In the late-40s/1950s, seemingly everybody in the USA had a show
Hooray for pointless lists! This is an incomplete list of 1940s/1950s US TV shows whose title follow the following structure: "The (given-name) (surname) Show". Some of these series also went under other titles: for example, "The Milton Berle Show" was originally "Texaco Star Theater". It also includes a few "local" series like "The Dude Martin Show".
There are also some not listed on IMDb, such as "The Martha Wright Show","The Sonny Kendis Show", etc. Please note this.
If you know any additional shows to add, please let me know!
There are also some not listed on IMDb, such as "The Martha Wright Show","The Sonny Kendis Show", etc. Please note this.
If you know any additional shows to add, please let me know!
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- StarsAlan DaleJanie FordHighlighting the talents of one of the premier singers of the day, this musical and variety show provided viewers with a new musical treat each episode. Set inside a record shop supposedly run by Alan and his partner, Janie Ford, the pair would perform duets of Alan's latest recordings. Occasionally, other musical guests or comedians would make an appearance on the program.
- StarsAl JarvisAnita ColemanFrank Sinatra(local series)
- StarsMilton BerleSid StoneJimmy NelsonThe Texaco Star Theatre was one of the most popular shows in the history of television. In the first year, Milton Berle was not the permanent emcee, but once he replaced the rotation, the show soared to ratings dominance (Number One in 1950-51), NBC dominated Tuesday night, and Berle became the first great star of the new medium, "Mr. Television". The basic format was modeled after a vaudeville variety hour, spotlighting Berle's jokes, sight gags, and costumes.AKA "The Milton Berle Show".
- StarsMorey AmsterdamArt CarneyJohnny GuarnieriThe show had two venues. In December 1948 to March 1949, Morey Amsterdam was the emcee at a small fictional nightclub in New York City's Times Square. Charlie the Doorman (later Newton the Waiter) and Lola the cigarette girl were also employed at the club. Between April 1949 and October 1950, the show shifted to a different network and the scene shifted to the Silver Swan Cafe with Newton and Lola still employed.
- StarsPerry ComoMitchell Ayres OrchestraThe Ray Charles SingersPerry Como was an American Singer, who got his start on NBC Radio. In 1948, Because of his popularity, The cameras were simply brought into the radio studio to televise the radio broadcast and named it The Supper Club. In 1950 Como and his Sponsors moved to CBS and named this The Perry Como Chesterfield Show.AKA "The Perry Como Show".
- StarsTed SteeleHelen WoodMardi BryantA variety show.
- StarsEd SullivanThe Ray Bloch OrchestraRay BlochThe classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.AKA "The Ed Sullivan Show".
- StarsWendy BarrieArlene FrancisDave DavisBeginning as a short cartoon-sketch program, it evolved into a longer interview series.AKA "The Wendy Barrie Show".
- StarsAl MorganBilly ChandlerLenny CollyerPianist-songwriter Al Morgan offered a half-hour of music.AKA "The Al Morgan Show".
- StarsCliff Edwards
- StarsFred WaringJoe MarineDaisy BernierStandard musical show featuring Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians. During the 1949-50 season, there was a dance contest titled Video Ballroom.
- StarsPaul Arnold
- StarsAlan YoungPolly BergenTom MahoneyA dynamic combination of comedy vignettes and visually attractive musical numbers, hosted by Alan Young.
- StarsBuster KeatonPeter LeedsHarvey ParryLive show with Buster recreating and updating his classic routines.This series aired in Los Angeles.
- StarsFrank SinatraJune HuttonBen BlueThe Frank Sinatra Show (also known as Bulova Watch Time) was an American musical variety series hosted by Frank Sinatra from 1950 to 1952.
- StarsGeorge 'Gabby' HayesWright KingAndrew DugganA 1950s children's show, sponsored by the Quaker Oats Company. It underwent a number of changes in format, but the host was always the veteran actor George "Gabby" Hayes. Hayes had often portrayed sidekick characters in Western films featuring Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers. A Sunday version of the show was broadcast from 1950 to 1952. In a frame story, Gabby would narrate historical tales to child actors Clifford Sales and Lee Graham. The episodes dramatized the lives of historical figures, such as the naval commander John Paul Jones, the lawman and professional gambler Wyatt Earp, and the outlaw Belle Starr. A weekday version of the show was broadcast from 1951 to 1954. These episodes had Gabby narrating humorous tall tales, and then shifted to depicting scenes lifted from old Western films. A re-edited version of the series was broadcast in 1956, featuring longer scenes from Western films. Then the series ended permanently, though several episodes were available for syndication until the end of the decade.
