What happens
Gildersleeve, a Summerfield man, is persuaded by his nephew Leroy to try ice skating the day before New Year's Eve, and his skating mishaps set up a busy holiday. Judge Hooker invites him to the lawyers club for the annual mock trial, but Gildersleeve, claiming a sore back, begs off and visits the pharmacist Peavey for a remedy. Gildersleeve then decides to spend the evening at home with Leila Ransom, who has come to his house for an intimate supper and a sing-along by the Christmas tree. The Great Gildersleeve is a long-running radio comedy, and this episode aired on NBC on December 31, 1944, with Harold Peary in the title role, alongside Willard Waterman, Lillian Randolph and Lurene Tuttle.
Summerfield, the day before and on the night of New Year's Eve, 1944
Characters: Gildersleeve, Leroy, Marjorie, Floyd, Judge Hooker, Peavey, Mrs. Hooker, Bertie
Listen for: Gildersleeve's skating troubles at Tolle's pond and his talk with Peavey about his sore back
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.