# Fibber McGee and Molly - "Paperboy Mcgee (Rebroadcast of 11-01-54)" (Old Time Radio, 1955)

An episode of [Fibber McGee and Molly | Old Time Radio](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1858238532), 13 Oct 2026, 15 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/75757614/f77ea8b945784f99_mastered.mp3

Fibber McGee and Molly presents “Paperboy McGee,” episode 1205, originally broadcast on October 14, 1955. This NBC program is a rebroadcast of the November 1, 1954 episode, starring real-life husband-and-wife team Jim and Marian Jordan as Fibber and Molly McGee. When Fibber tries to help a neighborhood paperboy, his good intentions leave him behind the usual eight-ball in Wistful Vista. Ralph Goodman and Phil Leslie wrote this compact mid-century comedy, sponsored by Alka-Seltzer. 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 00:47 Original Broadcast 15:07 Closing Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: Trying to help a paperboy leaves Fibber McGee behind the
[0:03] Speaker 1: eight ball. Ladies and gentlemen, from NBC's 15-minute weekday run,
[0:07] Speaker 1: this is Fibber McGee and Molly, Paperboy McGee, episode 1205,
[0:12] Speaker 1: heard in rebroadcast on October 14th, 1955, from the original
[0:15] Speaker 1: program of November 1st, 1954. Jim and Marion Jordan, the
[0:25] Speaker 1: real-life husband-and-wife team, return as Fibber and Molly in Wistful Vista,
[0:30] Speaker 1: with John Wald announcing and Eleanor Engle as commercial spokesperson.
[0:35] Speaker 1: Ralph Goodman and Phil Leslie wrote the program, Max Hutto directed,
[0:39] Speaker 1: and Alka Seltzer sponsored. As Fibber sets out to lend
[0:42] Speaker 1: a hand to the neighborhood paperboy, here is the original broadcast.
[0:47] Speaker 2: Miles Laboratories, makers of Alka-Seltzer, bring you another visit with Fibber, McGee,
[0:52] Speaker 2: and Mollie. Again, we invite you to listen to the
[1:02] Speaker 2: transcribed adventures of Fibber, McGee, and Mollie. The show is
[1:05] Speaker 2: written by Phil Leslie and Ralph Goodman and directed by
[1:08] Speaker 2: Max Hutto. Our story will be underway in just a minute.
[1:26] Speaker 3: This is Eleanor Engle. Say, how about this for an
[1:29] Speaker 3: example of frustration? Let's say you have a splitting headache
[1:33] Speaker 3: or a cold or a stuffy, upset stomach.
[1:36] Speaker 4: So you look around for the Alka-Seltzer.
[1:39] Speaker 3: Then you discover that someone has made off with the
[1:42] Speaker 3: last Alka-Seltzer tablet and neglected to buy a new package.
[1:46] Speaker 4: Talk about exasperating.
[1:48] Speaker 3: Well, that needn't happen if you'll only remember this little rhyme.
[1:52] Speaker 3: When your tablets get down to four, that's the time
[1:55] Speaker 3: to buy some more. Some more Alka-Seltzer at the drugstore.
[2:00] Speaker 3: And say with the weekend coming up, it might be
[2:02] Speaker 3: a good idea to get two packages. As you know,
[2:05] Speaker 3: an extra package on the side keeps the family well supplied.
[2:10] Speaker 4: So write it down right now, won't you? Two packages Alka-Seltzer.
[2:15] Speaker 3: Keep a good supply for all the family, because there's
[2:19] Speaker 3: nothing quite like Alka-Seltzer.
[2:22] Speaker 5: ¶ ¶ Yes, Mabel, that's exactly how I feel about it.
[2:34] Speaker 5: I think every woman in that club ought to... Wait
[2:36] Speaker 5: a minute, Mabel. McGee's been awfully quiet the last few minutes.
[2:39] Speaker 5: I'd better see what he's doing. McGee? McGee, where are you?
