CTVA US Comedy - "The Great Gildersleeve" (Hal Roach Studios) (1955)  starring Willard Waterman

CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Comedy Series

The Great Gildersleeve (1955)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Jim Brent (all episodes), Tom Alger
references:
TV Guide / Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

----------------------
THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE
----------------------
Hal Roach Studios Inc. /NBC
for
First-Run Syndication
Produced by Matthew Rapf
Directed by Charles Barton
*
Created by Harold Peary on radios "Fibber McGee and Molly"
A radio spin-off followed in 1941 featuring "The Great Gildersleeve"

US Comedy series 1955    39 episodes x 30 min bw
Starring:
Willard Waterman
as Throckmorton P. "Gildy" Gildersleeve,
water commissioner of Summerfield

Stephanie Griffin as Marjorie Forrester, his niece (and ward)
Ronald Keith as Leroy Forrester, his nephew (and ward)
Lillian Randolph as Birdie Lee Coggins, housekeeper
Forrest Lewis as Mr. Peavey, the town druggist

Also featuring:
Willis Bouchey as Mayor Terwilliger
Shirley Mitchell as Leila Ransom
Barbara Stuart as Bessie, Gildy's Secretary
Doris Singleton as Lois, Gildy's Girlfriend
Earle Ross as Judge Hooker
Hal Smith as Floyd Munson

Guest Star
Phyllis Coates (recurring?)

########### The Great Gildersleeve ###########
################# season 1955 ################
##############################################
Syndicated Program

[01] The Great Gildersleeve: GILD GOES BROKE (pilot show) [UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC.
Producer, Matthew Rapf
director, Robert S. Finkel
writers, Andy White, John Elliotte.
film editor, Frank Baldridge; photography, Lothrop Worth.
Cast: Willard Waterman, Stephanie Griffin, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph
Forrest Lewis, Dorothy Green, Mary Jane Saunders, Leslie Denison, Hal Smith.
Summary #1:
Gildersleeve spends all his money trying to impress a beautiful woman. [UCLA]
Summary #2:
10/07/55 New Haven, CT
Women and finances complicate life for Gildy who lectures his nephew,
Leroy, against wasting money on girls, then proceeds to fall into his own trap. [JB]

[02] The Great Gildersleeve: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH [UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC./ Syndicated Program
producer, Matthew Rapf
writers, John Elliotte, Andy White.
director, Charles Barton
film editor, Frank Baldridge; photography, Lothrop Worth.
Cast:
Willard Waterman, Stephanie Griffin, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph,
Forrest Lewis, Doris Singleton, William Bakewell, Glegg Hoyt, Mimi Gibson,
Sarah Shane, Luz Potter, Billy Curtis.
Airdate:
09/27/55 NYC
Synopsis:
When Gildy's girlfriend, Lois, starts wandering into other men's arms,
Gildy realizes that something must be done. [JB]

[03] The Great Gildersleeve: CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
11/11/55 Detroit, MI
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy washes his hands of the Water Department when he is unjustly accused
with circumstantial evidence. [JB]

[I have a 16mm B/W version of "The Great Gildersleeve"
episode "Circumstantial Evidence" that was
teletranscribed by Dumont Laboratories on March 31, 1954 in its
original "can." The film is in excellent condition. Any interest?
Please respond to Kathy or Bob O'Rourke at: odesertgem@cs.com (June 2003)]


[04] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY GOES DIVING [UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC. / Syndicated Program
producer, Matthew Rapf ;
writers, John Elliotte, Andy White.
director, Charles Barton ;
film editor, Frank Baldridge; photography, Lothrop Worth.
Cast:
Willard Waterman, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph, Forrest Lewis,
Robert Foulk, Phyllis Coates, Raymond Bailey, Harry Antrim,
Richard Deacon, Maria Cay, John Leonard, Elizabeth Harrower.
Airdate: 11/18/55 Detroit, MI, 07/19/57 Ames, IA
Synopsis:
When Gildy discovers that he is virtually unknown in Summerfield he goes
fter publicity and makes a real splash-in 40 feet of water. [JB]

[05] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY AND THE CON MEN
12/06/55 NYC
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Two notorious con men arrive in Summerfield looking for an easy "touch."
They find their victim in Gildy. [JB]

[06] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY STEWS ABOUT A COOK [UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC./ Syndicated Program
producer, Matthew Rapf
writers, John Elliotte, Andy White.
director, Charles Barton
film editor, Frank Baldridge; photography, Lothrop Worth.
Cast:
Willard Waterman, Stephanie Griffin, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph,
Forrest Lewis, Doris Singleton, Alix Talton, Leslie Gaye, Doris Packer, Lucile Curits.
Airdate: 12/09/55 New Haven, CT
Synopsis:
Gildy is forced to find a fiancée to prevent his housekeeper, Birdie,
from sacrificing her own marriage plans for the sake of the Gildersleeve household. [JB]

