DuMont Television Network series believed to be completely lost
by Thor-Delta | created - 31 Jan 2013 | updated - 31 Jan 2015 | PublicThis list is possibly incomplete.
While there is missing/lost episodes for every TV broadcaster of the 1950s (regardless of country), the survival rate of DuMont Television Network series is much worse than that of NBC, CBS and ABC. Many DuMont programs are largely lost. The following is a list of series for which nothing is known to survive. Please check your attic.
A few series are missing from the list as they are not listed on IMDb.
If any episodes exist of these series in an archive or private collection, please let me know.
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. The Adventures of Oky Doky (1948–1949)
30 min | Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Oky Doky, a large cowboy puppet, got to star in his own show after appearing on several other children's variety programs. Oky ran a dude ranch where children would come to play games, ... See full summary »
Stars: Wendy Barrie, Dayton Allen, The Mellodaires, Burt Hilber
2. The Al Morgan Show (1949–1951)
30 min | Family, Music
Pianist-songwriter Al Morgan offered a half-hour of music.
Stars: Al Morgan, Billy Chandler, Lenny Collyer
3. Amanda (1948–1949)
15 min | Music
Singer Amanda Randolph sang and hosted this daytime series.
Stars: Amanda Randolph, Etta Moten
I had assumed this was a local show, but it seems to have been shown on a network level.
4. Author Meets the Critics (1947–1954)
30 min | Family, Talk-Show
A panel show in which two critics debated a recently-published book; one critic would assail it, the other would praise it. Later in the program, the author would be given the chance to defend the criticism or to acknowledge the accolades.
Stars: John K.M. McCaffery, Faye Emerson, Louis Budenz, Virgilia Peterson
Votes: 15
One or more episodes broadcast on NBC may exist, though.
5. Battle of the Ages (1952– )
30 min | Family, Game-Show
A prime-time talent-contest game show in which children and adult celebrity teams competed for the "most talented team" prize, selected by the studio audience. If the children's team won, ... See full summary »
Stars: Morey Amsterdam, John Reed King, Connie Francis, Alan Dale
Status of CBS version is unknown.
6. The Big Idea (1952–1953)
30 min | Documentary, Family
A documentary series focusing on modern inventions.
Stars: Donn Bennett, Ray Wood
8. Broadway to Hollywood (1949–1954)
30 min | Talk-Show
News, gossip, celebrity interviews, and a viewer quiz.
Stars: Bill Slater, George Putnam, Sy Bartlett, Johnny Long
9. Café de Paris (1949– )
15 min
This was a music/variety program which was set within an "au courant" Parisian supper-club. The show ran for only two months on the Dumont Network, and no episodes are know to be extant.
Stars: Sylvie St. Clair, Jacques Aubuchon, Stan Free
Variety series.
11. Cash and Carry (1946–1947)
30 min | Family, Game-Show
A supermarket quiz show sponsored by Libby's, featuring their products. Also included a pantomime segment and a viewer phone-in segment.
Star: Dennis James
TV's first network game show, and some might say, first reality TV series.
This live series pre-dated the ability to record live television.
12. Charade Quiz (1947–1949)
30 min | Family, Game-Show
Viewers sent in charade suggestions for the repertory actors to act out. If the suggestion stumped the panelists, the viewer won $15.
Stars: Bill Slater, Jackson Beck, Richard Seff, Ellen Fenwick
15. Country Style (1950– )
60 min
The action is set around the bandstand of a small town park. The series uses vignettes, songs, and dances to capture the feel of rural life. Traditional and folk music, along with square dancing, are the rule.
Stars: Peggy Ann Ellis, Alvy West, Gordon Dilworth, Bob Austin
16. 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.
Only a 14-minute fragment is known to survive.
17. Spin the Picture (1949–1950)
60 min | Family, Game-Show
Telephone calls were placed to home viewers who were asked to identify a famous person pictured within a spinning photograph.
Stars: Eddie Dunn, Kathi Norris, Shaye Cogan, Alan Logan
19. The Dotty Mack Show (1953– )
Music
Dotty Mack, Bob Braun, and Colin Male lip-sync hit songs of the day in sketches.
