Preview

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Life of Riley, Vol. 1

By: Hollywood 360
Narrated by: William Bendix
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.67

Buy for $13.67

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Created by Irving Brecher, The Life of Riley starred William Bendix as Brooklyn-born Chester A. Riley, a family man who worked as a wing riveter at the fictional Cunningham Aircraft plant in California. The stories were usually set at home, where Riley would cheerfully disrupt life with his malapropisms and ill-timed intervention into minor problems. His stock answer to every turn of fate became a popular catchphrase: "What a revoltin' development this is!" Trouble usually arose when Riley received bad information from his coworker, Jim Gillis.

Paula Winslowe played Riley's wife, Peg; John Brown doubled as undertaker "Digger" O'Dell and Jim Gillis; Tommy Cook, Bobby Ellis, and Scotty Beckett each played the role of Riley's son, Junior; and Sharon Douglas played the Riley's daughter, Babs. Alan Reed, the voice of Fred Flintstone, played multiple characters, including Riley's boss, Mr. Stevenson, as well as Peg's father.

The program aired on radio from 1944 until 1951, making a successful transition to television in 1949. Due to a contract dispute, Bendix couldn't initially play Riley on television, so the role went to Jackie Gleason. In 1953 Bendix was free to star as Riley on the small screen and continued with it until 1958.

Episodes include:

  • "Cissio's Marriage"
  • "Riley the Dogcatcher"
  • "Riley Fixes Dinner for Mother's Day"
  • "Fish Story"
  • "The Boss' Son-in-Law"
  • "The Halloween Show: Haunted House"
  • "Big Football Bet"
  • "Riley's Mash Note at Night School"
  • "Wedding Anniversary"
  • "Five Dollars Is Missing"
  • "Gambling Does Not Pay"
  • "Riley Thinks He's Promoted"
©2015 Hollywood 360 (P)2015 Black Eye Entertainment
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Life of Riley, Vol. 1

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Show List

1 Cissie's Marriage 3-24-50
2 Riley The Dog Catcher 5-7-44
3 Riley Fixes Dinner For Mother's Day 5-14-44
4 Fish Story 6-4-44
5 Boss' Son-In-Law, The 10-22-44
6 Halloween Haunted House 10-29-44
7 Big Football Bet 11-12-44
8 Riley's Mash Note At Night School 12-10-44
9 Wedding Anniversary, The 1-14-45
10 Missing Five Dollars 3-25-45
11 Gambling Does Not Pay 4-27-46
12 Riley Thinks He's Promoted To Assistant Manager 9-7-46

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!