# Fibber McGee and Molly - "Daredevil Dave Subs for Fibber" (Old Time Radio, 1955)

An episode of [Fibber McGee and Molly | Old Time Radio](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1858238532), 29 Sep 2026, 16 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/75431030/2b25c115e1eec263_mastered.mp3

Fibber McGee and Molly presents “Daredevil Dave Subs for Fibber,” originally broadcast on January 10, 1955. This archival installment is episode 1072 of the NBC comedy series, starring Jim and Marian Jordan as Fibber and Molly McGee. It is the day of Fibber’s much-anticipated balloon flight, the culmination of his advertising scheme. As launch time nears, the McGees encounter the comic complications surrounding the planned ascent and its substitute daredevil. The 15-minute-era broadcast was sponsored by Prudential Insurance and Dial Soap. 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 00:52 Original Broadcast 15:24 Closing Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: A much-anticipated balloon flight is set to take place, the
[0:03] Speaker 1: culmination of Fibber McGee's balloon-based advertising scheme. On January 10, 1955,
[0:10] Speaker 1: NBC brought listeners episode 1072 of Fibber McGee and Molly,
[0:16] Speaker 1: Daredevil Dave Subs for Fibber. As the launch draws near,
[0:21] Speaker 1: Fibber and Molly find the day's plans complicated by a
[0:25] Speaker 1: substitute daredevil. The cast includes Jim Jordan, Marion Jordan, Mary
[0:31] Speaker 1: Jane Croft, Arthur Q. Bryan, Bill Thompson, Jack Moyles, and
[0:36] Speaker 1: John Wald in the weekday 15-minute series sponsored by Prudential
[0:42] Speaker 1: Insurance and Dial Soap. Ladies and gentlemen, the McGees are
[0:46] Speaker 1: preparing for a public balloon flight. And now, our story begins.
[0:52] Speaker 2: It's time for Fibber, McGee, and Mollie.
[0:55] Speaker 3: © BF-WATCH TV 2021.
[1:26] Speaker 4: Before we hear tonight's story, Mr. McGee shocks Mrs. McGee
[1:29] Speaker 4: with this statement.
[1:30] Speaker 5: Would you light a match to a pile of money, Molly?
[1:32] Speaker 6: Heavenly days, McGee. Where'd you get an idea like that?
[1:35] Speaker 7: Just came to me. Dramatizing a point, they call it.
[1:38] Speaker 7: You know, trying to make people sit up and take
[1:39] Speaker 7: notice by shocking them a little.
[1:41] Speaker 6: Well, I'm properly shocked, dearie. Now, what's it all about?
[1:43] Speaker 5: It's about the.
[1:44] Speaker 7: Thousands of dollars that are lost each year because a
[1:46] Speaker 7: lot of people don't know the few simple facts about
[1:49] Speaker 7: their own social security.
[1:51] Speaker 5: For example... A lot of young married folks don't.
[1:53] Speaker 7: Realize that Social Security benefits can give them a good
[1:55] Speaker 7: start toward a family protection program.
[1:57] Speaker 8: I guess what McGee has been leading up to is
[2:00] Speaker 8: some plain talk on the new Social Security law. Plain
[2:03] Speaker 8: talk is the name of Prudential's 30-page booklet that answers
[2:06] Speaker 8: all your questions about Social Security benefits.
[2:09] Speaker 7: Like how much will I get at 65? Do I
[2:11] Speaker 7: get credit for the time I spent in service? Can
[2:14] Speaker 7: my family and I lose our benefits?
[2:16] Speaker 8: And what's more, all these important questions are illustrated with
[2:19] Speaker 8: some of the cutest baby pictures you've ever seen.
[2:21] Speaker 6: Outside of your own family.
[2:23] Speaker 5: You want a copy? It's yours for the asking.
[2:26] Speaker 7: Just drop a card with your name and address on
[2:27] Speaker 7: it to Fibber McGee and Molly, Box 1212, Newark, New Jersey.
[2:42] Speaker 2: Today is the day the balloons go up.
