BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s

Subject: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 02:42 PM

I've just been watching an episode from "Lawman" on YouTube.

What memories these old TV programmes bring back - "Gunsmoke", "Wagon Train", "Robin Hood", "Ivanhoe" (starring Roger Moore), "William Tell", "Rawhide", "Sword of Freedom", and many others. I saw these in the UK but I'm sure many were also shwon in the US. "Robin Hood" scripts were often written by American film -makers blacklisted in the McCarthy era and working in the UK. Strange times.

"Smoking more - enjoying it less? Have a real cigarette - have a Camel. Now - back to Lawman." Mmm...

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 03:12 PM

They certainly bring back memories. I used to adore Robin Hood (and that song, "...riding through the glen.."
Did you watch Quatermass, WillFly? We did, but from behind the sofa! It gave us terrible nightmares. And what about those early adverts? Do you remember "The Esso sign means happy motoring" and "Murray mints, the too-good-to-hurry-mints" I used to quite fancy Robert Horton in Wagon Train.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 03:22 PM

Quatermass and the Pit - wonderful!

Will (space) Fly

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 03:38 PM

The westerns alone create a tremendous list and I recall another thread somewhere that we discussed that. I remember as well all the comedy stuff from Sid Caesar to Groucho and a lot in between.

The Old Man loved Spike Jones and my Mom hated him. Every time this subject comes up around here it drags a ton of memories from damn near everybody. I have always thought of starting one of these asking for a favorite show from the period.........I'd go with "My Little Margie." I have no idea why.........


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 03:49 PM

I was born in 58 so my childhood tv watching was dominated by 60's shows. From that era, my favorites, in no particular order, Have Gun Will Travel, The Beverly Hillbillies, Get Smart and Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry called it "Wagon Train in space." So in a way there were two westerns. The Flat and Scruggs theme song for the Hillbillies was excellent as was the opening credits for Get Smart.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 03:52 PM

I've picked up some DVD's that feature Steve McQueen in "Wanted Dead or Alive" and Vic Morrow in "Combat". Not to mention "The Twilight Zone". Brilliant stuff. I'm still looking for "T.H.E Cat" and "Adventures in Paradise".

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: paula t
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:06 PM

I absolutely loved the mid-'60s series called "Branded", which was about an ex - cavalryman who had been branded a coward and spent all his time proving that he was brave.I confess that I was deeply in love(at the age of 5 or 6) with the lead man.I knew the theme song word for word , and my heart broke at the beginning of every episode when he had his stripes ripped from his uniform and his sword broken in half.
I also love "Champion the wonderhorse," "Belle and Sebastian" and "The flashing blade".

Nothing will ever replace that wonderful kids' programme "The Banana Splits" either!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:27 PM

I had a crush on Peggy Lee when I was five. I think her show was "The Peggy Lee Show." I remember "Branded" For some reason I was mixing it up with "The Rifleman." Remember F-Troop! and McHale's Navy? I liked those as well. And the one with Phil Silvers as the supply sarge.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: paula t
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:29 PM

Was the actor in "Rifleman" the same as the guy in, "Branded"? (Because I mix them up too.)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:31 PM

Bilko was superb - Phil Silvers and the whole cast, acting live, gave excellent performances. A TV classic.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: paula t
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:31 PM

Actually, I've just looked it up.....and no they were not the same guys.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Ed T
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:33 PM

Bat Masterson

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: paula t
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:34 PM

I also loved "Bootsie and Snudge." Remember that one?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Ed T
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 04:34 PM

Have Gun, will travel

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:09 PM

My Mamma love Paladin. Dad loved Sergeant Bilko. I remember seeing many of the above named shows from between the legs of the Danish modern side table beside my Dad's recliner.

This one I think broke me of the habit.

My name is talking Tina and you better be nice to me

Needless to say I didn't much play with dolls after this.

Really television was such a magic thing once upon a time.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:13 PM

Paula - I think you're mistaken. Chuck Conners was the star of both The Rifleman AND Branded.

Info here

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: bobad
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:18 PM

Then there were the Disney series such as Davy Crockett, Zorro, Elfego Baca, Mike Fink "King of the Riverboats", Andy Burnett etc.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:18 PM

I never did get Bilko nor Bootsie & Snudge and would happily burn every episode and every person who watched them. Also "I love Lucy". Inane. Every second.

But Z Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, and Michael Bentine's "Square World" - great.

And Bill and Ben.

And Dr Who.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:27 PM

Speaking of Disney - How about the Hardy Boys. And Spin and Marty.

Spin and Marty

The Triple R Song

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:37 PM

The Hardy Boys

Zorro Intro

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:45 PM

To compare "Bilko" with "Bootsie & Snudge" is to compare chalk with cheese. Bilko inane? Many things, but never inane.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 06:05 PM

It is truly hard to understand shows like "You'll Never Get Rich" (the Phil Silvers army sitcom) when you are so busy creating diamonds in your ass.............

PaulaT.......Wesley is right about Chuck Connors. I watched both series especially after I found out Connors had been a pro ball player. He had actually played both pro baseball and basketball but knew he wasn't destined for greatness. To me, anyone who could make it to the top in EITHER league was a damn fine athlete. As actors go, he was pretty fair there too.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: paula t
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 06:30 PM

Spaw and Wesley,
Just got back home. Thanks for the info. I'd obviously got my wires crossed. That makes me feel a lot better because I always saw the same gorgeous face whenever I remembered the programmes. Now I need to check back to see if that face looks as gorgeous to a 51 year old as it did to a littl'un!
Paula

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 06:59 PM

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051308/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058792/

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Neil D
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 08:33 PM

Favorite western: "Maverick"
Favorite sitcom: "Green Acres"
Favorite spy show: short-lived but brilliant, "The Prisoner"
Be seeing you.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bobert
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 08:50 PM

Loved "Be seeing you" but wasn't that called "The Village"??? Maybe not???

