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.

Riley, the good-natured aircraft worker, and his Uncle Baxter Turnbull take jobs as butler and cook for the Hotchkiss family, hoping to land work at the bread company run by Mr. Hotchkiss. The show is The Life of Riley, heard on the Blue Network/ABC and NBC, aired January 30, 1944, starring William Bendix as Riley. Riley admits he knows nothing about being a butler, and his uncle's nervous attempts to prepare dinner add to the chaos. Riley tries to follow Uncle Baxter's instructions for serving the meal, while the guests arrive and the couple's first evening in the house gets off to a rocky start.

With Riley, Uncle Baxter Turnbull, Mr. Hotchkiss, Mrs. Hotchkiss, Mrs. Hotchkiss' guests.

Listen for: Riley's attempts at being a butler and the chaos in the kitchen during the Hotchkiss dinner

First aired on January 30, 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 and his family, who have been living in the bridal suite of a Los Angeles hotel, prepare to move into a house. Riley works in a war plant, and the family is trying to solve its housing problem. Before they can leave, Riley learns the hotel bill is large, and Uncle Baxter has arranged for a poker game to be run in the suite the family is vacating. Part of the story follows the family as they try to reach their new house. The Life of Riley aired on the Blue Network and NBC, with William Bendix in the lead role, and this episode is from February 6, 1944.

With Riley, Mrs. Riley, Junior, Barbara, Uncle Baxter, Snake Eyes, Mrs. Hill, Humphrey.

Listen for: Riley's frustration with the hotel bill and the family's attempts to get into their new house

First aired on February 6, 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.

First aired February 13, 1944.

Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.

Two new episodes a week. Every episode so far, and the guide: The Life of Riley on Stupid Potato

About Stupid Potato. This podcast is from Stupid Potato Studios. We restore classic radio and TV audio and run free internet radio channels, live around the clock: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, Saturday-morning cartoons, vintage TV, Halloween and Christmas, and our own short cartoons. Listen free, find every show and join our weekly note at stupidpotato.com.

First aired March 26, 1944.

Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.

Two new episodes a week. Every episode so far, and the guide: The Life of Riley on Stupid Potato

About Stupid Potato. This podcast is from Stupid Potato Studios. We restore classic radio and TV audio and run free internet radio channels, live around the clock: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, Saturday-morning cartoons, vintage TV, Halloween and Christmas, and our own short cartoons. Listen free, find every show and join our weekly note at stupidpotato.com.

Riley wakes late on a Sunday and finds his household in an uproar over a surprise gathering being planned in his honor. Riley's wife Peg sends him off on an errand while the guests are prepared, and he is left feeling dominated by the people around him. Riley seeks a little independence and sets out with his neighbour Waldo Bimmel, who is also tired of being bossed about by his wife and aunt. Their outing takes them through a restaurant, a park and a lecture hall, where Riley runs into trouble. The Life of Riley is a half-hour comedy series starring William Bendix as Riley. This episode was first broadcast on April 2, 1944.

With Riley, Peg, Junior, Waldo Bimmel, Babs, Uncle Baxter, Aunt Gussie, Professor Gico.

Listen for: Riley's attempts to assert himself against his wife and relatives, and the comic exchanges with his neighbour Waldo.

First aired April 2, 1944.

Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.

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

Two new episodes a week. Every episode so far, and the guide: The Life of Riley on Stupid Potato

About Stupid Potato. This podcast is from Stupid Potato Studios. We restore classic radio and TV audio and run free internet radio channels, live around the clock: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, Saturday-morning cartoons, vintage TV, Halloween and Christmas, and our own short cartoons. Listen free, find every show and join our weekly note at stupidpotato.com.