William Bendix was a working man type of TV star, prior to the classic Carol O'Connor portrayal of Archie Bunker. TV executives believe that Joe six-pack needs somebody to associate with. We had John Goodman in the eighties, Carol O'Connor in the seventies and Jackie Gleason was portraying Ralph Kramden in the fifties. The 1950's also had William Bendix, who was the star of Life of Riley. The show lasted for six seasons, with 217 episodes. Being that it was a black & white program and very few non-colorized shows are seen in syndication, most younger people have never seen, or heard of the TV show.  

Jackie Gleason was originally the star of the show. The TV show wasn't popular with Gleason as the star. When Bendix took over the role the program became a huge hit.

Bendix also starred in several motion pictures during the time that he was a hot commodity. His most famous role was Babe Ruth, in The Babe Ruth Story, a 1948 silver screen picture.

Eleven years prior to his role of the most famous New York Yankee ballplayer, Bendix was a batboy for the Yankees in real life. It was quite a promotion - batboy to Babe Ruth.  

Posted below is a full color magazine ad, which used Mr. Bendix personae to sell a product to Joe six-pack. Actually, it was a six-pack that he was selling. It is an advertisement for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.



Posted below is another ad with Mr. Bendix. Appearing in character as the iconic Babe Ruth, Bendix can be seen shilling for a cancer-stick manufacturer.



Without any further ado, I will now show an episode of Life of Riley, co-starring the great Sterling Holloway.

PART 1 LIFE OF RILEY



PART 2 LIFE OF RILEY


PART 3 LIFE OF RILEY
 









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