Butler Gildersleeves

Originally Aired: December 26, 1939

Fibber McGee & Molly #228, "Butler Gildersleeves,"

In this episode, Fibber and Molly are at the railroad station bidding good riddance to Fibber's miserly Uncle Sycamore when Molly runs into an old flame from her Peoria school days. Otis Cadwallader has become a wealthy businessman, complete with servants and a fortune's worth of luggage. When Otis assumes the McGees are equally well-to-do and invites himself to dinner, expecting to be greeted by their butler, Fibber and Molly face a dilemma. Rather than admit they don't have household staff, Fibber insists he'll fix everything and promises to get them a butler, even if he has to hire Arthur Treacher himself.

Back home, the McGees scramble to make their house look impressive, borrowing silver from Mrs. Uppington and even acquiring a marble statue from Nick Topopoulos's candy shop. As the dinner hour approaches, Fibber must figure out how to present their modest home as a mansion worthy of Molly's sophisticated former suitor, all while maintaining their pride and dignity.