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1992-09-10
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TV EPISODE GUIDES, VOLUME I
THE LIFE OF RILEY
A show-by-show episode guide by Don Hinkle, Jr.
(c) Copyright 1992 by VanDon Software Publishing, Co.
ON THE AIR: From 10/4/49, to 3/28/50. NBC entire run.
MEDIA: B&W film. 26 episodes to entire series run.
ORIGINAL TIME-SLOT BROADCASTED: Varied due to the variation
in the series itself.
PRODUCER & SYNDICATION: Unknown.
CAST: Chester A. Riley (played by Jackie Gleason), Peg
(Rosemary DeCamp), Junior (Lanny Rees), Babs (Gloria
Winters), Gillis (Sid Tomack), Digger (John Brown).
SECONDARY:
ON THE AIR: From 1/2/53, to 8/22/58. NBC entire run.
MEDIA: B&W film. 212 episodes to entire series run.
ORIGINAL TIME-SLOT BROADCASTED: Varied due to the variation
in the series itself.
PRODUCERS: Tom McKnight, Irving Brecher.
PRODUCTION CO.: Dumont.
SYNDICATED BY: Unknown.
CAST: Riley (played by William Bendix), Peg (Marjorie
Reynolds), Junior (Wesley Morgan), Babs (Lugene Sanders),
Gillis (Tom D'Andrea), Honeybee (Gloria Blondell), Egbert
(Gregory Marshall), Cunningham (Douglas Dumbrille), Otto
(Henry Kulky), Waldo Binny (Sterling Holloway).
TRIVIA: The Life of Riley was a major breakthrough for a
little-known actor at the time. Later he went on to his own
show, and had a major spinoff of a skit he frequently did on
his show. The Honeymooners was the name, and Jackie Gleason
was that actor. William Bendix was already an established
actor in the movies at the time. He had several hits
including: The Hairy Ape, Lifeboat and several war pictures.
STORY: The adventures of Chester A. Riley and his family.
Based on the radio show starring William Bendix. When
Bendix was unable to appear in the series because of movie
commitments, the role went to a young and much thinner
Jackie Gleason. However, the series bombed. Three years
later, Bendix returned and the series ran for five years.
He also starred in the feature version of the same name.
The series has a syndication problem; it has gone from one
company to the next. Information about the current
syndicator is unavailable; no one knows who currently has
the rights to the series. Besides, the series is quite
dated. The few stations that still run it use it to fill in
time.
[The following episodes of the Jackie Gleason version of the
series did not have episode titles, only production numbers
which are unavailable].
After Gillis brags about Egbert, Riley refuses to attend the
father/son banquet with untalented Junior.
Riley plans to return to the silver fox scarf he found on a
street car, until Peg mistakes it for her birthday present.
Babs's French teacher charms the family, but not the jealous
Riley.
Riley learns not to judge a book by its cover when Babs
reads a book banned in Boston.
Everyone knows Riley wants a bathrobe for his birthday,
except Junior who doesn't seem to know it is Riley's
birthday.
An enormous Valentine leads Riley to believe that Peg has a
suitor.
Riley's tonsils have to come out, but Riley loses his nerve.
Riley falls for Junior's teacher
Guest star: Marie Dwyer.
Riley inadvertently turns a job opportunity into a fiasco.
While trying to discourage Junior from gambling, Riley has a
winning streak.
The Rileys suspect their new janitor is a jailbird.
Guest star: Alan Reed.
Riley's family rebels when he tries to enforce the idea of
domestic tranquility.
Riley tries to prove he loves Junior by throwing a suprize
party for him.
Riley's job on the assistant manager's desk isn't what he
expected.
Guest star: Emory Parnell.
Peg's missing five dollars, and Riley thinks Junior stole
it.
A phony theater operator has Babs aspiring to be a star.
The Gillises' fight has drastic results on the Rileys.
Riley gets expelled from the night school that he and Tony
were attending.
Guest star: Tito Vuolo.
Riley objects to Babs's boyfriend: A greeting card salesman
named Simon.
Guest star: James Lydon.
Riley thinks he has solved Babs's problem when he gets her a
date for the college dance.
Riley thinks Junior is a coward when the boy runs from a
fight.
Riley and Peg each think the other is having a nervous
breakdown.
Riley thinks he is not long for this world when he confuses
the butcher's message with the doctor's.
Flashbacks recreate the events surrounding the birth of the
Rileys' first baby.
Riley and Gillis want to go into business with accounting
student Simon.
Guest star: James Lydon.
Junior infuriates his father by quitting school to go to
work.
SECONDARY
[The following episodes all starred William Bendix].
