Riley Finds a Silver Fox Fur Coat: The Life of Riley (April 6, 1946)

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

“Riley Finds a Silver Fox Fur Coat” is an episode of The Life of Riley, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 6, 1946. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

Play The Life of Riley free: the episodes out so far, or subscribe in any podcast app.

What happens

Riley finds a silver fox fur piece left on a bus and decides to return it, but his wife Peg receives it as a birthday gift from him. When Riley cannot explain the truth in front of the gossipy Honeybee Gillis, he feels trapped between honesty and embarrassment. His conscience keeps nagging him as he tries to figure out how to get the fur back to its owner without humiliating Peg. Riley places a carefully worded newspaper advertisement, but his plans begin to unravel as his wife's suspicions grow.

Riley's home and neighborhood, with scenes on a Los Angeles bus and around town

Characters: Riley, Peg, Honeybee Gillis, Waldo, Digger, Junior

Listen for: Riley's argument with his conscience and his attempt to give the fur back without Peg finding out

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.