Obscure Classic TV Shows - Post Your Favorites! (2 Viewers)

[The 1960's]

Matinee Theatre aka Cameo Theater (1955-1958)
Stars John Conte Johnny Crawford Sarah Churchill​

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Matinee Theater was a high budget regularly scheduled daytime program on NBC. Matinee Theater was part of the network's effort to "provide quality 'adult' entertainment" in daytime programming. A daily anthology show, featuring original material, as well as adaptations of literary classics.

S01E197 The Fall of the House of Usher (Aug.06.1956)
Stars John Conte Tom Tryon Marshall Thompson​

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The story of the terrifying curse, death, and madness that takes place in the House of Usher. Based on the story by Edgar Allen (Allan) Poe. Mastered from 16mm color film, with some color correction.​

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[Capt D McMars]

Never saw this on US tv, but tracked it down, only 17 of the 26 episods survives, but if you can find the dvd boxset, you're very lucky!!

 

[Capt D McMars]

another series, Interpole calling...

 

[The 1960's]

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Never saw this on US tv, but tracked it down, only 17 of the 26 episods survives, but if you can find the dvd boxset, you're very lucky!!

You posted this here on Feb. 5th of this year. No response necessary thank you.

 

[The 1960's]

Continued from Dec 14, 2021

Lights Out (1946-1952)
Stars Frank Gallop Jack La Rue Mercer McLeod​

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Lights Out was an extremely popular American old-time radio program, an early example of a network series devoted mostly to horror and the supernatural, predating Suspense and Inner Sanctum. Versions of Lights Out aired on different networks, at various times, from January 1934 to the summer of 1947, and the series eventually made the transition to television.

S04E05 Rappaccini's Daughter (Sep.24.1951)
Stars Frank Gallop (voice) Miriam Goldina Edwin Jerome Hope Miller Eli Wallach Justice Watson​

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[The 1960's]

Continued from Sep 28, 2021

Circle of Fear aka Ghost Story (1972-1973)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Sheila Larken Meg Foster​

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An anthology of suspense dramas concentrating on individuals confronted with supernatural occurrences.

S01E00 The New House (Mar.17.1972)
Stars David Birney Barbara Parkins Sam Jaffe Sebastian Cabot Allyn Ann McLerie Caitlin Wyles Ivor Francis John Garwood William Castle​

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A young couple move into a home that is haunted by a girl who had been hanged there many years ago and vowed never to be evicted from the site.​

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S01E01 The Dead We Leave Behind (Sep.15.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Jason Robards Stella Stevens Jack Kelly John McLiam Skip Ward William Smidt Hayden Rorke​

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When Ranger Elliott Brent's pretty young wife Joanna complains of boredom, he buys her a television set. Unfortunately, she starts spending all of her time watching television, to the neglect of her household chores. One day, during an argument, Elliott accidentally kills Joanna. He buries her body in a shed behind his cabin. After that, he starts seeing images of Joanna being unfaithful on the television. One stormy night, a man shows up at the cabin seeking shelter, and Elliott recognizes him as the man Joanna was having an affair with. Elliott kills him, too. But will the dead stay quietly buried?​

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S01E02 The Concrete Captain (Sep.22.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Stuart Whitman Gena Rowlands Walter Burke Eugenia Stewart Glenn R. Wilder Lloyd Gough​

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While on vacation, Ed Lucas presents his wife Kate with a souvenir of "The Concrete Captain," a small chunk of concrete with a miniature harpoon sticking out of it. Kate seems to be drawn to the item, continually picking it up and looking at it. Later, she is also drawn to a seaside inn, where she and her husband hear the tale of The Concrete Captain and his wife, Katherine. But when Kate becomes ill, and starts acting strangely, Ed wonders if the Concrete Captain hasn't returned to try to claim Kate as his own.​

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S01E03 At the Cradle Foot (Sep.29.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot James Franciscus Elizabeth Ashley Jeremy Slate Meg Foster Lorie Busk Lisa James George McCallister Karl Swenson Judson Pratt​