JUNIOR WINS THE SOAPBOX DERBY
Riley offers to help build Junior's soapbox racer.
PEG'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT
Riley finds a silver fox fur while riding on the bus. He
brings it home with him and every intention of returning it,
until Peg finds it. [Note a similar episode with both
Jackie Gleason and William Bendix].
RILEY'S SUPRIZE PACKAGE
Riley becomes jealous when he thinks that Gillis has won an
award.
RILEY'S OLD FLAME
Riley thinks an old friend he knew in Brooklyn is still in
love with him.
RILEY'S STOMACH ACHE
Riley makes a midnight raid on the icebox and winds up with
an upset stomach.
RILEY, THE ANIMAL LOVER
Riley buys a junkman's broken-down horse to save it from the
glue factory, but can't find a place to keep it.
RILEY FACES FATHERHOOD
Riley thinks he's about to be a father again when Gillis
plays a trick on him.
RILEY'S SURPRISE PARTY
Riley plans a suprize party for Babs, but the party holds
more surprises for him than her.
A BRIDE FOR OTTO
Riley and Gillis decide to get a mail order bride for their
friend Otto.
THE AUCTION
Riley buys a suitcase at an auction.
SISTER CISSY RETURNS
Riley is told that Peg has broken her heel. He is convinced
it's her foot, but actually it is the heel of her shoe.
NIGHT SHIFT
Riley and Gillis have another argument.
CHICKEN RANCH
Riley is determined to prolong his parent's visit.
UP TO THE JURY
Riley is proud that Peg has been chosen for jury duty.
THE GYMNASIUM
When a friend of his is fired at the plant, Riley helps him
start a gymnasium.
SINGING COWBOY
Riley objects to Babs's new boyfriend, a cowboy singer.
LOOK PEG, I'M DANCING
A reluctant Riley and Gillis are enrolled by their wives in
a dancing class.
MEET THE NEIGHBOR
Riley can't resist boasting to his new neighbor.
BABS GETS ENGAGED
Riley is upset over his daughter's romantic escapades.
BROTHERHOOD OF THE B.P.L.A.
Learning that his father is going back to Brooklyn, Riley
tries to interest him in other activities.
THE BLOCKADE
A tree is blown across Riley's driveway.
THE DIET
Riley and Gillis diet in an effort to fit into last year's
bowling jackets.
OUT TO PASTURE
Riley is told to show a new man the ropes of his trade.
TOP SECRET
Riley and Gillis are assigned to work on a top secret
project.
RILEY UNITES THE FAMILY
Riley has come to the conclusion that his family has lost
interest in him.
SCHOOL BOARD CRITIC
Riley schemes to get an all-expense paid trip to Chicago.
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION
Terrible developments occur which change Riley's mind about
an old friend.
THE BIG SACRIFICE
Riley wants to be invited to the formal dinner of the
department heads.
THE MARINES HAVE LANDED
Babs is depressed because she hasn't heard from her Marine
fiance since he's been at camp.
LOVE COMES TO WALDO BINNY
Riley's confirmed bachelor friend Waldo finally falls in
love.
DARLING, I AM GROWING OLD
Riley believes that you are as young as you feel and he is
feeling pretty old.
DO IT YOURSELF
Riley is unable to rent a boat for a fishing trip with his
boss.
WEDDING PLANS FOR BABS
Riley goes all out in his plans for Babs's wedding.
DUDLEY, THE BURGLAR
Neighbor Calvin Dudley puts Riley's watch in a vase for
safekeeping, only no one knows it.
PAY THE PENALTY
As a gift for his family, Riley tries to win a free vacation
by entering a TV contest.
GHOST TOWN
Riley gets a week off by telling his boss he's suffering
from a severe backache.
THE FAMOUS CHESTER A. RILEY, JUNIOR
Junior lets his football fame go to his head.
RILEY THE TYCOON
Riley gets a day off from the plant and decides to spend it
in the park.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE
Riley and Peg plan suprize parties for each other on the
same night.
MIDDLE AGE BLUES
Riley thinks a job will cheer up Peg and get her out of the
dumps.
WALDO's MOTHER
Riley helps a friend out of the frying pan and into the
fire.
SHOWER FOR BABS
A surprise shower is planned for Babs, and Riley is asked to
take care of Don, the groom-to-be.
HEAD OF THE FAMILY
Riley's Uncle Chester doesn't approve of Babs's engagement
to Don.
RILEY AND THE WIDOW
A charming Southern widow talks Riley into helping her new
dress shop.
BABS'S WEDDING
Babs seems destined to be late for her wedding when her
excited father leaves without her.
RILEY'S RAFFLE
Riley decides that the family needs a second car.
