The Great Gildersleeve NBC · April 7, 1948

The Great Gildersleeve 48 04 07 (285) Gildy Raising Money For Baseball Field

· GHOST OF RADIO ·
0:00 --:--

# The Great Gildersleeve: Gildy Raising Money For Baseball Field

Step into the sun-dappled streets of Summerfield as Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve sets his ambitious sights on a community baseball diamond! In this delightful episode, the great man himself concocts an elaborate scheme to raise funds for a brand-new athletic field, and chaos inevitably ensues. Listeners will delight in Gildy's bombastic attempts to convince the town's most cantankerous citizens to open their purses, all while his bumbling nephew Leroy and the ever-patient Judge Hooker offer running commentary on his more outlandish proposals. The familiar warmth of Peavey's drug store and the crisp repartee crackle with that special magic that made this show the most listened-to program in America—where homespun Americana collides with hilarious high-jinks, and every scheme threatens to unravel at the most inopportune moments.

What makes The Great Gildersleeve endure is its authentic portrait of small-town American life in the 1940s, filtered through Hal Peary's impeccable comic timing and an ensemble cast of supporting characters who feel like genuine neighbors. The show's gentle satire of civic pride and local boosterism captured something true about Depression-era and wartime communities pulling together, even as it mocked their pretensions. This particular episode, with its focus on recreational facilities and grassroots fundraising, reflects the era's deep investment in youth, civic infrastructure, and the belief that community spirit could overcome any obstacle.

Tune in to hear how the great Gildersleeve's latest venture plays out—will Summerfield finally get its baseball field, or will his fund-raising dreams strike out? The answer awaits you in this gem of classic radio comedy.