Life of Riley: The Chicken Ranch PT 1/3

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/life_of_riley_fan_group



Vote for full season DVD releases of The Life of Riley (1953 version)@ http://tvshowsondvd.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Life
• of
• Riley
• 1953
• William
• Bendix
• Marjorie
• Reynolds
• Wesley
• Morgan
• Tom
• D'Andrea
• Lugene
• Sanders
• James
• Gleason
• Sterling
• Holloway
• Vintage
• Golden
• Age
• Television
• Nostalgia
• Family
• Sitcoms
• Retro
• Yesteryear

[ScarletSinn]

didn't william bendix play Babe Ruth in a movie?

[LOLFanme]

@ScarletSinn

Yes, William Bendix played Babe Ruth, in The Babe Ruth Story, a 1948 film.

[fromthesidelines]

Thanks, 'LOL'. Incidentally, guest star Jimmy Gleason (who appeared several times as Riley's father) originally played "Jim Gillis" in the 1949 feature film adaptation of the "RILEY" radio show featuring William Bendix, produced by creator/owner Irving Brecher. Irv didn't want to produce another version of the show (after an unsuccessful attempt to bring it to TV with Jackie Gleason in 1949-'50), so he leased the rights to NBC for a 15 year period, and they produced this 1953-'58 edition.

[LOLFanme]

I listen to the radio show all the time. I can't believe John Brown (Digger) also portrays Gillis!

I knew about James Gleason playing Riley's friend Gillis in the 1949 film & also have that on DVD & VHS & may add it if people would like to see it.

Jackie Gleason's Life of Riley lacked William Bendix' presence, who, in my estimation IS Chester A. Riley. It's a role he was born to play & tailor-made for him.

[skylur44]

Love these old shows; classics and part of my childhood. Thank you so much for posting!

[LOLFanme]

You're very welcome. This is my favorite 1950s sitcom. Though I love Bachelor Father, I Married Joan, My Little Margie, The Donna Reed Show, & Ozzie & Harriet, too!

MORE Riley, coming soon! :-)

[rhb909]

They dont make shows like this anymore!Oh what a shame!!  Bob in Grafton,West Virginia

[skylur44]

Excellent, my era! Love them all and miss them, if I had a time machine I'd be back there so fast I'd be a blur.

[vawlkee51]

Can't go wrong with Sterling Holloway as Waldo!

[charlesthepoet2004]

DO A WEB SEARCH ON:

charles h. miranda OR:

charlesthepoet2003

THANKS.

[scarypowers]

Jr. sure was cute

[fromthesidelines]

The reason Jackie initially played "Riley" on TV was because William Bendix had a contract with RKO-Radio Pictures, who refused to allow him to appear on a weekly TV show in 1949. Irving Brecher chose Gleason because, in his opinion, he came the closest to "being" Riley [he was forced to produce the TV series because Pabst Blue Ribbon, the radio sponsor, wanted that version on the air- then cancelled after 26 episodes because they wouldn't extend Brecher's contract for a full 39 week season].