I loved "Gunsmoke" as a kid and then one day my mom told me that James Arness was not only out next door neighbor's sister but that he was going to visiting... I was expecting a cowboy hat and guns and, well...

...didn't work out that way... James Arness showed up just looking tall but no cowboy boots, no cowboy hat and no guns...

Very depressing...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 06:16 AM

My all time favorite was "Yancy Derringer". I was especially fond of his sidekick, Pahoo, (portrayed by X Brands, no less!) who could quite suddenly produce either a throwing knife or shotgun from somewhere under the blanket he wore.

- Spaw, I suspect you had the hots for Gale Storm. I did.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 06:57 AM

By "Be seeing you", Bobert, do you mean "The Prisoner"? (Opening sequence here).

Now, you're talking...

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 07:56 AM

All of the above mentioned programs were great my mother reminded me of a tantrum I had when I was small because my parents would not stop by a line of gypsy caravans and let me see 'Major Adams' I really believed that he would be there, such is the innocence of a toddler!

I loved most of the Watch with Mother programs like the Woodentops, Bill and Ben, Picture Book and Andy Pandy even though Loopy Loo had to sneakily play on her own. Torchy the battery boy my favourite I believe was one of the first of the Gerry Anderson puppet shows as was Four Feather Falls, Supercar and Fireball XL5. I'm not sure if Twizzle was produced by the same director although I liked to watch it I found it quite scary and disturbing sometimes, especially when he had to crick his neck and arms to stretch. Footso the cat was not exactly cute and fluffy and the Broomstick man not very endearing either but I still had to watch it.

Some of the I Love Lucy shows were very funny and the Dyke Van Dyke show with Mary Tyler Moore. The Adam's Family was a particular favourite of mine with great characters and also F-Troop. As I got closer into my teens the Monkees were a 'must see' on early Saturday afternoon not a very long show but following all that blasted sport on TV so it had to be watched on the dot. Most of the comedy series that I watched then were from the US like Pardon my Jeannie, Bewitched, My mother the Car, Mr Ed (talking horse), The Ghost and Mrs Muir there were so many to choose from back then. Most of the UK programs that I enjoyed were variety shows. Sunday Night at the London Palladium was the only late show that my parents gave me special permission to watch.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 10:04 AM

and I forgot The Odd Couple. It was so quirky for it's time.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 10:53 AM

The Munsters were OK. And the Flintstones. And has anyone mentioned "The Lone Ranger"? I don't hate all American shows. But I still hate Bilko and Bootsie & Snudge (which I thought were very similar) and I love Lucy.

Burke's Law was OK, and Jason King. And ALL of the old Avengers (but not under any circumstances the New Avengers) and the Professionals (but under NO circumstances the New Professionals) and The Sweeney.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 11:50 AM

Fireball XL5! Brilliant...and here's the opening scenes and the theme tune Fireball

PS. Damn, my missus just came in and caught me listening to it! "So, this is what you do all day, eh? Researching for your MA, eh?". I'm toast...

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 12:25 PM

I loved "The Munsters." It was always hilarious when someone got a good look at Herman and take off running in fast motion crashing through walls and leaping over fences. I loved the one where Grandpa Munster shapeshifted into a bat but couldn't revert back to being human so he joins a bat colony in a research laboratory. So these two scientists come in and need to procure a bat for flight tests and pick Grandpa at random and let him fly around the lab where he promptly smashes into a wall and crashes onto a table. One scientist says to the other completely deadpan: "We seem to have encountered a stupid one." I thought that was hysterical. In fact, the guy playing the scientist was Alvy Moore better known as Hank Kimball Your County Agent on "Green Acres"--one of all-time favorite programs.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 12:26 PM

Z-Cars ~~ put "Johnny Todd" in the charts: except that it was called "The Z-Cars Tune." Z-Cars successor Softly Softly good too. A lot of fine actors first came to prominence in those ~~ Brian Blessed in particular; & Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor, James Ellis, John Thaw, Colin Welland...

I always found it odd that the brilliant comedy that everybody called "Sergeant Bilko", or simply "Bilko", actually went by the portentous title of 'The Phil Silvers Show': something contractual, I suppose?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 01:16 PM

"Oh, Susannah"
Gale Storm and Zasu Pitts on cruise ship adventures.
and My Little Margie were Saturday afternoon favorites.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 02:39 PM

Oh yes, Patsy, 'Jiffy the Broomstick Man!' My mother used to call me that if my hair needed brushing! I remember a little Potato Man who occasionally appeared in Bill and Ben. For some reason, he made me rock with laughter, I never could explain why.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:00 PM

I liked My Friend Flicka, which had a very young Peter Graves (relatively!) as the father, as I recall. Also used to watch Sea Hunt with Lloyd Bridges and Flipper, until the actor who played the father there was injured. I Dream of Jeannie was another one we enjoyed, along with Honey West, Burke's Law, and comedy entertainment shows like those featuring John Barry, the Smothers Brothers, Jimmy Dean, and more that will probably occur as soon as I close the screen. My mother used to watch Lawrence Welk but even as a kid I hated that one. I loved it when Star Trek came along but my mom wouldn't let us stay up for it (I was first in line when it came back in reruns).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:26 PM

Captain-n-n-nnn Midnight! And let's not forget his sidekick, Ichabod Mudd, (Icky, for short).

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Tunesmith
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:40 PM

As a kid I used to love The Range Rider. The way Jock Mahoney vaulted on to his horse in the opening credits was terrific.
The the fight scenes were a lot more "physical" than in other westerns.
I can still remember particular episodes of those 50s/early 60s westerns that caught my imagination.
I also loved Hawaiian Eye and I once wrote to the studios and got a photo of actor Poncy Ponce ( I think that was his name! ) who's character sang and played the ukulele.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: pdq
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 05:27 PM

Trivia:

Connie Stevens, who played Cricket on the TV show Hawaiian Eye, was quite successful in the business world. Like Art Linkletter and Oprah Winfrey, Connie Stevens became a self-made billionaire.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Janie
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 07:18 PM

Yeh Pete Jennings! At last some one who remembers Fireball XL5!

