Obscure Classic TV Shows - Post Your Favorites! (1 Viewer)

[The 1960's]

Fixed from Mar 27, 2022

Mr. Novak (1963-1965)
Stars James Franciscus Dean Jagger Vince Howard​

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The experiences of a young, tough-minded, idealistic high school English teacher on his first job provided the stories in this series. John Novak begins at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles under Principal Albert Vane, who doesn't always agree with Novak's approach, but admires his dedication to teaching. Stories centered on the life of Novak, student-teacher relationships, and the struggles of other young teachers.

S01E15 He Who Can Does (Dec.31.1963)
Stars James Franciscus Dean Jagger Edward Mulhare Steve Franken Andre Philippe Vince Howard Kathleen Ellis Michael Winkelman Vicky Albright Charles Irving Jeanne Bal Peter R.J. Deyell​

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Mr. Novak invites a famous novelist (Edward Mulhare) to address the school's Literary Club - despite protests of Miss Pagano who feels that the writer's unorthodox views will be a bad influence.​

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Author Chuck Harter on His Book 'Mr Novak'
Author Chuck Harter guests on Steve Beverly's TV Classics to discuss his new book: "Mr. Novak: An Acclaimed TV Series." The book details the 1963-65 NBC drama on high school life starring James Franciscus and Dean Jagger. "Leave It to Beaver" star Tony Dow appeared on five episodes.​

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Mr. Novak Television Series Film Locations​

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Walter Koenig on his appearances on the TV series "Mr. Novak" - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews​

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[timk1041]

Sure wish Season 2 would get a release on video.

 

[Wiseguy]

S13E24 Jack is Kidnapped (Mar.12.1963)
Stars Jack Benny Don Wilson Dennis Day Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson Frank Nelson George Burns Merry Anders Warren J. Kemmerling Robert Foulk Frances Robinson Bernie Kopell Henry Hunter Ned Miller John Monaghan​

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Jack is kidnapped and forced to make a $10,000 withdrawal from the bank.​

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Perhaps my dictionary has a different definition of obscure than yours but I would hardly call series that are shown almost every day on Antenna TV (Jack Benny, That Girl) "obscure."

 

[The 1960's]

Stars in the Eye (1952) TV Special
Stars Gracie Allen Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson Eve Arden Desi Arnaz Lucille Ball Jack Benny Fletcher Bowron George Burns Alvin Childress Bob Crosby Stephen Crosby Cass Daley William Frawley Jody Gilbert Gale Gordon Florence Halop Marvin Kaplan Cathy Lewis Art Linkletter Gisele MacKenzie Tim Moore J. Carrol Naish Alan Reed The Sportsmen Quartet Bob Sweeney Vivian Vance Elena Verdugo Jack Von Volkenberg Earl Warren Liza West Margaret Whiting Spencer Williams Marie Wilson Alan Young​

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Various CBS stars appear in this one hour variety program about the opening of the brand new $7 million dollar CBS Television City Studios.​

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[The 1960's]

Fibber McGee and Molly (1959-1960)
Stars Bob Sweeney Cathy Lewis Pat McGeehan​

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Fibber McGee and Molly was the finest husband and wife comedy team. It ran on the radio from 1935 to 1959 then switched to television in 1959. Its running gags and characters inspired many imitators. Note: You can find a few of these streaming, but this is first I've ever seen with such superior quality.

S01E24 Molly's Political Career (Apr.22.1960)
Stars Bob Sweeney Cathy Lewis​

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The town wants Molly to run for councilwoman. A political career could ruin their family life, as Fibber discovers. Air date April 26, 1960. Starring Bob Sweeney as Fibber McGee, and Cathy Lewis as Molly McGee. This television sit-com only ran for 26 episodes. The episode poses an interesting look at the woman's role in marriage in the early 1960's. You'll recognize many TV "regulars" in this episode. The end credits are missing, so if you identify some of the actors please comment. Transferred for 16mm b-w film. (Moviecraft Inc.)​

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[The 1960's]

Continued from Nov 21, 2021

The People's Choice (1955-1958)
Stars Jackie Cooper Patricia Breslin Bernadette Margaret Irving Paul Maxey Dick Wesson John Stephenson Leonid Kinskey​

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Socrates "Sock" Miller joins the city council, clashing with the mayor John Peoples. Sock dates then marries his daughter Mandy complicating things. Sock has a basset named Cleo who shares her thoughts and best friend Rollo.
(Two superior prints, particularly the latter!)

