William Bendix originated the Riley character on radio. When the first tv series was planned, Bendix was in a tight film contract that prevented him from taking the role.
I just took a look at the William Bendix "Rileys" on YT and he sure played the role different from Jackie Gleason. Bendix played him as a loveable lug, while Gleason played him as just a lug! Gleason played Riley as he would Ralph Kramden later on, which of course was classic, but I could understand why some people would have preferred Bendix when this version came out.
Now that the great one is not with us anymore, someone should release these shows on dvd/blu-ray. The show isn't that good, but the value is in the fact that it was 1949. This is one of the first family sit-coms ever.
There was no laugh track in the Gleason edition of the series because Irving Brecher later recalled that because of production costs, he couldn't afford to add one at the time. When he reissued the series in January 1977 (after a long legal challenge from Jackie Gleason, who simply didn't want his version to be shown again), he was finally able to add them for syndication.
No laugh track and Gleason's performance make this show seem serious and real instead of funny. It feels utterly realistic, more so than anything else I've ever seen.
Irving Brecher originally produced and owned the radio AND television editions of the show. Sponsor Pabst Blue Ribbon wanted William Bendix to appear on both NBC radio and TV in the fall of 1949, but had to settle for Gleason on TV. NBC leased the rights to the series from Brecher in late 1952, and they produced the more successful 1953-'58 Bendix TV version.
Me either! And it looks as though they plucked his eyebrows after this, too! lol It's great to see him this early, though. Up until I saw this, I had only read about his participation in this series.
Fascinatin' footage! THANKS for sharing it! Quite intriguing to compare Jackie's Chester A. Riley to Bill Bendix's better known version. Odd to hear no laugh track! The radio version of course had a live audience. And I don't think I ever saw the late great Gleason so thin! "The Life of Riley" is one of my favorite programs from the Golden Age of Radio....the late great Bill Bendix was BORN to play Riley! I especially love his dialouge with "Digger" O'Dell, the friendly undertaker!
Actually, 'gary', "RILEY" was on NBC, Tuesday nights at 9:30pm(et) in the 1949-'50 season, doing quite well opposite CBS' TV edition of its radio anthology, "SUSPENSE". But, as Irving Brecher told me, it was because sponsor Pabst Brewing Company was dissatisfied with the TV edition; quite frankly, they wanted William Bendix (who starred on the radio version sponsored by them at the time). But Bendix was under contract to RKO-Radio Pictures in '49, and they wouldn't let him appear on TV.
It's very interesting watching Gleason act in this role. Shades of Ralph Kramden are there if you watch closely. The bulging eyes; the "Look out" as he pushes the wife out of the way. A few subdued wise cracks. The problem is that the whole scene is too subdued. "The Honeymooners" was the perfect vehicle to let Gleason really let loose!
Amazing that this version did so poorly...perhaps it being on DuMont had something to do with it. Gleason, is of course, a classic. This is tremedous fun, but only lasted from October 4, 1949 to March 28, 1950, or the equivalent of one season. The Bendix version was on the air from Jan. 2, 1953 to August 22, 1958. If the Bendix version deserved five+ years, I can't believe this one didn't last longer. Bendix originating the role on radio may have contributed to the latter's success.
Since THE LIFE OF RILEY was an NBC property, it was my understanding that this ran on NBC. This seems supported by comments below. DuMont didn't have the financial resources for a show of this nature. You are thinking of Gleason's first venture into television which started on DuMont and moved to CBS in 1956.
I am referring the LIFE RILEY. I am old enough to remember the William Bendix version when it was new. I also saw THE HONEYMOONERS when they were live from New York.
You lost me but regardless, as long as you know this was the "Life Of Riley" in 1949 with Gleason, "before" the Bendix 1953 version. It was also Gleason's 1st TV series. I was also around for Bendix's Riley & The Honeymooners. My father liked Bendix but hated Gleason so we missed that a lot. (I think it's because of the way he treated Alice, Ed, etc.)
I remember WPIX in New York showed these episodes on Saturday nights (actually early Sunday mornings) just before sign-off at 2:00 a.m. That must have been back in the mid-1970s. Wow, Gleason must have gained 100 pounds between this show and The Honeymooners six years later.
