DuMont Network shows which survive at the Paley Center for Media
by Thor-Delta | created - 02 May 2012 | updated - 20 Mar 2013 | PublicThe DuMont Television Network was one of the first commercial television networks. It broadcasted from 1946 to 1956, and aired a wide variety of shows of many genres. At the time, the idea of preserving television shows for later-use was not taken seriously by many people. Also, what the network did keep was disposed of in the late-1970s.
The following is a list of DuMont network shows that have footage surviving at the Paley Center for Media. Some of these may be duplicates of stuff held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive, but much of it is not.
Furthur DuMont Network kinescope recordings survive at other archives, such as the previously mentioned UCLA Film and Television Archive, Library of Congress, and in private collections (such as an episode of "On Your Way").
Stuff at Paley not listed below: "Adlai Stevenson Speech from Salt Lake City" - 1952 recording of a television broadcast by the US presidential candidate.
Possibly 1 episode each of "Stop the Play" and "Swing Into Sports" - Was these local series from DuMont flagship station WABD?
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1. The Admiral Broadway Revue (1949– )
60 min | Comedy, Music
A comedy/variety show featuring the early performances of Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
Stars: Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Marge Champion, Gower Champion
Votes: 28
18 episodes of this series which aired for 19 episodes.
2. And Everything Nice (1949–1950)
30 min
Hosted by noted fashion figure Maxine Barrat, this program offered women around the country weekly tips on makeup and fashion for each new season, as well as updates on all the newest ... See full summary »
Star: Maxine Barrat
1 episode (from 1949)
3. Better Living TV Theatre (1953– )
30 min | Documentary
Stars: Alan Ladd, Darryl Hickman, Regis Toomey, Donald Woods
Possibly 1 episode (from 1954?)
4. The Big Issue (1951–1954)
30 min | Talk-Show
Sponsored by the Saturday Evening Post for its first season, this series offered debates on topical issues.
Stars: Martha Rountree, Richard Nixon, Clinton P. Anderson, Bourke B. Hickenlooper
1 episode ("Peace in the Middle East", aired November 2, 1952)
5. Your Big Moment (1949–1953)
30 min | Game-Show
A short-lived prime-time matchmaking program in whih viewers who had written in search of a blind date could meet someone who met their specifications of a dream partner. Jan Murray ... See full summary »
Stars: Arlene Francis, Walter Herlihy, Melvyn Douglas, Rex Marshall
Votes: 18
1 episode (August 25, 1953)
6. Cavalcade of Stars (1949–1952)
60 min | Family, Comedy, Music
An hour of live variety, in the classic sense of television's Golden Age.
Stars: Sammy Spear and His Orchestra, Jackie Gleason, Jack Lescoulie, The June Taylor Dancers
Votes: 64
17 episodes
7. Charlie Wild, Private Detective (1950–1952)
30 min | Crime, Drama
A half-hour private-eye crime show set in New York.
Stars: Cloris Leachman, John McQuade, Kevin O'Morrison, Philippa Bevans
Votes: 18
At least 4 episodes
8. Colonel Humphrey Flack (1953–1959)
30 min | Comedy, Family
Colonel Humphrey Flack is the consummate con-man, swindling swindlers at every opportunity.
Stars: Alan Mowbray, Frank Jenks, Eliot Sharfe, Boris Aplon
Votes: 36
2 episodes
9. Court of Current Issues (1948–1951)
60 min | News, Talk-Show
This public-affairs program had the misfortune of having to compete against Milton Berle's "Texaco Star Theater", and therefore its ratings were always low. It featured debates over topical issues.
A 14 minute fragment from a 1949 episode
10. Dollar a Second (1953–1957)
30 min | Comedy, Family, Game-Show
A prime-time game show, where contestants earned one dollar for each second that the host's questions were answered correctly. Incorrect replies earned punishment - a stunt had to be performed, a la "Truth or Consequences".
