Gildersleeve’s Stories For Children was a series of children’s story albums released by Capitol Records in the mid-1940s, featuring the beloved character of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve from the popular radio sitcom The Great Gildersleeve. Starring the inimitable Harold Peary in his iconic role, these albums provided young listeners with a delightful and engaging way to experience classic fairy tales and folklore.
The series spanned three albums, released annually from 1945 to 1947. Each album contained four records, with Peary narrating the stories in his signature Gildersleeve voice and style.
The first album, Stories for Children Told in His Own Way by the Great Gildersleeve, featured adaptations of “Puss in Boots,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.”
The second album, Children’s Stories as Told by the Great Gildersleeve, included “Hansel & Gretel” and “The Brave Little Tailor.”
The third and final album, reverting to the title of the first, presented “Snow White and Rose Red” and “Cinderella.”
The Stars
The star of Gildersleeve’s Stories For Children was, of course, Harold Peary, who brought his beloved character Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve to life with his trademark humor, charm, and vocal versatility.
Peary had first introduced the Gildersleeve character on the popular radio sitcom Fibber McGee and Molly before starring in the spin-off series The Great Gildersleeve, which ran for over a decade.
His ability to seamlessly transition between the various characters and voices within the stories, from old witches to evil giants, was a testament to his impressive acting skills.
Key Dates
- The Gildersleeve’s Stories For Children series was released annually from 1945 to 1947, with the first album, Stories for Children Told in His Own Way by the Great Gildersleeve, debuting in the fall of 1945. T
- he second album, Children’s Stories as Told by the Great Gildersleeve, followed in the fall of 1946.
- The third and final album in the series, also titled Stories for Children Told in His Own Way by the Great Gildersleeve, was released in the fall of 1947.
Other Information
The lovely musical accompaniment for the Gildersleeve’s Stories For Children albums was composed and directed by Robert Emmett Dolan, a renowned composer and musical director who had worked on numerous radio programs and feature films. The dance song featured in the “Cinderella” story is particularly noteworthy for its enchanting quality.
In addition to the Gildersleeve albums, there were also sets of 78rpm records featuring actor Earle Ross narrating Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales. While Ross did not adopt the Gildersleeve persona, his warm and engaging storytelling style made these recordings equally enjoyable for young listeners.
The success of the Gildersleeve’s Stories For Children albums, along with the enduring popularity of the The Great Gildersleeve radio series, solidified Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve’s status as one of the most beloved characters in old-time radio history.
These charming recordings continue to delight and entertain audiences of all ages, transporting them back to the golden age of radio with the familiar and comforting voice of the Great Gildersleeve.