[2:45] Speaker 4: Yep, at noon today, a cluster of large weather balloons
[2:48] Speaker 4: will float over downtown Wistful Vista, advertising the big January sales,
[2:53] Speaker 4: while that daring arrow-nut, uh, arrow-not, Fibber McGee, sits suspended
[2:59] Speaker 4: beneath them and drops circulars on the crowd below. The
[3:03] Speaker 4: McGee backyard's a busy place right now.
[3:05] Speaker 2: Listen.
[3:06] Speaker 5: I wonder if she.
[3:07] Speaker 2: Can go up.
[3:08] Speaker 8: I don't know.
[3:08] Speaker 6: Look at him balloon.
[3:09] Speaker 2: Hey, what does that one say?
[3:12] Speaker 5: Look at this mob, Wim. Half the town.
[3:14] Speaker 2: Hey, a picture, Mr. McGee. Look this way, please. Thank you.
[3:18] Speaker 9: Now, how about one with a flying suit zipped up
[3:20] Speaker 9: and the oxygen mask on?
[3:21] Speaker 10: No more pictures, gentlemen, please.
[3:23] Speaker 2: Mr.
[3:24] Speaker 10: McGee is rather fatigued.
[3:25] Speaker 5: Yes, gentlemen, I'm rather fatigued.
[3:27] Speaker 10: It's been quite a strain preparing for this death-defying assent
[3:30] Speaker 10: he's going to make.
[3:31] Speaker 5: Yeah, death-defying.
[3:32] Speaker 10: He'll make a statement later before taking off. Now, if
[3:35] Speaker 10: you'll just stay behind the ropes, please.
[3:37] Speaker 7: Boy, what a mob, Wimp. Did you collect the admissions
[3:39] Speaker 7: from everybody for standing room in our yard?
[3:41] Speaker 2: Oh, I sure did, Chief.
[3:43] Speaker 10: It's all here in your flying helmet.
[3:45] Speaker 5: Good good 10 cents.
[3:47] Speaker 10: For the sunny side of the yard and two bits
[3:49] Speaker 10: in the shade should.
[3:50] Speaker 5: Have been the other way around it's freezing.
[3:52] Speaker 10: Out here who cares they paid well.
[3:54] Speaker 7: I'm going in the house a while and see if
[3:55] Speaker 7: i can cheer molly up a little she's awful upset
[3:58] Speaker 7: about this and i keep trying to tell her there's
[4:00] Speaker 7: no danger keep the crowd away from that.
[4:02] Speaker 5: Balloon rig will you right chief don't.
[4:04] Speaker 7: Let anybody touch them ropes that i got it tied
[4:06] Speaker 7: down with either i'm going to.
[4:07] Speaker 10: The house Don't worry about a thing, Chief. I'm in
[4:10] Speaker 10: charge here.
[4:12] Speaker 5: Come on.
[4:17] Speaker 6: Everybody back.
[4:18] Speaker 2: Don't touch the balloons. Back, please. You there in the
[4:21] Speaker 2: blue suit.
[4:22] Speaker 6: Get behind.
[4:23] Speaker 10: Oh, excuse me, officer. Would you kindly help me keep
[4:26] Speaker 10: these civilians from.
[4:40] Speaker 7: And I keep telling you, Molly, there's nothing to worry about.
[4:42] Speaker 5: I know what I'm doing, kiddo.
[4:44] Speaker 6: Hand me a handkerchief, Mabel.
[4:46] Speaker 10: Here you are, dear.
[4:48] Speaker 11: Now stop worrying. He'll be all right, probably. You know
[4:52] Speaker 11: how it is with babies and boobs. Providence looks after them.
[4:55] Speaker 5: Yeah, you see there? I'll be okay. Cheer up. I'll
[4:58] Speaker 5: be all over before you know it.
[5:00] Speaker 2: What?
[5:00] Speaker 5: I mean, it'll be all over. Me, there's nothing to
[5:02] Speaker 5: worry about.
[5:03] Speaker 6: I can't help it.
