TV Shows of the 1950's
by Taylorfirst1 | created - 21 Aug 2016 | updated - 1 month ago | PublicBest of the early years of TV in no order!
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1. The Honeymooners (1955–1956)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Stars: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph
Votes: 6,230
2. The Phil Silvers Show (1955–1959)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Master Sergeant Bilko, regularly helped by the soldiers at Fort Baxter's motor pool, spends little time performing his duties by constantly trying to obtain money through various get-rich-quick scams and promotions.
Stars: Phil Silvers, Harvey Lembeck, Paul Ford, Allan Melvin
Votes: 1,736
3. Men Into Space (1959–1960)
30 min | Sci-Fi
The adventures of Colonel Ed McCauley, head of the American space program. He battles saboteurs, budget cuts, defective equipment and other problems in outer space.
Stars: William Lundigan, Joyce Taylor, Charles Herbert, Tyler McVey
Votes: 213
4. The Lone Ranger (1949–1957)
TV-G | 30 min | Western
The adventures of the masked hero and his Native American partner.
Stars: Jay Silverheels, Clayton Moore, John Hart, Bill Ward
Votes: 2,873
5. Adventures of Superman (1952–1958)
TV-G | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
The Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the "Daily Planet."
Stars: George Reeves, Noel Neill, Jack Larson, John Hamilton
Votes: 4,461
6. I Love Lucy (1951–1957)
TV-Y | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley
Votes: 28,915
7. Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends.
Stars: Jerry Mathers, Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow
Votes: 9,350
8. Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
TV-PG | 60 min | Western
Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough-and-tumble Dodge City.
Stars: James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis
Votes: 8,751
9. Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1955–1956)
28 min | Adventure
The adventures of a woman who grew up in the jungle as she protects the beasts and the natives while encountering white hunters, native Africans, wild animals and slave traders.
Stars: Irish McCalla, Christian Drake, Neal the Chimp, Virgil Richardson
Votes: 136
10. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1960)
Approved | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Family
Robin of Loxley, otherwise known as Robin Hood, and his band of Merry Men protect England from the evil machinations of Prince John while King Richard the Lionheart is away fighting in the Crusades.
Stars: Richard Greene, Victor Woolf, Archie Duncan, Alexander Gauge
Votes: 878
11. The Danny Thomas Show (1953–1965)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Danny is a New York entertainer. Between his co-stars at the nightclub where he performs and his wife and kids, he has dilemmas galore, which he somehow manages to resolve and still laugh.
Stars: Danny Thomas, Rusty Hamer, Marjorie Lord, Angela Cartwright
Votes: 1,244
12. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Ozzie and Harriet Nelson raise their two sons Ricky and David. As the sons age, they experience teenage dating problems, marriage and careers.
Stars: Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Nelson, Ricky Nelson, David Nelson
Votes: 1,605
13. Father Knows Best (1954–1960)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The popular radio show comes to life in this hit sitcom about a wise family man, Jim Anderson, his common-sense wife Margaret and their children Betty, Bud and Kathy.
Stars: Robert Young, Lauren Chapin, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray
Votes: 2,640
14. Annie Oakley (1954–1957)
30 min | Western
A fictionalized account of the life of legendary Wild West sharpshooter Annie Oakley.
Stars: Gail Davis, Brad Johnson, Jimmy Hawkins, Bob Woodward
Votes: 379
15. Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958–1961)
TV-PG | 30 min | Western
A Civil War veteran with a sawed-off rifle as a holstered weapon makes a living as a bounty hunter in the Wild West of the 1870s.
Stars: Steve McQueen, Wright King, Olan Soule, Mort Mills
Votes: 2,777
16. Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963)
Approved | 25 min | Western
The adventures of a gentlemanly gunfighter-for-hire.
Stars: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham, Stewart East
Votes: 3,332
17. The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961)
TV-PG | 30 min | Western
Loosely based on historical fact, the series portrays the gunslinging Wyatt Earp and his successful determination for law and order.
