Fibber McGee and Molly originated when the small-time husband-and-wife vaudevillians began their third year as Chicago-area radio performers. Two of the shows they did for station WENR beginning in 1927, both written by Harry Lawrence, bore traces of what was to come and rank as one of the earliest forms of situation comedy. In their Luke and Mirandy farm-report program, Jim played a farmer who was given to tall tales and face-saving lies for comic effect. In a weekly comedy, The Smith Family, Marian's character was an Irish wife of an American police officer. These characterizations, plus the Jordans' change from being singers/musicians to comic actors, pointed toward their future; it was at this time when Marian developed and perfected the radio character "Teeny". It was also at WENR where the Jordans met Donald Quinn, a cartoonist who was then working in radio, and the couple hired him as their writer in 1931. They regarded Quinn's contribution as important and included him as a full partner; the salary for Smackout and Fibber McGee and Molly was split between the Jordans and Quinn.
Fibber McGee and Molly originated when the small-time husband-and-wife vaudevillians began their third year as Chicago-area radio performers Two of the shows they did for station WENR beginning in 1927 both written by Harry Lawrence bore traces of what was to come and rank as one of the earliest forms of situation comedy In their Luke and Mirandy farm-report program Jim played a farmer who was given to tall tales and face-saving lies for comic effect In a weekly comedy The Smith Family Marian's character was an Irish wife of an American police officer These characterizations plus the Jordans' change from being singers/musicians to comic actors pointed toward their future; it was at this time when Marian developed and perfected the radio character "Teeny" It was also at WENR where the Jordans met Donald Quinn a cartoonist who was then working in radio and the couple hired him as their writer in 1931 They regarded Quinn's contribution as important and included him as a full partner; the salary for Smackout and Fibber McGee and Molly was split between the Jordans and Quinn