Mr. and Mrs. Blandings - a review

Cary Grant and Betsy Drake were married and shortly after, had a radio show that was based on a couple of books and an earlier movie Grant had made, Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House.

The premise was a simple one: Blandings (Grant) would take his life savings and build his family a house in which they could be proud.  Of course, Murphy's Law takes over on day one and never lets up.

When the show centers it's attention on the house (which is about half of the time), I find it predictable and not much fun.  Let's face it, we already know that whatever it is that involves the house will either break down or never work to begin with.  Even the property itself has a future highway running through it!

But when the show strays to a different subject, like the Blandings' two charming daughters or anything not house-related, the show seems to do fine.  Is it funny?  No.  It's mere entertainment or perhaps just a curious time killer.

There are a few bright spots, mainly Charlie Weaver who shows up now and then in a couple of parts.  Gale Gordon also is on hand now and again.

Still, I can find little to say in this show's favor.  It's basically a one joke comedy.  1 ½ stars.

Stuff I'd buy if I was a millionaire [#49]

Charlie Weaver

Verna Felton

Joseph Kerns

George Fenneman

William Conrad

Dennis Day

William Waterman

Gertrude Berg

The Cliff Arquette/Uncle Charlie mystery

This is getting weird.  The other day I wrote about Cliff Arquette being Charlie Weaver, the old waterworks guy who worked for Summerfield in the show, Great Gildersleeve - and while that was quite a surprise, it's not near as shocking as what I just found:

This is from LIFE Magazine (1961); I think I read one time somewhere that Bill Thompson, voice of many on Fibber McGee and Molly got the Old Timer idea from Jim Jordan who suggested he copy a character who was on the show, Smackout.  Smackout was the show Fibber and Molly did before they began Fibber McGee and Molly.

Can it be?

Weird story/A big OTR surprise

Lately, I have been intrigued about Cliff Arquette.  Who is Cliff Arqueete, you ask?

Like me, perhaps you didn't know the name. But I've been pouring myself into research lately about OTR and have found out Cliff Arquette is actually Charlie Weaver. They are the same person.

That's odd enough because Arquette created the personality in 1942 and then in 1959 or so, BECAME that person for the rest of his life.

Ok that's pretty odd, you say. Now let me turn your world upside down.

"Uncle Charlie Weaver" - say it outloud. Does it sound familiar? Yes, you say - it's the Charlie Weaver in this photograph here.

Yes, yes, yes. I know that and you know that. But the name, "Uncle Charlie Weaver." Doesn't ring a bell?

Would it help if I told you Cliff Arquette played the character known as "Uncle Charlie" on the Great Gildersleeve? Perhaps you'll remember if I told you that he was the maintenance man down in the shack by the lake for the waterworks (remember, for a time, Gildy was the Water Commissioner.)

Uncle Charlie = Cliff Arquette = Uncle Charlie Weaver!

This from an OTR collector's newsletter from the early 1970's