The Golden Age of Radio - The Great Gildersleeve

This episode of the Great Gildersleeve is focused on the nephew of Gildy, Leroy, who is portrayed by child impersonator and wonderful voice actor Walter Tetley.

Tetley was famous for his portrayals of young boys on radio including Julius Abruzzio on The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show.  He had those concurrent roles on 2 of the most popular shows on radio.  He joined the Harris/Faye Show in 1948 and by the time it had finished its run on radio in 1954 he was nearly 40 years old.

He became well known to another generation of children from his role as Sherman the boy of Mr. Peabody on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show segment "Mr. Peabody's Improbable History".

New York Times Bestseller List Fiction 11/27/2011

Here are the Top Ten Books on the the NY Times Bestseller List for the week ending November 27th  2011

10 - The Prague Cemetery - Umberto Eco (debut)
9  -  The Snow Angel - Glenn Beck
8  -  Hotel Vendome - Danielle Steel
7  -  The Alloy of Law - Brandon Sanderson (debut)
6  -  1Q84 - Haruki Murakami
5  -  The Christmas Wedding - James Patterson
4  -  The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks
3  -  Zero Day - David Baldacci
2  -  The Litigators - John Grisham
1  -  11/22/63 - Stephen King (debut)

Top 5

Today's Top 5 is a look at the Top 5 bestselling novels on the New York Times Bestseller list November 22nd 1981
This weeks list contained some of the biggest names in novels and some of their most famous works.


5 - The Legacy by Howard Fast

The Lavette family of ''The Immigrants'' and ''The Establishment'' reaches the turbulent 60's.

4 - Noble House by James Clavell

 A British-Chinese struggle for control of one of Hong Kong's oldest trading houses. 
The first of Clavell's 2 #1 novels and spent 15 weeks at #1 from May until August 1981.

3 - Cujo by Stephen King

Monsters haunt a New York family seeking peace in rural Maine.
This was the 3rd #1 for Stephen King, spending 5 weeks at #1.

2 - The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
Life with an eccentric family

John Irving's first #1 novel, spending 9 weeks at the top of the list.

1 - An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough
A nurse and her charges in a special-care ward of a WWII hospital
This is the second and last novel to reach the top of the Times bestseller list. The 'Thorn Birds' spend 15 weeks at #1 in the summer of 1977.  
This was the 2nd of 13 weeks at #1 for "Obsession".

New York Times Bestseller List 11/20/2011 Non Fiction

Here are the Top Ten Books on the New York Times Non Fiction bestseller list for the week ending November 20th 2011

10 - No Regrets - Ace Frehley and Joe Layden
9  -  Boomerang - Michael Lewis
8  -  The Time of Our Lives - Tom Brokaw
7  -  Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
6  -  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me - Mindy Kaling
5  -  No Higher Honor - Condoleeza Rice
4  -  Blue Nights - Joan Didion
3  -  Jack Kennedy - Chris Matthews
2  -  Killing Lincoln - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
1  -  Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson 
(2nd consecutive week at #1)

New York Times Bestseller List 11/20/2011 Fiction

Here are the Top Ten Books on the NY Times Fiction bestseller list for the week ending November 20th 2011

10 - The Marriage Plot - Jeffrey Eugenies
9  -  Out of Oz - Gregory Maguire
8  -  The Snow Angel - Glenn Beck
7  -  The Christmas Wedding - James Patterson
6  -  1Q84 - Haruki Murakami
5  -  Lost December - Richard Paul
4  -  Hotel Vendome - Danielle Steel
3  -  The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks
2  -  The Litigators - John Grisham
(last week's #1)
1  -  Zero Day - David Baldacci
(debut)
A Military investigator unconvers a conspriacy

Gunsmoke - The Tragedian

"The Tragedian"

Season 5 Episode 20  

aired January 23rd 1960

This revolves around and down and out actor turned card sharp who Matt and Chester decide to help instead of arrest.

The highlight for Gunsmoke fans was the appearance of Howard McNear as Joe the owner/cook of a local restaurant.

The longtime cast member of the radio version of Gunsmoke originating the role of Doc Adams before moving into the equally legendary role of Floyd the barber on the Andy Griffith Show.

Friars Tribute to Jack Benny

Here are a couple of clips from a Friars Tribute to  Jack Benny hosted by Johnny Carson.
Not quite sure where or when (my guess is around 1968-69) this was but maybe one of my friends can step up with some information.




The best of course feature Phi Harris followed by Dennis Day...you have to watch those 2 in that order to get the funniest part of this roast.

The Trailer Park

Tonight's visit to the Trailer Park is to see the trailer for "Gentleman's Agreement".   One of the biggest selling books of 1947 and then the winner of the Oscar for Best Picture in 1947.

The story of a reporter, played by Gregory Peck, who goes undercover to conduct a research expose on antisemitism in New York City and the affluent community of Darien, CT.