Hi-Jack, an episode of the 1950-51 Dick Tracy TV series. I'm a bit of a Dick Tracy fan and the series did star Ralph Byrd, the definitive screen Dick Tracy. Alas the plot is too conventional and it all looks a bit stodgy. A curiosity more than anything else.

My review: https://cult-tv-lounge.blogspot.com/2023/09/dick-tracy-tv-series-1950-51.html

#culttv #retrotv #vintagetv #1950stv #50stv #DickTracy

Today is the birthday of stage and screen actor Carlton Carpenter, who died in 2022 at age 95.

In 1954, he played one of American TV's first identifiably gay characters when NBC broadcast a production of the 1941 Broadway musical LADY IN THE DARK. The show takes place largely in the offices of a fashion magazine, and Carpenter played the supporting role of Russell, an overwrought, presumably gay fashion photographer (originally played on stage by Danny Kaye). In interviews in the 1980s, Carpenter talked about what it was like to be a gay actor in 1950s Hollywood, and the lengths that the studio went to in order to build up a fake macho and heterosexual image for him.

Here's a short video clip of that 1954 program: https://youtu.be/Z3vYAqTwKV4

#television #gay #musicals #LGBTQ #queer #50sTV #1950sTV

Tonight in 1959 – THE BOB CUMMINGS SHOW (aka LOVE THAT BOB) aired its last original episode.

Ann B. Davis (THE BRADY BUNCH) won 2 Emmys for this sitcom created by Paul Henning (BEV HILLBILLIES, PETTICOAT JUNCTION, GREEN ACRES).

It’s on Internet Archive:

https://archive.org/details/fav-willmckinley?sort=titleSorter&and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22Love+That+Bob%22 #ClassicTV #1950sTV #LoveThatBob

THE ERNIE KOVACS SHOW - 7/2/1956, NBC

One of the few ongoing queer characters on 1950s American television was Percy Dovetonsils: comedian Ernie Kovacs's beloved lisping, purse-lipped poet who recited bad verse on a set representing his Greenwich Village penthouse. Kovacs used this character on various shows for more than ten years.

Given 1950s censorship of LGBTQ content, Percy's sexuality was mostly hinted at, though on rare occasions he would do things like comment on a cameraman's "muscular legs" or pluck petals from a flower reciting "He loves me, he loves me not..."

https://youtu.be/wzemP2PX3D8

#ErnieKovacs #50sTV #gay #queer #LGBTQ #television #SketchComedy #1950sTV

Today in 1952 — THE LIBERACE SHOW debuted on NBC.

This summer replacement for THE DINAH SHORE SHOW was followed by a syndicated series that made him an international superstar.

#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #1950sTV #Liberace

Color TV debuted 72 years ago today — June 25, 1951.

#EdSullivan hosted PREMIERE, the first commercially sponsored color show (on 5 CBS affiliates).

Few saw it, because color sets weren’t on sale yet! And CBS’s color broadcasts were incompatible w/ B&W TVs.

#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #1950sTV

Tonight in 1957 —“The Dangerous People” aired on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

Albert Salmi and Robert H. Harris starred in this suspenseful two-hander set in a train station.

This was the finale of a season w/ 39 original episodes, which was routine in the 1950s.

#ClassicTV #1950sTV #1950s #AlfredHitchcockPresents

Tonight in 1958 — #HumeCronyn starred in "The Impromptu Murder” on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

Paul Henreid directed this tale of a broker who ingeniously kills a client.

Cronyn also played a man obsessed w/ murder methods in Hitchcock’s SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

#OnThisDay #1950sTV #AlfredHitchcockPresents

The #KuklaFranAndOllie recovery project on YouTube is up to June 1951. In this episode, Mercedes has a math problem that doesn't exactly go viral, but it has virus-like qualities.
#1950sTV #KFO #ClassicTV

https://youtu.be/w5jvjrmu9hg

This week in 1959 — “A True Account” aired on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

#FilmNoir icon Jane Greer (OUT OF THE PAST) stars as a nurse who may be an angel of death.

w/ Kent Smith (CAT PEOPLE), Robert Webber (everything) + Jocelyn Brando (Marlon’s sister).

#OnThisDay #1950sTV #1950s #AlfredHitchcockPresents

Tonight in 1959 — “The Dusty Drawer” aired on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

Dick York starred in this broadly comic revenge tale.

Shades of Darrin, five years before BEWITCHED.

#ClassicTV #1950sTV #AlfredHitchcockPresents #Bewitched

Tonight in 1954 — #EarthaKitt (age 27) guest hosted the penultimate episode of YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS. 💕

#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #1950sTV #YourShowOfShows

MARTY (1955) won Oscars for Best Picture, actor, director and screenplay.

But #PaddyChayefsky’s story of "a fat little ugly guy” debuted as a live TV drama this week in 1953.

https://www.goldderby.com/article/2023/marty-oscars-best-picture/ #ClassicTV #1950sTV #ErnestBorgnine

Tonight in 1959 — #SteveMcQueen starred on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

“Human Interest Story” was directed by #NormanLloyd (1914-2021), whose long association w/ Hitchcock began as the title character in SABOTEUR (1942).

#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #1950sTV #AlfredHitchcockPresents

Tonight in 1956 — Ralph had an accident on the way to the Safest Bus Driver award ceremony on THE HONEYMOONERS.

"The Safety Award” was episode 34 of "The Classic 39."

It's streaming on PlutoTV.

#TheHoneymooners #ClassicTV #JackieGleason #1950sTV

Tonight in 1954 — #ArtCarney appeared on WHAT’S MY LINE — in his HONEYMOONERS costume!

#BennettCerf guessed “Al Carney” (but they still gave it to him).

Highlight: Art takes out his gum on live TV.

#OnThisDay #ClassicTV #WhatsMyLine #1950sTV #1950s #TheHoneymooners

Tonight in 1957 — I LOVE LUCY aired its last original episode.

It was the #1 show on TV when #LucilleBall and #DesiArnaz decided to end it after 6 seasons.

The characters returned in 13 one-hour specials (1957-1960) known as THE LUCY-DESI COMEDY HOUR.

#OnTHisDay #ClassicTV #1950sTV #1960s #ILoveLucy

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN aired its last original episode tonight in 1958.

#GeorgeReeves (1914-1959) has lived on in reruns as the Man of Steel ever since.

#ClassicTV #Superman #1950sTV #1950s #AdventuresOfSuperman

This week in 1956 — “Never Again” aired on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

#PhyllisThaxter is stellar as an alcoholic in this heartbreaking, Noir-ish episode.

Hitch dispensed w/ the jokes, closing with the hope that the story "will help someone.”

#AlfredHitchcockPresents #ClassicTV #1950s #1950sTV

Tonight in 1959 — THE UNTOUCHABLES w/ #RobertStack debuted on CBS’s DESILU PLAYHOUSE (hosted by #DesiArnaz).

CBS rejected the series, so Lucy and Desi sold it to ABC.

#FilmNoir specialist #PhilKarlson got an Emmy nomination for directing.

#OnThisDay #1950sTV #1950s #ElliotNess #Nostalgia #TheUntouchables