Stars: Dotty Mack, Colin Male, Bob Braun, Bob Braun
Status of ABC version is unknown.
21. The Drew Pearson Show (1952– )
30 min | News, Talk-Show
A current-events show featuring newspaper political columnist and investigative reporter Drew Pearson, who would inform viewers of the latest events and/or scandals on the political front.
Star: Drew Pearson
Status of ABC version is unknown, possibly also lost.
22. DuMont Evening News (1954–1955)
15 min | News
An evening newscast anchored by Morgan Beatty.
Star: Morgan Beatty
23. Elder Michaux (1948–1949)
30 min
Solomon Lightfoot Michaux hosted this half-hour religious show, which was broadcast from Washington, D.C.
One of the earliest TV series hosted by an African-American.
24. The Family Genius (1949– )
Comedy
Sitcom about a child prodigy. Cancelled after less than a month on the air.
Stars: Phyllis Love, Jack Diamond, Patricia Hosley, Arthur Edwards
26. Faraway Hill (1946– )
30 min | Drama
Newly widowed New Yorker Karen St. John moves to a rural town to be close to her relatives. There she falls for a man who was adopted by her relatives when he was a boy. But, he's already ... See full summary »
Stars: Flora Campbell, Phyllis Coates, Eve McVeagh, Mel Brandt
Votes: 22
TV's first soap opera. This live-series pre-dated the ability to record live television.
29. The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong (1951– )
30 min | Adventure, Mystery
Madame Liu-Tsong owned an art gallery, from which adventure and mystery emanated.
Stars: Anna May Wong, DeForest Kelley, Midge Ware, Martin Brandt
First US series with an Asian-American lead.
30. Gamble on Love (1954– )
30 min | Family, Game-Show
A quiz program involving married couples.
Stars: Denise Darcel, Ernie Kovacs
31. Guess What (1952– )
30 min | Game-Show
Game show with four celebrity panelists trying to guess an unknown secret.
Stars: Richard Kollmar, Audrey Christie, Ezra Stone, Mark Hanna
32. Hands of Mystery (1949–1952)
30 min | Drama, Mystery, Musical
Hands of Murder (also known as Hands of Mystery and Hands of Destiny) was an American mystery/anthology series that aired on the DuMont Television Network.; seen on Friday nights.
Stars: Stephen Elliott, Ruth White, Hugh Franklin, Nat Polen
Votes: 25
35. The Hazel Scott Show (1950– )
15 min | Music
A music series with pianist Hazel Scott.
Stars: Hazel Scott, Gloria Lucas, Charles Mingus, Max Roach
Votes: 11
First US network series hosted by a Black woman, in this case, pianist Hazel Scott.
37. The Igor Cassini Show (1953– )
30 min | Family
A Sunday-evening celebrity-interview series.
Stars: Igor Cassini, Salvador Dalí, Francesca Braggiotti, Joyce Mathews
38. The Ilona Massey Show (1954–1955)
30 min | Family, Music
Weekly Musical Variety Show with Ilona Massey singing in a nightclub atmosphere backed by the musical group, Irving Fields Trio.
Stars: Ilona Massey, Irving Fields, The Irving Fields Trio, The Viennese Lantern Orchestra
Variety series with a set designed to look like a night-club...not an uncommon idea in early television.
40. It's a Business (1952– )
30 min | Comedy, Family, Music
"It's A Business" is about two song publishers and their secretary.
Stars: Dorothy Loudon, Leo DeLyon, Bob Haymes
One of DuMont's few sitcoms.
41. It's Alec Templeton Time (1955– )
30 min
Series with blind pianist Alec Templeton.
Stars: Alec Templeton, Sandra Deel, Eileen Farrell, Trudy Richards
Hosted by blind piano player/satirist.
46. Key to the Missing (1948–1949)
30 min
A live half-hour documentary series in which people in search of long-lost family or friends were interviewed.
Star: Archdale Jones
48. Ladies Before Gentlemen (1951– )
Panel show: male celebrities interviewed a female guest who defended the feminine point of view on the topics discussed.
