Swanky Television Viewing for Today

Still on the prowl over the web today and made another hit that needs to be shared with all you MCM-conscious readers out there. It's Wilkerson Furniture located in Lake View Terrace, California, a contemporary maker of of fine furniture with a Danish Modern flavor. I especially like the M21 entertainment console designed to house today's flat screen TVs (and apparently hide all those accessories to boot). Its all encased by a vintage-styled hard wood cabinet, your choice of walnut or cherry. The site looks fairly new, so if you're interested in any of the products, you need to give them a ring. They ask for 12 weeks lead time and offer custom sizing.

The Beautiful Blonde with a Beauty Mark: Anne Francis . . . in Memoriam

A long time heartthrob of mine is gone. Actress Anne Francis, forever iconized for her role as the unforgettable love interest in the 1950s science-fiction classic "Forbidden Planet" and in the 1960s for the sexy private eye in "Honey West" on TV, has died at age 80.

The beautiful blonde with a prominent beauty mark, Anne appeared opposite such stars as Spencer Tracy, Paul Newman, Robert Taylor and Glenn Ford in some of the most popular films of the 1950s.

in "Forbidden Planet"

"Forbidden Planet" was a science-fiction retelling of Shakespeare's "The Tempest." The 1956 film had Commander Leslie Nielsen and his crew land on a planet soley occupied by hermit scientist Walter Pidgeon, his daughter (Francis) and their helper, Robby the Robot.

as "Honey West" with her pet ocelot

In "Honey West," airing from 1965 to 1966, Anne was a private detective played as a female James Bond, who happened to keep a pet ocelot, bested her worst enemies with her martial arts and just as cool with a gun. It was one of the first TV series to star a woman in an action series. She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role in "Honey West."

from "So Young So Bad "

Among Miss Francis's other films:

• "Blackboard Jungle," the landmark 1955 film about an idealistic teacher (Ford) in a violent city school, Francis played his pregnant wife who is targeted for harassment by one of his students.
• "Bad Day at Black Rock" with Tracy and Robert Ryan
• "Rogue Cop" with Robert Taylor
• "The Rack" with Paul Newman
• "A Lion Is in the Streets" with James Cagney
• "Hook, Line and Sinker" with Jerry Lewis

the young starlett with Jeffrey Hunter in "Dream Boat"


with Tom Ewell and her dog Smidgeon, going over the script for "The Great American Pastime"

In television, Anne appearing in dozens of series:

• "Mission Impossible"
  
• "The Virginian"
  
• "My Three Sons"
  
• "Ironside"
  
• "Gunsmoke"
  
• "The Twilight Zone"
  
• "Charlie's Angels"
  
• "The Golden Girls"
  
• "Home Improvement"
• "Nash Bridges"

with dark hair as Jess Belle

Born September 16, 1930 in Ossining, New York as Ann Marvak, she grew up performing for radio and television and on the Broadway stage. Anne relocated to Hollywood when she landed a movie contract at MGM (and later went to 20th Century-Fox) acting opposite the biggest male stars of the day.

According to sources, Anne had married twice and is survived by a daughter and grandchild. This last Sunday she succumbed after a long battle with lung and pancreatic cancer, in Santa Barbara at age 80.

Anne's website: http://www.annefrancis.net

Who I'm Watching: Peter Gunn

He was suave. He was sophisticated. And he was "like coolio-daddyo to all you cats!"

I only have a couple too few episodes that I picked up in one of those value-priced DVD tv collections. And I never was lucky enough to catch the series in syndication, though I've heard plenty of the series and the unforgettably suave yet danger-ladden theme music by Henry Mancini (Best Arrangement, Grammy Awards, 1958; Album of the Year). But I think I'd really like to see more this stylish private eye detective show. It's left me with a hungry appetite for more each time I've gotten to follow Gunn on a case.

Peter Gunn may have been the coolest gentleman private eye to be seen since the Thin Man series with William Powell. The epitome of cool as envisioned by the mid century, the original suave and sophisticated man's man. Remember, Peter Gunn was happening even before Agent 007 burst onto the big screens with the first Bond movie, Dr. No.