Stars: Hugh O'Brian, Jimmy Noel, Ethan Laidlaw, Bill Coontz
Votes: 1,110
18. Maverick (1957–1962)
TV-14 | 60 min | Western
Bret and Bart Maverick are well-dressed gamblers who migrate from town to town always looking for a good game.
Stars: Jack Kelly, James Garner, Roger Moore, Lane Chandler
Votes: 3,626
19. Wagon Train (1957–1965)
TV-PG | 75 min | Western
Stories of the journeys of a wagon train as it leaves post-Civil War Missouri on its way to California through the plains, deserts, and Rocky Mountains.
Stars: Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Robert Horton, John McIntire
Votes: 3,752
20. Naked City (1958–1963)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
The cases of the N.Y.P.D.'s 65th Precinct.
Stars: Harry Bellaver, Horace McMahon, Paul Burke, Nancy Malone
Votes: 1,432
21. Lawman (1958–1962)
30 min | Western
This is the story of Marshal Dan Troop of Laramie, Wyoming, and his Deputy Johnny McKay, an orphan Troop took under his wing.
Stars: John Russell, Peter Brown, Peggie Castle, Emile Avery
Votes: 970
22. Cheyenne (1955–1963)
TV-G | 60 min | Western
After the Civil War, nomadic adventurer Cheyenne Bodie roamed the West looking for fights, bad guys to beat up, and women. His job changed from episode to episode.
Stars: Clint Walker, Clyde Howdy, Chuck Hicks, Lane Chandler
Votes: 2,025
23. Johnny Ringo (1959–1960)
30 min | Western
Ex-gunfighter Johnny Ringo is now the sheriff of a small Western town, and attempts to keep the peace with the aid of his girl Laura Thomas and his deputy Cully.
Stars: Don Durant, Mark Goddard, Karen Sharpe, Terence de Marney
Votes: 176
24. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
TV-PG | 25 min | Western
Western stories and legends based, and filmed, in and around Death Valley, California. One of the longest-running Western series, originating on radio in the 1930s. The continuing sponsor was "20 Mule Team" Borax, a product formerly mined in Death Valley.
Stars: Stanley Andrews, Robert Taylor, Ronald Reagan, Dale Robertson
Votes: 1,045
25. The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1958)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Mickey Mouse hosts a youth-oriented variety show featuring 'The Mouseketeers'.
Stars: Jimmie Dodd, Darlene Gillespie, Sharon Baird, Bobby Burgess
Votes: 869
26. The Rifleman (1958–1963)
TV-PG | 30 min | Family, Western
The adventures of a Wild West rancher, wielding a customized rapid-fire Winchester rifle, and his son.
Stars: Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, Paul Fix, Joe Benson
Votes: 5,011
27. Lassie (1954–1974)
TV-G | 30 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The ongoing saga of the Martin family and their beloved collie, Lassie.
Stars: Lassie, Jon Provost, June Lockhart, Hugh Reilly
Votes: 3,811
28. Bat Masterson (1958–1961)
TV-14 | 30 min | Western
Bat Masterson roams The West and defends the innocent.
Stars: Gene Barry, Allen Jaffe, Allison Hayes, Ken Drake
Votes: 1,223
29. The Abbott and Costello Show (1952–1957)
TV-G | 25 min | Comedy, Family, Mystery
Bud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Fields' boarding house. Lou's girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Any premise would lead to slapstick, puns, lots of gimmicks from their movies.
Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Sid Fields, Gordon Jones
Votes: 1,349
30. Perry Mason (1957–1966)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The trials of a master criminal defense attorney handling the most difficult cases in support of the innocent.
Stars: Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Ray Collins
Votes: 11,832
31. Dennis the Menace (1959–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Television episodes built around the same sorts of incidents found in Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip.
Stars: Herbert Anderson, Jay North, Gloria Henry, Billy Booth
Votes: 2,548
32. Sea Hunt (1958–1961)
30 min | Action, Adventure
Mike Nelson is a scuba diver in the days when it was still very new. He works alone, it was mostly carried through his voice-over narrations. These gave the show a flavor of a radio program.
