Riley, a war worker, and his wife Peg are preparing for Easter when Riley's uncle Baxter Turnbull, who is vain about his clothes, announces he will enter a best-dressed contest in the Easter parade with a $200 prize. Baxter sulks when Riley refuses to pay for a new outfit, so Riley makes a bet that he can find his uncle a job. Riley then borrows a rented wardrobe from Barney the clothier for Baxter. The Life of Riley is a half-hour radio comedy with William Bendix in the title role, broadcast on the Blue Network and NBC, and this episode first aired on April 9, 1944.

With Riley, Peg, Uncle Baxter Turnbull, Junior, Barney, Sam Graham.

Listen for: Uncle Baxter's vanity over his Easter outfit and Riley's bet to find him work

First aired on April 9, 1944 on Blue Network/ABC, NBC.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. Two new episodes a week: The Life of Riley on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

Riley receives a letter from his old pal Herman Dugan, now in the Navy, asking him to stand in as his proxy at a wedding to Lily Mae Lightfoot, Herman's longtime fiancée. Riley reluctantly agrees, thinking it will be a quick trip to a justice of the peace. Lily Mae arrives at the Riley home with her father, a stern old cow puncher, and the plan soon grows complicated. The Life of Riley is a comedy series starring William Bendix, and this episode first aired on April 16, 1944. This is the first part of a two-part story.

With Riley, Peg, Junior, Barbara, Uncle Baxter, Herman Dugan, Lily Mae Lightfoot, Mr. Lightfoot.

Listen for: Riley's reluctant agreement to act as Herman's proxy and the arrival of Lily Mae and her father at the Riley home.

First aired on April 16, 1944 on Blue Network/ABC, NBC.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. Two new episodes a week: The Life of Riley on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

Riley is persuaded by his overseas friend Herman Dugan to stand in as proxy groom for a wedding to Lily Mae Lightfoot, Herman's sweetheart. Her father, Wild Pete Lightfoot, an old-fashioned former cowboy, objects strongly, and the plan grows more complicated. Riley plans an elopement and enlists his family's help, including Uncle Baxter, who insists on coming along. The story is part two of the proxy wedding storyline in The Life of Riley, first broadcast on April 23, 1944, on the Blue Network/ABC and NBC. William Bendix stars as Riley, with Paula Winslowe, Hans Conried and Alan Reed in the cast.

With Riley, Peg, Herman Dugan, Lily Mae Lightfoot, Wild Pete Lightfoot, Uncle Baxter, Junior, Judge Pilky.

Listen for: Riley's attempt to elope with Lily Mae and the proxy wedding ceremony with Judge Pilky

First aired on April 23, 1944 on Blue Network/ABC, NBC.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. Two new episodes a week: The Life of Riley on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 62 free 24/7 channels and 191 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.