# Fibber McGee and Molly - "The Gas War (Rebroadcast of 11 7 54)" (Old Time Radio, 1955)

An episode of [Fibber McGee and Molly | Old Time Radio](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1858238532), 12 Sep 2026, 16 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/75089400/19ae20ce7620023d_mastered.mp3

Fibber McGee and Molly presents “The Gas War,” episode 1245, originally broadcast December 9, 1955. This 15-minute NBC rebroadcast stars Jim and Marian Jordan as Fibber and Molly McGee. During an autumn drive, Fibber spots a local gasoline price war, with prices posted as low as 27.9 cents a gallon. Naturally, even a routine fill-up becomes an opportunity for Fibber’s determined bargain hunting. Ralph Goodman and Phil Leslie wrote the episode, directed by Max Hutto. Fibber McGee and Molly presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:49 Original Broadcast 15:24 Closing Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: On December 9, 1955, NBC aired episode number 1,245 of
[0:06] Speaker 1: Fibber McGee and Mollie, The Gas War. Jim Jordan and
[0:10] Speaker 1: Marion Jordan return as Fibber and Mollie, setting out on
[0:14] Speaker 1: an autumn drive that leads them into a local gasoline
[0:17] Speaker 1: price war. With one station advertising 27.9 cents a gallon,
[0:23] Speaker 1: Fibber still means to shop around, and an ordinary stop
[0:26] Speaker 1: for fuel becomes a contest in bargain hunting. This 15-minute
[0:31] Speaker 1: broadcast was written by Ralph Goodman and Phil Leslie, directed
[0:35] Speaker 1: by Max Hutto, with John Wald as announcer. Alka-Seltzer and
[0:39] Speaker 1: Tabchin were the sponsors. Ladies and gentlemen, the McGees are
[0:43] Speaker 1: ready to take the road. Now, back to the golden
[0:47] Speaker 1: age of radio.
[0:48] Speaker 2: Miles Laboratories, makers of Alka-Seltzer, bring you another visit with Fibber, McGee.
[0:55] Speaker 3: And Mollie.
[1:03] Speaker 2: Again, we invite you to listen to the transcribed adventures
[1:06] Speaker 2: of Fibber, McGee, and Molly. The show is written by
[1:09] Speaker 2: Phil Leslie and Ralph Goodman and directed by Max Hutto.
[1:26] Speaker 2: Our story will be underway in just a minute.
[1:29] Speaker 4: This is Eleanor Engel. You know, most of us like
[1:32] Speaker 4: to have fun, and we all know that fun is
[1:34] Speaker 4: good for us. But how about you? Do you always
[1:38] Speaker 4: feel up to enjoying your fun? There may be times
[1:41] Speaker 4: when you don't feel good, from a headache, perhaps, or
[1:44] Speaker 4: an upset stomach, or just from general achiness. Well, believe me,
[1:49] Speaker 4: that's the time when Alka-Seltzer can be a real friend
[1:53] Speaker 4: in need. Just drop one or two Alka-Seltzer tablets into
[1:56] Speaker 4: a glass of water like this. Listen to it fizz.
[2:04] Speaker 4: Then drink it. This action in the glass changes Alka-Seltzer
[2:09] Speaker 4: tablets into a relief-giving liquid. This is the form your
[2:13] Speaker 4: system can use most easily and naturally for relief. Action
[2:17] Speaker 4: in the Glass supercharges Alka-Seltzer with lively bubbles and this
[2:22] Speaker 4: soothing liquid speeds relief. Action in the Glass makes Alka-Seltzer
[2:26] Speaker 4: easy to absorb immediately. You'll like Alka-Seltzer for refreshing relief.
[2:32] Speaker 4: That speedy Alka-Seltzer, the favorite of so many for relief
[2:37] Speaker 4: that does so much.
[2:40] Speaker 1: ¶ ¶.
[2:50] Speaker 5: This sure is a nice day for a drive.
[2:52] Speaker 6: Yeah, it's just beautiful. I love the brisk fall weather.
[2:56] Speaker 6: The air has such a merry crispness to it.
