Television Obscurities » Site Related

New Exhibit: Irwin Allen Promotional Spots

RGJ — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:52:41 +0000

The title of this exhibit, Irwin Allen Promotional Spots, is a bit of a misnomer, I admit. The thirteen promotional spots you can watch aren’t publicizing Irwin Allen but instead five of his six television shows. The only show I don’t have any promotional spots for is Code Red, which ran from 1981 to 1982 and starred Lorne Greene. I’ve pulled a few of these spots from other parts of the site but the bulk of them are new. I believe some of them are included as bonus features on various DVD releases (one of the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea releases has a whole slew of spots, I think) and those versions may be of better quality. But it’s neat to see them all together in their colorful glory (aside from the few that are black and white). So take some time to watch a few promotional spots for your favorite Irwin Allen shows; please leave any comments at the exhibit page.

Batman Trading Cards

RGJ — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:30:10 +0000

According to Old Bubblegum Cards.com three sets of Batman trading cards were released in 1966 by Topps (the third of which was issued in two versions). The four cards I’ve scanned are from Series 1, known as the “Orange Backs” or “Black Bat” cards. Another set, based on the 1966 feature film, was also released.

Card #3 Front

Card #3 Back

Card #5 Front

Card #5 Back

Card #25 Front

Card #25 Back

Card #55 Front

Card #55 Back

New Article: Early Networks and the East-Midwest Connection

RGJ — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:30:34 +0000

One of the more interesting aspects of television in the 1940s, at least in my mind, is that despite the growth of the medium following the end of World War II for the most part it was a very local affair. Viewers in the largest cities may have had three or even four channels to choose from but they were confined to programs produced in their respective cities unless they were lucky enough to be one of the few cities connected to another city or two through a relay or a coaxial cable.

By the late 1940s, of course, the networks were slowly establishing themselves with regional “chains” on the East Coast and in the Midwest. This article covers some of the NBC and DuMont networks, building up to the connection between cities in the East and cities in the Midwest thanks to AT&T. Here’s the summary for Early Networks and the East-Midwest Connection:

Prior to September 4th, 1951 (when President Truman opened the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco) television in the United States wasn’t truly a national medium. There was no way for viewers on both coasts to watch the same program at the same time. Network broadcasting was originally confined to the East Coast before expanding to the Midwest and, finally, coast-to-coast. This article focuses on the various NBC and DuMont networks of the 1940s and the East-Midwest connection that took place on January 11th, 1949.

It’s certainly not a comprehensive history of regional networks but hopefully it provides an adequate introduction to network television in the mid-to-late 1940s. As always, please leave any comments at the article itself.

No Article Today; Updated Exhibit

RGJ — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:09:26 +0000

I’m afraid there won’t be a new article today. I do hope to be able to finish two articles next month and in December but after that I may have to cut back to just one article a month. I have added four CBS advertisements to my ABC Promotional Artwork, 1971-1975 as a bonus, because I don’t have enough of these to create an exhibit just for CBS.

New Article: “The Interns”

RGJ — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:35:13 +0000

Take a few minutes to read my latest article about The Interns. I don’t have access at the moment to the episodes I used when writing this episode, so I can’t check the closing credits to see if Richard Frede is mentioned. But it seems The Interns was at least slightly based on Frede’s 1960 novel, The Interns, and/or the 1962 film adaptation. The show ran jut one season on CBS, from 1970-1971, and never caught on with viewers. Was it an overload of “relevant” programming? Too many medical dramas? The fact that the series aired opposite The Brady Bunch? I can’t say for sure.

This medical drama was savaged by critics and unable to make much of an impression with viewers during the 1970-1971 season when relevance was the word of the day and television was filled with young, eager characters striving to make a difference. Broderick Crawford starred Dr. Peter Goldstone, the surly supervisor of five fresh-faced interns played by Stephen Brooks, Christopher Stone, Hal Frederick, Mike Farrell and Sandra Smith. Every week they faced medical crises and personal problems, sometimes at the same time.

Please add any comments to the article itself.

