Remember THIS cancelled at midseason dud? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Rezny@gmail.com · 08-24-2010, 10:14 PM

1)"O.K.Crackerby"created by the late Cleveland Amory and the late Abe Burrows?This was a 1965-1966 dud that was cancelled at midseason and starred the late Burl Ives as O.K.Crackerby ,the "world's richest man"-Comedy/ABC Anyone remember this?

catlover79 · 08-24-2010, 11:47 PM

I've heard of it, but I've never seen it.

TV Knowledge Fan · 08-25-2010, 01:37 AM

...that the unaired version of the "O.K. CRACKERBY!" pilot- in black and white- is posted in three parts on YouTube {"OK Crackerby with Burl Ives"}? I'm surprised at you, 'catlover'!

bencasey · 09-15-2010, 07:20 PM

I have them all, black and white of color, from 16mm. Not a very good show. Kind of a rehash of The Tycoon from a couple of seasons earlier which was a much better show.

TV Knowledge Fan · 09-17-2010, 12:51 AM

...other than someone posting the first episode on YouTube, we only get to read (or hear) about "O.K. CRACKERBY!"; you have every single episode on 16mm film! That's the same as someone posessing film prints of the entire season of, say, Walter Brennan's "THE TYCOON" (1964-'65), that most of us have only heard about. How would I know if it was better than "CRACKERBY", if I don't have access to either? I do know that Burl Ives went on record as saying that after Abe Burrows and Cleveland Amory disassociated themselves from the series after the pilot, it was a "different" show, and he didn't care much for it...and wasn't too disappointed when ABC cancelled it.

1960'sTVfan · 09-18-2010, 06:38 PM

I wouldn't mind seeing this show either, but I figure I'm not missing too much.

Old, short lived TV shows like this have two things in common. First, these shows had a short life because they didn't draw an audience, which usually means the show wasn't very good. Second, despite shortcomings these rare old shows all have a nostalgic value tied to them. The nostalgia factor is what sparks the curiosity to see these old TV rarities once again.

bencasey · 09-22-2010, 05:39 PM

OK Crackerby I've had for a long time and never thought it was that big of a deal as I never really watched the show when it was on. I think I was watching Laredo, although that show wasn't any great shakes either.

The Tycoon is really one of the very rarest shows of the 60s. UCLA has all but 1 of them from ABC and they also have another set of them that they got from the show's producer. Unfortunately, he had already donated them when I got ahold of him in the mid-80s but he did send me the pilot and another episode that I ran off. I've tried to locate the negatives and the 35s but I've no idea where they wound up. I believe Brennan's son might have them in a vault somewhere but he doesn't admit to it. Anyway, the ratings on the show weren't that bad and during the summer reruns the show did very well. According to what was told to me, it was cancelled due to politics.

Other than the two I have, I've never seen any episodes anywhere and I've been collecting for over 30 years. But it is not a bad show at all.

Rezny@gmail.com · 02-13-2011, 02:01 AM

Now,how about this ABC/Paramount TV clinker?"The Barbary Coast",with William Shatner?The movie pilot with Shatner was pretty good,but the series left a LOT to be desired,and was cancelled at midseason.

08-24-2010, 10:14 PM	#1
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	Remember THIS cancelled at midseason dud? 1)"O.K.Crackerby"created by the late Cleveland Amory and the late Abe Burrows?This was a 1965-1966 dud that was cancelled at midseason and starred the late Burl Ives as O.K.Crackerby ,the "world's richest man"-Comedy/ABC Anyone remember this?

08-24-2010, 11:47 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I've heard of it, but I've never seen it.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-25-2010, 01:37 AM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	You mean you didn't know... ...that the unaired version of the "O.K. CRACKERBY!" pilot- in black and white- is posted in three parts on YouTube {"OK Crackerby with Burl Ives"}? I'm surprised at you, 'catlover'!

09-17-2010, 12:51 AM	#5
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	You're luckier than most of us, 'ben'.... ...other than someone posting the first episode on YouTube, we only get to read (or hear) about "O.K. CRACKERBY!"; you have every single episode on 16mm film! That's the same as someone posessing film prints of the entire season of, say, Walter Brennan's "THE TYCOON" (1964-'65), that most of us have only heard about. How would I know if it was better than "CRACKERBY", if I don't have access to either? I do know that Burl Ives went on record as saying that after Abe Burrows and Cleveland Amory disassociated themselves from the series after the pilot, it was a "different" show, and he didn't care much for it...and wasn't too disappointed when ABC cancelled it.
	Last edited by TV Knowledge Fan; 09-17-2010 at 01:19 AM.

09-15-2010, 07:20 PM	#4
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	I have them all, black and white of color, from 16mm. Not a very good show. Kind of a rehash of The Tycoon from a couple of seasons earlier which was a much better show.

09-18-2010, 06:38 PM	#6
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,079	I wouldn't mind seeing this show either, but I figure I'm not missing too much. Old, short lived TV shows like this have two things in common. First, these shows had a short life because they didn't draw an audience, which usually means the show wasn't very good. Second, despite shortcomings these rare old shows all have a nostalgic value tied to them. The nostalgia factor is what sparks the curiosity to see these old TV rarities once again.

09-22-2010, 05:39 PM	#7
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	OK Crackerby I've had for a long time and never thought it was that big of a deal as I never really watched the show when it was on. I think I was watching Laredo, although that show wasn't any great shakes either. The Tycoon is really one of the very rarest shows of the 60s. UCLA has all but 1 of them from ABC and they also have another set of them that they got from the show's producer. Unfortunately, he had already donated them when I got ahold of him in the mid-80s but he did send me the pilot and another episode that I ran off. I've tried to locate the negatives and the 35s but I've no idea where they wound up. I believe Brennan's son might have them in a vault somewhere but he doesn't admit to it. Anyway, the ratings on the show weren't that bad and during the summer reruns the show did very well. According to what was told to me, it was cancelled due to politics. Other than the two I have, I've never seen any episodes anywhere and I've been collecting for over 30 years. But it is not a bad show at all.

02-13-2011, 02:01 AM	#8
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	Now,how about this ABC/Paramount TV clinker?"The Barbary Coast",with William Shatner?The movie pilot with Shatner was pretty good,but the series left a LOT to be desired,and was cancelled at midseason.