Television Situation Comedies - 1940s/1950s - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 01-27-2011, 12:00 AM

I want to discuss each decade for television situation comedies. We can all talk about our favorite shows from each decade and also tell all the stuff we know about certain shows and actors of each particular decade.

Hopefully, this can be an educational and fun thing because I want to learn all there is about the history of television.

First up, since the 1940s was so short, sitcom-wise, I’ll combine it with the 1950s. So from 1947’s Mary Kay and Johnny to the end of the 1950s is what we’ll discuss here.

I'll also post the other decades, but I want to do this in order. So I'll keep it just 50s for a while then move onto the 60s and so fourth.

And… Go!

Marvo301 · 01-27-2011, 12:12 AM

One of my favorite sitcoms of the 50's and one that is underrated is "Our Miss Brooks". This show which migrated to television from radio (as did many early TV shows) starred Eve Arden as English teacher Miss Brooks who was as dedicated to winning the heart of science teacher Mr.Boynton as she was to educating her students. Gale Gordon, as Principal Conklin, added to the fun. Eve Arden was a great comedienne and was at the top of her game in this series. Sadly she was overshadowed by another TV comedienne of that era, Lucille Ball.

Adamantium · 01-27-2011, 12:16 AM

Here's a list of some of the sitcoms that started in the 1940s. This info comes from the book The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present.

Mary Kay and Johnny
November 18, 1947 - March 11, 1950
Cast:
Mary Kay Stearns: Herself
Johnny Stearns: Himself
Howie: Howard Thomas
Mary Kay's Mother: Nydia Westman
Christopher Williams Stearns: Himself (1949-50)

The Growing Paynes
October 20, 1948 - August 3, 1949
Cast:
Mr. Payne: John Harvey (1948-49), Ed Holmes (1949)
Mrs. Payne: Judy Parrish (1948-49), Elaine Stritch (1949)

The Goldbergs
January 10, 1949 - October 19, 1954
Cast:
Molly Goldberg: Gertrude Berg
Jake Goldberg: Philip Loeb (1949-51), Harold J. Stone (1952), Robert H. Harris (1953-56)
Sammy Goldberg: Larry Robinson (1949-52), Tom Taylor (1954-56)
Rosalie Goldberg: Arlene McQuade
Uncle David: Eli Mintz
Mrs. Bloom: Olga Fabian (1953)
Dora Barnett: Betty Bendyke (1955-56)
Carrie Barnett: Ruth Yorke (1955-56)
Daisy Carey: Susan Steel (1955-56)
Henry Carey: Jon Lormer (1955-56)

Wren's Nest
January 13, 1949 - April 30, 1949
Cast:
Sam Wren
Virginia Sale

The Alrich Family
October 2, 1949 - May 29, 1953
Cast:
Henry Aldrich: Robert Casey (1949-50), Richard Tyler (1950-51), Henry Girard (1951-52),
Kenneth Nelson (1952), Bobby Ellis (1952-53)
Mr. Sam Aldrich: House Jameson
Mrs. Alice Aldrich: Lois Wilson (1949-50, 1951), Nancy Carroll (1950-51),
Barbara Robbins (1951-53)
Mary Aldrich: Charita Bauer (1949-50), Mary Malone (1950-52), June Dayton (1952-53)
Homer Brown: Jackie Kelk (1949-51), Robert Barry (1951-52), Jackie Grimes (1952-53)
Mrs. Brown: Leona Powers
Mr. Brown: Howard Smith
Kathleen: Marcia Henderson
Aunt Harriet: Ethel Wilson
Anna Mitchell: Ann Sorg
George Bigelow: Lionel Wilson
Mr. Bradley: Richard Midgley (1949), Joseph Foley (1950-53)
Eleanor: Loretta Leversee (1952-53)

The Life of Riley
October 4, 1949 - March 28, 1950
Cast:
Chester A. Riley: Jackie Gleason
Peg Riley: Rosemary DeCamp
Junior Riley: Lanny Rees
Babs Riley: Gloria Winters
Jim Gillis: Sid Tomack
Digby "Digger" O'Dell: John Brown

Adamantium · 01-27-2011, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

One of my favorite sitcoms of the 50's and one that is underrated is "Our Miss Brooks".