Stars: Lloyd Bridges, Ken Drake, Courtney Brown, Jan Harrison
Votes: 1,411
33. Highway Patrol (1955–1959)
TV-PG | 30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Powerful patrol cars, fast motorcycles, and superheterodyne two-way radios combine to fight crime on the rural highways of America's wide open spaces.
Stars: Broderick Crawford, Art Gilmore, William Boyett, Vance Skarstedt
Votes: 1,530
34. The Amos 'n Andy Show (1951–1953)
30 min | Comedy
Stories mostly centered on The Kingfish's schemes to get rich, often by duping his brothers in the Mystic Knights of the Sea Lodge. Andy was particularly dupable. Amos mostly narrated.
Stars: Alvin Childress, Spencer Williams, Tim Moore, Johnny Lee
Votes: 836
35. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962)
TV-14 | 25 min | Drama, Mystery
Series of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama, and comedy about people of different backgrounds committing murders, suicides, thefts, and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations, perceived or not.
Stars: Alfred Hitchcock, Harry Tyler, John Williams, Patricia Hitchcock
Votes: 19,329
36. The Milton Berle Show (1948–1956)
60 min | Comedy, Family
The Texaco Star Theatre was one of the most popular shows in the history of television. In the first year, Milton Berle was not the permanent emcee, but once he replaced the rotation, the ... See full summary »
Stars: Milton Berle, Sid Stone, Jimmy Nelson, Arnold Stang
Votes: 164
37. The Milton Berle Show (1958–1962)
30 min | Music, Comedy
The second incarnation of 'Mr. Television' Milton Berle's variety TV series.
Stars: Milton Berle, Ed Herlihy, Billy May, Billy May and His Orchestra
Votes: 45
38. The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950–1955)
60 min | Comedy, Romance
This was a Colgate-sponsored comedy hour that featured many notable comedians and entertainers of the era as guest stars.
Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Al Goodman, Eddie Cantor
Votes: 588
39. The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956–1958)
30 min | Adventure, Western
The adventures of frontier hero Jim Bowie are brought to life in this popular children's television series.
Stars: Scott Forbes, William Schallert, John Laing, Joyce Vanderveen
Votes: 278
40. Your Show of Shows (1950–1954)
90 min | Comedy
Best remembered by its posterior title, Your Show of Shows, this live variety show included comedy sketches with TV pioneers Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
Stars: Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Felisa Vanoff, Carl Reiner
Votes: 368
41. Tales of Wells Fargo (1957–1962)
TV-14 | 60 min | Western
Agent Jim Hardie splits his life between being an agent helping Wells Fargo cope with bad guys, and owning a ranch near San Francisco, California.
Stars: Dale Robertson, Art Felix, Kit Carson, William Demarest
Votes: 1,232
42. Trackdown (1957–1959)
30 min | Western
Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman travels the Old West tracking down assorted killers, bank robbers, horse thieves, and other evil-doers.
Stars: Robert Culp, Norman Leavitt, Ellen Corby, Peter Leeds
Votes: 336
43. The Jack Benny Program (1950–1965)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy
The comic misadventures of the "skinflint" comedian and his friends.
Stars: Jack Benny, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Don Wilson, Dennis Day
Votes: 1,647
44. The Life of Riley (1953–1958)
30 min | Comedy
Riley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems.
Stars: William Bendix, Marjorie Reynolds, Wesley Morgan, Tom D'Andrea
Votes: 445
45. The Life of Riley (1948–1950)
30 min | Comedy
Riley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems. His ... See full summary »
Stars: Rosemary DeCamp, Jackie Gleason, Lanny Rees, Sid Tomack
Votes: 135
46. Dragnet (1951–1959)
TV-14 | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Sgt. Joe Friday and his partners methodically investigate crimes in Los Angeles.
Stars: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Olan Soule, Vic Perrin
Votes: 2,365
47. The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A loving mother and wife deals with situations and problems of a middle-class family in the late 1950s and the early 1960s.
Stars: Donna Reed, Paul Petersen, Carl Betz, Shelley Fabares
Votes: 1,895
48. Zorro (1957–1959)
TV-G | 30 min | Adventure, Family, Western
Don Diego de la Vega opposes the corrupt tyrants of Spanish California as the masked swordsman, Zorro.
