Riley Helps Luigi Pass English Exam to Become US Citizen: The Life of Riley (February 25, 1945)

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

“Riley Helps Luigi Pass English Exam to Become US Citizen” is an episode of The Life of Riley, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 25, 1945. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Chester A. Riley, a Los Angeles aircraft worker, attends night school while his friend Luigi Marsolucci struggles with English. When Riley is accused of cheating on an English exam and expelled, he refuses to explain why he is protecting Luigi. William Bendix stars as Riley in this episode of The Life of Riley, originally broadcast on February 25, 1945 on the Blue Network/ABC and NBC.

Los Angeles, a night school and the Riley home

Characters: Chester A. Riley, Junior, Peg, Luigi Marsolucci, Waldo, Miss Jessup, Ronald

Listen for: Riley's claim that he was expelled for cheating, and his reasons for shielding Luigi

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.