...at the end of January 1950, Brecher was informed that Pabst wanted just 6 more weeks of the TV show instead of the agreed 13. That was the "deal breaker", according to Brecher, who later found out that six more weeks would have taken the show into May of '50, when Pabst began sponsoring "BLUE RIBBON BOUTS" on CBS {"They thought it was a better show for selling their beer", he wrote me}. He paid an extra $2000 out of his own pocket each week to defray the cost of filming the show...
Irving Brecher passed away this past week (after two heart attacks) at the age of 94. He was a very talented and witty man; I know this because we used to exchange letters. He told me the reason his TV version of "THE LIFE OF RILEY" ended after 26 weeks was because Pabst wanted William Bendix on TV, not Jackie {they sponsored Bendix's radio version until 1951}. Pabst (and its ad agency, Warwick & Legler) had a 26 week deal with Brecher for the series, with an additional 13 week option....
Years ago, a video collector showed me a few original episodes (with the Pabst commercials) of the series, 'Julia'. Yes, there was a "blue ribbon" against the closing credits, which became the "Pabst" logo at the very end (omitted from syndicated rebroadcasts in the '70s & '80s), and announcer Jimmy Wallington sometimes adding, "Enjoy 'THE LIFE OF RILEY' on both radio and television, over NBC. Consult your local listings for the time and station in your area. This is Jimmy Wallington speaking".
Thank you for this. I recently been listening to the podcast of TLOR and love this show. I especially like when "Digger the friendly Undetaker is featured.
Originally, there was an sponsor I.D before the opening title, with a chorus singing: "Enjoy the life of Riley, with Pabst Blue Ribon Beer, whenever you take a taste of it, you'll give it a hearty cheer, again and again and again and again it's Pabst Blue Ribbon you'll buy, again and again and again and again your taste will tell you why, so enjoy the life of Riley, with Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer... with Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer! WALLINGTON: Finest beer served...anywhere! (continued)
This episode, first seen in October 1949, was adapted from one of the original "RILEY" radio scripts {almost all of the 26 episodes in this series were}- Jimmy Wallington was the announcer/narrator on the TV series [as on William Bendix's concurrent radio edition]. There was no laugh track in the original film prints; when creator/producer Irving Brecher leased the series to WPIX-TV in New York beginning in Jnauary 1977, he had one added in each episode...
The only time that I ever saw this program was once around 5 AM on WPIX around 1979 (could have been later). It was very weird seeing it after watching the Willim Bendix version on WOR (which was better) and seeing a relatively thin Gleason. With that said, it was pretty good.
The series was originally sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon beer on NBC's Tuesday night schedule [9:30-10pm(et)] from October 1949 through March 1950, and was one of the first filmed situation comedies on network TV {it even won one of the first Emmy awards as "Best Filmed TV Series" of the year}. William Bendix, the original "Riley" on radio {which was still on NBC radio's Friday night line-up for the same sponsor at the time}, could not appear on TV because of his RKO movie contract...
William Bendix originated the Riley character on radio. When the first tv series was planned, Bendix was in a tight film contract that prevented him from taking the role.
pgh45rpms 3 weeks ago
Gleason abandoned the role to do his weekly show on the DuMont Network.
Starcastle2009 2 months ago
William Bendix originated the role on radio, so maybe that's why audiences rejected Gleason as Riley, even though both actors had similar voices.
AkiroXKE 4 months ago
I just took a look at the William Bendix "Rileys" on YT and he sure played the role different from Jackie Gleason. Bendix played him as a loveable lug, while Gleason played him as just a lug! Gleason played Riley as he would Ralph Kramden later on, which of course was classic, but I could understand why some people would have preferred Bendix when this version came out.
WSenator1 6 months ago
Now that the great one is not with us anymore, someone should release these shows on dvd/blu-ray. The show isn't that good, but the value is in the fact that it was 1949. This is one of the first family sit-coms ever.