Stars: Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin, Don Diamond
Votes: 4,155
49. The Spike Jones Show (1954)
30 min | Comedy, Music
A music-themed variety show, hosted by the experienced bandleader Spike Jones. The regular cast included the singer Helen Grayco (Jones' wife) and Jones' band, "The City Slickers". The ... See full summary »
Stars: Spike Jones, Helen Grayco, Earl Bennett, Freddy Morgan
Votes: 37
50. The Spike Jones Show (1957)
30 min | Comedy, Music
Stars: Billy Barty, Spike Jones, Helen Grayco, Jad Paul
Votes: 24
51. Whirlybirds (1957–1960)
30 min | Adventure
Charter helicopter pilots Chuck and P. T. solve crimes. Rescue people, perform tasks and more using their Bell helicopter, the star of the show;
Stars: Kenneth Tobey, Craig Hill, Nancy Hale, Sandra Spence
Votes: 372
52. Colt .45 (1957–1960)
30 min | Western
Christopher Colt appeared to be a gun salesman, but he was actually a government agent tracking down notorious bad guys. His cousin Sam took the lead when the studio had contract disputes with the original star.
Stars: Wayde Preston, Donald May, Kenneth MacDonald, Don 'Red' Barry
Votes: 133
53. Broken Arrow (1956–1958)
30 min | Western
Indian Agent Tom Jeffords makes friends with Chief Cochise, becoming a blood brother of the Apache. Together they fight white schemers and renegade Indians.
Stars: John Lupton, Michael Ansara, Steven Ritch, Steve Conte
Votes: 271
54. Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1954)
26 min | Family, Sci-Fi
Cruising the galaxy in his space ship "The Orbit Jet" Space Ranger, Rocky Jones, Vena Ray, and 10 year-old Bobby defend the Earth and themselves against space-bound evil doers.
Stars: Richard Crane, Sally Mansfield, Scotty Beckett, Robert Lyden
Votes: 237
55. Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans (1957)
Approved | 30 min | Adventure, Drama, Western
Nat Cutler, known as Hawkeye, is a fur trader. With his faithful Indian companion Chingachgook, the last of the Mohican tribe, he fights to protect settlers against the raiding Huron Indians.
Stars: John Hart, Lon Chaney Jr., Bill Walsh, John Vernon
Votes: 271
56. Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949–1955)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure
"Guardian of the Safety of the World", private citizen-scientist Captain Video, assisted by his teenage helper The Ranger and an army of Video Rangers, preserves the peace in the far-off ... See full summary »
Stars: Don Hastings, Al Hodge, Hal Conklin, Ben Lackland
Votes: 135
57. Tombstone Territory (1957–1960)
TV-PG | 30 min | Western
Tough Sheriff Clay Hollister keeps the law in Tombstone, Arizona with the support of his faithful deputies and the editor of the local newspaper.
Stars: Pat Conway, Richard Eastham, Quentin Sondergaard, Bill Catching
Votes: 537
58. Andy's Gang (1955–1960)
30 min | Comedy, Family
A TV Show where Andy, with a studio audience full of loud screaming kids, would show movies. At the opening of the show he had a puppet friend called "Froggy". To get the frog to appear ... See full summary »
Stars: Andy Devine, Vito Scotti, Paul Cavanagh, Nino Marcel
Votes: 143
59. The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954–1959)
30 min | Family, Western
Rusty was orphaned in an Indian raid. He and his dog Rin Tin Tin were adopted by the troops at Fort Apache in Arizona, and helped establish law and order in and around Mesa Grande.
Stars: Lee Aaker, James Brown, Rin Tin Tin II, Joe Sawyer
Votes: 856
60. Tate (1960)
30 min | Western
The adventures of a one-armed gunfighter (he lost the use of an arm during the Civil War) in the Old West.