New Exhibit: ABC Promotional Artwork, 1971-1975

RGJ — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:43:05 +0000

This month’s exhibit is a collection of 18 colorful pieces of promotional artwork for ABC regular programming, sporting events and specials from 1971 to 1975. Included are shows such as The Rookies, Nakia and The New Land. Here’s a small version of one piece of artwork:

1971 Movie of the Week Promotional Artwork

Take a few minutes to browse through ABC Promotional Artwork, 1971-1975. If you have any comments, leave them on the exhibit page. Enjoy!

New Article: “The Four Seasons”

RGJ — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:47:10 +0000

This CBS sitcom was Alan Alda’s second attempt at creating a television series (his first, We’ll Get By, ran for half a season in early 1975). It premiered to strong Nielsen ratings but CBS decided to pre-empt the series and then place it on a lengthy hiatus. A move away from the powerhouse that was 60 Minutes didn’t help either. Take a moment to read all about The Four Seasons:

This short-lived CBS television series, based on the 1981 film of the same title, was Alan Alda’s follow-up to M*A*S*H. He only appeared in the special one-hour premiere but was heavily involved behind the scenes. Jack Weston, reprising his role from the film, starred as Danny Weston, a dentist who moves with his wife from New York City to Los Angeles. The series followed the trials and tribulations of Danny, his family and his friends through the ups and downs of life. Thirteen episodes were aired between January and June of 1984.

If you have any comments, please add them to the article itself.

New Exhibit: Full Issue of 1951 TV Showtime

RGJ — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:54:56 +0000

I don’t know much about TV Showtime, aside from the fact that it was published in Omaha, Nebraska and included listings for three stations (KMTV, WOI-TV and WOW-TV). It was first published in 1951, I believe, and may have continued until 1953 when it likely ended due to TV Guide going nationally. I’ve scanned the entire November 5th, 1951 issue, which you can find in my latest exhibit: Full Issue of 1951 TV Showtime. Here’s the cover:

TV Showtime, Volume 2, Number 45 – Published November 5th, 1951

If you have any comments, please add them to the main exhibit page.

New Article: “Otherworld”

RGJ — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:19:28 +0000

I’m a sucker for television shows involving time travel or alternate/parallel universes and thus this article is as much for me as it is for fans of Otherworld. I’d definitely call the show a popular obscurity, but it was certainly short-lived (just eight episodes) and left an impression on many viewers, some of whom decades later e-mailed me wondering just what was this show they remembered.

This drama series ran for just eight episodes during the 1984-1985 season on CBS and was soon cancelled due to low ratings. Nevertheless, it developed a small but passionate fan base intrigued by the concept of an everyday family marooned on a parallel Earth where life is similar but different in every way. CBS insisted on a family friendly show and during its short run Otherworld produced episodes resembling Beauty and the Beast, Footloose and Mad Max.

There’s also an unfortunate rumor circulating that five episodes of Otherworld were filmed and never aired in the United States. The Internet Movie Database page for the series includes this rumor in its trivia section. And Wikipedia even states that viewers in Spain remember seeing an episode in which the Sterlings found their way home!

While at least one unproduced script does exist, there are no additional unaired episodes. Otherworld was syndicated in the United States by two cable channels, both of which certainly would have picked up the rights to additional episodes if they were available. And if these five episodes were broadcast internationally there would be more than just rumors. Someone would have seen them and know for sure. Plus, contemporary articles and reviews explicitly refer to the existence of just eight episodes.

None of them, however, explain why the two-hour pilot movie was cut in half. Perhaps CBS just wanted eight episodes to fill its schedule rather than seven (the pilot plus six standalone episodes). I’d love to see more episodes of Otherworld but they’re just not out there.

New Article: Writing the Networks in the 1960s

RGJ — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:18:55 +0000

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this article. I think the subject matter is very interesting but I’m worried the article itself isn’t. So take a few minutes to read Writing the Networks in the 1960s and let me know what you think:

During the 1960s, tens of thousands of letters poured into to the mail rooms of the television networks. Some complained about commercials or violence or controversial content. Others asked for medical advice or suggested ways to improve a certain program. Sometimes the letters didn’t make much sense at all. But each and every one was read and given a reply. The networks took audience research seriously, using it to gauge reaction to their programs. Learn who was reading viewer letters during the 1960s and how many were received.

Make your comments at the article itself.