I've seen bits and pieces of this show and liked what I saw. Eve Arden was a comedy legend.

Another school show I enjoyed was "Mister Peepers" starring Wally Cox.

Adamantium · 01-27-2011, 12:26 AM

From what I've read (somewhere, sometime, I don't remember), Mary Kay and Johnny let it's lead characters have one bed for the married couples. Does anyone know what point they went from Mary Kay and Johnny sleeping in one bed to married couples (Lucy and Ricky, for example) sleeping in twin beds.

When I was a kid, I really thought that married couples in the 1950s and 60s slept in twin beds, lol.

Marvo301 · 01-27-2011, 12:42 AM

Another show that started in the 40's is Mama (July 1, 1949 - July 27, 1956). All I know about this show is that it launched the career of Dick Van Patten who played the young son Nels.

Mr. Television · 01-27-2011, 01:04 AM

I've never seen Our Miss Brooks but I did see the 1956 Theatrical movie which starred the cast. It was pretty good. It''s too bad that 1950's sitcoms aren't seen on tv much anymore. There's quite a few sitcoms from that decade I've never seen. I always wanted to see December Bride and Topper. I used to love the old CBN Network which aired 1950's sitcoms late at night in the early 80's. I remember watching Burns and Allen, Life of Riley, My Little Margie, and others.

70s show watcher · 01-27-2011, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

One of my favorite sitcoms of the 50's and one that is underrated is "Our Miss Brooks". This show which migrated to television from radio (as did many early TV shows) starred Eve Arden as English teacher Miss Brooks who was as dedicated to winning the heart of science teacher Mr.Boynton as she was to educating her students. Gale Gordon, as Principal Conklin, added to the fun. Eve Arden was a great comedienne and was at the top of her game in this series. Sadly she was overshadowed by another TV comedienne of that era, Lucille Ball.

i agree with you our miss brooks is a very underrated and funny show i highly recommend it

old grouch · 01-27-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamantium

From what I've read (somewhere, sometime, I don't remember), Mary Kay and Johnny let it's lead characters have one bed for the married couples. Does anyone know what point they went from Mary Kay and Johnny sleeping in one bed to married couples (Lucy and Ricky, for example) sleeping in twin beds.

When I was a kid, I really thought that married couples in the 1950s and 60s slept in twin beds, lol.

'Mary Kay and Johnny' was also a groundbreaking show in another way. When Mary Kay gave birth in real life, the couples real life infant son was featured on the show.

My favorite sitcom from the 50's besides 'I Love Lucy' is 'Burns and Allen'. I wish more episode of this show would come out on DVD besides the ones that are in public domain. A couple of others from the 50's that I would like to see again are 'December Bride' and 'My Little Margie'.

01-27-2011, 12:00 AM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,817	Television Situation Comedies - 1940s/1950s I want to discuss each decade for television situation comedies. We can all talk about our favorite shows from each decade and also tell all the stuff we know about certain shows and actors of each particular decade. Hopefully, this can be an educational and fun thing because I want to learn all there is about the history of television. First up, since the 1940s was so short, sitcom-wise, I’ll combine it with the 1950s. So from 1947’s Mary Kay and Johnny to the end of the 1950s is what we’ll discuss here. I'll also post the other decades, but I want to do this in order. So I'll keep it just 50s for a while then move onto the 60s and so fourth. And… Go!

