Who knows about this show? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Will · 09-24-2001, 08:24 PM

What was it about? Who was in it? How many episodes?

Peter Tong · 03-13-2003, 02:18 AM

it was about a sweet older woman named lily ruskin who lives with her daughter and son in law the henshaws. it was on for 5 years. i guess 200eps. stories revolved around finding a husband for lily the widow. her nutty friend hilda. their neighbor pete porter. great old maxwell house commercials with rex marshall. on from 1954-1959.real '50s fun.

TV Knowledge Fan · 04-10-2006, 03:33 PM

...a radio show, also starring Spring Byington, which aired on CBS Radio between 1952 and 1954. CBS wanted the show to come to television, but one of their executives (supposedly Hubbell Robinson) didn't WANT Spring on the TV show...and the network's option on the show elapsed. Parke Levy, the creator/writer/producer of the series, went to Desi Arnaz and asked him for help in filming a TV pilot for the show. Arnaz saw an opportunity to expand Desilu AND help Levy at the same time. When CBS and potential sponsor General Foods saw the pilot, they KNEW they wanted the series. But when Bill Paley, "Mr. CBS", found out the network no longer HAD the rights to the show {Levy and Desilu had a co-ownership agreement on the TV edition}, he had to do some "horse trading" with Desi on the rights and time period (naturally, "DECEMBER BRIDE" would follow Lucy's show on Monday nights at 9:30[et], a time slot General Foods just happened to "own")...and the TV show WAS a hit (as produced by Parke Levy and Desilu), and CBS eventually bought the series outright.

frenchjr25 · 05-14-2006, 12:26 AM

December Bride is the 2nd highest rated situation comedy of the 1950s, right behind I Love Lucy.

bigmaude · 04-03-2007, 10:35 PM

If it was the highest rated show behind I love Lucy, then where is it today? I remember watching it, but I was so young at the time I don't remember anything much about it. I do remember Pete the neighbor who always talked about his wife Gladys that you never saw. That's about all I can remember.
I'd love to see it again, though. Anyone know how to get a copy of some episodes?

treky · 04-04-2007, 12:12 AM

there was a spinoff of it about the neighbor, Pete Porter, and his wife Gladys. It was called "Pete 'n Gladys" and I assume they showed her on that.

I don't know any details about it, though.

TV Knowledge Fan · 04-04-2007, 04:43 PM

Harry Morgan co-starred with Cara Williams (who was CBS president Jim Aubrey's personal choice to become "the next Lucille Ball"), who appeared as 'Gladys'- and she was as "scheming" and "off-kilter" as 'Lucy Ricardo' was-
primarily because Bob Schiller & Bob Weiskopf, two of Lucy's former writers at that time, wrote most of their scripts [in fact, when they returned as Lucy's writers after "PETE & GLADYS" was cancelled in 1962, she declared, "You gave my best material to that OTHER redhead!!"].

Bob's TV Treasures · 04-08-2007, 08:51 PM

Cara also had her own eponymous series, THE CARA WILLIAMS SHOW
on CBS (it lasted one season, and she was even more scatterbrained in this sitcom). She was also BRIEFLY on RHODA in
the seventies, and appeared in at least a couple of TWILIGHT ZONE episodes.

missy's pop pop · 11-24-2013, 12:30 PM

"December Bride" was indeed one of Desilu's first post-"I Love Lucy" success stories from 1954 to 1959. I remember the show vaguely, with the possible exception of Rex Marshall's Instant Maxwell House commercials ("reach for the jar with the stars on top!"), but Spring Byington was a mild celebrity of sorts in the late '50s. In 1958, Good Housekeeping magazine published a binder full of cookbooks that were sold in supermarkets. My mother had a set. One of them was a collection of recipes from '50s celebrities. Miss Byington's contribution was a delightful concoction called "Sweetbreads a la Spring." (If you know what sweetbreads are and where they come from, you'll sense a mild touch of sarcasm in the use of the word "delightful.")

Frances Rafferty (Ruth Henshaw) was the sister of someone who could have been the Rush Limbaugh of his day--a prominent conservative newspaper columnist named Max Rafferty...

I think the reason you don't see "December Bride" in re-runs is because it was a relatively low-key, gentle show for its time, and it disappeared after some daytime reruns on CBS in the early sixties. It never seemed to have the staying power of "I Love Lucy," and I suspect it wouldn't have lasted as long as it did if it didn't follow Lucy and Ricky every Monday night.

bliss · 12-05-2013, 10:55 PM

The episodes are likely rotting away in a dusty old vault or only a handful remain. Such an obscure show.

