A Job in Grand Rapids

Originally aired February 10, 1936, this episode sees Fibber McGee pursuing yet another promising lead—this time a job opportunity in the furniture trade. Convinced that he’s the perfect candidate—“smart, adaptable, and young-looking”—Fibber packs his bags and heads off with Molly to Grand Rapids to apply in person. But as usual, things quickly become comically chaotic.

 

En route by train, Fibber and Molly encounter familiar faces, including their friend Nick DePopolis, whose loud snoring disturbs everyone’s peace, and Harpo Wilcox, still selling Johnson’s Wax, even in his sleep. Fibber regales his fellow passengers with tall tales about his previous exploits in the furniture business, inventing stories of his former glory as “Overstuffed McGee,” a legendary figure in furniture circles.

 

The laughs continue when Fibber and Molly realize, after arriving, that they’ve traveled to the wrong Grand Rapids—landing themselves in Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, instead of Michigan. Amidst all the confusion, listeners are treated to musical interludes by Rico Martelli’s orchestra, humorous advertisements for Johnson’s Wax, and the warmth of classic Fibber McGee & Molly humor, expertly remastered for clarity and nostalgia.