Stars: David McLean, Don Wilbanks, Robert Redford, Ted Markland
Votes: 136
61. Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951–1958)
30 min | Family, Western
Hickok rode Buckshot while 300-pound Jingles rode Joker. Jingles described Hickok as "the bravest, strongest, fightingest U.S. Marshal in the whole West." And that's about it: he beat up all the bad guys and somehow kept his good looks.
Stars: Guy Madison, Andy Devine, Sam Flint, William Haade
Votes: 231
62. The Frank Sinatra Show (1957–1960)
30 min | Drama, Music
Frank Sinatra hosts a variety show.
Stars: Frank Sinatra, John Angelo, Jesse White, Bing Crosby
Votes: 90
63. The Frank Sinatra Show (1950–1952)
60 min | Music
The Frank Sinatra Show (also known as Bulova Watch Time) was an American musical variety series hosted by Frank Sinatra from 1950 to 1952.
Stars: Frank Sinatra, June Hutton, Ben Blue, The Whippoorwills
Votes: 45
64. Blondie (1957– )
30 min | Comedy, Family
Arthur Lake had played Dagwood in a long series of "Blondie" movies. This show, retelling stories and situations familiar to readers of the comic strip, lasted one year.
Stars: Arthur Lake, Pamela Britton, Ann Barnes, Florenz Ames
Votes: 121
65. Science Fiction Theatre (1955–1957)
25 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
In this science-fiction anthology series host Truman Bradley introduces stories extrapolated from actual scientific data available in the 1950's, concentrating on such concepts as space flight, UFO's and mental telepathy.
Stars: Truman Bradley, Michael Fox, Marshall Thompson, Peter Hansen
Votes: 444
66. World of Giants (1959)
30 min | Sci-Fi
Marshal Thompson plays a secret agent who is approximately 6 inches tall. He's carried around from one mission to another in a briefcase with a small chair inside.
Stars: Marshall Thompson, Arthur Franz, Marcia Henderson, John Gallaudet
Votes: 52
67. Bold Venture (1959– )
30 min | Adventure
An adventurer and his pretty young ward live in a house boat in Trinidad.
Stars: Dane Clark, Joan Marshall, Bernie Gozier, Richard Peel
Votes: 25
68. The Rough Riders (1958–1959)
30 min | Western
After the Civil War, two former Union soldiers and an ex-Confederate team up to travel the West.
Stars: Kent Taylor, Jan Merlin, Peter Whitney, Bill Catching
Votes: 85
69. The Cisco Kid (1950–1956)
TV-14 | 30 min | Western
The Cisco Kid rides through the American frontier with his sidekick, Pancho, fighting corruption with a blend of pride and humor that created a legend in the hearts of generations of television viewers.
Stars: Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, Troy Melton, Bill Catching
Votes: 643
70. Boston Blackie (1951–1953)
30 min | Crime, Drama
Blackie and gal pal Mary, and their dog Whitey, solve lots of Los Angeles crimes before the cops can do it.
Stars: Kent Taylor, Lois Collier, Frank Orth, Bill Catching
Votes: 146
71. I Led 3 Lives (1953–1956)
30 min | Drama
Herbert Philbrick's covert life as an FBI spy within the Communist underground, his dual existence fraught with constant peril and the challenge of keeping his espionage activities hidden from family and friends.
Stars: Richard Carlson, John Zaremba, Virginia Stefan, Ed Hinton
Votes: 166
72. Mackenzie's Raiders (1958–1959)
30 min | Western
Colonel Mackenzie, commander of the 4th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Clark near Brackettville in Kinney County in southwest Texas during the 1870s, receives secret orders from President Ulysses... See full summary »
Stars: Richard Carlson, Art Gilmore, Riley Hill, Jack Ging
Votes: 111
73. Lock Up (1959–1961)
30 min | Crime, Drama
Cases taken from the files and case histories of renowned Philadelphia defense attorney Herbert L. Maris.
Stars: Macdonald Carey, John Doucette, Joan Granville, Olive Carey
Votes: 106
74. Wire Service (1956–1957)
60 min | Drama
Adventures of three globetrotting reporters working for an international wire service.
