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November 16: Happy Birthday, Jim Jordan (aka Fibber McGee!)

November 16: Happy Birthday, Jim Jordan (aka Fibber McGee!)

Made immortal for his role in "Fibber McGee and Molly," Jordan was born Nov. 16, 1896
outside Peoria, IL. With his wife, Marian, he formed the fictional married couple Fibber McGee and Molly , an Irish immigrants struggling to get by and coping with the scrapes Fibber gets them in. The act began on stage and moved to the radio in 1935, where it would stay until 1959. The old time radio program was one of the most popular of its day and lives on as a jewel in the crown of old time radio.

Off the air, Jim served several terms on the Encino Chamber of Commerce, and invested in several businesses, including the Kansas City Hires Root Beer bottling plant.

After the death of Marian, his longtime wife and on-air partner, Jim married Gretchen Stewart.
His son, Jim Jordan, worked on the other side of the mic, directing several episodes of Martin and Lewis's "Colgate Comedy Hour" as well as several films.

Jim Jordan died Apr 2, 1988 in Los Angeles.

Comments

  1. TimNovember 16, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    One of the greatest comedy teams ever. If I had to choose a favorite routine from their show, it would probably be when they drove Mayor LaTrivia nuts with their word play.

    Fibber's most famous statement on politicians, Molly asked Fibber what the difference is between a politician and a statesman? Fibber retorted, "A Statesman is out to get the best deal he can for his country, a Politician is out to get the best deal he can!"

    ReplyDelete
  2. BruceNovember 16, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    One of my favorite OTR shows. Clever writing, great music, wonderful characters, what more could you want? Even after 70-ish years, it's still funny stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JudyNovember 16, 2012 at 2:02 PM

    Used to listen to the radio when falling to sleep with them on the air. I named my best kitty, Fibber McGee, after him!! (Fibber's mama was named Molly, and he had a sister named Sis, and two brothers named Old Timer, and Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve. LOL)

    Actually, I need a name for a dog that beings with the letter "Y".. so far, I've only come up with Yowza but it works. Got any other suggestions?

    ReplyDelete
  4. BobNovember 16, 2012 at 2:03 PM

    NOT THAT CLOSET MCGEE!!!

    Jim Jordan was one of few people to be married to two spouses each for over 25 years. He remarried after Molly died and continued working as a "voice actor" for many years....

    Such a wonderful show. I got the CDs from OTR Cat and listened to them in order. My husband and I got the CDs also and listen to them often, still very funny.

    ReplyDelete
  5. GregNovember 16, 2012 at 4:14 PM

    "Tain't funny McGee."

    This was a great radio series. It was one of the first series that had a spinoff."

    ReplyDelete

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