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Honest Harold

When Harold Peary left The Great Gildersleeve in 1950, everyone seemed satisfied with the way Willard Waterman filled the role. Everyone but Peary, that is, so he recreated Gildy on a new network as Honest Harold.

Honest Harold

38 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 18 hours, 43 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
19 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from March 28, 1951:

"First Day Of School"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Harold Peary 

Comedy (1950 - 51)

Harold PearyHonest Harold was created by Harold Peary after his departure from The Great Gildersleeve in mid-1950. The role of Gildersleeve was nearly perfectly filled by Willard Waterman, and The Great Gildersleeve show's fans seemed satisfied with the change. It is hard to know if they resented Peary's jettisoning of the Gildersleeve mantle, but Peary had let it be known that he was bored with the role. He had said goodbye, and his public took him at his word.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Unfortunately, he took many of Gildy's characteristics along with him to glue to his new Honest Harold character…the "dirty" laugh, singing songs, and closing dialogue over credits were all there with Harold. And that voice. Who could forget that voice? In simple terms, Peary couldn't or wouldn't sound and act differently enough to make listeners forget Gildy, and that made it very tough for the new show to fly. Perhaps the plot was a little creaky for the beginning of the Rock'n'Roll era, as well. The show was about an olyder, unmarried guy living with his mother, who does a homemaker's show on a local radio station in the Midwest. The townsfolk think of him as somewhat of a celebrity, but his girlfriend, Gloria, who works at the station, knows better. Gloria was played by Peary's wife Gloria Holiday. Parley Baer, who was Gunsmoke's Harold PearyChester, plays Pete, the Marshall of the town, and Joseph Kearns is Old Doc "Yak Yak" Yancy. At this point, it might be significant to note that the director of the show was Norm Macdonnell, who went on to create perhaps the greatest old time radio show - Gunsmoke, and another western, Fort Laramie. Of course, Norm was a sold radio veteran who certainly had a flare for directing comedy, so he and Peary, together with an excellent cast, made Honest Harold just about as good a show as it could be.

The response to the show was underwhelming, although the authority John Dunning, says in his "On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio," "Despite the lack of rating power and the general negative attitude of the critics, Harold was the near-equal of Gildersleeve in several aspects. Shows on tape reveal funny writing and well-drawn characters, and the supporting cast and production crew were first-rate.", Fans of Peary as Gildy and lovers of radio comedy would do well to consider this complete show as a good addition to a library of classic radio comedy.

