Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve left Wistful Vista and his supporting role on Fibber McGee and Molly August 31, 1941 and moved to Summerfield and the starring role in radio’s most successful spin-off series. The Great Gildersleeve, like Fibber McGee and Molly, featured one of radio’s greatest casts of comedic players: the versatile child actor Walter Tetley as nephew Leroy, Lillian Randolph (later Madame Queen on Amos ’n’ Andy and the star of Beulah), Arthur Q. Bryan (the original voice of Elmer Fudd) as Llewellyn and Floyd the barber, Earle Ross as Judge Hooker, Richard LeGrand as Peavey the druggist and Shirley Mitchell as Southern belle Leila Ransom. The Great Gildersleeve aired until March 21, 1957, with Willard Waterman taking over the title role for the final seven radio seasons and three television seasons. Originally Performed on 10/22/1947
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