McGee and Molly

Seized By The Indians

Originally aired May 3, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly continues the Hollywood road trip saga as the McGees roll their trailer across the desert. Along the way, they discover stowaways—little Teeny, orchestra leader Jimmy Greer, and his entire band—before stopping at a dusty lunch stand where even the water comes straight from their radiator.
Fibber spins tall tales of his cowboy past as “Deputy Dealer McGee, the daredevil dogger of desert desperadoes,” while Molly contends with ham-and-eggs menus, prospector chatter, and Grandma “Foothill Fanny,” a trick rider who mistakes a catfish for a four-leaf clover. Things take a dangerous turn when Fibber offends the local tribe by asking to dance with the chief’s daughter, and he is seized for punishment. Only Harlow Wilcox, with a timely $700 payoff, saves McGee from being burned at the stake—just in time for him to discover it’s broadcast night.
Blending Western parody with slapstick peril, sponsor tie-ins to Johnson’s Auto Wax, and cameos from Joy Hodges, Elmo Tanner, and Jimmy Greer’s orchestra, this episode captures the wild misadventures of a road trip gone hilariously wrong.  

The Take off for Hollywood

Originally aired April 26, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly finds the couple frantically packing their trailer for the big trip west to start work on their Paramount picture This Way Please. Between Molly’s practical concerns about forwarding addresses, utilities, and moth-eaten tuxedos, Fibber dreams of custard-pie slapstick with “old Harpo Wilcox” and orange groves where walnut juice passes for breakfast.
Visitors stream in—Harlow Wilcox claiming a Hollywood invitation from Mr. Johnson, dramatic coach Barry Lionmore offering pompous acting lessons, Geraldine gushing over “bungalows,” and Mrs. Wearybottom warning about treacherous mountain roads. Perry Como croons “There’s Something in the Air,” Elmo Tanner whistles “When Hearts Are Young,” and Ted Weems’ band keeps the mood lively.
With suitcases, trunks, and neighborhood kibitzers underfoot, Fibber dubs himself a natural movie idol while Molly remains grounded in common sense. Complete with Glow Coat spots and road-trip humor, this transitional episode launches the McGees from Wistful Vista toward Hollywood stardom—ready or not.  

An Officer of The Bank

Originally aired April 19, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly lands Fibber in a new “career” courtesy of the Wistful Vista Employment Bureau—working at the First National Bank. Mistaking the legal department for his office, McGee settles in as a self-styled financial expert, dispensing Latin phrases, bungling a customer’s will, and fielding calls about foreign exchange. Molly looks on in exasperation as he brags of his past as “Cash Count McGee, the coupon-cutting cutie of California.”
Cameos include Harlow Wilcox explaining he’s “overdrawn,” Elmo Tanner whistling after Fibber tells him to “whistle for his investment,” and Silly Watson losing a nickel while hauling $14 million. The farce escalates until the bank president arrives, revealing that Fibber was hired not as an executive—but as a uniformed guard, whose main job is to tell people where to go.
Stuffed with wordplay, sponsor spots on Johnson’s Wax, and Fibber’s towering self-confidence, this installment delivers classic workplace satire at the expense of big banking. 

Night Club Owner McGee

Originally aired April 12, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly finds Fibber diving into a new venture as the proprietor of the glitzy “Club McGee.” From parking snafus to dry martinis that are too dry, Fibber insists he’s running a first-class joint—even if the chef uses veal for chicken à la king and beef for chicken pie. Molly, ever skeptical, warns that the nightclub business is more racket than romance.
The evening features Harry Cool stepping in for Perry Como with “My Last Affair,” while gigolo number seven bungles a dance and Silly Watson struggles with his doorman’s whistle. Horatio K. Boomer, true to form, tries to skip out on a $472 dinner check with only an I.O.U. The real trouble comes when gangster Square Shooter Mulligan muscles in, demanding protection money. In classic McGee fashion, Fibber “gambles” the club’s fate on a loaded pair of dice—and wins by luck.
Complete with hot organ solos, slapstick chaos, and Harlow Wilcox tying in Johnson’s Glow Coat to nightclub polish, this episode sparkles with prohibition-era parody and McGee’s boundless bluster.  

Gardening

Originally aired April 5, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly digs into Fibber’s latest enthusiasm—gardening. He begins by canvassing Wistful Vista for fellow hobbyists, only to meet a knitter, a gloomy Russian who “wishes to suffer,” and a stamp collector unmoved by nature. Undeterred, McGee drags Molly into planting seeds at 79 Wistful Vista, boasting of his past glory as “Calla Lily McGee, the Colossal Cultivator of Kalamazoo Cabbage Crops.”
Neighbors, chickens, and interruptions from Harlow Wilcox (wax beans, naturally) complicate the work, while Perry Como provides a smooth interlude with “Smoke Dreams.” The episode closes with an agricultural expert summoned to diagnose McGee’s barren garden—only to reveal that Fibber never removed the seeds from their envelopes.
Brimming with wordplay, sponsor tie-ins, and backyard slapstick, this Glow Coat–shined installment showcases McGee’s gift for turning a simple patch of dirt into fertile ground for comedy.  