"Hot on the case, cool under fire," Peter Gunn originally aired 114 1/2 hour episodes from September 22, 1958 to September 18, 1961, preluding the years that brought us many classic spy and crime dramas such as The Avengers and The Saint. The show was the creation of Blake Edwards, the same mastermind behind the Pink Panther movies, starring Craig Stevens, Herschel Bernardi, Lola Albright. Stevens portrays the stylishly hip and ultra cool Mr. Gunn with an ample helping of wry humor thrown in for good measure. The cases takes him through an assortment of moody imagery: mod hangouts, avant-garde artists pads and film noir-esque back alley ways, always with the swanky sax, bass and drums setting the cool mood through it all.

Hmmm.... wonder if a cool cat wannabee can locate a copy of the complete soundtrack from the series?

Happy Birthday Captain Kangaroo

This world can use a bit of Bob Keeshan right now.

R.I.P. Art Linkletter

Radio and television broadcasting pioneer Art Linkletter (July 17, 1912 – May 26, 2010) created 'House Party', 'People are Funny' and 'Kids Say the Darndest Things' in which he interviewed children to get their unvarnished point of view.

Assignment: You Choose

Today I have a test for you. Don't worry, this involves nothing painful like a poke with a needle by a student nurse or reciting the Gettysburg Address while nasty children throw rotten tomatoes at you.

All that I'm asking is for you to pick just one of the following examples that you like best, and a short explanation why.

Now remember, I want to see your report on my desk first thing in the morning. If you do well on your homework, I may dismiss you for an early recess. But if you score poorly, you may be kept after school (along with those nasty kids who were caught tossing the tomatoes).

After all, I only said this wasn't painful... I didn't say there weren't any consequences. :D

Danish Modern Pole Lamp - $85

A Very Fifties-looking Sofa - $300

A Blonde Standing Trunk (Junior could store a lot of his horde in there) - $65

Spun Steel Soda Fountain Dessert Cup Holders - $22

Unique Vinyl-Covered Shell Chair - $175

Wrought Iron Bar Stool - $75



Steel Doctor's Desk - $250



Admiral? Television Set - Not for Sale... booo!

What We'd Like to Watch

Waiting, hoping, wishing... that someday soon (meaning before Junior is old enough to go to college and write his own blog) that the original Dennis the Menace television series will be released on DVD. Until then we have YouTube.


On second thought, Junior already reminds me a little too much of Jay North... he'll just have to be happy with his episodes of Lost in Space and ideal child, Billy Mumy.

All's Right With the World Again

photo uploaded by pdwroswell @ flickr

Yippee! It came in the mail today! Finally, finally, finally I got the newest DVD release from the Father Knows Best series after ordering a copy through eBay. I posted about this about a month ago, when I couldn't find it locally.

Just for your info, if you're not already aware, I've been a tad bit of a rabid fan of Father Knows Best since way back in high school. For instance, the poem that Bud is supposed to learn, called "The Game of Life" I've been reciting since, well, far too long according to some. Bud plays for the Springfield Peewees along with his pal, Claude Mesner. Kathy's scout troop is named the Little Squaws, and in the radio version of the series she had her own club called the Little Vultures. Kathy's also a bit of a tomboy and hangs around with Patty Davis. Did you also know that Betty's ponytail through most of the first three seasons wasn't actually real? Betty's co-conspirators are Dotty Snow and Janey Little. Mother Anderson is almost always seen at some point in each episode preparing a meal in the kitchen. And Father works for the very seldom mentioned Cavalier Insurance Company.

Speaking of way back when, I haven't seen reruns of the episodes from Season Four since CBN/Family Channel stopped running these... Excuse me, but I have to lounge in front of the television for the next couple of days to get reacquainted!

In the meantime, enjoy this full episode from Season One entitled "Typical Father"...

Philco's retro PC references 1950s TV sets

Philco PC from Dave Schultze on Vimeo.

Yes my friends, it is all too good to be true! The new PC is more of a conceptual piece than a consumer ready product.

What We Hope to Watch: Father Knows Best Season Four

Season Four! It's out today!
Father Knows Best: Season 4 @ amazon.com

Thanks to Shout Factory, the First Family of the Fifties has been given back to the faithful with a fourth collection on DVD. The 5 disc set contains 33 uncut episodes from the 1957-1958 season.

• Will Betty finally get through one episode without experiencing a major crisis? (we can only hope and pray)
• Will Kathy leave home to be a lady wrestler? (hmmm)
• Will Bud go to college to become a brain surgeon? (no worries on that one)
• Will Margaret pull off the rubber gloves and go on strike? (oh no!)
• Will Father grow another gray hair with each episodic dilema? (of course!)

