Riley Decides to Move: The Life of Riley (May 5, 1950)

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

“Riley Decides to Move” is an episode of The Life of Riley, the old-time radio show, first broadcast May 5, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Chester Riley and his wife Peg are kept awake at night by the crying of a baby next door, and Riley decides the family must move. Peg resists, and the two argue over a cheap, fine-looking house at 85 Magnolia Lane in Glendale. Riley signs a lease on the house without consulting her, and the two begin to quarrel openly over whether they should move at all. This is an episode of The Life of Riley, first broadcast on May 5, 1950, on the Blue Network and NBC, with William Bendix as Riley and Paula Winslowe as Peg.

Riley household at 1313 Blue View Terrace, and the house at 85 Magnolia Lane, Glendale

Characters: Chester Riley, Peg Riley, Digger Dick, George Watson, Junior, Babs

Listen for: The argument over whether the Rileys should move, and Riley's arrival at the new house

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.