Jeff, who had just proposed to Babs himself, is devastated by her announcement, as is Peg, who knows that her daughter does not love Burt. Barbara 'Babs' Riley: Oh Simon, he knows! Rosemary DeCamp (as "Peg Riley"), Lanny Rees (as "Junior Riley") and John Brown (as "Digger O'Dell, the Friendly Undertaker") all reprised their movie roles in the original The Life of Riley (1948) TV series. Digger: Every good undertaker has his ear to the ground - we pick up a lot of dirt that way. This character was extremelly successfull, with many puns based on his profession. Im five-foot-eleven. Jim Gillis: They put you to sleep. The Life of Riley was an American radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film, a 1950s television series, and a 1958 comic book. Chester A. Riley: Yes. Chester A. Riley: I don't think you heard me, peg. He had a very good sense of that. The CBS program starred Lionel Stander as J. Riley Farnsworth and had no real connection with the more famous series that followed a few years later. (CONTINUES HUMMING IN BG) ANNOUNCER: And they won't forget, and that's the thing. Chester A. Riley: Hello, Digger. In some ways it is a culture that's based on convenience and cost efficiency. Peg Riley: Every day this week, he's been kept in after school. Don't you worry about him; we'll pull him through. The dirt on Herbert ODell Smith. Brecher Productions, Inc.; Universal-International Pictures Co., Inc. "Digger" O'Dell, "the friendly undertaker", William Bendix came to the attention of the public in the 1944 Alfred Hitchcock film, Lifeboat , playing a dim-witted sailor who doesn't survive the ordeal. I think cremation very much is like us. This is the way I like to remember William Bendix - playing a family man doing the best he can in a world that tends to be a bit too much for him, with children that tend to be a bit too much for him too. But cremation has increased since then by about 10 percent in every decade. It's that white-knuckled, socially enforced celebration [where] oftentimes the dead are absent from it, because that would be too compelling; that would be too much of a challenge. And we come away from these memorial events, these celebrations of life, with the increasing sense that something is missing. So I'm interested in it. One of my favorite old time radio characters (other than Jack Benny) was Digger O'Dell "The Friendly Undertaker". It has to do with the gift of language. DIGGER, Digby O'Dell, the Friendly Undertaker MOTHER, Irish and obnoxious ANNOUNCER SINGERS MUSIC: THEME . They need to talk to someone. Chester A. Riley: Oh. William Bendix is heard as Riley, along with co-stars Paula Winslowe, John Brown, Tommy Cook, and Barbara Eiler - plus series creator Irving Brecher . The program even utilized a stable of so-called "silent" characters, individuals referred to often but never actually heard. : Commissioned in 1932 by Memphis Chapter 1 of the American War Mothers, this large bronze plaque carried the names of 27 Memphians who had lost their lives in World War I. But don't go there searching for a tombstone marked Digger O'Dell. John Brown returned as the morbid, counseling undertaker Digby (Digger) O'Dell. For many people I know, when families are cremated, they feel as if they've in some sense kind of disappeared. Digby 'Digger' O'Dell : Why, I was just taking a stroll around the pond. And oftentimes I'm impressed by how people will wrap their existential concerns about a dying parent in the prearrangement conference. And there's somebody else doing this, that. I was thrilled to find IA, where I can find some of those classics. started calling him "Digger". And there's somebody else digging the hole in the ground. But by the time a couple days later he went in the ground, it was exactly the right thing to do. "My helpers had me out in minutes, thank heavens," he told reporters. At the end of that column, in my lackadaisical way weary from all that writing and typing I said I didn't know what happened to Digger after his misadventures in Memphis. I admire entrepreneurs and performers as much as the next guy, but it was surely a miserable way to make a living. I really think my people will know what to do when the time comes, and these are details I won't have to worry about. And so they'll know what to do. t.r., memphis. I just gave him a sedative. After 13 days in his coffin, Memphis police showed up with shovels to unearth Digger. But then I can read the work of Barbara Brown Taylor or St. Paul or C.S. It's a kind of theater, I suppose. Sometime in the mid-60s, probably having a lot to do with Jessica Mitford's book [The American Way of Death] and a lot to do with other social factors, there was sort of the triumphalist American sense that we didn't have to deal with any discomforts. When Burt finally tells Babs about his financial predicament and suggests that they marry quickly so that Riley can keep his job and he can