Gale Gordon 02/20/1906 - 06/30/1995

On the 30th June it is nine years ago since Gale Gordon passed away, so I thought it would be nice to write a few words in memory of this versatile and popular comedy-actor.

Gale Gordon was born Charles T. Aldrich Jr. in New York on 20th February 1906. His mother was the actress Gloria Gordon.

He got his big break in 1941 when he took on the character of Mayor Latrivia in Fibber McGee & Molly (and later as Foggy Williams the weatherman in the same series), but prior to this role he had made several earlier appearances in radio shows including one as his namesake, Flash Gordon, the interplanetary traveller who battled the evil Emperor Ming for twenty-six weeks starting in the spring of 1935.

His other roles included the pompous DA Miller in Big Town, the grumpy and short-tempered Rudolph Atterbury in My Favorite Husband, the leading role in The Casebook of Gregory Hood, Gildersleeve’s obnoxious neighbor Rumson Bullard in The Great Gildersleeve, Father Leahy in Johnny Modero: Pier 23, and parts in Dr. Christian, Star Theater, the Joe E. Brown Show, The Judy Canova Show, Junior Miss, Those We Love, and The Coronet Show.

Gale Gordon was originally cast in the role of Dr. William Todhunter Hall in Halls of Ivy but it was decided that this would be confusing to listeners because, at that same time, he was playing the part of Principal Osgood Conklin in Our Miss Brooks. You can listen to that wonderful audition episode of Halls of Ivy on RUSC today.

Today I've also put up an episode of Flash Gordon and an episode of The Casebook of Gregory Hood, with more to follow over the coming weeks.

Happy listening my friends,