What classic sitcoms were destroyed or didn't survive ? I know some of the original tonight show starring Steve Allen,eps. and also most of the Deumont library no longer exist...Are there any others?:confused:

This isnt a sitcom but the first 10 years of the Tonight Show with Johhny Carson were taped over by NBC so they could save money on tapes.

I think BBC also did the same with some of the Doctor Who episodes and ITV did this as well with early episodes of The Avengers

Some episodes of The Goldbergs were destroyed.

I understand that most of the programming from the old Dumont Network no longer exists. Apparently the kinescopes were tossed into the East River!

If there were any kinescopes (color or otherwise) made of TV's first color series The Marriage starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy none is known to survive.

These were not sitcoms but they were said to be destroyed;
Winchell Mahoney time
Rod Brown of the rocket rangers

I understand that most of the programming from the old Dumont Network no longer exists. Apparently the kinescopes were tossed into the East River!
I already mention that in the first post.:D

Arrrrgh! I wish they didn't do that. Many treasures were destroyed that we will never have the chance to see. :mad:

Probably the most painful loss in sitcom history is Mary Kay and Johnny. It was the first ever sitcom that aired from 1947-50. It was also the first sitcom to show pregnancy and the first to show a married couple who shared a bed.

As soon as I finish this time machine...

Most soap operas filmed prior to the mid-1970's are lost forever. Nearly all live soap episodes weren't taped at all and are no longer around. So most of the original episodes of "General Hospital", "Days Of Our Lives", "Guiding Light' and so on no longer exist.

It's particularly sad that most of the episodes written by the genius Irna Phillips aren't around anymore.

I think most episodes after 1974 are probably available somewhere in a library. I may be off on my dates, but generally speaking I'm in the right area.

Probably the most painful loss in sitcom history is Mary Kay and Johnny. It was the first ever sitcom that aired from 1947-50. It was also the first sitcom to show pregnancy and the first to show a married couple who shared a bed.

There is always a curiosity factor to see old shows like this and it's unfortunate if much of the Dumont programming no longer exists as it's part of TV history. However, most shows from the earliest days of TV (pre 1955) are very dated and would not be watchable today outside of nostalgic value. So aside from the curiosity factor I don't think it's a big loss.

Most game shows prior to the late '70s had this happen as well.

Though CBS during the '70s did the best job of the original big 3 networks in preserving many tapes of most of their '70s game shows.

the only sitcoms that I can watch from the 50's are the honeymooners and I Love Lucy. I Couldn't see myself watching no December Bride or any of those pre Audrey Meadows,Caverade of Stars, Honeymooners Deumont Skits ......fom 1951. (dated)

the only sitcoms that I can watch from the 50's are the honeymooners and I Love Lucy. I Couldn't see myself watching no December Bride or any of those pre Audrey Meadows,Caverade of Stars, Honeymooners Deumont Skits ......fom 1951. (dated)Agree. I like those and Leave It to Beaver, but aside from those, 50s TV doesn't really appeal to me (guess it doesn't help that I was born 40 years after the start of the decade)

There is always a curiosity factor to see old shows like this and it's unfortunate if much of the Dumont programming no longer exists as it's part of TV history. However, most shows from the earliest days of TV (pre 1955) are very dated and would not be watchable today outside of nostalgic value. So aside from the curiosity factor I don't think it's a big loss.

I have to respectfully disagree they wouldn't be watchable. From everything I read Mary Kay and Johnny was somewhat of a hit in its day that was actually quite similar to the premise of I Love Lucy. From a purely historical standpoint, it's a genuine shame that the first decade of TV has very little surviving footage and what does is largely poor kinescopes before videotape was invented. This is THE FIRST American sitcom so I would think it holds quite a historical significance. Imagine if no portraits of George Washington had survived. In my eyes this is a huge loss.