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Paul, a recently divorced man, has a dream that his daughter Emily gets murdered as an adult. Believing it to be a premonition, he goes to the town where this will happen to see if he can prevent it. While there, he falls for Julie the owner of the boardinghouse where he is staying. It turns out that Julie is engaged to Ed, who turns out to be the man who murders Emily in Paul's vision. Chaos ensues as Paul and Ed end up fighting over Julie, and Ed ends up dead. Paul gets off by claiming the death was an accident, but Julie has one more nasty surprise waiting for Paul before he leaves town for good.​

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S01E04 Bad Connection (Oct.06.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Karen Black Michael Tolan Kaz Garas James A. Watson Jr. Sandra Deel Skip Homeier Ellen Geer Med Flory Curt Conway Florida Friebus Larry Fleischman​

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A young widow is trying to move on after her husband is shot down in Vietnam and presumed dead. She begins to receive mysterious phone calls from a man who sounds like her late husband.​

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[Capt D McMars]

In the spirit of the fall season, I remembered this series I just don't see anywhere, so I thought I would add it here -

 

[Capt D McMars]

I didn't see this one....the Man from Interpole Brit TV -

 

[Capt D McMars]

Another just in case - The DAs Man

 

[Capt D McMars]

Never saw this, it looks Canadian...The Beachcombers with 19 seasons it had it's fans!!!

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[The 1960's]

I didn't see this one....the Man from Interpole Brit TV -

I posted this one on Nov 19, 2021.

Another just in case - The DAs Man

I posted 21 episodes of this series including this one on Sep 21, 2021 Nov 29, 2021 Dec 21, 2021 & Dec 27, 2021 No response necessary thank you.

 

[The 1960's]

Circle of Fear aka Ghost Story (1972-1973)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Sheila Larken Meg Foster​

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An anthology of suspense dramas concentrating on individuals confronted with supernatural occurrences.

S01E06 Alter-Ego (Oct.27.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Helen Hayes Charles Aidman Gene Andrusco Collin Wilcox Paxton Geoffrey Horne Phyllis Love Janet MacLachlan Michael-James Wixted​

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Bobby is a very bright, but very sickly boy with a particular fondness for chess. As he starts fifth grade, he is delighted to find that his teacher is the very popular Miss Gilden, with whom he forms a close friendship. Unfortunately, early in the school year, Bobby becomes too sick to go to school. After a short period of time, an alter-ego who looks exactly like Bobby appears and tells him not to worry, he will go to school for Bobby and come home and tell him what he has learned. Unfortunately, the alter ego terrorizes Miss Gilden, ultimately disgracing her and causing her death. As the alter-ego becomes stronger, Bobby becomes weaker until the alter-ego suggests that they play a game of chess to decide who should live as Bobby. With his life as the stakes, Bobby needs to best this evil version of himself. Assistance comes from an unexpected source.​

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S01E08 House of Evil (Nov.10.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Melvyn Douglas Mildred Dunnock Joan Hotchkis Richard Mulligan Jodie Foster Alan Fudge Brad Savage​

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When Grandpa arrives for a visit, he brings 2 special gifts for his granddaughter, Judy, a deaf mute; one's a special doll house 1 an exact replica of the one Judy lives in with her family. The other is the ability to "hear" his thoughts without speaking. But Grandpa's intentions aren't as benign as they seem. Will Judy be able to save her family before Grandpa destroys it?​

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S01E10 Elegy for a Vampire (Dec.01.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Hal Linden Marlyn MasonMike Farrell Arthur O'Connell Sheila Larken John Milford Susan Foster Patricia Eltinge Heather North Bob Harks​

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Coeds are being murdered on a small university campus, all drained of their blood with two small marks on their necks. The late Professor Pendergast, who had been investigating the idea that vampirism is caused by a blood disease, has been sighted at two of the attacks.​

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S01E12 Creatures of the Canyon (Dec.15.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Angie Dickinson John Ireland Madlyn Rhue Mary Murphy Robert Donner Bob Harks​

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A widow is stalked by a vicious dog that once belonged to her late husband, but which now lives with a sinister neighbor. Even after the dog turns up poisoned, she believes it is still stalking her.​

