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Situation comedy · CBS

The Harold Peary Show

August 23, 1950 – June 13, 1951 · 40 broadcasts

When Harold Peary jumped from NBC to CBS in 1950, he could not bring The Great Gildersleeve with him -- sponsor Kraft owned the character and kept it on NBC with a soundalike replacement -- so Peary built a near-twin instead. The Harold Peary Show, better known by the name of its hero's own broadcast, Honest Harold, cast him as Harold Hemp, the too-scrupulous morning host of "The Happy Homemaker" in the mythical small town of Melrose Springs. The comedy was pure Gildersleeve in a new suit: Harold runs for mayor, gets engaged to two women at once, and leans on a horse-doctor crony who fills the old judge's foil role. Critics noticed -- John Dunning wrote that "Peary tried with Honest Harold to do Gildy all over again" -- and the show lasted a single 1950-51 season, thirty-nine broadcasts and out, its slot handed to Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Yet it is a warm, likable failure: directed by a pre-Gunsmoke Norman Macdonnell, stocked with the CBS-Hollywood radio company, and home to one real milestone -- on the March 21, 1951 broadcast, California governor Earl Warren honored Peary on the air for his 10,000th radio broadcast.

Collection status: 38 of 40 held (95% complete)
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Episode Spine

Grouped by year. Jump to the full list below, or open a season on its own page.

1950

August 23, 1950 Audition Show Listen (MP3)
In the audition, the scrupulously honest homemaker-host declares on air that his new sponsor's shampoo is dreadful and refuses to plug it -- introducing Melrose Springs, its boastful station owner, and the ladies who make Honest Harold a morning must.
September 17, 1950 Harold Loses His Job at the Radio Station Listen (MP3)
Ready to abandon little Melrose Springs for a shot at the big city, Honest Harold keeps his job when a flood of listener phone calls proves how much the town depends on his morning program.
September 24, 1950 Plan to Rename Boomer Park Listen (MP3)
Turning crusader, Honest Harold pushes a civic plan to rename Boomer Park -- and lands crosswise of station owner Caruthers and manager Stanley Peabody.
October 4, 1950 Advertising Shark Repellant Powder on the Radio Show Listen (MP3)
A honey-tongued 'philanthropist' named Sincere Sam Smith absconds with the charity funds collected for the Sunny Side of Seventy club, leaving a burned Honest Harold to learn that a smooth voice can mask a crook.
October 11, 1950 Harold Falls for a Chanteuse Listen (MP3)
With girlfriend Evelina away in Chicago and a fresh vow of fidelity on his lips, Harold is undone by a green-eyed redhead at the depot -- and wakes the next morning drowning in remorse.
October 18, 1950 The Runaway Boy Listen (MP3)
A late-night disturbance rouses sleepy Melrose Springs when a runaway boy turns up on the doorstep of its favorite homemaker-broadcaster.
October 25, 1950 Harolds Campaign Speech Listen (MP3)
With election season heating up, Honest Harold is drafted by his listeners to run for mayor against his own boss, station manager Stanley Peabody, and must give a campaign speech.
November 1, 1950 Harold Decides He Wants to Lose the Election Listen (MP3)
It's election day in Melrose Springs, and a suddenly reluctant Honest Harold paces his campaign manager Doc Yancey's office scheming to LOSE the mayor's race he never wanted to win.
November 8, 1950 Cousin Raymond Visits Listen (MP3)
The Hemp household is turned upside down by the arrival of Harold's young cousin Raymond, in from Chicago for a visit.
November 15, 1950 Getting a Job for Raymond Listen (MP3)
Saddled with a house-guest cousin who won't work, Harold finally coaxes lazy Raymond into hunting for a job -- as the winner of the nationwide Honest Harold laugh contest is announced.
November 22, 1950 Thanksgiving Play Listen (MP3)
For Thanksgiving, Honest Harold directs and stars in his own 'Courtship of Miles Standish' pageant, and crowns laugh-contest winner Lena Duncan 'Miss Mirthquake of 1950.'
November 29, 1950 Title Unknown
December 6, 1950 Harold Meets the Hummer Listen (MP3)
A mysterious stalker called 'The Hummer' has Honest Harold jumping at shadows, alone and thoroughly rattled in his radio-station office.
December 13, 1950 Harold Helps Raymond and Gloria Go to the Dance Listen (MP3)
Cousin Raymond is smitten with switchboard operator Gloria O'Day, and Harold schemes to get the young couple to the dance -- with two dates lined up and only one escort to go around.
December 20, 1950 Santa at the Childrens Christmas Party Listen (MP3)
Two days before Christmas, warmth fills frosty Melrose Springs as Honest Harold trusts a reformed old bank robber with the job of playing Santa at the children's party.
December 27, 1950 New Years Barn Dance Listen (MP3)
Barely recovered from Christmas, a pleasantly dazed Honest Harold gathers his strength -- and a date -- for the New Year's barn dance.

