My Son Jeep
My Son Jeep is an American situation comedy that ran on NBC Radio January 25, 1953 - June 14, 1953 and was revived on CBS Radio October 3, 1955 – November 9, 1956.[1] A television version ran on NBC July 4, 1953 - September 22, 1953, preceded by a "sneak preview" on June 3, 1953.[2]
Radio
[edit]
Format
[edit]The program focused on the family of Robert Allison, a doctor in the small town of Grove Falls. Widower Allison tried to raise his children, Peggy and 10-year-old Jeep, by himself. Mrs. Bixby was the Allisons' maid. Barbara Miller was the receptionis in the doctor's office and his "low-key romantic interest".[1]
The main character's nickname resulted from his fascination with a Jeep that he saw in a parade. His sister wanted to be called "Margaret", thinking that it had a more grown-up sound than "Peggy".[3]
Dr. Allison narrated the episodes.[3]
Cast
[edit]- Jeep Allison - Martin Huston and Bobby Alford[1]
- Dr. Robert Allison - Donald Cook and Paul McGrath[1]
- Peggy Allison - Joan Lazer[1]
- Barbara Miller - Lynn Allen and Joyce Gordon[1]
- Mrs. Bixby - Leona Powers[1]
Production
[edit]The program was broadcast on Sundays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time until April 1953, when it was moved to the 7 - 7:30 p.m. E. T. slot.
Revived version
[edit]In October 1955, My Son Jeep was revived in a 15-minute version that ran weeknights at 8 p.m. E. T. That version was later moved to 9 p.m. E. T.[1] Singer Don Cherry was a guest star, playing himself on the March 9, 1956, episode.[4]
Television
[edit]| My Son Jeep | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Starring | Jeffrey Lynn Martin Huston |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | July 4, 1953 – September 22, 1963 |
Format
[edit]The format was essentially the same as that of the radio program. One source noted that Peggy's age was 13 and that Miller's work as a receptionist was part-time, as she was also a substitute teacher.[5] Boots was Jeep's best friend and a frequent accomplice in getting into trouble.[3]
Cast
[edit]- Jeep Allison - Huston[2]
- Dr. Robert Allison - Jeffrey Lynn[2]
- Peggy Allison - Betty Lou Keim[2]
- Barbara Miller - Anne Sargent[2]
- Mrs. Bixby - Powers[2]
- Tommy Clifford - William Lally[5]
- Boots - Richard Wigginton[5]
Production
[edit]My Son Jeep was produced by Rockhill and Jeep Productions, with Hudson Faussett as the producer.[3] Grey Lockwood was the director. Walter Black and William Mendreck were the writers.[6] My Son Jeep initially was broadcast on Saturdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. E. T. Beginning September 1, 1953 it was moved to Tuesdays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. E. T.[3] An early broadcast occurred on June 5, 1953, when pre-emption of the hour-long Kraft Television Theatre by a half-hour presidential broadcast left NBC with 30 minutes to fill.[7] Reaction to that broadcast led to NBC's putting the show on the air on a sustaining basis[8] as the summer replacement for Ethel and Albert.[9]
The Library of Congress contains one episode of the show.[3]
Critical response
[edit]A review of the June 3, 1953, episode in The New York Times called it "a genuinely amusing video version of the radio show".[7] The review complimented Huston's portrayal of Jeep and said that the episode "was blessed with some good writing, a most engaging cast, and a tongue-in-cheek attitude."[7] Although the show focused on the boy, the adults in the episode drew compliments, too.[7]
A review of the same episode in the trade publication Variety said that Lynn's portrayal of the father had "an air of warmth and ease", while Huston played Jeep as "a study in eagerness, enthusiasm, indifference and all the other attributes of a 10-year-old." The review also complimented the work of the rest of the cast, the pace of the directing, the camerawork, and the overall production.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 473–474. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3.
- ^ a b c d e f McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 581. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
- ^ a b c d e f Leszczak, Bob (November 16, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-7864-6812-6. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ "Col.-CBS Beams Sales Pitch". Billboard. March 17, 1956. p. 16. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 703. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
- ^ a b "My Son Jeep". Variety. June 10, 1953. p. 32. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Gould, Jack (June 5, 1953). "Television in Review: N. B. C.'s Realignment of Wednesday Night Schedule Brings Forth a 'Sleeper' in 'My Son Jeep'". The New York Times. p. 24. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ "'Jeep' to Get Summer Slot". Billboard. June 20, 1953. p. 9. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Lester, John (July 4, 1953). "'My Son, Jeep' makes debut on TV tonight". The Newark Star-Ledger. p. 13. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]- My Son Jeep at IMDb
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- American comedy radio programs
- 1953 American television series debuts
- 1953 American television series endings
- 1950s American sitcoms
- Black-and-white American television shows
- American English-language television shows
- NBC sitcoms
- Radio programs adapted into television shows
- 1950s American radio programs
- United States radio show stubs