Episode1
Riley Plans to Build a House
January 16, 1944
Stardust Series Spotlight
The Life of Riley Episode Library
“What a revoltin’ development this is!”
William Bendix stars as Chester A. Riley, a well-meaning but perpetually bewildered aircraft worker whose grand plans usually collapse into hilarious confusion. With his patient wife Peg, sharp-witted daughter Babs, young son Junior, and the ominously cheerful undertaker Digby O’Dell, The Life of Riley became one of radio’s warmest and funniest portraits of working-class family life.
Radio Run1944–1951
NetworkNBC
FormatCharacter Comedy
Archive189 Episodes
A Great Place to Start
Begin with five classic Riley family misadventures
- Riley Thinks He Is Going to Be Fired
- Junior Runs Away
- Riley Gets a Promotion
- Babs and Her Boyfriend
- Riley Tries to Save Money
Jump to Year
189 episodes ready to browse.
194411 broadcasts
Episode2
Riley Is Best Dressed Man
April 9, 1944
Episode3
Baxter Goes to New York
April 30, 1944
Episode4
Halloween Haunted House
October 29, 1944
Episode5
Piano Lessons for Junior
November 5, 1944
Episode6
Big Football Bet
November 12, 1944
Episode7
Turkey Hunt
November 19, 1944
Episode8
Most Popular Boy
December 3, 1944
Episode9
Rileys Mash Note at Night School
December 10, 1944
Episode10
Christmas Present
December 17, 1944
Episode11
Roswells a Guest for Christmas
December 24, 1944
194516 broadcasts
Episode12
Silver Gloves Boxing
January 7, 1945
Episode13
The Watch
January 14, 1945
Episode14
Riley Takes Phone Booth Nickels
January 21, 1945
Episode15
Riley Helps Luigi Pass English Exam
February 25, 1945
Episode16
Expectant Fathers
March 4, 1945
Episode17
Junior Runs Away
March 11, 1945
Episode18
Riley Is a Pal to Junior
March 18, 1945
Episode19
Five Dollars Is Missing
March 25, 1945
Episode20
Pegs Mother Visits
May 13, 1945
Episode21
Lay Offs
September 8, 1945
Episode22
Neighbor Feud Over Juniors Goat
September 15, 1945
Episode23
Sidney Monahan Is a House Guest
October 20, 1945
Episode24
Will Babs and Simon Marry
November 24, 1945
Episode25
Phonograph Record Saves Riley
December 1, 1945
Episode26
Job Promotion Exam
December 8, 1945
Episode27
Grandma S Boyfriend
December 15, 1945
194625 broadcasts
Episode28
School Play
February 26, 1946
Episode29
Babs Music Scholarship
March 9, 1946
Episode30
Riley Buys an Insurance Policy
March 16, 1946
Episode31
Riley Finds Fur Coat
April 6, 1946
Episode32
Bread Shortage
April 13, 1946
Episode33
Gambling Lesson
April 27, 1946
Episode34
Rileys Take in the Gillises
May 4, 1946
Episode35
Junior Forgets Mothers Day
May 11, 1946
Episode36
Playing Hooky
May 18, 1946
Episode37
Junior Sells Peanuts at the Circus
May 25, 1946
Episode38
Shoplifter
June 1, 1946
Episode39
The Bread Shortage and the Black Market
June 8, 1946
Episode40
New Suit for Fathers Day
June 15, 1946
Episode41
Newspaper Subscription Contest
June 29, 1946
Episode42
Riley Gets Promoted
September 7, 1946
Episode43
Pegs Job
September 14, 1946
Episode44
Riley Hides on Boat
September 21, 1946
Episode45
The Football Game
September 28, 1946
Episode46
Good Neighbor Week
October 5, 1946
Episode47
Riley Sues Bus Company
October 19, 1946
Episode48
Job in South America
October 26, 1946
Episode49
The Park Supervisor
November 2, 1946
Episode50
Boy Scout Camp
November 9, 1946
Episode51
Riley the Football Hero
November 23, 1946
Episode52
Medical Advice from Horse Doctor
November 30, 1946
194734 broadcasts
