1960

1960/61 – Gunsmoke was #1 on CBS Saturday, fourth year running. Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1960 season; Riverboat was cancelled in the second season. Alternate Shows: Armstrong Circle Theatre and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM. Anniversary: I’ve Got A Secret celebrated ten years on CBS. Red Skelton celebrated ten years on TV. Biggest New Hit: The Andy Griffith Show was #4 on CBS Mondays; the show was aired after The Danny Thomas Show. Andy Griffith has the biggest hit of the year; it was his first series. Even Opie was adorable to watch. Every season, The Andy Griffith Show was in the top ten. His lowest ratings was #7 in 1961; his highest was #1 in his last season in 1967. British Ties: CBS aired Danger Man from April–September 1961. Danger Man originally aired on ITV in British from September 1960–January 1962. Daytime: The Texas was on ABC weekdays from October 1960–March 1962. Movies 2 TV: My Sister Elaine was based on the 1942 Rosalind Russell/Janet Blair movie. National Velvet was based on the 1944 Elizabeth Taylor/Mickey Rooney movie. It was Liz’s first leading movie role that propelled her to movie stardom. The Third Man was based on the 1949 Orson Wells movie. Orson reprised his role for the radio; Michael Rennie played Harry Lime in the series. Whispering Smith was based on the 1948 Alan Ladd movie. My Three Sons Tidbits: The 1960–65 ABC episodes was filmed in B/W; the 1965–72 CBS episodes was in color. The B/W episodes are rarely seen today. William Frawley was supposed to be the star of “My Three Nieces;” but the network changed the premise of the show to My Three Sons and Fred MacMurray became the star instead. Ironically, when William left the series in 1965, due to poor health, he accused William Demarest, his TV brother, of stealing his job. Don Grady (Don Agrati) was on The Mickey Mouse Club just for one year, the third season. His TV brother, Tim Considine was on the show too, but not as a Mouseketeer; he played Spin on “The Adventures of Spin and Marty,” and Frank on “The Hardy Boys,” the TV shorts on The Mickey Mouse Club. Don appeared in an uncredited role on Spin & Marty. Fred McMurray and Tim Considine appeared in the 1959 hit Walt Disney movie, The Shaggy Dog. Tim’s costar, Tommy Kirk, played his brother on The Hardy Boys on The Mickey Mouse Club. Tommy was Fred’s son on The Shaggy Dog. In later years, the family grew so much that not all characters was in that week’s episode; different characters took the spotlight each week. Tim Considine quit the show in 1965, leaving just two sons. Hey, what to do with the title, My Three Sons? Well, the producers brainstormed; Steve Douglas adopted his “third” orphaned son, Ernie Thompson Douglas, played by Barry Livingston, who was Stanley‘s real brother. Stan was Chip Douglas. Ironically, Robbie had three sons – triplets – with his wife, Katie. His three sons were Steve Douglas Jr., Charley Douglas and Robbie Douglas II. What a shame! No one wants to remember Uncle Bud! Charley? Come on! Fred MacMurray played two roles in the last season; he played Steve’s cousin, Fergus McBain Douglas. Fergus was in search of a wife. You’re In The Picture was one of the biggest flops in TV history and in Jackie Gleason’s career. It was a very good thing that Keenan Wynn injured himself on the day of the premiere. The injury saved his career! The following week, Jackie apologized for the fiasco. Name Change: The Aquanauts to Malibu Run in February 1961. The Comedy Spot to Comedy Spotlight Mr. Garlund to The Garlund Touch in November 1960. Phillies Jackpot Bowling to Jackpot Bowling with Milton Berle. Shirley Temple's Storybook to The Shirley Temple Show. You Bet Your Life to The Groucho Show. Wednesday Night Fights to The Fight Of The