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."