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S01E13 Time of Terror (Dec.22.1972)
Stars Sebastian Cabot Patricia Neal Craig Stevens Alice Ghostley Elliott Montgomery Douglas Henderson Mark Tapscott Frank Whiteman Bruce Kimmel Lynn Hamilton Robert P. Lieb Maggie Malooly Mel Gallagher Nelson D. Cuevas Tony Ballen Ondine Vaughn Jannis Durkin Betty Ann Carr Merritt Smith Dorothy Meyer Fred Holliday​

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Terror ensues when Ellen Alexander wakes up alone in a hotel room, with no sign of her husband, Harry. Inquiries at the front desk yield the answer that he has checked out without her, and eventually lead her to Brett, who helps her find the answers she is seeking.​

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Ghost Story (AKA Circle of Fear): The Complete Series

Ghost Story (AKA Circle of Fear): The Complete Series (BluRay) B/2​

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[The 1960's]

Fixed from Feb 1, 2022

One Step Beyond (1959-1961)
Stars John Newland Robert Douglas Olan So​

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Produced at the same time as the more well-known The Twilight Zone (1959), this series was an extension of the tradition of radio horror and supernatural dramas such as Light's Out, The Mysterious Traveler and The Witches Tale. As with the Twilight Zone and the radio programs each tale was book-ended by an introduction and conclusion by a host. However, rather than creating fictional stories with supernatural twists and turns, this program sought out "real" stories of the supernatural, including ghosts, disappearances, monsters and the like, re-creating them for each episode. No solutions to these mysteries were ever found, and viewers could only scratch their heads and wonder, "what if it's real?"
Most Season One episodes have been excluded as it is available on DVD.

Season One

S1E12 The Return of Mitchell Campion (Apr.07.1959)
Stars John Newland Patrick O'NealL ilyan Chauvin Richard Angarola Anatol Winogradoff Allegra Varron Vance Howard Robert Hernandez Fred Lerner​

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A man visiting a small Mediterranean island is stunned when all of the island's residents recognize him and insist that he is an island resident who has returned after many years, even though he knows he has never been there before.​

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S1E21 Front Runner (Jun.09.1959)
Stars John Newland Ben Cooper Walter Burke Sandy Kenyon Carmen Phillips Rita Lupino Jerry Hausner Phil Chambers J. Edward McKinley​

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Two jockeys who are good friends have a falling out when one accuses the other of foul practice during a race. Some years later, the accused jockey believes his accuser has obtained his revenge by supernatural means.​

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Season Two

S02E01 Delusion (Sep.15.1959)
Stars Norman Lloyd Suzanne Pleshette David White John Brennan George Mitchell Marjorie Bennett John Newland​

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A man with a rare blood type is unwilling to donate his blood in order to save a girl's life, knowing that if he does he will be tormented by supernatural visions of her future.​

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02E02 Ordeal on Locust Street (Sep.22.1959)
Stars Augusta Dabney David Lewis Suzanne LloydBart Burns James Kirkwood Jr. Gary Campbell John Newland​

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A seemingly normal family is hiding a terrible secret: their son has the features of a deformed, fish-like monster. A somewhat mysterious hypnotist with strange powers claims that he can help them, and in their desperation they enlist his aid.​

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S02E03 Brainwave (Oct.06.1959)
Stars George Grizzard Tod Andrews Whit Bissell Robert Osborne Raymond Bailey Harry Harvey Jr. Bob Davis John Newland​

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Aboard a United States ship in Japanese waters during World War II, Captain Fielding is critically injured. A hospital corpsman must perform surgery with only the radio voice of a doctor on another ship to guide him.​

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[Bob Graham]

I've been away for a while, but I found something really obscure and interesting. "Two for Penny" was a pilot for a series based on the Natale Wood movie, "Love With The Proper Stranger" with Donna "The Dr Pepper Girl" Loren in the role Natalie created. Also with Bill Bixby, Michael Constantine and Danny Thomas. From March 1968.