Stars: Fred Robbins, Richard Joseph, Ken Roberts, Harvey Stone
50. The Laytons (1948– )
Unrated | 30 min | Comedy
An American sitcom that starred Amanda Randolph, who was the first African-American actress to appear in a recurring role on an American television series. The sitcom aired on the Dumont ... See full summary »
Stars: Vera Tatum, Amanda Randolph, Elizabeth Brew
First sitcom with an African-American in a regular role.
51. Look Upon a Star (1947– )
30 min | Music
This series was a talent show. The talent consisted of high school students.
Star: Bess Myerson
52. Love Story (1954– )
30 min | Romance, Drama
Stars: James Gregory, Beatrice Straight, Leslie Nielsen, Betty Field
Votes: 17
53. Monodrama Theater (1953– )
Drama
This was really basic television, yet effective in its own way. Actors performed or read their lines (usually monologues) before a black curtain, accentuated by recorded music cues. (The concept is called "readers' theater".)
Stars: Ann Thomas, Jack Manning, Stephen Elliott, Martin Kosleck
Actually only aired on DuMont flagship station WABD-TV, but considered typical of DuMont's low-budget, quirky programming.
54. Major Dell Conway of the Flying Tigers (1951– )
30 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
The Major was an American secret agent, posing as a pilot for the Flying Tigers airline.
Stars: Ed Peck, Eric Fleming, Joseph Graham, Luis Van Rooten
Votes: 13
56. The Most Important People (1950–1951)
15 min | Music
Stars: Jimmy Carroll, Kyle MacDonnell, Rita Carroll
57. The Music Show (1953–1954)
30 min | Family, Music
Musical program with four singers. Douglas and Van sang the popular songs while Noel and Warner or Peterson sang the more classical songs. The singers were backed by Trendler's 34-piece orchestra.
Stars: Mike Douglas, Jackie Van, Henri Noel, Delores Peterson
58. Music from Chicago (1951– )
30 min | Music
A short-lived live Sunday-evening musical-variety program.
I had assumed this was a local show, but it seems to have been shown on a network level.
60. News Gal (1951– )
30 min | Drama, Mystery
News Gal was a TV series produced by the DuMont Television Network, and shown on both DuMont and ABC.
Stars: Mark Stevens, Barry Kelley, Betty Furness
61. The O'Neills (1949–1950)
30 min | Drama, Family
Dress designer Peggy O'Neil is attempting to raise two children, Janice and Eddie, while dealing with Uncle Bill, the Levy's who live next door and Mrs. Bailey.
Stars: Vera Allen, Janice Gilbert, Michael Lawson, Ian Martin
62. One Man's Story (1952– )
15 min
Stars: Jack Manning, Stephen Elliott, Fred Draper, Martin Kosleck
63. One Minute Please (1954–1955)
30 min | Family, Game-Show
The panelists were given a topic and asked to talk nonstop for one minute about the subject. The panelist who talked the most was the winner for that week.
Stars: John K.M. McCaffery, Hermione Gingold, Alice Pearce, Cleveland Amory
64. One Woman's Story (1952– )
15 min | Drama
Stars: Jean Pearson, Jan Sherwood, Peggy Fenn, Ruth White
65. Operation Information (1952– )
30 min | Documentary
This public-service series was designed to inform military veterans of their rights and benefits.
67. Pet Shop (1951–1953)
A prime-time television series about pets.
Stars: Gail Compton, Gay Compton, George Menard
68. Play the Game (1946– )
30 min | Game-Show
A celebrity charades game. Home viewers were invited to call in with their guesses.
Stars: Harvey Zorbaugh, Ireene Wicker, Ray Knight, Will Mullin
This live series pre-dated the ability to record live television.
73. Quick on the Draw (1950– )
30 min | Game-Show
Stars: Bob Dunn, Robin Chandler, Eloise McElhone, Cedric Hardwicke
74. The Secret Files of Captain Video (1953–1955)
30 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
This innovative half-hour science-fiction anthology aired live each Saturday morning. Captain Video (Al Hodge) was the catalyst that brought science-fiction and reality together in a ... See full summary »
Stars: Al Hodge, Don Hastings, Grant Sullivan, Werner Klemperer
Votes: 19
A spin-off from "Captain Video and His Video Rangers", a series for which most episodes are lost.