[2:58] Speaker 2: A what?
[2:59] Speaker 7: A merry crispness. And a happy new year to you.
[3:01] Speaker 7: Don't you get it, kiddo?
[3:03] Speaker 2: You said.
[3:04] Speaker 7: Where do you want to go? You name it and
[3:06] Speaker 7: I'll drive you there to pay you back for that
[3:08] Speaker 7: corny joke I just made.
[3:09] Speaker 6: Well, we'd have to visit the Taj Mahal to make
[3:11] Speaker 6: things even on that one. Let's see now. Anywhere I want, huh?
[3:15] Speaker 5: Yep, you just name it.
[3:16] Speaker 6: Well, how about... How about Frank's garage? That sounds like
[3:23] Speaker 6: a perfect place, and it's a good thing we're right
[3:24] Speaker 6: near there, because.
[3:25] Speaker 5: What the heck's the matter with this?
[3:27] Speaker 3: Uh-oh.
[3:28] Speaker 5: Out of gas.
[3:28] Speaker 6: Well, there's Frank's on the corner. You think we'll make it?
[3:31] Speaker 5: Just keep your fingers crossed, kiddo. I'll coax her along.
[3:34] Speaker 4: Easy, easy.
[3:38] Speaker 3: Yeah.
[3:40] Speaker 5: I just made it. Looks like Frank's busy with another customer.
[3:43] Speaker 3: Be ready in a minute, folks. There you are, ma'am.
[3:45] Speaker 7: Thank you.
[3:46] Speaker 6: Oh, that's Mrs.
[3:47] Speaker 3: Atherton, McGee.
[3:47] Speaker 7: Who?
[3:48] Speaker 5: Hello, Mrs.
[3:49] Speaker 7: Atherton.
[3:49] Speaker 6: How's the baby?
[3:50] Speaker 4: Oh, just fine, thanks.
[3:51] Speaker 7: How's your little Edgar?
[3:53] Speaker 3: Edgar?
[3:53] Speaker 5: Oh, she's the one that thinks... I'm Mrs. Cronin, yes.
[3:56] Speaker 6: Edgar's all right, thank you. Took a fall off his
[3:58] Speaker 6: tricycle yesterday and bumped his head, though.
[4:01] Speaker 8: Oh, I hope it wasn't serious.
[4:03] Speaker 7: Oh, no, he looks better now. Flattened out his pointed
[4:06] Speaker 7: head a little.
[4:06] Speaker 5: McGee.
[4:07] Speaker 7: Just a little bump.
[4:08] Speaker 6: He's all right.
[4:09] Speaker 2: Well, nice seeing you, dear.
[4:13] Speaker 8: Give my regards to Gloria May.
[4:15] Speaker 3: Right.
[4:16] Speaker 5: Well, that ain't the silliest routine.
[4:18] Speaker 3: Now, then, what can I do for you folks? Oh, hello, Mrs. McGee.
[4:21] Speaker 7: Hello, Mr.
[4:21] Speaker 1: Fuller.
[4:22] Speaker 6: We need some gas.
[4:23] Speaker 7: Yeah, and you are the nearest. I mean, naturally, when
[4:24] Speaker 7: I need gas, I always come to you, Frank.
[4:26] Speaker 3: Oh, you do, huh?
[4:27] Speaker 5: Well, I sure do.
[4:28] Speaker 9: Well, then you got the only car in town that
[4:30] Speaker 9: gets 380 miles to the gallon.
[4:31] Speaker 3: Don't kid me, fib.
[4:33] Speaker 9: If it wasn't for this price war we're all mixed
[4:35] Speaker 9: up in, you'd be out at the serve yourself joint
[4:36] Speaker 9: on the highway.
[4:37] Speaker 5: Price war?
[4:38] Speaker 3: Well, certainly. Mina, tell me you haven't heard about it.
[4:41] Speaker 6: No, we were just going out for a drive this afternoon, Frank,
[4:44] Speaker 6: and we ran out.
[4:44] Speaker 7: Yeah, we ran out this way to buy some gas
[4:46] Speaker 7: from you, Frank.