Bonanza. Just about all the westerns mentioned, plus Laramie, Wagon Train and Death Valley Days. I couldn't decide who I had the biggest crush on among those Laramie Cowboys.

I remember Combat, but I had terrible nightmares as a child after watching WWII movies or serious TV dramas about war, so the family didn't often tune into them

McHale's Navy. The Dick van Dyke Show. Make Room for Daddy/The Danny Thomas Show.

My family loved the variety shows of the 50's and 60's. Red Skelton was a particular favorite, and of course, Jackie Gleason and Ed Sullivan.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 07:24 PM

Yes, PeteJennings, it was "The Prisoner"...

Loved the last episode with him asking "Why" and melting down the master computer and the scene with "Them Bones, them bones, them dry bones" with all the steam... Way cool...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 09:09 PM

I loved "I Dream of Jeannie" too. "Beverly Hillbillies" was riot.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 12:20 AM

"Car 54, Where Are You?"
"My Favorite Martian"

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:13 AM

Beverly Hillbillies was my favourite American Comedy - It started to get quite surreal in later years and I well remember Jethro becoming leader of Hippy commune because he dressed as Robin Hood and smoked Crawdads :-)

I never really got into British Comedies (Which is odd, being British and all that) until Python came along but I enjoy re-runs of Steptoe and Till Death us do part now. Full agreement with Richard about The Avengers and not the new ones (Apart form Purdey). Steed was my role model and if you saw any other 14 and 15 year old with a rolled umberella you could bet it was Patrick MacNee's fault. Even at that tender age there was something about Dianna Rigg in a leather cat-suit... :-) As teenagers though the MUST watch at our school was The magic Roundabout. So wacky at times. I decided to become Mr McHenry in later life and bought a tricycle. Well, A Reliant Supervan:-)

Branded - That brought back a flash of the theme song

"Branded, marked as the one who ran
What do you do when you're branded
When you know you're a man?"

Talking of songs - How about 'Circus Boy' with Davey Jones before he became a Momkee? I seem to remember being frightened of the lions jumping toward the camera in the opening credits! Funny thing is I have had an irrational fear of stone lions since!

Eeeeh. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 05:56 AM

Bilko anything at all like Bootsie and Snudge? Never! But Bilko and Top Cat/Boss Cat - now they must have been twins separated at birth.

Anyone remember 'The Buccaneers'?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 06:32 AM

Some time ago we had a member named, Blackcatter, who was a fantastic resource for TV theme songs. His website links, as given in some of his posts, no longer are viable. I wonder if anyone knows whether he still has a website somewhere.

This was the name of his old website:

Blackcatter's World of TV Theme Lyrics

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 08:11 AM

I also enjoyed watching the TV series of Batman (more than the films made later) especially the fight scenes filmed at odd angles to make it look more comic book, KAPOW and ZOWIE! Batman could always save the day with his Utility belt. The theme tune was good too.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 08:12 AM

I used to like watching the valves (tubes) warm up through the holes in the back of the TV!

As Ken Russell's just, sadly, died I hope we'll soon see some of his BBC films - Elgar, The Debussy Film, A Song Of Summer (Delius), and the guitar craze one which features Davy Graham and a guitar shop assistant resembling Richard Thompson.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 08:45 AM

"Are you the loan arranger?" asked the bank customer who wanted to borrow some money.

"No, Sir," replied the teller; "I'm Wyatt Earp."

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 08:53 AM

I've not seen the dots but I have been told that the "Softly softly" theme tune was the "Z cars" theme tune upside down and the so the composer(sic!) got too lots of royalties for one tune! (Think it was Spiegle).

Also I remember hearing that the Z cars police cars were painted yellow so that there were no problems withthe general public during filming, the program being filmed in black and white.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Beer
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 01:28 PM

1950's "The Life of Riley". Not sure if this is where the saying arrived from.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 01:52 PM

The name of the program came from the saying. Look in Wikipedia

The expression, "Living the life of Riley" suggests an ideal contented life, possibly living on someone else's money, time or work. Rather than a negative freeloading or golddigging aspect, it instead implies that someone is kept or advantaged. The expression was popular in the 1880s, a time when James Whitcomb Riley's poems depicted the comforts of a prosperous home life,[1] but it could have an Irish origin: After the Reilly clan consolidated its hold on County Cavan, they minted their own money, accepted as legal tender even in England. These coins, called "O'Reillys" and "Reilly's," became synonymous with a monied person, and a gentleman freely spending was "living on his Reillys."

Wikipedia is only a starting point and I have to dash, but follow a couple of the bread crumb trails and you'll find source material.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Beer
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:46 PM

Holy Moley, there sure is lots of stuff on it.
Thanks SRS

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: pdq
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:52 PM

Talking of songs - How about 'Circus Boy' with Davey Jones before he became a Momkee? ~ Gnome Chomsky

Mickey Dolenz was the actor who platyed in Circus Boy. Davey Jones is a Brit.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Arkie
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 03:08 PM

One of my favorites was the "Avengers". My memories of Mrs. Peel are most vivid. Also like Buster Crabbe and watched "Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion".

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: paula t
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 03:28 PM

I'd forgotten about "Batman!" At the age of 6 I didn't realise what a spoof was. I would be in terror for the next week, in case Batman and Robin didn't escape from the deadly situation they had got into at the end of the programme.Holy broken bones!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 03:56 PM

Yes, I liked "The Buccaneer" too. Was it singular or plural?

And I forgot another of my favourites - Whirlybirds.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 06:30 PM

Oh, c'mon pdq. You know one Monkee looks just like another to us Brits...