 

[The 1960's]

Season Two Continues

S02E07 The Open Window (Nov.03.1959)
Stars John Newland Michael Higgins Louise Fletcher Charles Seel Lori March James Seay Elizabeth York​

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Artist Anthony March has a premonition of his neighbor's untimely death.​

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S02E08: Message From Clara (Nov.10.1959)
Stars John Newland Barbara Baxley Robert Ellenstein Oscar Beregi Jr. Don Keefer Celia Lovsky Robert Stevenson Renata Vanni​

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A student taking night classes falls in love with his beautiful teacher. However, he begins to suspect that his dead ex-girlfriend may be using the teacher to try to communicate with him.​

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S02E09: Forked Lightning (Nov.17.1959)
Stars John Newland Ralph Nelson Frank Maxwell Roberta Haynes Candy Moore Robert B. Williams Logan Field Frank Behrens James Nolan Peter Walker​

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Two men who don't know each other find that their lives are intertwined by a strange psychic connection that may end up in the deaths of both.​

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S02E11 Dead Ringer (Dec.01.1959)
Stars John Newland Norma Crane Grant Williams Ed Prentiss Olive Blakeney Dort Clark Kathleen Mulqueen​

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A woman called Esther has unsettling visions of buildings set alight by an arsonist and claims that her sister, whom she has not seen for many years, is responsible. She states that she is able to will her sister to come to town and a woman resembling Esther is seen at the statio... Read all​

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S02E14: Make Me Not a Witch (Dec.22.1959)
Stars John Newland Patty McCormack Robert Emhardt Eileen Ryan Leo Penn Deena Goldstone Jimmy Baird William Greene Pedro Regas Preston Hanson Charlott Knight​

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A farm girl's parents are terrified when their daughter reveals that she can read minds. But a priest knows that her gifts can save two young lives.​

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[The 1960's]

S02E20 Who Are You? (Feb.02.1960)
Stars Philip Bourneuf Anna Lee Reba Waters Phyllis Hill Ross Elliott Mike Keene King Calder Jon Lormer Jacqueline deWit John Newland​

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In the 1900s, Laurie Warren, recovering from scarlet fever it was feared would kill her, travels to the home of a Mr and Mrs Mason, whose daughter has recently died and imagines that she is that daughter rejecting her parents when they come after her. However things change after ... Read all​

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S02E22: The Lovers (Feb.16.1960)
Stars Vanessa Brown John Beal Rudolph Anders Lili Valenty Sig Ruman Irene Tedrow John Newland​

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Evil spirits are determined to break up the romance between Otto, a patron at a Viennese tavern, and Elsa, a beautiful waitress there. But the connection between the two lovers seems to be stronger than the spirits counted on.​

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S02E25 The Haunting (Mar.08.1960)
Stars Ronald Howard Christine White Doris Lloyd Anthony Eustrel Keith McConnell Cyril Delevanti Clive Halliday Veronica Cartwright John Newland​

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Suspecting his friend Peter of having an affair with his bride-to-be, Colin Chandler allows him to die following a climbing accident. However ghostly happenings interrupt the wedding ceremony resulting in punishment for Colin and his eventual breakdown.​

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S02E26 The Explorer (Mar.15.1960)
Stars Gregory Morton Eddie Firestone Jeremy Slate Bert Convy John Wengraf Edith Evanson Rudolph Anders Ralph Helfer John Newland​

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In Germany in 1911 Felix Borgner is visited by Dr Hansen, one of three explorers who got lost in the desert the previous year and were saved and guided back to safety by Borgner's son Eric. Of course Borgner is not amused as Eric was no longer alive by that time.​

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S02E33 The Visitor (May.10.1960)
Stars Joan Fontaine Warren Beatty John Newland Chuck Webster​

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lcoholic Ellen Grayson summons her husband Harry to her isolated house to announce their marriage is over, after which he crashes his car. Helen is then visited by a man, the exact double of a much younger Harry, whose account of the love his has for his wife moves her to reconciliation and inadvertently saving her husband's life.​

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[The 1960's]

S02E34: Gypsy (May.17.1960)
Stars Robert Blake John Kellogg Johnny Seven Murvyn Vye Addison Richards Monte Burkhart Kelly Thordsen John Newland​

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A convict who has just escaped from prison meets up with a mysterious gypsy, who convinces him that it is best for him to return to the prison from which he has just escaped. The convict soon begins to realize that the there was quite a bit more to the gypsy than there at first appeared to be.​

