Marian Irene Driscoll Jordan(April 15, 1898 – April 7, 1961) was an American actress and radio personality. She was most remembered for portraying the role of Molly McGee, the patient, common sense, honey-natured wife of Fibber McGee on theNBCradio seriesFibber McGee and Mollyfrom 1935 to 1959. She starred on this series opposite her real-life husbandJim Jordan.[citation needed]
Marian Driscoll Jordan | |
|---|---|
 Jordan with her husbandJim Jordanin the roles of Fibber McGee and Molly McGee, 1937. | |
| Born | Marian Irene Driscoll April 15, 1898 |
| Died | April 7, 1961(aged 62) Encino,California,U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery Culver City, California |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, radio personality |
| Years active | 1924–1961 |
| Notable work | Fibber McGee and Molly |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and marriage
editJordan was born Marian Irene Driscoll on April 15, 1898, inPeoria, Illinois.She was the twelfth of thirteen children born to Daniel P. Driscoll, (1858–1916) and Anna Driscoll (néeCarroll), (1858–1928). Driscoll's paternal great-grandfather, Michael Driscoll, Sr. (1793–1849), emigrated with his wife and children from his hometown ofBaltimore, County Cork,Ireland in 1836 to theBostonarea and then toBureau County, Illinoisin 1848.[1]
As a teenager and young adult, Driscoll gave music lessons and sang in choir at the church which she attended. While at choir practice one day, she met a member of the choir namedJames Edward "Jim" Jordan.The two were married on August 31, 1918.[2]They had two children together; a son and a daughter. The couple went on to have a long career in show business.
Their life as newlyweds started humbly. Marian became a piano teacher and Jim a mailman. Jim enlisted in the army and was eventually stationed inFranceduring World War I. He contracted a case ofinfluenzaduring the1918 flu pandemicbut survived. After the war ended, Jim stayed in Europe to doVaudevilleperformances for wounded soldiers.[3]
Radio
editEarly radio career
editJordan was first heard on radio with her husband Jim in 1924 after a bet that Jim made with his brother. The couple's performance was a success. They began performing at WIBO, a radio station in Chicago where they earned $10 a week.[4]
In 1927, Marian and Jim began their second radio show,The Smith Familywhich aired on WENR radio inChicago.[3]The show was a great boost to their career, ending in 1930.
Collaboration with Don Quinn andSmackout
editIn 1931, while in Chicago, the Jordans met cartoonistDon Quinn.The three of them created the radio comedySmackout.The series starred Marian as a gossipy green-grocer. Jim played the manager of the grocery store. Marian was known for her catchphrase, "He was smack out of everything, 'cept hot air."[3]
The show, for which Don Quinn was head writer, was the Jordans' first nationwide success. It was also one of the first situation comedies (sitcoms).
"Smackout" ended in 1935 after its sponsorship was taken over by the Johnson Wax Company.[5]The Jordans and Don Quinn collaborated on the creation of a new show for Johnson Wax,Fibber McGee and Molly.
Fibber McGeeyears
editOn April 16, 1935, Marian Jordan, her husband Jim, and writer Don Quinn, began broadcastingFibber McGee and Molly,on theNBCBlue NetworkChicago radio affiliateWMAQ.[6][7]The series was a big hit. Marian played the role of Molly McGee, the patient and intelligent wife who supports husband Fibber McGee through various get rich quick schemes and misadventures.
In 1938, the show and Jordan would both suffer major changes. During this time, Marian was drinking excessively. She entered a rehabilitation center in suburban Chicago and tried to get sober. The Jordan children were in high school and college. "Molly" was written out of the radio show, and the program was renamedFibber McGee and Company.Those who knew Marian doubted that she would ever return to radio, especially after the show moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1939. However, Marian astonished everyone by travelling alone from Joliet, Illinois to Pasadena, California in March 1939. She was able to return to the character of "Molly," and some listeners considered her better than before.