Episode53
Efficiency Expert
January 11, 1947
Episode54
Riley Simon Business Partners
January 18, 1947
Episode55
Rileys Honeymoon
January 25, 1947
Episode56
Riley Switched at Birth
February 1, 1947
Episode57
Rileys Birthday Forgotten
February 8, 1947
Episode58
Advice to the Lovelorn Column
March 15, 1947
Episode59
Riley the Milkman
March 22, 1947
Episode60
Riley the Gentleman
March 29, 1947
Episode61
Riley the Childbeater
April 5, 1947
Episode62
Peg S Old Boyfriend
April 12, 1947
Episode63
Mystery Fight
April 19, 1947
Episode64
Simon Blackmails Riley
April 26, 1947
Episode65
Babs Enters Society
May 3, 1947
Episode66
Mother S Day Speech
May 10, 1947
Episode67
Accident Insurance Policy
May 31, 1947
Episode68
Riley Courts Peg at Summer Camp
June 7, 1947
Episode69
Junior Wins a Soapbox
June 14, 1947
Episode70
Riley and Gillis Spend Week at Lake
June 28, 1947
Episode71
Is Peg Leaving
July 5, 1947
Episode72
Riley Enrolls at Pip
September 6, 1947
Episode73
Babs Has Two Dates
September 13, 1947
Episode74
Junior Runs Away
September 20, 1947
Episode75
A Statue for the Piano
September 27, 1947
Episode76
Riley Thinks Hes Getting Old
October 4, 1947
Episode77
Riley the Cop
October 11, 1947
Episode78
The Community Chest
October 18, 1947
Episode79
Ragamuffin Ball
October 25, 1947
Episode80
Football Pool Card
November 1, 1947
Episode81
17th Anniversary Party
November 8, 1947
Episode82
Riley in School Play
November 15, 1947
Episode83
Win a Buick Contest
November 22, 1947
Episode84
Thanksgiving with the Gillises
November 29, 1947
Episode85
The Greatest Man I Know
December 6, 1947
Episode86
Babs Blackballed at College
December 13, 1947
194837 broadcasts
Episode87
Riley Gets Junior Two Dates
January 3, 1948
Episode88
Equal Rights
January 10, 1948
Episode89
Radio Contest
January 17, 1948
Episode90
Babs Quits School
January 24, 1948
Episode91
Uncle Baxter Moves in
January 31, 1948
Episode92
Father and Son Banquet
February 7, 1948
Episode93
Riley Sends Peg a Comic Valentine
February 14, 1948
Episode94
Riley Tells Peg a Lie
February 21, 1948
Episode95
Babs Sweet 16 Birthday
February 28, 1948
Episode96
Riley Punches His Foreman
March 6, 1948
Episode97
The Monkey
March 13, 1948
Episode98
Suggestion Contest
March 20, 1948
Episode99
Juvenile Delinquency
April 3, 1948
Episode100
Peg Studies French
April 10, 1948
Episode101
Spring Fever
April 24, 1948
Episode102
Baseball Uniform
May 1, 1948
Episode103
Mothers Day Present Explained
May 8, 1948
Episode104
Riley Man of Distinction
May 15, 1948
Episode105
Monohan Spends a Week
May 22, 1948
Episode106
Riley and Gillis Buy a Car Together
May 29, 1948
Episode107
Babs Graduation
June 12, 1948
Episode108
Fathers Day Bathrobes
June 19, 1948
Episode109
Vacation on Prison Farm
June 26, 1948
Episode110
Riley Meets Clem Kadiddlehopper
September 3, 1948
Episode111
The Household Drudge
September 10, 1948
Episode112
How to Pick a Mate
October 8, 1948
Episode113
Riley Campaigns
October 15, 1948
Episode114
The Problem Child
October 22, 1948
Episode115
Riley Seeks Knowledge
October 29, 1948
Episode116
Comic Books
November 5, 1948
Episode117
Rileys Tonsilectomy
November 12, 1948
Episode118
Father in Law Trouble
November 19, 1948
Episode119
Babs Elderly Boyfriend
November 26, 1948
Episode120
Trying to Get Football Tickets
December 3, 1948
Episode121
Rileys Jilted Sister Visits
December 10, 1948
Episode122
Riley and Mrs Morris Buys a Car Not a Wife
