Scoutmaster Riley - Housekeeping System: The Life of Riley (January 19, 1951)

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

“Scoutmaster Riley - Housekeeping System” is an episode of The Life of Riley, the old-time radio show, first broadcast January 19, 1951. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Chester A. Riley is a bowling-loving husband who boasts that he could do his wife Peg's housework in half the time. Peg takes him up on the challenge, leaving him to handle the chores on Saturday while she goes to a movie. Meanwhile, Riley's son Junior, a boy scout, pressures his father to take over as scoutmaster for the troop. The Life of Riley stars William Bendix as Riley, with Paula Winslowe as Peg. The episode is from the series' 1951 run.

Riley's home in Los Angeles, and a boy scout meeting hall

Characters: Chester A. Riley, Peg Riley, Junior Riley, Harry, Freddy, Mr. Whitmore, Joe Grace

Listen for: Riley's boast that he can do his wife's housework in half the time, and his disastrous attempt to prove it

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.