The Life of Riley (1953)

Season 1

Riley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems. His stock answer to every turn of fate became a catch phrase: 'What a revoltin' development this is!"

Where to Watch Season 1

26 Episodes

  • Babs' School Election
    E1
    Babs' School ElectionBabs is running for President of her college's freshman class. Riley attempts to provide unwanted assistance to her election campaign meet with predictable disaster.
  • Riley's Gift from the Boss
    E2
    Riley's Gift from the BossRiley receives a letter from the president of the airplane plant in which he works, Cyrus P. Cunningham, announcing that the company will honor Riley's ten years of service with a luncheon in the boardroom the following day.
  • Riley's New Suit
    E3
    Riley's New SuitRiley needs a new suit. When his kids decide to surprise him with one, he begins thinking he's crazy because the only suit he has to use keeps disappearing.
  • The Cake Contest
    E4
    The Cake ContestRiley replaces Peg's baking-contest entry with a store-bought cake.
  • Riley's Kiss in the Dark
    E5
    Riley's Kiss in the DarkRiley tries determining the identity of a woman who kissed him in the dark.
  • Riley Proves His Manhood
    E6
    Riley Proves His ManhoodPeg goes to work in a run-down café.
  • Riley's Sister Cissy
    E7
    Riley's Sister CissyRiley makes a last-ditch attempt to marry off his sister Cissy.
  • Riley and the Bean Contest
    E8
    Riley and the Bean ContestRiley goes all out to win a car in a bean-counting contest.
  • Riley the Scoutmaster
    E9
    Riley the ScoutmasterRiley sets up as Scoutmaster when Junior's regular scoutmaster must take a leave of absence for the troop. Also, Riley sets out to show his wife that a man can do all the household duties in half the time a woman can.
  • Riley Invades the Fight Game
    E10
    Riley Invades the Fight GameRiley is pitted against boxer Lou Nova at a charity bazaar.
  • Riley's Lost Weekend
    E11
    Riley's Lost WeekendThe Rileys swap houses with "Square Head" Malloy for three days.
  • Junior Wins the Soapbox Derby
    E12
    Junior Wins the Soapbox DerbyJunior's efforts to build a racer are hampered by unwanted advice.
  • Riley's Family Reunion
    E13
    Riley's Family ReunionRiley's family is selected to appear in a radio program that brings parents and a child together for a family reunion - and plants hidden microphones throughout the house to capture their unrehearsed reactions to the event.
  • Riley's Business Venture
    E14
    Riley's Business VentureRiley tries supplementing his wages by buying a hamburger stand.
  • Riley Camps Out
    E15
    Riley Camps OutFeeling that their families don't sufficiently appreciate them, Riley and Gillis decide to spend their vacation camping at a remote mountain cabin - and come to appreciate their lives back in the suburbs.
  • Riley Steps Out
    E16
    Riley Steps OutRiley picks up two banquet tickets discarded by his boss.
  • Riley's Operation
    E17
    Riley's OperationRiley's sore throat is traced to his tonsils and he's ordered to have them removed. It's all his family and friends can do to get him to the hospital for his operation.
  • Riley the Executive Type
    E18
    Riley the Executive TypeRiley is dismayed when his spur-of-the-moment resignation is accepted.
  • Riley Engages an Escort
    E19
    Riley Engages an EscortRiley's efforts to secure a date for Babs to the Sadie Hawkins dance backfire.
  • Riley Cultivates Babs
    E20
    Riley Cultivates BabsWhen Babs' friends see her out with Riley, rumors fly that she's dating a rich older man.
  • Riley's Uncle Baxter
    E21
    Riley's Uncle BaxterPeg's uncle captivates the Rileys with stories of his war heroism.
  • Riley Outwits Cupid
    E22
    Riley Outwits CupidRiley tries dissuading Babs from going steady.
  • Riley Gets Engaged
    E23
    Riley Gets EngagedAt the laundromat Chester meets an attractive French miss upset over her visa expiration. The lady explains that if it appears that she's to be married she can stay. Riley becomes engaged to her but explaining to wife Peg is difficult.
  • Riley Punishes Junior
    E24
    Riley Punishes JuniorRiley is named Father of the Month by his lodge.
  • Riley Meets a Rival
    E25
    Riley Meets a RivalHoping to make Riley jealous, Peg invites an old flame for dinner.
  • Riley the Typical Worker
    E26
    Riley the Typical WorkerA trip to Hawaii is offered to the most average employee where Riley is employed. Deciding he has the prize in the the bag Chester acts in ways that jeopardize his chances of winning.

Cast of Season 1

  • William BendixChester A. Riley
  • Tom D'AndreaJim Gillis
  • Marjorie ReynoldsPeg Riley
  • Lugene SandersBabs Riley
  • Wesley MorganJunior Riley
  • Abby BerlinDirector
  • Tom McKnightProducer

 

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