[2:43] Speaker 6: I'm here at the front door, Molly. I'm talking to somebody.
[2:45] Speaker 6: What about?
[2:45] Speaker 5: What is it?
[2:46] Speaker 6: Oh, it's nothing. Just a business transaction. Now, young man,
[2:49] Speaker 6: as I would say.
[2:50] Speaker 5: Mabel, McGee's talking to a salesman. No telling what he's buying.
[2:53] Speaker 5: I've got to run. I'll call you back.
[2:55] Speaker 6: Bye.
[2:55] Speaker 5: Hold it, McGee. Hold everything till Mama gets there.
[2:58] Speaker 6: Huh?
[2:59] Speaker 7: Oh, hello, Miss McGee.
[2:59] Speaker 3: How are you?
[3:00] Speaker 6: Oh.
[3:01] Speaker 5: Oh, it's you, Richard.
[3:02] Speaker 6: Yeah, just the paper boy.
[3:03] Speaker 8: Gee whiz, Molly, just because I once bought a set
[3:06] Speaker 8: of Shakespeare from a book salesman, you don't have to
[3:08] Speaker 8: jump every time I answer the door.
[3:10] Speaker 7: Gee, I'd love to have a set of Shakespeare.
[3:12] Speaker 5: In German? Shakespeare's hard enough for me in English, let alone.
[3:16] Speaker 6: Well, how'd I know it was in German? The guy
[3:18] Speaker 6: never mentioned it.
[3:19] Speaker 5: I know, but even if you didn't open the books up,
[3:21] Speaker 5: if you had just looked at the titles.
[3:22] Speaker 8: I did look at the titles. Hamlet still looks like
[3:25] Speaker 8: Hamlet in German, and so does Macbeth.
[3:27] Speaker 5: How about Herr Romeo and Fraulein Juliette? And that other dilly,
[3:31] Speaker 5: on midsummer's knock they schmeck, they get mocked, or whatever
[3:33] Speaker 5: that silly thing.
[3:34] Speaker 6: Please, Molly. Richard's got a problem.
[3:38] Speaker 8: He was just telling me about it before you came
[3:40] Speaker 8: rushing in here with that frying pan.
[3:41] Speaker 5: Oh, well, I'm sorry, Richard. Go on.
[3:43] Speaker 7: Well, it's about this job of mine, delivering papers. You see,
[3:47] Speaker 7: I got a lot of grouches on my rock. Oh,
[3:49] Speaker 7: that doesn't include you folks.
[3:50] Speaker 8: Oh, well, thank you. Yeah, we try to hold up
[3:52] Speaker 8: our end. I'm out there just as soon as you
[3:54] Speaker 8: throw that paper.
[3:55] Speaker 6: Before, even.
[3:56] Speaker 7: Oh, if they were all like you, Mr. McGee, my
[3:58] Speaker 7: job would be a cinch. with those other customers of
[4:01] Speaker 7: mine if the paper isn't there exactly on time or
[4:04] Speaker 7: in the right place.
[4:05] Speaker 6: Say, that reminds me, Richard, a couple of times this week.
[4:08] Speaker 7: Let's say I threw it on the roof or in
[4:09] Speaker 7: the hedge where it's hard to find. You know, something
[4:11] Speaker 7: like that does happen.
[4:12] Speaker 6: Yeah, but how about that roof and hedge business? I've
[4:14] Speaker 6: been meaning to.
[4:15] Speaker 7: Do you think they'd understand like you nice people do?
[4:17] Speaker 7: That some days just don't go right? Or maybe my
[4:20] Speaker 7: mother's sick and I gotta rush home and take care
[4:22] Speaker 7: of her? You see, since my dad died... What do
[4:25] Speaker 7: you say, Mr.
[4:25] Speaker 6: McGee? Oh, I was going to say, you don't have
[4:28] Speaker 6: to worry about us, son. We're the type that understands. Right, Molly?
[4:31] Speaker 4: Yes.
