All the TV Shows I Wish I Had on DVD or Hard Drive
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- CreatorE. Roger MuirStarsBob SmithRobert KeeshanBill LeCornecThe first nationally televised American children's TV program and a prototype for what followed. Buffalo Bob Smith hosts while the puppet, Howdy Doody, stars.
- StarsMarc ConnellyGeorge KeaneDon HanmerProduced by the ABC as its television network was just getting off the ground, this program was one of the first dramatic series television to attract top-name actors and actresses. Performing plays by such authors as Poe and Thurber, cast members included current well-known performers like Julie Harris and Cloris Leachman, as well as up-and-coming talents like Marlon Brando. The series was renamed "The Play's the Thing" midway through its final season.
- StarsEd SullivanThe Ray Bloch OrchestraRay BlochThe classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.
- StarsMilton BerleSid StoneJimmy NelsonThe 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 show soared to ratings dominance (Number One in 1950-51), NBC dominated Tuesday night, and Berle became the first great star of the new medium, "Mr. Television". The basic format was modeled after a vaudeville variety hour, spotlighting Berle's jokes, sight gags, and costumes.
- CreatorAlexander AndersonJay WardStarsVern LoudenRoy WhaleyRuss CoughlanThe humorous adventures of the heroic Crusader Rabbit, and his sidekick Rags the Tiger.
- CreatorRobert ClampettStarsDaws ButlerStan FrebergWalker EdmistonTime for Beany was an American television series, with puppets for characters, which aired locally in Los Angeles starting in 1949 and nationally (via kinescope) on the improvised Paramount Television Network from 1950 to 1955. It was created by animator Bob Clampett, who later reused its core characters in the animated Beany and Cecil series. The principal characters were Beany, a plucky young boy who wears a beanie; the brave but dimwitted Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent, who claimed to be 300 years old and 35 feet 3 inches tall; Beany's uncle, the pigheaded Captain Horatio Huffenpuff (whose name is a play on Horatio Hornblower), familiarly called Uncle Captain; Dishonest John, whose cape and handlebar mustache clearly identified him as the villain.
- StarsDon HastingsAl HodgeHal Conklin"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 future, fighting the evil Dr. Pauli of the Astroidal Society and a bunch of other baddies (Nargola, Mook, Kul, Clysmok). The show appeared nightly Mon-Fri, featured many outlandish weapons and techno-gimmicks, and was run on a minuscule prop budget.
- StarsJack BennyEddie 'Rochester' AndersonDon WilsonThe comic misadventures of the "skinflint" comedian and his friends.
- StarsBuster KeatonPeter LeedsHarvey ParryLive show with Buster recreating and updating his classic routines.
- CreatorSylvester L. Weaver Jr.StarsSid CaesarImogene CocaFelisa VanoffBest remembered by its posterior title, Your Show of Shows, this live variety show included comedy sketches with TV pioneers Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
- StarsFrankie ThomasAl MarkimJan MerlinFour centuries into the future, Cadets Tom Corbett, Roger Manning and Astro are training to become Solar Guards. Their ship, the "Polaris" took them to numerous adventures, usually natural catastrophes rather than villains.
- CreatorMike MoserStarsEd KemmerLyn OsbornNina BaraCommander 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 guys get zapped with the Paralyzer, then get reprogrammed with the Brainograph.
- StarsKen CarpenterJay JacksonOtto KrugerLive dramatic shows featuring Hollywood stars, adaptations of motion pictures, and a host accompanying. The host would introduce each act, and would conduct an interview with the stars at the end of the play.
- StarsErnie Kovacs
- StarsJack LescoulieThe June Taylor DancersRay BlochLive variety show with Jackie Gleason.
- CreatorAllan ShermanStarsJackie GleasonJohnny OlsonDennis JamesThe four panelists put their heads through a cutout in a board. They did not know what was painted on the board and their job was to guess what it was.
- StarsJackie GleasonJohnny OlsonThe June Taylor DancersJackie Gleason's last weekly variety series, which alternated between regular variety hours with big name guest stars and musical remakes of old "The Honeymooners" sketches.
- StarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceThe 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.