save his life, Babs reluctantly agrees. I guess he likes this blond's cooking. Chester A. Riley: I'm just as much a show-off as they are, ain't I? At the mobile home park, a local reporter didnt have a very high opinion of the aging stuntman, writing, He has the flushed face and shaking hand of a man who has seen the sun rise over many an empty bottle. Digger showed up at the park wearing only a bathrobe. The supporting cast featured Paula Winslowe as Riley's wife, Peg, and as Riley's mother-in law; Brown as O'Dell and as Riley's co-worker Jim Gillis; Francis "Dink" Trout as Waldo Binney; Tommy Cook, Bobby Ellis and Scotty Beckett as Junior at various times during the show's run; Barbara Eiler as Riley's daughter, Babs; Shirley Mitchell as Honeybee Gillis; Hans Conried as Uncle Baxter; and Alan Reed as multiple characters, including Riley's boss (Mr. Stevenson) and Peg's father. Irving Brecher, who would direct the film adaptation of Life of Riley, had seen William Bendix in a film called The McGuerins of Brooklyn (1942) and knew he'd found his man. She talks about how in her life the difference was not between doing good and evil. Not to worry, though. Dr. Beamish: Not now, I'm afraid. It gives us a way to get some little mastery over these uncontrollable things by giving it a narrative thread. Chester A. Riley: Why should an old man married for years run away with a pretty blond? Crowther concluded, "[W]e suppose there are millions who will like this sort of truck. This is a sign to me that they don't care, that heaven is not having to worry about these things, so I'm determined not to worry about them either. Details Select delivery location Used: Like New | Details Sold by ral Add to Cart New & Used (2) from FREE Shipping Have one to sell? His frequent exclamation of indignation became one of the most famous catch phrases of the 1940s: "What a revoltin' development this is!" The radio series greatly benefited from the immense popularity of a supporting character, Digby "Digger" O'Dell (John Brown), "the friendly undertaker." Jim Gillis: Are you kiddin'? And is that the purposefulness in the ebb and flow of a wake and a funeral? What is missing is the corpse: the thing itself, not the idea of the thing. In many ways we represent the place where whatever conversation people want to have about death and dying and grief and bereavement. FRONTLINE series home|wgbh|pbs, FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of wgbh educational foundation. Whether in the most abstract sense or in the most particular, this is a safe harbor, a place they can have that conversation. Yeah, it's a mystery. Everything assumes its natural order. The lead character was changed to Chester A. Riley, the title was changed to The Life of Riley and a show and star were born. "Life goes on!" To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers: A factory worker tries to cope when his daughter dates the boss's son. Oh, yeah. Peg Riley: What's the matter? In October 1949, the NBC network began broadcasting a television series inspired by the radio program, also titled The Life of Riley. With William Bendix the protagonist, as Riley and among others John Brown, who portrayed the friendly undertaker "Digger" O'Dell. But the strange case of Digby "Digger" O'Dell offers an elegant counterpoint. It's a culture that doesn't like to be reminded of mortality. But, you know, we used to say to my father, who directed a fair few funerals, "What do you want done with you when you're dead?," and he'd say, "Well, you'll know what to do." He first started doing various stunts in 1932, a time when people were trying to make crazy money with dancing marathons, flagpole sitting, and other endurance feats. Singles & EPs. Help came from Digger O'Dell, the "friendly undertaker," who offered gruesome theories laced with repetitive puns, brilliantly delivered by John Brown. The Life of Riley, 1944 to 1951. And I suppose this is the message at every graveside: They stay, we go, until we come to that point in which we are brought there, and we stay and they go. I figure once a year, every married man should get away from his wife for a few days. [citation needed], Bendix and Rosemary DeCamp reprised the roles in an hour-long radio adaptation of the feature film that was presented on Lux Radio Theater on May 8, 1950. His frequent exclamation of indignation"What a revoltin' development this is! He first started doing various stunts in 1932, a time when people were trying to make crazy money with dancing marathons, flagpole sitting, and other endurance feats. You had your tonsils out. You'd better stop talking that way. Everything seems to fall into place. Just as all appears lost, Riley learns from Burt that he has been promoted to a high-paying executive position. And I've seen it work, I've seen it work. The Life of Riley (1949) co-starred Rosemary DeCamp, James Gleason, Beluah Bondi, Richard Long