Presenting The Vaudeville Show

Originally aired March 29, 1937, this follow-up to last week’s auditions brings Fibber McGee & Molly to the stage of the Bijou Theater as hosts of Wistful Vista’s very own vaudeville festival. McGee’s blustery emcee work quickly tangles with hecklers, tomatoes, and his own long-winded introductions. The lineup includes a centipede act gone wrong, accordionist Frankie Papilla, a trapeze-swinging grandma, Perry Como crooning “When the Poppies Bloom Again,” and Elmo Tanner’s trademark whistling.
Adding to the comedy, Silly Watson spots the slippery magician Horatio K. Boomer—the same rascal who stole Fibber’s jewelry the week before. The climax comes when Fibber and Molly revive their “Hypno and Misto” mind-reading act, only to discover the magician in the audience—watch, ring, and all still in his possession. His excuse? The ticking of McGee’s noisy watch has kept him awake all week.
With variety turns, running gags, and sponsor tie-ins to Johnson’s Glow Coat, this spirited installment captures the anything-can-happen feel of a small-town talent night—where even the hosts can end up as the punchline.  

Interviewing Theatrical Talent

Originally aired March 22, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly finds Fibber volunteering as master of ceremonies when Wistful Vista plans a spring festival vaudeville show. Setting up shop at the Bijou Theater, he and Molly audition an oddball parade of hopefuls—glass eaters, hypnotists, Russian dancers, jugglers, magicians, and even a disguised Harlow Wilcox trying his hand at “monologues.”
Along the way, Perry Como delivers a smooth rendition of “Summer Night,” Elmo Tanner whistles “Floating on a Bubble,” and Ted Weems provides musical backing. As always, Fibber brags of his own showbiz past—“Double-Voiced McGee” and “Morse Code McGee”—only to get himself outclassed or outsmarted by the real talent. The evening culminates with a slippery magician who vanishes not only from his cabinet but with Fibber’s wallet, watch, and even his script.
With its blend of slapstick auditions, rapid-fire puns, and a satirical nod to small-town theatricals, this Glow Coat–sponsored installment sparkles as a send-up of vaudeville itself.  

The Hardware Dealer

Originally aired March 15, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly finds Fibber stepping in to “help” when the local hardware dealer is called away. Proclaiming himself “Faucet Fixer McGee, foremost fishhook fancier and flush valve finagler,” he eagerly takes over the shop—only to bungle every customer request. From mismatched advice about screen doors to slapstick encounters with Mrs. Upson’s wobbly piano bench, Fibber saws the legs shorter and shorter until the seat is nearly on the floor.
Along the way, listeners are treated to visits from Silly Watson, Horatio K. Boomer with a suspicious car key story, and Harlow Wilcox trying to buy “planes” and nails amid McGee’s confusion. Musical breaks feature Ted Weems’ orchestra and Perry Como crooning “Moonlight and Shadows.” By closing time, Molly is exasperated, the customers are bewildered, and McGee still insists he’s a hardware man at heart.
Packed with wordplay, character cameos, and plenty of Johnson’s Glow Coat plugs, this installment showcases Fibber’s talent for turning a simple errand into an all-out comedy of errors.  

Telegram To The Sponsor

Originally aired March 8, 1937, this milestone 100th broadcast of Fibber McGee & Molly finds the Wistful Vista couple determined to send a telegram of thanks to their sponsor, Johnson’s Wax. What begins as a simple errand quickly spirals into typical McGee-style confusion—misdirections from a “babushka,” a detour with Elmo Tanner, and a run-in with Horatio K. Boomer trying to wire a million-dollar stock deal. Along the way, Fibber inflates his past as “Morse Code McGee,” miracle man of the telegraph key, while Molly tries to keep the message short and sincere.
The episode celebrates the show’s first hundred weeks on the air with plenty of wordplay, slapstick timing, Perry Como’s crooning, and Ted Weems’ orchestra in fine form. By the time Fibber pares their gratitude down to a single word—“Thanks”—the sponsor’s witty reply proves just as brief. Complete with Johnson’s Glow Coat ads and freshly remastered audio, this centennial program delivers both comedy and a touch of radio history.  

Beware of Pickpockets On The Bus

Originally aired March 1, 1937, this episode finds Fibber McGee & Molly groggily awaiting the 3 a.m. coach at the Wistful Vista Bus Terminal when a self-important “bus detective” warns them about pickpockets. From there, Fibber blusters through a parade of travelers—a garlic-loving seatmate, society dowagers, and the ever-slick Horatio K. Boomer—before panicking that his pocketbook (and “thousands!”) has been lifted. Between Ted Weems’ orchestra features (including Perry Como on “Rainbow on the River”) and an on-the-road stop for Elmo Tanner’s signature whistling, the ride serves up quintessential Fibber tall tales, malaprops, and misunderstandings. The kicker? Molly calmly reveals she removed the wallet for safekeeping all along. Complete with Johnson’s Glow Coat spots and that warm Johnson Wax Program patter, this remastered gem of Fibber McGee & Molly delivers brisk, bus-ride farce from start to finish.