Old Straw Hat

Originally Aired: April 28, 1942 In Fibber McGee & Molly #323, "Old Straw Hat," Fibber becomes obsessed with cleaning his worn-out straw hat from last summer rather than buying a new one, insisting it's his patriotic duty to conserve during wartime. Despite Molly's gentle suggestions that the shabby hat looks terrible and that buying a new one for $2.95 would be perfectly acceptable, Fibber stubbornly declares he'll make it look like new. He calls Kramer's drugstore seeking cleaning solutions and tries various household remedies, including peroxide and even Lillian the car's curry comb, with disastrous fuzzy results. The situation grows more complicated when young Teeny stops by selling vegetable seeds for victory gardens. Her earnest patriotic speech about doing one's part for the war effort and avoiding "calluses on our hearts" convinces Fibber to buy two dollars worth of seeds. Now committed to both his hat-cleaning project and starting a victory garden, Fibber faces the challenge of following through on his grand conservation plans while Molly watches his efforts with patient amusement.