79 Wistful Vista

Kristine Ohkubo

Jan 163 min read

A cherished gem of American radio comedy, Fibber McGee and Molly left an indelible mark on the world of broadcasting, forever altering its landscape. From its debut in 1935 until its demise in 1959, the program was widely regarded as one of the finest in American popular culture.

During the 1930s and 1940s, very few broadcasters could rival the remarkable success and groundbreaking creativity of Fibber McGee’s incredible twenty-four-year radio run. The show played a crucial role in shaping the genre that later became known as situation comedy. Furthermore, the program also spawned two successful spin-off series in the 1940s, featuring the beloved supporting characters Gildersleeve and Beulah.

The origins of Fibber McGee and Molly can be traced back to the Jordans’ previous radio comedy program, Smackout. The program showcased the escapades of Fibber McGee, an innate storyteller (hence the moniker Fibber), and his loyal wife Molly as they navigated life in the lively community of Wistful Vista, surrounded by a colorful group of neighbors and acquaintances. In the 1940s, when the show was at its peak of popularity, RKO Radio Pictures adapted it into a series of feature films. In 1959, there was an endeavor to bring the series to television, featuring a different cast and a team of new writers. Unfortunately, this venture turned out to be a critical and commercial failure. The program’s end was brought on by Marian Jordan’s death shortly thereafter.

The title characters were brought to life by Jim Jordan and Marian Driscoll Jordan, a talented couple who had been collaborating in radio for decades. Both hailing from Peoria, Illinois, they shared a common dream of pursuing music. Jim had dreams of becoming a singer, while Marian had her heart set on becoming a music teacher.

The couple were married on August 31, 1918. Five days after the wedding, Jim received his draft notice. He was sent to France and became part of a military touring ensemble that entertained the armed forces. After Jim’s return from France, he and Marian made a bold decision to test their luck in the world of vaudeville. Their careers as vaudevillians were rather lackluster, to say the least.

In 1924, Jim and Marian were in Chicago, staying with Jim’s brother, when they happened to be listening to the radio. Jim confidently declared that he and Marian could easily outperform the current musical act they were listening to. Jim’s brother challenged him to a bet of $10, doubting his ability to accomplish the task. Jim and Marian promptly raced over to station WIBO in order to win the bet. Upon arrival, they were given the opportunity to go on the air. At the end of their performance, the couple was offered a contract for a weekly show. They earned $10 per week. The show’s sponsor was Oh Henry! candy, and they appeared for six months on The Oh Henry! Twins program before transitioning to radio station WENR in 1927.

Jim and Marian had hosted or appeared on numerous local music and repartee programs during the early 1930s. Their work gradually developed into a series that ultimately secured them a place on a national NBC hookup.

While working on The Luke and Mirandy Show for WENR, Jim Jordan came across an interesting story about a shopkeeper from Missouri. Despite having a store filled with merchandise, the shopkeeper would always claim to be “smack out” of whatever a customer requested, yet he never ran out of tall tales to share.

During their time at WENR, the Jordans had the opportunity to meet Donald (Don) Quinn, a talented cartoonist who was working in radio. Impressed by his skills, the couple decided to bring him on board as their writer in 1931. They collaborated to develop a fifteen-minute daily program for station WMAQ called Smackout. The program debuted in 1931, and centered on a general store and its owner, Luke Grey (Jim Jordan). Luke was known for his love of spinning tall tales and his constant inability to have what his customers needed. He always seemed to be “smack out of it.” Marian demonstrated her versatility by skillfully portraying multiple characters on the program. She lent her voice to sixty-nine different characters over the course of the show’s run. Additionally, she showcased her musical talent by providing piano accompaniment throughout the performance. Smackout was acquired by NBC in April 1933 and aired nationally until August 1935. In 1935, Smackout gave way to Fibber McGee and Molly.

An excerpt from From Girdle Maker to Water Commissioner - THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE: The Pioneering Spin-off Program That Made Broadcast History! Order your copy today to continue reading the story.