[5:04] Speaker 5: Yeah, but look, Mabel, why don't you go outside with
[5:06] Speaker 5: the crowd and let me talk to Molly a minute?
[5:08] Speaker 11: I'll stay right here. You got the poor kid scared
[5:11] Speaker 11: half to death already. If Mort did this to me, I'd.
[5:13] Speaker 7: Gee whiz, Molly, there's nothing to worry about. I got
[5:16] Speaker 7: everything checked and double-checked. We're going to make a pile
[5:19] Speaker 7: of dough from the merchants for them ads on the balloons.
[5:21] Speaker 6: I don't care how much money we make. If you
[5:23] Speaker 6: get hurt, it'll be.
[5:24] Speaker 2: Oh, come on, relax, Molly.
[5:27] Speaker 10: He won't get hurt. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
[5:30] Speaker 5: Doggone it, nothing's going to happen, Mabe. I'll be okay.
[5:33] Speaker 7: If I could just get five minutes to talk to
[5:35] Speaker 7: my own wife, without everybody butting in, I could convince her.
[5:38] Speaker 6: I'm sorry, but I can't help worrying.
[5:40] Speaker 8: You've done some silly things before, but.
[5:42] Speaker 5: This is the first time I ever charged admission. It's
[5:45] Speaker 5: about time, too. Look at that.
[5:48] Speaker 7: We collected 12 or 14 bucks just for letting people
[5:50] Speaker 7: stand in our flower beds.
[5:51] Speaker 6: Yeah, but the whole thing is so dangerous.
[5:53] Speaker 5: Not dangerous at all.
[5:54] Speaker 7: All I got to do is sit in that little seat,
[5:57] Speaker 7: go up, float over 14th and Oak, drop a bunch
[6:00] Speaker 7: of circulars, float around a while, then snip a few
[6:03] Speaker 7: balloons loose and float down gently.
[6:05] Speaker 5: Doggone it, I wish I could make you understand.
[6:07] Speaker 11: Well, I don't know how you can be so calm
[6:09] Speaker 11: about it. You don't know anything about balloons.
[6:11] Speaker 6: It's a stupid trick.
[6:12] Speaker 5: It is not too either stupid.
[6:14] Speaker 7: Besides, well... It is my belief, Mrs. Toops, that what's
[6:19] Speaker 7: going to happen is going to happen. I guess I'm
[6:22] Speaker 7: just a philatelist.
[6:24] Speaker 6: That's a stamp collector.
[6:25] Speaker 5: Well, I mean a philanthropist.
[6:28] Speaker 6: No, that isn't you either. That's somebody who gives money away.
[6:31] Speaker 5: Well, then what am I?
[6:32] Speaker 6: I guess you're just a little boy who never grew up.
[6:35] Speaker 8: And there isn't much I can do about it, but
[6:37] Speaker 8: you do get into the darndest things I.
[6:39] Speaker 5: That a baby, Molly. That's better.
[6:42] Speaker 7: I know you'll feel better when you start bawling me out.
[6:44] Speaker 5: Come on, give me a smile now.
[6:46] Speaker 7: When this stunt is all over, I'll take the dough
[6:48] Speaker 7: I make and we'll all go on a.
[6:52] Speaker 2: Night out. Back to Wistful Vista in a minute.
[7:01] Speaker 12: The soap that gets you extra clean is Dial, Dial, Dial.
[7:07] Speaker 12: The soap that keeps you extra clean is Dial, Dial, Dial.
[7:12] Speaker 3: Dial users say they just don't feel as clean with
[7:15] Speaker 3: any other soap.
[7:16] Speaker 2: And it's true.
[7:17] Speaker 3: With Dial, you never worry about odor because Dial removes
[7:21] Speaker 3: the cause. You see, normal perspiration is odorless until skin
[7:25] Speaker 3: bacteria go to work on it. They cause the odor.
[7:28] Speaker 3: And ordinary soaps leave thousands of these bacteria. But daily
[7:32] Speaker 3: washing with Dial removes up to 95% of them. That's
[7:36] Speaker 3: because Dial's the only leading soap with AT7 or hexachlorophene.