Stars: Dane Clark, George Brent, Mercedes McCambridge, Murray Hamilton
Votes: 43
75. Decoy (1957–1958)
30 min | Crime, Drama
New York City policewoman Casey Jones' assignment to fight crime often entails her going undercover in some of the seediest and most dangerous parts of the city.
Stars: Beverly Garland, Frank Campanella, Joseph Sullivan, Ed Holmes
Votes: 325
76. The Invisible Man (1958–1960)
30 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
While working on an invisibility formula, British scientist Dr. Peter Brady (Tim Turner) suffers a tragic accident which turns him invisible. Unfortunately, there is no antidote, so while ... See full summary »
Stars: Tim Turner, Lisa Daniely, Deborah Watling, Ernest Clark
Votes: 445
77. Robert Montgomery Presents (1950–1957)
60 min | Drama
Actor, Producer, and Director Robert Montgomery introduced each telecast, sometimes interviewing one of the stars, and sometimes appearing in the play.
Stars: Robert Montgomery, John Newland, Vaughn Taylor, Elizabeth Montgomery
Votes: 136
78. The Detectives (1959–1962)
60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Captain Matt Holbrook leads a squad of brave and tough detectives in a large, unnamed city. Instead of leading personal lives, they spend all of their time tracking murderers, thieves, ... See full summary »
Stars: Robert Taylor, Tige Andrews, Russell Thorson, Mark Goddard
Votes: 241
79. Johnny Staccato (1959–1960)
24 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Johnny Staccato is a jazz pianist and private detective.
Stars: John Cassavetes, Eduardo Ciannelli, Dennis Sallas, Frank London
Votes: 274
80. M Squad (1957–1960)
Not Rated | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
The hard-hitting adventures of tough Lieutenant Frank Ballinger, a member of the Chicago Police Department's M Squad, an elite crime-fighting unit.
Stars: Lee Marvin, Paul Newlan, Gail Kobe, Morris Ankrum
Votes: 387
81. Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1956–1960)
30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Richard Diamond is a suave private investigator who at first walks the mean streets of New York City, then later packs up and moves to Los Angeles, California, where he tools around in a ... See full summary »
Stars: David Janssen, Roxane Brooks, Russ Conway, Regis Toomey
Votes: 281
82. Martin Kane (1949–1954)
30 min | Crime, Drama
Private detective Martin Kane works in New York solving crimes. Depending on the year, Kane was either smooth and suave or hard bitten and the cooperation he received from the police ... See full summary »
Stars: Frank M. Thomas, Nicholas Saunders, William Gargan, Walter Kinsella
Votes: 79
83. The New Adventures of Martin Kane (1957– )
30 min | Drama
Stars: William Gargan, Brian Reece, Robert Beatty, Lee Patterson
Votes: 16
84. Mike Hammer (1958–1959)
30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
The adventures of Mickey Spillane's tough-talking, brawling, skirt-chasing private detective Mike Hammer, who's always ready to use his fists on a "mug" or his charm on a "skirt" to get the case solved.
Stars: Darren McGavin, Bart Burns, Vito Scotti, Johnny Seven
Votes: 301
85. Philip Marlowe (1959–1960)
30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A short-lived crime series, featuring the cases of the fictional detective Philip Marlowe. The series was based on the detective novels of Raymond Chandler,, but failed to find an audience.
Stars: Philip Carey, William Schallert, Ed Kemmer, Virginia Gregg
Votes: 72
86. Racket Squad (1950–1953)
30 min | Crime, Drama
This series dramatizes confidence games which fall under the jurisdiction of Captain John Braddock.
Stars: Reed Hadley, Hugh Beaumont, Keith Richards, Griff Barnett
Votes: 155
87. Peter Gunn (1958–1961)
TV-14 | 30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Peter Gunn is a private detective with a knack for finding trouble. His cases often mean he runs into the shadiest characters, most vicious thugs and the most powerful crime bosses. Cool and resourceful, he always gets the guilty party.
Stars: Craig Stevens, Herschel Bernardi, Lola Albright, Bill Chadney
Votes: 1,653
88. Dangerous Assignment (1950– )
TV-PG | 26 min | Adventure
"The Commissioner" sends US special agent Steve Mitchell to exotic locales where he encounters adventure and international intrigue, all played out using extreme violence.
