Car
54 Where Are You?
U.S. NBC 1961-63
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60
x 30 minute episodes were made of this American police comedy
starring Fred Gwynne as Francis Muldoon and Joe E. Ross as Gunther
Toody. The oddly-assorted duo were patrol-car partners in the
Bronx, New York's run-down 53rd precinct and found themselves
in many unlikely situations, more often than not caused by Toody's
habit of sticking his nose into other people's business just
a bit further than the more reserved Muldoon might have liked.
Other show regulars were Paul Reed ( Captain Martin Block ),
Beatrice Pons ( Lucille Toody ), Al Lewis, Charlotte Rae, Hank
Garrett, Nathaniel Frey, Jack Healy, Albert Henderson and Patricia
Bright among many others. Fred Gwynne, of course, is probably
better known to you as Herman Munster. The sharp-eyed will have
noticed that fellow Munster Al Lewis also appears in this series
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Crane
A-R 1963 - 65
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Starred
Patrick Allen doing what we all wanted to do - give up our jobs
and run a cafe in Casablanca with a bit of seafaring smuggling
on the side. Even better in Crane's case as the cafe was run
in his absence by a gorgeous exotic dancer called Halima (Laya
Raki). The thorn in his side was the dapper Moroccan Chief of
Police, Mahmoud, played by Gerald Flood. Crane's illicit 'Import
& Export' business partner was the beachcomber Orlando (Sam
Kydd) who took the character into his own children's series,
'Orlando', in 1965
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Dr.
Who
BBC 1963 - 200?
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Although
originally intended for younger viewers, this science fiction
series was soon adopted as compulsive viewing by the adult audience
of the time, nothing to do of course with the succession of
gorgeous 'assistants' who accompanied him on his adventures
through time and space. See my Doctor
Who pages for more info on the Sixties series and, naturally,
those assistants! |
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Espionage
ITV 1963 - 64
Plautus Productions / ITC
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24
( possibly 26 ) x 60 minute self-contained episodes were produced
by George Justin of this anthology suspense drama series, filmed
in Europe, which featured the activities of undercover agents
in various countries and at various times in history from the
American Revolution to The Cold War. |
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Love
Story
ATV 1963 - 67, 1969, 1972
- 74
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A
long-running anthology series of drama plays from a variety
of producers concerning various aspects of love. Writers of
individual shows included Doris Lessing, Jacques Gillies, Roman
Polanski and Mordecai Richler. Famous names littered the various
credits, often in types of role not normally associated with
them, such as Rodney Bewes and Dudley Moore |
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Mr.
Ed
U.S. CBS 1961-66 |
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Newlyweds
Wilbur and Carol Post ( Alan Young and Connie Hines ) inherit
a horse with their new home at 17230 Valley Spring Lane. Architect
Wilbur discovers that the horse can talk, but will only do so
to him. The stories revolve around the multi-talented Mr. Ed's
adventures ( he can use the phone, surf, play baseball, drive
and even fly a plane ) and the hapless Wilbur's efforts to cover
up for his 'outings' and the fact that he can talk. 143 x 30
minute episodes were made of this gentle comedy, plus an unaired
pilot episode titled 'The Wonderful World of Wilbur Pope' which
was produced by George Burns. Other regulars included Larry
Keating, Edna Skinner, Leon Ames and Richard Deacon among many
others, including a lot of guest stars and 'personal appearances'.
Allan 'Rocky' Lane was the 'voice' of Mr.Ed ( 'real' name Bamboo
Harvester )
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Our
Man at St. Mark's
A-R 1963 - 65
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A
classic low-key sitcom featuring first Leslie Phillips then,
in the second series, Donald Sinden as the Rev. Andrew Parker,
the parish priest of St.Mark's. Anne Lawson was Phillips' girlfriend
in the first series and Joan Hickson played the housekeeper,
a role which she retained throughout. The second series saw
the introduction of Harry Fowler as a 'reformed' crook which
tended more towards the farcical than the first. Eric Maschwitz
produced the James Kelly and Peter Miller-written series
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Sergeant
Cork
ATV 1963 - 66
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John
Barry played this Victorian detective ably assisted by William
Gaunt as Bob Marriott in this atmospheric and historically realistic
series created by Ted Willis and produced by Jack Williams.
The 'Sherlock Holmes' comparison is unavoidable, with the difference
being that the detection was viewed from a police point of view
rather than showing up their inefficiencies
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Space
Patrol
ITV 1963 - 64
National Interest Picture Prodns
Wonderama Prodns
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39
x 30 minute episodes were made of this puppet-based children's
science fiction series created by Roberta Leigh. Leigh had previously
worked with Gerry Anderson on his earlier puppet series and
brought her creative expertise to this new undertaking along
with Arthur Provis, the 'P' of AP films. The series featured
the adventures of Captain Larry Dart, a space operative for
the United Galactic Organisation. Other characters included
blonde beauty Marla, Slim the
Venusian, Husky the Martian and 'The Gabbler Bird'
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Stars
andGarters
The New Stars and Garters
A-R 1963 - 66
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'Traditional'
pub entertainment was brought into your living room by this
variety series hosted by Ray Martine with resident singers Clinton
Ford and Kathy Kirby. Other regular performers were Susan Maughan,
Vince Hill, Julie Rayne, Kim Cordell, Al Saxon and Tommy Bruce.
