The Life of Riley”: starring William Bendix as lovable, blundering, Chester A. Riley, was a radio situation comedy broadcast during and after wartime 40s. Because of its overwhelming radio popularity, Riley graduated as easily to a 1949 feature film, as it did to 1950s television. Also, in 1958, it hit the newsstands, when Dell Comics released “The Life of Riley” in comic book form.
Here are several The Life of Riley episodes that you can enjoy listening to right now. You can download the entire collection of The Life of Riley radio shows using the link below the playlist.
Although “The Life of Riley” had originally begun as a proposed Groucho Marx radio series “The Flotsam Family,” the sponsor balked at what would have been essentially a straight head-of-household role for the comedian. Groucho went on to host Blue Ribbon Town from 1943 to 1944 and then “You Bet Your Life” from 1947 to 1961. Producer Irving Brecher saw Bendix as taxicab company owner Tim McGuerin in Hal Roach’s The McGuerins from Brooklyn (1942). “The Flotsam Family” was re-worked, with Bendix cast as blundering Chester A. Riley, a wing riveter at the fictional Cunningham Aircraft plant in California.
His frequent exclamation of indignation became one of the most famous catch phrases of the 1940s: “What a revoltin’ development this is!” The radio series greatly benefited from the immense popularity of a supporting character, Digby “Digger” O’Dell (John Brown), “the friendly undertaker.”
* TELEVISION:
A young Jackie Gleason starred as Riley during the 1st television season of “The Life of Riley.” Bendix took over the role of Riley in the 2nd – 6th seasons, after completing a previous committment, which kept him from taking on the role during the 1st season of the TV program.
* WILLIAM BENDIX (1906-01-14 to 1964-12-14)
Bendix, an American film, radio, & television actor, was best remembered for his title role in the movie ‘The Babe Ruth Story’ as well as for his portrayal of clumsily earnest aircraft plant worker, Chester A. Riley in the radio, cinema & TV show, “The Life of Riley.” William Bendix also received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his role in ‘Wake Island’ (1942).
Willim Bendix died in Los Angeles in 1964, the result of a chronic stomach ailment which brought on malnutrition and ultimately lobar pneumonia. He was survived by wife of 37 years, Theresa & their two daughters, Lorraine and Stephanie, he was interred in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
* SOURCE: Wikipedia
Click Here to Download the Entire The Life of Riley Collection 1944 Through 1950 Plus Bonuses
Attributions: Many thanks to the radio researchers groups and old time radio lovers everywhere for their work in preserving this valuable history.
