August 31, 1941: The Great Gildersleeve started on NBC. It was a spin-off of Fibber McGee and Molly . The Great Gildersleeve was one of the earliest spin-off programs in the history of radio broadcasting. The show featured Throckmorton Philharmonic Gildersleeve, the lead character of the radio sitcom Fibber McGee and Molly . This popular character was portrayed by American actor Harold Peary , who also starred in the film adaption of the sitcom. Enjoy this debut broadcast from the Old Time Radio Collection of Great Gildersleeve :