Thursday, June 26, 2014

DAY 44 - COUNTING DOWN TO THE 50TH

Good Morning, Class of '64
 

TV Families from the 
Fifties and Early Sixties

Part One

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952-1966
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Ozzie_and_Harriet


Radio Show
 
1952
1960

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet aired on ABC from October 3, 1952 through March 26, 1966. It starred the real life family of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. The show began on radio in October of 1944, but their sons, David and Ricky, didn't join the radio cast until the fifth year, in 1949, when they were eleven (David) and eight (Ricky) years old.

In 1952 the film Here Come the Nelsons was made, and it's popularity convinced Ozzie Nelson that the future of the family was on the small screen of television. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet premiered on ABC in 1952 and remained until 1966. In 1962, it became the first prime-time scripted series on American television to reach the 10-year milestone. It ran for a total of fourteen television seasons and holds the record as the longest running live-action American sitcom in television history.
Although it was never a top-ten hit, the series became synonymous with the 1950s ideal American family life.
 
 Ricky the Drummer Episode

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet made Ricky Nelson, the Nelsons' younger son, into a music teen idol. Story lines were written featuring Ricky singing because Ozzie realized the impact it would have on the show. Episodes of the show after Rick became famous as a successful musician were among some of the show's most highly rated airings. Rick first sang in the April 10, 1957, episode, Ricky the Drummer.
 

The series has been continuously shown on stations in public domain prints. Most of the pre-1964 episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet television series are in the public domain in the United States, except for the musical performances of Ricky Nelson. Many episodes of the show have been released on home video, and one hundred of the episodes in the public domain have been released on DVD. 

 

More to Read if You've a Mind To:

Dousing the Glow Of TV's First Family; 

 
The Ozzie and Harriet Story

Harriet Nelson Biography
Ozzie Nelson


The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Boys Paper Route
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Rivals - 1952
The first episode of the 14-season ABC series, 
"The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet", 
complete with original commercials.

 
 Quotes from Ozzie and Harriet
  
1952
David Nelson: I promised to help a couple of friends of mine.
Ricky Nelson: What about me? I'm your brother, you know.
David Nelson: Don't get maudlin.
Ricky Nelson: Oh, yeah? I suppose you think I don't know what that means.
David Nelson: Okay. What does it mean?
Ricky Nelson: Just for that, you can look it up yourself.
David Nelson: I told you, I promised to help a couple of friends of mine. A guy can have a couple of friends in this world, can't he?
Ricky Nelson: Oh, yeah? If it wasn't for me, you'd be an only child."

 1958
Harriet Nelson: You know, it's none of my business, but don't you think taking riding lessons is a pretty expensive way to meet a girl?
Ozzie Nelson: Yeah, especially since you don't need the lessons?
Ricky Nelson
: Oh, well, we made a deal. See, I'm gonna teach her how to play the guitar, and she's gonna teach me how to ride.
Ozzie Nelson: Well, that sounds like a good idea.
Harriet Nelson: What happens, if she finds out you can ride?
David Nelson: Probably hit him over the head with the guitar."


1957

David tries to ask a beautiful girl to a dance, but discovers she only speaks Spanish]
Chuck: What happened?
David Nelson: Well, she's a real nice girl, but she doesn't speak any English. I wish I took Spanish instead of French.
Chuck: I'm taking Latin.
Wally: Don't look at me - I'm still working on English."


Watching TV

1 comment: