McGee and Molly

Fibber’s Car is Stolen

Originally Aired: January 16, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #231, "Fibber's Car is Stolen,"
In this episode, Fibber and Molly head to the Auto License Bureau to get new license plates for their 1916 model car. After cleverly cutting to the front of the long line by pretending he left his hat inside, Fibber encounters the sophisticated Mrs. Uppington, who insists her chauffeur put on clean license plates every time he washes the car. Once Fibber receives his comically long new license number, he rushes outside only to discover their car has vanished from where they parked it. Convinced it's been stolen, Fibber frantically calls the police from Gus's cigar store to report the theft.
However, Molly solves the mystery with a simple observation. The car hadn't been stolen at all—while they were inside the bureau, the line of people waiting for licenses had grown so long that their vehicle now sits much further down the street than where they originally parked it. The panic over the "stolen" car turns out to be nothing more than another case of Fibber's hasty conclusions.

Gone With The Wind

Originally Aired: January 9, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #230, "Gone With The Wind," Fibber and Molly prepare to attend the formal opening of Gone With The Wind at the Bijou Theater after mysteriously receiving tickets slipped under their door. When Fibber's old tuxedo coat splits up the back just as they're about to leave, he faces a dilemma. In a panic and short on time, he spots an evening coat hanging on neighbor Gildersleeve's clothesline and sneaks into the yard to borrow it. His covert mission nearly goes awry when Gildersleeve catches him in the act, forcing Fibber to improvise a ridiculous story about searching for their missing cat named "Malta."
Now dressed in his borrowed finery, Fibber boasts to Molly about his supposed past as a powerful theater critic for the Chicago Blaze, launching into one of his trademark tongue-twisting monologues. As the couple heads to the theater, the question remains: who sent them the mysterious tickets, and will Fibber's borrowed coat caper come back to haunt him at the big event?

Fibber Builds A Dog House

Originally Aired: January 2, 1940
Fibber McGee & Molly #229, "Fibber Builds A Dog House,"
Fibber McGee is itching to use the carpenter's tools Molly gave him for Christmas, but his enthusiasm proves dangerous for the household furniture. After hammering dents into a chair while trying to tighten a loose arm, and nearly sawing the legs off the dining room table, Molly desperately suggests he channel his constructive energy into building a doghouse instead. Fibber reluctantly agrees and begins planning an elaborate canine mansion complete with multiple rooms, even settling on a name for his future pet: Glowcoat, so the dog won't need to keep scratching and buffing himself.
As Fibber orders lumber and stakes out a spot by the garage for his ambitious project, he's interrupted by the neighborhood little girl selling poetry. Her hilariously mangled New Year's resolution poem provides comic relief before Fibber can get back to work. The episode follows Fibber's typical pattern of taking a simple task and turning it into an overly complicated project, much to Molly's patient exasperation.

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.

Package From Uncle Sycamore Arrives

Originally Aired: December 19, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #227, "Package From Uncle Sycamore Arrives," Fibber receives a mysterious Christmas package from his notoriously miserly Uncle Sycamore McGee. Given the old man's reputation for being tighter than a drum, Fibber is convinced the package contains nothing more than sawdust or worthless trinkets. However, Molly reminds him that Uncle Sycamore is quite wealthy, sparking Fibber's imagination about the possibility of a generous gift. Unable to contain his curiosity but not wanting to offend his uncle by opening the package early, Fibber hits upon a clever solution: they'll have the package X-rayed to see what's inside without breaking the seal.
Fibber and Molly rush downtown to an X-ray laboratory, where their excitement builds as they speculate about the contents. During their visit, they encounter the society matron Mrs. Uppington, who shares the embarrassing tale of her operatic brother Styerson swallowing a lace doily at a banquet. As the pair waits for the technician to examine their mysterious package, the question remains: has Uncle Sycamore finally developed some Christmas spirit, or is Fibber's optimism about to be deflated?

Jewelry Store Robbery

Originally Aired: December 12, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #226, "Jewelry Store Robbery," Fibber seizes an opportunity to prove himself as Wistful Vista's premier detective when Mrs. Titelbaum discovers a $12,000 diamond necklace has vanished from her jewelry store. Eager to recover the stolen goods without involving the police or paying a hefty reward, Mrs. Titelbaum reluctantly entrusts the case to Fibber, who boldly proclaims his legendary crime-solving abilities. Despite Molly's skepticism about her husband's investigative talents, Fibber throws himself into the case with enthusiasm, requesting suspect lists and calling for a squad car with the help of a willing officer.
As Fibber begins his investigation, his detective methods prove questionable at best. He interrupts his sleuthing for lunch, confuses Mrs. Titelbaum with convoluted legal jargon, and generally approaches the case with more bravado than skill. When a mysterious little girl appears at the jewelry store claiming to know all about him, Fibber's grand detective persona faces an unexpected challenge that threatens to derail his investigation entirely.

Department Store Adjuster

Originally Aired: December 5, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #225, "Department Store Adjuster," Fibber finds himself in an unexpected position when neighbor Gildersleeve demands payment for a borrowed snow shovel that broke. After Fibber hilariously calculates that Gildersleeve actually owes him money for splinters, doctor bills, mental anguish, and lost work time, the two engage in a comical bidding war that somehow ends with Gildersleeve paying Fibber fifty dollars. Impressed by Fibber's ability to talk him out of that much money, Gildersleeve, who manages the Bonton Department Store, decides to hire him for the adjustment department at forty dollars a week.
Armed with the motto "the customer is always right," Fibber sets up shop in his new office with Molly by his side, ready to use his unique brand of tact and diplomacy on dissatisfied customers. As Fibber settles into his new role, Miss Wheelcock appears at the door with what promises to be the first test of his adjustment skills. The stage is set for Fibber to demonstrate whether his talent for creative arguing will translate into successful customer service.

Finance Company Is After Car

Originally Aired: November 28, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #224, "Finance Company Is After Car,"
Fibber and Molly are working on their Christmas budget when they make a disturbing discovery - they're three months behind on their car payments. As they frantically sort through bills for the refrigerator, encyclopedia, piano, and radio, Molly worries they should rush to the finance company to explain. Fibber, however, insists he knows the law and his rights, boasting about his supposed legal expertise dating back to childhood. The situation grows more tense when the Old Timer stops by selling Christmas decorations, followed by their neighbor Throckmorton Gildersleeve, who brings troubling news.
Gildersleeve announces that a man from the finance company came looking for the McGees, though he claims he didn't reveal where they lived. This sparks a heated argument between the two neighbors about stolen newspapers and escalates into their typical verbal sparring match. Just as Fibber declares that the finance company cannot take the car without serving them a "writ of detachment," a knock comes at the door. Peeking out the window, Fibber confirms it's the dreaded finance man he remembers from 1936, setting up a confrontation he may not be prepared for.

Library Book

Originally Aired: November 21, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #223, "Library Book," Fibber receives a notice from the public library demanding he return a book he borrowed back in September and pay a hefty fine. The problem is, McGee can't remember what book he borrowed or where he put it. When Gildersleeve delivers the letter, Fibber becomes indignant at the librarian's audacity, insisting it's an outrage that she would threaten him over a mere technicality. Molly initially misunderstands the situation when Fibber mentions being in trouble with a woman, leading to a moment of comic confusion before she realizes it's only about the overdue library book.
As Fibber prepares to visit the library to settle things in person, he still faces the fundamental problem of locating the missing volume. A search through their modest home library turns up an eclectic collection including crossword puzzles from 1922, a Rover Boys adventure, and a Lithuanian dictionary, but no library book. With Gildersleeve asking Fibber to return seven volumes of encyclopedia and the Old Timer stopping by with his usual brand of rambling conversation, McGee must figure out where that borrowed book disappeared to before facing the stern librarian downtown.

Traffic Ticket

Originally Aired: November 14, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #222, "Traffic Ticket," Fibber finds himself on the wrong side of the law after parking too long while shopping for Thanksgiving provisions. When Officer Donohue approaches them about violating the twenty-minute parking limit, Molly charms the policeman with her Irish wit and flattery, nearly getting them off with just a warning. However, Fibber's big mouth and stubborn attitude quickly turn the situation sour. He insults the officer and refuses to accept responsibility, boasting that his important connections at City Hall will get the ticket fixed and even cost Donohue his job.
Against Molly's advice that they should simply pay the two-dollar fine, Fibber drags her to City Hall to flex his supposed influence. He confidently promises to demonstrate his importance to the city's power brokers, starting with a visit to the mayor's office. As they make their way through the building, encountering the elevator operator Johnny and the Old Timer, it becomes increasingly clear that Fibber's vaunted connections may not be quite as solid as he claims.