shouldn't it be in the 1940s section?

If you look around, you'll notice that all the shows on the site are listed within the decade that the majority of their run took place. Diff'rent Strokes, for example, began in 1978 but is listed in the 80s section because over six years of its run was in the 80s.

Another good reason (surprise, surprise): there is no 40s section. What would go in one other than Mary Kay & Johnny and The Growing Paynes anyway?--and even then what is there to say about them?

we could talk about how old they are

"THE GOLDBERGS" were on the air as early as 1929, on NBC radio {"THE RISE OF THE GOLDBERGS"}, with creator/writer/star Gertrude Berg and a slightly different cast. Then, it became a daytime drama (with some comedic interludes)- sometimes sounding more like a soap opera was sponsored by Procter & Gamble during most of that period]- until 1945. Then, Mrs. Berg revived it as a half-hour show on radio for CBS (and sponsor General Foods) in 1949, and produced a TV edition with the same cast. She discontinued the radio show in 1950 to concentrate exclusively on television.

:tv:

As much as I would like to see a 40s section, I don't think it's absolutely needed. Afterall, about the earliest sitcoms didn't happen until 1948 (the Life of Riley).

It's absolutely not needed. What television sitcom had the bulk of its run take place in the 40s? I named two above, although if you adhere strictly to SO convention whereby only shows which lasted more than one season get their own subsection, then your 40s section would consist of exactly one show. Can you think of another?

I agree with the above poster. It did indeed start earlier as radio in the twenties. But I tend to think of the tv show of the 1950's .

The Growing Paynes- Whoa! So is the 1980s "Growing Pains" show is based on the 1940s show "The Growing Paynes"?;) :cool:
And the new 2013 sitcom "The Goldbergs"- is this based on the 1940s sitcom "The Goldbergs"?;) :lol: :cool:

According to my recently published book, "The Early Shows," there are about 19 TV network and syndicated comedies/dramadies that premiered in the 1940s - The Laytons, The Growing Paynes, The Goldbergs, Mama, The Ruggles, Wesley, The Family Genius, The Aldrich Family, Mary Kay and Johnny, Wren's Nest, The Hartmans, Jackson and Jill, Mixed Doubles, Ruthie on the Telephone, Easy Aces, Off the Record, The Billy Bean Show, The Life of Riley, and That Wonderful Guy. Although, as others have noted, most of these lasted for only a few episodes.

According to my recently published book, "The Early Shows," there are about 19 TV network and syndicated comedies/dramadies that premiered in the 1940s - The Laytons, The Growing Paynes, The Goldbergs, Mama, The Ruggles, Wesley, The Family Genius, The Aldrich Family, Mary Kay and Johnny, Wren's Nest, The Hartmans, Jackson and Jill, Mixed Doubles, Ruthie on the Telephone, Easy Aces, Off the Record, The Billy Bean Show, The Life of Riley, and That Wonderful Guy. Although, as others have noted, most of these lasted for only a few episodes.


Wow!!! I didn't realize there were that many shows from the 19 40's!:eek: A lot of people didn't even own a TV yet!!! ;)

1940s shows are mostly lost to history since most were never recorded. So you can't sit back and watch reruns 80 years later. Hence anyone who has actually seen the show is nearing death, sadly.

A 1940s section would be completely unnecessary.

1940s shows are mostly lost to history since most were never recorded. So you can't sit back and watch reruns 80 years later. Hence anyone who has actually seen the show is nearing death, sadly.

A 1940s section would be completely unnecessary.
OH what a nice cheerful thing to say. People nearing death. There are many 90 plus year olds. Half the people on this forum are under 40.

OH what a nice cheerful thing to say. People nearing death. There are many 90 plus year olds. Half the people on this forum are under 40.
I don't mean to be morbid but it's the truth. That's why you don't hear about these '40s shows anymore. If they're not recorded then their only audience is their original audience, the youngest of which would be nearing their 90s by now. And I know people are capable of living 120+ years but realistically most die younger than that.

Again it's not like I Love Lucy for example, which was recorded and new generations can watch all these years later.

Of course radio was the main entertainment medium back then. And I first became a fan of "Old Time Radio" back in the '70's when I discovered a whole world of great shows, The Shadow, Great Gildersleeve, Suspense, Quiet Please, Jack Benny Show, Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show (this is really the funniest show I've ever heard) and even radio had Gunsmoke before TV, and it was better on radio too. Back in the '70's you had to record them yourself from some stations that would play the old shows or you had to pay thru the nose to a few Old Time Radio companies that would sell cassette tapes. Today though you can find websites that feature a whole lot of these radio shows and you can click and hear them for free. I guess some things weren't better in the old ('70's) days.

I have never met a single person who told me they had a TV set in the 1940s, even though my area had three stations on the air. Many people nowadays don’t even believe TV existed back then!

How many shows even exist from that decade? I’ve heard Mary Kay and Johnny has exactly one, even though I think the series was rerun in syndication in the 50s and even 60s.

I’ve never seen The Goldbergs, only the much later Mrs. G goes to college (which wasn’t good). Looks like a search to YouTube is in order when I have time.

There was TV in the late '40's, though not a lot of people had them, that's true. But many people did, just a few TV shows I can name off the top of me head that were made in the '40's are: Suspense, Lone Ranger, Jackie Gleason Life of Riley and variety show, Jerry Lester, Jack Benny & there were others but that's all I can think of without doing research.

But as a matter of fact TV itself was invented and would have been popularized much sooner if WW II hadn't occurred. TV was invented as we know it today in 1927. Even back in the 1800's it was being worked on and perfected.