Date with the Angels

Last updated
Date with the Angels
Created by Don Fedderson
Written by George Tibbles
Fran Van Hartesveldt
Bill Kelsay
Directed by James V. Kern
Starring Betty White
Bill Williams
Jimmy Boyd
Composer Frank DeVol
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes33
Production
Executive producerFred Henry
Producer Don Fedderson
Running time2426 minutes
Production companySilverstone Films/Don Fedderson Productions
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseMay 10, 1957 (1957-05-10) 
January 29, 1958 (1958-01-29)

Date with the Angels is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from May 10, 1957, to January 29, 1958. The series, which stars Betty White and Bill Williams, began as a late season replacement for The Ray Anthony Show for the same sponsor, Chrysler's Plymouth division. Tom Kennedy was the show's announcer and spokesman for Plymouth.

Contents

Synopsis

The series revolves around newly married Vicki Angel and her insurance salesman husband Gus Angel who get themselves and their friends and neighbors into various comedic situations. Besides Betty White and Bill Williams, the series also featured for several episodes Richard Deacon, Richard Reeves, Maudie Prickett and Burt Mustin. Tom Kennedy's voice also appeared as announcer at the end of episodes.

Among the series' guest stars were Nancy Kulp, Madge Blake, Joan Vohs, Chuck Connors, Reta Shaw, Dave Willock, Sid Melton, Russell Hicks, Hugh O'Brian, Hanley Stafford, and Willard Waterman.

The show's theme song was "Got A Date With An Angel", a semi-standard introduced in 1932 and long associated with the orchestra of Hal Kemp.

Date with the Angels was loosely based on the Elmer Rice play Dream Girl , and the series was originally intended to revolve heavily around Vicki's daydreaming tendencies, with more than half of a typical episode dedicated to fantasy sequences. However, the sponsor was not pleased with the fantasy elements and successfully exerted pressure to have them eliminated. "Without our dream sequences," White later said, "our show flattened out and became just one more run-of-the-mill domestic comedy[...]I can honestly say that was the only time I have ever wanted to get out of a show." [1]

The series produced 33 filmed episodes before it was canceled in late January 1958. White fulfilled her series commitment by reviving her previous live variety/comedy show, The Betty White Show, for the rest of the season.

Cast

ActorRole
Betty White Vickie Angel
Bill Williams Gus Angel
Jimmy Boyd Wheeler
Richard Reeves Mr. Murphy
Maudie Prickett Mrs. Cassie Murphy
Richard Deacon Roger Finley
Burt Mustin Mr. Finley
Tom Kennedy Announcer
Roy EngelGeorge Clemson
Natalie Masters Wilma Clemson
Lillian BronsonMrs. Drake
Gage ClarkeDr. Gordon

Episodes

Episode #Episode TitleOriginal Airdate
1"Vicki Goes to a Party"May 10, 1957
2"Mother by Proxy"May 17, 1957
3"High Fever"May 24, 1957
4"The Wheel"May 31, 1957
5"The Tree in the Driveway"June 7, 1957
6"The Feud"June 14, 1957
7"Shall We Dance?"June 21, 1957
8"Little White Lies"June 28, 1957
9"The Blue Tie"July 12, 1957
10"Heartburn"July 19, 1957
11"The Surprise"July 26, 1957
12"Pike's Pique"August 2, 1957
13"Return of the Wheel"September 2, 1957
14"The Gorilla"September 13, 1957
15"Everybody's Baby"September 20, 1957
16"Catered Party"September 27, 1957
17"The Convention"October 4, 1957
18"Night School"October 11, 1957
19"Star Struck"October 25, 1957
20"Diane"November 1, 1957
21"Nobody's Father"November 8, 1957
22"No-Risk Policy"November 15, 1957
23"The Burglar"November 22, 1957
24"The Chateau"November 29, 1957
25"Chip Off the Old Block"December 6, 1957
26"Santa's Helper"December 13, 1957
27"Cousin Herbie"December 20, 1957
28"A Day at the Track"December 27, 1957
29"Wheeler at the Cabin"January 1, 1958
30"The Train"January 8, 1958
31"Double Trouble"January 15, 1958
32"Francis Goes to School"January 22, 1958
33"What an Opportunity"January 29, 1958

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References

  1. Nesteroff, Kliph (April 4, 2010). "The Early Betty White 1947-1973". WFMU's Beware of the Blog. Retrieved 2011-09-03.