering from a terrible toothache that has left his face swollen and him in considerable pain. Despite Molly's urging to visit the dentist, Fibber stubbornly resists, willing to try almost anything else. First, Molly attempts the old-fashioned remedy of tying a string from his tooth to the doorknob, creating comedic chaos when a magazine salesman arrives at just the wrong moment and the string ends up pulling the doorknob off instead of the tooth. As the couple makes their way to see Dr. Gildersleeve, they encounter various interruptions including the smooth-voiced singer Donald Novis and the pretentious Mrs. Uppington, who offers backhanded sympathy about Fibber's swollen face.
Throughout their journey, Fibber continues to drag his feet about the inevitable dental visit, revealing that his reluctance stems partly from the fact that Dr. Gildersleeve once had a crush on Molly back in their school days. The episode captures Fibber's characteristic stubbornness and Molly's patient persistence as she tries to get her suffering husband the help he needs.

Advice Column - Aunt Molly

Originally Aired: June 13, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #209, "Advice Column - Aunt Molly," Fibber and Molly find themselves running an advice column for the Wistful Vista Gazette, dispensing wisdom to the troubled citizens of their town. Despite having no real qualifications for the job, the pair confidently set up shop in the newspaper's sitting room, complete with a stenographer who used to work in a hash joint. Fibber insists they just need to sit and look wise, while Molly takes calls and offers questionable guidance to callers with various problems.
Their first major case arrives when Jay Bumble Busby, owner of the largest apiary in the state, comes seeking help. His honey business has mysteriously declined, with sales dropping over 83 percent because the product has somehow lost its famous flavor. When Molly tastes a sample, she declares it tastes like "the back of a Christmas tree from about 1913." Busby decides to bring in one of his bees for an interview, while other colorful characters like Mrs. Weary Bottom drop by seeking the McGees' dubious expertise.

McGee The Wrestler

Originally Aired: June 6, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #208, "McGee The Wrestler,"
Fibber decides to discover his true nature by sending a letter to Professor John Hancock, a famous handwriting analyst, convinced he'll be revealed as the creative and artistic type. As he types his application on a typewriter with an unusually loud bell, Molly looks on with her usual mix of skepticism and amusement. The McGees are interrupted by the smooth-talking Doctor Gamble and the elegant Mrs. Uppington, who seeks advice on interior decoration for her house. Never one to pass up an opportunity to demonstrate expertise he doesn't possess, Fibber eagerly volunteers his services as an interior design consultant.
What follows is a classic display of McGee bluster as he confidently dispenses decorating advice using completely fabricated terms like "Sherred Mulberry Transaprance" and "Penny Point Krasnovitz." Molly plays along, mentioning equally nonsensical items like "pastel bock nipkits," leaving the bewildered Mrs. Uppington wondering if she's hopelessly behind the latest fashion trends. The episode showcases Fibber's characteristic overconfidence and Molly's willingness to either gently deflate or playfully enable her husband's flights of fancy.

Escaped Convicts

Originally Aired: May 30, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #207, "Escaped Convicts," finds the McGees taking a leisurely stroll downtown to buy cigars when their peaceful walk takes an alarming turn. A newsboy's extra edition announces that five desperate criminals have escaped from Wistful Vista Penitentiary and are believed to be lurking in the vicinity. Along the way, the couple encounters their usual cast of neighbors including the Old Timer peddling peanut brittle, Harlow Wilcox promoting Johnson's Wax with Fourth of July firecrackers, and Donald Novis preparing to sing.
When Molly reads the newspaper's warning about the escaped convicts, she becomes increasingly nervous, remembering she may have left the back door unlocked and her diamond ring sitting out on the dressing table. She hurries home to secure the house while Fibber continues on to the cigar store, though even he seems a bit rattled by the news. The question remains whether the escaped convicts pose a real threat to the McGees and their neighbors, or if the panic will prove to be much ado about nothing.

Fibber Receives a Stork

Originally Aired: May 23, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #206, "Fibber Receives a Stork," the McGees' typically quiet morning at 79 Wistful Vista takes an unexpected turn when a telegram arrives from their friend Mort, who is traveling on a world cruise in Rotterdam. While Molly is out shopping for hats at the Bontown Department Store's spring clearance sale, Fibber stays home to finish his breakfast and deal with a parade of interruptions, including a stuttering telegraph messenger and their laundry man Gooey Pouy, whose son is struggling to make the college rowing team at Colgate. A persistent little girl also visits, demanding Fibber tell her a story, though his confused tales about three bears named Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod don't quite land as expected.
When Molly returns home wearing what Fibber mistakes for a new hat, she reveals the cablegram is from Mort in the Netherlands. The message appears to concern a talking parrot Fibber asked Mort to bring back from his travels, setting up what promises to be a characteristically complicated situation for the residents of Wistful Vista.

Zither Lessons & Buried Treasure

Originally Aired: May 16, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #205, "Zither Lessons & Buried Treasure,"
Fibber's new zither has finally arrived from the Don't Be a Wallflower Zither Corporation, but the promised ten easy lessons are nowhere to be found. Undeterred, McGee proudly shows off his new instrument on the back porch at 79 Wistful Vista, convinced he'll soon be writing his own music and performing at social gatherings. Molly remains skeptical of his musical talents, especially after hearing his initial attempts at playing. Between dodging the neighbor's chickens invading their garden and bragging about his past glory days as "Toon Twister McGee," Fibber tries to impress anyone who'll listen, including the little girl who wanders onto the porch and a visiting Mr. Wilcox.
Despite the lack of lessons and Molly's gentle teasing about being "invited out" of every place he brings the zither, Fibber remains enthusiastic about his new hobby. His neighbors and friends, including crooner Donald Novis, react with varying degrees of amusement and horror to his musical aspirations, though Fibber interprets every response as encouragement for his budding zither career.

McGee Gets Glasses

Originally Aired: April 25, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #202, "McGee Gets Glasses,"
Fibber discovers he cannot read the newspaper without the words blurring together, though he stubbornly insists it's just a temporary condition. Molly immediately recognizes that her husband needs glasses and pushes him to visit an eye doctor despite his protests. McGee worries about having to wear spectacles, though he begins to warm to the idea when Molly suggests they'll make him look distinguished. After calling Mert the telephone operator for a recommendation, they learn about Dr. Gildersleeve's office at Fourteenth and Oak.
Despite some teasing from visitor Billy about his failing eyesight, McGee finally heads downtown to see the doctor. The episode follows the reluctant Fibber as he confronts the reality that his vision problems aren't going away on their own. With his characteristic mix of denial and humor, McGee must face the prospect of joining the ranks of spectacle-wearers, all while Molly and their friends good-naturedly ribbing him about his stubbornness.