E43. The Life of Riley: Anniversary Party (11/08/1947)

Join host, Carl Amari, for a radio re-broadcast of The Life of Riley. Featuring vocal talent by William Bendix.

Did you know that The Life of Riley initially aired on the Blue Network (later known as ABC) from January 16, 1944, to July 8, 1945, before moving over to NBC, where it was broadcast from September 8, 1945, to June 29, 1951? Irving Brecher pitched the radio series for friend Groucho Marx under the title The Flotsam Family, but the sponsor balked at what would have been essentially a straight head-of-household role for Marx. Brecher then saw William Bendix as a taxicab company owner in Hal Roach's The McGuerins from Brooklyn (1942), leading him to giving the leading role as Chester A. Riley to Bendix. The iconic situation comedy series was an immediate success, leading to numerous adaptions through film and television, including William Bendix's reprisal of the role throughout numerous iterations of the series.

Originally airing 11/08/1947, get ready to laugh until you cry in "Anniversary Party," with Chester A. Riley!

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