December 17, 1948
Episode123
Christmas Bonus from Mr Stevenson
December 24, 1948
194927 broadcasts
Episode124
Riley Coaches Juniors Team
January 7, 1949
Episode125
Riley Gets a Job in Arabia
January 14, 1949
Episode126
Rileys Old Flame Bertha
January 21, 1949
Episode127
Quiet Evening by the Fireside
January 28, 1949
Episode128
Riley Talks in His Sleep
February 4, 1949
Episode129
Babs Elopes with Simon
February 11, 1949
Episode130
Valentine Locket
February 18, 1949
Episode131
Movie Premiere
March 4, 1949
Episode132
The Wire Recorder
March 11, 1949
Episode133
Babs Runs in College Election
March 25, 1949
Episode134
Riley Wont Let Peg Help Junior with His Homework
April 1, 1949
Episode135
Riley Talks in His Sleep About Gertrude
April 2, 1949
Episode136
Riley Held Up
April 8, 1949
Episode137
Riley Breaks Pegs Chinese Bowl
April 22, 1949
Episode138
Riley Is Fired
April 29, 1949
Episode139
Babs Leaves Home
May 6, 1949
Episode140
Gitchigoomi
May 13, 1949
Episode141
Junior Drops Out of School
May 20, 1949
Episode142
Junior and Egbert Go Camping
May 27, 1949
Episode143
The Geiger Counter
October 14, 1949
Episode144
The Policeman Boarder
October 21, 1949
Episode145
Television Set on Ten Day Trial
October 28, 1949
Episode146
The Expectant Father
November 4, 1949
Episode147
The Escort Bureau
November 18, 1949
Episode148
Riley the Bookie
December 2, 1949
Episode149
Babs and the Stevensons Nephew
December 9, 1949
Episode150
Riley Drives Cab
December 30, 1949
195021 broadcasts
Episode151
Junior Is in Love
January 27, 1950
Episode152
Riley Quits
February 17, 1950
Episode153
Riley Becomes an Actor on Tv
March 3, 1950
Episode154
Rileys Sister Engaged
March 24, 1950
Episode155
Miracle of the Bells
April 7, 1950
Episode156
Riley Hamburger King
April 28, 1950
Episode157
Riley Decides to Move
May 5, 1950
Episode158
Mothers Day
May 12, 1950
Episode159
Surprise Party
October 6, 1950
Episode160
Traffic Court
October 13, 1950
Episode161
Collection Agency
October 20, 1950
Episode162
Cake Baking Contest
October 27, 1950
Episode163
Babs Elopement
November 3, 1950
Episode164
New Car in Bean Bowl
November 10, 1950
Episode165
Rileys First Date Flashback
November 17, 1950
Episode166
Riley Locks Babs Up
November 24, 1950
Episode167
Student Riot
November 24, 1950
Episode168
Troubles with New Foreman
December 1, 1950
Episode169
The Lawnmower Company
December 8, 1950
Episode170
Peg Goes to Work
December 15, 1950
Episode171
Baby Babs Is Allergic to Riley
December 22, 1950
195118 broadcasts
Episode172
Pegs Father Visits
January 5, 1951
Episode173
Anniversary Tiff
January 12, 1951
Episode174
Riley the Scoutmaster
January 19, 1951
Episode175
Engaged to Two Women
January 26, 1951
Episode176
Babs Blackballed at Sorority
February 2, 1951
Episode177
Charleston Dance Lessons
February 9, 1951
Episode178
Rileys Case of Nerves
February 16, 1951
Episode179
Riley Has Tonsilitis
February 23, 1951
Episode180
Louella Is a House Guest
March 2, 1951
Episode181
Riley Installs a Time Clock
March 16, 1951
Episode182
Basketball Game Bribe
March 23, 1951
Episode183
Riley the Rent Collector
March 30, 1951
Episode184
Old Man Riley
April 6, 1951
Episode185
Civil Service Test
April 13, 1951
Episode186
Kiss in the Dark
April 20, 1951
Episode187
Babs Moves Out
April 27, 1951
Episode188
Black Chiffon Nightgown
May 11, 1951
Episode189
Soapbox Derby
May 18, 1951
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