Riley's Birthday - Thinks Baxter Is Giving Party: The Life of Riley (April 2, 1944)

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

“Riley's Birthday - Thinks Baxter Is Giving Party” is an episode of The Life of Riley, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 2, 1944. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Riley wakes late on a Sunday and finds his household in an uproar over a surprise gathering being planned in his honor. Riley's wife Peg sends him off on an errand while the guests are prepared, and he is left feeling dominated by the people around him. Riley seeks a little independence and sets out with his neighbour Waldo Bimmel, who is also tired of being bossed about by his wife and aunt. Their outing takes them through a restaurant, a park and a lecture hall, where Riley runs into trouble. The Life of Riley is a half-hour comedy series starring William Bendix as Riley. This episode was first broadcast on April 2, 1944.

Riley's home and the surrounding neighbourhood in Los Angeles on a Sunday afternoon, including a delicatessen, a park, and a social club.

Characters: Riley, Peg, Junior, Waldo Bimmel, Babs, Uncle Baxter, Aunt Gussie, Professor Gico

Listen for: Riley's attempts to assert himself against his wife and relatives, and the comic exchanges with his neighbour Waldo.

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.