JUNIOR QUITS SCHOOL
Junior decides that having a job is more profitable than
finishing high school.
THE TREE THAT GREW IN BROOKLYN
Riley is appointed custodian of a sickly tree by the
Brooklyn Patriots of Los Angeles.
BABS'S SCHOOL ELECTION/BAB'S NEW JOB
Riley tries to insure his daughter's election as freshman
class president.
THE TRAIN TRIP
Riley unknowingly helps a convict escape from police
custody.
THE CONTESTANT
Riley enters a newspaper contest.
THE SONG WRITER
Junior enters a high school song writing contest.
HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW'S KEEPER
Riley has in-law trouble when his sister and her husband
move in with them.
PARTNERSHIP
Riley and Dudley decide to go into business together.
RILEY'S ALLERGY
Riley's mother-in-law thinks he is in love with another
woman.
STAGE DOOR RILEY
Riley wants Peg top drop out of the dramatics club she just
joined.
RILEY'S CLUB FOR SERVICE WIVES
Riley's concern over Babs.s lack of outside interests leads
Otto to suggest that she join the B.M.C.
WATERFRONT
Riley and Otto are on the waterfront to repair the wing of a
plane.
EXPECTANTLY YOURS
When Riley stumbles onto Babs's instruction list from the
doctor, he thinks Babs's mother-in-law is going to have a
baby.
JUNIOR GETS A CAR
Riley discovers that his driver's license has expired.
FROM RAGS TO RICHES
A pair of con men sell Riley some phony uranium stock.
HOUSE FOR SALE
The honeymoon cottage Riley brought as a surprise for Babs
and her new Marine husband is right in the path of the new
freeway.
BABS MOVES OUT
Riley doesn't like the idea of Babs and her husband moving
into their own place.
RILEY TRADES HIS HOUSE
The Riley-Dudley good neighbor policy has reached the
breaking point, so Riley decides to sell the house.
WHEN WOMAN WERE WOMAN
Dudley and Riley remark that woman have it too easy in this
modern age, unaware that their wives are listening.
A WIRE FOR GILLIS
Riley believes that Gillis has come into a lot of money when
he gets a telegram.
THE FIRST QUARREL
Babs quarrels with Don when he wants to go fishing.
BUTTERING UP A MILLIONAIRE
Riley goes overboard on his welcome home party for the
Gillises.
THE NEW JOB
In an attempt to get Gillis a job, Riley manages to confuse
the personnel office at the plant.
DESTINATION DEL MAR VISTA
Riley and Gillis have acquired new jobs.
UNCLE BIXBY TAKES OVER
Riley is shocked to learn that Peg's eccentric uncle has
arrived at the house.
FRIENDS ARE WHERE YOU FIND THEM
Riley and Gillis decide they see too much of each other and
decide to find new friends.
JUVENILE DELINQUENT
Junior says he wants to get a hot-rod, causing Riley to
worry.
RILEY'S LONELY NIGHT
Riley's feelings are hurt because Peg and junior leave him
alone on a Saturday night.
A MAN'S PRIDE
Junior fights with his girlfriend and refuses to make up
with her.
RILEY HIRES A NURSE
Babs hires the only available baby nurse in town.
BLESSED EVENT
Riley is resting in bed with a cold when the phone call
comes announcing that Babs has gone to the hospital to have
the baby.
BENEFIT FOR EGBERT
Riley throws a benefit barbecue in the backyard for Gillis's
old friends.
HONEYBEE'S MOTHER
A visitor creates much havoc until Riley forces her to go
home.
WORLD'S GREATEST GRANDSON
In order to get pictures of his new grandson for boasting
purposes, Riley has to avoid the baby's nurse.
DOUBLE DOUBLE DATE
Riley mistakes a couple of gun molls for the girls he is
supposed to pick up for his son's double date.
RILEY WINS A TRIP
Riley gets himself entered in a teenager's dance contest to
win a free trip to Hawaii.
ALOHA, RILEY, GOODBYE
Riley thinks he has killed a man and goes to the police with
a confession.
CHANGE IN COMMAND
Riley and Gillis scheme to get rid of foreman Hawkins and
replace him with their friend Otto.
STROLLING THROUGH THE PARK
Riley takes his new grandchild for a stroll in the park, and
comes home with the wrong baby.
DEEP IN THE HEART OF...
Riley and his friends startle the whole town with a midnight
horse ride that gets out of hand.
CANDID CAMERA
While trying out his new camera at the scene of an auto
accident, Riley turns up some damaging evidence.
FOREIGN INTRIGUE
In order to help a friend out of a jam, Riley brings home a
lovely French maid.