Week. Original Run: The Outlaws was on NBC Thursday at 7:30 PM for two years. Pete And Gladys was on CBS Monday at 8 PM for two years. Original Title: The Flintstones was going to be called The Flagstones. Hanna-Barbera changed their mind to avoid confusion with the popular comic strip, Hi And Lois; their last name was Flagstons. For a brief period, it was The Gladstones till they settled upon The Flintstones name. Radio: The Third Man was on the radio in syndication from 1950–1951 with Orson Welles. Reruns: CBS aired reruns of the 1959 series, Brenner, in the summer of 1961, 1962 and 1964. There was also ten new episodes mixed in with the reruns in 1964. CBS aired reruns of The Chevy Mystery Show under the name of Sunday Mystery Hour in the summer. Frontier Justice shown reruns of Zane Grey Theater episodes for the summer on CBS. The Return: ABC revived The Walter Winchell Show. It only lasted for six weeks. CBS revived Frontier Justice after a year absence. William Frawley returned in My Three Sons after a three-year absence. He was best known as Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy in the early 1950‘s. ABC revived Naked City after a year absence. This time, it was a one hour series. Simultaneous: Bea Benaderet was on The Flintstones and Peter Loves Mary. I bet it was confusing for Bea for a little while. She was Wilma on Peter Loves Mary; she was Betty on The Flintstones. Spin Off: The Andy Griffith Show from Make Room For Daddy; the pilot was shown on Danny’s show on February 15, 1960. Andy Griffith arrested Danny for passing a stop sign. Danny thought there was no crossroad. Coincidence, Sheldon Leonard was the producer of both shows. Pete And Gladys from December Bride, the viewers finally meet Gladys in person in the spin off; she was always heard about and not seen on December Bride, which Pete described her as a nagging terror. Really, Gladys was a likeable character. Pete was so popular that Harry Morgan got his own spin off after December Bride went off the air in 1960. Even Verna Feldon was on the show for the first season; she played the same December Bride character, Hilda Crocker. Surfside Six from Bourbon Street Beat, Ken Madison moved to Miami Beach; the detective agency was set on the boat. Summer Replacement: Comedy Spotlight replaced The Red Skelton Show for the summer. Frontier Justice replaced Zane Grey Theater for the summer. Great Ghost Tales replaced The Ford Show Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford for the summer. Kraft Mystery Theater replaced Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall for the summer. Tidbits: Frances Bavier and Andy Griffith didn’t get along on the show, despite of the loving relationship between the characters - Andy Taylor and Aunt Bee. Andy Griffith himself said, "There was just something about me she did not like." On her deathbed, she reportedly regretted it. The Andy Griffith Show was Ron Howard’s first series. He later brought Happy Days to many ABC viewers in the 1970’s. Ron changed gears and became a very successful movie director. He didn’t forget of where he came from. He was in the Andy Griffith reunion movie in 1986 on NBC. The old gang was all there in Return To Mayberry, except Aunt Bee. She passed on to the great blue yonder in the sky. There were no black people in Mayberry. Hey, Andy, what happened to the black people? Oprah Winfrey wants to know! Call her. Call her NOW. Call her like this moment in time. Call her please! Andy Griffith was Oprah’s favorite show. Ranald MacDougall created Westinghouse Playhouse for his wife, Nanette Fabray, somewhat based on her life. The Jackie Gleason Show replaced You're In The Picture after one episode. Jackie apologized to the nationwide audience for the quiz show failure on the debut episode of The Jackie Gleason Show. Stagecoach West was Wayne Rogers’ first series; it only last a season. He had greater success on M*A*S*H in 1972. Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy, a real life couple, starred in a failed sitcom, Peter Loves Mary. Interesting note: They lived in Oakdale, a well-known soap city on As The World Turns. Would you believed Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble smoked Winston cigarettes? Of course, they did. Winston was The Flintstones’ sponsor for the first few seasons. Their wives was mowing the lawn and beating the dust out of a rug while they smoked behind the house. There’s no wonder the kids smoke too young! Have a Yabba Dabba...cough, cough...Do smoking good time! Milton Berle was the host in the last season of Jackpot Bowling. It was called Jackpot Bowling with Milton Berle. Luke Perry was the name of a character on Stagecoach West; Luke Perry, the actor, starred in the hit Fox show, Beverly Hills 90210 from 1990–1995, 1998–2000. The Tall Man was about the real life characters, Billy The Kid and Sheriff Pat Garrett, in fictionalized stories of their adventures. In reality, they were friends till Pat was elected as sheriff of Lincoln County. Of course, Billy The Kid became his #1 foe. OMG! Old Yeller didn’t die at all. Tommy Kirk must kill him on The Westerner! Tommy boy, you better hold back the tears. You already cried over him once. I don’t have enough Kleenex for the both of us. Wah! Wah! Riverboat last aired on January 16, 1961. A week later, The Americans took it spot on NBC Monday. The Americans didn't make it to a second season. Whispering Smith supposed to start in 1959 fall schedule. Guy Mitchell suffered a broken shoulder after seven episodes was completed. The series was postponed till May 1961. The Asphalt Jungle replaced The Islanders on ABC Sunday. Both didn't make it to a second season. They were no match for the top 10 shows, The Jack Benny Show and Candid Camera, on CBS. Viewer Response: The Law and Mr. Jones was cancelled in the first season. Thousands of angry letters went to ABC. The series was back on ABC the following April. The viewers didn't increase. Once again, ABC cancelled the series in October. 1960/61 Fall Season One Season (1960/61) The Andy Griffith Show – 1960–1968, CBS, comedy, Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard The Bugs Bunny Show – 1960–1962, ABC, cartoon, Dick Coughlan Candid Camera – 1960–1967, CBS, humor, Allen Funt Checkmate – 1960–1962, CBS, mystery, Doug McClure, Sebastian Cabot Expedition – 1960–1962, ABC, wildlife, Col. John D. Craig Eyewitness To History – 1960–1963, CBS, news analysis, Charles Kuralt Fight of the Week – 1960–1964, ABC, sports, boxing, Don Dunphy The Flintstones – 1960–1966, ABC, cartoon, Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet The Law and Mr. Jones – 1960/61, 1962, ABC, legal drama, James Whitmore Make That Spare – 1960–1964, ABC, sports, Johnny Johnston Matty's Funday Funnies – 1960–1963, ABC; cartoon My Three Sons – 1960–1965, ABC; 1965–1972, CBS, comedy, Fred MacMurray, William Frawley Naked City – 1960–1963, ABC, crime drama National Velvet – 1960–1962, NBC, adventure, Lori Martin, Ann Doran The Outlaws – 1960–1962, NBC, western, Barton MacLane Pete & Gladys – 1960–1962, CBS, comedy, Harry Morgan, Cara Williams, Gale Gordon The Roaring Twenties – 1960–1962, ABC, drama, Rex Reason Route 66 – 1960–1964, CBS, adventure, Martin Milner, George Maharis Surfside Six – 1960–1962, ABC, detective drama, Van Williams The Tall Man – 1960–1962, NBC, western, Clu Gulager, Barry Sullivan Thriller – 1960–1962, NBC, suspense anthology, Boris Karloff Cancelled TV shows Aquanauts – CBS, adventure, Keith Larson The Barbara Stanwyck Show – NBC, dramatic anthology, Barbara Stanwyck Bringing