H O N E S T H A R O L D , T H E H O M E M A K E R
----------- ------------- ----- -----------------
AKA: THE HAROLD PEARY SHOW
1950 - 1951
First Show: Sep 17, 1950 Last Show: Jun 13, 1951
Number Shows: 38 Audition Show: Aug 23, 1950
Series Description:
Harold Peary began his radio career at age 13 and was a popular actor
through the 1930's. In the end of the 1930's he played assorted
characters on FIBBER MCGEE AND MOLLY, including a stuffed-shirt type
named Gildersleeve. The character of Gildersleeve developed into a
sizeable, eventually leading to the series THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE.
This was due to no small part to the ability of Harold Peary.
In 1950, Harold Peary decided to move from NBC to CBS, assuming that
the sponsor for THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE, the Kraft Food Company, would
follow, bringing that series to CBS. When Kraft didn't move, HONEST
HAROLD, THE HOMEMAKER (also known as THE HAROLD PEARY SHOW) was
created.
Honest Harold Hemp lived with his mother and nephew and did a radio
homemaker's program. The series received undeserved negative ratings
and general negative attitude of the critics. The HONEST HAROLD
scripts were well crafted with well developed characters and had
excellent acting and production values.
Many people, including Harold Peary, believed that THE GREAT
GILDERSLEEVE would not survive without Peary. However, Willard
Waterman assumed the role and most listeners didn't notice the
difference, as Mr. Waterman did an excellent job in capturing the
essence of the Gildersleeve character. This may have been the single
greatest blow to the survival of HONEST HAROLD. There were just too
many similarities between the two series. Also, the series was
without a sponsor, although some of the last shows were sponsored by
the US Armed Forces. The series lasted only one season.
The regular cast consisted of Harold Peary, Gloria Holiday, Joseph
Kearns, Mary Jane Croft and Parley Baer. The announcer was Bob
Lamond. The series was directed by Norman MacDonnell. Writers for
the series were Harold Peary, Bill Danch, Jack Robinson and Gene
Stone. Music was by Jack Meakin.
Log Comments:
The shows lacked formal titles, so titles vary among the various
catalogs used to creat the log. The title column contains as short a
title as practical that still giving some indication of what the show
is about. In general, they are a composite of what I found in the
catalogs or logs used. In some cases, titles found were used
followed by a short description on the line after the title.
Chronological Log:
Date Day Num Title Avail
------------ --- --- ------------------------------------ -----
Aug 08, 1950 Aud Harold loses his job at the radio yes
station
> series starts Sundays at 7:30 PM <
Sep 24, 1950 Sun 1 Harold loses his job at the radio yes
station (audition script, new cast)
Oct 01, 1950 Sun 2 Tilting At Windmills yes
or the plan to rename Boomer Park
>> moves to Wednesdays at 9:00 PM <<
Oct 04, 1950 Wed 3 Meet Mr. Sincere Sam Smith yes
or advertizing shark repellant
powder on the radio show
Oct 11, 1950 Wed 4 Harold's Roving Eye yes
or Harold falls for a chantuese
Oct 18, 1950 Wed 5 Harold's Little Angle yes
or The Runaway Boy
Oct 25, 1950 Wed 6 Harold campaigns to be the new mayor yes
Nov 01, 1950 Wed 7 Harold decides he wants to lose the yes
election
Nov 08, 1950 Wed 8 Harold's cousin Raymond comes to yes
visit
Nov 15, 1950 Wed 9 Harold tries to get cousin Raymond a yes
job
Nov 22, 1950 Wed 10 The Thanksgiving Day Play yes
Nov 29, 1950 Wed ... no show ...
Dec 06, 1950 Wed 11 The Mystery Of "The Hummer" yes
Dec 13, 1950 Wed 12 Love And Astrology Don't Mix yes
or Helping Raymond and Gloria go to
the dance
Dec 20, 1950 Wed 13 The Children's Christmas Party yes
or Harold wants to play santa
Dec 27, 1950 Wed 14 New Year's Eve Barn Dance yes
Jan 03, 1951 Wed 15 Mrs. O'Day's Warbleware Dinner Party yes
Jan 10, 1951 Wed 16 Harold is put in charge of the yes
station
or Harold looses his sponsor and
tries a new show
Jan 17, 1951 Wed 17 Harold thinks of moving to New York yes
Jan 24, 1951 Wed 18 Harold gets engaged to two women yes
Jan 31, 1951 Wed 19 Civic Achievment Award yes
or A Horse Named Silvermoon
Feb 07, 1951 Wed 20 The Unsuitable Suitor yes
or Harold's mother has a suitor
Feb 14, 1951 Wed 21 Mixed Up (Mistaken) Valentines yes
Feb 21, 1951 Wed 22 Florabell Returns yes
Feb 28, 1951 Wed 23 Harold Hires A Bodyguard yes
or Willis can't pass the physical
Mar 07, 1951 Wed 24 Red Cross Drive yes
or Harold is put in charge of the
Red Cross Drive
Mar 14, 1951 Wed 25 Harold's wandering income tax return yes
Mar 21, 1951 Wed 26 Little Cousin Marvin comes to live yes
with Harold (Harold Peary's 10,000th
broadcast)
Mar 28, 1951 Wed 27 Marvin's first say at school yes
Apr 04, 1951 Wed 28 Modernizing Doc's Office yes
or The County Inspector is going to
review Doc Yak Yak
Apr 11, 1951 Wed ... no show ...
Apr 18, 1951 Wed 29 Picnic At The Lake yes
or Harold decides to clean out the
cellar
Apr 25, 1951 Wed 30 Here Comes The Circus yes
May 02, 1951 Wed 31 Beware The Skeleton Gang yes
or Marvin's gang
May 09, 1951 Wed 32 Down On The Farm yes
or Harold and Mr. Walker vie for
class
May 16, 1951 Wed 33 Harold becomes a latin lover yes
or Does Florabelle have a new lover
May 23, 1951 Wed 34 Marvin is invited to a birthday yes
party
May 30, 1951 Wed 35 Harold is Town Marshall for a day yes
Jun 06, 1951 Wed 36 Harold's New Boss yes
or Peabody' sister takes over the
radio station
Jun 13, 1951 Wed 37 Boys Will Be Boys yes
or Marvin decides to stay with
Harold (last show)
References:
* "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All
Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514.
* OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites:
* Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
* Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90602
* The Old Time Radio Shop, Shawn A. Wells, 606 Bigelow Road,
Mansfield, OH 44907
* Audio Classics Archive, Terry Salomonson, P.O. Box 347, Howell,
MI 48844-0347
* Radio Memories, Ted Davenport, 1600 Wewoka St., North Little
Rock, AR 72116
Other Logs or Books:
* HONEST HAROLD log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com)
* HONEST HAROLD log, Audio Classics Archive, Terry Salomonson, P.O.
Box 347, Howell, MI 48844-0347 (http://www.audio-classics.com)
Last Update: May 20, 2004
This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my
references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still
be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from
authorized dealers.
The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis.
Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M.
Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).