ALL-AMERICAN BRAIN
A handsome young football coach proves to be a disrupting
influence in the Riley home.
RILEY THE EXECUTIVE TYPE
Riley is convinced he deserves better pay, but his boss
accepts his resignation instead.
RILEY ENGAGES AN ESCORT
Riley overhears Babs trying to arrange a date for Sadie
Hawkins Day and decides to help her along.
RILEY'S OPERATION
Riley accidentally swallows a fishbone and the company
doctor insists that he have his tonsils removed.
THE RILEYS STEP OUT
When Riley finds two banquet tickets discarded by his boss,
he decides to suprize Peg.
A YOUNG MAN'S FANCY
Riley confuses his son's love interest with an older woman
who has a boyfriend named Junior.
BABS'S DREAM HOUSE
Riley is sure he can save on an architect's fee for Babs's
dream house.
A MATCH FOR GILLIS
THe purchase of an inexpensive watch as a gift for Gillis
proves to be no bargain for Riley.
GETTING RILEY'S GOAT
Junior brings home a goat to keep for a ten-day 4-H Club
assignment.
A DAY AT THE BEACH
THe Riley's and the Gillises plan to spend a quiet weekend
at the beach.
A HOUSE DIVIDED
When a new owner buys the duplex which the Rileys and the
Gillises share, trouble starts which almost gets both
families evicted from the house.
RETURN TO BLUE VIEW
Riley breaks into his old house in order to retrieve the
$3000 he left behind when they moved to their new house.
THE HIGH COST OF RILEY
Riley and Gillis are convinced that they can buy food for
much less than their wives can.
BABS COMES HOME
Riley volunteers as a substitute when Babs's husband must go
away.
FATHER-IN-LAW VS. FATHER-IN-LAW
Riley tries to break up Junior's romance with his new
girlfriend.
ANNIE'S RADIO ROMANCE
Annie has a crush on a crooner and enters a contest where
the winner will get a date with the star. Riley and Gillis
decide that she needs a little help.
THE STRAY DOG
Hoping for a large reward, Riley provides overnight shelter
for a noisy dog.
VACATION PLANS
The RIleys and the Gillises plan a camping trip together.
HOMELESS OTTO
Otto demands a raise and loses his job.
SUMMER JOB FOR JUNIOR
Riley has to pay out $50 on a busboy job in the event that
his son doesn't make it.
GOSSIP
Riley explains to Junior how gossip spreads, but the lesson
backfires.
RILEY'S UPS AND DOWNS
Riley takes a downstairs apartment and agrees to switch with
Gillis and move upstairs at the end of the year.
THE NEW DEN
Peg tries to convert an unused room into a den for Riley.
GILLIS'S CHILDHOOD FRIEND
An old friend of GIllis spends so much time with him that
Riley feels neglected.
DUDLEY COMES TO TOWN
Riley's old friend Dudley comes for a visit and talks Riley
and Gillis into going into business with him.
DOWN FOR THE COUNT
In the hopes of winning a contest, Riley hits on a
scientific method of determining the number of beans in a
glass jar.
GRUESOME TWOSOME
Peg and Honeybee suggest golf lessons as a diversion for
their husbands.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE CHESTER
As baby Chester's birthday approaches, Riley decides a
suprize party is in order.
BABS AND THE LATIN
Riley and Gillis can't understand why Babs is acting so
strange lately.
ANCHORS AWAY
Riley and Gillis join a team from their factory and enter a
fishing contest.
FRAMED
The factory foreman names Riley and Gillis as the organizers
of a charity play.
NOBODY DOWN HERE LIKES ME
Riley organizes a fishing party.
LIVE MODERN
While Peg is away visiting Babs, Riley decides to suprize
her by redecorating the house with modern furniture.
MRS. AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES
Riley tries to convince his boss that Babs should be entered
in an aircraft industry beauty contest, representing his
company.
BABY CHESTER'S FIRST WORDS
Babysitters Riley and Gillis hear baby Chester talking, so
Riley calls Don in South America and forgets to watch the
baby.
A TRIP FOR PEG
Riley writes a letter to his relatives informing them that
Peg is going to visit, but the letter isn't clear so the
relatives misunderstand and a niece arrives at Riley's house
for a visit.
GOING STEADY
Riley has great plans for father-son activities during
Junior's school vacation, but the plans are upset when
Junior starts to go steady.
A GUEST FROM ENGLAND
A young English student comes to spend two weeks at the
Riley household, but Riley has trouble understanding his
Cockney way of speaking.
THE LETTER
Riley and Gillis persuade an unhappy friend to quit his job.