Series writers were Dick Vosburgh and Marty Feldman. In 1965,
the show changed its title to 'The New Stars and Garters' for
a few weeks, being introduced by William Rushton and Jill Browne
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Taxi!
BBC 1963 - 64
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Another
Ted Willis-created series featuring Sid James as taxi owner
Sid Stone who had a knack of getting involved in his customers
problems. Not really comedy, not really drama, but nonetheless
entertaining. Also starring in the series were Bill Owen as
Sid's partner Fred Cuddell and Ray Brooks as driver Terry Mills.
Series producer was Michael Mills
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The
Dick Emery Show
BBC 1963 - 81
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Wonderfully
over-the-top characters created and played by comic genius Emery
were a perennial popular show for many years, some of the more
memorable caricatures being Randy Mandy the dumb blonde ( Oooh
- you are awful - but I like you! ), crusty Old Lampwick, Farmer
Finch and Mr.Crump. The heyday of the show was probably in the
Seventies but it all started here. Many and sometimes unexpected
famous names also featured in the series over the years
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The
Dick Van Dyke Show
U.S. CBS 1961-66
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Another
hugely succesful and entertaining American import of 156 ( possibly
158 ) 30 minute episodes. Dick Van Dyke starred as Rob Petrie,
head comedy writer for 'The Alan Brady Show' and the sitcom
revolved around both his work and domestic problems and his
constant struggle against the Brady show's pompous producer
Melvin Cooley ( Richard Deacon ). His long-suffering wife Laura
was played by the gorgeous Mary Tyler Moore. Other characters
included fellow friends and writers Sally Rogers ( Rose Marie
) and Buddy Sorrell ( Morey Amsterdam ) and their neighbours
Jerry and Millie Helper ( Jerry Paris and Ann Morgan Gilbert
). On the rare occasions of his appearance, Alan Brady was played
by Carl Reiner, who also created the show, sharing production,
direction and writing with Sheldon Leonard and Jerry Paris
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The
Human Jungle
ABC 1963 - 65
Independent Artists Productions / ABC TV
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26
x 60 minute episodes of this drama series featuring the world
of psychiatry were made featuring Herbert Lom as Dr. Roger Corder.
Guest artists featured famous names such as Joan Collins. Corder's
daughter was played by Sally Smith. The Julian Vintle-created
series was co-produced by Leslie Parkyn and the eerie Bernard
Ebbinghouse score was played by John Barry
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The
Marriage Lines
BBC 1963 - 66
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Five
series totalling 43 x 30 minute episodes chronicled the trials
and tribulations of the Starlings, a young couple adjusting
to married life in their Earl's Court flatlet. A comedy series
specially written for star Richard Briers by Richard Waring,
the show also featured Prunella Scales as George's wife Kate.
Neighbours Peter and Nora were played by Ronald Hines and Christine
Finn. Graeme Muir produced three of the series and Robin Nash
the last two
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The
Plane Makers
ATV 1963 - 65
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Superb
drama series revolving around power struggles in the aviation
industry featured Patrick Wymark as tycoon John Wilder - a kind
of British JR. Barbara Murray ( also Ann Firbank in the last
series ) played his stylish but neglected wife in both this
series and the even better 'The Power Game' which evolved around
Wymark's character in 1965. Series producer was Rex Firkin
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The
Sunday Play
BBC 1963
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A
series of plays based on original scripts and specially written
for television by modern authors, all featuring contemporary
themes in a variety of styles. Contributors included Michael
Gilbert, Henry Livings, Bernard Kops, Thomas Murphy, Stewart
Love, Alan Plater, David Turner, Richard Nash, eith Waterhouse,
Willis Hall, James Saunders, Stig Dagerman and Errol John. Series
producer was John Elliot
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The
Telegoons
BBC 1963 - 64
Grosvenor Films
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Fifties
radio shows featuring The Goons were the inspiration for this
puppet-based series featuring the characters Neddy Seagoon,
Eccles, Bluebottle, Major Bloodnok and various others. The original
radio scripts were edited and used for the audio tracks, with
Secombe, Milligan and Sellers reuniting to record odd bits of
new or replacement material. Tony Young was the producer of
the 15-minute shows
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The
Victorians
GRANADA 1963
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A
series of 8 x 60 minute individual plays depicting different
aspects of Victorian life between 1830 and 1890. Fairly unusually,
they were performed by 'The Company of Seven' a group of artists
specially assembled. Artists involved were Michael Barrington,
Ingrid Hafner, Geoffrey Bayldon, Patricia Garwood, John Wood,
Barrie Ingham and Charles Kay. The format was used for a later
series called The Edwardians. Series producer was Philip Mackie
and the titles were 'The Rent Day', 'London Assurance', 'Society',
'The Ticket of Leave Man', 'Two Roses', 'The Silver King', 'Still
Waters Run Deep' and 'Sweet Lavender'
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World
In Action
GRANADA 1963 -
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A
30 minute public affairs series which featured many 'scoops'
during its extremely long run. There were also 'specials' made
ranging from 30 to 90 minutes in length. The original production
team were Tim Hewat, Bill Grundy, Stephen Peet, Mike Wooller,
Louis Wolfers and Alex Valentine. Programmes were narrated by
Wilfred Thomas and Derek Cooper. One of the early programmes
was called 'High Fashion' and examined the haute couture industry
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