Bachelor Father (CBS-NBC 1959-1962, John Forsythe)

Bachelor Father single-handedly ushered in the era of ‘single-parent’ television comedy. It starred John Forsythe as Bentley Gregg, a rich and single lawyer who lived the playboy life in Beverly Hills. His carefree lifestyle changed when he gained a permanent houseguest in the form of his niece, Kelly. Bradley took the girl in after his sister and her husband died in a car accident, and the former playboy soon found himself turning into a father figure for the irrepressible and often rebellious Kelly.

Kelly’s best friend was Ginger, and her high-school boyfriend was Howard. When Kelly moved on to college in later seasons, she found a new beau in the form of lawyer Warren Dawson. Cal and Adelaide were Ginger’s parents, and Peter was the faithful butler at the Gregg household. Victor Yung occasionally guest starred as Peter’s cousin, Charlie. Gregg also went through no less than five secretaries during the course of the show: Vicky, Kitty Devereaux, Kitty Marsh, Suzanne and Connie.

This show is one of a select handful that managed to play on all three major networks during its original series run: from ’57 to ’59 on CBS, ’59 to ’61 on NBC, and ’61 to ’62 on ABC. But after the ABC run, Bentley hung up his official father’s cap (figuratively) and passed the mantle on to later single parent shows like Family Affair and Julia.

production details
USA / CBS – NBC – ABC – Universal / 157x30m-e / Broadcast 15 September 1957 – 25 September 1962 (9/15/57 – 6/7/59 CBS then 6/18/59 – 9/21/61 NBC then 10/3/61 – 9/25/62 ABC

Theme: Johnny Williams

cast
John Forsythe as Bentley Gregg
Noreen Corcoran as Kelly Gregg
Sammee Tong as Peter Tong
Bernadette Withers as Ginger
Jimmy Boyd as Howard Meechim
Aaron Kincaid as Warren Dawson
Catherine McLeod as Louise Farrell
Whit Bissell as Bert Loomis
Florence MacMichael as Amy Loomis
Del Moore as Cal Mitchell
Evelyn Scott as Adelaide Mitchell
Alice Backus as Vickie
Shirley Mitchell as Kitty Deveraux
Jane Nigh as Kitty Deveraux
Sue Ane Langdon as Kitty Marsh
Sally Mansfield as Connie
Pat McCaffrie as Chuck Forrest
Joan Vohs as Elaine Meechim
Karl Swenson as Charles Burton
Cheryl Holdridge as Gloria Gibson
Cheryl Holdridge as Lila Gibson
White Bissell as Steve Gibson
Victor Sen Yung as Charlie Fong
Beal Wong as Peter’s Grandpa Ling
Sid Melton as Harry
Harry Von Zell as Frank Curtis
Cherylene Lee as Blossom Lee
Frances Fong as Susie
David Lewis as Horace Dawson
Sheila Bromley as Myrtle Dawson
Beulah Quo as Peter’s Aunt Rose
Jeanne Bal as Suzanne Collins