NolanKevin7 6 months ago
There was no laugh track in the Gleason edition of the series because Irving Brecher later recalled that because of production costs, he couldn't afford to add one at the time. When he reissued the series in January 1977 (after a long legal challenge from Jackie Gleason, who simply didn't want his version to be shown again), he was finally able to add them for syndication.
fromthesidelines 7 months ago
@fromthesidelines that's a sad story. :(
apk1215 7 months ago
This old man at work always talks about this show to me cuz my name is also riley lolz
smileyg333 10 months ago
anybody know if this is on dvd
cippy2k 1 year ago
i love 1940s family values
noutube 1 year ago 2
No laugh track and Gleason's performance make this show seem serious and real instead of funny. It feels utterly realistic, more so than anything else I've ever seen.
EmperorMAR 1 year ago
this is so funny...i loved this show...i found it on wpix channel 11 new york
soulconnection2010 1 year ago
His uniform here looks a forerunner of the bus driver's outfit he would wear with distinction several years later.
WSenator1 1 year ago
Irving Brecher originally produced and owned the radio AND television editions of the show. Sponsor Pabst Blue Ribbon wanted William Bendix to appear on both NBC radio and TV in the fall of 1949, but had to settle for Gleason on TV. NBC leased the rights to the series from Brecher in late 1952, and they produced the more successful 1953-'58 Bendix TV version.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
I don't think I've ever seen Jackie this thin before!
IrisMG 1 year ago 2
@IrisMG
Me either! And it looks as though they plucked his eyebrows after this, too! lol It's great to see him this early, though. Up until I saw this, I had only read about his participation in this series.
Merry483 1 year ago
@IrisMG neither had i.
malscott 1 year ago
Hope that "theme music" (whistling) didn't set them back too much!
tripjet999 2 years ago 2
Fascinatin' footage! THANKS for sharing it! Quite intriguing to compare Jackie's Chester A. Riley to Bill Bendix's better known version. Odd to hear no laugh track! The radio version of course had a live audience. And I don't think I ever saw the late great Gleason so thin! "The Life of Riley" is one of my favorite programs from the Golden Age of Radio....the late great Bill Bendix was BORN to play Riley! I especially love his dialouge with "Digger" O'Dell, the friendly undertaker!
JubalCalif 2 years ago
Actually, 'gary', "RILEY" was on NBC, Tuesday nights at 9:30pm(et) in the 1949-'50 season, doing quite well opposite CBS' TV edition of its radio anthology, "SUSPENSE". But, as Irving Brecher told me, it was because sponsor Pabst Brewing Company was dissatisfied with the TV edition; quite frankly, they wanted William Bendix (who starred on the radio version sponsored by them at the time). But Bendix was under contract to RKO-Radio Pictures in '49, and they wouldn't let him appear on TV.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
It's very interesting watching Gleason act in this role. Shades of Ralph Kramden are there if you watch closely. The bulging eyes; the "Look out" as he pushes the wife out of the way. A few subdued wise cracks. The problem is that the whole scene is too subdued. "The Honeymooners" was the perfect vehicle to let Gleason really let loose!
zlonxman 2 years ago
Amazing that this version did so poorly...perhaps it being on DuMont had something to do with it. Gleason, is of course, a classic. This is tremedous fun, but only lasted from October 4, 1949 to March 28, 1950, or the equivalent of one season. The Bendix version was on the air from Jan. 2, 1953 to August 22, 1958. If the Bendix version deserved five+ years, I can't believe this one didn't last longer. Bendix originating the role on radio may have contributed to the latter's success.
garytvfan 2 years ago
Since THE LIFE OF RILEY was an NBC property, it was my understanding that this ran on NBC. This seems supported by comments below. DuMont didn't have the financial resources for a show of this nature. You are thinking of Gleason's first venture into television which started on DuMont and moved to CBS in 1956.
RayPointer 2 years ago
Sorry but this was Gleason's 1st series on television, though he did guest, at least once, on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" earlier in 1949.
ncatt 2 years ago
I am referring the LIFE RILEY. I am old enough to remember the William Bendix version when it was new. I also saw THE HONEYMOONERS when they were live from New York.