[7:41] Speaker 3: There's nothing else as good at stopping odor. And this
[7:44] Speaker 3: ingredient clings to your skin, protecting you all day, several
[7:48] Speaker 3: days if need be. That's why Dial stops odor before
[7:52] Speaker 3: it starts and keeps you nice to be around.
[7:55] Speaker 2: Aren't you glad you use Dial soap? And don't you
[7:58] Speaker 2: wish everybody did? Hey, folks, here he comes.
[8:13] Speaker 9: Here comes the McGee guy.
[8:18] Speaker 6: And there's his wife with him, Mrs.
[8:20] Speaker 1: McGee.
[8:21] Speaker 5: All right, folks, now, one time.
[8:23] Speaker 2: Let him through.
[8:23] Speaker 10: Good heavens, let's be civilized about this. Through here, Mrs. McGee.
[8:28] Speaker 6: Thank you, Mr.
[8:28] Speaker 2: Wimple.
[8:29] Speaker 5: Everything okay, Wimp? Did you check everything? Everything okay?
[8:32] Speaker 2: Right, Chief. Everything's under control. All set. Ground crew to pilot.
[8:37] Speaker 6: Roger.
[8:37] Speaker 10: Over to you.
[8:38] Speaker 5: Pilot to ground crew.
[8:39] Speaker 12: Roger.
[8:40] Speaker 5: Wilco and out. Well, kiddo, this is it.
[8:42] Speaker 6: Oh, dear.
[8:43] Speaker 8: Well, good luck, sweetheart. My, you look so cute in
[8:46] Speaker 8: your flying suit that you're rented.
[8:47] Speaker 2: Here. Oh, what's this?
[8:50] Speaker 8: I packed you a little lunch, in case something goes
[8:52] Speaker 8: wrong and you get stuck up there.
[8:54] Speaker 6: Two ham sandwiches and an apple.
[8:56] Speaker 5: In such a great big box?
[8:57] Speaker 6: They're wrapped in a parachute.
[8:59] Speaker 5: A what?
[9:00] Speaker 8: I made it myself last night out of a bed sheet.
[9:02] Speaker 8: I couldn't sleep anyway.
[9:03] Speaker 5: Oh, Molly, I don't need.
[9:05] Speaker 6: Take it!
[9:06] Speaker 5: Okay.
[9:07] Speaker 10: You want to say a word to the press before
[9:08] Speaker 10: you take off, Chief?
[9:09] Speaker 2: Here they are now. Hey, how about a statement, Mr. McGee?
[9:13] Speaker 2: Just a few last words.
[9:15] Speaker 6: Last words?
[9:16] Speaker 9: Hey, before you go, Johnny, can I have your fishing
[9:18] Speaker 9: rod and shotgun? They wouldn't sell me no life insurance, Johnny, because... No,
[9:23] Speaker 9: all right, officer, all right. I'll get back dag nabbit.
[9:27] Speaker 10: Quit your shoving your stars.
[9:30] Speaker 5: Gentlemen of the press.
[9:31] Speaker 7: You may say to your readers that this flight today
[9:33] Speaker 7: is being made for the greater glory of American industry,
[9:36] Speaker 7: and especially the downtown merchants who bought ads on these balloons.
[9:40] Speaker 7: And since the scheduled hour has about approached, I'll merely
[9:43] Speaker 7: say adios and bon voyage. Now, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me,
[9:50] Speaker 7: I'll step into my garage here and don my.
[9:53] Speaker 5: Oxygen mask and my aviator scarf.
[9:55] Speaker 7: I'll say goodbye to you now, Molly, because you won't
[9:57] Speaker 7: be able to understand a word when I put on.
[9:59] Speaker 5: That oxygen mask.
[10:00] Speaker 6: Well, goodbye, dearie, and good luck.
[10:03] Speaker 5: Thanks, kiddo. You gonna go with the crowd and follow
[10:05] Speaker 5: the balloons downtown?
[10:06] Speaker 6: No, no, I don't want to watch. I'll stay home.