:D tG

(You are quite right of course - But Davey was also a child actor and, oddly enough, appeared in Z-cars!)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Dave Swan
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 12:19 AM

Does anyone remember Rescue 8, or Ripcord? Loved them. I guess it's not surprising that I ended up in my line of work.....

D

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 12:25 AM

"You know one Monkee looks just like another to us Brits"

But one of them WAS a Brit. Wasn't he?

Different monkeys

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Dave Swan
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:14 AM

" it's Burke's Law". Remember the purring of that voice?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:58 AM

Yes I remember Ripcord I must have been 8 or 9 and jumped off many a wall to do a parachute roll with a little friend of mine who became chief of police in his adult years. Highway patrol comes to mind too which had us all going around with pretend walkie talkies 'over and out!'

No, one Monkee does not look like another to this Brit, they were all on my wall so I should know! Talking of primates I remember the telly series of Tarzan with Ron Ely, Boy (who he found and adopted and Cheetah the chimp was that a 60s series or early 70s? I could never understand why the chimp was called Cheetah seeing that a Cheetah is a wildcat.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 03:37 AM

Not only was one a Brit - But from my hometown of Manchester! Trafford if I remeber rightly. But before I get any more comments I would like to point out that it was Joke - Well, like one. Maybe without the funny bit at the end.

(Hence the Smiley - :D - Yes?)

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: theleveller
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 03:59 AM

When I was a child I used to love Bily Bean and his Silly Machine but no-one seems to remember it. I can still remember the theme song:

Billy Bean built a machine
To see what it could do.....

Anyone else remember it?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: theleveller
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 03:59 AM

Er... that should be Billy Bean - Bile Beans were something else entirely.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Max Johnson
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 06:12 AM

I can't believe that nobody has mentioned :

Rin Tin Tin, or
Skippy! (All together: "Skipeeeee, Skipeeee, Skippy the bush kangaroooooooo...")

Or Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt.

Personal favourites were:
Highway Patrol
Twilight Zone
Bilko
The Avengers

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Max Johnson
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 06:18 AM

...And Jimmy Edwards in 'Whacko!'

(Jim won a DFC at Arnhem. Not many people know that.)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 06:47 AM

A lot of the shows put on specifically for children involved much gunplay.
Rin Tin Tin, Boots And Saddles, Lone Ranger, Cisco Kid,...

It would not be allowed now.
Did it do us any harm?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 06:55 AM

Not forgetting Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Lost in Space.

The continuing story of Peyton Place wasn't brilliant but had the women in my family hooked. Most programs in the 60s had a good tune too.

Talking of Skippy there was another similar animal series about a dolphin called Flipper and of course Lassie (Laddie?). Little Hobo was another favourite of mine there was something appealing about a dog that wouldn't be owned by anybody.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 07:16 AM

Funny thing sorta'..........After I read Allen's post suggesting that both probably had the hots for Gale Storm, I was thinking how odd it was that 2 preteen kids in the 50's would think that..........or perhaps it is just a part of "coming of age."

Whatever the case, I did have young crushes. It wasn't so odd when I think that like most young males of those times I was nuts for Annette but a bit weirder when I recall my first was Ann Sothern in "Private Secretary" then Gale Storm and finally in this category of weirdness, there was Amanda Blake on "Gunsmoke" and topping the list, Audrey Meadows in the Gleason show doing the "Honeymooners."

I think the common thread is distinctive voices...............



Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 07:55 AM

I did NOT like Daktari (with Clarence the cross-eyed lion)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 12:10 PM

"I could never understand why the chimp was called Cheetah seeing that a Cheetah is a wildcat. "

I have one piece of advice for you. Don't play poker with a chimp.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: David C. Carter
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 12:31 PM

Was there not a series called:"The Naked City",Broderick Crawford?

And:"Ghost Squad".

"The Virginian".

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 01:30 PM

Ah! Highway Patrol reminds me of another crime drama classic - Dragnet. And how could I forget to mention my man Perry Mason. I still watch that one all of the time.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Tunesmith
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:19 PM

These are the stories of the men whose training, skill and courage...

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: bubblyrat
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 05:40 AM

I was born in 1947 , so I can remember lots of quite early stuff ; Long John Silver , The Buccaneers , Man In A Suitcase , Dragnet , Bronco Lane , North to Alaska ( it didn't last long !) , I Love Lucy ( Yukk !!) ,Dr Finlay's Casebook , Para Handy ( with the incomparable Duncan MacCrae )
Boots & Saddles ( my favourite "Western" series ; I liked the title music and the bugling !!) and the unavoidable ( it always seemed to be on ) Wells Fargo , with the stagecoach wheels revolving the wrong way , or appearing to ! Happy Days ! ( I am now heavily into, and have nearly finished watching, "Six Feet Under " !!).

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 06:04 AM

"Was there not a series called:"The Naked City",Broderick Crawford?"
As SRS alluded, Broderick Crawford starred in "Highway Patrol"; not in "The Naked City". James Franciscus, among many others, starred in the later.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 06:12 AM

Champion the Wonderhorse
THE Fugitive ( always pronounced with a heavy emphasis on 'THE' for some reason. Used to make us giggle)
Roy Rogers (swoon, oh I did fancy him)
Early Dr Who, seemed terrifying to us
Blue Peter, and the baby elephant that wee'd, poo'ed then dragged its keeper right through it. We laughed til we cried, and had to be told off for getting hysterical.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: David C. Carter
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 06:26 AM

Allan C, Thanks for the correction.

David

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jim Martin
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 08:30 AM

Garry Halliday. I was in my final years at school and this series made a deep impression on me:

http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/adults/other/garryhalliday.htm

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 01:10 PM

And two US shows we got in here in the late fifties / early sixties (?): Casey Jones (train driver) and Cannonball (truck driving - a big rig, much bigger than the lorries we had in the UK at that time). Loved them both.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Arkie
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 01:42 PM

Another comes to mind. Leave it to Beaver

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 02:59 PM

OK, hands up, who's old enough to remember Winky-Dink?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: theleveller
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 03:21 PM

Rawhiiiiiiiiiiiiide (smashes self on head with tin teatray).