- StarsDurward KirbyGarry MooreKen CarsonGarry Moore's daytime variety program broadcast from New York City from 1:30-2:00 PM where it ran from 1950 until June 27, 1958. Within three months of the end of the daytime show, his longtime colleague Durward Kirby and he moved "The Garry Moore Show" into prime time as a Tuesday night comedy and variety hour that ran from September 30, 1958, to June 14, 1964.
- StarsGene AutryChampionPat ButtramThe already legendary singing cowboy rode with his comic pal Pat from town to town bringing justice, song and his horse Champion to the old Southwest.
- StarsGeorge BurnsGracie AllenBea BenaderetNeighbor Blanche Morton frequently joined Gracie in escapades which annoy hubby Harry and provides George with an opportunity to offer a humorous soliloquy.
- StarsHank McCuneLarry KeatingCharles MaxwellHank McCune portrays himself as the host of a TV variety show. Each week Hank and his supporting put on a show with innumerable mishaps and predicaments.
- StarsHazel ScottGloria LucasCharles MingusA music series with pianist Hazel Scott.First US network series hosted by Black woman.
- StarsJoan Edwards
- StarsJerry MahoneyKnucklehead SmiffPaul WinchellThe Paul Winchell Show, or The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show, or The Spiedel Show, was a variety program which aired on NBC prime time from 1950 to 1954, starring ventriloquist Paul Winchell and his dummy, Jerry Mahoney. (1950)Note: Jerry Mahoney was a dummy.
- StarsRobert Q. LewisJane DuloBarbara BrittonDaytime show featuring singers and dancers.
- StarsSusan RayeSusan Raye was a singer and pianist who entertained the audience with music.AKA "The Susan Raye Show".
- StarsVaughn MonroeShaye CoganZiggie TalentMusical variety show with guest starts joining Vaughn Monroe who did most of the singing.
- StarsBill GwinnA game show in which married couples act out an event from their lives which occurred due to a popular song.
- StarsDinah ShoreArt BakerThe SkylarksDinah hosted this 15 minute live musical and variety show, two nights a week. It led to her own hour long show in 1956.
- StarsGogi GrantPatty TaylorRed CoffeyThe Dude Martin Show was a Los Angeles local Country-Western music entertainment show. Televised live, weekly in the Los Angeles area on KTTV Ch. 11. One of the sponsors was Sears Roebuck and Company. They had good C & W entertainment. My favorite was Sue Thompson a sweet young lady with a Beautiful voice.. Who I was lucky enough to meet. Saw the show in prerson twice and every week on the tv.(local series)
- StarsFrances LangfordDon AmecheCynthia StoneVariety show. They probably did skits as "The Bickersons"
- StarsFreddy MartinMerv GriffinMurray ArnoldThis was a Musical and Comedy variety show hosted by Band Leader Freddy Martin.
- StarsLawrence WelkDick DaleMyron FlorenA musical variety show, hosted by the big band leader Lawrence Welk. The show started in 1951 as a local production by KTLA, the first commercial television station in California. The show was broadcast from the Aragon Ballroom at Venice Beach. The show was eventually acquired by ABC Television, and it started being broadcast nationwide in 1955. Under ABC, the show was initially broadcast from the Hollywood Palladium. Production soon moved to The Prospect Studios in Los Angeles. ABC canceled the show in 1971, but Welk's own production company acquired the rights to the show and launched a syndicated version of the show. The show finally ended in 1982, when Welk decided to retire. By that time, Welk was approaching his 80th birthday, and he had become the oldest host of a regularly scheduled American entertainment-themed television series.(local series, later became a network series under different title)
- CreatorMarcel MarceauStarsRed SkeltonDavid Rose and His OrchestraArt GilmoreA comedy-themed variety show, hosted by the popular comedian Red Skelton. It run with no interruption from 1951 to 1971. From 1956 to 1962, the show's head writer was Sherwood Schwartz, who had previous experience as a comedy writer for Bob Hope's radio show. During the 1960s, the show had its own regular cast of singers and dancers. Guests of the show included then-popular bands, such as the Beach Boys (in their network television debut), The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Supremes. By the early 1970s, the program was thought to appeal primarily to older audiences and to residents of rural regions. It was canceled, as the network wanted something that would attract an urban audience.AKA "The Red Skelton Show".
- StarsPaul DixonDottie MackWanda LewisLocal talk and variety show that ABC picked up for only one season. It was picked up again a couple of years later by DuMont. Continued locally for another 23 years. Some of the regulars also appeared on two other locally produced shows, Ruth Lyons 50-50 club and Midwestern Hayride. All produced in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- StarsDale EvansRoy RogersTriggerThe Double R Ranch featured "The King of the Cowboys" Roy, his "Smartest Horse in the Movies" Trigger, "Queen of the West" Dale, her horse Buttermilk, their dog Bullet, and even Pat's jeep, Nellybelle.