S01E30 Proxy Marriage (Apr.26.1956)
Stars Jackie Cooper Clem Bevans Patricia Breslin Joe E. Brown Margaret Irving Diane Jergens Paul Maxey John Stephenson Bernadette Mary Jane Croft​

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Sock and Mandy pose as bride and groom to help some friends get married in a secret proxy wedding. Plans get spoiled when the bride's grandfather shows up with a shotgun.​

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S01E18 Sock Proposes (Feb.02.1956)
Stars Phil Arnold Eleanor Audley Gail Bonney Patricia Breslin Jackie Cooper Paul Maxey John Stephenson Bernadette Mary Jane Croft​

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Councilman Sock Miller finds himself in hot water with his girlfriend. He remarks on a TV panel that he is a bachelor because he hasn't found the right girl to meet his needs yet.​

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[The 1960's]

Switch (1975–1978)
Stars Robert Wagner Eddie Albert Charlie Callas​

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Ex-cop Frank McBride (Eddie Albert) and ex-con Pete Ryan (Robert Wagner) start their own detective agency.

S03E05 Fade Out (Nov.04.1977)
Stars Robert Wagner Eddie Albert Charlie Callas Sharon Gless Andrew Duggan Johnny Seven Zohra Lampert Dorrie Thomson Casey Kasem Eric Server Mary Angela Shea Stephen Burleigh George Sawaya Lester Fletcher​

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Complete first-run broadcast on the CBS Network via then-Boston, MA affiliate WNAC Channel 7 (now WHDH - of no relation to what since 1972 is WCVB Channel 5). A leading lady facing threats on her life and a movie producer hire Pete and Mac to protect her. Featuring guest-star Casey Kasem. (The Museum of Classic Chicago Television)​

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[jimmyjet]

thanks, "toledo" was the episode i had just watched, in which jean hagen did not appear. she was taking care of grandma

 

[The 1960's]

Continued from Nov 25, 2021 & June 11, 2022 & Nov 24, 2022

Bachelor Father (1957-1962)
Stars John Forsythe Noreen Corcoran Sammee Tong​

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The misadventures of a single adopted father raising a teenage niece with the help of his manservant.

S01E15 Waiting Up for Kelly (May.30.1958)
Stars John Forsythe Noreen Corcoran Sammee Tong Penny Edwards Frances Bergen Whit Bissell Kathryn Card Hope Summers Isa Ashdown Dayton Osmond​

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Bentley and Peter are consumed with worry after Kelly goes missing on a date.​

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S01E18 Bentley's Prospective Son-In-Law (May.11.1958)
Stars John Forsythe Noreen Corcoran Sammee Tong Alice Backes Jimmy Boyd Darah Marshall Bernadette Withers Pamela Baird William Tregoe Tony Epper Kitty Muldoon Dan Evans Carole Wells​

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Kelly and her Uncle Bentley meet the irrepressible Howard Meechim.​

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S01E17 Peter Falls in Love (Apr.27.1958)
Stars John Forsythe Noreen Corcoran Sammee Tong Alice Backes Zachary Charles John Hiestand William Kendis Joseph Mell Bobette Bentley Molly Dodd​

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Spring is in the air, and everyone is falling in love - except Bentley Gregg.​

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S02E02 Bentley and the Dog Trainer (Sep.24.1959)
Stars John Forsythe Noreen Corcoran Sammee Tong Carol Ohmart Pat McCaffrie Howard McNear Paul Barzell​

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Jasper has been stealing and hiding items around the house, and after Bentley is sued for a neighbor's garden damage, he sends Jasper to dog obedience training school.​

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S02E03 Bentley Leads a Dog's Life (Oct.12.1958)
Stars John Forsythe Noreen Corcoran Sammee Tong Howard McNear Shirley Mitchell Zachary Charles Gavin Gordon Olan Soule Maggie Magennis Ralph Brooks Herschel Graham​

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Uncle Bentley, Kelly, and Peter are all heading out-of-town in different directions, which results in Jasper heading in the direction of the nearest dog motel.​

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S03E05 Kelly's Idol (Oct.15.1959)
Stars John Forsythe Noreen Corcoran Sammee Tong Jimmy Boyd Bernadette Withers Buzz Martin Connie Hines Ann Graves John Hiestand Donna Douglas Ric Rondell Dennis Kerlee​

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Kelly tries to mold her new flame in the form of her beloved Uncle Bentley. Co-starring Connie Hines and Donna Douglas.​

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[The 1960's]

Continued from Nov 14, 2021, Dec 20, 2021 & Mar 5, 2022

Four Star Playhouse (1952-1956)
Stars David Niven Dick Powell Charles Boyer​

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This show featured four rotating stars, Charles Boyer, David Niven, Ida Lupino, and Dick Powell in individual episodes consisting of everything from comedy to drama.