- CreatorJack WebbStarsJack WebbBen AlexanderOlan SouleSgt. Joe Friday and his partners methodically investigate crimes in Los Angeles.
- StarsJames MasonIrene DunneRobert PaigeOriginally billed as "Playhouse of the Stars" this long running anthology series was originally presented live from New York City. Irene Dunne was briefly the hostess in 1952, and the show frequently used Broadway performers in classic stories.
- StarsErnie KovacsEdie AdamsPat WhiteAn American comedy show, hosted by comedian Ernie Kovacs who often changed the show's format during its run. It was variously retooled as a daytime show, prime-time show, late-night show, and talk show. The show was originally created for Philadelphia's television market, but was then broadcast nationally.CBS
- DirectorJoseph BeharErnie KovacsStarsErnie KovacsJames YohamDumont.
- StarsErnie KovacsMargaret StyneBob LauherTelevision's Original Genius: In the infancy of any medium, there will be some who realize its potential well before anyone else. Ernie Kovacs was such a visionary, and between 1951 and 1962 he broke rules that hadn't even been made yet and created a "language" that is now taken for granted.
- StarsDick ClarkCharlie O'DonnellPeaches JohnsonDick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs.
- CreatorRalph EdwardsStarsRalph EdwardsBob WarrenEddie CantorEach week, an unsuspecting celebrity would be lured by some ruse to a location near the studio. The celebrity would then be surprised with the news that they are to be the featured guest. Next, the celebrity was escorted into the studio, and one by one, people who were significant in the guest's life would be brought out to offer anecdotes. At the end of the show, family members and friends would surround the guest, who would then be presented with gifts. These usually included jewelry, a scrapbook of memories, a home 16 mm projector and a camera.
- StarsWalter WinchellArlene DahlBetty GrableSimulcast of Walter Winchell's radio show.
- StarsWalter WinchellLisa KirkMartha RayeLive weekly variety show. The show originated in New York City for the first nine weeks and then moved to Hollywood. Although many top performers were featured, the show never caught on and was canceled after 13 weeks.
- StarsWalter WinchellPolly BergenRichard NixonSimulcast of Walter Winchell's radio show. The program lasted six weeks.
- CreatorJoe ConnellyStarsRonald ReaganDon HerbertNancy ReaganAn American anthology series, with a new episode and different actors and actresses each week. Hosted by Ronald Reagan, the series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.
- CreatorRichard AndrewsStarsRichard KileyBetsy PalmerEdward AndrewsIn this live drama series, over two hundred live plays, covering all aspects of society, were shown.
- StarsDanny ThomasRusty HamerMarjorie LordDanny 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.
- CreatorHarry W. PrichettEdwin Brit WyckoffStarsJack BarryDayton AllenMae Questel"winky-dink and you" was the pioneer in interactive programming. The core of the program was children sent away for a kit. The kit had a plastic screen that stuck to the TV tube with static electricity. Crayons were used to draw on the screen. When a character needed special help, children would be asked to draw on the screen, give assistance and free the character from trouble. If a character needed to cross a river with no bridge, the viewer would draw a line so a crossing could be made and escape trouble. Jack Barry, the host, emphasized inviting a friend over to watch the program; sharing in the drawing of assistance was also important. Everyone watched and helped winky-dinky in his adventures and had fun.
- CreatorHarry W. PrichettEdwin Brit WyckoffStarsLionel WilsonFive-minute animated adventures inviting children to draw solutions to predicaments; based on the 1953 series with new characters.
- StarsSteve HollandIrene ChamplinJoseph NashSpace hero Flash Gordon and his crew of the Galaxy Bureau of Investigation patrol space, battling space monsters, power-mad alien dictators and other threats to the stability of the universe.Live-action.
- StarsSid CaesarCarl ReinerHoward MorrisA sketch-comedy television series, featuring Sid Caesar as the main star. It was based on Caesar's previous comedy shows, "Admiral Broadway Revue" and "Your Show of Shows", but often featured lengthier sketches than either of them. The series used most of the same cast and writers as the previous shows. The unavailable Imogene Coca (Caesar's long-time comedy partner) was replaced by Nanette Fabray. Several sketches were parodies of film genres, and others were satirical portrayals of the acting profession.
