Chaos, Singing, and Bad Politics | The Great Gildersleeve - “The Jolly Boys Election” (1942)

A classic radio comedy from the golden age of radio — plus bonus commentary and trivia after the show.

The Great Gildersleeve – “The Jolly Boys’ Election” (1942)

Step back into the golden age of radio with The Great Gildersleeve, one of the earliest and most beloved sitcoms in broadcast history. In this 1942 classic, “The Jolly Boys’ Election,” Gildersleeve gets swept into the political drama of Summerfield’s least organized men’s club — the Jolly Boys — as the group attempts to elect a new president with all the grace and competence of a barbershop quartet falling down a flight of stairs.

After the broadcast, stay tuned for bonus commentary and behind-the-scenes trivia — including how the Jolly Boys became a fan-favorite recurring cast, why their off-key harmonizing became a running joke, and how this early sitcom spinoff helped shape radio comedy for years to come.

Originally aired: May 10, 1942

Approx. runtime: 32 minutes