The Old RadioTimes The Official Publication of the Old-Time Radio Researchers Mar/Apr 2011 www.otrr.org 2200 Subscribers Number 54 Gleason & Armstrong: Knights of the Road By Doug Hopkinson James Robert Gleason Armstrong James Gleason and Robert Armstrong were fortune. It was so popular they eventually took it both first and foremost stage and film performers. overseas to England and then on to Hollywood. They both began on stage and they both went In truth, it was Gleason and his wife Lucile Web- into motion pictures. Their first success together ster that were the driving and creative force was in the 1925 Broadway play (written by which powered their initial journey. That is not to James Gleason and Richard Taber) Is Zat So? say that Robert was not a talent in his own right. (An interesting side-note is that Fannie Brice Time has proven beyond any doubt that he had was a major financial plenty of talent, but in 1925, Armstrong just hap- backer of this play.) This pened to be in the right place at the right time to marked the beginning of catch a ride. A ride that enabled him to begin and both Robert Armstrong’s sustain a long and successful career of his own and James Gleason’s apart from the Gleasons who were accelerating meteoric rise in the enter on a track which would take them to achieve- tainment industry. It was ments they never dreamed possible.. the play that launched With the immense success of Is Zat So? Hol- their careers and set them lywood scouts were watching Robert Armstrong Fanny Brice on the road to fame and and he soon had a studio contract. He appeared 1 radio show. That show was a 1936 Lux Radio Theater production of Is Zat So? in which Arm- strong portrayed his same character from the 1925 stage production. Interestingly, Gleason did not appear on that particular show although he did make six different appearances on Lux Radio Theater between 1936 and 1944. Glea- son was a regular member of the cast on the Bob Burns Show from 1943 to 1946. He also had his own short-lived 30 minute show which lasted only 1 month on the ABC network from January 21, 1945 to February 25, 1946 titled Jimmy Gleason’s Diner. His longtime wife Lucile in his first film in 1927 and quickly did ten more was his co-star and they portrayed themselves films in 1928. James Gleason had already done in the show. The basic premise of the show was his first film in 1922 but turned most of his efforts conversations with his customers at the diner. towards writing after that. He did one movie in Jimmy was the cook and Lucile was the wait- 1928 and six more in 1929. Of those six, one co- ress. One could speculate as to whether or not starred Robert Armstrong and the other five co- the tragic death of their son (less than 4 weeks starred his wife Lucile. Gleason and Armstrong prior to the premier) led to the early demise of each appeared in well over 100 other movies. this radio show. To date, no episodes of Jimmy They appeared together in a total seven different Gleason’s Diner are known to exist in general movies between 1929 and 1936. Twenty years circulation. James Gleason is also credited later in 1956, they both appeared together on an with 4 appearances in the various incarnations episode of the television show Cheyenne. of The Screen Guild Theater between 1941 and Armstrong’s career was solidly set as an actor in 1946 and at least one appearance each on the film industry but Gleason’s was much more Cavalcade of America (1/10/1944) and Old Gold diverse. James Gleason’s career included act- Comedy Theater (2/18/1945). There is one ing, writing, directing, producing and even a bit radio show which both Jimmy Gleason and of politics. While all this is very interesting it has Robert Armstrong appeared in together that nothing to do with radio which is meant to be the seems to have escaped the notice of radio main thrust of this article. historians. This show was The Gleason and Previous researchers and authors have pro- Armstrong Show and it is the main subject of vided much of the information that follows about this article. the radio shows in which our two subjects ap- The Gleason and Armstrong Show (aka peared during their careers. There may well be Knights of the Road) is until now, a relatively some appearances by either one that are unknown, short-lived, 15 minute syndicated missing. radio program from 1931. It starred James Glea- In searching through many tomes on the sub- son and Robert Armstrong who were two very ject of radio, this author found only one refer- popular character actors at that time. Although ence to Robert Armstrong ever appearing on a they worked very well together they were not a 2 team per se like Laurel and Hardy or Moran and ways manage to make Mack. One could liken them to Hope and enough to push on to Crosby. When they performed together they the next town. Robbie charmed the audiences yet they were both very tries his luck as a successful on their own. pugilist in one episode The show is about two characters named, trying for a $100 prize appropriately enough, Jimmy Gleason and but ends up losing be Robert Armstrong (referred to as Robbie), who cause he led with his want to buy a property from the father of jaw instead of his left. Elizabeth Frost (Robbie’s girlfriend) so they can Another episode finds build and operate a gasoline service station of them in “Pittsboig” ac- their own. They plan to tour the United States cepting a reward of Jimmy Gleason for one year, observing other service stations in $1,000 for capturing a order to educate themselves as how to make bank robber. After this windfall they meet up with their future service station the best. Mr. Frost a teenage boy named Oswald whom they take draws up a contract for the sale of his lot with all with them as their chauffeur. Oswald is not a sorts of clauses which include having them sell very good driver but he is good at eating (espe- his patented “Frost tire puller” as they travel and cially beef stew) and sleeping. The trio wend a morality clause (that Jimmy is indignant over). their way to St. Louis, MO and take jobs at the The contract calls for the duo to earn $2,000.00 zoo there. Robbie becomes a hero for saving a in an honest way during their trip. The clause little girl from an escaped lion (for which he was that most concerns Robbie is the one that prom- responsible) and gets a $500 reward from her ises Elizabeth’s hand in marriage should he and father. In Oklahoma City, Oswald parts ways Jimmy fulfill the obligations set forth in the con- with Jimmy and Robbie who are heading to tract. They sign the contract and begin their trip Texas. In El Paso they gain a canine friend that from Elizabeth, NJ in a $35.00 Model T that they name Scram. In Santa Fe, New Mexico Robbie had purchased. The ensuing episodes they meet up by chance, with Oswald and catch are all situational com the mumps from him. Oswald’s parents agree to edy with occasional let him travel as far as Hollywood with Jimmy drama and action and Robbie and so the trio is reunited. The last thrown in. All the episode this author was able to find and listen to episodes are sequen- (episode 103) finds the trio in Los Angeles and tial following the basic being apprehended by the police for the purpose storyline as the part- of giving them reward money for some smug- ners travel through glers they had previously helped capture while various towns and they were in Mexico. cities across the The earliest broadcast this author has identi- United States. The fied appeared in an L.A. Times daily radio listing boys head west and on May 4th, 1931. never seem to make The following day there was a large adver- Robert Armstrong much money but al tisement in the newspaper featuring pictures of 3 James Gleason and Robert Armstrong and pro- daily listings that this author was able to peruse, claiming their show “Knights of the Road” referred to the show as either “Gleason and as being “… one of 1931’s greatest radio fea- Armstrong” or “Knights of the Road”. There was tures” and that it was sponsored by Union Oil. no discernable pattern or logic as to which title It is interesting to note that the daily radio listing the paper decided to print on any given day. of May 4th cited the show as “Knights of the It should also be noted that the labels on 94 Road”, as did the large ad on May 5th; yet the transcription discs of this show (currently held in radio highlights on both dates read “Gleason a private collection) all bear a Hollywood Broad- and Armstrong”. The daily listing of May 5th fails cast Features label and only make reference to to indicate the show at all. All of the following a show title as Gleason-Armstrong. In fact, the 4 title “Knights of the Road” in reference to Glea- son and Armstrong, did not appear in print any- where again (to this author’s knowledge) until October 4th, 1937 when the Ogden Standard Examiner of Ogden, Utah announced that begin- ning that night station KLO would begin airing Gleason and Armstrong appearing as “The Knights of the Road”.