Really got a kick out of seeing this, as quite by coincidence, I listened to the 1947 radio episode upon which it is based, just the other day!

Of course, in the radio version we have the far superior Harold Peary in the Gildersleeve role, and Walter Tetley as Leroy etc. Nice to see it played out, and only slightly re-written for a visual version.

It has to be said, the vocal similarities between Peary and Waterman are eerie! Almost bordering on unreal!

Sadly, he didn't have the look (too tall, too straight looking as opposed to comical, and of course, the famous Peary dirty laugh was gone).

Season 1, episode 32.
Gildy encourages Leroy to build a raft and float down river from Summerville like a modern-day Huck Finn. The plan backfires when the raft is discovered broken up downstream and Leroy can`t be found.
Cast: Willard Waterman (Throckmorton P. `Gildy` Gildersleeve), Ronald Keith (Leroy Forrester), Raynond Bailey (Fred Fuller), Mike Winkelman (Bruce Fuller), Lilian Randolph (Birdie Lee Coggins), Stephanie Griffin (Marjorie Forrester), Harry Antrim (Judge Hooker), Forrest Lewis (Mr. Peavey) and Robert Foulk (Charlie Anderson).
source: IMDB
This is one of the worst sitcom I ever seen.

This is episode 1x32 Gildy's All-America Boy. Gildy encourages Leroy to build a raft and float down river from Summerville like a modern-day Huck Finn. The plan backfires when the raft is discovered broken up downstream and Leroy can't be found. Great fun!