RayPointer 2 years ago
You lost me but regardless, as long as you know this was the "Life Of Riley" in 1949 with Gleason, "before" the Bendix 1953 version. It was also Gleason's 1st TV series. I was also around for Bendix's Riley & The Honeymooners. My father liked Bendix but hated Gleason so we missed that a lot. (I think it's because of the way he treated Alice, Ed, etc.)
ncatt 2 years ago
Yes I am aware of this history, my dear.
I first saw the 1949 version when it was run on the former CBN in 1980 before it became The Family Channel.
I lost you? We are saying the same thing. Aren't we on the same page?
RayPointer 2 years ago
You are mistaken. Life of Riley with Jackie Gleason was on DuMont. The later version with William Bendix was on NBC.
SeesAndKnowsAll 1 year ago
I remember WPIX in New York showed these episodes on Saturday nights (actually early Sunday mornings) just before sign-off at 2:00 a.m. That must have been back in the mid-1970s. Wow, Gleason must have gained 100 pounds between this show and The Honeymooners six years later.
paktype 3 years ago
...at the end of January 1950, Brecher was informed that Pabst wanted just 6 more weeks of the TV show instead of the agreed 13. That was the "deal breaker", according to Brecher, who later found out that six more weeks would have taken the show into May of '50, when Pabst began sponsoring "BLUE RIBBON BOUTS" on CBS {"They thought it was a better show for selling their beer", he wrote me}. He paid an extra $2000 out of his own pocket each week to defray the cost of filming the show...
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
Irving Brecher passed away this past week (after two heart attacks) at the age of 94. He was a very talented and witty man; I know this because we used to exchange letters. He told me the reason his TV version of "THE LIFE OF RILEY" ended after 26 weeks was because Pabst wanted William Bendix on TV, not Jackie {they sponsored Bendix's radio version until 1951}. Pabst (and its ad agency, Warwick & Legler) had a 26 week deal with Brecher for the series, with an additional 13 week option....
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
Years ago, a video collector showed me a few original episodes (with the Pabst commercials) of the series, 'Julia'. Yes, there was a "blue ribbon" against the closing credits, which became the "Pabst" logo at the very end (omitted from syndicated rebroadcasts in the '70s & '80s), and announcer Jimmy Wallington sometimes adding, "Enjoy 'THE LIFE OF RILEY' on both radio and television, over NBC. Consult your local listings for the time and station in your area. This is Jimmy Wallington speaking".
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
Thank you for this. I recently been listening to the podcast of TLOR and love this show. I especially like when "Digger the friendly Undetaker is featured.
"Well need to be shovelling off"
Jennifer0075 3 years ago
"You'll hear it everywhere,
finest beer served anywhere,
33 fine brews, blended into one great beer.."
WALLINGTON: Pabst Blue Ribbon- "Finest Beer Served- Anywhere"- proudly presents...."
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
Do you remember that dissolve to the Pabst Blue Ribbon logo in the closing credits?
(I saw it in the reruns--I was born some time after 1949---uh-uh, I won't tell you, LOL).
Juliaflo 3 years ago
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
This episode, first seen in October 1949, was adapted from one of the original "RILEY" radio scripts {almost all of the 26 episodes in this series were}- Jimmy Wallington was the announcer/narrator on the TV series [as on William Bendix's concurrent radio edition]. There was no laugh track in the original film prints; when creator/producer Irving Brecher leased the series to WPIX-TV in New York beginning in Jnauary 1977, he had one added in each episode...
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
The only time that I ever saw this program was once around 5 AM on WPIX around 1979 (could have been later). It was very weird seeing it after watching the Willim Bendix version on WOR (which was better) and seeing a relatively thin Gleason. With that said, it was pretty good.
EarlSnohomish 3 years ago
The series was originally sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon beer on NBC's Tuesday night schedule [9:30-10pm(et)] from October 1949 through March 1950, and was one of the first filmed situation comedies on network TV {it even won one of the first Emmy awards as "Best Filmed TV Series" of the year}. William Bendix, the original "Riley" on radio {which was still on NBC radio's Friday night line-up for the same sponsor at the time}, could not appear on TV because of his RKO movie contract...
fromthesidelines 3 years ago