How come the last year at least of Beaver was not in color?

ABC was barely into color in 1962; the only show in color was probably the Jetsons, which was their first. However rumor has it that ABC wanted it to go color for a seventh season.

Gidget is a mystery--why would it be in color? Why not take an established Screen Gems show (Gidget was also a Screen Gems show) such as Bewitched or Donna Reed and go color? Gidget started in 1965--CBS converted several hit shows to color that year. Hazel jumped to CBS that year snd continued in color--maybe Gidget, even though on ABC, shared a soundstage with Hazel and color was easy. Who knows?

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ABC was barely into color in 1962; the only show in color was probably the Jetsons, which was their first. However rumor has it that ABC wanted it to go color for a seventh season.

Gidget is a mystery--why would it be in color? Why not take an established Screen Gems show (Gidget was also a Screen Gems show) such as Bewitched or Donna Reed and go color? Gidget started in 1965--CBS converted several hit shows to color that year. Hazel jumped to CBS that year snd continued in color--maybe Gidget, even though on ABC, shared a soundstage with Hazel and color was easy. Who knows?

Screen-gems Shows had their own soundstages, but Gidget did get at least HAZEL's old kitchen set since the rebooted HAZEL with new sets and co-stars.

Over on ABC It was easier in 1965 to start a show in color than switch - plus GIDGET was a hot property - even in ABC mishandled it - 3 hit films and a "hot" new star. The new ABC mid-season shows of January, 1965 were all color - and only BATMAN lasted into a second season. ABC paid for "The Avengers" to be shot in color for American Season 2/British Season 5 even though British TV didn't go color till 1970! (But ITC was already shooting shows in color to improve sales to America, which got the later seasons of THE SAINT on NBC in Full Color!)

ABC was the #3 network, even with the #1 Sitcom - "Bewitched" did surpass BEVERLY HILLBILLIES in it's first season - but couldn't afford the switch to color. CBS HAD to go color on their hit shows or they'd lose ground to NBC who was owned by RCA has more color shows becuase it sold Color TV Sets. "Bonanza" was color from Day 1, and the last-hour long season of "Tales of Wells Fargo" were color in 1959-1960. Hanna-Barbara PAID out of their own pockets ("Deficit Financing") to produce FLINTSONES in color although ABC didn't start running them in color for several seasons.

CBS didn't want to use RCA equipment, so they used Color Equipment manufactured by other companies (Although ironically, some of RCA's patents were still valid) - that's also another reason for the delay - CBS had their own non-compatible color system in the 1950's, but the FCC went with NBC's compatible with B&W system and Bill Paley, owner of CBS didn't want to use NBC's equipment. He didn't want to put money into his competitor's pocket.

In the case of Wells Fargo, it was color 1961-62.

Like I mentioned in another thread, I would maintain that if any sitcom on ABC would go color in ‘62, the nod shoulda been given to the well-established “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” It had already been on for TEN years (despite my opinion that it was a “meh” sitcom), and seniority should mean something! O&H had to wait three more years.

cd

In the case of Wells Fargo, it was color 1961-62.

Like I mentioned in another thread, I would maintain that if any sitcom on ABC would go color in ‘62, the nod shoulda been given to the well-established “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” It had already been on for TEN years (despite my opinion that it was a “meh” sitcom), and seniority should mean something! O&H had to wait three more years.

cd

Ozzie and ABC were probably both stubborn; neither one would pay for it.