Enjoy two free comedy episodes of The Life of Riley w/ William Bendix A) 10/8/48 Better Husband w/ William Bendix B) 12/8/50 Lawn-mowing Business w/ William Bendix Created by Irving Brecher, the popular family sitcom The Life of Riley featured the comic misadventures of Chester A. Riley, an inept blue-collar factor worker and father of two, played by screen actor William Bendix. Riley’s wife, Peg, tried in vain to prevent her hot-headed husband’s interventions, which only made matters worse and usually ended in an embarrassing revelation. With a tendency to try and solve non-existent problems, Riley sought advice from his best friend and next-door neighbor, Gillis, but this only led to misunderstandings. Help came from Digger O’Dell, the “friendly undertaker,” who offered gruesome theories laced with repetitive puns, brilliantly delivered by John Brown. In 1949, Universal Studios released a Life of Riley motion picture and later that same year NBC produced a TV version with Jackie Gleason playing Riley (Bendix was unable to play the role due to a contract dispute).  After 26 episodes, Gleason left the series for greener pastures and William Bendix resumed the role he’d made famous.