75. Report Card for Parents (1952–1953)
30 min | Talk-Show
Described by the New York Times as a discussion series about child-parent relationships.
76. Rhythm Rodeo (1950–1951)
30 min | Family, Music
A low-budget musical show that was supposedly "Western" but featured all types of popular music.
Stars: Arthur Jarrett, Paula Wray
79. Shadow of the Cloak (1951–1952)
30 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
Peter House was an agent for International Security Intelligence in this live spy series.
Stars: Helmut Dantine, Boris Aplon, Joe Silver, Judson Pratt
80. Stage a Number (1952–1953)
Comedy, Family, Music
A live prime-time talent showcase for aspiring writers, dancers, choreographers, actors, singers, and other performers and backstage people. A celebrity panel chose two favorite ... See full summary »
Stars: Bill Wendell, Leonard Sillman, Charles Friedman, Herbert Polesie
81. Stage Entrance (1951– )
15 min
Stars: William Gaxton, J. Fred Coots, Betty Clooney, Charlie Parker
82. The Stan Shaw Show (1948– )
60 min | Music
A presentation of pop music, which aired in a daytime time-slot.
Stars: Stan Shaw, Alan Logan, Maxine Sullivan, Phil Hanna
I had assumed this was a local show, but it seems to have shown on a network level.
83. S.S. Holiday (1950– )
Comedy, Family, Music
A live Sunday-evening musical revue.
Stars: Phil Hanna, Reggie Beane Trio, Holly Harris, Reginald Beane
84. The Strawhatters (1953–1954)
30 min | Comedy, Family, Music
This was a talent show which really featured the Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey.
Stars: Johnny Olson, Virginia Graham
85. The Susan Raye Show (1950– )
15 min | Family, Music
Susan Raye was a singer and pianist who entertained the audience with music.
Star: Susan Raye
86. Take the Break (1951–1953)
30 min | Music
Described as being a disc jockey show, but little is known about this series.
Star: Don Russell
87. Talent Jackpot (1949– )
30 min | Family, Music
Summer replacement show featuring five acts of aspiring entertainers. The emcee was Vinton Freedley, a Broadway producer. The top rated act, determined by the audience's applause, won all the money.
Stars: Vinton Freedley, Bud Collyer
89. Teen Time Tunes (1949– )
15 min | Family, Music
Short lived (4 months), low-budget show featuring Sue Benjamin singing with the Alan Logan Trio.
Stars: Sue Bennett, Alan Logan
91. Time for Reflection (1950– )
15 min | Family
A Sunday-evening program of poetry readings and inspirational prose.
Star: David Ross
93. Trash or Treasure? (1952– )
30 min
Owners of collectible items and antiques brought them to antiques expert Sigmund Rothschild for an appraisal of value.
Stars: Sigmund Rothschild, Nelson Case
95. The Walter Compton News (1947–1948)
15 min | News
Walter Compton read the news, accompanied by occasional use of slides.
Star: Walter Compton
96. The Week in Religion (1952–1954)
60 min | News
One hour ecumenical religious show divided into three 20-minute segments for the Protestants, Catholics and Jewish viewers.
Stars: Robbins Barstow Sr., Joseph N. Moody, William S. Rosenbloom
97. What's Your Bid (1953– )
30 min | Family, Game-Show
This show originated on the ABC-TV network in February 1953 with one cast and switched to the Dumont TV network in May 1953 with a different cast. The theme of the show was auctioning goods... See full summary »
Stars: Ralph Bellamy, Betty Furness, John Reed King, Berni Gould
98. Where Was I? (1952–1953)
30 min | Family, Game-Show
Quiz show with the panelists attempting to guess a location by looking at photos and listening to clues.
Stars: Nancy Guild, Peter Donald, John Reed King, Dan Seymour
99. Windy City Jamboree (1950– )
60 min | Music
Stars: Gloria Van, Jane Brockman, John Dalz, Dick Edwards
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