What happens
Fibber McGee and Molly is an old-time radio comedy series, and this episode first aired on NBC on October 26, 1943. Fibber McGee takes a fancy cigar from the ticket agent Mr. France, who has just become a father, and admires its long ash. Doctor Gamble scoffs, and McGee bets him five dollars that he can smoke the cigar until the ash is three inches long before it falls. Harold Peary and Bill Thompson lead the cast, and the bet keeps drawing in visitors and family members who disturb the fragile ash.
The McGee home, where Fibber sits smoking a cigar in the living room while the family and visitors come and go.
Characters: Fibber McGee, Molly McGee, Doctor Gamble, Uncle Dennis, Mr. Wilcox, Alice, Mr. France
Listen for: Fibber's careful attempts to keep the cigar ash from falling as the bet with Doctor Gamble develops.
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. 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.