Stars: Jan Murray, Ken Roberts, Dagmar, Pat White
Votes: 23
1 episode
12. The Growing Paynes (1948–1949)
30 min | Family, Comedy
Mr.Paynes son falls in love.
Stars: Judy Parrish, John Harvey, David Anderson, Ed Holmes
At least 4 episodes
2 episodes
14. Hold That Camera (1950– )
30 min | Comedy, Game-Show, Music
An American game show that turned into a Variety series just after a few episodes. Originally hosted by Jimmy Blaine, but after the overhaul, Miss Television 1948, Kyle MacDonnell took over the hosting duties.
Stars: Kyle MacDonnell, Jimmy Blaine, Ving Merlin, Roscoe Karns
1 episode (December 1, 1950)
15. The Johns Hopkins Science Review (1948–1954)
Documentary
A regularly-aired documentary series covering a very wide range of subjects related to science.
Stars: Lynn Poole, Joel Chaseman, Wernher von Braun, John Mauchly
Votes: 15
8 episodes (note: a much larger amount of episodes survive at the Johns Hopkins University itself)
16. Kids and Company (1951–1952)
30 min | Family
A Saturday-morning chidren's series.
Stars: Johnny Olson, Ham Fisher, Leslie Uggams, Johnny Desmond
2 episodes
17. Life Begins at Eighty (1950–1956)
30 min
A panel discussion program, in which the panelists were all elderly.
Stars: Jack Barry, Georgiana Carhart, Fred Stein, Fred Cox
1 episode
18. The Magic Cottage (1949–1955)
A well-received children's series that was broadcast live from New York City.
Stars: Pat Meikle, Don Hastings, Ruth White, Martin Balsam
Votes: 27
1 episode (from December 28, 1950)
19. Marge and Jeff (1953– )
15 min | Comedy, Family
A domestic sitcom about a Manhattan newlywed couple.
Stars: Dick Stark, Jess Cain, Marge Greene
Four episodes
20. The Morey Amsterdam Show (1948–1950)
30 min | Comedy, Family, Music
The show had two venues. In December 1948 to March 1949, Morey Amsterdam was the emcee at a small fictional nightclub in New York City's Times Square. Charlie the Doorman (later Newton the ... See full summary »
Stars: Morey Amsterdam, Art Carney, Johnny Guarnieri, Don Russell
Votes: 41
Two episodes (a much larger number of episodes survive at the UCLA Film and Television Archive)
1 episode (September 27, 1952)
22. Once Upon a Tune (1951– )
Comedy, Musical
A series presenting short musicals for television.
Stars: Holly Harris, Reginald Beane, Phil Hanna, Ed Holmes
Votes: 13
3 episodes
23. Opera Cameos (1953–1955)
30 min | Music
A presentation of excerpts from operas.
Stars: Giovanni Martinelli, Salvatore Baccaloni, Richard Torigi, Jon Crain
Footage from 8 different episodes
2 episodes (both reportedly from 1948)
26. Rocky King, Detective (1950–1954)
30 min | Action, Drama, Crime
At the end of each show, Rocky King (Roscoe Karns) calls his wife, Mabel, and says, "Case is closed Mabel, I'm coming home".
Stars: Roscoe Karns, Todd Karns, Grace Carney, Stephen Elliott
Votes: 75
Seven episodes
27. This Is Music (1951–1959)
30 min | Family, Music
Stars: Alexander Gray, Nancy Carr, Bruce Foote, Bill Snary
2 episodes
28. Famous Jury Trials (1949–1952)
30 min | Drama, Crime, Mystery
A dramatized courtroom drama, with flashbacks.
Stars: Joyce Randolph, Fredd Wayne, Jim Boles, Charlotte Keane
Possibly 1 episode (this is unconfirmed)
29. Small Fry Club (1947–1951)
30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
This genteel children's show aimed at pre-schoolers encouraged good behavior among its viewers. Skits were performed by a group of in-studio characters (actors in animal costumes).
Stars: Bob Emery, Howard J. Schuman
Votes: 18
Excerpt from 1 episode.
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