1951

January 3, 1951 Mrs ODays Warbleware Party Listen (MP3)
Still-unemployed cousin Raymond gets a man-to-man talking-to and a job as a Warbleware kitchenware demonstrator -- with comic complications sure to follow at Mrs. O'Day's party.
January 10, 1951 Harold Loses His Sponsor and Tries a New Show Listen (MP3)
Left in charge while boss Peabody is away at a convention, an oversleeping Honest Harold manages to lose the station's sponsor and scrambles to invent a new show.
January 17, 1951 Harold Thinks of Going to New York Listen (MP3)
Leafing through his 1927 high-school annual on a wintry afternoon, Honest Harold weighs a flattering job offer that would take him from Melrose Springs to the big city.
January 24, 1951 Harold Gets Engaged Twice Listen (MP3)
Trying to make sweetheart Theodora jealous by dedicating a love song to old flame Florabelle, Harold overplays his hand and ends up engaged to both women at once.
January 31, 1951 Civic Achievement Award Listen (MP3)
Chasing the 'Oswald Award' for civic improvement, Harold gets Mayor Peabody to pass an ordinance -- only to discover his own law has grounded Doc Yancey's horse, and now he must get it repealed.
February 7, 1951 Harolds Mother Has a Suitor Listen (MP3)
Harold is startled to learn his mother has a gentleman caller -- the very Mr. Walker he'd tangled with in a parking lot -- and that she's been bitten by the amateur-theatrical bug.
February 14, 1951 Mistaken Valentines Listen (MP3)
Cousin Raymond's Valentine deliveries go hilariously astray, tangling Harold's love life and upsetting Florabelle, as Harold croons 'Love's Old Story' and dons a Cinnamon Bear costume.
February 21, 1951 Florabelle Returns Listen (MP3)
Newly single after Theodora leaves town for New York, Honest Harold settles into bachelor life just as an old flame, Florabelle, comes back around.
February 28, 1951 Willis Can't Pass the Physical Listen (MP3)
Florabelle's jilted fiance Willis -- a hulking grain merchant -- misreads Harold's brotherly friendliness and vows to break him in two, sending Harold hunting for a bodyguard.
March 7, 1951 Red Cross Drive Listen (MP3)
Sworn off women (especially Florabelle), Harold throws himself into running the town's Red Cross fund drive, the morning after his first-aid class ends in disaster.
March 14, 1951 Income Tax Listen (MP3)
It's the fifteenth of March and, true to form, Honest Harold has left his income-tax return to the very last minute.
March 21, 1951 Cousin Marvin Comes to Stay Listen (MP3)
On the broadcast marking Peary's 10,000th time before a microphone, Honest Harold learns he's suddenly second cousin -- and guardian -- to a pint-sized 'little monster' named Marvin.
March 28, 1951 Cousin Marvins First Day of School Listen (MP3)
Young cousin Marvin's first day of school brings fresh headaches to the Hemp household.
April 4, 1951 Modernizing Docs Office Listen (MP3)
Honest Harold rallies to help when his old crony Doc Yancey, the town's veteran veterinarian, is threatened with the loss of his post.
April 11, 1951 Hemp Forms A Boy's Club Branch
Honest Harold organizes a local branch of the Boys Clubs, and the star is honored with a national award.
April 18, 1951 Harold Decides to Clean out the Cellar Listen (MP3)
Tasked with cleaning out the cellar, Honest Harold tries a Tom Sawyer-style dodge to get someone else to do the dirty work -- and finds it doesn't take.
April 25, 1951 Circus Day Listen (MP3)
Melrose Springs stages a circus, and Honest Harold is in the thick of the fun and chaos.
May 2, 1951 Marvins Gang Listen (MP3)
May 9, 1951 Harold and Mr Walker Vie for Class Listen (MP3)
Honest Harold meets his match in a fast-talking sharpie named Mr. Walker as the two vie to show more class.
May 16, 1951 Does Florabelle Have a New Lover Listen (MP3)
May 23, 1951 Marvin Is Invited to a Party Listen (MP3)
Harold turns himself into a delivery boy so that young cousin Marvin can make it to a party.
May 30, 1951 Harold Is Marshall for a Day Listen (MP3)
Standing in as marshal-for-a-day, the gullible Honest Harold reaches new heights of naivete when the real Pete leaves him in charge.
June 6, 1951 Peabodys Sister Takes over the Radio Station Listen (MP3)
June 13, 1951 Marvin Decides to Stay with Harold Listen (MP3)
The series signs off on a Father's Day note as Honest Harold, moved by his fatherless young cousin, decides Marvin should stay on with him for good.
The Story

When Harold Peary jumped from NBC to CBS in 1950, he could not bring The Great Gildersleeve with him -- sponsor Kraft owned the character and kept it on NBC with a soundalike replacement -- so Peary built a near-twin instead. The Harold Peary Show, better known by the name of its hero's own broadcast, Honest Harold, cast him as Harold Hemp, the too-scrupulous morning host of "The Happy Homemaker" in the mythical small town of Melrose Springs. The comedy was pure Gildersleeve in a new suit: Harold runs for mayor, gets engaged to two women at once, and leans on a horse-doctor crony who fills the old judge's foil role. Critics noticed -- John Dunning wrote that "Peary tried with Honest Harold to do Gildy all over again" -- and the show lasted a single 1950-51 season, thirty-nine broadcasts and out, its slot handed to Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Yet it is a warm, likable failure: directed by a pre-Gunsmoke Norman Macdonnell, stocked with the CBS-Hollywood radio company, and home to one real milestone -- on the March 21, 1951 broadcast, California governor Earl Warren honored Peary on the air for his 10,000th radio broadcast.

Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
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