[4:32] Speaker 5: How is your mother, Richard?
[4:33] Speaker 7: Oh, she's fine.
[4:34] Speaker 6: Let him tell us what's on his mind.
[4:36] Speaker 5: Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead, Richard.
[4:38] Speaker 7: Well, I need a little advice about these grouchy customers
[4:41] Speaker 7: of mine.
[4:42] Speaker 6: Mr.
[4:42] Speaker 7: McGee told me once how he had a paper out
[4:44] Speaker 7: back in Peoria when he was a boy.
[4:46] Speaker 6: Once?
[4:47] Speaker 5: Oh, you're lucky, Richard. I hear those stories at least.
[4:49] Speaker 6: Molly, please. Go on, Rich. Well, you see.
[4:53] Speaker 7: I got a chance to play quarterback with the junior
[4:55] Speaker 7: all-stars after school this afternoon. And if I do, the
[4:58] Speaker 7: paper's going to be at least an hour late. And
[5:00] Speaker 7: if I get four complaints in one week, I lose
[5:03] Speaker 7: my route.
[5:05] Speaker 8: Well, the main thing is you got to know how
[5:07] Speaker 8: to handle your customers, Rich. How to butter them up
[5:09] Speaker 8: so they don't beef.
[5:10] Speaker 7: Maybe you can tell me how.
[5:11] Speaker 8: Well, I had me some nasty customers myself when I
[5:14] Speaker 8: had my route back in Peoria.
[5:16] Speaker 6: Remember old man Crabtree, Molly?
[5:18] Speaker 5: Oh, that old grouch. Was he on your route?
[5:20] Speaker 2: Yeah.
[5:21] Speaker 6: Yeah.
[5:21] Speaker 8: I'll never forget the time I threw his paper through
[5:23] Speaker 8: the window into his living room and dropped it right
[5:26] Speaker 8: in his lap.
[5:27] Speaker 6: Boy, was he sore.
[5:29] Speaker 7: Why, it sounds like good service to me, right in
[5:31] Speaker 7: his lap.
[5:32] Speaker 8: Yeah, but this was in the winter, and the window
[5:34] Speaker 8: was closed. Sit down, Richard. I'll tell you how I
[5:39] Speaker 8: handled that situation. Maybe you can use my technique on
[5:42] Speaker 8: your grouchy customers. You see, I had three complaints against
[5:45] Speaker 8: me already that week.
[5:59] Speaker 6: Molly, where are you?
[6:00] Speaker 5: In here, dearie. Is Richard gone?
[6:02] Speaker 2: Yeah.
[6:02] Speaker 5: Solved his little problem for him, did you?
[6:04] Speaker 4: Sure.
[6:05] Speaker 8: He's gone home to get his football shoes and helmet.
[6:07] Speaker 8: He can quarterback that game this afternoon without a worry
[6:10] Speaker 8: on his mind.
[6:11] Speaker 5: We got a rubber band, a heavy band. I'm so
[6:12] Speaker 5: glad you could help the lad out. He doesn't get
[6:14] Speaker 5: much chance to play after school.
[6:16] Speaker 8: Well, that's the way I figured it. Quarterback in a
[6:18] Speaker 8: football game is pretty important when you're 12 years old.
[6:21] Speaker 8: A bunch of grouch customers like old man Fossbeiner. I'd
[6:25] Speaker 8: rather I can't find a heavy rubber band.
[6:26] Speaker 5: What do you want a heavy rubber band for?
[6:28] Speaker 6: My trouser leg.
[6:30] Speaker 8: I'm going to deliver Richard's papers for him this afternoon
[6:32] Speaker 8: while he plays football.
[6:33] Speaker 6: I'd better practice riding his bicycle that he left for me.
[6:35] Speaker 2: What?
