Carlson International

An episode from the early 50's syndicated "Science Fiction Playhouse," a/k/a "Tales Of Tomorrow," William Redfield stars as a corrupt reporter who chances upon a curio shop owner's uncanny ability to predict what someone will need in the future.

This is the grandaddy of television jungle dramas, it debuted in 1952 as a Mexican movie theater import dubbed in English and modified for weekend afternoon television syndication starring (psuedonyms) Jon Hall, Ray Montgomery and James Fairfax. Don't be fooled, Ramar has savage animal scenes and tense drama, ahead of it's time. Phyllis Coates (TV "Superman") guest stars. Directed by Wallace Fox

In 1951, General Electric company hired TV's "Mr. Wizard," Don Herbert, to demonstrate in this two minute film, the evolution of television from the 1920's through "modern video" in that year.

Sky King was syndicated to local television stations in the mid 1950s and had the distinction of combining aeronautics with it's western backdrop.

Based on the movie, banker Cosmo Topper and wife move into a house occupied by three and a half ghosts: George and Marion Kirby, pooch Neil who guzzles down booze. Problem is, only Cosmo can see the ghosts. The sitcom ran via a cigarette sponsor from 1952 to 1954

zone of the most popular and enduring dances from the roots of rock & roll and rhythm & blue is The Hand Jive created by Johnny Otis. A one hit wonder, perhaps, but it zoomed to the top of the national and global record charts within weeks and teens were dancing up a storm on the TV dance shows, at school dances and in juke joints. More info at oldiestelevision.com

Gertrude Berg created Molly Goldberg for 1930s-1940s radio with the signature call from the kitchen window, "Yoo Hoo, Mrs Bloom!" Ms. Berg wrote, directed and starred in the radio comedy/drama as she did when The Goldbergs made the transition to television in the 50's. This episode, once thought lost through irreverent handling of film and kinescope, was a viewer favorite. The Goldbergs centers upon a middle class Jewish family in New York, Molly is the matriarch, her husband, Jake (Robert B. Harris) tries to "wear the pants around the house," their spirited daughter Rose (a/k/a Rosalie, Arlene McQuabe) and wise, old Uncle David (Eli Mintz). In some, not all episodes including this, Thomas Taylor played the now you see him now you don't Sammy Goldberg. A full profile of The Goldbergs and the founding woman who got it on the air (a pioneer for women as TV executives, before Lucy), Gertrude Berg can be found at oldiestelevision.com

"Kukla, Fran & Ollie" were the first puppets to have a daily TV show. Master puppetmaster and creator Burr Tillstrom, albeit limited to 50's television technical limitations, nevertheless found ways of making the "Kuklapolitan" array of puppets entertaining to not only the kiddie set, but parents as well. Here is a sampling of his work.

"Mama," based on the novel "I Remember Mama" and the 1945 movie starring Irene Dunne, premiered on CBS in 1949 and was quickly lauded by the press as one of the best drama series on television. The TV show, starring Peggy Wood, book and cinema movie focused on a Norwegian blue collar family living in San Francisco.

Piano restoration craftsmen Mark Perry demonstrates the basics of antique piano restoration featuring the classic Passionata. Produced by Carlson International, Frank Brina Director, Louis Ferriol Line Editor.

The case of Doctor X, as penned by the press, dates back to 1976, a Bergen, NJ doctor was convicted of murdering his unfaithful wife and patients by injecting them with Curare' a South American drug used as a muscle relaxant in small doses, lethal in larger amounts. This super-8mm film, albeit with audio problems in the first few minutes, is based on the case of and titled "Doctor X: The Necrotic" was a much played midnight cable showing in New York and Los Angeles; it won kudos from Manhattan Cable Television (now Time Warner) for "concept." Complete movie profile info at thenecrotic.com

Based on the radio series of the 1930's and 40's, the television adaption didn't score well in the ratings because it was opposite Jack Webb's "Dragnet." Nevertheless, "The Shadow" holds true to it's eerie by-line, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow Knows!"

Scenes from The Red Skelton Freddie The Freeloader Christmas Story originally broadcast in 1959. oldiestelevision.com

When silent movies became talkies, many silent film comedy stars found the transitional from physical only to physical and verbal difficult. For Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, it was a cinch to keep theater goers laughing in the aisles. In the 1950's and early 60's, the dawn of Television breathed new life into 30's comedy shorts and short features as they became a staple on local television stations on weekend afternoons and the Laurel & Hardy comedies drew the largest audience. This 1934 Hal Roach production saw Stan & Ollie in misadventures, from believing they struck it rich in inheritance to almost setting fire to their unpaid hotel room with odd cooking methods and winding up in the Scotland Yard lockup messing up every job assigned to them. Enjoy!