[10:09] Speaker 5: Okay, I'll go put on my oxygen mask and this
[10:11] Speaker 5: is it.
[10:13] Speaker 10: Coming through, please.
[10:15] Speaker 2: Let Mr.
[10:15] Speaker 10: McGee through to his garage.
[10:16] Speaker 6: Good luck, Mr.
[10:17] Speaker 2: McGee.
[10:17] Speaker 10: Let him get his oxygen mask.
[10:19] Speaker 2: This way, Chief. I'll open it.
[10:21] Speaker 5: Thanks, Wimple. Stand by, everybody.
[10:23] Speaker 6: I'll be right back.
[10:24] Speaker 2: Good luck, dear.
[10:25] Speaker 6: I hope everything's all right, Mr.
[10:27] Speaker 5: Wimple.
[10:27] Speaker 10: Oh, don't worry. He's all right.
[10:29] Speaker 2: Back, fellows. Don't crowd. He'll be out in a minute.
[10:32] Speaker 6: All right, back up there. Behind the rope.
[10:36] Speaker 4: You, mister, get back.
[10:37] Speaker 2: Give him room. Yes, please.
[10:39] Speaker 9: Hey, here he comes! Hey, look at that oxygen mask!
[10:46] Speaker 6: I don't want to watch Mr.
[10:47] Speaker 5: Whipple.
[10:47] Speaker 6: What's he doing now?
[10:48] Speaker 10: He's in the balloon seat, Mrs. McGee, and he's strapping
[10:51] Speaker 10: himself in. The men are standing by to cut the
[10:54] Speaker 10: ropes and start the flight.
[10:55] Speaker 6: He'll be all right, won't he?
[10:57] Speaker 10: He's waiting to the crowd.
[10:58] Speaker 6: You wave back for me, will you? I can't look.
[11:01] Speaker 10: They're cutting the ropes, and there he goes.
[11:04] Speaker 2: There he goes!
[11:06] Speaker 11: There he goes!
[11:08] Speaker 10: The balloons are now up about 300 feet, Mrs. McGee,
[11:11] Speaker 10: and they're drifting toward the downtown district. The crowd is
[11:15] Speaker 10: going wild. There he goes, far away into the blue.
[11:18] Speaker 10: You should see what's hanging out of the balloon now.
[11:21] Speaker 6: Well, there's nothing we can do now but wait, is there?
[11:23] Speaker 10: Well, we can.
[11:24] Speaker 8: Look at him sitting up there, drifting along in the wind. Oh,
[11:28] Speaker 8: I hope he holds on tight. If anything happens to him.
[11:30] Speaker 2: Oh, don't you worry.
[11:31] Speaker 10: Nothing will happen to Mr.
[11:32] Speaker 12: McGee.
[11:33] Speaker 6: I know. That's what he's been saying all day.
[11:35] Speaker 10: Step over here just a minute to the garage. I'll
[11:39] Speaker 10: open the door.
[11:39] Speaker 2: Huh?
[11:40] Speaker 6: What are you.
[11:41] Speaker 5: Hi, kiddo.
[11:42] Speaker 6: McGee!
[11:43] Speaker 5: In the pink quivering flesh.
[11:44] Speaker 6: Who was that went up? Somebody's up there.
[11:47] Speaker 5: Daredevil Dave. An old friend of mine.
[11:49] Speaker 13: Flies balloons at all the county fairs, Molly.
[11:52] Speaker 2: Dr.
[11:52] Speaker 6: Gamble, I wondered where you.
[11:54] Speaker 13: Oh, I've been hiding in the garage here, helping Dave
[11:56] Speaker 13: into a duplicate flying suit and oxygen mask so they'd
[11:59] Speaker 13: think it was McGee.
[12:00] Speaker 6: Oh, my, I.
[12:01] Speaker 10: He had a terrible time talking Mr. McGee into it,
[12:04] Speaker 10: but he'd have broken his neck.
[12:05] Speaker 7: I've been trying to let you in on it all day, kiddo,
[12:07] Speaker 7: but Mabel Toops wouldn't leave us alone for a minute.