Up Buddy – CBS, comedy, Frank Aletter Dan Raven – NBC, police drama, Skip Homeier Dante – NBC, mystery adventure, Howard Duff Guestward Ho! – ABC, comedy, Joanne Dru Harrigan and Son – ABC, comedy, Pat O’Brien Hong Kong – ABC, adventure, Rod Taylor The Islanders – ABC, adventure, William Reynolds Klondike – NBC, adventure, Ralph Taeger Michael Shayne – NBC, detective drama, Richard Denning Mr. Garlund – CBS, adventure, Charles Quinlivan My Sister Eileen – CBS, comedy, Elaine Stritch The Nation's Future – NBC, debate, LIVE Peter Loves Mary – NBC, comedy, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy Presidential Countdown – CBS, political, Walter Cronkite Stagecoach West – ABC, western, Wayne Rogers The Tab Hunter Show – NBC, comedy, Tab Hunter The Tom Ewell Show – CBS, comedy, Tom Ewell The Walter Winchell Show – ABC, news/commentary, Walter Winchell The Westerner – NBC, western, Brian Keith, John Dehner The Witness – CBS, courtroom anthology, Verne Collett 21 out of 43 new series SURVIVED for 1961/62 ABC – 11/16, The Bugs Bunny Show, Expedition, Fight of the Week, The Flintstones, The Law and Mr. Jones, Make That Spare, Matty's Funday Funnies, My Three Sons, Naked City, The Roaring Twenties and Surfside Six CBS – 6/13, The Andy Griffith Show, Candid Camera, Checkmate, Eyewitness To History, Pete & Gladys and Route 66 NBC – 4/14, National Velvet, The Outlaws, The Tall Man and Thriller Mid season shows CBS Reports – January 1961–1971, CBS; documentary Focus On America – 1961–1963, ABC, documentary Kraft Mystery Theater – 1961–1963, NBC, dramatic anthology, Frank Gallop Purex Summer Specials – July 1961–1963, NBC, anthology Sing Along With Mitch – Jan 1961–1964, NBC, variety, Mitch Miller Cancelled Mid Season Shows Acapulco – NBC, adventure, Telly Savalas The Americans – NBC, civil war drama, Darryl Hickman The Asphalt Jungle – ABC, police drama, Jack Warden Danger Man – CBS, international intrigue, Patrick McGoohan Editor's Choice – ABC, news analysis, Fendall Yerxa Five Star Jubilee – NBC, musical variety, Tex Ritter Frontier Justice – CBS, western anthology, reruns, Ralph Bellamy Glenn Miller Time – CBS, music, LIVE, Johnny Desmond Great Ghost Tales – NBC, occult anthology, LIVE Gunslinger – CBS, western, Tony Young Holiday Lodge – CBS, comedy, Johnny Wayne The Jackie Gleason Show – CBS, talk, Jackie Gleason One Happy Family – NBC, comedy, Dick Sergant The Summer Sports Spectacular – CBS, sports anthology, Bud Palmer Way Out – CBS, dramatic anthology, Roald Dahl Westinghouse Playhouse – NBC, comedy, Nanette Fabray Westinghouse Preview Theatre – NBC, comedy anthology Whispering Smith – NBC, western/detective, Audie Murphy Winston Churchill–The Valiant Years – ABC, documentary, Richard Burton You’re In The Pictures – Jan 20, 1961, CBS, game, 1 episode, Jackie Gleason Syndication The Blue Angels – syndication, adventure, Dennis Cross Mr. Ed – January 1961, Syndication; 1961–1965, CBS, comedy, Alan Young The Third Man – 1960–1962, syndication, intrigue, Jonathan Harris Two Seasons (1959/60) Adventures in Paradise – 1959–1962, ABC, adventure Bell Telephone Hour – 1959–1968, NBC, music Bonanza – 1959–1973, NBC, western Comedy Spotlight – 1960–1962, CBS, comedy anthology Dennis The Menace – 1959–1963, CBS, comedy The Deputy – 1959–1961, NBC, western The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor – 1959–1961, ABC; 1961/62, NBC, crime drama The DuPont Show with June Allyson – 1959–1961, CBS, dramatic anthology Happy –June 1960–1961, NBC, comedy Hawaiian Eye – 1959–1963, ABC, drama Hennessey – 1959–1962, CBS, comedy/drama Laramie – 1959–1963, NBC, western Lock Up – 1959–1961, syndication, crime drama Manhunt – 1959–1961, syndication, crime drama Many Loves of Dobie Gillis – 1959–1963, CBS, comedy Riverboat – 1959–1961, NBC, adventure