Bill Gannon The Sidekick

Bill Gannon was a true sidekick in the tradition of Smiley Burnett, Pat Buttram, and Gabby Hayes.

Bill's main function seemed to be to provide comic relief. His eating habits, real or imagined health issues, and his other odd ways made Bill a perfect offset for the staid Joe Friday.

Bill never had an original idea of how to solve the case. It was always Joe who found the clue, had the light bulb come on in his head when he suddenly realized the way to catch the criminal, and it was always Joe who suggested working overtime to completely do their duty. When Bill got discouraged or suggested that they would never solve this one, it was Joe who always wanted to "try one more thing," or stay with it "just one more night."

The only thing Bill ever did on his own was the night he caught the burglar who tried to break into the house across the street from his home. Joe spooked the perp and he ran into Bill, who flipped him over his back and then slapped the cuffs on him. Of course, it was obviously a stunt man who did the real work.

Bill Gannon: The Perfect Sidekick.