Friday's Favorite OTR

Fibber McGee and Molly: “Selling Umbrellas in a Heat Wave” 4/1/52


Jim and Marion Jordan (who played Fibber and Molly) were skilled comedians who played off each other with seeming effortlessness. On radio, they were fortunate enough to be backed up by a cadre of comedic actors who could help keep the same running gags fresh and funny over and over again.


This episode, in which Fibber comes up with an absurd rationale for trying to sell umbrellas during a heat wave, is a great example of this.

For instance, Gale Gordon—who would have to be included on anyone’s list of best comedic actors ever—played the reoccurring role of Mayor LaTrivia.  As usual, he’s driven to incoherent apoplexy when Fibber and Molly continually misunderstand what he’s trying to tell them. As usual, it’s one of several laugh-out-loud routines included in the episode. It was a variation of a routine they repeated over and over again, but Gordon and the Jordans were able to make it funny every single time.


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