Television The western “Alias Smith and Jones,“ headlined by Peter Duel and Ben Murphy, debuted on ABC in 1971. Midway through season two, Peter Duel, 31, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his role of Joshua Smith was recast with Roger Davis (who had provided narration for the series). It lasted one additional season after the casting change…Made-for-TV thriller “Something Evil” […]
Television The first live U.S. coast-to-coast inauguration was in 1953 with President Dwight D. Eisenhower…The Rolling Stones made their first appearance on ABC-TV’s “Shindig!” in 1965…Seven short-lived series premiered: 1) game show “You’re in the Picture” hosted by Jackie Gleason on CBS in 1961 (Gleason would publicly apologize for the show in the following week); 2) comedy “Here We Go Again” […]
Television and Radio A then-record 68 percent of all television sets in the United States — more than the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower the following day — tuned in for the birth of Little Ricky on CBS sitcom “I Love Lucy” in 1953…CBS anthology drama “The Millionaire” began its six season run in 1955. The series told […]
Television and Radio George (Sherman Hemlsey) and Louis (aka “Weezie” – Isabel Sanford) were “movin on’ up to the deluxe apartment in the sky” on “All in the Family” spin-off “The Jeffersons”, which launched on CBS in 1975. It ran for ten-and-one-half seasons…Thirteen other series also debuted: 1) “The Six Million Dollar Man” with Lee Majors on […]
Television The original version of sitcom “The Goldbergs,” based on the then popular radio series, opened on CBS in 1949. It starred Gertrude Berg and Philip Loeb…Crime drama “Baretta,” starring Robert Blake, debuted on ABC in 1975. Originally conceived as a continuation of “Toma,” which was in search of a new lead actor after Tony Musante exited, “Toma” morphed into “Baretta” and the location shifted from New […]
Television NBC western “Bonanza” concluded its 14 season run in 1973. The unexpected passing of Dan Blocker as “Hoss” couple with a move to Tuesday after being established for so many years on Sunday, led to its midseason demise. A total of 431 episodes were produced. Three television movies followed: “Bonanza” The Next Generation” in […]
Television and Radio Two series debuted in 1972: NBC medical procedural “Emergency!” (as a TV movie) starring Robert Fuller and Julie London — it ran for six seasons; and, ABC’s paranormal crime solver “The Sixth Sense” starring Gary Collins and Catherine Ferrar. “The Sixth Sense” aired for 25 episodes across two condensed seasons…Film and book critic […]