Other radio situation comedy shows of this type are Life with Luigi, The Mel Blanc Show, My Favorite Husband, Ozzie and Harriet, The Life of Riley, The Aldrich Family, Easy Aces, Duffy's Tavern, The Adventures of Maisie and Our Miss Brooks. Some other recognized classics of the genre are Fibber McGee and Molly, The Jack Benny Show, Amos and Andy, Vic and Sade, Burns and Allen and of course, The Great Gildersleeve.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    38 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 18 hours, 43 min
    38 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 18 hours, 43 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 38 shows - total playtime 18 hours 43 minutes
    2. Honest Harold 500823 Audition.mp3
    3. Honest Harold 500917 Harold Loses His Job.mp3
    4. Honest Harold 500924 Renaming Boomer Park.mp3
    5. Honest Harold 501004 Shark Repellent.mp3
    6. Honest Harold 501011 The Chanteuse.mp3
    7. Honest Harold 501018 The Runaway Boy.mp3
    8. Honest Harold 501025 Campaign Speech.mp3
    9. Honest Harold 501101 Election Plans.mp3
    10. Honest Harold 501108 Cousin Raymond Visits.mp3
    11. Honest Harold 501115 Getting a Job.mp3
    12. Honest Harold 501122 Thanksgiving Play.mp3
    13. Honest Harold 501206 The Hummer.mp3
    14. Honest Harold 501213 Raymond and Gloria.mp3
    15. Honest Harold 501220 Children s Christmas Party.mp3
    16. Honest Harold 501227 New Year s Dance.mp3
    17. Honest Harold 510103 Warbleware Party.mp3
    18. Honest Harold 510110 Lost Sponsor.mp3
    19. Honest Harold 510117 Going to New York.mp3
    20. Honest Harold 510124 EngagedTwice.mp3
    21. Honest Harold 510131 Civic Achievement Award.mp3
    22. Honest Harold 510207 Mother s Suitor.mp3
    23. Honest Harold 510214 Mistaken Valentines.mp3
    24. Honest Harold 510221 Florabelle Returns.mp3
    25. Honest Harold 510228 Willis Cant Pass the Physical.mp3
    26. Honest Harold 510307 Red Cross Drive.mp3
    27. Honest Harold 510314 Income Tax.mp3
    28. Honest Harold 510321 Cousin Marvin.mp3
    29. Honest Harold 510328 First Day of School.mp3
    30. Honest Harold 510404 Modernizing Doc s Office.mp3
    31. Honest Harold 510418 Cleaning the Cellar.mp3
    32. Honest Harold 510425 Circus Day.mp3
    33. Honest Harold 510502 Marvin s Gang.mp3
    34. Honest Harold 510509 Vying for Class.mp3
    35. Honest Harold 510516 Florabelle s New Lover.mp3
    36. Honest Harold 510523 Party Invitation.mp3
    37. Honest Harold 510530 Marshall for a Day.mp3
    38. Honest Harold 510606 Peabody s Sister Takes Over.mp3
    39. Honest Harold 510613 Marvin Decides to Stay.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    38 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 18 hours, 43 min
    38 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 18 hours, 43 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 38 shows - total playtime 18 hours 43 minutes
    2. Honest Harold 500823 Audition.mp3
    3. Honest Harold 500917 Harold Loses His Job.mp3
    4. Honest Harold 500924 Renaming Boomer Park.mp3
    5. Honest Harold 501004 Shark Repellent.mp3
    6. Honest Harold 501011 The Chanteuse.mp3
    7. Honest Harold 501018 The Runaway Boy.mp3
    8. Honest Harold 501025 Campaign Speech.mp3
    9. Honest Harold 501101 Election Plans.mp3
    10. Honest Harold 501108 Cousin Raymond Visits.mp3
    11. Honest Harold 501115 Getting a Job.mp3
    12. Honest Harold 501122 Thanksgiving Play.mp3
    13. Honest Harold 501206 The Hummer.mp3
    14. Honest Harold 501213 Raymond and Gloria.mp3
    15. Honest Harold 501220 Children s Christmas Party.mp3
    16. Honest Harold 501227 New Year s Dance.mp3
    17. Honest Harold 510103 Warbleware Party.mp3
    18. Honest Harold 510110 Lost Sponsor.mp3
    19. Honest Harold 510117 Going to New York.mp3
    20. Honest Harold 510124 EngagedTwice.mp3
    21. Honest Harold 510131 Civic Achievement Award.mp3
    22. Honest Harold 510207 Mother s Suitor.mp3
    23. Honest Harold 510214 Mistaken Valentines.mp3
    24. Honest Harold 510221 Florabelle Returns.mp3
    25. Honest Harold 510228 Willis Cant Pass the Physical.mp3
    26. Honest Harold 510307 Red Cross Drive.mp3
    27. Honest Harold 510314 Income Tax.mp3
    28. Honest Harold 510321 Cousin Marvin.mp3
    29. Honest Harold 510328 First Day of School.mp3
    30. Honest Harold 510404 Modernizing Doc s Office.mp3
    31. Honest Harold 510418 Cleaning the Cellar.mp3
    32. Honest Harold 510425 Circus Day.mp3
    33. Honest Harold 510502 Marvin s Gang.mp3
    34. Honest Harold 510509 Vying for Class.mp3
    35. Honest Harold 510516 Florabelle s New Lover.mp3
    36. Honest Harold 510523 Party Invitation.mp3
    37. Honest Harold 510530 Marshall for a Day.mp3
    38. Honest Harold 510606 Peabody s Sister Takes Over.mp3
    39. Honest Harold 510613 Marvin Decides to Stay.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    38 recordings on 19 Audio CDs. Total playtime 18 hours, 43 min
    38 recordings on 19 Audio CDs
    total playtime 18 hours, 43 min

    Honest Harold Disc A001

    1. Honest Harold 500823 Audition
    2. Honest Harold 500917 Harold Loses His Job

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A002

    1. Honest Harold 500924 Renaming Boomer Park
    2. Honest Harold 501004 Shark Repellent

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A003

    1. Honest Harold 501011 The Chanteuse
    2. Honest Harold 501018 The Runaway Boy

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A004

    1. Honest Harold 501025 Campaign Speech
    2. Honest Harold 501101 Election Plans

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A005

    1. Honest Harold 501108 Cousin Raymond Visits
    2. Honest Harold 501115 Getting a Job

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A006

    1. Honest Harold 501122 Thanksgiving Play
    2. Honest Harold 501206 The Hummer

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A007

    1. Honest Harold 501213 Raymond and Gloria
    2. Honest Harold 501220 Children s Christmas Party

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A008

    1. Honest Harold 501227 New Year s Dance
    2. Honest Harold 510103 Warbleware Party

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A009

    1. Honest Harold 510110 Lost Sponsor
    2. Honest Harold 510117 Going to New York

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A010

    1. Honest Harold 510124 EngagedTwice
    2. Honest Harold 510131 Civic Achievement Award

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A011

    1. Honest Harold 510207 Mother s Suitor
    2. Honest Harold 510214 Mistaken Valentines

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A012

    1. Honest Harold 510221 Florabelle Returns
    2. Honest Harold 510228 Willis Cant Pass the Physical

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A013

    1. Honest Harold 510307 Red Cross Drive
    2. Honest Harold 510314 Income Tax

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A014

    1. Honest Harold 510321 Cousin Marvin
    2. Honest Harold 510328 First Day of School

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A015

    1. Honest Harold 510404 Modernizing Doc s Office
    2. Honest Harold 510418 Cleaning the Cellar

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A016

    1. Honest Harold 510425 Circus Day
    2. Honest Harold 510502 Marvin s Gang

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A017

    1. Honest Harold 510509 Vying for Class
    2. Honest Harold 510516 Florabelle s New Lover

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A018

    1. Honest Harold 510523 Party Invitation
    2. Honest Harold 510530 Marshall for a Day

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Honest Harold Disc A019

    1. Honest Harold 510606 Peabody s Sister Takes Over
    2. Honest Harold 510613 Marvin Decides to Stay

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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