Vacation Playhouse (TV Series) Hey, Teacher (1964) User Reviews

Summer Favorite

[bartsboy · 7/10 · 19 May 2013]

I, too, have fond memories of this program. I was under the impression that Hey Teacher was actually an unsold pilot for a proposed new series for Dwayne Hickman. In the early and mid-60s CBS frequently aired the pilot episodes it had ordered in a summer anthology. This was a way to recoup at least a part of the cost of making the pilot. I always thought Hey Teacher would have made a great series for CBS. It would have fit in nicely with the network's other family-friendly comedies. In 1964 it was indeed unusual to have male teachers in many elementary schools, thus providing for the comedy set-up in the show. I remember another cast member looking at the teachers' mailboxes in the fictional school, and commenting that someone had "misspelled" the name of the newest teacher (Hickman) as "Mr." instead of "Mrs." The show co-starred Reta Shaw, a noted TV, film, and stage character actress. Her most remembered TV role was as the housekeeper in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir alongside Hope Lange.

Again the powers that be lost lightning in a bottle!

[thejcowboy22 · 9/10 · 11 August 2016]

I'm in the latter portion of my years while writing this review but there are times in your past that stay with you forever. The mind is a complicated place. The trivial memories we collect seem more pronounced than recalling the procedures of adding or subtracting fractions or how did World War I commence? I vividly remember my first day at a new school. I was five years old and scared. It was also the first time I rode in a school bus. First time I encountered a bully on the bus for flicking my ear. I was disciplined, (Yelled at) by the bus driver who threatened me to stop yelling or he will never take me to school again. Bold words for a bus driver to say to an impressionable child. I believed him and started to cry. As I stated, Moments in time that traumatize your memory. Being a fan of Dobie Gillis, this vehicle for Dwayne Hickman in my opinion is the perfect seg-way to his next series. Joe Hannon (would be /first day on the job) elementary school teacher is a basically uneasy, anxious neophyte at his profession as educator to a bunch of baby boomers. Under the direction of Bob Sweeney, Hannon clumsy in his quest to make a good impression on his students but stumbles around the classroom and shows his susceptibility and even tears his clothes in the process. A missing pen is the problem of the day but is rectified by the closing school bell. Touching moment at the end of class as a frazzled little boy is crying and Joe calms the boy down and tells him to paraphrase, "It's alright I had a rough first day of school also." Wipes his tear filled cheeks and sends him on his way. At that moment I wanted more episodes but Hannon confesses that he's not returning and he'll find employment elsewhere. This pilot always stayed with me through the decades as I saw myself as that lost little boy and later in life wondering should I stay in my current situation or move on? Wish I could view this today but there is no DVD available. Mr. Novak which was a popular show about a high school teacher was currently running on another network for NBC. Executives in the programming department at CBS felt that "Hey,Teacher" was enough classroom for the American audience to watch for now. That left no room for the "Hey,Teacher" possible addition on the prime time slate. Always wondered if CBS ran "Hey,Teacher" would it blossom into an iconic show? I can only wonder! Well I continued to ride the school bus and got acclimated to my new surroundings. I became good friends with that Bus driver over time. I learned about his background, heritage, religious beliefs and the frequent Ice Cream stops we made during the spring and summer months after school.

Was in Hey Teacher

[veronicatully · 8/10 · 18 June 2014]

Back in 1964 I was actually in this film when I was a little kid The making of it was quite an adventure the whole cast and crew were very professional.

It was so much fun to make and Dwayne Hickman was very friendly and nice. One day on set he was in his trailer changing when the door flew open! It was the first time I ever saw a man in his underwear!! The network should have continued with this sit com. Such a family friendly show with a great cast and crew Lol This show should have been continued it was very

family friendly and funny.

sweet, but dated

[genasguy · 5/10 · 26 October 2012]

Episode from a short-lived anthology series- a summer replacement, I believe, regarding a problem we don't think much about: male teachers in elementary schools. I was maybe six, but still remember the sweetish story about the first day of the first male teacher to be hired at a local school. This is such an unusual, even weird, situation in this story- a MALE KINDERGARDEN TEACHER!- that it has stayed with me for nearly 50 years. Don't know how realistic it was for the rest of the country, but I know there were at least some male teachers at my school (including my father), though they were heavily outnumbered. My memory of this is pleasant and up-lifting, though I may have been overly partisan on the side of the hapless teacher.