McGee and Molly

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.

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.

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.

Originally Aired: November 7, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #221, "Hiawatha,"
Fibber is preparing to revive his original play, Hiawatha, which had a memorable one-night run at the Bijou Theater back in 1936. As director and playwright, Fibber confidently oversees rehearsals with his amateur cast, including Mr. Boomer, Mrs. Eppington, and the dependable Mr. Gildersleeve. While Molly expresses doubts about the production's quality, Fibber remains optimistic, regaling anyone who will listen with his lengthy tales of theatrical experience dating back to childhood. Mrs. Eppington stops by to gossip about the other cast members' ridiculous costume choices, barely letting Fibber get a word in edgewise despite claiming to want to hear about his theatrical background.
The situation takes an unexpected turn when Mr. Gildersleeve, the one cast member Fibber was absolutely counting on, arrives with a case of severe stage fright. Despite having only one line to deliver, Gildersleeve finds himself paralyzed with nerves, stuttering and pausing dramatically when he attempts to say, "Here comes the author now." Fibber tries to reassure him that nervousness actually improves performance, but the question remains whether Gildersleeve can overcome his terror before opening night.

Originally Aired: October 31, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #220, "Auto Show,"
Fibber and Molly attend Wistful Vista's annual auto show, where Fibber grumbles about paying fifty-five cents to see cars they could view for free at any stoplight. While Molly enjoys the modern designs and the elimination of running boards, Fibber complains about the trend toward wider, lower cars, joking that by 1943 drivers will have to lie on their stomachs like kids on sleds. Their neighbor Mr. Gildersleeve appears as a salesman for the 1940 Hootin' Annie 8, proudly touting features like sealed beam headlights and a sealed-in hitchhiker. When he calculates the final price with all taxes and carrying charges at fourteen thousand five hundred dollars, Fibber mischievously tells Gildersleeve he'll "think it over," claiming he's giving their neighbor "the business."
As they wander the show, Fibber and Molly reminisce about their first car back in 1909, a Stanley Steamer perfect for cooking hot dogs on the radiator. Old Timer stops by with his trademark rambling stories, and the couple debates whether they really need a new car when their current vehicle only has three hundred thousand miles on it.

Originally Aired: October 24, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #219, "Halloween Party At Gildersleeve's House,"
Fibber and Molly McGee attend a festive Halloween party thrown by their neighbor, Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, where Wistful Vista's society mingles with plenty of mischief. Fibber wastes no time making himself at home, snooping through Gildersleeve's dresser drawers and desk in search of cigars and discovering his host's personal correspondence, including a shocking tailor bill. Fellow guest Horatio K. Boomer entertains with magic tricks that go suspiciously awry when a borrowed five-dollar bill vanishes permanently, while the Old Timer drops by to share his peculiar brand of humor.
The evening's entertainment takes a mysterious turn when Mrs. Uppington prepares to read Fibber's palm. As the guests gather around and Fibber extends his hand for his fortune to be told, the party atmosphere buzzes with anticipation about what revelations the society matron might discover in McGee's lifeline.

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.

Originally Aired: October 10, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #217, "Rummage Sale Bazaar,"
Fibber and Molly are preparing for Wistful Vista's annual charity bazaar and rummage sale, but they can't agree on what to donate. Molly discovers Fibber's old army overcoat, now dyed blue with a moth-eaten fur collar and missing buttons, and insists they contribute it to the sale. Fibber stubbornly refuses, claiming people still compliment him on the coat and that it holds precious memories from his army days. Despite Molly's protests that people are merely being polite, Fibber remains sentimentally attached to the shabby garment.
When the Old Timer stops by to collect donations and Mrs. Uppington arrives to discuss the evening's festivities, Molly sees her opportunity. She secretly arranges with the society matron to have her chauffeur pick up the overcoat while Fibber hides from Mrs. Uppington's visit. As Fibber launches into an elaborate story about how the coat was slashed during a dramatic wartime moment, it becomes clear that Molly's determination to get her husband a new coat may triumph over his nostalgic attachment to the old one.

Originally Aired: October 3, 1939
Fibber McGee & Molly #216, "Killer Canova's Autograph,"
Fibber's day takes an exciting turn when Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve arrives at 79 Wistful Vista with an irresistible offer: five hundred dollars for obtaining a single autograph. Gildersleeve, a collector with an almost-complete set of signatures, needs just one more to make his collection perfect - that of public enemy number one, Killer Canova. Despite Fibber's initial bravado about being a persistent "go-getter," he faints dead away when he learns whose signature he'll be pursuing. The gangster, who has killed eighty-two people but only been arrested for minor offenses, is hardly an ideal interview subject.
Undeterred by the danger, Fibber and Molly venture into the notorious gas house district to track down the elusive killer. The rough neighborhood lives up to its reputation, with gang members practicing bank robberies in broad daylight and stolen goods for sale on every corner. As the McGees navigate this dangerous territory, they must locate Canova and somehow convince him to sign his name - all while staying alive long enough to collect their five hundred dollar reward.

Originally Aired: September 26, 1939
In Fibber McGee & Molly #215, "Fibber Is Too Sick," McGee suddenly claims to feel faint while taking down the window screens at 79 Wistful Vista, conveniently just as Molly is keeping him on task. Despite his dramatic complaints of illness, McGee seems most concerned about missing the smoker at the club that evening, where he's supposed to interview a guitar player he's discovered. Molly, taking his condition seriously, insists he lie down on the davenport and calls for a doctor.
The situation takes a comical turn when the doctor arrives and McGee, instead of being examined, begins diagnosing the physician himself. After convincing the doctor that he's in terrible shape and needs complete rest, McGee is left alone with his supposed ailment. Visitors including the Old Timer and Nick stop by, while Molly continues taking down curtains and screens. McGee's conflict between maintaining his sick act and his desire to get to the club creates the central tension of the episode.