[4:47] Speaker 5: Price is way down, huh? How much is it?
[4:50] Speaker 9: We're down from 31 cents a gallon to 27.9.
[4:52] Speaker 3: Oh.
[4:53] Speaker 9: We don't like it, but we got to keep up
[4:55] Speaker 9: with the competition. Prices have been fluct... fluct... jumping up
[4:59] Speaker 9: and down ever since this thing started.
[5:01] Speaker 6: Well, I guess this is our lucky day, dearie.
[5:04] Speaker 3: Yep. Our loss is your gain, McGee. How much you want?
[5:07] Speaker 5: Well, uh, Oh, just give me the usual, Frank.
[5:11] Speaker 3: What?
[5:12] Speaker 6: Oh, McGee, 50 cents worth? You heard Mr. Fuller say
[5:15] Speaker 6: there's a price for on. He's already cut his price
[5:18] Speaker 6: three cents a gallon. Let's fill it up.
[5:19] Speaker 5: No, sir.
[5:21] Speaker 7: I'm not the type of guy that he takes advantage
[5:23] Speaker 7: of a friend who's forced to sell at a loss
[5:25] Speaker 7: to keep up with the competition.
[5:27] Speaker 5: No, sir.
[5:28] Speaker 7: We'll just take enough to get us back home, Frank.
[5:30] Speaker 9: Well, Gina, that's a pretty swell attitude, Fib.
[5:33] Speaker 3: I sure had you figured all wrong.
[5:35] Speaker 10: Sure.
[5:35] Speaker 3: Sure. You'll have to forgive me for them disparaging... Disparaging...
[5:39] Speaker 3: Lousy remarks I made a while ago.
[5:41] Speaker 7: Ah, think nothing of it, Frank, old man. Just put
[5:44] Speaker 7: in a half a buck's worth so we can get home,
[5:45] Speaker 7: and as soon as the prices.
[5:46] Speaker 5: Stop, flux your flux.
[5:48] Speaker 7: Jumping up and down, we'll be back.
[5:49] Speaker 5: You right, Molly? Quick, what does it say on that
[6:03] Speaker 5: side of the street?
[6:04] Speaker 6: Twenty-two cents a gallon. The one across the street says
[6:06] Speaker 6: twenty-one and a half.
[6:08] Speaker 7: And over there to the left, it's twenty-one and a quarter. Boy,
[6:10] Speaker 7: oh boy, it's getting lower all the time. Imagine that,
[6:13] Speaker 7: down from thirty-one cents. Yes, sir. I'll bet before this
[6:16] Speaker 7: fifty cents worth of gas runs out, we'll find a
[6:18] Speaker 7: place for eighteen cents.
[6:19] Speaker 5: Or maybe even seventeen.
[6:20] Speaker 6: Maybe, but I think it was kind of a sneaky
[6:22] Speaker 6: way to fool Mr.
[6:23] Speaker 7: Fuller like that.
[6:23] Speaker 5: Well, that's the business world for you, kiddo. Dog eat dog.
[6:27] Speaker 7: Anyways, I wouldn't tell old Frank we were going to
[6:29] Speaker 7: scot around for a better price. I'm too soft-headed for that.
[6:33] Speaker 7: You mean soft-hearted, don't you? I mean my head's too soft.
[6:36] Speaker 7: You saw that monkey wrench in his hand, didn't you?
[6:39] Speaker 7: Frank's an okay guy, all right, but he's what's known
[6:41] Speaker 7: in the garage set as the emotional type. With customers
[6:43] Speaker 7: like you, I can see how he gets that way.
[6:45] Speaker 5: Hey, there's our place. Look there. We'll never beat that price.
[6:50] Speaker 5: Nineteen points. No, wait.
[6:53] Speaker 7: Hey, there's one for eighteen points. Oh, there's one down
[6:56] Speaker 7: the street for... No. Yeah, hey.
[6:58] Speaker 6: Oh, look at that. Oh, isn't it silly?
[7:10] Speaker 2: In a moment, we'll return to Febber McGee and Molly.
[7:13] Speaker 4: Having fun is good for you.
