 still getting his character into the groove of its own series that indeed was harold perry in the debut episode of the great gildersleeve from the final day of august 1941. it was the beginning of a 16-year radio run for that program although for the final seven seasons perry sounded like willard waterman would play gilding by relocating to summerfield throckmorton p gildersleeve would leave behind his old occupation running his own company gildersleeves girdleworks