The Danny Thomas Show - Season 6 - Page 2

Hank Dearborn · 08-06-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff#

I have no plans to collect Danny's show no matter how inexpensive they are.

Of course not. Why would that surprise anyone. Amazing how many shows you feel the need to comment on negatively, regardless of whether or not you've even seen them or know the slightest thing about them. I wish I had the ability to offer expert advice on things I've never seen. That's quite a talent.

Jeff# · 08-06-2007, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank Dearborn

Of course not. Why would that surprise anyone. Amazing how many shows you feel the need to comment on negatively, regardless of whether or not you've even seen them or know the slightest thing about them. I wish I had the ability to offer expert advice on things I've never seen. That's quite a talent.

I don't know why you feel you have to open attack on me. It's not that big a deal if I buy it or not. There are few sitcoms I want to collect, and they include Get Smart (have them all), Sledge Hammer (have all of those also), and Dobie Gillis, to name just a few.

And by the way, I said I've seen episodes of The Danny Thomas Show...just not from the early seasons.
So I know what the show is about.

Joe Lugoff · 08-06-2007, 11:52 AM

When it inherited "I Love Lucy's" timeslot (Monday, 9:00 PM EST) on CBS in the 1957-58 season, "The Danny Thomas Show" became television's top-rated sitcom (ending 2nd overall for that season, with "Gunsmoke" in first place.)

It remained TV's top sitcom for 1958-59 and 1959-60, but ranked fifth in 1960-61, behind "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Real McCoys," "The Jack Benny Show" and "Dennis the Menace."

The rest of its run:

1961-62: "Hazel," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Danny Thomas Show"

1962-63: "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Lucy Show," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Danny Thomas Show"

1963-64: "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Petticoat Junction," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Lucy Show," "The Danny Thomas Show"

All in all, it's truly one of the most successful sitcoms of the 1950s-1960s.

Garysb · 08-08-2007, 10:40 AM

There can only be speculation as to why the Jean Hagan shows were not included when the show was syndicated. My guess is that perhaps at the time people might be confused to see Danny Williams with a different wife.
Sit coms at that time really didn't have character growth or change other than the growth of child actors. The Dick Van Dyke show for example can be shown in any order , except for 2 parters, and it would make sense.
Before video tape and satellite delivery, syndicated TV shows were shipped to local stations on 16 MM film. The TV stations who had the rights to the show shared the films and mailed them back and forth as needed. Stations did not necessarily rerun the show in broadcast order. It would be confusing for Danny to have one wife on Monday, a different wife on Tuesday, and be a widower on Wednesday. Simpler just to use the most recent wife. Also the oldest daughter was recast at the time Marjorie Lord joined the show.
As to why they are not included now , it could be that the shows are in poor condition or it could be that the people who are releasing the show want to start with the show the way most people remember it. If successful the Jean Hagan shows could be released.
When The Avengers was released on DVD, they started with the color Emma Peel shows which were the best remembered . Eventually all shows that could be located were released.

Joe Lugoff · 08-08-2007, 10:53 AM

When this show had network reruns (Mon-Fri and Saturday mornings), they reran the Jean Hagen episodes. People just knew his first wife had died. It really wasn't all that confusing.

Hank Dearborn · 08-08-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Lugoff

When this show had network reruns (Mon-Fri and Saturday mornings), they reran the Jean Hagen episodes. People just knew his first wife had died. It really wasn't all that confusing.

Exactly. This was a decision made by Danny and subsequently upheld by his estate that he did not want these episodes seen, for whatever reason. It's all speculation as there has never been a definitive explanation given but I would think that Hagen leaving the show after 3 seasons was not something that sat well with Thomas. And since they were able to accumulate enough episodes in the Lord era to put together a syndication package, there was no need to include the first 4 seasons. Stations did not want huge runs of shows with over 300 episodes. This is why other long running shows also had abreviated syndication packages. Other examples:

Ozzie and Harriet - 435 made, 200 syndicated
Bonanza - 431 made, 235 syndicated (first 6 seasons)
Gunsmoke - 1 package of 233 half hours & another of 225 color hours
My Three Sons - 380 made, first 5 seasons and last season and a half not syndicated
Donna Reed Show and Beverly Hillbillies also had about 100 episodes chopped off their syndication packages.

Garysb · 08-09-2007, 09:32 AM

In the My Three Sons case they left out the shows with William Frawley and original oldest son Mike, neither of whom was mentioned again after they left. The other shows left out of syndication are the ones after Robbie ( Don Grady) left.

Garysb · 08-09-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank Dearborn

Exactly. This was a decision made by Danny and subsequently upheld by his estate that he did not want these episodes seen, for whatever reason.

Seems odd that people would be honoring a request from people who are long dead. The reason for the request probably doesn't matter anymore. Hurt feelings, betrayal , or whatever. Again its all speculation.
I don't remember the Jean Hagan shows ever being syndicated. The shows I remember all started with Danny and Kathy on their honeymoon in Las Vegas.

MatthewA · 08-09-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garysb

In the My Three Sons case they left out the shows with William Frawley and original oldest son Mike, neither of whom was mentioned again after they left. The other shows left out of syndication are the ones after Robbie ( Don Grady) left.

I remember them airing these on Nick-at-Nite in 1990, however.

AlanP · 08-09-2007, 06:36 PM

I watched this series as a child on local television as "MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY". Well, they showed the Jean Hagen episodes. Also, a few years ago,
at COSTCO, they had a 12 video set with samples from every season including many with Jean Hagen, Danny as a widower, and Marjorie Lord, with two of the European episodes included. It was a twelve set series with three episodes on each. And the quality was very very good. So, this is not true that Jean Hagen episodes have not been around. And they were also in the daytime syndication package with Sherry Jackson and Penny Parker that played Terry for one or two seasons. But, Sherry remained with the series from 53-58.
Thanks,
Alan

docdoowop · 10-08-2007, 11:45 AM

Artwork and release info now up at TVSoDVD:

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Mak...e-Box-Art/8217

Bob Hug · 10-08-2007, 12:10 PM

The artwork is pretty simple, but my understanding is that this release will feature full length episodes (based on the set's running time, the episodes will average out to 25 minutes) and not the syndicated episodes, like Questar used for season five. Should be a solid release with solid extras . . . . I'm looking forward to it.

Elena S · 10-08-2007, 04:49 PM

Although I'm very glad to see this happening, I can't help but be disappointed at the timing. I had hoped to receive it as a Christmas gift and it won't come out until January 22. Seem a bit odd that they wouldn't