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S02E38 Goodbye Grandpa (Jun.14.1960)
Stars Edgar Stehli Candy Moore Anna Karen Donald Losby John Newland​

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A brother and sister are devastated by the death of their grandfather, to whom they were inordinately close. However, they soon begin to suspect that he may be trying to contact them from beyond the grave.​

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Never Released on Home Video​

 

[The 1960's]

Follow-Up (1959) Unsold Pilot

The Red-Light Bandit
Stars Caryl Chessman Ned LeFevre​

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Interview of Ruth Meza, the mother of Mary Alice Meza, who was a victim of the Red-Light Bandit, Caryl Chessman. Interviewed by Ned LeFevre.​

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[The 1960's]

The Big Idea (1952-1953)
Stars Donn Bennett Ray Wood​

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A documentary series focusing on modern inventions.

Episode One Swift and Company (Apr.10.1951)
Stars Jim Bannon Veronika Pataky Milburn Stone​

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This is a story about people, the people of Swift and Company of Chicago. A story during 1951, the cold war, and the threat of communism. Jim Bannon is the commentator on the "Voice of America", reaching out to communist countries under siege. HIs friend, Hank, is a reporter with socialist leanings. They decide to have an interview with a attractive woman "spy", undoubtedly from Russia, and interview her on "Voice of America" after touring an American business. They decide on Swift & Company in the Chicago Stockyards. They tour the plant, talk to the employees, and she is shown the freedom, contentment, and satisfaction of the employees of Swift. There are square dances, awards, cooking school, and a company choir. As the story unfolds, tour the Swift & Company plant. This film stars actual employees of Swift & Company in 1951. If a family member worked for Swift in the 1950's watch this film. Stars Jim Bannon, Veronika Pataky, and Milburn Stone. The cast included an estimated 130 Swift employees. Some 28,000 workers and friends attended four screenings at Chicago’s International Amphitheater. Thirty- and 28-minute versions were released for noncommercial screening and broadcast. In the first two years of release, Big Idea reached 3.5 million moviegoers and 13 million television viewers.

Resources
“20,000 Swift Workers to Be Party Guests,” Chicago Tribune, Apr. 8, 1951, WA9; “Swift Premieres Big Idea,” Business Screen 12, no. 2 (1951): 64; “Vast Audience Hears Freedom’s Ring,” Business Screen 12, no. 3 (1951): 29–31; Ray Vicker, “Business Movies, with Low-Keyed Promotion, Win Big TV Audience,” Wall Street Journal, June 25, 1954, 1.

The film concludes "We are not slaves of the state, we control our destiny." Mastered from 16mm b-w film.​

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[The 1960's]

Continued from Feb 20,, 2022

The Littlest Hobo (1963-1965)
Stars London Monty McFarlane Gregg Palmer​

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The Littlest Hobo is a Canadian television series (French title: Le Vagabond) based upon a 1958 American film of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, and was revived for a popular second run on CTV, spanning six seasons, from October 11, 1979 to March 7, 1985. The concept of the show was that of "an ownerless dog". All three productions revolved around an extremely intelligent stray German Shepherd, the titular Hobo, who wanders from town to town, helping people in need. Although the concept (of a dog saving the day) was perhaps similar to that of Lassie and/or Rin Tin Tin, the Littlest Hobo's destiny was to befriend those who apparently needed help (all portrayed by actors in celebrity guest appearance roles). Despite the attempts of the many people whom he helped to adopt him, he appeared to prefer to be on his own, and would head off by himself at the end of each episode. Referred to as “Gulliver” in a single episode, the dog is often referred to by the name Hobo or by the names given by temporary human companions. His origins, motivation, and ultimate destination are never explained on screen. (From Wikipedia) Most episodes were filmed in the Vancouver, B.C., area between 1963-1964, using local studio facilities and production staff.​

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S02E07 Anniversary Guest (Dec.15.1964)
Stars London Pat Harrington Jr. Joan Freeman​

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An episode not previously uploaded. I LOVE Joan Freeman, who is still with us now 80 years young!​

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