I have to respectfully disagree they wouldn't be watchable. From everything I read Mary Kay and Johnny was somewhat of a hit in its day that was actually quite similar to the premise of I Love Lucy. From a purely historical standpoint, it's a genuine shame that the first decade of TV has very little surviving footage and what does is largely poor kinescopes before videotape was invented. This is THE FIRST American sitcom so I would think it holds quite a historical significance. Imagine if no portraits of George Washington had survived. In my eyes this is a huge loss.

Yea I agree. I would love to watch an episode of Mary Kay and Johnny. I'd rather watch classics from the 50's then alot of today's so called hit shows. I've always been like that. I also like watching silent theatrical movies and people think I'm nuts because I like them too. These shows are a history of the tv medium. I hate it when people say that they are so dated. I love dated shows. That's what makes them so good. BTW, here's a photo of Mary Kay and Johnny , one of the few out there.

If there were any kinescopes (color or otherwise) made of TV's first color series The Marriage starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy none is known to survive.

Untrue. I have one and I've watched a couple of others at UCLA.

Yea I agree. I would love to watch an episode of Mary Kay and Johnny. I'd rather watch classics from the 50's then alot of today's so called hit shows. I've always been like that. I also like watching silent theatrical movies and people think I'm nuts because I like them too. These shows are a history of the tv medium. I hate it when people say that they are so dated. I love dated shows. That's what makes them so good. BTW, here's a photo of Mary Kay and Johnny , one of the few out there.

One thing I can say about Mary Kay and Johnny, in this modern era of "reality" TV, Mary Kay and Johnny was reality TV 1947 style!

Most game shows prior to the late '70s had this happen as well.

Though CBS during the '70s did the best job of the original big 3 networks in preserving many tapes of most of their '70s game shows.

Do the High Rollers shows with Alex Trebek still exist? How about Jackpot with Geoff Edwards? I recall seeing Jackpot a few years back, I think USA network aired them so I imagine the shows still exist? I would like to see GSN show the repeats of High Rollers and Jackpot.

I watch the GSN repeats of Dick Clark's Pyramid and Bob Eubanks Card Sharks. I've often thought it would be cool to know whatever became of some of the contestants who appeared on these game shows, how their life went after they appeared on the show and what they're doing today. I imagine some of the older contestants have passed away by now.

[QUOTE=retroTVfan4ever]Do the High Rollers shows with Alex Trebek still exist? How about Jackpot with Geoff Edwards? I recall seeing Jackpot a few years back, I think USA network aired them so I imagine the shows still exist? I would like to see GSN show the repeats of High Rollers and Jackpot.

I watch the GSN repeats of Dick Clark's Pyramid and Bob Eubanks Card Sharks. I've often thought it would be cool to know whatever became of some of the contestants who appeared on these game shows, how their life went after they appeared on the show and what they're doing today. I imagine some of the older contestants have passed away by now.[/QUOTE there are at least 2 eps of high rollers with alex on youtube at the moment so we at least know those exist

Do the High Rollers shows with Alex Trebek still exist? How about Jackpot with Geoff Edwards? I recall seeing Jackpot a few years back, I think USA network aired them so I imagine the shows still exist? I would like to see GSN show the repeats of High Rollers and Jackpot.

I watch the GSN repeats of Dick Clark's Pyramid and Bob Eubanks Card Sharks. I've often thought it would be cool to know whatever became of some of the contestants who appeared on these game shows, how their life went after they appeared on the show and what they're doing today. I imagine some of the older contestants have passed away by now.

The original 1974-76 version is almost gone entirely, save for very few eps. but quite a number of the 1978-80 version eps. are still around as most of NBC's game shows from 1978-on exist entirely.

Um, the version of Jackpot! you saw on USA was not the Geoff Edwards version. That version you saw was the 1985-88 version hosted by the late Mike Darrow.

The original 1974-75 NBC version w/ Geoff Edwards is almost gone entirely, save for that $38,000+ Super Jackpot win. The 1989-90 revival that was hosted by Geoff Edwards I think was played sporadically on GSN a long time ago.

A lot....

I believe most of the KTMA episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 are missing, except for a highlight reel that made the Sci-Fi Con circuit in the 90s and a few fan recordings from way back.