- StarsCyril RitchardClaire BloomMary MartinThis program aired once every fourth week, and was one of the most costly live shows of the 1950s. Many stars appeared on this show.
- StarsWilliam LundiganArt GilmoreMary CostaThis was an anthology series that presented a different story and different set of characters on each episode. It ran from 1954 to 1958 and featured Casino Royale of James Bond fame, which led to two theatrical movies of the same name.
- StarsOrson WellesChris WertenbakerKenneth TynanIn 1955, Orson Welles directed and hosted a mini series for British television. He leads us through a few famous places of Europe with his inimitable touch. In Paris he introduces us to famous artists such as Juliette Gréco or Jean Cocteau who lived in the Saint Germain Des Pres quarter. In London we meet the Chelsea Pensioners, in Spain we attend a Madrid Bullfight and visit the Basque country (Basque Country 1&2). Somewhere between a home movie and a cinematic essay, these short films have been described by French critics as the missing link in Welles' work.
- StarsOrson WellesOrson Welles recounts various stories from his life while drawing sketches of the events.
- CreatorJackie GleasonStarsJackie GleasonArt CarneyAudrey MeadowsA bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
- StarsTruman BradleyMichael FoxMarshall ThompsonIn 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.
- StarsRichard GreeneVictor WoolfArchie DuncanRobin 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.ITC, writers included blacklisted former Hollywood writers Ring Lardner, Jr., and Ian McLellen Hunter.
- StarsJim HensonJane HensonJerry JuhlEarly showcase of Jim Henson's puppet characters.Early Jim Henson series made in DC.
- StarsAlfred HitchcockHarry TylerJohn WilliamsSeries 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.
- StarsBenny HillJeremy HawkPatricia HayesBritish comedy TV variety series starring Benny Hill containing episodes aired for the BBC (1955-1968).
- StarsBenny HillVivienne MartinPatricia HayesThe Benny Hill Show 1957.
- StarsArt ClokeyDal McKennonNorma MacMillanInnovative "Claymation" adventures of Gumby and his horse Pokey.
- DirectorPhilip CassonStarsBenny HillThe SeekersAthol GuyA one-off special from Benny Hill, produced for ATV in 1967, featuring musical numbers from The Seekers (who sing "When Will the Good Apples Fall" and "Music of the World A'Turning") and Vince Hill (who performs a Cole Porter medley), and such compositions from "the lad himself" as "Colleen" and "Andalusian Gipsy." Dorita y Pepe also appear as musical guests, performing "Pequeno Amor."
- StarsBenny HillHenry McGeeJackie WrightA skit based show with Benny Hill, often containing smutty humour.
- DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson Welles
- StarsRichard JoyPaul LambertHelen KleebOf the many anthology series, this is considered the most ambitious with outstanding talent in front of the camera. Attracting top ranked directors and scripts, it was often filmed live including the entire first season.
- DirectorDick WeinbergStarsJerry LewisGeorgine DarcyEydie Gormé
- StarsPeter LawfordPhyllis KirkAstaAmateur detectives Nick and Nora Charles investigate various crimes.
- StarsGuy WilliamsGene SheldonHenry CalvinDon Diego de la Vega opposes the corrupt tyrants of Spanish California as the masked swordsman, Zorro.Live-action starring Guy Williams.
- CreatorNorman KrasnaStarsDavid NivenRobert RyanJane PowellGoodyear Theatre is a 30-minute dramatic television anthology series telecast on NBC.
- StarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceFollow-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.
- StarsTim O'ConnorJames ValentineHurd HatfieldThe award winning bing play of Mary Chase came to television in 1958. It tells the story of Elwood P. Dowd (Art Carney), a personable chap who drinks a little, and befriends a "pookah", a six foot rabbit he calls "Harvey". Unfortunately, his sister and main caregiver Veta Louise Simmons formation Lorne, and her spinster daughter Myrtle Mae, have had Elwood's condition negatively affect their social lives. Elwood's engaging personality with its one flaw creates problems for those around him. So his sister, thinking it is in his best interests, seeks a cure for her brother's problem. But nothing is ever that simple.
- CreatorJoe ConnellyBob MosherDick ConwayStarsJerry MathersHugh BeaumontBarbara BillingsleyThe misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends.