Shotgun Slade – 1959–1961, syndication, western Silents Please – August 1960–1961, ABC, silent movies The Spike Jones Show – August 1960–1961, CBS, comedy/variety The Third Man – 1959–1962, syndication, intrigue The Twilight Zone – 1959–1965, CBS, anthology The Untouchables – 1959–1963, ABC, crime drama Three Seasons (1958/59) The Ann Sothern Show – 1958–1961, CBS, comedy Bat Masterson – 1958–1961, NBC, western Bronco – 1958–1962, ABC, western The Donna Reed Show – 1958–1966, ABC, comedy The Garry Moore Show – 1958–1964, CBS, variety The Lawman – 1958–1962, NBC, western Jackpot Bowling with Milton Berle – January 1959–1961, NBC, sports Peter Gunn – 1958–1961, NBC, detective drama Rawhide – January 1959–1966, CBS, western The Rifleman – 1958–1963, ABC, western 77 Sunset Strip – 1958–1964, ABC, drama The Shirley Temple Show – January 1959–1960, ABC; 1960/61, NBC, children’s anthology Take A Good Look – 1959–1961, ABC, quiz Wanted: Dead or Alive – 1958–1961, CBS, western Four Seasons (1957/58) Bachelor Father – 1957–1959, CBS; 1959–1961, NBC; 1961/62, ABC; comedy Have Gun, Will Travel – 1957–1963, CBS, western It Could Be You – July 1958–1961, NBC, audience participation Leave It To Beaver – 1957/58, CBS; 1958–1963, ABC, comedy Perry Mason – 1957–1966, CBS, drama Maverick – 1957–1962, ABC, western The Price Is Right – 1957–1963, NBC; 1963/64, ABC, game The Real McCoys – 1957–1962, ABC; 1962/63, CBS, comedy Sea Hunt – January 1958–1961, syndication, adventure Sugarfoot – 1957–1961, ABC, western Wagon Train – 1957–1962, NBC; 1962–1965, ABC, western Five Seasons (1956/57) Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre – 1956–1961, CBS, western anthology The Dinah Shore Show – 1956–1963, NBC, variety Playhouse 90 – 1956–1961, CBS, dramatic anthology Tales Of Wills Fargo – March 1957–1962, NBC, western To Tell The Truth – December 1956–1967, CBS, game Six Seasons (1955/56) Alfred Hitchcock Presents – 1955–1960, CBS; 1960–1962, NBC; 1962–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, suspense anthology Cheyenne – 1955–1963, ABC, western Gunsmoke – 1955–1975, CBS, western The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – 1955–1961, ABC, western Seven Seasons (1954/55) Father Knows Best reruns – 1960–1962, CBS; 1962/63, ABC, comedy Lassie – 1954–1971, CBS; 1971–1974, Syndication, adventure The Lawrence Welk Show – 1954–1971, ABC, music People are Funny – 1954–1961, NBC, quiz The Jack Paar Show – July 1957–1962, NBC, talk/variety Walt Disney Presents – 1954–1983, anthology Eight Seasons (1953/54) The Danny Thomas Show – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy The Loretta Young Show – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology Person to Person – 1953–1961, CBS, interview U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Nine Seasons (1952/53) The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy Death Valley Days – 1952–1975, syndication, western anthology General Electric Theater – February 1953–1962, CBS, dramatic anthology This Is Your Life – 1952–1961, NBC, testimonial Ten Seasons (1951/52) I’ve Got A Secret – June 1952–1967, CBS, game The Red Skelton Show – 1951–1953, NBC; 1953–1970, CBS, 1970/71, NBC; variety Eleven Seasons (1950/51) The Groucho Show – 1950–1961, NBC, quiz The Jack Benny Show – 1950–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, comedy Twelve Seasons (1949/50) Armstrong Circle Theatre – June 1950–1957, NBC; 1957–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology What’s My Line? – February 1950–1967, CBS, game Thirteen seasons (1948/49) The Perry Como Show – 1948–1950, NBC; 1950–1955, CBS, 1955–1963, NBC, variety Meet The Press – November 1947–1965, NBC, interview Fourteen seasons (1947/48) The Ed Sullivan Show – June 1948–1971, CBS, variety