[6:36] Speaker 6: Now, now, now, don't, don't, don't, don't panic. I know
[6:39] Speaker 6: it's been 30 years since I straddled a bike, but
[6:41] Speaker 6: it'll come back to me. Because once a paper boy,
[6:44] Speaker 6: always a paper boy. And I'll be the best paper boy.
[6:56] Speaker 2: In a moment, we'll return to Fibber McGee and Molly.
[6:59] Speaker 3: The fun you have is good for you. You need it,
[7:02] Speaker 3: you deserve it. The question is, do you always feel
[7:05] Speaker 3: good enough to enjoy it? Sometimes a headache or an
[7:09] Speaker 3: upset stomach just won't let you enjoy the fun that's
[7:12] Speaker 3: so good for you. Well, that, my friend, is a
[7:15] Speaker 3: situation that calls for speedy Alka-Seltzer, the medicine that's so refreshing.
[7:20] Speaker 2: You see, Alka-Seltzer becomes a relief-giving liquid that's better because
[7:25] Speaker 2: of action in the glass.
[7:27] Speaker 3: Yes, action in the glass changes Alka-Seltzer tablets into a liquid.
[7:32] Speaker 3: This is the form your system can use most easily
[7:35] Speaker 3: and naturally for relief.
[7:37] Speaker 2: Action in the Glass supercharges Alka-Seltzer with lively bubbles. This
[7:41] Speaker 2: soothing liquid speeds relief.
[7:44] Speaker 3: Action in the Glass makes Alka-Seltzer easy to absorb immediately.
[7:49] Speaker 3: You'll like Alka-Seltzer for refreshing relief.
[7:52] Speaker 4: Try it. For a headache or upset stomach, take Alka-Seltzer.
[8:10] Speaker 8: I told you it'd all come back to me, Molly.
[8:12] Speaker 8: This bike riding is a cinch, just like the old days.
[8:15] Speaker 5: Be careful, McGee. Don't pedal so fast.
[8:17] Speaker 6: Oh, dear. Step back. Now I'm going to try throwing
[8:20] Speaker 6: this newspaper. Watch it.
[8:22] Speaker 4: Perfect.
[8:23] Speaker 5: Right on the porch.
[8:24] Speaker 6: I told you I could do it. Now help me down,
[8:26] Speaker 6: will you?
[8:27] Speaker 8: I'll take this bike off the stand and try it
[8:29] Speaker 8: out on the street with the wheels on the ground.
[8:31] Speaker 5: Oh, I don't know about this, McGee. Why don't you
[8:33] Speaker 5: use the car?
[8:34] Speaker 6: Why, Molly, it's tradition, kiddo, tradition.
[8:37] Speaker 8: Newspapers have always been delivered by bicycle, just like I
[8:40] Speaker 8: used to do on my old route back in Peoria.
[8:43] Speaker 6: Boy, those were the days.
[8:44] Speaker 5: I'm glad we lived through them.
[8:46] Speaker 8: I was probably the best bike rider in Peoria in
[8:48] Speaker 8: them days. It's funny how quick it all comes back
[8:50] Speaker 8: to me. I've still got an hour or so before
[8:52] Speaker 8: I start the route, so help me on the bike
[8:54] Speaker 8: again and I'll practice up a little.
[9:12] Speaker 5: That's it, McGee. That's it. You're doing fine. Watch out
[9:14] Speaker 5: for that rock.
[9:15] Speaker 6: I see it. I'm coming in for a landing. Watch
[9:18] Speaker 6: me come to a stop right in front of you.
[9:19] Speaker 6: A dead stop.
[9:20] Speaker 5: Oh, don't use that word. Ah.
[9:24] Speaker 6: How's that, Tootsie? Pretty good, huh? Boy, this is just
[9:27] Speaker 6: like the old days.
[9:28] Speaker 5: Just please be careful, won't you? You don't get up
[9:31] Speaker 5: off the ground so quickly as you did when you
[9:33] Speaker 5: were 12 years old.
[9:34] Speaker 6: Hey, look what time it is. I gotta run.