I'll have to watch each thrill packed episode to find out the answers to these and other pertinent questions. But where, oh where can one go to buy a copy???

In the mean time, check out the new and official FKB website :)


Video clip preview @ amazon.com


FKB: Season Four
Disc 1
101 Follow the Leader
102 The Awkward Hero
103 The Good Neighbor
104 Bud, The Executive
105 Sentenced to Happiness
106 Mother Goes To School
Bonus: Window on Main St
"The boy who got it made"

Disc 2
107 The Indispensable Man
108 Kathy's Big Chance
109 Margaret Learns to Drive
110 The Way of a Dictator
111 Mr. Beal Meets His Match
112 Kathy Makes a Wish
113 Man with a Plan
Bonus: Radio Program
A New Housekeeper


Disc 3
114 Big Sister
115 Calypso Kid
116 Father's Biography
117 The Rivals
118 Bud, the Mind Reader
119 Margaret's Other Family
120 The Trial
Bonus: Radio Program
New Arrangements

Disc 4
121 Revenge is Sweet
122 Country Cousin
123 Poor Old Dad
124 Betty's Crusade
125 Young Love
126 Tell It to Mom
127 A Friend In Need
Bonus: Radio Program
Vacation Arrives

Disc 5
128 A Medal For Margaret
129 The Weaker Sex
130 Jim, The Answer Man
131 Bud Quits School
132 A Matter of Pride
133 Betty Finds a Cause
Bonus: Window on Main St
"The Haunted House "

What We Watch - Father Knows Best, Season 3

The Emmy-winning series is back with Season 3. Father Knows Best premiered on CBS in October 1954 and ran for six successful seasons, earning six Emmy Awards from 14 Emmy nominations. This beloved family drama has become part of the American pop culture and continues to find new generations of fans. 37 classic uncut episodes with televisions premier sitcom family.

More details at Amazon.com.

What We Watch - Sid Caesar

There have been a number of Sid Caesar releases out for awhile, but I just watched this one again. Like everything else, I used to watch the "Best of Your Show of Shows" when it was in syndication, usually with me doubled over from laughing so hard. Sid's timing and facial expressions make him timeless. It's no wonder why he is a pioneer of television.

One of my favorite ongoing skits was Sid's slant on a modern atomic age couple in "the Commuters." The first offering on the dvd is "Nan Hires a Maid" where wife Nan (Nanette Fabray) has had enough of picking up after hubby Sid's slovenly ways and hires blond-headed, Brooklyn-tounged bombshell to be the new house-keeper. It isn't long before mayhem erupts, Sid Caesar style.

...And the "au courant" home set isn't half bad either.

Tee-Vee the Way it was Meant to Be

The Official Predicta Television Site!
Enter the fabulous showroom of living color by Telstar. There's a Predicta television set waiting for you.

A classic revisted for today (if you have the spare change).

YOU TOO can order your own CUSTOM Predicta TV based on your own color preferences and artistic vision! Please contact Telstar to discuss your options.




Ohhh, artistic vision? This could be fun!

What We Watch - Father Knows Best, Season Two

Well, how on earth did I almost miss this? Shout Factory has already released the second season of Father Knows Best back in November while we've still been preoccupied with the first collection! Season 1 was released in April and I was first in line.

I can finally cast aside all those deteriorating video tapes I recorded off of CBN and the Family Channel! The wonders of a push-button age.

Stay tuned - Season Three is due out June 9.

Father Knows Best - Finally!

It's here! Finally Jim Anderson has met up with current technology - Father Knows Best - Season One is now available on DVD, relesed by Shout! Factory. Father Knows Best premiered on CBS in October 1954 and has been part of the American cultural fabric ever since. Every week families gathered around the television set to join Jim, Margaret, "Princess", "Bud" and "Kitten" in their very first year as everyone's favorite 50's family. On DVD for the first time ever, this 4-disc set contains the Complete first season.

The 26 episodes are crisp for the most part, and with the original as-aired opening titles, these are a far cry from my badly degraded video recordings made off of CBN twenty years ago! The series has been alive in syndication almost constantly since production ended, that is until TV Land pulled the plug on the Andersons and fans of the TV series have been in withdrawls since.


One of our favorite episodes included in this collection is Bud's Motor Scooter - it's hard to pick a favorite, they're all classics. Juniors been listening to the original radio episodes for the past two years, and now he has a full collection of the tv series to enjoy.