Raking Leaves

Originally Aired: October 17, 1939

In Fibber McGee & Molly #218, "Raking Leaves," Fibber faces domestic trouble when Molly discovers he hasn't raked up the autumn leaves cluttering their front lawn. His excuse? He used the rake handle to build a trapeze in the garage. The situation escalates when their neighbor, Mr. Gildersleeve, arrives complaining that the McGees' leaves keep blowing into his pristine yard. What starts as a simple complaint quickly turns into a full-blown argument, with Gildersleeve calling Fibber a "gabby little good-for-nothing runt" and Fibber defending his casual approach to yard maintenance.

Despite Molly's attempts to keep the peace and her insistence that neighbors should stay on good terms, Fibber seems to enjoy the antagonistic relationship with Gildersleeve. After some persuasion from Molly, Fibber finally sets out to borrow a rake from Mrs. Uppington so he can tackle the leaf situation, though not before getting sidetracked by a telephone conversation with Myrt the operator about a mishap involving a bustle dress and a revolving door.