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 03:27 PM

My son is finding and watching a lot of television series on NetFlix. He's becoming quite the old television show aficionado at age 19.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 04:49 PM

Not only am I old enough to remember WinkyDink, but I am also old enough to remember Rootie Kazootie!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 05:47 PM

So, did you ever get in trouble with your mom for drawing on your TV screen with the special Winky Dink Crayons but forgetting to put the magic green shield over it first?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: BlueJay
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 07:21 PM

Does anyone remember Dobie Gillis? With Duane Hickman and Bob Denver, (pre-Gilligan). I'll never forget Denver's lovable beatnick Maynard G. Krebs!

Also--77 Sunset Strip, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mission Impossible,
Father Knows Best. My favorite drama of that era was The Fugitive.

Oh, and Hogan's Heroes!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 07:50 PM

I used to love The Untouchables. And does anybody remember Science Fiction Theatre (oooops, I mean Theater)? What was the name of the guy in the big swivelly desk chair who introduced it? Conrad Somebody?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 08:01 PM

Yeah, "Dobie Gillis" was like yesterday...

So is "77 Sunset Strip" (Cookie, lend me your comb...)

"The Untouchables"??? I think that Robert Stack is still alive...

How about "Sky King"??? "Fury"???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 08:31 PM

...and the *old* Lassie series that had Tommy Rettig, Jan Clayton, and George Cleveland in it. (Hey, I just typed those names from memory. Be impressed, people. Be very impressed.)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:27 AM

"Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie!"

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Kit Griffiths
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 09:28 AM

"When I was a child I used to love Bily Bean and his Silly Machine but no-one seems to remember it. I can still remember the theme song:

Billy Bean built a machine
To see what it could do.....

Anyone else remember it?"

YES -"he built it out of sticks and stones, and nuts and bolts and glue"

Thank heavens it's not just me!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Beer
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:12 AM

In answer to Bobert.
ad.

Robert Stack
Field: Entertainment


Info: He came to fame playing Eliot Ness in the TV series "The Untouchables", he also appeared in the movie "Airplane!" and hosted the TV show "Unsolved Mysteries"




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of Birth: 01/13/1919
Date of Death: 05/14/2003
Age at Death: 84

Cause of Death:
Heart failure

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 12:24 PM

Great memories! And thanks for the Fireball XL5, I was right back there ...'...on our way 'ome....'
:)


I also liked 'Bewitched' and 'Mr Ed'....

'Go out to the stable and ask the horse
But nobody talks to a horse, of course,
Unless that horse just happens to be-
The famous Mr Ed!'

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Tunesmith
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 12:49 PM

Talking of 77 Sunset Strip, I loved it when the odd episode featured Kookie heavily, and I always thought that they should have built an entire series around the Kookie character.
I wonder if the studio bosses ever contemplated that?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 01:11 PM

What about Surfside 6? Alfred Hitchcock Presents? The Outer limits? The Guns of Will Sonnett? T.H.E. Cat?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Beer
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 01:17 PM

How about Jet Jackson,also The Four Just Men.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Josepp
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 03:58 PM

All those westerns:

Big Valley, Cheyenne, The High Chaparral, The Men from Shiloh, The Outcasts, Wild Wild West, F Troop, Rango, The Rebel, Laredo,

I also remember a lawyer drama called Judd for the Defense.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Tunesmith
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 04:32 PM

I loved a western series that nobody else seems to recall: The Restless Gun - which featured the very macho John Payne.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bettynh
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 04:47 PM

Josepp, you named all those westerns, and forgot "Rawhide???" How could you? ;-)

Great song, and I fell in love with Clint Eastwood instantly.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:43 PM

I may be the only one who remembers "What's In the World", a series with museum curators and experts in antiquities trying to identify odd objects.

This was in about 1954, when they were hot to fill empty air time with almost anything. The program was really interesting.... and I couldn't watch Lucy every day! I watched Sid Caesar every chance I got......I have a B&W video of "The Nairobi Trio".....oh...also Ernie Kovacs.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:52 PM

Ed Sullivan was a Sunday tradition.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Lighter
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:53 PM

Rootie Kazootie; Winky-Dink; Beanie and Cecil (the puppets, not the cartoon); Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. And for more geeky tots, Romper Room, and Ding Dong School with Miss Frances.

I even had a Winky-Dink Magic Screen. One would certainly help make current TV more entertaining.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:58 PM

I remember that show - wasn't it called What In The World though? Whatever the object was would fly towards the viewer from a far-off perspective and then get bigger and bigger until you could recognise it (or fail to). That's such an old memory for me that it's almost pre-verbal, but I can still see it in my mind.

Also loved The Colgate Comedy Hour with Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, back in the days of live transmission when Jerry would sometimes come out and talk to the audience wearing a posh bathrobe cuz he hadn't time for a costiume change, which always tickled me when I was little (well, there's no accounting for what makes very young kids laugh). And my fave of faves, The Lucky Strike Hit Parade. I recently listened to an old recording of Dorothy Collins again, after a gap of decades, and was impressed by just how good she was. Think I harbored a secret crush on Snooky Lanson. And that trippy opening-titles sequence...

And Ding Dong School - anybody remember Miss Frances?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:59 PM

Jerry Lewis in a bathrobe would make me laugh even now.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:59 PM

Ooops, triple cross-posted... the Baby Boomers are out in force tonight...

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jim Martin
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 06:36 PM

'What's My Line' with the rather grumpy Gilbert Harding. Guests used to mime their occupation and the panel had to work out what it was (subtitles were shown for viewers who didn't want to participate).

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Joybringer
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 06:24 AM

Z Cars,Dixon of Dock Green and Till death do us part. Priceless

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 08:31 AM

Basil Brush boom boom! With Mr. Roy North or Mr. Derek Fowlds. He used to sing a little song at the end of a story of Basil de Farmer the man in shining armour. I loved early Basil Brush he could also cross over to an older more mature audience too. The modern version of Basil just does not seem the same.

