Fibber McGee and Molly: An Enduring Old-Time Radio Comedy Classic

Fibber McGee and Molly, a beloved and enduring husband-and-wife radio comedy program, captivated audiences from 1935 to 1959. Initially airing on NBC Blue in 1935, it later became a staple of the NBC Red Network from 1936 onward. Created and portrayed by the talented duo Jim and Marian Jordan, the show followed the misadventures of a working-class couple, Fibber McGee and his loving wife Molly, living in the community of Wistful Vista, surrounded by colorful neighbors and acquaintances.

As a popular radio series, Fibber McGee and Molly featured an announcer, a house band, and a vocal quartet for delightful interludes. Its success reached its peak during the 1940s, leading to a string of feature films based on the show. However, a subsequent attempt to adapt the series for television with a different cast and new writers in 1959 proved to be a critical and commercial failure. Tragically, Marian Jordan's passing shortly thereafter brought the series to an end.

The origins of Fibber McGee and Molly can be traced back to the Jordan's earlier radio sitcom called Smackout, where Jim played a farmer fond of tall tales and Marian portrayed an Irish wife of an American police officer. Their transition from musicians to comedic actors, along with the introduction of the memorable character "Teeny," paved the way for their future success.

The inspiration for the show's title came from a true story about a Missouri shopkeeper who always claimed to be "smack out" of whatever customers requested, while he filled his store with incredible stories. This shop, known as "Smackout," became the basis for the trio's 15-minute daily program on station WMAQ in Chicago, where they depicted a general store and its proprietor, Luke Grey (Jim Jordan), always in short supply of what customers wanted. The show's popularity grew, and it was picked up by NBC and broadcast nationally until August 1935.

The partnership between S.C. Johnson and the Jordan's resulted in the company owning the names "Fibber McGee" and "Molly," solidifying the program's legacy as a cherished and iconic radio comedy.