Stars: Brian Donlevy, Herb Butterfield, Lyle Talbot, Jan Arvan
Votes: 144
89. The Lone Wolf (1954–1955)
30 min | Adventure
Michael Lanyard is a debonair gentleman who travels the world solving crimes and getting lawbreakers arrested. He operates on the edge of what is legal and occasionally finds time to romance the beautiful women he encounters.
Stars: Louis Hayward, John Doucette, Burt Mustin, James Anderson
Votes: 122
90. The Lawless Years (1959–1961)
30 min | Crime, Drama
Barney Ruditsky is a New York City police officer in the Roaring '20s who fights organized crime. The show was loosely based on the real life Rudisky who was a New York police officer during the period.
Stars: James Gregory, Robert Karnes, John Dennis, Norman Alden
Votes: 111
91. I'm the Law (1953– )
30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Lieutenant George Kirby is a New York City detective whose jurisdiction appears to cover a wide area. Whether it's murderers or thieves, he approaches every situation prepared to deal violently with the criminals.
Stars: George Raft, J. Anthony Hughes, June Vincent, Lawrence Dobkin
Votes: 50
92. Bachelor Father (1957–1962)
30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a single adoptive father raising a teenage niece with the help of his manservant.
Stars: John Forsythe, Noreen Corcoran, Sammee Tong, Bernadette Withers
Votes: 582
93. Topper (1953–1955)
30 min | Fantasy, Comedy
A somewhat grumpy and uptight banker, Cosmo Topper, and the ghosts which only he could see or hear, George and Marion Kerby. The Kerbys would often try to get Cosmo to loosen up and enjoy life, but more often they would complicate it.
Stars: Anne Jeffreys, Robert Sterling, Leo G. Carroll, Buck
Votes: 572
94. The Alaskans (1959–1960)
60 min | Adventure
A pair of adventurers are intent on swindling travellers bound for the Yukon Territories during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Stars: Roger Moore, Dorothy Provine, Jeff York, Ray Danton
Votes: 92
95. Ivanhoe (1958–1959)
30 min | Adventure, History
The adventures of Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a noble knight and champion of justice during the rule of the evil Prince John.
Stars: Roger Moore, Robert Brown, Andrew Keir, Martin Wyldeck
Votes: 371
96. Yancy Derringer (1958–1959)
30 min | Action, Adventure, Western
An adventurer, gambler, and widely respected southern gentleman is recruited to work as a secret agent, at no pay, in post-Civil War New Orleans, helped by his companion, a silent Pawnee Native American.
Stars: Jock Mahoney, X Brands, Kevin Hagen, Frances Bergen
Votes: 462
97. Bronco (1958–1962)
60 min | Western
A former confederate soldier wanders the old west, and meets such famous characters as Jesse James, William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody, and Theodore Roosevelt.
Stars: Ty Hardin, Robert Colbert, Clyde Howdy, Mike Road
Votes: 392
98. Space Patrol (1950–1955)
30 min | Action, Adventure, Family
Commander Corey and youthful Cadet Happy roam the 30th-century universe in their ship "Terra" fighting super-villains Mr. Proteus, Prince Baccarratti, and other bad guys. The captured bad ... See full summary »
Stars: Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn, Nina Bara, Ken Mayer
Votes: 161
99. Law of the Plainsman (1959–1960)
30 min | Western
Sam Buckhart, an Apache, rescues a Cavalry officer who later funds his Harvard education. Buckhart becomes a Deputy Marshal in New Mexico under Marshal Morrison. He boards with Martha Commager and had earlier saved orphan Tess Logan.
Stars: Michael Ansara, Gina Gillespie, Dayton Lummis, Nora Marlowe
Votes: 103
100. The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (1957–1960)
60 min | Comedy, Family
Follow-up to I Love Lucy (1951), Lucy Ricardo continues her wacky schemes as she travels with her husband, Ricky and their friends Ethel and Fred to various locations and meeting celebrities.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley
Votes: 1,268
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