[07] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY, THE PRIVATE EYE
12/16/55 New Haven, CT
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
One of Gildy's friend's safe is burglarized and a handsome policeman
is assigned to the case. [JB]

[08] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY'S JUVENILE DELINQUENT
12/27/55 NYC
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy punishes his nephew Leroy for a schoolboy prank. Leroy beguiles
him in to believing it was someone else's fault. [JB]

[09] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY KING OF HEARTS
01/05/56 Kansas City, MO
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy finds himself in serious trouble when he accidentally becomes
engaged to two of his girlfriends within 24 hours. [JB]

[10] The Great Gildersleeve: ONE TOO MANY SECRETARIES [UCLA]
a.k.a. "Secretary" (UCLA title)
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC. / Syndicated Program
 Cast:
Willard Waterman, Stephanie Griffin, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph
Willis Bouchey, Forrest Lewis, Barbara Stuart, Shirley Mitchell.
Airdate: 01/20/56 Syracuse, NY
Synopsis:
Gildy has two angry secretaries to cope with when he tries to pass off
his latest girl as his secretary. [JB]

[11] The Great Gildersleeve: THE RAFFLE
02/03/56 Detroit, MI
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy lands in jail when he gets mixed up with a society lady who he
tries to impress with his own wealth. [JB]

[12] The Great Gildersleeve: WATER COMMISSIONER'S WATER COLOR
02/09/56 Kansas City, MO
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
When Gildy starts behaving like an ogre uncle and checks up on his niece's
boyfriend, he acquires a portrait of himself and a bill for $150. [JB]

[13] The Great Gildersleeve: THE NIGHTMARE
02/15/56 Chico, CA
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy becomes such an avid reader of pocket mysteries that he recreates
all the plots in his dreams until he can no longer distinguish fact from fantasy. [JB]

[14] The Great Gildersleeve: BARD OF SUMMERFIELD
02/16/56 Sacramento, CA
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy turns poet to impress a lady and unwillingly commits plagerism.[JB]

[15] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY GOES HOLLYWOOD
02/23/56 Kansas City, MO
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
When a movie company decides to make a film in Summerfield's city hall
starring a water commission-Gildy dreams of becoming a matinee idol. [JB]

[16] The Great Gildersleeve: GOLF BALL INCIDENT
03/09/56 New Haven, CT
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy's stray golf ball hits a congresswoman on the head and sets off
a feud between the local newspaper and city hall. [JB]

[17] The Great Gildersleeve: COMMAND PERFORMANCE
03/02/56 Eugene, OR
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy tries to encourage Leroy to pursue a career as a cowboy singer.[JB]

[18] The Great Gildersleeve: THE QUIET ONE [UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC./ Syndicated Program
producer, Matthew Rapf
writers, Jay Sommers, Don Nelson.
director, Charles Barton
fim editor, Frank Baldridge; photography, Lothrop Worth.
Cast:
Willard Waterman, Stephanie Griffin, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph,
Harry Antrim, Willia Bouchey, Barbara Stuart, Alexander Campbell,
Marjorie Bennett, Francis de Sales, John Eldredge, Sid Kane
Airdate: 03/02/56 Portland, OR
Synopsis:
Gildy is torn between losing his job, breaking his word and spending
time in jail when he must keep quiet for 24 hours as part of an initiation to a club. [JB]

[19] The Great Gildersleeve: ORANGE BLOSSOMS IN SUMMERFIELD [UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC./ Syndicated Program
producer, Matthew Rapf
writer, Jerry Davis.
director, Charles Barton
film editor, Frank Baldridge; photography, Lothrop Worth.
Cast:
Willard Waterman, Stephanie Griffin, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph,
Marian Carr, Burt Mustin, Barbara Stuart, Lois Collier, Harry Cheshire,
Ruth Perrott, Michael Emmet.
Airdate: 03/19/56 Chicago, IL
Synopsis:
Gildy tries to break his engagement by antagonizing his fiancée's family.[JB]

[20] The Great Gildersleeve: THE GOOD SCOUT
04/02/56 Milwaukee, WI
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
When Gildy is forced to break a few dates with his girlfriend because
of business, her meddling aunt plants some suspicions in her mind. [JB]

[21] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY AND THE EXPECTANT FATHER
05/11/55 Detroit, MI
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy organizes a club, "The Jolly Boys," which almost disorganizes a
hospital maternity ward and ruins his romance with a pretty nurse.

