got the chance to choose whether or not to find Meta guilty of murdering her ex-husband Ted White. Ray would defend Meta on Charlotte's urging, despite the previous custody battle between them. The radio audience eventually voted to have Meta acquitted due to temporary insanity. Ray and Charlotte Brandon, Dr. Ross Boling, and Dr. Mary Leland faded into obscurity shortly afterward. The only mention of the Brandon's is Bill and Bert buying their house in the Hollywood Hills. Meta and Trudy eventually become best friends before Trudy marries the wealthy Clyde Palmer and moves to New York City. The conflicts between the Bauer clan and Bill's headstrong wife Bert are also an integral part of the plot in the television show's first decade. Although Bert and her sister-in-law Meta would eventually become very close, there is considerable hostility between them initially. An additional plot-line in this period focuses on Bill Bauer's alcoholism and his career difficulties. These troubles are exacerbated by Bert's materialistic nature as she wants to live much more extravagantly than Bill's salary allows. 1951 sees the introduction of two people who would cause much turmoil over the next four years of Bill and Bert's marriage. After Ted White's death, Bill seeks employment with another advertising agency and begins working with show business manager Sid Harper. Sid is trying to get a singer named Gloria LaRue to sign with him and asks for Bill's help. None of the men know that Gloria is also an alcoholic, and Sid is unaware that she and Bill have started having an affair. Gloria nearly has Bill divorce Bert, but Bert refuses to let him go after discovering she is pregnant. When Bill learns that Bert is pregnant, he agrees to stay with her. Gloria then falls off the wagon, but Sid helps her establish a new radio and television career, which gives her the strength to get sober. Gloria and Sid then decide to get married. With Bill and Bert together again and expecting their first child, things seemed to stabilize for the Bauers. Bert gives birth to a boy named Michael (named after Charita Bauer's first son, also named Michael) in 1952. Bill keeps it secret from Bert when he is instrumental in signing Gloria LaRue Harper to a new television contract. Bert and Sid watch in anger as Gloria becomes more emotionally dependent on Bill for her new career.