I recall a magic show too David Nixon but I wasn't impressed with magic when I was a child and it seemed to go on and on. The tv series that had my whole family watching was Candid Camera especially the one where the car had no engine, I had a childish crush on Jonathan Rowth (it was his voice).

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 08:41 AM

One of the shows I loved didn't quite make it a full season, I think -- "The Travels of Jamie McPheeters"...Dan O'Herlihy played Doc McPheeters, a medicine show guy and lovable scoundrel; Kurt Russell played Jamie.

LOOOOOVED the theme song -- "By river boat or wagon train / Old Doc McPheeters crossed the plain / And on his mind, keep moving on / There's gold in old California..."

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 09:49 AM

"Ding Dong School - anybody remember Miss Frances?" (and Romper Room)

Well... I was WAY too old to follow the program, but I knew personally a "Miss Fran" who did Romper Room in Kansas. (I assumed the show had various local persons).


ahhhh...looked it up:

"Romper Room was a rare case of a series being franchised and syndicated, so local affiliates – Los Angeles and New York were prime examples – could produce their own versions of the show instead of airing the national telecast."

...and here is the one I knew.. Miss Fran ... she & her husband, Claude Lee were active in the Democratic party in Wichita in the 60s & 70s.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 10:59 AM

Believe it or not, I can remember the main Miss Frances' full name from a childhood Christmas present, a roll of Ding Dong School drawing paper which came in a box, rather like kitchen roll (paper towels) used to in those days, and on the side it had a little blurb about

Dr. Frances Horwich

looking very official and Qualified To Teach Children. HowzZAT for memory?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 06:28 AM

It would seem there is nobody old enough to recall the reference to what I posted earlier: "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie!". There was a Sunday afternoon show, (just a little before Bishop Sheen's show, I believe,) called, "Story Time" which was at one point hosted by Andy Devine. A frog would suddenly descend from above on a spring whenever the incantation was spoken.

My favorite stories from the show were those about "Shamu the Jungle Boy"

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 08:49 AM

Oh, AllanC, I remember it well...we got it on Saturday mornings. Sponsored by Buster Brown Shoes, hosted by Andy Divine. Loved the jungle stories.

And at about age 3 and 4, I watched Miss Frances on Ding Dong School. Loved it when she'd exhort us to not touch anything when going to wash our hands, after we'd just made a shambles of the living room in front of the TV.

Several of my other favorite shows were "Thriller" hosted by Boris Karloff. I was about 10 or 11, but remember episode titles: "The Grim Reaper" with Bill Shatner, and "La Strega".

Another show that only made it through one season was "Stoney Burke" starring Jack Lord with Warren Oates and Bruce Dern. Casey Tibbs (Rodeo Cowboys Assn. All-Around Rodeo Champion) did the saddle bronc riding stunts.

Oh, and "Doctor Kildare" with Richard Chamberlain, then on to "Laugh In" by the end of the decade.

"Twilight Zone", of course, and others of the same ilk: "One Step Beyond", etc.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 08:54 AM

I remember enjoying "You Bet You Life" in reruns in the 70's and 80's. Groucho was a lot funnier when I was old enough to get the more "mature" jokes.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Baz Bowdidge
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 11:21 AM

Ampopfilms may be of interest to you guys:
Click for Ampopfilms
Also the Yuku forum Whirligig is 50's based:
Whiligig

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 12:25 PM

"...on Saturday mornings. Sponsored by Buster Brown Shoes, hosted by Andy Divine. "

*I* am old enough to remember the original, before Andy Devine. Hosted by "Smilin' Ed" McConnell

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 12:29 PM

A link to a site about Smilin' Ed

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 12:36 PM

Allen - These are for you:

Plunk your magic twanger!

Andy's Gang with Magic and Sweaky

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: paula t
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 02:27 PM

How about Hughie Green's ,"Opportunity Knocks!" Some of the acts were so bad they were funny, but some people made their fortunes.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 02:29 PM

Emergency Ward Ten, with nurses Pat and Carol. I loved that!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: RangerSteve
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 04:30 PM

A few random thoughts, Someone mentioned "Thriller" with Boris Karloff - they're available on DVD - I have the entire series. The show still holds up pretty well.

Variety shows: Tuesday night was reserved for Red Skelton and Gary Moore. As far as my neighborhood was concerned, there was nothing on the other channels on Tues. night. Moore's show had a dream cast - Derwood Kirby, Marion Lorne, and Carol Burnett. And on Wed. there was the Danny Kaye Show.

I didn't see any mention of Captain Kangaroo - I grew up with him. I even got to shake his hand once, back in the days when TV celebrities would attend supermarket grand openings.

I'd get up at 6am on Saturday mornings, just to catch the old b&w cartoons - especially the ones with the farmer who was always plagued by millions of mice. And Heckle and Jekyll, and Mighty Mouse.

I loved Amos and Andy - I never thought less of black people because of that show, they were no more insulting to blacks than "Life of Riley" or "The Honeymooners" were to whites. I had a black co-worker who also loved the show, and I asked her what the difference was between A&A and "The Jeffersons", and she said it was ok for George Jefferson to be a buffoon because he was rich. Had Amos and ANdy been wealthy, the show would have stayed on the air longer.

Burns and Allen, in my opinion, is the best TV show ever made.

A few adventure shows geared towards kids that I haven't seen mentioned: Jungle Jim; Sheena, Queen of the Jungle; Brave Eagle (or was it Bold Eagle?), Ramar of the Jungle.

I love watching the Twilight Zone for the chance to see now-famous actors before they were famous. A classic has Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery - two people who would never be mentioned in the same sentence had it not been for that episode.

