My Friend Irma 1948 03 01 (047) Fortune Raised

Picture yourself settling into your favorite chair on a Tuesday evening in 1948, tuning the dial to CBS as the familiar theme song crackles through the speaker. Tonight's episode, "Fortune Raised," promises the kind of romantic entanglement that has made My Friend Irma America's favorite comedy: Irma's get-rich-quick schemes have somehow landed her roommate Jane in the path of a mysterious benefactor, and what follows is a delightful tangle of mistaken identities, pratfalls, and the sort of wisecracks that leave audiences breathless with laughter. Marie Wilson's signature breathless delivery reaches comic heights as she attempts to navigate the chaos of her own creation, while the supporting cast—including the lovesick Al and the long-suffering announcer—collide hilariously with her latest misadventure. The writers have crafted something special here: comedy that mines genuine human folly without ever turning cruel.

My Friend Irma has become the surprise phenomenon of radio comedy since its 1947 debut, striking gold by centering an entire show around female characters and their agency—even when that agency leads to spectacular disasters. Where many comedies relied on tired stereotypes, this show gave audiences something fresher: a dizzy but kindhearted heroine whose schemes, while inevitably backfiring, stem from genuine good intentions. By 1948, the show had become essential listening for millions, proof that audiences hungered for comedy led by women rather than merely featuring them.

Don't miss "Fortune Raised"—a twenty-three minute escape into a world where fortune, romance, and good-natured chaos collide in the most entertaining ways. Tune in and discover why My Friend Irma has captured America's heart.