Duffy's Tavern

Duffy's Tavern  -- List of Episodes at end of this article

Duffy's Tavern was the creation of Ed Gardner.  In the early 1940s, Gardner worked as a writer, producer and director, for a number of radio programs. In 1941, he created a character for a show he was producing titled: This Is New York.  It was that character, who Gardner portrayed, that became the character Archie on the radio show Duffy's Tavern.

For Duffy fans the opening is classic:  We hear the singing of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling interrupted by the ring of a telephone and Archie answering: "Hello, Duffy's Tavern, where the elite meet to eat. Archie the manager speakin'. Duffy ain't here.  Oh -- hello, Duffy."

The gag here is that Duffy was never seen or heard.

One of the draws of this unique series was the many famous guest stars it featured.  These included Fred Allen, Vincent Price, Mel Allen, Lucille Ball, Joan Bennett, Nigel Bruce, Billie Burke, Bing Crosby, Susan Hayward, Bob Hope, Lena Horne, Boris Karloff, Alan Ladd, Rex Harrison, Veronica Lake, Peter Lorre, Tony Martin, Gene Tierney, Arthur Treacher and Shelley Winters.

As the stories developed over the years, Archie became an entrepreneur with a vivid image of himself.  He was constantly involving himself in schemes that would make him rich.  In one episode he wanted to write an opera; in another he made plans to marry a rich heiress.

As fun as these plots were, it was the characterizations of the residents of New York City that made the show so appealing. 

Come and join us for a very good time as we meet and mingle with the folks at Duffy's Tavern!