- StarsDrew PearsonA current-events show featuring newspaper political columnist and investigative reporter Drew Pearson, who would inform viewers of the latest events and/or scandals on the political front.
- StarsErnie KovacsEdie AdamsPat WhiteAn American comedy show, hosted by comedian Ernie Kovacs who often changed the show's format during its run. It was variously retooled as a daytime show, prime-time show, late-night show, and talk show. The show was originally created for Philadelphia's television market, but was then broadcast nationally.
- StarsJack LescoulieThe June Taylor DancersRay BlochLive variety show with Jackie Gleason.
- StarsDennis DayCliff ArquetteHal MarchKnown as The Dennis Day Show, this half-hour comedy-variety show features the talent of tenor and comic Dennis Day and friends.AKA "The Dennis Day Show".
- StarsRed ButtonsAllan WalkerJoe SilverWhen this show was on CBS it ran in a variety format. When it went to NBC it became a sitcom. Red Buttons was very popular. Red won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
- StarsTim McCoyThe Tim McCoy TV show was an afternoon hour on KTLA channel 5 in Los Angeles at 5 pm, LIVE. Used to set in front of the tv everyday watching. He hosted the show showing old Westerns. He would talk about the movie and the actors. Ahh, old time T V.(local series)
- StarsWalter WinchellArlene DahlBetty GrableSimulcast of Walter Winchell's radio show.
- StarsBob CrosbyJack NarzCarol RichardsDaily daytime show featuring music by Bob Crosby's band and different singers.
- StarsDanny ThomasRusty HamerMarjorie LordDanny is a New York entertainer. Between his co-stars at the nightclub where he performs and his wife and kids, he has dilemmas galore, which he somehow manages to resolve and still laugh.AKA "The Danny Thomas Show".
- StarsDotty MackColin MaleBob BraunDotty Mack, Bob Braun, and Colin Male lip-sync hit songs of the day in sketches.
- StarsIgor CassiniSalvador DalíFrancesca BraggiottiA Sunday-evening celebrity-interview series.
- StarsLoretta YoungJohn Milton KennedyJohn NewlandA drama anthology series hosted by actress Loretta Young. In addition to hosting the series, she played the lead in various episodes.AKA "The Loretta Young Show".
- StarsBetty WhiteGeorge TibblesDick CathcartDaytime show with Betty White talking to guests, singing with the orchestra, etc.
- StarsDonald O'ConnorSidney MillerJoyce CunningSid and Donald are two young songwriters trying to market their wares. The situations created around this premise primarily enabled them to perform.
- StarsGeorge GobelJeff DonnellJohn Scott TrotterFor Gobel's half-hour series, he used a successful comedy format of a monologue segment, followed by a story set up segment, then a musical interlude with the show's girl singer, then the main skit with the guest performers.
- StarsIlona MasseyIrving FieldsThe Irving Fields TrioWeekly Musical Variety Show with Ilona Massey singing in a nightclub atmosphere backed by the musical group, Irving Fields Trio.
- StarsMartha RayeRocky GrazianoCesar RomeroHour-long comedy/variety show which aired live on NBC. It actually began in 1951,under the umbrella title All-Star Revue. Raye began as a monthly replacement for its Host Sid Caesar. Hosted by Martha Raye.
- CreatorRichard QuineStarsMickey RooneyRegis ToomeyClaire CarletonThe misadventures of an eager but somewhat bumbling young actor who gets a job as a page at a television studio in Hollywood while trying to break into show business."The Mickey Rooney Show" aka "Hey Mulligan".
- StarsRobert Q. LewisJaye P. MorganDon LibertoDaytime show featuring singers and dancers.
- StarsSpike JonesHelen GraycoEarl BennettA music-themed variety show, hosted by the experienced bandleader Spike Jones. The regular cast included the singer Helen Grayco (Jones' wife) and Jones' band, "The City Slickers". The series only lasted from January to May 1954. Jones would later re-use the concept and the title for two other short-lived series, the first in 1957 and the second in 1961.
- StarsTony MartinMargaret WhitingAnna LutherThis was a music program (not a talk show as described in some sources), featuring the talented Tony Martin performing songs. He also had guest singers, and the whole thing aired in a 15-minute time-slot.
- StarsVaughn MonroeThe DiamondsKay ArmenSummer replacement show for "The Dinah Shore Show." The show featured Vaughn Monroe singing songs in his distinctive style.
- StarsPatti PageFranklin PangbornGene NelsonA syndicated music series aired in a 15-minute time-slot. Later, the episodes were edited into half-hour (26 minute) installments.
- StarsRobert CummingsAnn B. DavisRosemary DeCampThe romantic misadventures of Bob Collins, a suave, sophisticated bachelor and photographer operating in Hollywood, California. The show is centered around his womanizing ways with his models, and his sister's attempts to make him settle down.
