smoking in 50s and 60s sitcoms - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

wkomorow · 08-23-2007, 11:56 AM

I realize that some of the sitcoms of the 50's and 60's were sponsored by tobacco companies (Jack Benny and I Love Lucy, for example), so that smoking was both a cultural norm and served as an advertisement, but does anyone remember any 50/60 sitcoms in which none of the principle characters smoked during the life of the series?

I seem to remember Ward with a cigarette once or twice on Beaver, Henry with one on Dennis the Menace. Of course, Lucy and Ricky smoked. Danny Thomas smoked. Andy lit up several times on Andy Griffith. Gomez smoked cigars, Morticia didn't need cigarettes to smoke; Herman had a cigarette or two. George Burns always had a cigar. Ralph and Norton smoked. Going through the sitcoms of the time, I just can't remember any in which

andress_jade · 08-23-2007, 04:46 PM

Nobody on the main cast of characters on I Dream of Jeannie smoked as far as I can remember.
I don't know about anyone on Bewitched or The Brady Bunch that smoked (this show came out in 1968 or 1969 so it would count on this thread).

Now that I remember there was an episode where Greg got caught with a pack of cigarettes in his pocket and it even showed him smoking them with some guys at his school.
I do remember on most of the other shows that I watched that there was some type of smoking by the main cast of characters. That was just something that they did back then, now it's non existent unless it's a drama or a soap.

ekkostar · 08-23-2007, 05:27 PM

They also smoked indoors in a lot of early 80s sitcoms, even in public buildings!

Sal · 08-23-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wkomorow

I realize that some of the sitcoms of the 50's and 60's were sponsored by tobacco companies (Jack Benny and I Love Lucy, for example), so that smoking was both a cultural norm and served as an advertisement, but does anyone remember any 50/60 sitcoms in which none of the principle characters smoked during the life of the series?
I seem to remember Ward with a cigarette once or twice on Beaver, Henry with one on Dennis the Menace. Of course, Lucy and Ricky smoked. Danny Thomas smoked. Andy lit up several times on Andy Griffith. Gomez smoked cigars, Morticia didn't need cigarettes to smoke; Herman had a cigarette or two. George Burns always had a cigar. Ralph and Norton smoked. Going through the sitcoms of the time, I just can't remember any in which

THE FLYING NUN!!!!

Nobody smoked on that show. Which is a good reason to watch it.

Madame X · 08-23-2007, 11:33 PM

What about Gilligan's Island? I can't recall if anyone smoked. Also, I think Patty Duke might have been a smokeless show.

A common theme from that era was that of tall, sensitive, thoughtful fathers who smoked a pipe. Steve Douglas, Jim Anderson, Henry Mitchell, Alex Stone. Somehow seeing pipe-smoking didn't seem as annoying as seeing cigarette smoking. The pipe just kind of smoldered and it added to the character's personality.

Were there any other dads who smoked a pipe?

catlover79 · 08-23-2007, 11:42 PM

Almost everyone on Bewitched smoked!!

It always makes me so sad to see Dick York light up on camera, knowing that one day he'd die of emphysema.

catlover79 · 08-23-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

What about Gilligan's Island? I can't recall if anyone smoked. Also, I think Patty Duke might have been a smokeless show.

A common theme from that era was that of tall, sensitive, thoughtful fathers who smoked a pipe. Steve Douglas, Jim Anderson, Henry Mitchell, Alex Stone. Somehow seeing pipe-smoking didn't seem as annoying as seeing cigarette smoking. The pipe just kind of smoldered and it added to the character's personality.

Were there any other dads who smoked a pipe?

I'm pretty sure Ward Cleaver smoked a pipe, but don't quote me on that.

treky · 08-23-2007, 11:57 PM

I don't remember ever seeing anyone smoke on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES-exept for in those "cast commercials" for Winston. (they're on the DVD set from MCI HOME ENTERTAINMENT). Execpt for when Granny smoked crawdads; even then though they would just mention it.

I remember those episodes when Jethro was with all those hippies; and he was saying his granny smoked crawdads and they all thought he was really "cool" and "far out"-I think that's what meant "neat" back then!

anyway; for those who don't know; "crawdads" was slang for marjuania.

treky · 08-24-2007, 12:00 AM

I also don't remember anyone ever doing it on THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW-exept in their "cast commercials" for Kent.

comedyfreak · 08-24-2007, 05:15 AM

I don't believe anyone smoked on The Donna Reed Show, My Three Sons, or That Girl.

mrs.gingerhinkley · 08-24-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

What about Gilligan's Island? I can't recall if anyone smoked. Also, I think Patty Duke might have been a smokeless show.

