The Bridge Game

Originally aired December 16, 1935, episode 36, “The Bridge Game” finds Molly McGee determined to raise the cultural level of Wistful Vista by taking bridge lessons—much to Fibber’s comical dismay. As Molly and Silly Watson prepare for the instructor’s arrival, Fibber resists joining what he calls “a bunch of women,” until Molly’s persistence and a lack of other players rope him in. The chaos begins with an ill-fated attempt to test the strength of their card table, resulting in Silly stuck hip-deep in its cardboard top, and only escalates when a parade of neighbors decline to make up the fourth hand.

 

Enter Miss Corbin, the bridge instructor, who attempts to teach the finer points of contract bridge to the ever-wisecracking Fibber, whose knowledge of cards starts and ends at poker, and who proposes everything from “Deuce’s Wild” to magic tricks with the deck. The confusion only deepens thanks to a “clean” deck assembled from multiple mismatched sets, leading to identical hands and bewildered players. Amid glowing testimonials for Johnson’s Glow Coat and musical interludes, this episode delivers classic farce, quick banter, and a parade of Fibber’s tall tales.

 

Remastered for clarity, this installment showcases the timeless humor and charm that made Fibber McGee & Molly a staple of golden-age radio comedy.