Several years before Jackie Gleason made the first great television sit-com, he starred as everyman Chester Riley in this very early television series. You don't have the explosive Ralph Cramden here, or one of the bizarre characters he did on television during the 1950's. His Chester Riley is something of a straight man. Gleason of course, is younger here (He's in his early 30's) and only has a slight weight problem. Still, he's a charming presence, worth catching on TV re-runs.
Review of The Life of Riley