The show received high ratings, from season three in 1938 until the end of its run. It also gave birth to aspin-off.In 1941, a recurring character, Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, (played byHarold Peary), began a new show calledThe Great Gildersleeve.[8]The radio and television seriesBeulahwas also a spin-off ofFibber McGee and Molly.[9]
Marian Jordan's health began to deteriorate in the 1950s. This was the beginning of the end both for the show and for Jordan. The program officially ended in 1956 but the Jordans continued their roles as Fibber McGee and Molly in short skits on the NBC radio programMonitoruntil October 2, 1959, when her poor health made her unable to continue. By the time Fibber McGee and Molly was adapted for television, Marian was too ill to reprise her role, andCathy Lewistook her place, oppositeBob Sweeneyas Fibber. Lewis's darker take on the character was a factor in the television series' cancellation after only a half-season.
Other works
editIn the 1920s, Jordan did a radio show in Chicago entitledLuke and Mirandy.She played the role of Mirandy with her husband Jim as Luke. It was a farm-report program in which Luke told tall tales and face-saving lies for comedic effect.[8]
Marian Jordan also appeared as Molly in six movies based onFibber McGee and Molly.
Personal life
editMarian marriedJim Jordanon August 31, 1918, inPeoria.[2]They were married for almost 43 years until her death on April 7, 1961. They had two children: Kathryn Therese Jordan, and James Carroll "Jim" Jordan. She was a Roman Catholic.[citation needed]
Illness and death
editThe deterioration of Marian's health began in 1938 during the run ofFibber McGee and Molly.She was an alcoholic and entered a rehabilitation center. She returned to radio in April, 1939.[10]
In 1953, Jordan's health became progressively worse. She became exhausted and easily fatigued. A doctor suggested she take a long rest, but she refused, deciding instead to continue performing. The Fibber McGee and Molly program was then recorded from the Jordans' home inEncino.The music was pre-recorded, and the commercials were no longer part of the show, but her failing health soon ended the Fibber McGee and Molly show.
In 1958, Marian was found to have an inoperable form of cancer.[11]
Marian Jordan died at her home in Encino on April 7, 1961, of cancer. She and Jim Jordan are buried at theHoly Cross CemeteryinCulver City, California.
Honors
editFibber McGee and Mollywas inducted into theRadio Hall of Famein 1989.[12]Marian and Jim Jordan were inducted the same year.[13]
Jordan also has a star for her contributions to radio on theHollywood Walk of Fameat 1500Vine Street.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^"Michael Driscoll b 1793 married Helena Fitzgerald".www.irelandxo.com. Archived fromthe originalon January 19, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 14,2015.
- ^ab"Jim Jordan, Radio's Fibber McGee, Is Dead at 91".Associated Pressin theNew York Times.2 April 1988.Retrieved2009-08-08.
- ^abc"Jim and Marian Jordan's Contributions to Radio".www.lib.niu.edu. Archived fromthe originalon August 10, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 15,2015.
- ^"Fibber McGee and Molly – Media Heritage".www.mediaheritage.com.RetrievedJanuary 16,2015.
- ^"Jim Jordan and Marian Jordan".www.britannica.com.RetrievedJanuary 16,2015.
- ^Childers, Scott."WMAQ Time Capsule".Childers, Scott.RetrievedJanuary 17,2015.
- ^Samuels, Rich."Fibber McGee & Molly with downloadable audio files".Samuels, Rich.RetrievedJanuary 17,2015.
- ^abDunning, John, ed. (1998).On the air: the encyclopedia of old time radio.Oxford University Press US. p. 840.ISBN0195076788.RetrievedJanuary 17,2015.
- ^"Jim & Marian Jordan aka Fibber McGee and Molly".www.rusc.com.RetrievedJanuary 18,2015.
- ^"Radio:Fibber & Co".Time.April 22, 1940. Archived fromthe originalon March 10, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 18,2015.
- ^"Know Old Time Radio – Marian Jordan (1898–1961)".8 March 2008.RetrievedJanuary 16,2015.
- ^"Fibber McGee and Molly".projects.latimes.com.RetrievedJanuary 18,2015.
- ^"Radio Hall of Fame Inductees, 1989".Radio Hall of Fame.Archived fromthe originalon January 18, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 18,2015.