S01E02 Dante's Inferno (Oct.09.1952)
Stars Dick Powell Virginia Grey Regis Toomey Marvin Miller Paul Richards William F. Leicester Herb Vigran Ray Walker Elaine Williams Mel Ford ames Conaty Rudy Germane Joe Gilbert Sam Harris Mitchell Rhein​

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Willie Dante owns a bar and gambling house called Dante's Inferno. One night, the wife of an acquaintance tells Willie that her husband has threatened her. Willie comforts her and sends her home, but she turns up dead the next day. "Dante's Inferno" marked the debut appearance of Blake Edwards' precursor to Peter Gunn, illicit casino operator Willie Dante. The titular Dante appeared in eight episodes of FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE, before eventually spinning off into his own weekly series, DANTE, on NBC in 1960. "Dante's Inferno" stars Dick Powell, and features Herb Vigran, Marvin Miller, Regis Toomey and Virginia Grey. It is written by Blake Edwards, and directed by Robert Florey.​

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S02E07 Search in the Night (Nov.05.1953) Pilot #1
Stars Frank Lovejoy Frances Rafferty James Millican Rhys Williams Vic Perrin Frank Gerstle Steve Pendleton John Alvin Colleen Miller Joan Banks Jane Easton Bob Kortman John McKee​

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A newspaper reporter is intrigued as to why a woman hired a dive team to retrieve her purse from the Chicago River. This was Four Star Productions' attempt at launching a television series based on the popular 1950 - 52 NBC radio drama NIGHT BEAT. Frank Lovejoy reprised his role as Randy Stone, reporter for The Chicago Star. The pilot was scripted by John & Gwen Bagni, and directed by Christian Nyby. While it was never picked up as a series, the episode did eventually air as the November 5, 1953 installment of CBS Televsion's anthology series FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE (which was later seen in syndication under the title STAR PERFORMANCE).​

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S02E28 A Study in Panic (Apr.08.1954) Pilot #2?
Stars Dick Powell Dorothy Malone George Eldredge Claire Carleton Marlo Dwyer John Harmon Ralph Moody King Donovan Robert Foulk John Larch​

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Wise-guy newspaperman Fred Jordan writes a column making fun of "normal" men who panic during a fire. Soon afterward he gets a letter from a deranged man who promises Jordan that he will soon know the "real" meaning of the word "panic"--because within 24 hours, the man is going to kill Jordan. This was Four Star Productions' second outing with the characters and situations originally created for the NBC radio drama NIGHT BEAT. But where Four Star first attempted to do a straight-forward television adaption of the series in 1953, this 1954 effort was more of a re-invention. The name of its protagonist was changed to Fred Jordon, and he was portrayed by Dick Powell (rather than Frank Lovejoy). His newspaper column was no longer "Night Beat," but "City After Dark." Yet, despite the cosmetic changes, "A Study in Panic" is still recognizable as a NIGHT BEAT story (with a script directly adapted for television from the 1951 NB episode "Fear"). "A Study in Panic" aired as the April 8, 1954 installment of FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE. Whether it was intended as a pilot for a potential series, or simply a stand-alone episode, is unclear. But it is clearly NIGHT BEAT's second foray into the world of television.​

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S03E24 Trudy (May.26.1955)
Stars Joan Fontaine Hans Conried Steven Geray James Flavin Otto Waldis Guy Williams​

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Starring Joan Fontaine as Trudy, a single woman who walks into a Chinese laundry and announces she’s getting married right there, in the laundry, at 11:00 that night. She enlists various townsmen, including the laundry owner (Steven Geray), an Irish cop (James Flavin), a German baker (Otto Waldis), and, finally, the local minister (Hans Conried) to provide various services for the ceremony, but they all suspect that there’s no groom and they’re all simply trying to please a delusional woman. If there had ever been a romantic comedy version of “The Twilight Zone,” this is the type of episode that would have been featured. While it’s all a bit far-fetched, the cast is absolutely first-rate and a delight to watch, even if the Hungarian-bred Steven Geray is a bit of a stretch to accept as Chinese laundryman Mr. Yen.​

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[The 1960's]

Continued from Nov 14, 2021

Big Town (1950-1956) aka City Assignment (Dumont) aka Heart of the City (CBS)
Stars Patrick McVey Mark Stevens Jane Nigh Mary K. WellsTrudy Wroe Julie Stevens Barry Kelley Doe Avedon Morris Ankrum John Close Dabbs Greer​

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Big Town" was a long running and highly successful network radio series (1937- 1952) and film series ("I Cover the Underworld," "Underworld After Dark," and "Underworld Scandal") before becoming a hit television series. Shot in film-noir style, the series focused on the exploits of Steve Wilson and the staff of 'The Illustrated Press' newspaper as they reported on the important social issues of the day.

