Get this and get it straight. Crime is a suckers road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave.

The story you are about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective.

The Adventures of the Saints starring Vincent Prize

Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account

America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator.

Yours truly, Johnny Deller. And the Hello and welcome to another bonus comedy episode from Down these Mean Streets.

Today we're celebrating the birthday of Harold Perry,

one of radio's biggest comedy stars

known to generations for his signature role of the Great gildersleeve.

For in July 25, 1908, Perry got into radio in California in the 1920s,

and he moved to Chicago in 1937.

In the windy city, Perry joined the cast of Fibre McGee and Molly, where he played a neighbor

of the McGee's and a nemesis of Fibers, a pompous blustering character that over

time and with some slight tweaks became Throckmorton P. Gilder's sleeve. The P stood for Philharmonic.

Perry was a perfect foil to Jim Jordan's fiver,

and the Gildersleeve character grew so popular that he was spun off in what may be the first instance

of a character launching from one show into a series of his own.

The Great Gilder Sleeve premiered on August 31st, 1941, and it moved Gildy, now softened

a bit, to the town of Sommerfield to take on the job of water commissioner. He'd also taken on the job of

parent to his orphaned niece and nephew, Marjorie and Leroy. Like Fibre McGee and Molly's

wistful vista neighbors, Gildy was surrounded by colorful

...