USA
/ CBS / x15m-e / 12 October 1953
- 16 August 1957
Valiant Lady was an in-name-only adaptation of the
NBC radio serial which ran from 1938-46 and 1951-52.
TV's "valiant lady" was Helen Emerson, a resident of the
town of Middlebury and a mother to Mickey, 19, Diane,
17, and Kim, 9. Early in the run trouble struck her
husband Frank, who had a failing heart but overworked
himself at business nonetheless to provide for his family.
He died within a few months, plunging his family into
numerous traumas.
Helen became attracted to airplane pilot Chris Kendall,
who unfortunately was married, albeit separated. Despite
that, even family friend Margot thought he was the man
for Helen. Helen stayed with him as he divorced Linda but
endured much adversity in the ensuing custody battle for
Chris and Lindas son David. While her relationship with
Chris proved not to be, Helen found true love with Governor
Walker and wed him in February 1957.
Her relationship with her kids were more problematic.
Her chief giver of grief was Diane, who whined about
wanting to go to Briarmount, an expensive college. She
ditched college plans in 1954 and eloped with Hal
Soames,
a previously married man, then got infatuated with Joey
Gordon, who saved the Emerson clan when they were held
hostage by a crazed ex-lover of Helens in 1955. Ne'er-do-
well Diane certainly was a popular character for actresses to
play (in 1955, Sue Randall beat out 60 other contenders
for the part), but despite that, the character had the shows
highest number of recasts.
Mickey was almost as bothersome for Helen. He had an
up-and-down relationship with Bonnie, who at one point
ran away to Bloomfield to escape him. He also fought some
with Elliott before gaining a fiancee in the form of Roberta
Wilcox. Kim did not mature fast enough to get her cut of
the action her brother and sister had on this show.
Valiant Lady aired live from New York.
Martin Balsam.... Joey Gordon (1955)
Betty Cakes.... Roberta Wilcox (1956-1957)
Flora Campbell.... Helen Emerson #2 (1954-1957)
Nancy Coleman.... Helen Emerson #1 (1953-1954) (original cast)
Jerome Cowan.... Frank Emerson (1953-1957)
Shirley Egleston.... Bonnie Withers #2 (1955)
John Graham (I).... Gov. Lawrence Walker (1956-1957)
Margaret Hamilton
Earl Hammond (I).... Hal Soames (1954-1955)
Frances Helm.... Linda Kendall (1955)
James Kirkwood Jr..... Mickey Emerson (1953-1957)
Abby Lewis
Joan Lorring.... Bonnie Withers #1 (1954-1955)
Lelia Martin (II).... Diane Emerson Soames #4 (1956-1957)
Terry O'Sullivan (I).... Elliott Norris (1955)
Anne Pearson (I).... Diane Emerson Soames #1 (1953-1954)
(original cast)
Sue Randall.... Diane Emerson Soames #3 (1955-1956)
Lydia Reed.... Kim Emerson #1 (1953-1954)
Bonnie Sawyer.... Kim Emerson #2 (1954-1957)
Dolores Sutton.... Diane Emerson Soames #2 (1954-1955)
Helen Wagner
Larry Weber.... Capt. Chris Kendall (1954-1955) (as Lawrence Weber)
