Blondie (1957 TV series)

Last updated
Blondie
Genre Sitcom
Based on Blondie comic strip
by Chic Young
Directed byAbby Berlin
Paul Landres
Starring Pamela Britton
Arthur Lake
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time25 mins.
Production companiesHal Roach Studios
King Features Productions
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseJanuary 4 (1957-01-04) 
July 5, 1957 (1957-07-05)
Related

Blondie is the first of two television series based on the comic strip by Chic Young. The show first aired on January 4, 1957 on NBC and ran for one season. Pamela Britton starred in the title role and Arthur Lake played Blondie's husband Dagwood Bumstead, reprising his role from the Blondie film series. [1]

Contents

A pilot episode was filmed in 1954 with Hal Le Roy as Dagwood opposite Britton's Blondie. The series was released in its entirety on September 25, 2018 by ClassicFlix. [2] As of 2024, it airs on Shout! TV.

Cast

Episodes

Title [4] Directed byWritten byAir date
1"Sudden Wealth" Hal Yates John L. GreeneJanuary 4, 1957 (1957-01-04)
2"It's for the Birds"Hal YatesJohn L. GreeneJanuary 11, 1957 (1957-01-11)
3"The Folks Who Came to Dinner"Hal YatesWarren Spector & Gordon T. HughesJanuary 18, 1957 (1957-01-18)
4"The Other Woman"UnknownUnknownJanuary 25, 1957 (1957-01-25)
5"Home Sweet Home"Hal YatesJack Ellinson & Charles StewartFebruary 1, 1957 (1957-02-01)
6"Get That Gun"Hal YatesFrank Gill, Jr.February 8, 1957 (1957-02-08)
7"The Feud" Paul Landres John L. GreeneFebruary 15, 1957 (1957-02-15)
8"The Quiz Show"Hal YatesUnknownFebruary 22, 1957 (1957-02-22)
9"Husbands Once Removed"UnknownUnknownMarch 1, 1957 (1957-03-01)
10"The Payoff Money"Paul LandresGeorge Beck & Jo ConwayMarch 8, 1957 (1957-03-08)
11"Hard Luck Idol"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMarch 15, 1957 (1957-03-15)
12"Oil for the Lamps of Blondie"UnknownUnknownMarch 22, 1957 (1957-03-22)
13"Blondie the Breadwinner"UnknownUnknownMarch 29, 1957 (1957-03-29)
14"The Glamour Girl"UnknownUnknownApril 5, 1957 (1957-04-05)
15"The Rummage Sale"Paul LandresUnknownApril 12, 1957 (1957-04-12)
16"Deception"Paul Landres Don Nelson & Jay Sommers April 19, 1957 (1957-04-19)
17"Puppy Love" Gerald Freedman George Carleton Brown & Frank Gill Jr.April 26, 1957 (1957-04-26)
18"Made to Fire"Paul LandresGordon T. Hughes & Warren SpectorMay 3, 1957 (1957-05-03)
19"Blondie Redecorates"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMay 10, 1957 (1957-05-10)
20"Blondie's Double"Paul LandresUnknownMay 17, 1957 (1957-05-17)
21"The Spy"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMay 24, 1957 (1957-05-24)
22"Cupid's Question Column"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMay 31, 1957 (1957-05-31)
23"The Tramp"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneJune 7, 1957 (1957-06-07)
24"Follow That Man"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneJune 14, 1957 (1957-06-14)
25"The Party"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneJune 21, 1957 (1957-06-21)
26"Howdy Neighbor"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 1957 (1957-06-28)

Production

William Harmon was the producer, Hal Yates was the director, and John L. Greene was the director. [3] The show was a Hal Roach Jr. production. Toni and Nestle sponsored it on alternate weeks. It was broadcast on Fridays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. [5]

Critical response

A review in the trade publication Variety found little to like in the premiere episode. It said that the TV adaptation "adds no new dimensions, either in wit or humor, to the comic strip." [3] In contrast, it added, "the comic strip humor is diluted, the cliched lines and situations standing out like sore thumbs." [3]

Further reading

Blondie Goes to Hollywood, by Carol Lynn Scherling. Albany, 2010. BearManor Media. ISBN   978-1-59393-401-9.

Related Research Articles

<i>Blondie</i> (comic strip) American comic strip starting 1930

Blondie is an American comic strip created by cartoonist Chic Young. The comic strip is distributed by King Features Syndicate, and has been published in newspapers since September 8, 1930. The success of the strip, which features the eponymous blonde and her sandwich-loving husband, led to the long-running Blondie film series (1938–1950) and the popular Blondie radio program (1939–1950).

