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).