A common theme from that era was that of tall, sensitive, thoughtful fathers who smoked a pipe. Steve Douglas, Jim Anderson, Henry Mitchell, Alex Stone. Somehow seeing pipe-smoking didn't seem as annoying as seeing cigarette smoking. The pipe just kind of smoldered and it added to the character's personality.

Were there any other dads who smoked a pipe?

a smoke free island!

They may of had record players, lie detectors, and tons of clothes... but no cigarettes on Gilligan's Island.

wkomorow · 08-24-2007, 03:46 PM

I remember Dick van Dyke smoking at one of their dinner parties, I also think that Alejandro Rey and Major Nelson both smoked cigarettes on screen - both were chain smokers off-camera. Rey died of lung cancer. I seem to remember Ward with a cigarette. I think you all are right about Gilligan's Island - I don't remember seeing them smoking. On My 3 Sons - MacMurray definitely smoked a pipe. I agree that smoking a pipe does not seem as "jarring" as seeing people smoking cigarettes.

08-23-2007, 11:56 AM	#1
wkomorow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 24, 2005 Posts: 227	smoking in 50s and 60s sitcoms I realize that some of the sitcoms of the 50's and 60's were sponsored by tobacco companies (Jack Benny and I Love Lucy, for example), so that smoking was both a cultural norm and served as an advertisement, but does anyone remember any 50/60 sitcoms in which none of the principle characters smoked during the life of the series? I seem to remember Ward with a cigarette once or twice on Beaver, Henry with one on Dennis the Menace. Of course, Lucy and Ricky smoked. Danny Thomas smoked. Andy lit up several times on Andy Griffith. Gomez smoked cigars, Morticia didn't need cigarettes to smoke; Herman had a cigarette or two. George Burns always had a cigar. Ralph and Norton smoked. Going through the sitcoms of the time, I just can't remember any in which

08-23-2007, 04:46 PM	#2
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	Nobody on the main cast of characters on I Dream of Jeannie smoked as far as I can remember. I don't know about anyone on Bewitched or The Brady Bunch that smoked (this show came out in 1968 or 1969 so it would count on this thread). Now that I remember there was an episode where Greg got caught with a pack of cigarettes in his pocket and it even showed him smoking them with some guys at his school. I do remember on most of the other shows that I watched that there was some type of smoking by the main cast of characters. That was just something that they did back then, now it's non existent unless it's a drama or a soap.
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08-23-2007, 05:27 PM	#3
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	They also smoked indoors in a lot of early 80s sitcoms, even in public buildings!
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08-23-2007, 11:42 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Almost everyone on Bewitched smoked!! It always makes me so sad to see Dick York light up on camera, knowing that one day he'd die of emphysema.
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08-23-2007, 11:57 PM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I don't remember ever seeing anyone smoke on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES-exept for in those "cast commercials" for Winston. (they're on the DVD set from MCI HOME ENTERTAINMENT). Execpt for when Granny smoked crawdads; even then though they would just mention it. I remember those episodes when Jethro was with all those hippies; and he was saying his granny smoked crawdads and they all thought he was really "cool" and "far out"-I think that's what meant "neat" back then! anyway; for those who don't know; "crawdads" was slang for marjuania.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

08-23-2007, 11:33 PM	#5
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	What about Gilligan's Island? I can't recall if anyone smoked. Also, I think Patty Duke might have been a smokeless show. A common theme from that era was that of tall, sensitive, thoughtful fathers who smoked a pipe. Steve Douglas, Jim Anderson, Henry Mitchell, Alex Stone. Somehow seeing pipe-smoking didn't seem as annoying as seeing cigarette smoking. The pipe just kind of smoldered and it added to the character's personality. Were there any other dads who smoked a pipe?

08-24-2007, 12:00 AM	#9
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I also don't remember anyone ever doing it on THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW-exept in their "cast commercials" for Kent.

08-24-2007, 05:15 AM	#10
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I don't believe anyone smoked on The Donna Reed Show, My Three Sons, or That Girl.
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08-24-2007, 03:46 PM	#12
wkomorow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 24, 2005 Posts: 227	I remember Dick van Dyke smoking at one of their dinner parties, I also think that Alejandro Rey and Major Nelson both smoked cigarettes on screen - both were chain smokers off-camera. Rey died of lung cancer. I seem to remember Ward with a cigarette. I think you all are right about Gilligan's Island - I don't remember seeing them smoking. On My 3 Sons - MacMurray definitely smoked a pipe. I agree that smoking a pipe does not seem as "jarring" as seeing people smoking cigarettes.