<i>Blondie</i> (1938 film) 1938 comedy film

Blondie is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Frank Strayer, based on the comic strip of the same name, created by Chic Young. The screenplay was written by Richard Flournoy. The plot involves the Bumsteads' fifth anniversary, Dagwood trying to get a raise, and Blondie trying to buy new furniture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dagwood Bumstead</span> Comics character

Dagwood Bumstead is a main character in cartoonist Chic Young's long-running comic strip Blondie. He debuted in the first strip on September 8, 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Lake (actor)</span> American actor (1905–87)

Arthur Lake was an American actor known best for bringing Dagwood Bumstead, the bumbling husband of Blondie, to life in film, radio, and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pamela Britton</span> American actress and singer (1923–1974)

Pamela Britton was an American actress, best known for appearing as Lorelei Brown in the television series My Favorite Martian (1963–1966) and for her female lead in the film noir classic D.O.A. (1950). Throughout her acting career, Britton appeared often on Broadway and in several Hollywood and television films.

<i>Blondie</i> (radio series) 1940s radio sitcom adapted from the Blondie comic strip

Blondie is a radio situation comedy adapted from the long-running Blondie comic strip by Chic Young. It stars Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead and, for the majority of its run, Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead. The radio program ran on several networks from 1939 to 1950.

<i>Blondie Goes to College</i> 1942 film

Blondie Goes to College is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer. The film is a part of the Blondie series, starring Penny Singleton in the title role. It is the tenth of twenty-eight Blondie movies starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake.

<i>Blondie</i> (1968 TV series) American television sitcom

Blondie is an American sitcom that aired on CBS during the 1968–69 television season. The series is an updated version of the 1957 TV series based on the comic strip of the same name. The series stars Patricia Harty as the title character and Will Hutchins as her husband, Dagwood Bumstead. Jim Backus played Dagwood's boss Mr. Dithers, with his real-life wife, Henny Backus, playing Cora Dithers. The series also featured Peter Robbins as the Bumsteads' son, Alexander, Pamelyn Ferdin as their daughter, Cookie, and character actor Bryan O'Byrne as the hapless mailman, always getting run over by Dagwood hurrying out the door, late for work.

Blondie Meets the Boss is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake.

<i>Blondie Has Servant Trouble</i> 1940 film by Frank R. Strayer

Blondie Has Servant Trouble is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. It is sixth of the series of 28 Blondie movies.

Blondie for Victory is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. It is the 12th entry in the Blondie series.

<i>Blondie Brings Up Baby</i> 1939 film by Frank R. Strayer

Blondie Brings Up Baby is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. It is the fourth of 28 films based on the comic strip.

<i>Blondie Goes Latin</i> 1941 film by Frank R. Strayer

Blondie Goes Latin, also known as Conga Swing, is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and Robert Sparks and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the eighth of the Blondie films. The film showcases musical numbers of Kirby Grant, Ruth Terry, Tito Guizar, with Arthur Lake displaying his drum skills, Penny Singleton her singing and dancing prowess.

Blondie in Society is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the ninth of the 28 features in the Blondie film series released by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Its a Great Life</i> (1943 film) 1943 film by Frank R. Strayer

It's a Great Life is a 1943 black-and-white film and is the 13th of the 28 Blondie films. It is one of only two movies in the series that did not feature "Blondie" in the title.

<i>Leave It to Blondie</i> 1945 film by Abby Berlin

Leave It to Blondie is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake and Larry Simms. It was fifteenth of the twenty eight series of Blondie films released by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Life with Blondie</i> 1945 film by Abby Berlin

Life with Blondie is a 1945 American black-and-white domestic comedy film and the 16th of the 28 Blondie films. It was the return of Dagwood and Blondie after Columbia Picture's 1943 decision to cancel the series met with protest.

<i>Blondies Lucky Day</i> 1946 film directed by Abby Berlin

Blondie's Lucky Day is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the 17th of the 28 Blondie films.

<i>Beware of Blondie</i> 1950 film

Beware of Blondie is a 1950 American black and white comedy film and is the last of Columbia's 28 Blondie films in 12 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blondie (film series)</span> American comedy film series based on the comic strip Blondie

The Blondie film series is an American comedy film series based on the comic strip of the same name, created by Chic Young. The series featured Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead and Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead. Concurrently the film adventures were continued, with the same cast reprising their roles, in the Blondie radio series.

References

  1. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present (9 ed.). Random House Publishing. pp. 154–155. ISBN   978-0-345-49773-4 . Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  2. "Blondie - the Complete 1957 Television Series - ClassicFlix".
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Blondie". Variety. January 16, 1957. p. 31. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  4. "Blondie - the Complete 1957 Television Series - ClassicFlix".
  5. "Nestle, Toni Will Split 'Blondie' Tab". Variety. January 2, 1957. p. 17. Retrieved May 20, 2023.