A Love Letter from Boopsie: The Life of Riley (June 23, 1950)

The Life of Riley, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“A Love Letter from Boopsie” is an episode of The Life of Riley, the old-time radio show, first broadcast June 23, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Chester A. Riley, a Los Angeles aircraft worker played by William Bendix in the radio series The Life of Riley, discovers a love letter addressed to his wife Peg. Signed simply 'Boopsy,' the letter sends him into a jealous fit as he tries to learn who wrote it. He enlists his friend Gillis and his children Babs and Junior, who are reluctant to snoop, and eventually searches his wife's purse. The episode first aired on June 23, 1950, on the Blue Network and NBC, with Paula Winslowe as Peg. Riley's suspicions grow as he consults a handwriting expert and a talkative undertaker, each adding to his worries.

The Riley home in Los Angeles

Characters: Chester A. Riley, Peg Riley, Babs, Junior, Gillis, Digger O'Dell

Listen for: Riley's jealous reaction to the letter signed 'Boopsy' and his search through Peg's purse

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.