[9:36] Speaker 8: I still gotta pick up my papers at the corner
[9:37] Speaker 8: and put rubber bands around them. Hey, you wanna come
[9:39] Speaker 8: along and help me deliver? You can ride on the
[9:41] Speaker 8: handlebars like you used to do.
[9:42] Speaker 6: Oh, thanks.
[9:44] Speaker 5: They don't seem to make the handlebars as wide as
[9:47] Speaker 5: they did when I was a girl.
[9:48] Speaker 4: You go ahead.
[9:49] Speaker 5: We'll just wait out front here for you.
[9:51] Speaker 2: We?
[9:52] Speaker 5: Me and a bottle of liniment.
[9:53] Speaker 2: Oh, okay.
[9:54] Speaker 6: I'll be by with your paper first, Tootsie, just like
[9:56] Speaker 6: I used to in the old days.
[9:57] Speaker 1: Remember?
[9:58] Speaker 5: Oh, yeah, that's right. You always brought our paper first
[10:01] Speaker 5: didn't you.
[10:01] Speaker 8: Sure i'll never forget when you saw me coming you'd
[10:04] Speaker 8: always fix your hair with a ribbon in it and
[10:06] Speaker 8: run to the window and yell get off of that lawn.
[10:08] Speaker 6: We just put new grass seed.
[10:09] Speaker 5: In there well you just keep off of ours today
[10:13] Speaker 5: too because my valuable don't.
[10:14] Speaker 8: You worry about a thing You just go on in
[10:16] Speaker 8: and put a pretty ribbon in your hair, baby. I'll
[10:18] Speaker 8: be by in about 20 minutes.
[10:20] Speaker 6: So long.
[10:20] Speaker 5: I'll watch for you. Be careful.
[10:23] Speaker 6: Ah, this is going to be fun. Just like the
[10:25] Speaker 6: good old days. Dr.
[10:39] Speaker 5: Gamble, here I am, over here.
[10:41] Speaker 6: What is it, my dear? I came over as soon
[10:45] Speaker 6: as I could. What are you doing standing out here
[10:46] Speaker 6: in the middle of the street?
[10:47] Speaker 5: Waiting for McGee, doctor. I'm so glad you got here.
[10:50] Speaker 6: Where is he?
[10:50] Speaker 5: Well, he took over little Richard's paper route this afternoon
[10:53] Speaker 5: so the boy could play in the football game, doctor.
[10:55] Speaker 5: And he was riding past the house here, showing off,
[10:57] Speaker 5: you know, no hands, and he took a terrible spill.
[11:00] Speaker 6: Oh, the silly idiotic. When did it happen?
[11:03] Speaker 5: In about five or ten minutes from now.
[11:05] Speaker 2: What?
[11:06] Speaker 5: You'll see. Just wait right here, please.
[11:07] Speaker 6: Well, of course, but I.
[11:09] Speaker 5: When he was telling me about how he delivered papers
[11:11] Speaker 5: back in Peoria and how he always delivered my dad's
[11:13] Speaker 5: paper first, it all came back to me. He never
[11:16] Speaker 5: delivered our paper like anyone else's.
[11:18] Speaker 6: No?
[11:18] Speaker 2: No, no.
[11:20] Speaker 5: For me, he had to come tearing down the street
[11:22] Speaker 5: with his feet on the handlebars, ringing the bell with
[11:24] Speaker 5: his heel, holding the paper in his teeth and both
[11:26] Speaker 5: hands behind his back. And every time he did that... Uh-oh,
[11:30] Speaker 5: here he comes. Let's get up on the curb, Doctor,
[11:32] Speaker 5: because no telling where.
[11:33] Speaker 6: Hey, he rides that bike pretty good. Hey, Molly, remember
[11:36] Speaker 6: this stunt?
[11:37] Speaker 4: No hands.
[11:38] Speaker 6: Just like the old days. McGee, watch the tree. I
[11:41] Speaker 6: see it, Fatso.