- DirectorRichard ThorpeStarsRobert TaylorElizabeth TaylorJoan FontaineA knight seeks to free the captive King Richard and put him back on the throne.UK. starring Roger Moore.
- StarsMilton BerleEd HerlihyBilly MayThe second incarnation of 'Mr. Television' Milton Berle's variety TV series.
- StarsDesi ArnazBetty FurnessBruce GordonAn anthology series hosted by Betty Furness in the first season, and Desi Arnaz in the second. Stories came from several genres, often based on fact. A two part episode was spun off as the popular show The Untouchables (1959).
- StarsDaws ButlerDon MessickDoug YoungThe adventures of a blue dog with a southern accent.
- StarsHarry BellaverHorace McMahonPaul BurkeThe cases of the N.Y.P.D.'s 65th Precinct.
- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsLaurence OlivierJudith AndersonHume CronynA staid, dull Englishman abruptly deserts his wife and children to become a painter in the South Seas.
- StarsDaws ButlerDoug YoungDon MessickQuick Draw Mcgraw was a dimwitted and lanky mustang (horse) who caused much chaos in the Old West. If he could get his own six shooter out of his holster at all, he would usually shoot the wrong man. His partner, a Mexican burro name Baba Looie, was always trying to help Quick Draw as much as he could. Also on the show were cartoons featuring Snooper and Blabber, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy.
- StarsEthel MermanDean MartinWilliam HickeyThe Ford Motor Company sponsored this hour-long program which rotated between variety shows, dramatic productions, and musical comedies. One of the offerings was turned into a regular series, Sing Along with Mitch (1961).
- StarsSoupy SalesClyde AdlerFrank NastasiSaturday morning comedy for all ages brought to you by comic Soupy Sales and his friends Black Tooth, White Fang and Pookie. Largely one-set production relied heavily on cuts to old film clips and a certain amount of slapstick, as well as amusing improvisation.
- StarsJim MacGeorgeIrv ShoemakerSody ClampettBoard title "Matty's Funday Funniest" from 1959.Bob Clampett. Famous Studios animated.
- CreatorBill ScottJay WardStarsBill ScottJune ForayPaul FreesRocky, a plucky flying squirrel and Bullwinkle, a bumbling but lovable moose, have a series of ongoing adventures.Gamma Productions.
Gamma Productions. - StarsDayton AllenA canine sheriff's deputy in a backwoods Southern town always manages to catch the bad guy, despite his own ineptitude.
- StarsJohn Murray ScottFrank WindsorDavid AndrewsA linking together of Shakespeare's history plays chronicling the rise and fall of monarchs over the eighty-six years between Richard II and Richard III.BBC. Shakespeare’s Histories.
- CreatorGerry AndersonArthur ProvisStarsKenneth ConnorNicholas ParsonsDenise BryerSheriff Tex Tucker makes sure all is well in Four Feather Falls with the help of his dog Dusty and Rocky the horse. Done with puppets, even the animals talk and sing along with the humans as problems are quickly wrapped up.
- StarsAllen SwiftJackson BeckKenny DelmarKing Leonardo the lion is the inept ruler of the land of Bongo Congo. Aided by the skunk Odie Colognie, Leonardo tried to stop the evil plans of Biggy Rat, who kept trying to install Leo's brother Itchy on the throne. Other short subject featured in this animated series included Tooter Turtle (a sort of reptilian Walter Mitty), who was granted wishes by Wizard the Lizard. The magic words "Drizzle Drazzle Druozzle Drome, time for this one to come home!" would bring Tooter back from his magic misadventures.Gamma Productions.
- DirectorGeorge SchaeferStarsMaurice EvansRichard BurtonRoddy McDowallProspero, the deposed Duke of Milan, who lives in exile on a remote island as a sorcerer, uses his powers to shipwreck his usurper brother on the island.Richard Burton as Caliban, Roddy McDowell as Ariel.
- StarsErnie KovacsPaul KilliamA restropective on the great silent actors, movies and themes.Ernie Kovacs.
- CreatorStephen BosustowStarsBenny RubinDaws ButlerJim BackusThe adventures of a visually impaired old man.United Productions of America-UPA.
