Fibber McGee and Molly – Motorcycle Cop, Judge, And Fibber. ep1, 350416

Jim Jordan in a Fedora and Marian Jordan wearing a hat in 1937. Standing in front of a microphone, dressed in vintage clothing from the 1930s, likely performing a radio show - the popular duo Fibber McGee and Molly.
Fibber McGee and Molly in 1937. Image from wikkipedia.com

With his constant companion, and severest critic Molly, Fibber McGee is back with more of his antics. Our traveling entertainers are stopped by a police officer, and have their day in court. Jokes abound related to law, order, and courtroom antics. Along the way Fibber jokes about his time in the war with the Foreign Legion. Hey, he really was in the Great War, but notin the role he claims.

As with many early radio shows that featured comedians, music was a big part of the episode, and throughout the show the orchestra and singers break up the fun with a few songs. One huge difference in these early shows is Molly’s character. She tended to be more loud and brassy than her lagter role as dutiful housewife, and stabalizing factor to Fibber’s outlandish ideas and pranks. The house at 79 Wistful Vista was yet to come, and the McGees were a couple of traveling Vaudevillians. They come off more as clowns than comedians, but you can see elements of their well known personalities developing. Fibber is always ready with a twisted turn of a phrase, intended to dazzle and confuse his victim. Even the McGees get in a novelty song of their own, something they diddn’t often do in the years to come, but a more common feature in their early act, especially if you manage to listen to their early series that preceeded this one. A show called Smack Out.

The musical selections in the show seem old fashioned from today’s perspective, and they are. However, for their day they were the latest, and some of the more progressive tunes of the times.