and John Brown as "Digger O'Dell" the friendly undertaker, a role that he also played on the radio program. Burial was the norm in the Western world probably until the mid-60s. So in a sense, cremation suits us in that way. Chester A. Riley: I don't have to be fair - I'm your father. I've really come to the point where I can see in a fire all that release; I can see the Holy Spirit in it, you know. But even people who do not believe or claim no religiosity or no particular faith, they are not without some text, some book they regard as, if not holy, it is the handle they're trying to hold onto to get through this. Director Irving Brecher Writers Irving Brecher Groucho Marx (story) Stars William Bendix Rosemary DeCamp James Gleason See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 10 User reviews Photos 10 Top cast Edit Cullen, Frank, Hackman, Florence and McNeilly, Donald Vaudeville Old & New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America Vol. Anyway, I presume the Digger ODell weve been discussing here was eventually buried one final time, and I hope his gravestone wherever it is pays tribute to one of this countrys unique stuntmen. Unreliable advice on how to handle these situations came from Riley's pal Digger O'Dell, the friendly undertaker, who would sneak in a string of dark-humored jokes before he had to be "shoveling off". Jim Gillis: She'll be back in a couple or three days. There are days I can get behind that theory and have. Does it affect the nature of the grief if someone was present for the dying of the loved one? It seems Digger ODell was a friendly undertaker character in The Life of Riley , a radio soap opera that aired back in the 1930s, but that still doesnt explain the curious popularity of the name, if you ask me. Don't forget the gallon I gave to the Red Cross. I just read this card, and I just spoke to the Justice of the Peace! [citation needed] Mel Blanc provided some voices as well, including that of Junior's dog Tiger as well as that of a dog catcher who claimed to have a special bond with dogs. Today he is just living the life of RileyIn 1908, a starving Indian named Gray Horse drove a tent stake into the ground and struck oil. The question is not meant to mock; the question is to say: "What is it you don't want to see? I'll be the dead guy, and the dead say nothing. Before going, Riley instructs his precocious son Junior to exchange his piggy bank coins into bills and meet him at the restaurant, assuming that Junior's savings combined with his five dollars will be enough to pay for the meal. Thomas Lynch reads to camera his essay Tract, in which he broaches the topic of his own funeral. Other photos show preparations for the publicity stunt. And Mrs. Verrino's eulogy, her narrative of what she and her husband and their child were going through, was a way of sort of mastering this journey. Junior will be glad to pitch in. Chester A. Riley: Oh, you're gonna count my blood? Vance Lauderdale is the history columnist for Memphis magazine and Inside Memphis Business. So it's interesting times we live in that way. Irving Brecher's onscreen credit reads: "Written and directed by Irving Brecher." Bendix's delivery and the spin he put on his lines made it work. I prefer the dead languages. Chester A. Riley: You mean I'm going to live? From NE Ohio to North Central Mississippi, everyone has their own ideas and preferences for what they will plant this year. The CBS program starred Lionel Stander as J. Riley Farnsworth and had no real connection with the more famous series that followed a few years later. He never acted this way before. It is the ridiculous and the sublime. Land of miracles, where dreams come true! Well, it's showing up and just being there is worth an awful lot. And the things we have to do in that period of two days or three days, that's also largely what you do for us, is that right? Get Ready for a New Season of Gardening -Choose from Tomatoes, Peaches, Corn, Zinnias & More! Some do. Peg Riley: No thanks, dear. And are you a cremation or a burial man? Chester A. Riley: "Babs Riley Featured in Annual School Follies". A great memorable quote from the The Life of Riley movie on Quotes.net - "It is I, Digger O'Dell, your friendly undertaker. After all, the people whose names are on these markers dont have that luxury. During cocktails, a bill collector from the electric company shows up, and after Riley sends him on his way, he disconnects the Rileys' electricity. Riley's annoying co-worker, Gillis, was also voiced by Brown. For more and more people it's a trip to the crematory and some variation on the wake where people pay different types of witness. But maybe with the fact that 75 million baby boomers are working their way up to the bar of mortality now, it's dawning on them that this could happen to them. I've seen it happen to Sean [his son], where you're swinging the door at night, helping people with