Completeist: 1955

Showing posts with label 1955. Show all posts

Monday, July 11, 2016

The Old Time Radio Show of the Week

GUNSMOKE

"Uncle Oliver"

July 9th 1955

Season 3 episode 44

Oliver and Viney Stang decide to get Chester's job, and the easiest way to do that is to shoot him...which is exactly what they do

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

What's My Line? - Jan. 23rd, 1955 Dennis Day

Monday, September 28, 2015

Sports Illustrated Cover of the Week

August 1st 1955

September 28th 1960

Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox legend, hits a home run in his last at bat in the major leagues. That was the 521st round tripper of his career.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Happy 60th Birthday Gunsmoke

September 10th 1955, CBS television debuted its version of the already popular radio western "Gunmsoke". With James Arness cast as US Marshall Matt Dillon of Dodge the show would be a mainstay of US television until its final episode on March 31st 1975 (a then record of 20 years on prime time television).

The debut episode, "Matt Gets It" was introduced to the US audience by John Wayne, which lent an air of credence to James Arness as Matt Dillon. His portrayal of Dillon was in the vein of the radio version created by William Conrad, but over the ensuing the years Arness molded the character to more of his personality and less bitter about life and people. CBS' in later years would tone down the violence seen in the first few seasons of Gunsmoke and it became more of a character drama than western. In the beginning many of the radio scripts with small changes were used and by the 3rd season was the #1 program on primetime television. Gunsmoke paved the way for a slew of "adult" westerns with good scripts and believable situations with the good guy not always winning or getting the girl.

Today on its 60th birthday "Gunsmoke" is still seen as a high point in drama and westerns on TV and in 1958 was awarded the Emmy Award for Best Dramatic Series. In 1959 the Emmy Awards added a category for Best Western Series, thanks to the popularity of Gunsmoke every network had several on their schedule, but they lost to ABC's "Maverick".

Even today Gunsmoke is seen on at least 3 different networks everyday, ME-TV, TVLand and Starz Westerns, proving that some shows are so good they transcend generations.

"Matt Get Its"

Season 1 episode 1

September 10th 1955

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Classic Movie Poster of the Week

1955

Lady and the Tramp

June 16th 1955 Walt Disney pictures premiered the animated classic Lady and the Tramp.

This tale of dogs in love would be the #6 movie of 1955.

The original 1955 trailer

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Gunsmoke on Radio and Television (Robin Hood)

Gunsmoke on Radio

"Robin Hood"

Season 3 episode 18

aired January 8th 1955

Miss Kitty arrives in Dodge after a visit to Elsworth, with news that the stage she was traveling on had been robbed. The modus operandi fits Teddy Blue Fish, a modern Robin Hood who robs from the rich, while sparing the women and the poor. As in Kitty's case, the robber stole the strong box containing $500 and took all of banker Botkin's money, but left the other two passengers and Kitty alone. He was a perfect gentleman and well disguised, wearing a flour sack over his head. Matt is in a quandry since no one has been able to get enough evidence to get Fish, and being sort of a gentleman bandit, people feel obliged to protect him.

Gunsmoke on TV

"Robin Hood"

Season 1 episode 17

aired February 4th 1956

John Henry Jordan has 19 arrests to his credit, ranging from robbery to murder, but he consistently confounds the law by avoiding convictions. The secret of his success is that he robs from the rich and not the poor. Henry is no altruist, however, but rather a scheming criminal who buys the loyalty of potential witnesses in this manner. Every time he goes to trial they give conflicting testimony to protect him. Jordan enjoys his bounties in Dodge until Matt discovers a way to turn the tables against the so-called Robin Hood.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Old Time Radio Show of the Week

Our show this week is "Suspense" and its to celebrate what would have been the 94th birthday of a radio legend, William Conrad. Famous for being Marshall Matt Dillon on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" during its entire run from 1952 to 1960. He was also know for being in almost every dramatic show on radio at some point, the narrator of "Escape", roles in "X Minus One", etc., he narrated this classic episode :

"The Whole Town's Sleeping"

June 14th 1955

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Classic Movie Poster of the Week

1955

Monday, May 19, 2014

Old Time Radio Show of the Week

Today our blast from the past is "Dragnet" starring Jack Webb as his famous "Joe Friday" character that he developed/created on radio and moved to television.

Playing on radio starting in 1949 lasting until 1957 before being solely on television. "Dragnet" started on television in 1952 and was a staple until 1959. Jack Webb revived he tv series in 1967 and ran until 1970 and all 3 versions were carried by NBC.

Dragnet

"The Big Gap"

Feb 8th 1955

Thursday, March 21, 2013

The 28th Academy Awards (1956)

March 21st 1956 was the date of the 28th annual Academy Awards celebration at the RKO Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, California with Jerry Lewis as the host.

This would celebrate achievement in film for 1955 and the big winner of the night was "Marty", winner of the Best Picture, Best Director (Delbert Mann), Best Screenplay (Paddy Chayefsky) and Best Actor (Ernest Borgnine)
Others winners included Best Actress (Anna Magnani, The Rose Tattoo), Best Supporting actor (Jack Lemmon, Mister Roberts) and Best Supporting Actress (Jo Van Fleet, East of Eden)

Here is the original radio broadcast of the award ceremonies
(thanks Buck Benny OTR Podcast)