[7:15] Speaker 8: Feel good so you can enjoy your fun.
[7:18] Speaker 4: When you feel all in, all over, with a headache,
[7:21] Speaker 4: upset stomach, or general achiness, that's when you should take Alka-Seltzer.
[7:27] Speaker 11: Alka-Seltzer tablets dropped into a glass of water fizz and
[7:30] Speaker 11: become a liquid way to relief.
[7:32] Speaker 8: Starting with a liquid is wise because.
[7:35] Speaker 11: Anything else you swallow has to be changed by your
[7:38] Speaker 11: body into liquid form before it can help you. Alka-Seltzer
[7:42] Speaker 11: becomes a relief-giving liquid that's better because of action in
[7:46] Speaker 11: the glass.
[7:47] Speaker 4: Yes, action in the glass changes Alka-Seltzer tablets into a liquid.
[7:53] Speaker 4: This is the form your system can use most easily
[7:56] Speaker 4: and naturally for relief.
[7:57] Speaker 11: Action in the glass supercharges Alka-Seltzer with lively bubbles. This
[8:02] Speaker 11: soothing liquid speeds relief.
[8:05] Speaker 4: Action in the glass makes Alka-Seltzer easy to absorb immediately.
[8:09] Speaker 4: You'll like Alka-Seltzer for refreshing relief.
[8:23] Speaker 6: Look, McGee, we've been up and down this boulevard six
[8:25] Speaker 6: times now.
[8:26] Speaker 5: I know.
[8:26] Speaker 7: But before we go back to that 16 cents a
[8:28] Speaker 7: gallon place, I just want to be sure that's the
[8:30] Speaker 7: best deal.
[8:31] Speaker 5: I hate to be took.
[8:32] Speaker 2: Oh, dear.
[8:32] Speaker 6: You'd better make up your mind pretty soon because we're
[8:34] Speaker 6: getting low again.
[8:35] Speaker 7: Hey, stupid.
[8:37] Speaker 10: What's the idea of sticking your hand out the window
[8:40] Speaker 10: like that if you're not going to turn?
[8:42] Speaker 7: My hand ain't sticking out the window.
[8:44] Speaker 3: Oh, beg your pardon. It's your ears.
[8:47] Speaker 5: Well, Dr.
[8:48] Speaker 7: Gamble.
[8:49] Speaker 5: Oh, him. Very funny, fatso.
[8:51] Speaker 3: Hi, kids.
[8:52] Speaker 10: Pull over, McGee. I want to talk to you.
[8:54] Speaker 7: Okay, pull up ahead. Hey, maybe Doc knows where there's
[8:58] Speaker 7: a good buy. He drives around a lot.
[9:00] Speaker 6: Hiya, Molly.
[9:01] Speaker 3: Where you kids going?
[9:02] Speaker 6: Around in circles, mostly, doctor. We had planned on going
[9:05] Speaker 6: for a drive out in the country, but ever since
[9:07] Speaker 6: McGee found there's a gasoline price war on.
[9:10] Speaker 7: Yeah, hey, Fatso, do you know where they got the
[9:11] Speaker 7: best deal? Our tank's nearly empty, and I... Oh, a
[9:13] Speaker 7: guy like you shouldn't have to pay for the stuff, McGee.
[9:16] Speaker 5: What you mean?
[9:17] Speaker 10: Well, the way you keep gassing with that mobile mouth
[9:20] Speaker 10: of yours, all Molly has to do is pump your arm,
[9:22] Speaker 10: and you'll have enough to last all winter.
[9:24] Speaker 7: Ah, look, I got no time to banty words, banty legs.
[9:27] Speaker 7: I gotta fill my gas tank. I saw a place
[9:29] Speaker 7: back there for 16 cents a gallon. You seen it
[9:32] Speaker 7: anywhere any cheaper anyplace?
[9:33] Speaker 10: Nope, that's the lowest price in town.
[9:35] Speaker 5: Okay, what'd you want to see me about? A microscope.
[9:38] Speaker 10: I just wondered if you'd be interested in a good
[9:40] Speaker 10: used microscope for a dollar. But if you're in such
[9:42] Speaker 10: a hurry, I.
