Babs Is Allergic to Riley: The Life of Riley (March 17, 1950)

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

“Babs Is Allergic to Riley” is an episode of The Life of Riley, the old-time radio show, first broadcast March 17, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Chester Riley and his wife Peg are expecting a baby, and their daughter Babs resents her father's demands on her evenings out. When the newborn sneezes whenever Riley comes near her, a doctor diagnoses an allergy to her father, and Riley begins to consider how he might leave home. The Life of Riley aired on the Blue Network and NBC, and this 1950 episode stars William Bendix as Riley and Paula Winslowe as Peg Riley.

The Riley family home, a hospital maternity ward, and a nearby popcorn business office.

Characters: Chester Riley, Peg Riley, Babs Riley, Mr. Barker, Digger O'Dell

Listen for: Riley's claim that he is planning a business venture and the doctor's explanation of the baby's sneezing.

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.