TV

Abbott And Costello Show (MCA 1952-1954 with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello)

Published

3 years ago

March 9, 2015

Mem TV

The Abbott and Costello Show stars Bud Abbott and Lou Costello as themselves as out-of-work actors. Plots were bare-boned to allow them to perform all of their famous skits, such as “Who’s on First” or “The Moving Candle.”

In the second season, some of the supporting cast was let go, and sensing they were running out of material, producer Jean Yarbrough did something that a few of today’s producers should learn from: he hired a writer (Clyde Bruckman) to create new material. It worked.

Although critically lambasted, the show was popular in its initial run and was one of the most popular reruns of early television. It was followed in 1966 by an animated version of the same name. Although Lou Costello died in 1957, Bud Abbott was still alive and provided the voice of his character.

production details
USA / CBS – MCA – Revue / 52×30 minute episode / Broadcast 1952-1954

Writers: Eddie Forman, Sid Fields, Clyde Bruckman, Felix Adler, Jack Townley / Producers: Pat Costello, Alex Gottleib / Producer and Director: Jean Yarborough

cast
BUD ABBOTT as Bud
LOU COSTELLO as Lou
SID FIELDS as Sid
HILARY BROOKE as Hilary
JOE BESSER as Stinky Jones

TV

Ape And Essence (The Wednesday Play BBC-1 1966, Alec McCowen)

Published

5 months ago

November 15, 2017

Mem TV

In Scifi drama Ape and Essence, based on the novel by Aldous Huxley, a group of New Zealand scientists conduct a survey on a Britain ravaged by atomic war 80 years previously.

Series: The Wednesday Play Season 2 Episode 29

cast
Alec McCowen as Alfred Poole
Robert Eddison as Arch Vicar
Derek Sydney as Chief
Jenny Lee as Flossie
Yvonne Antrobus as Young Girl
Sydney Bromley as Craigie
Martin Carroll as Director of Food
Hazel Douglas as Mies Hook
John Falconer as Patriarch
Petra Markham as Loola
Ken Parry as Science Praet
Amanda Reiss as Polly
Jonathan Scott as Int. Priest
Fiona Fraser as Part of Crowd
Ann Mitchell as Shaven-Head
Jacki Salt as Mulatto Girl
Carol Blake as Shaven-Head
Gordon Craig as Part of Crowd
Robert Cude as First Man

crew details
Writer: John Finch
Book: Aldous Huxley
Music: BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Producer: Peter Luke
Director: David Benedictus.

production details
Country: UK
Network and Production Companies: BBC One
Duration: 1×75 minute episode
Aired From: 18 May 1966

TV

Plane Makers, The (ITV 1963-1965, Patrick Wymark, Barbara Murray)

Published

5 months ago

November 14, 2017

Mem TV

Drama series The Plane Makers took us behind the scenes in the boardroom and shop floor of the Scott Furlong Aircraft Factory. After two seasons the lead character John Wilder took a place on the board of a merchant bank and the series was then renamed The Power Game.

cast
Patrick Wymark as John Wilder
Jack Watling as Don Henderson
Barbara Murray as Pamela Wilder (Seasons 1-2)
Ann Firbank as Pamela Wilder (Season 3)
Reginald Marsh as Arthur Sugden
Alan Dobie as David Corbett

crew details
Creator: Wilfred Greatorex
Producers: Rex Firkin (seasons 1-2), David Reid (season 3)

production details
Country: UK
Network: ITV – ATV
Duration: 57×50 minute episodes
Aired From: 4 February 1963 – 12 January 1965 black and white

TV

Running Wild (ITV 1987, Ray Brooks, Janet Key)

Published

5 months ago

November 13, 2017

Mem TV

Sitcom Running Wild was about the ups and downs of separated couple, Max and Babs, trying to get on with their lives. In season two Max wants to return to his wife but Babs is not so keen.

cast
Ray Brooks as Max Wild
Janet Key as Babs Wild
Sharon Duce as Wanda
Michelle Collins as Stephanie Wild
Peter Amory as Rob
Berwick Kaler as Tom Coleman (Season 1)
Brigit Forsyth as Jenny (Season 2)

crew details
Writer: Philip Trewinnard
Producers: Marcus Plantin (Season 1), Derrick Goodwin (Season 2)
Directors: Vic Finch (Season 1), Derrick Goodwin (Season 2)

production details
Country: UK
Network and Production Companies: ITV – London Weekend Television
Duration: 13×25 minute episodes
Aired From: 6 March 1987 – 4 June 1989