[9:43] Speaker 5: Hey, hey, hey, wait a minute. A buck for a
[9:45] Speaker 5: good microscope?
[9:47] Speaker 3: Used?
[9:47] Speaker 10: Well, you're always fooling around with mine when you come
[9:49] Speaker 10: to the office, so I thought that... But if you're
[9:52] Speaker 10: not interested.
[9:53] Speaker 5: Wait a minute. Sure I'm interested. Well, it's at the hospital.
[9:56] Speaker 10: I'm on my way over there now, so if you'll
[9:59] Speaker 10: let me have your dollar.
[9:59] Speaker 5: A buck, huh? Sure, sure.
[10:01] Speaker 7: Thanks for telling me about it, George.
[10:03] Speaker 5: Here you are.
[10:04] Speaker 3: Thanks. And here you are.
[10:06] Speaker 5: What's this?
[10:07] Speaker 10: Your raffle ticket.
[10:08] Speaker 5: What?
[10:08] Speaker 10: They're holding the drawing in surgery tonight to help send
[10:10] Speaker 10: Doc Fredericks to Hawaii on his honeymoon.
[10:13] Speaker 3: What?
[10:13] Speaker 7: Why?
[10:14] Speaker 10: Go on, pal.
[10:15] Speaker 5: Thanks for the contribution. Why?
[10:29] Speaker 7: There it is again, Molly. Sixteen cents a gallon. Imagine that.
[10:33] Speaker 5: Down from 31 cents.
[10:35] Speaker 7: Yeah.
[10:35] Speaker 5: Well, I guess that's the lowest price in town.
[10:37] Speaker 7: You guess.
[10:38] Speaker 6: If you don't know, nobody does. Pull in there and
[10:40] Speaker 6: fill up the tank and let's go home. It's almost
[10:42] Speaker 6: 3 o'clock. We've wasted this whole day just.
[10:44] Speaker 5: Okay, okay.
[10:45] Speaker 7: I guess there's no sense overdoing this thing. You know,
[10:48] Speaker 7: this looks like rock bottom. And a few tents here
[10:50] Speaker 7: and there won't make much difference. Uh-oh.
[10:52] Speaker 3: Uh-oh.
[10:52] Speaker 5: Look at this sign. Now what?
[10:54] Speaker 9: Yes, sir.
[10:54] Speaker 3: Regular Ethel.
[10:55] Speaker 7: Uh-oh. No. We just hopped in to use the phone, bud.
[10:59] Speaker 7: Is that okay?
[11:00] Speaker 9: Oh, sure.
[11:01] Speaker 3: It's in the station there.
[11:01] Speaker 9: Help yourself.
[11:02] Speaker 3: The phone?
[11:03] Speaker 6: McGee, what's this all about? I thought you were going to.
[11:05] Speaker 5: I was, until I noticed his sign. Look at that.
[11:08] Speaker 7: Five-gallon limit. If that's the case, we'll do better across
[11:11] Speaker 7: the street at that other place, Slim Station. Oh, McGee,
[11:13] Speaker 7: for heaven's sake. It's five-tenths of a cent more, but
[11:16] Speaker 7: there's no limit than the way I figured. Oh, wait
[11:18] Speaker 7: a minute. Am I figuring that right? Five-tenths of a...
[11:21] Speaker 7: Open the glove compartment and give me a pencil and paper.
[11:23] Speaker 7: I'll work this thing out and.
[11:30] Speaker 5: Let's see. Six and seven-eighths times four and three-fifths. Move
[11:34] Speaker 5: the cipher over and over to drop the thing under the...
[11:37] Speaker 5: What did I do with that decimal point?
[11:39] Speaker 6: McGee, I've had enough. If this isn't the most ridiculous
[11:41] Speaker 6: thing I ever.
[11:42] Speaker 5: Look, it'll only take another minute, Molly.
[11:43] Speaker 7: I nearly got.
[11:44] Speaker 3: Hey, you folks still here? Nothing wrong with that phone
[11:46] Speaker 3: of mine, is there?
[11:46] Speaker 2: Oh, no.