Will Dockery · 05-15-2014, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchjr25

December Bride is the 2nd highest rated situation comedy of the 1950s, right behind I Love Lucy.

Yet the series is just completely obscure now... very odd.

MISST3 · 01-30-2023, 02:19 AM

Spring Byington would be 137 years old this year, if she was still living.

stevea · 01-30-2023, 09:03 AM

Funny lady--I remember her in an i Dream of Jeannie episode. Also a funny episode; she kind of carried it.

But this show kind of faded into oblivion.

Hazel Anyday · 01-30-2023, 08:02 PM

Thanks to DVDs this is one of the classic sitcoms I watch each week after breakfast. The show's theme is almost a clone of the I Love Lucy theme, both done by Wilbur Hatch and both sound-alikes. The show is amusing, never (to me at least) laugh out loud funny except for a lot of the scenes with Verna Felton who plays Springs friend. She was a lively old bat that's for sure. She dances wildly, takes pratfalls, even jumped thru a window once and it was her doing her own stunt. She also has a spot in me heart because she reminds me of my own Great Grandmother who looked almost just like her including those chubby cheeks. The show's worth watching and should be on TV today, it certainly merits a repeat slot somewhere on the many retro-style stations. One less Beverly Hillbillies on 10 different stations can stand a December Bride replacement. I tell you I'd rather watch December Bride over Hogans Heros anyday. Verna was in many shows and movies in her time also was a voice on The Flintstones. A busy old gal.

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...1&d=1675123162

stevea · 01-30-2023, 09:49 PM

Verna Felton kind of steals any show she's in. She's a female curmudgeon and it works. If I recall correctly she played a maid Lucy couldn't stand. She stole the final episode of Dennis the Menace with her one liners, mostly with Gale Gordon playing her straight man.

And, the Flintstones--an incomparable job voicing Wilma's impossible mother, with Fred as her straight man.

09-24-2001, 08:24 PM	#1
Will Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2001 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 245	Who knows about this show? What was it about? Who was in it? How many episodes?

03-13-2003, 02:18 AM	#2
Peter Tong Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 26, 2002 Posts: 15	december bride it was about a sweet older woman named lily ruskin who lives with her daughter and son in law the henshaws. it was on for 5 years. i guess 200eps. stories revolved around finding a husband for lily the widow. her nutty friend hilda. their neighbor pete porter. great old maxwell house commercials with rex marshall. on from 1954-1959.real '50s fun.

04-10-2006, 03:33 PM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	"DECEMBER BRIDE" was originally... ...a radio show, also starring Spring Byington, which aired on CBS Radio between 1952 and 1954. CBS wanted the show to come to television, but one of their executives (supposedly Hubbell Robinson) didn't WANT Spring on the TV show...and the network's option on the show elapsed. Parke Levy, the creator/writer/producer of the series, went to Desi Arnaz and asked him for help in filming a TV pilot for the show. Arnaz saw an opportunity to expand Desilu AND help Levy at the same time. When CBS and potential sponsor General Foods saw the pilot, they KNEW they wanted the series. But when Bill Paley, "Mr. CBS", found out the network no longer HAD the rights to the show {Levy and Desilu had a co-ownership agreement on the TV edition}, he had to do some "horse trading" with Desi on the rights and time period (naturally, "DECEMBER BRIDE" would follow Lucy's show on Monday nights at 9:30[et], a time slot General Foods just happened to "own")...and the TV show WAS a hit (as produced by Parke Levy and Desilu), and CBS eventually bought the series outright.

05-14-2006, 12:26 AM	#4
frenchjr25 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 14, 2006 Location: Ukiah, California Posts: 8	December Bride December Bride is the 2nd highest rated situation comedy of the 1950s, right behind I Love Lucy.

04-03-2007, 10:35 PM	#5
bigmaude Member Forum Cub Join Date: Feb 23, 2005 Posts: 2	Where is it? If it was the highest rated show behind I love Lucy, then where is it today? I remember watching it, but I was so young at the time I don't remember anything much about it. I do remember Pete the neighbor who always talked about his wife Gladys that you never saw. That's about all I can remember. I'd love to see it again, though. Anyone know how to get a copy of some episodes?

04-04-2007, 12:12 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	there was a spinoff of it about the neighbor, Pete Porter, and his wife Gladys. It was called "Pete 'n Gladys" and I assume they showed her on that. I don't know any details about it, though.
	__________________ 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."