[11:42] Speaker 7: The ash cans, look out!
[11:43] Speaker 6: Ah! Ah!
[11:51] Speaker 2: Oh!
[11:53] Speaker 5: Oh, what happened?
[11:54] Speaker 6: Here, let me help you up.
[11:56] Speaker 2: You all right?
[11:57] Speaker 6: Oh, I guess so. I hurt my shoulder a little.
[12:00] Speaker 5: Help him in the house, will you, Doctor?
[12:01] Speaker 6: Sure. What are you going to do with that bike, kiddo?
[12:04] Speaker 5: Don't you remember?
[12:05] Speaker 6: Huh?
[12:05] Speaker 5: I'm going to finish your route for you, just like
[12:07] Speaker 5: I did in the old days.
[12:08] Speaker 6: Bye!
[12:09] Speaker 5: Oh, yeah.
[12:13] Speaker 6: Just like the old days.
[12:28] Speaker 2: Your friends have more to say to you presently.
[12:31] Speaker 3: I wonder if you realize that a vitamin shortage is
[12:34] Speaker 3: one of the common causes of loss of pep and energy.
[12:37] Speaker 3: It can make you feel and look below par. Now,
[12:41] Speaker 3: of course, you can't always be sure your meals give
[12:43] Speaker 3: you enough of these essential food elements. But you can
[12:47] Speaker 3: be sure if you supplement your meals with one-a-day brand
[12:51] Speaker 3: multiple vitamin tablets.
[12:53] Speaker 4: They supply all the vitamins anyone.
[12:55] Speaker 3: Normally needs to take in one small, easily swallowed tablet.
[13:01] Speaker 3: And you can get this protection with one-a-day brand multiple
[13:04] Speaker 3: vitamins for less than three cents a tablet. Remember, too,
[13:08] Speaker 3: they contain vitamin B12. Tell your druggist you want one-a-day
[13:13] Speaker 3: brand multiple vitamin tablets.
[13:29] Speaker 6: Did you finish the route okay, kiddo?
[13:30] Speaker 5: Yes, not only that, but I signed up three new customers.
[13:33] Speaker 6: Hey, that's wonderful.
[13:34] Speaker 5: Richard says I'm entitled to a prize for that, and
[13:37] Speaker 5: he gave me this catalog. I can pick out anything
[13:40] Speaker 5: I want.
[13:40] Speaker 6: Oh, what are you going to get?
[13:41] Speaker 5: A baseball bat.
[13:43] Speaker 6: What are you going to do with a baseball bat?
[13:44] Speaker 5: The next time you decide to take over somebody's paper
[13:47] Speaker 5: route and ride a bicycle.
[13:48] Speaker 6: No hands. Okay, okay, I get the point. So long, everybody.
[13:51] Speaker 5: Goodbye, y'all.
[13:59] Speaker 2: Fibber, McGee, and Mollie, transcribed, is brought to you Mondays
[14:02] Speaker 2: through Fridays at this time by Miles Laboratories, makers of Alka-Seltzer. Dr.
[14:22] Speaker 2: Gamble is played by Arthur Q. Bryan. Richard the Paperboy
[14:26] Speaker 2: was played by Richard Beals. Well, that ends another week
[14:29] Speaker 2: for us, but we'll all be back again Monday when
[14:31] Speaker 2: the McGees join the Wistful Vista Social World to take
[14:35] Speaker 2: in a big theatrical production as guests of the theater owner.
[14:39] Speaker 2: If you don't think Fibber lives it up, you don't
[14:41] Speaker 2: know the front half of Fibber, McGee, and Molly. This
[14:44] Speaker 2: is John Wall saying goodbye. Hear the news with Pauline
[15:00] Speaker 2: Frederick today on most NBC radio stations.
[15:10] Speaker 1: That was Fibber McGee and Molly, Paperboy McGee. Good night,
[15:14] Speaker 1: and thank you for joining us in Wistful Vista.

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