[11:48] Speaker 7: We've been trying to figure.
[11:49] Speaker 3: Don't you mind if I use the phone a minute?
[11:50] Speaker 3: I got an important call to make. Oh, no.
[11:52] Speaker 7: Go right ahead.
[11:52] Speaker 2: Thanks.
[11:53] Speaker 3: That won't be a minute.
[11:54] Speaker 5: Okay. Now, let's see. Where was I?
[11:56] Speaker 7: Oh, yeah. If we go across the street to Slim's
[12:00] Speaker 7: and get 10 gallons, that's 16.5. Oh, Slim?
[12:03] Speaker 3: Morgan. Yep, just got the word. Gas war is over. Yeah,
[12:06] Speaker 3: you put up your old sign again. Ain't that great?
[12:09] Speaker 8: You're right.
[12:10] Speaker 5: Oh, no.
[12:11] Speaker 9: Say, would you folks mind backing your car up? I
[12:13] Speaker 9: want to take that 16-cent sign down and put up
[12:15] Speaker 9: the old sign.
[12:16] Speaker 3: Boy, happy days are here again.
[12:17] Speaker 5: Oh, this is ridiculous.
[12:38] Speaker 3: Your friends have more to say to you presently.
[12:41] Speaker 11: Say, if you're feeling the miseries of a cold, do
[12:43] Speaker 11: yourself a real favor.
[12:45] Speaker 8: Won't you? And find out how Tabcin can help you.
[12:48] Speaker 11: Tabcin, spelled T-A-B-C-I-N, can be taken at any stage of
[12:53] Speaker 11: a cold to relieve the sniffles, sneezes, watery eyes, feverish feeling, headache,
[12:58] Speaker 11: and general aches and pains. Tabcin comes in smooth-coated, easily
[13:03] Speaker 11: swallowed tablets. In packages, easy to carry with you wherever
[13:06] Speaker 11: you go. And that's just what you'll want to do
[13:09] Speaker 11: if you have a cold during this time of the year.
[13:12] Speaker 8: Take Tapson. Ah, well, there we are.
[13:27] Speaker 3: The old sign's back up again. We're all set.
[13:29] Speaker 7: Yeah, that's Peachy. Hey, look at his prices, will you?
[13:33] Speaker 7: This must be the most expensive place in town. 32
[13:36] Speaker 7: cents here and all the others are 31.
[13:38] Speaker 6: Murder.
[13:39] Speaker 7: Let's get out of this jib joint, kiddo. We might
[13:45] Speaker 7: as well go back to Frank. No sense letting this
[13:47] Speaker 7: guy take advantage of us.
[13:51] Speaker 3: Empty. Hmm.
[13:53] Speaker 5: Give me a gallon. So long, everybody.
[13:56] Speaker 7: See you later.
[13:57] Speaker 4: Bye.
[14:03] Speaker 2: Fibber, McGee, and Mollie, transcribed, is brought to you Mondays
[14:06] Speaker 2: through Fridays at this time by Miles Laboratories, makers of Alka-Seltzer.
[14:26] Speaker 3: Dr. Gamble is played by Arthur Q. Bryant.
[14:29] Speaker 2: Frank Fuller was played by Jack Crucian and Mrs. Atherton
[14:32] Speaker 2: by Natalie Mastix. Well, so much for McGee's problems with
[14:36] Speaker 2: the petroleum industry. On Monday, together with his ever-present spouse,
[14:41] Speaker 2: he gets into the spirit of the season and goes
[14:43] Speaker 2: shopping for a Christmas present for.
[14:45] Speaker 3: Good old Doc.
[14:47] Speaker 2: You can go along, too, if you join us again then.
[14:49] Speaker 2: This is John Wald wishing you all a happy weekend.
[15:09] Speaker 2: Monitor takes you everywhere, weekends on NBC Radio.
[15:24] Speaker 1: Thank you for sharing this December 1955 visit with Fibber
[15:27] Speaker 1: McGee and Molly, The Gas War. Follow Fibber McGee and
[15:31] Speaker 1: Molly for more classic broadcasts.

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