04-04-2007, 04:43 PM	#7
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	In "PETE & GLADYS"... Harry Morgan co-starred with Cara Williams (who was CBS president Jim Aubrey's personal choice to become "the next Lucille Ball"), who appeared as 'Gladys'- and she was as "scheming" and "off-kilter" as 'Lucy Ricardo' was- primarily because Bob Schiller & Bob Weiskopf, two of Lucy's former writers at that time, wrote most of their scripts [in fact, when they returned as Lucy's writers after "PETE & GLADYS" was cancelled in 1962, she declared, "You gave my best material to that OTHER redhead!!"].

04-08-2007, 08:51 PM	#8
Bob's TV Treasures Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 12, 2004 Location: california Posts: 529	Cara Williams Cara also had her own eponymous series, THE CARA WILLIAMS SHOW on CBS (it lasted one season, and she was even more scatterbrained in this sitcom). She was also BRIEFLY on RHODA in the seventies, and appeared in at least a couple of TWILIGHT ZONE episodes.

11-24-2013, 12:30 PM	#9
missy's pop pop Hooray for "Hazel!" Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 19, 2013 Location: St. Louis Posts: 396	The best 1950s Sitcom no one ever heard of! "December Bride" was indeed one of Desilu's first post-"I Love Lucy" success stories from 1954 to 1959. I remember the show vaguely, with the possible exception of Rex Marshall's Instant Maxwell House commercials ("reach for the jar with the stars on top!"), but Spring Byington was a mild celebrity of sorts in the late '50s. In 1958, *Good Housekeeping* magazine published a binder full of cookbooks that were sold in supermarkets. My mother had a set. One of them was a collection of recipes from '50s celebrities. Miss Byington's contribution was a delightful concoction called "Sweetbreads a la Spring." (If you know what sweetbreads are and where they come from, you'll sense a mild touch of sarcasm in the use of the word "delightful.") Frances Rafferty (Ruth Henshaw) was the sister of someone who could have been the Rush Limbaugh of his day--a prominent conservative newspaper columnist named Max Rafferty... I think the reason you don't see "December Bride" in re-runs is because it was a relatively low-key, gentle show for its time, and it disappeared after some daytime reruns on CBS in the early sixties. It never seemed to have the staying power of "I Love Lucy," and I suspect it wouldn't have lasted as long as it did if it didn't follow Lucy and Ricky every Monday night.

12-05-2013, 10:55 PM	#10
bliss THAT GIRL Senior Member Join Date: Apr 26, 2009 Posts: 1,000	The episodes are likely rotting away in a dusty old vault or only a handful remain. Such an obscure show.

01-30-2023, 02:19 AM	#12
MISST3 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Posts: 32,761	Spring Byington would be 137 years old this year, if she was still living.

01-30-2023, 09:03 AM	#13
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,164	Funny lady--I remember her in an i Dream of Jeannie episode. Also a funny episode; she kind of carried it. But this show kind of faded into oblivion.

01-30-2023, 08:02 PM	#14
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,131	Verna Weruna In A Million Thanks to DVDs this is one of the classic sitcoms I watch each week after breakfast. The show's theme is almost a clone of the I Love Lucy theme, both done by Wilbur Hatch and both sound-alikes. The show is amusing, never (to me at least) laugh out loud funny except for a lot of the scenes with Verna Felton who plays Springs friend. She was a lively old bat that's for sure. She dances wildly, takes pratfalls, even jumped thru a window once and it was her doing her own stunt. She also has a spot in me heart because she reminds me of my own Great Grandmother who looked almost just like her including those chubby cheeks. The show's worth watching and should be on TV today, it certainly merits a repeat slot somewhere on the many retro-style stations. One less Beverly Hillbillies on 10 different stations can stand a December Bride replacement. I tell you I'd rather watch December Bride over Hogans Heros anyday. Verna was in many shows and movies in her time also was a voice on The Flintstones. A busy old gal. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...1&d=1675123162 Attached Images
	__________________ Haaazeelll!!

01-30-2023, 09:49 PM	#15
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,164	Verna Felton kind of steals any show she's in. She's a female curmudgeon and it works. If I recall correctly she played a maid Lucy couldn't stand. She stole the final episode of Dennis the Menace with her one liners, mostly with Gale Gordon playing her straight man. And, the Flintstones--an incomparable job voicing Wilma's impossible mother, with Fred as her straight man.