Some trivia - Gladys Pierce and Marion Lorne both one posthumous Emmy awards for their rolls on "Bewitched". Smiley Burnett was the engineer on Petticoat Junction, Pat Buttram was Mr. Haney on Green Acres, both played Gene Autrey's sidekicks in the movies.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 09:33 PM

Rufe Davis, who played Floyd Smoot, the conductor of the Hooterville Cannonball, also played in "The Strawberry Roan" in 1948 starring Gene Autry and Pat Buttram.

Other factoids include Hank Patterson (Fred Ziffel) was the great-uncle of Tea Leoni. He was an excellent pianist and played in his vaudeville days. He was nearly deaf when he played Fred.

Alvy Moore (Mr. Kimball) served in the marines in WW2 and fought in heavy combat at Iwo Jima. He would rarely ever talk about it (only if asked) and then only very briefly.

Eddie Albert was also a war hero, having won a bronze star in WW2 after risking his own life to save 70 marines at Tarawa.

Eddie Albert founded Earth Day which is observed on his birthday--April 22. He and his son were among the first activists to get DDT banned. He farmed an acre of corn at his home and ran an apiary.

Frank Cady (Mr. Drucker) was a graduate of Stanford University and is the first actor ever to play the same role on three different series simultaneously.

The dialogue coach of Green Acres was Jack Bannon who went on to play Artie Donovan on "Lou Grant." Bannon is the son was Bea Benederet who played Kate Bradley, the proprietress of the Shady Rest Hotel.

Green Acres started in 1950 as a radio show called "Grandby's Green Acres" starring Gale Gordon and Bea Benederet. It was produced by Jay Sommers who also produced the TV show. Sommers was asked to come up with a spin-off for "Petticoat Junction" to be aired without a pilot episode so he revived the Green Acres idea.

Eddie Albert turned down the roles of Wilbur on "Mr. Ed" and Steve Douglas on "My Three Sons" before accepting the role of Oliver Wendell Douglas. He said he knew the show would be a big hit because every city man has the innate longing to get back to the soil and grow something.

The animal trainer for Filmways was Frank Inn. He trained Arnold the pig and the unnamed dog on Petticoat Junction whose real name was Higgins. Higgins and Edgar Buchanan would go on to star in the movie Benji. Arnold was a female piglet of the American Yorkshire variety. Since pigs become enormous, a new piglet was required each season. Arnold won Inn three awards in the 60s and Higgins won him another as Benji. Inn died in 2002 and had the ashes of the original Arnold and of Higgins interred with him in his coffin.

·        Some inconsistancies of the show include Sarah the operator being Hank Kimball's mother and owner of the phone company but later she is the mother of Roy Trendall who owns the phone company.
·        Mr. Haney's first name is both Eustace and Charlton.
·        Hooterville was said in one episode to be 300 miles from Chicago. Some think it is modeled on Eldon, Missouri (Paul Henning's wife's grandparents lived there) which is 300 miles from Chicago but Eldon looks nothing like the scenery depicted on the TV show. Springfield was mentioned as a town which could be either in Illinois or Missouri. One of the names tossed around for Petticoat Junction besides Whistle Stop was Ozark Widow and since the Shady Rest Hotel was supposed to be near or in Hooterville, then Hooterville must be in the Ozarks. Missouri borders on Arkansas. Hooterville and environs have to be east of the Mississppi because the radio station that Oliver tunes into is WPXL. West of the Mississippi, call letters don't use W but K.
·        There is some connection to the Clampetts and Petticoat Junction because Cousin Pearl contacted Granny when she delivered Betty Jo's infant and the Clampetts came from Bugtussle in southern Missouri.
·        Pixley was supposed to be about 50 miles from Hooterville while Crabwell Corners was 5 to 8 miles away. Bugtussle was 25 miles miles away or so. The state capital (never named) was about 500 miles away. The county seat, erroneously assumed by many to be Pixley, is actually never named but is supposed to between 50 and 75 miles away from Hooterville. A town called Appleville was said to be about 300 miles away. The distances to towns as Stankwell Falls, Bleedswell, Springfield and Silver Dollar City (mentioned in The Beverly Hillbilllies) are not specified.
·        The Shady Rest and Drucker's General Store appear to be the only two businesses in the area. The Shady Rest is supposed to be 25 miles from Hooterville according to something Uncle Joe once said.
·        The Cannonball ran from Pixley to Bugtussle but passed through Hooterville. Drucker's store is located near railroad tracks. When Oliver and Lisa are handcuffed together, they go to Drucker's store for a key but it is closed. Kimball comes by and tells them to lay on the tracks but the Cannonball nearly runs them over. Floyd Smoot would enter Drucker's store to announce the arrival of the train and what the next scheduled stops were. So the store itself is an official stop for the train.
·        Yet in one episode of Green Acres, Oliver learns his farmhouse is in Hooterville, the barn is in Pixley but the rest of the property is in Crabwell Corners.
·        In a Petticoat Junction episode, we learn the Shady Rest straddles Hooterville and Pixley. So these towns must be touching.
·        There is a sexual element to all of it. Even though Hooterville was said in one episode to be named after Horace Hooter, there seems to be a reference to women's breasts involved since Lisa calls it "Hootersville" (nudge, nudge). The humor of Green Acres being far less restrained and far more absurd than on the more straight-laced Petticoat Junction where we don't get to see behind the water tower while the girls are bathing in it. The very titles of each program suggest a sexual element which, in turn, suggests the brand of humor. Lots of curves? You bet!!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 09:38 PM

Whoops, I typed up that last post.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 05:59 AM

Yes, Bill, I remember the Smilin' Ed days. The references I could find didn't mention it; but the rumor at the time was that he died right there on the set.

Thanks, Wes, for the links!

I suppose everyone remembers that Andy Devine, at least at one point in his long career, played Jingles P. Jones, the "comical sidekick" on "Wild Bill Hickok". Guy Madison had the lead role. His horse was "Buckshot". Does anyone recall Jingles' horse? BTW, Sugar Pops sponsored the show.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 09:57 AM

Well remember Andy Divine as Jingles.