[22] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY TANGLES WITH LEROY'S TEACHER [UCLA]
Copyright notice on film: c1955 by NBC./ Syndicated Program
producer, Matthew Rapf ;
writers, John Elliotte, Andy White.
director, Charles Barton ;
film editor, Frank Baldridge; photography, Lothrop Worth.
Cast:
Willard Waterman, Stephanie Griffin, Ronald Keith, Lillian Randolph,
Forrest Lewis, Pamela Jayson, Harry Antrim.
Airdate: 06/06/56 Portland, ME
Synopsis:
Leroy complains that his history teacher is overworking him. [JB]

[23] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY LOVES WELL, BUT UNWISELY
06/08/56 New Haven, CT
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy tries to save his friend Judge hooker from a scheming blonde named
April. It is almost too late when Gildy realizes that he is the intended victim. [JB]

[24] The Great Gildersleeve: PROTECTIVE PARENT
06/14/56 Kansas City, MO
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy erroneously believes his niece Marjorie is planning to elope, and he attempts to stop her. [JB]

[25] The Great Gildersleeve: BIRDIE'S GOLDEN DREAMS
07/15/56 Providence, RI
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy passes up the opportunity of a lifetime when he ignores the
clairvoyant dreams of his housekeeper. [JB]

[26] The Great Gildersleeve: TWO GIRLS, ONE BIRTHDAY
07/18/56 Portland, ME
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy tries to celebrate his birthday twice with two different girlfriends
so they will never meet. [JB]

[27] The Great Gildersleeve: THE WHISTLING BANDIT
08/31/56 Detroit, MI
 Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
When Gildy is appointed Acting Police Commissioner at the height of a
one-man crime wave in Summerfield, he unwittingly becomes the criminal's accomplice. [JB]

[28] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY'S DANCING LESSONS
09/22/56 Providence, RI
 Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy finds that he needs dancing lessons more than his nephew when he
becomes attracted to the teacher. [JB]

[29] The Great Gildersleeve: MARJORIE'S APARTMENT
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Synopsis: #1:
Marjorie finds that moving into her own apartment doesn't end the chaos
in her uncle's household. [JB]
Synopsis #2:
Marjorie finds that moving into her own apartment doesn't end the chaos in
her uncle's household. [TA]
Cast: Willard Waterman.
(Syndicated Airdate: 15Nov56, WTVY-9, Dothan, Ala. Thurs. 7:00pm)

[30] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY THE GO-BETWEEN
11/20/56 Cincinnati, OH
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy tries to protect one of his employees from an irate wife and almost
breaks up his happy home. [JB]

[31] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY PULLS THE SWITCH
12/08/56 St. Paul, MN
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
When an economy suggestion results in the theft of $50,000 from city hall,
the mayor threatens to take every penny of the amount out of Gildy's
salary if the thieves aren't caught. [JB]

[32] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY'S ALL-AMERICAN BOY
02/03/57 Colorado Springs, CO
 Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Using Huck Finn as an example, Gildy encourages Leroy to build a raft
and ends up searching the river for him. [JB]

[33] The Great Gildersleeve: PRISONER OF LOVE
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Synopsis 1: 24Jun57 Los Angles, CA
A farm woman with five children is holding up the city aqueduct project
by refusing to sign a release. After all other attempts fail to
persuade her, Gildy sets out to charm her. [JB]
Synopsis 2: 24Jul63 Milwaukee, WI
Gildy’s good deed for the city may cost him his freedom. A woman with
five children wants him to be husband and father. [JB]

[34] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY HIRES AN EAGER BEAVER
12/08/58 Great Bend, KS
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
When Gildy tries to impress his girlfriend by adding another employee
to his staff, the mayor gives him some trouble. [JB]

[35] The Great Gildersleeve: THE POLITICAL PLUM
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Synopsis 1:
Gildy discovers that his bachelor status is of greater interest to the
Governor than his clean record as Water Commissioner. [JB]
Synopsis 2: 25Jul63 Milwaukee, WI
Gildy is delighted with the prospect of filling the governor’s chair
until he learns he must marry the retiring governor’s unattractive daughter. [JB]

[36] The Great Gildersleeve: GILDY'S EFFICIENCY KICK
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy tries to get a job as the head of a committee to investigate the efficiency of City Hall. [JB]

[37] The Great Gildersleeve: CALLING DR. BERGSTROM
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy falls for a lady doctor who mistakes his interest in her for an
illness and sends him to the hospital. [JB]

[38] The Great Gildersleeve: THE DEAD
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
Gildy is deceived by a phony deed to the reservoir, causing him to think
that he now has to find a way to move the water. [JB]

[39] The Great Gildersleeve: BEAUTIES AND THE BEAST
Starring: Willard Waterman (as Gildersleeve)
While Gildy is talking to one girlfriend, a beauty shop owner, another
girlfriend's hair is ruined in the back of the shop. Gildy finds that
he is now a witness for both sides. [JB]

########### The Great Gildersleeve ###########
################# on the radio ###############
##############################################

[--] Great Gildersleeve (Radio program). Jolly boys try to form a band.
Title: The Great Gildersleeve. Jolly boys try to form a band / NBC.
Published/distributed: [1974-07-28]
Notes:
KUSC rebroadcast version of program originally broadcast Nov. 20, 1948? (or 1949?)
Cast/perfomers:
Hal Peary (Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve);
Walter Tetley (Leroy Forrester, his nephew);
Lurene Tuttle (Marjorie Forrester, his niece).
Announcer, John Wald.

########### The Great Gildersleeve ###########
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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