01-27-2011, 12:12 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	One of my favorite sitcoms of the 50's and one that is underrated is "Our Miss Brooks". This show which migrated to television from radio (as did many early TV shows) starred Eve Arden as English teacher Miss Brooks who was as dedicated to winning the heart of science teacher Mr.Boynton as she was to educating her students. Gale Gordon, as Principal Conklin, added to the fun. Eve Arden was a great comedienne and was at the top of her game in this series. Sadly she was overshadowed by another TV comedienne of that era, Lucille Ball.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

01-27-2011, 12:16 AM	#3
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,817	Here's a list of some of the sitcoms that started in the 1940s. This info comes from the book The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Mary Kay and Johnny November 18, 1947 - March 11, 1950 Cast: Mary Kay Stearns: Herself Johnny Stearns: Himself Howie: Howard Thomas Mary Kay's Mother: Nydia Westman Christopher Williams Stearns: Himself (1949-50) The Growing Paynes October 20, 1948 - August 3, 1949 Cast: Mr. Payne: John Harvey (1948-49), Ed Holmes (1949) Mrs. Payne: Judy Parrish (1948-49), Elaine Stritch (1949) The Goldbergs January 10, 1949 - October 19, 1954 Cast: Molly Goldberg: Gertrude Berg Jake Goldberg: Philip Loeb (1949-51), Harold J. Stone (1952), Robert H. Harris (1953-56) Sammy Goldberg: Larry Robinson (1949-52), Tom Taylor (1954-56) Rosalie Goldberg: Arlene McQuade Uncle David: Eli Mintz Mrs. Bloom: Olga Fabian (1953) Dora Barnett: Betty Bendyke (1955-56) Carrie Barnett: Ruth Yorke (1955-56) Daisy Carey: Susan Steel (1955-56) Henry Carey: Jon Lormer (1955-56) Wren's Nest January 13, 1949 - April 30, 1949 Cast: Sam Wren Virginia Sale The Alrich Family October 2, 1949 - May 29, 1953 Cast: Henry Aldrich: Robert Casey (1949-50), Richard Tyler (1950-51), Henry Girard (1951-52), Kenneth Nelson (1952), Bobby Ellis (1952-53) Mr. Sam Aldrich: House Jameson Mrs. Alice Aldrich: Lois Wilson (1949-50, 1951), Nancy Carroll (1950-51), Barbara Robbins (1951-53) Mary Aldrich: Charita Bauer (1949-50), Mary Malone (1950-52), June Dayton (1952-53) Homer Brown: Jackie Kelk (1949-51), Robert Barry (1951-52), Jackie Grimes (1952-53) Mrs. Brown: Leona Powers Mr. Brown: Howard Smith Kathleen: Marcia Henderson Aunt Harriet: Ethel Wilson Anna Mitchell: Ann Sorg George Bigelow: Lionel Wilson Mr. Bradley: Richard Midgley (1949), Joseph Foley (1950-53) Eleanor: Loretta Leversee (1952-53) The Life of Riley October 4, 1949 - March 28, 1950 Cast: Chester A. Riley: Jackie Gleason Peg Riley: Rosemary DeCamp Junior Riley: Lanny Rees Babs Riley: Gloria Winters Jim Gillis: Sid Tomack Digby "Digger" O'Dell: John Brown
	Last edited by Adamantium; 01-27-2011 at 12:50 AM.

01-27-2011, 01:04 AM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I've never seen Our Miss Brooks but I did see the 1956 Theatrical movie which starred the cast. It was pretty good. It''s too bad that 1950's sitcoms aren't seen on tv much anymore. There's quite a few sitcoms from that decade I've never seen. I always wanted to see December Bride and Topper. I used to love the old CBN Network which aired 1950's sitcoms late at night in the early 80's. I remember watching Burns and Allen, Life of Riley, My Little Margie, and others.
	__________________ Sonny

01-27-2011, 12:26 AM	#5
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,817	From what I've read (somewhere, sometime, I don't remember), Mary Kay and Johnny let it's lead characters have one bed for the married couples. Does anyone know what point they went from Mary Kay and Johnny sleeping in one bed to married couples (Lucy and Ricky, for example) sleeping in twin beds. When I was a kid, I really thought that married couples in the 1950s and 60s slept in twin beds, lol.

01-27-2011, 12:42 AM	#6
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	Another show that started in the 40's is Mama (July 1, 1949 - July 27, 1956). All I know about this show is that it launched the career of Dick Van Patten who played the young son Nels.