Other shows I loved were "Wyatt Earp" (my first TV crush...on Hugh O'Brian; wrote off and got an autographed picture postcard). The theme song was sung by the Ken Darby Singers - "Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp, / Brave courageous and bold / Long live his fame and long live his glory / And long may his story be told."

Never was interested in Captain Kangaroo, Romper Room was after my time (I "grew up" with Ding Dong School), couldn't stand Mighty Mouse for some reason. Watched ALL the Saturday westerns, from "Lone Ranger", "Cisco Kid", "Gene Autry", (I preferred "Roy Rogers"), "Have Gun Will Travel", "The Rebel", "Cimarron City", "Rawhide", "Fury" (not exactly a "western" but took place on a ranch) and especially (though it was Sunday night) the early "Maverick" with James Garner. Oh, and Gunsmoke, of course. With Chester.

Friday nights when I was still fairly young, I could stay up later. After "Twilight Zone" I could watch reruns of "Boston Blackie" and "I Led Three Lives". When I watched the latter I never expected to move to Seacoast New Hampshire years later and to often drive past Herb Philbrick's store across from Jenness Beach in Rye, New Hampshire.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:24 AM

I actually got to meet Boston Blackie once. It was at some sort of charity event in our local civic auditorium, along with a load of other TV names like that, and he was just standing there. Why don't you go talk to him, my mother prompted, but I felt too shy (I was pretty young). Go on, she said, tell him you like his show. So I did, and got a signed picture, and found him very nice, much gentler in person than his TV persona. But my heart belonged to Sgt. Joe Friday.

I also played with George Feneman's (Groucho's straight man on You Bet Your Life) daughter one holiday when our families were staying in the same mountain resort. I don't remember George being around, and would have recognised him because my parents watched the show. My favourite bit was that roulette-wheel thingy with the (?) fake nose & mustache. Can't really remember it precisely but the pictures my mind is throwing to me are MUCH more fun than anything I could find on old YouTube clips.

Also liked Crusader Rabbit, loved Captain Midnight & Icky in equal measure, and was scared of the Howdy Doody characters for some reason.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:29 AM

Does anybody remember Super Circus on Sunday afternoons, with Mary Hartline? I had a paper doll of her. (There, aren't you glad you know that?)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 03:55 PM

Josepp - thanks for the Green Acres trivia.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Bert
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 04:43 PM

Lots of great shows above but what about...

Jack Jackson's Record Roundabout
Dad's Army
Steptoe and Son
Colditz
All Gas and Gaiters
Up Pompeii
The Two Ronnies (or was that a little later?)
The Army Game
Dixon of Dock Green
TW3 (which often included a song by Jake Thackray)

And what was the name of that show that started with the song "Do, Do, Do you remember, do, do , do you recall?

ANd when was it that Ken Dodd had a TV show?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 06:04 AM

Harry Morgan's recent death put me in mind of the first time I ever saw him. It was in "December Bride".

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: RangerSteve
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 06:40 PM

Allan, that's where I first saw him, too. He was married, and not too happily to Gladys. There was a spin-off, "Pete and Gladys", with Cara Williams as Gladys. Unfortunately, Gladys was only funny when she was unseen on December Bride. In the spin-off, she wasn't nearly as bad as she had been portrayed, and the show was just one of many forgetable domestic comedies.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 07:50 PM

Bobert said, How about "Sky King"??? "Fury"???

They were good in pajamas while eating corn flakes with milk and sugar weren't they.



How about the Defenders, Masterpiece Theatre and Mr. Ed?

The Outsiders. Time Tunnel. I love Lucy.




Yep Max, Branded was a damn strong tune.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 06:14 AM

I spent what seemed like hours watching the Test Pattern, waiting for the damn cartoons to start!

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Tunesmith
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 07:45 AM

Ah, The Time Tunnel!
Anyone remember the episode where out time travellers are transported on to the Titanic just before it hits that iceberg!
Somebody got their calculations badly wrong there! (Whit Bissell - was that the actor who played the scientist in charge of the project?)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 09 Dec 11 - 10:35 AM

Yes - Whit Bissell played General Heywood Kirk. And according to Wikipedia the Titanic episode was the first one in the series.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Allan C.
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 08:43 AM

I'm thinking of how many rainy Saturday Afternoon Movie shows I wasted my time on. I'm guessing it was locally produced, but don't know for certain. They almost invariably showed films from the '40's and early '50's - with an occasional earlier exception. Abbot and Costello films were much appreciated, as were those of the Thin Man. Unfortunately, it seemed the vast majority featured the East Side Kids. I watched these also - continually hoping they would somehow improve; but they never did.

Getting back to TV series: I very much enjoyed the adventures of Boston Blackie, Richard Diamond - Private Eye, and of course, Dragnet and the Badge 714 re-runs.

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Mark Ross
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 09:07 PM

What? No SGT. PRESTON OF THE YUKON fans?


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 01:44 AM

The Forest Rangers (for all you Canucks)
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 06:38 AM

Bert, the song was recorded by the Scaffold.

'Do do do you remember, Do do do you recall, The day we went out into the country, Just to get away from it all'

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 06:46 AM

Was the series called 'Score With The Scaffold'? The song itself was released in 1968, and the TV series in 1970. (By the way the words were written by Paul McCartney's brother and a young Roger McGough!)

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: Jim Martin
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 08:18 AM

'Stranger on the Shore' - pity there weren't any home video recorders around then (1961), doubt whether the BBC kept any episodes:

http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/sots.htm

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: cptsnapper
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 05:23 PM

Does anyone remember Whirligig with Humphrey Lestocq & Mr. Turnip?

Subject: RE: BS: TV series from the '50s and '60s
From: cptsnapper
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 09:42 PM

Mick and Montmorency starring Charlie Drake