- StarsJack MercerMae QuestelJackson BeckThe continuing animated adventures of Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Swee'pea and Popeye.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsAlan ReedMel BlancJean Vander PylThe misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.
- CreatorSheldon LeonardAaron RubenDanny ThomasStarsAndy GriffithRon HowardDon KnottsWidower Sheriff Andy Taylor, and his son Opie, live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry, North Carolina. With virtually no crimes to solve, most of Andy's time is spent philosophizing and calming down his cousin Deputy Barney Fife.
- StarsPatrick McGoohanRichard WattisLionel MurtonJohn Drake is a special operative for NATO, specializing in security assignments against any subversive element which threatened world peace.ITC.
- StarsPatrick McGoohanPeter MaddenFrank MaherJohn Drake is a special operative for M9, specializing in security assignments against any subversive element that threatens world peace.ITC. The American repackaging of 'Danger Man.'
- StarsFred MacMurrayStanley LivingstonDon GradyWidower Steve Douglas raises three sons with the help of his father-in-law, and is later aided by the boys' great-uncle. An adopted son, a stepdaughter, wives, and another generation of sons join the loving family in later seasons.
- StarsMel BlancJune ForayDaws ButlerTV series featuring the classic Looney Tunes animated shorts.
- StarsHal SmithDick BealsNorma MacMillanA young boy and his talking dog learn lessons about life.
- StarsJerry HausnerBenny RubinMel BlancCartoon series produced by UPA, in which Dick Tracy (voiced by the distinguished film and stage actor Everett Sloane) played more or less of an incidental role. Most of the crime fighting was left to his assistants, all originals created for the series: Hemlock Holmes (an English bulldog who talked like Cary Grant), the calorically challenged beat cop Heap O'Calorie (who talked like Andy Devine), and the offensively (today) stereotyped Latino and Asian characters Go-Go Gomez and Joe Jitsu, respectively. Most of the familiar Tracy villains from the comic strip (Flattop, Mumbles, Pruneface, etc.) were featured here, as well. In addition to Sloane, such talented voice persons and character actors as Benny Rubin, Paul Frees, and Mel Blanc handled much of the voice-work for this series.United Productions of America-UPA, animated.
- DirectorDavid SwiftStarsHayley MillsMaureen O'HaraBrian KeithTeenage twin sisters swap places and scheme to reunite their divorced parents.Hayley Mills, Hayley Mills, Brian Keith, Maureen O’Hara, Charlie Ruggles.
- DirectorMarc DanielsStarsLaurence OlivierJulie HarrisGeorge C. ScottA cynical Catholic priest is sent to Mexico to preach. It's the 1930s and Mexican government sees the church as competition. They send a secret agent to assassinate the priest.Starring Lawrence Olivier, based on Graham Greene’s novel.
- StarsBob NewhartDan SorkinPaul Weston and His OrchestraA short-lived variety show, with comedian Bob Newhart as both the host and the main performer. The show capitalized on Newhart's newfound fame, as he had released the most popular comedy album of 1960. The show served as a showcase for Newhart's "wry and irreverent wit", and helped him win a Peabody Award. The show only lasted for a single season.Apparently a variety show, which may no longer exist
- StarsDavid GrahamGraydon GouldSylvia AndersonThe adventures of the crew of Supercar, an amazing land, sea, and air vehicle, based at a secret laboratory in the Nevada Desert in 1961.Gerry Anderson. ITC.
- CreatorJoseph BarberaWilliam HannaStarsDaws ButlerDon MessickJimmy WeldonYogi, a smooth, talkative forest bear looks to raid park goers' picnic baskets, while Park Ranger Smith tries to stop him.
- CreatorCarl ReinerStarsDick Van DykeMary Tyler MooreRose MarieThe misadventures of a TV writer both at work and at home.
- CreatorSydney NewmanStarsPatrick MacneeDiana RiggHonor BlackmanA quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners.UK live action.
- StarsMike WallaceCharles A. LindberghWinston ChurchillA show that tells someone's life story every interesting episode at a time.
- CreatorAgnes NixonStarsJack PerkinsPeter GravesHarry SmithThe life stories of various historical figures and celebrities are told.