S04E06 Watch the Birdie (Oct.15.1953)
Stars Patrick McVey Jane Nigh Hillary Brooke Myron Healey Louis Jean Heydt John Close Keith Richards George DeNormand​

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Patrick McVey stars as the honest, crusading reporter for the Illustrated Press, Steve Wilson. Jane Nigh plays his pretty reporter sidekick, Lorelei Kilbourne. This series was originally on radio, and went to the TV screen in 1950. In this television episode, Hillary Brooke is Valerie Randall, a stage and screen star with a husband who harbors a deadly resentment to her success. Steve and Jane work to uncover a jewel thief preying on rich women. Lots of action and suspense in this episode. Transferred from 16mm b-w film. (Moviecraft Inc.) ​

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[The 1960's]

Coke Time aka Salute to the Teenagers (Jun.27.1960) TV Documentary
Stars Paul Anka Frankie Avalon Pat Boone The Brothers Four Anita Bryant Edd Byrnes Lorna Dallas Bobby Darin Bob Denver Connie Francis Annette Funicello The Merrymen​

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Salute to the Teenagers is a 1960 TV documentary hosted by Pat Boone. It was produced by his Cooga Mooga company. Starring Bobby Darin, Paul Anka, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Bob Denver (as Maynard G. Krebbs), Anita Bryant.​

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Bob Denver Pat Boone Edd Byrnes

 

[The 1960's]

Run Jack Run (1970) Unsold Pilot
Stars David Astor Adam Keefe Robert Middleton Anthony Caruso Marilyn Hanold​

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In a plot that bears marked similarities to the CBS pilot "Run, Buddy, Run" (which was also shot in 1966) and "The Fugitive," two men are framed for murder are pursued by Mafia hit men and the police. Although the pilot was shot in 1966, it sat on the shelf for four years before the show was finally aired by NBC in 1970.​

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[The 1960's]

Fixed from Apr 28, 2023​

Last week I told Moviecraft Inc. that his upload of this Heart of the City episode contained glitches. Being a perfectionist I had a hunch he’d fix the issue. Today he re-uploaded a new copy.

Big Town (1950-1956) aka City Assignment (Dumont) aka Heart of the City (CBS)
Stars Patrick McVey Mark Stevens Jane Nigh Mary K. WellsTrudy Wroe Julie Stevens Barry Kelley Doe Avedon Morris Ankrum John Close Dabbs Greer​

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Big Town" was a long running and highly successful network radio series (1937- 1952) and film series ("I Cover the Underworld," "Underworld After Dark," and "Underworld Scandal") before becoming a hit television series. Shot in film-noir style, the series focused on the exploits of Steve Wilson and the staff of 'The Illustrated Press' newspaper as they reported on the important social issues of the day.

S04E06 Watch the Birdie (Oct.15.1953)
Stars Patrick McVey Jane Nigh Hillary Brooke Myron Healey Louis Jean Heydt John Close Keith Richards George DeNormand​

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Patrick McVey stars as the honest, crusading reporter for the Illustrated Press, Steve Wilson. Jane Nigh plays his pretty reporter sidekick, Lorelei Kilbourne. This series was originally on radio, and went to the TV screen in 1950. In this television episode, Hillary Brooke is Valerie Randall, a stage and screen star with a husband who harbors a deadly resentment to her success. Steve and Jane work to uncover a jewel thief preying on rich women. Lots of action and suspense in this episode. Transferred from 16mm b-w film. (Moviecraft Inc.) ​

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[Flashgear]

Neal, as a comic book guy (like myself), you undoubtedly know that DC licensed TV/radio's Big Town in 1951 for a long-running comic book that lasted almost right through the 1950s, and thus eventually adopted even a little bit of the DC Science Fiction mania as the decade wore on...

