Why is Molly Irish? Marian Jordan, who played Molly, wasn’t Irish. Did they ever mention her being Irish at any point? I always thought it was really weird that she had an Irish accent for no apparent reason and nobody on the show ever mentioned it. As a matter of fact, all the old stories they tell about each other point to Molly growing up in the same general area as Fibber. What gives?
Apparently Marian Jordan was of Irish descent and had used an Irish accent in a previous show, The Smith Family.
Audiences loved accepts and thought they were funny every time they were used. Don’t ask me why. But the Irish were still generically lower class but not “foreign” so that was a safe non-offensive accent for a star to adopt.
Well, she did have to leave the show because of her alcoholism for a few seasons (I listen on XM) so that proves she had some Irish blood in her.
Just kidding, I am Irish.
It just seems odd for a main character on a show set in the midwest (most likely based on Peoria, Illinois) to have an accent for no real reason. I’ve also noticed that Molly sounds less Irish by the late 1940’s than she did in the late 30’s. On the other hand, what kind of a name is “Fibber”? Why does Molly call her husband by his last name?
He’s “Fibber” because he tells tall tales, stories, lies, “fibs.” That was his stock in trade as a comic device.
Calling a husband by his last name is also a stock device in some stereotypical cultures, including the Irish. Besides, no wife would call her husband Fibber, even if that’s what all his friends called him. I don’t think we ever found out his real name, so McGee was the safe and sensible compromise.
And there were Irish immigrants in every city in the country. Why would you think there wouldn’t be?
Well, if Fibber McGee is Irish, and McGee is an Irish name, it stands to reason that Molly would be Irish too.
I will try to remember to ask my mom about it next month when I visit. Her maiden name is Bobbie McGee, and her brother’s name is Fibber McGee. And yes, they both used to listen to the show, apparantly. I don’t know if I’ve ever even asked whether Fibber is his Christian name or a nickname; she didn’t get along with her family and it’s hard for her to talk about them. But now I’m curious.
Trust me, there were lots of Irish in Chicago at the time. My dad grew up in a ‘german’ neighborhood, and when he chose to marry my mom, there was some old song my grandma used to sing about the <blank> and the orange never mixing…something about the colors on each flag…basically, that Irish and German should never tango cause they’re both going to try to lead. The song was right!