Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Life of Riley, Vol. 1 cover art

The Life of Riley, Vol. 1

By: Hollywood 360
Narrated by: William Bendix
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $24.99

Buy Now for $24.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Created by Irving Brecher, The Life of Riley starred William Bendix as Brooklyn-born Chester A. Riley, a family man who worked as a wing riveter at the fictional Cunningham Aircraft plant in California. The stories were usually set at home, where Riley would cheerfully disrupt life with his malapropisms and ill-timed intervention into minor problems. His stock answer to every turn of fate became a popular catchphrase: "What a revoltin' development this is!" Trouble usually arose when Riley received bad information from his coworker, Jim Gillis.

Paula Winslowe played Riley's wife, Peg; John Brown doubled as undertaker "Digger" O'Dell and Jim Gillis; Tommy Cook, Bobby Ellis, and Scotty Beckett each played the role of Riley's son, Junior; and Sharon Douglas played the Riley's daughter, Babs. Alan Reed, the voice of Fred Flintstone, played multiple characters, including Riley's boss, Mr. Stevenson, as well as Peg's father.

The program aired on radio from 1944 until 1951, making a successful transition to television in 1949. Due to a contract dispute, Bendix couldn't initially play Riley on television, so the role went to Jackie Gleason. In 1953 Bendix was free to star as Riley on the small screen and continued with it until 1958.

Episodes include:

  • "Cissio's Marriage"
  • "Riley the Dogcatcher"
  • "Riley Fixes Dinner for Mother's Day"
  • "Fish Story"
  • "The Boss' Son-in-Law"
  • "The Halloween Show: Haunted House"
  • "Big Football Bet"
  • "Riley's Mash Note at Night School"
  • "Wedding Anniversary"
  • "Five Dollars Is Missing"
  • "Gambling Does Not Pay"
  • "Riley Thinks He's Promoted"
©2015 Hollywood 360 (P)2015 Black Eye Entertainment

What listeners say about The Life of Riley, Vol. 1

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.