So what are your favorite television shows from the Golden Age of television?

A few of mine...

I Love Lucy 1951-57
One of the funniest sitcoms ever created. I'd say my favorite episodes are all of the ones tied in to their trip to California- from buying the car to get there, to the train trip home.
Trivia The show invented the "rerun" by having episodes from the first season re-air during Lucille Ball's pregnancy.


The series was continued during the 1957-60 seasons with the show The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.


The Twilight Zone 1959-1964
In my opinion, the best television anthology series.



Land Of The Giants 1968-1970
TriviaAt the time of its debut, this was the most expensive show produced on television.



Leave It To Beaver 1957-63
Probably my all time favorite sitcom. In some ways the show was ahead of its time- had an episode that dealt with divorce, one that dealt with alcoholism, and another that was anti-smoking.
It's the first American TV show to show a toilet, though all we see is the tank. This was to be shown as the first episode, but it was considered too controversial and became the second episode of the season.




Some fun TV Trivia:

1927--Herbert Hoover, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, appeared on the 1st intercity television transmission from Washington, D.C., to New York.

930--Felix the Cat became television's 1st "star" when he appeared in statue form on an experimental program on NBC. The figure whirled on a turntable before the camera's eye.

1931--On a historic Tuesday night in July, CBS inaugurated the nation's 1st regular schedule of television broadcasting. New York mayor Jimmy Walker officiated at this telecast. By evening's end, George Gershwin had performed "Lisa," the Boswell Sisters had sung "Heebie-Jeebie Blues," and Kate Smith had belted out "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain."

-- http://www.trivia-library.com/a/history-of-television-in-the-1920s-and-1930s.htm



Mary Kay and Johnny 1947-50 is considered the first American situation comedy. It's also the first series to show a couple in bed.

Gilligan's Island 1964-67

Trivia Jayne Mansfield turned down the role of "Ginger"; Carroll O'Connor tested for the role of The Skipper; Dabney Coleman tested for the role of The Professor. Raquel Welch auditioned for the role of Mary Anne. Jerry Van Dyke turned down the role of Gilligan.




The Andy Griffith Show 1960-68

Even though I enjoyed all of the seasons, the show was never the same after Don Knotts left.

Trivia The series ended while still at the top of the Nielsen's Ratings, one of only three shows to have done so, along with "I Love Lucy" (1951) and "Seinfeld" (1990).

Mission Impossible
9/17/1966 - 9/8/1973
CBS 60 minutes
Color - 168 total episodes

"Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is... As usual, should you or any member of your I.M. Force be captured or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your existence. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim."



In the first season, the self-destructing tape came with a packet of pictures of potential agents to use on the assignment. Since Jim always picked the same people, this seemed sort of silly and was eventually dropped.

Addams Family
11/18/64 - 11/2/1966
ABC 30 minutes
Black and White - 64 episodes



Trivia: They lived at 000 Cemetary Lane in the town of Cemetary Ridge,
Family pet is Kit Kat (a lion) and Gomez belongs to the Zen Yoga Society.

About The Thing. The disembodied hand was usually played by Ted Cassidy, the 6'9 actor who was Lurch. But occasionally Lurch and the Thing were in the same scene, in which case Assistant Director Jack Voglin doubled for Cassidy. Playing the Thing gave Cassidy something to do, since his only line in memory was, "you rang?"

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Hour
(1962 - 1965)
10/2/55 - 11/6/1965
CBS, NBC, CBS
30 minutes and 1 hour
Black and White - 265 episodes

"Good eeeeeeevening..."



Who can forget the camera showing him in silhouette? The story goes that this profile sketch is from a Christmas card designed by Hitchcock when he was in England.

Then he'd give you a teaser about tonight's episode, take a little shot at the sponsor, and the chills would begin. (The monologues were written by James Allardice.)

Lassie
9/12/1954 - 9/12/1971 CBS
1971-1974 Syndicated
Black and White/Color - 30 minutes



I'm amazed that Lassie pulled off those weekly feats of derring-do. How confusing it must have been. First, they kept calling "Lassie, come here, girl" when the dog was, in fact, a male. Actually, six of them all trained by Rudd Weatherwax.

Lone Ranger
9/15/1949 - 9/12/1957 ABC
Black and White and Color
30 minutes -221 episodes

“A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty 'Hi-Yo Silver!' The Lone Ranger. With his faithfil companion Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked man of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early West. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear." The Lone Ranger rides again! "



Most people do not know that for 26 episodes between 1951-1953, John Hart played the Lone Ranger.

And I bet you didn't know this. The Lone Ranger was created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker who also created the Green Hornet. So the Lone Ranger's nephew Dan (Chuck Courtney) was the father of Britt Reid, the Green Hornet.

Remember kemo sabe? Means "trusted scout."

Lost In Space 1965-68

Though this is one of my favorite Scifi shows of all time, Lost In Space features one of the worst episodes in TV history- The Great Vegetable Rebellion, which featured Tybor The Carrot as the episode's villain.

Trivia Jonathan Harris was the first actor to receive a Special Guest Star status on a TV series.

June Lockhart had the biggest parking space on the 20th Century-Fox lot because she would often drive her favorite vehicle to work - a 1913 fire truck.

Robert Kinoshita designed The Robot. He also designed Robby the Robot for Forbidden Planet. Robby makes an appearance in the episode: The War of the Robots

One Step Beyond 1959-61

"What you are about to see is a matter of human record. Explain it: we cannot. Disprove it: we cannot. We simply invite you to explore with us the amazing world of the Unknown ... to take that One Step ... Beyond."

Hosted by John Newland

Thriller 1960-62

Another great anthology series. This one hosted by Boris Karloff.

Boris Karloff: "And as sure as my name is Boris Karloff, this is going to be a thriller."

TV Promo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLyroDnpK8o

Intro (Episode- Mark Of The Hand):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTs5M2uUOY&feature=related

you pretty much summed it up... cept for dobie gillis

and Adam 12

There's a lot of shows still not up here yet.

you already said all the ones i was going too..lol

hogans heros... not sure if was the 60's when it started tho..

I am a big lassie fan, the first lassie was actually named Pal.

Dark Shadows

Yep, 1965.

Shultz, I know nothing.

i liked clink... he was the funniest..