LITTLE AWFUL ANNIE
Annie becomes infatuated with Junior's friend Moose.
MUSIC HATH CHARM
Riley decides to bone up on a field he knows little about:
Music.
MOVIE STRUCK
A cowboy movie idol sets out to destroy the illusions of
lovesick girls who have a crush on him, by using Riley and
Gillis as his agents.
BOWLING BEAUTIES
An efficiency report at the factory invites Riley and Gillis
to teach bowling to the girls at the plant, but Peg and
Honeybee protest.
AFTER YOU'RE GONE
Riley brings a friend home from the plant for dinner who
brings flowers and candy to Peg. Riley later realizes he
hasn't been spending enough time with Peg lately.
RILEY'S BURST BUBBLE
Riley believes that his niece Annie, who has been visiting
with him, is reluctant to go home because she hates her
father.
TEENAGE TROUBLES
Junior and his girlfriend Bobby decide not to see each other
for two weeks so that he can study, but he has to keep
others from dating Bobby, so Riley helps out.
OTIS YONDER STORY
A hillbilly from Oklahoma comes to work at the plant, so
Riley and Gillis decide that his singing voice has a great
appeal and plan to capitalize on it.
BARRACKS BAG
Riley collects a duffel bag that the Army is belatedly
returning to Gillis.
PRICE OF FAME
Riley becomes a neighborhood hero when he accidentally
captures a robber.
RILEY'S GIFT FROM THE BOSS
Riley has been with the plant for ten years. When he sees
the initials C.A.R. after his name on a memo, he now thinks
that he will be given the car as a reward for his good work.
RILEY'S NEW SUIT
Riley tears his suit on the way to work. The children plan
to buy him a new one for his birthday and borrow the torn
one to get his measurements.
RILEY PROVES HIS MANHOOD
Riley tells a reporter that all housewives should work.
TEN O'CLOCK SCHOLAR
The men at the plant are told that all employees holding
high school diplomas will be considered for promotion, so
Riley goes to night school to get his diploma.
RILEY'S KISS IN THE DARK
Riley reluctantly accompanies Peg to a fancy dress party.
When the lights go off suddenly, an unknown woman kisses
him.
THE CAKE CONTEST
Riley persuades Peg to enter a baking contest. Her entry is
perfect until Riley accidentally crushes it, so she heads to
the nearest bakery.
RILEY'S SISTER CISSY/STUPID CUPID
Riley finally succeeds in getting his sister Cissy married
off.
RILEY AND THE BEAN CONTEST
Dejected over his failure to provide the family with a car,
Riley sees hope when he discovers a bean counting contest in
a local store in which the first prize is a brand new car.
RILEY THE SCOUTMASTER
Scoutmaster Riley is boasting again, this time he informs
his wife that he could do her housework in half the time it
takes her to do it.
RILEY INVADES THE FIGHT GAME
Killer Cooper, a boxer, is scheduled to take on Chester
Riley in an exhibition bout.
Guest star: Lou Nova.
HELP FOR HONEYBEE
When Riley overheard an argument between Honeybee and
Gillis, He thinks they are breaking up so he gets Honeybee a
date with a man from the plant.
RILEY'S LOST WEEKEND
Riley decides to take the family on a trip to the country to
spend a three-day weekend.
RILEY'S FAMILY REUNION
A radio program plans a suprize party for Riley.
RILEY'S BUSINESS VENTURE
Riley and Dudley decide to go into business for themselves.
RILEY CAMPS OUT/OILY BIRDS
Riley and Gillis decide to go on a camping trip to get away
from their daily boredom.
RILEY CULTIVATES BABS
Riley decides to become better acquainted with his daughter.
RILEY'S UNCLE BAXTER
Peg's Uncle Baxter comes for a visit.
RILEY PUNISHES JUNIOR/JUNIOR'S FUTURE
Riley is named Father of the Month by his lodge, but he
finds the honor gets in the way when he has to punish his
son.
A TEST FOR GILLIS
Riley has decided that Gillis, his best friend, has turned
against him, so he decides to put Gillis to the test.
RILEY MEETS A RIVAL
Peg, tired of hearing Riley complain about his lot in life,
decides to teach him a lesson.
RILEY, THE TYPICAL WORKER
Riley learns that an award for the most typical worker is to
be given at the plant and he feels confident that he is
going to get it.
HERE COMES CONSTANCE
Peg and Honeybee invite a guest to visit with them, and now
Riley and Gillis are miserable because they must attend the
symphony and the ballet with her.
RILEY'S ANNIVERSARY
Riley and Peg plan suprize parties for each other.
--END OF SERIES--
--NEXT CHAPTER, PLEASE--