FALL PREVIEW ‘53

September 18, 1953

On September 18, 1953, TV Guide, now a national publication, published their first Fall Preview issue. This became an annual and much anticipated tradition with the magazine. Although TV Guide national edition was only 25 issues old, Lucille Ball had already been featured on three covers and would go on to be seen on 36 more.

TV Guide (volume 1, number 25) hit news stands on September 18, 1953. It provided television listings for programs from September 18 to 24, 1953.  

The editorial content of the issue was broken down by genre. Naturally, Lucille Ball and “I Love Lucy” headed up the “Situation Comedy” section. 

“Almost entirely responsible for laughs springing from situations instead of gags is, of course, the fantastically successful ‘I Love Lucy’, a show about which very little remains to be said.   Since its debut in late 1951, ‘Lucy’ has run up increasingly astonishing ratings and there’s no end in sight. The marital misadventures of Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo as portrayed by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball provide no end of joy to TV fans and as a result the entire TV comedy scene has been reshaped.” 

In 1953, “I Love Lucy” did not return to the airwaves until October 5th, kicking off their third season with “Ricky’s Life Story” (ILL S3;E1), an episode filmed in May 1953. T

he day before this issue hit the stands, the series filmed “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), which aired on October 19, 1953.  Lucy and Desi were still dealing with her being accused of being a communist a week earlier.

Although the Arnaz Family loved to get away to Hawaii, they could not have spent a month there from September 15, 1953. They filmed “Lucy and Ethel Buy The Same Dress” on September 17th and “Equal Rights” on September 24th.  The TV Teletype (Hollywood) was complied by Dan Jenkins. The reporter’s name was given to the used furniture salesman played by Hans Conried in “Redecorating” in 1952. 

The article on Comedy goes on to discuss returning shows like “Our Miss Brooks,” “My Friend Irma,” “My Little Margie,” “I Married Joan,” “Mr. Peepers,” “Ozzie and Harriet,” “Ethel and Albert,” “Life of Riley,” “Amos ‘n’ Andy” and “A Date With Judy.” 

Comedy Newcomers for 1953…

“My Favorite Husband” based on Lucille Ball’s hit radio show. Lucy’s role is now taken by Joan Caulfield. The CBS sitcom lasted until 1955.

“Meet Mr. McNutley” aka “The Ray Milland Show.” It lasted two season on CBS. 

“Life With Danny” later retitled “Make Room for Daddy” and then “The Danny Thomas Show.” The show became a juggernaut lasting until 1965 and launching several sequels and spin-offs, including “The Andy Griffith Show.” Thomas was inspired by Desi Arnaz to use a multi-camera film shoot and filmed the show at Desilu.  In 1958, the series moved to CBS and did a cross-over with “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” to mark the shift in networks. 

“Pride of the Family” starring Paul Hartman and Fay Wray and Natalie Wood in her only regular TV series. The ABC show lasted only one season. 

“Bonino” starring opera singer Ezio Pinza and Mary Wickes as his housekeeper. The comedy lasted only six episodes on NBC. 

“Jamie” starring Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning child actor Brandon De Wilde (Shane). ABC  canceled the series two episodes into the second season because of a business dispute with its show’s sponsor.

“Marge and Jeff” was a nightly 15-minute sitcom from the DuMont Television Network featuring Marge Greene (who also wrote the episodes) and Jess Cain as newlyweds living in New York City. It ran 27 episodes.   

“Topper” was about an uptight banker, Cosmo Topper, and the ghosts that only he could see or hear, George and Marion Kerby. Based on the hit film of 1937, the series ran two seasons on CBS. 

“Life With Father” was based on the long-running Broadway play and hit film of 1947, this sitcom debuted on CBS and lasted until July 1955. It focused on the lives of the Day family in 1880s New York. Viewers had trouble keeping track of the numerous cast changes with the children (one son was played by three different actors). Despite being seen in black and white by most viewers, this live series was actually broadcast in color beginning in September 1954, the first such show produced in Hollywood. 

“Private Secretary” was a mid-season replacement that started airing in February 1953, so not technically a ‘new’ comedy. The show featured Lucy’s friend Ann Sothern as Susie McNamara, private secretary. It was filmed at General Service Studios, just like “I Love Lucy.” When the series was mired in contract disputes and reformatted as “The Ann Sothern Show,” Desilu entered the picture as producer. Interestingly, the September 20, 1953 episode concerned Susie wanting a trip to Havana, Cuba. 

The very first episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1957 depicted Susie MacNamara and her fellow private secretary Lucy McGillicuddy on a 1940 cruise to Havana, where Lucy meets her future husband, Ricky Ricardo! Lucy Ricardo also turned up on “The Ann Sothern Show” where Ann played Katie O’Connor. The upshot is that both Susie and Katie lived in the same world as Lucy Ricardo!