- StarsJohnny CarsonJill CoreyJack PrinceComedy routines, featuring Johnny Carson and guests, and singing were the theme of this program.
- CreatorNat HikenStarsPhil SilversHarvey LembeckPaul FordMaster Sergeant Bilko, regularly helped by the soldiers at Fort Baxter's motor pool, spends little time performing his duties by constantly trying to obtain money through various get-rich-quick scams and promotions.
- StarsGeorge 'Gabby' HayesGabby introduces edited versions of vintage PRC Western features.
- StarsRosemary ClooneyThe Hi-LosNelson RiddleSinger Rosemary Clooney and vocal group The Hi-Los were the regulars in this presentation of popular music.
- CreatorLee KarsonStarsGale StormZasu PittsRoy RobertsGale Storm stars in this American sitcom about Susanna Pomery, a cruise director for an ocean liner that travels the world.AKA "The Gale Storm Show".
- StarsJoseph CottenRobert MiddletonEverett SloaneAn anthology series hosted by and occasionally starring Joseph Cotten. The show often included court trials or individual's personal trials. The show was technically only "On Trial" but was popularly known as The Joseph Cotten Show.AKA "The Joseph Cotten Show".
- StarsPatrice MunselBuddy HackettJohn RaittMetropolitan Opera soprano Patrice Munsel demonstrated her versatility as a singer in this live variety show. Show tunes, popular songs, and operatic excerpts were all part of her repertoire in addition to comedy sketches with her weekly guest stars.
- StarsSteve AllenGene RayburnLouis NyeThe Steve Allen Show was an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen.
- StarsWalter WinchellLisa KirkMartha RayeLive weekly variety show. The show originated in New York City for the first nine weeks and then moved to Hollywood. Although many top performers were featured, the show never caught on and was canceled after 13 weeks.
- StarsChanning WilroyBuddy DeaneThe show was a teen dance and music show and ran from 1957 to until 1964 on WJZ-TV until the show was canceled.(local series only)
- StarsEve ArdenAllyn JoslynGail StoneA widowed mother tries to support herself and her twin daughters.
- StarsFrank SinatraJohn AngeloJesse WhiteFrank Sinatra hosts a variety show.
- StarsGuy MitchellVan AlexanderTed Cappy DancersMusical variety show featuring Guy Mitchell and guests singing and in comedy skits.
- StarsPolly BergenBill BergenBill WendellThe Polly Bergen Show was a half-hour 18-episode comedy/variety show, starring then 27-year-old Polly Bergen, which aired on NBC in the 1957-1958 television season.
- StarsAnn SothernAnn TyrrellDon PorterKaty O'Connor is the assistant manager of the Bartley House Hotel in New York City working for Jason Macauley. She expected to get her bosses job when he was transferred to Calcutta, India but he was replaced by James Devery. Katy's secretary, best friend and roommate is Olive Smith; she had a romantic fling with Delbert Gray during the 1960-61 season.
- StarsBetty WhiteJohn DehnerReta ShawA variety show but with a different format. The announcer sets up the two comedic skits with the actors frozen in place at beginning. The show concludes with Betty singing usually with a guest.
- CreatorWilliam RobertsStarsDonna ReedPaul PetersenCarl BetzA loving mother and wife deals with situations and problems of a middle-class family in the late 1950s and the early 1960s.
- StarsGarry MooreThe George Becker SingersThe Ernie Flatt DancersVariety show hosted by Garry Moore with famous guests.
- StarsGeorge BurnsBea BenaderetHarry von ZellThis The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) spin-off found George Burns relocated to his downtown office working as a producer and trying to deal with an assortment of entertainers and oddball theatrical acts, as well as his previously established friends.
- StarsMilton BerleEd HerlihyBilly MayThe second incarnation of 'Mr. Television' Milton Berle's variety TV series.
- StarsPatti PageShari LewisTeresa BrewerThe Patti Page Oldsmobile Show was a variety TV series including musical acts hosted by Patti Page. The series ran for one season from 1958-1959.Sometimes referred to as "The Patti Page Show".
- StarsSpade CooleyGloria TennesJo Ann CastleMusic and variety show with Spade Cooley and guests.(local series)
- StarsOscar LevantJune GaleFred AstaireThe talented Oscar Levant played the piano, and made interesting comments about varied subjects.
- CreatorStanley RobertsStarsBetty HuttonDennis OlivieriPeter MilesA talkative manicurist inherits a legacy and the custody of three children from a rich Wall Street broker customer.
- CreatorJohn Fenton MurrayStarsDennis O'KeefeHope EmersonRickey KelmanHal Towne is a Los Angeles widower with a bright ten-year-old son to raise (aided by a stern housekeeper). He writes a syndicated column, "All Around Towne," which brings him into contact with numerous competitors for the favors of his publicity-agent girlfriend.