McGee and Molly

Property Line Dispute

Originally Aired: March 26, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #241, "Property Line Dispute," Fibber is hard at work digging a trench in his backyard to plant a new hedge when neighbor Gildersleeve arrives with an accusation that stops him in his tracks. Gildersleeve insists that Fibber is digging three feet onto Gildersleeve's property, claiming the lot line runs from the telephone pole in the alley to the slippery elm out front. Fibber indignantly denies the charge, and the two nearly come to blows before Molly sensibly suggests they hire a surveyor to settle the matter. Both men agree, though Fibber insists on finding the surveyor himself since he doesn't trust Gildersleeve. While waiting for the surveyor to arrive, the McGees receive a visit from a little girl taking a shortcut through their house on her way to buy meat for her prize-winning dog Margaret, who apparently ate too much of his ten-pound prize at the dog show and is now under the weather.

Dog License

Originally Aired: March 19, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #240, "Dog License," Fibber receives an alarming registered letter from the City License Bureau demanding he obtain a 1940 dog license within two days or face a hefty fine and possible jail time. There's just one problem: the McGees haven't owned a dog in seven years! Furious at what he perceives as bureaucratic incompetence, Fibber declares war on the "pickle push politicians" at City Hall and vows they won't make a monkey out of him. He attempts to call the City Hall to complain, but operator Mert informs him the lines are jammed because everyone's speculating about whether "Izzy" will run for a third term.
Determined to straighten out this mess in person, Fibber and Molly prepare to march down to the License Bureau. Along the way, they encounter a chatty little girl with her Easter bunny named Esther, which leads to a confusing Abbott and Costello-style exchange about whether the rabbit is male or female. As the McGees head off to confront the city bureaucrats, Fibber insists he'll do all the talking and show those "city hall dumbbells" they can't push him around.

Make A Pal Of Your Wife Week

Originally Aired: March 12, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #239, "Make A Pal Of Your Wife Week,"
Fibber McGee decides to celebrate "Make a Pal of Your Wife Week" by taking Molly out to lunch, calculating that it's cheaper than flowers or candy. Molly is delightfully surprised by the sudden invitation after fifteen years of marriage, though she needs time to get ready while Fibber receives a visit from Teeny, the neighborhood boy trying to sell soap. When the couple prepares to leave, they encounter the uppity Mrs. Uppington on her daily walk, who mentions she's lunching with Billy Mills at a quiet, exclusive restaurant with fine French cuisine.
This prompts Fibber to launch into one of his trademark tongue-twisting boasts about his expertise with food, claiming he was known as "Kitchenette McGee" in his youth. He delivers an elaborate alliterative monologue about his knowledge of cooking and cuisine, demonstrating the kind of comic exaggeration that constantly gets him into trouble. The episode showcases the warmth between Fibber and Molly while highlighting the class differences with their neighbor Mrs. Uppington.

Cleaning Hall Closet

Originally Aired: March 5, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #238, "Cleaning Hall Closet,"
In this classic episode, Molly insists on cleaning out the infamous hall closet at 79 Wistful Vista after its contents come crashing down on her when Fibber opens the door. What starts as a search for a dictionary turns into a full-scale archeological dig through Fibber's treasure trove of supposed necessities, including rusty horseshoes, trout flies, and a three-legged tabouret from manual training class. Fibber stubbornly defends every item, insisting he's arranged everything just the way he wants it and that nothing can be thrown away.
As the McGees sort through the avalanche of belongings, they're interrupted by various Wistful Vista neighbors, including a precocious little girl with confusing stories about her baby brother and Mr. Oldtimer looking for a room to rent. Through the chaos of accumulated odds and ends, Molly discovers an old dance program from their courting days, leading to sweet reminiscences about waltzes, turkey trots, and a romantic evening that ended with chocolate-covered cherries and ruined white pants.

Molly’s Chinchilla Coat

Originally Aired: February 27, 1940
In Fibber McGee & Molly #237, "Molly's Chinchilla Coat," Molly is eager to show off her new Siberian chinchilla fur coat around the neighborhood, despite Fibber's protests that it's too warm for such extravagant outerwear. When Fibber needs a button sewn on his shirt, Molly realizes she's out of white thread and must run to the ten cent store, giving her the perfect excuse to parade around town in her luxurious new purchase. As the McGees head out, Molly gets her wish when they encounter the snobbish Mrs. Uppington, leading to a deliciously catty exchange where compliments barely mask mutual disdain and barbed insults fly beneath a veneer of politeness.
The couple then runs into their neighbor Mr. Gildersleeve, who notices that Fibber appears to be catching cold in his insufficient turtleneck sweater. This sparks the typical contentious banter between Fibber and Gildersleeve, with Fibber defensively insisting he's a lifelong snappy dresser and launching into one of his trademark tongue-twisting alliterative monologues about his sartorial prowess, leaving everyone breathless.

