I Know Just the Spot for a Picnic

Originally aired May 24, 1937, this episode of Fibber McGee & Molly follows the couple as Molly insists on a spring picnic while Fibber grumbles that “the only good picnic spot is the kitchen table.” Despite his complaints, he leads her (and their loaded baskets) on a misadventurous quest for the perfect location. Every spot proves disastrous: they’re chased from private property, driven off a golf course by “Brassy Bertha,” interrupted by Mort Tooth’s groaners, and nearly caught in the crossfire at a National Guard rifle range. Along the way, Geraldine drops by with quips from Gerald, Harlow Wilcox “bird-watches” while raiding the food, Tommy Harris croons “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and Teeny punctures Fibber’s tall tale as “Timber McGee.” At last, the McGees retreat to their own backyard—only to have a neighbor beat rugs, sending dust all over the food. Defeated, they haul the picnic indoors, just as Mrs. Wearybottom phones to invite them on her picnic. A classic farce of foiled plans, sponsor tie-ins, and stubborn optimism, this episode highlights the eternal comic battle between Fibber’s bluster and Molly’s patience.