THIS ONE FOUND its way deep in our memories and remains there as a conscious example of what was best about 1950s television. In its 200 episodes, just about everyone who was anyone in Hollywood and on TV made at least one appearance. The stories varied greatly from week to week and from pure fiction to biographical material.
AS AN EXAMPLE, we submit two episodes that really stick out in our memory.
THE FIRST IS a biographical snippet of a most important happening in the life of famed circus star, clown Emmett Kelly. Portrayed in a very understated, yet intense style by none other than Henry Fonda, the half hour really outs up a great and memorable bit of high drama in its modest half-hour running time. Irony would seem to be the operative word here; as the highly dramatic teleplay was all about the tragedy in the life of a man whose life is all about laughter.
SECONDLY WE OFFER as states evidence a very different half an hour. THE INCREDIBLE JEWEL ROBBERY gave us a very unusual bit of the unusual from yet another facet of the series' varieties. Done as a virtual carbon copy of the silent comedy format, it has only one brief bit of dialogue spoken. Its story and action is propelled forward with the addition of some appropriate background, incidental and queues in the musical sound tack.
AS PERRHAPS THE most historically important episode, we are given what would prove to be the screen swansong for Groucho, Chico and Harpo Marx.
AND SPEAKING OF that which is historical, we now draw your attention to the overview of the series and its weekly Host. It was "Dutch" himself, our future President, Ronald Reagan.
HEY SCHULTZ, HOW about we close with a hearty,
"Where Progress is our Most Important Product!"