Fibber Must Tell The Truth

Originally Aired: February 20, 1940
In Fibber McGee & Molly #236, "Fibber Must Tell The Truth," Fibber is rehearsing a speech about George Washington and his ideals that he plans to deliver to a fourth-grade class. When Molly questions whether her famously truth-challenged husband could be honest for even an hour, Fibber defensively takes the bait. They make a bold wager: a box of cigars against the fur coat Molly has been wanting that Fibber cannot tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth for sixty solid minutes.
What begins as a simple bet quickly becomes torture for the chronically embellishing McGee. Old Timer stops by selling ski lesson tickets, and Fibber must admit he's a terrible skier—too fat, too clumsy, hopeless. When a radio pollster calls, Fibber grudgingly confesses his own show is the best on the air. The real test arrives when the socially pretentious Mrs. Uppington drops by seeking an opinion on her new Parisian hat, and Fibber finds himself trapped between his bet and basic politeness as the clock ticks toward the hour's end.

The Lucky Ring

Originally Aired: February 13, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #235, "The Lucky Ring,"
Fibber is eagerly watching the mailbox, waiting for a mysterious package that he promises will bring big things. When it finally arrives, he reveals his purchase: a genuine Egyptian good luck ring for only 39 cents. The ring supposedly grants prosperity through the mystical spirit of Amu Hote, activated by rubbing it three times while saying "Zwiggle, zwoggle, zwoggle." Molly is skeptical of the whole affair, dismissing it as kid stuff. Fibber's confidence in his magical purchase is immediately tested when neighbor Harlow Wilcox stops by with bad news about the car needing expensive repairs, and their sponsor calls with concerns.
Just when the ring's powers seem doubtful, a special delivery letter arrives from lawyers Corpus and Habeas announcing that Fibber has inherited 10,000 acres from his late Uncle Spud McGee of Pocatella, Idaho. Fibber is thrilled and credits the ring for his sudden good fortune, while Molly suspects it might be a joke. As they head to the lawyer's office to claim the inheritance, Fibber's string of bad luck continues with various mishaps along the way, leaving the ring's true power very much in question.

Why Is Everyone So Nice

Originally Aired: February 6, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #234, "Why Is Everyone So Nice,"
Fibber McGee wakes up on the wrong side of the bed—literally falling out the window—and is in a foul mood. But something strange is happening at 79 Wistful Vista: everyone seems unusually agreeable and accommodating. Molly doesn't object when Fibber announces he won't shave, she lets him come to breakfast in his bathrobe, and she even makes wheat cakes and sausages instead of the usual cereal. Even more bizarre, their cantankerous neighbor Gildersleeve stops by with a gift of ducks and shrugs off Fibber's insults with cheerful indifference. When Johnny the peddler arrives selling valentines, he too seems remarkably pleasant and tolerant of Fibber's stories.
As the morning progresses, Fibber grows increasingly suspicious about why everyone is being so nice to him. His attempts to provoke his usual arguments and complaints are met with nothing but sweetness and agreement, leaving him thoroughly confused and wondering what could possibly explain this unprecedented outbreak of kindness directed his way.

Getting Rid Of Old Suit

Originally Aired: January 30, 1940
In Fibber McGee & Molly #233, "Getting Rid Of Old Suit," Molly tries desperately to convince Fibber to part with his ratty old blue serge suit, but McGee is stubbornly sentimental about the garment. He reminisces about winning it on a punchboard and wearing it the night they won a Charleston contest. Though the suit is moth-eaten and falling apart, Fibber refuses to simply throw it away, insisting he can sell it to a second-hand clothing dealer instead.
The McGees receive a visit from the society-minded Mrs. Uppington, who arrives with Billy Mills, now calling himself Maestro William Randolph Mills, to promote their new concert orchestra venture. After they leave, an elderly junk dealer arrives to appraise the suit but hilariously refuses to buy it, claiming the only suits he sells for 50 cents are ones he picks from ash cans. Molly finally takes matters into her own hands and tosses the suit into the alley herself, but just as Fibber settles in with the funny papers, little Teeny arrives at the door with surprising news about what she's found.

Radio Quiz Show

Originally Aired: January 23, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #232, "Radio Quiz Show," Fibber and Molly take a tour of the Wistful Vista Broadcasting Company's studios, where their guide demonstrates sound effects equipment and shows them various studio spaces. After their feet grow weary from the extensive tour, they rest on a bench and encounter their neighbor Mr. Gildersleeve, who is in a panic. The girdle manufacturer has purchased a half-hour of radio advertising time that goes on the air in just 20 minutes, but his wife has been barred from singing by the union and he has no show prepared.
Fibber immediately sees an opportunity and offers to save the day, launching into an elaborate alliterative speech about his supposed expertise in radio broadcasting dating back to his childhood. He claims to have been known as "For the Love of Mike McGee, the mastermind" and boasts of his abilities as a performer and producer. As Fibber prepares to solve Gildersleeve's radio crisis with his "great idea for a radio program," the stage is set for the chaos that typically follows McGee's overconfident schemes.