 

[The 1960's]

Ok Crackerby (1965-1966)
Stars Burl Ives Hal Buckley Brooke Adams​

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O.K. Crackerby is a rough-and-tumble man from Oklahoma who is also the richest man in the world. But because he lacks the "social graces," high society rejects him. To improve himself and his children, he hires unemployed Harvard graduate St. John Quincy as a tutor. O.K. and St. John are constantly arguing among themselves but stand together to fight the social prejudices of the "upper class." Slim is O.K.'s friend and St. John has a girlfriend, Susan.

S01E17 Operation Susan (Jan.06.1966)
Stars Burl Ives Hal Buckley Brooke Adams Brian Corcoran Joel Davison Laraine Stephens Dick Foran William Reynolds Byron Foulger Juli Reding William Kinney​

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Crackerby decides St. John and Susan's five-year courtship needs a "nudge" towards the altar. Final episode of the series.​

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[The 1960's]

Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951-1958)
Stars Guy Madison Andy Devine Sam Flint​

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Hickok rode Buckshot while 300-pound Jingles rode Joker. Jingles described Hickok as "the bravest, strongest, fightingest U.S. Marshal in the whole West." And that's about it: he beat up all the bad guys and somehow kept his good looks

S04E01 Grandpa And Genie (Sep.13.1953)
Stars Guy Madison Andy Devine George Cleveland Isa Ashdown Will Wright Almira Sessions Pierre Watkin Guy Teague​

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Guy Madison plays Marshal Wild Bill Hickok, with Andy Devine as his pal "Jingles," Deputy Marshal Jingles P. Jones. In this TV episode the bad guys are trying to take away grandpa's granddaughter, inferring he is unfit to take care of her. I wonder if they have an ulterior motive! Complete with Kellogg's Sugar Pop commercials, shot from guns! This popular western television series ran eight seasons, but is seldom seen today. Transferred from 16mm b-w film. (Moviecraft Inc.)​

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[The 1960's]

Diana (1973-1974)
Stars Diana Rigg Richard B. Shull Barbara Barrie​

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After a divorce, beautiful Brit Diana Smythe (Dame Diana Rigg) decides to begin a new life by moving from London to New York City and starting a new career as a fashion coordinator at a Fifth Avenue department store. Living in her brother's empty apartment (to which many young ladies still have keys), Diana learns a new American way of life, assisted by friendly neighbor Holly Green (Carole Androsky), copywriter Howard Tollbrook (Richard B. Shull), window decorator Marshall Tyler (Robert Moore) and new pal Jeff Harmon (Richard Mulligan).

S01E02 The Gilt Complex (Sep.17.1973)
Stars Diana Rigg Richard B. Shull Barbara Barrie David Sheiner Robert Moore Ken Sansom Carole Androsky Mary Munday Jim Poyner Michael Bell Joey Forman​

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Diana's introverted, nervous boss takes her out to dinner one night, gets a little tipsy and is taken back to her apartment. There he makes a fool of himself talking about his feelings for his wife, punctuated by a parade of zany friends and neighbors dropping in for minute-long visits with wacky problems.​

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Diana Rigg - Bobbie Wygant Archive (1973)

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[The 1960's]

Inside O.U.T. (1971) Unsold Pilot
Stars Bill Daily Farrah Fawcett Alan Oppenheimer Mike Henry Edward Andrews Val Bisoglio Herb Vigran James Sikking Paul Smith Jim Begg Cliff Emmich Larry Fleischman Barney Phillips​

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Agents from The Office of Unusual Tactics (aka O.U.T.), a secret government agency, clean up snafus created by other government organizations. I certainly never heard of this obscure pilot. Farrah Fawcett is delectable!! Says Matthew Baduria aka TSODCollector, "Great show." Quality is awful but what the hey, it's rare!​

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[The 1960's]

The Man Who Never Was (1966-1967)
Stars Dana Wynter Robert Lansing Murray Hamilton​

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American agent Peter Murphy is trying to escape from East Berlin when he encounters his exact double, millionaire playboy Mark Wainwright. After Wainwright is mistaken for him and killed by the KGB, Murphy assumes his identity and lifestyle, which makes a perfect cover for his covert activities. Wainwright's widow, Eva, discovers the deception but plays along, and soon finds herself falling in love with the impostor.

Original Pilot (Sep.07.1966)
Stars Murray Hamilton Donald Harron Dana Wynter
Pilot episode of the short-lived television series "The Man Who Never Was" starring Robert Lansing and Dana Wynter. This episode originally aired on September 7, 1966.​

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