[12:09] Speaker 7: And if Mort ever found out about this, you know
[12:11] Speaker 7: how he blabbed.
[12:12] Speaker 6: Oh, McGee, you darling, I'm so glad to see you. Hey,
[12:15] Speaker 6: let me tell you.
[12:16] Speaker 5: Hey, quit kissing me a minute.
[12:17] Speaker 6: Let me tell you how it worked out. Hey, cut
[12:20] Speaker 6: it out.
[12:32] Speaker 2: Fibber and Molly will be right back.
[12:34] Speaker 4: Tomorrow's Tuesday, and that means Jack Webb will be with
[12:37] Speaker 4: you once again in Dragnet. in the famous role he created,
[12:40] Speaker 4: that of Detective Sergeant Joe Friday. As you travel the
[12:44] Speaker 4: streets of Los Angeles with Joe Friday and his partner
[12:46] Speaker 4: Frank Smith, you get a realistic, first-hand look at the
[12:49] Speaker 4: tireless work of a big city police department. An assignment
[12:53] Speaker 4: for Friday and Smith may turn out to be a
[12:55] Speaker 4: false alarm, or it may develop into the unexpected chase
[12:58] Speaker 4: of a dangerous killer. So be on hand tomorrow night
[13:01] Speaker 4: for Dragnet, and don't forget the many other Tuesday favorites
[13:04] Speaker 4: brought your way by NBC. There's Lux Radio Theater, radio's
[13:08] Speaker 4: greatest dramatic show. And for laughs, there's People Are Funny,
[13:12] Speaker 4: starring Art Linklater, The Great Gildersleeve, that pompous, lovable water
[13:16] Speaker 4: commissioner of Summerfield, and, of course, our own Fibber and Molly.
[13:20] Speaker 2: That's tomorrow and.
[13:21] Speaker 4: Every Tuesday night for Dragnet, Lux Radio Theater, People Are Funny,
[13:25] Speaker 4: The Great Gildersleeve, and Fibber McGee and Molly.
[13:28] Speaker 2: It's the biggest Tuesday night in radio. Hear it on NBC.
[13:42] Speaker 13: And Daredevil Dave is gonna keep the balloons up till
[13:44] Speaker 13: after dark, Molly. And when he lands somewhere out in
[13:47] Speaker 13: the country, he'll take off his suit and oxygen mask
[13:50] Speaker 13: and phone us.
[13:50] Speaker 5: Then I and Doc drive out and pick him up.
[13:53] Speaker 2: Simple.
[13:54] Speaker 8: Oh, I'm so glad you didn't make that silly flight, McGee.
[13:58] Speaker 8: But I don't like the idea of fooling people like this.
[14:00] Speaker 8: They think it's you.
[14:01] Speaker 6: Oh, what's the difference?
[14:02] Speaker 13: Dave makes flights like this for a living, Molly.
[14:05] Speaker 5: Sure.
[14:05] Speaker 13: The merchants are paying McGee $ 750 for this advertising stunt.
[14:09] Speaker 13: Dave doesn't mind if McGee gets the credit.
[14:12] Speaker 6: Well, what does Dave get?
[14:13] Speaker 5: He gets the cash. $ 750. Oh, well. Easy come, easy go.
[14:21] Speaker 5: Good night.
[14:22] Speaker 6: Good night, all.
[14:45] Speaker 4: This is John Wald inviting you in on the fun
[14:48] Speaker 4: tomorrow night when Mr. McGee attempts to disprove an English
[14:51] Speaker 4: doctor who claims that women are physically superior to men.
[14:56] Speaker 2: Does he prove it? Well, tune in and see.
[15:07] Speaker 3: Join the great Gildersleeve and all his friends tonight on
[15:09] Speaker 3: the NBC radio network.
[15:23] Speaker 1: This has been Fibber McGee and Molly Daredevil Dave subs
[15:26] Speaker 1: for Fibber Follow Fibber McGee and Molly for more classic
[15:29] Speaker 1: broadcasts

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