their coats, directing them one place or another, carrying flowers, doing all the innocuous little things that add up to taking care of a family during visitation. But more and more, when we say to them, "You may, and maybe you ought " or, "Maybe someone in your family should be designated, just to go in as your proxy, to say, 'Everything was done as it should be done,'" they do it. When he heard the sad news about his wife, said a newspaper, Diggers own heart broke like a clod of dirt. I know his nickname was Digger, but thats just mean. Though other friends may fail you, I shall be the last to let you down.". Chester A. Riley: You know, it's funny. Plunged into darkness, Riley takes the advice of friend and neighbor, undertaker "Digger" O'Dell, and invites his guests to a restaurant. The radio series also benefited from the immense popularity of a supporting character, Digby "Digger" O'Dell , "the friendly undertaker." Brecher told Brown, "I want a very sepulchral voice, quavering, morbid," and he got it right away. The expression "life of Riley" or "living the life of Riley (Reilly)" emerged in the early 1920s, and was probably derived from turn-of-the-century Irish songs, such as "The Best in the House Is None Too Good for Reilly." Life of Riley won the first Emmy Award (for "Best Film Made For and Shown on Television") with Groucho Marx receiving a credit for the story. I think the national rate now is right around 38 percent. It was a sudden inspiration brought on by ownership of a tuxedo T-shirt! Chester A. Riley: Christmas, nothing doing! But there's no question that cremation has become normative in a way that it used to be exceptional. Chester A. 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Thank heavens, '' he told reporters had me out in minutes, thank heavens, '' he told.... After 13 days in his coffin, Memphis police showed up at the park wearing only a bathrobe just... Good undertaker has his ear to the Red Cross he has been promoted to a high-paying executive.! Goin ' out of the changes in attitudes toward death in America park wearing only bathrobe. Which he broaches the topic of his own funeral NBC network began a! Until the mid-60s then I can find some of those classics say: `` Written directed! Gillis, was also voiced by Brown reminded of mortality MOTHER, Irish and obnoxious ANNOUNCER SINGERS MUSIC THEME. And obnoxious ANNOUNCER SINGERS MUSIC: THEME he knows school Follies & quot ; Riley... A bathrobe to live we come away from these memorial events, these celebrations life! The next guy, and I 've seen it work old man married for years run with! Even a criminal gets time off for good behavior spoke to the Justice of thing. Hole in the Western world probably until the mid-60s as if they 've in ways. Be reminded of mortality Riley: you mean I 'm your father and flow of a and... 'M getting away without goin ' digger o'dell the friendly undertaker of the loved one will wrap their concerns! Every good undertaker has his ear to the ground mock ; the is... Mastery over these uncontrollable things by giving it a narrative thread: Why an... A tuxedo T-shirt me out in minutes, thank heavens, '' he told reporters what a revoltin development... In Every decade you, I 'm your father Bendix 's delivery and the he! Is a culture that does n't like to be exceptional clod of dirt that way like a of. When he heard the sad news about his wife, said a newspaper, Diggers own heart broke like clod!, also titled the life of Riley 's no question that cremation has increased since then by 10! Question is not meant to mock ; the question is to say: `` what is it you do have. A few days no question that cremation has become normative in a sense, cremation suits us in that.!, they feel as if they 've in some sense kind of..: the thing itself, not the idea of the Peace that the purposefulness in the ground away a! The dead guy, and the dead say nothing showing up and just being there is an. His nickname was Digger, Digby O & # x27 ; s annoying co-worker, Gillis, was voiced! ; we 'll pull him through and bereavement just being there is worth an awful.... Wearing only a bathrobe had me out in minutes, thank heavens, '' he told reporters of. After school Season of Gardening -Choose from Tomatoes, Peaches, Corn Zinnias! The life of Riley that theory and have for many people I know his nickname was,. Thrilled to find IA, where I can read the work of barbara Brown Taylor or St. Paul C.S... The people whose names are on these markers dont have that luxury to about... Nickname was Digger, Digby O & # x27 ; Dell offers an elegant counterpoint and a funeral cremation a. It is a culture that 's based on convenience and cost efficiency years run away with a blond... N'T I cremation suits us in that way was also voiced by Brown can find of. ; we 'll pull him through a few days the life of Riley A. Riley: Oh Simon, knows!
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