The Sunday Memory Drawer - More TV From Days Gone By

Let's take one more week to wrap up some TV tidbits---morsels of memories---from decades past.  Wherever you were seated in front of the Philco tube, maybe some of these will jog your memory.  As for me, I am likely sitting in my grandmother's living room and staring at the black and white images dancing in front of me.

Until, of course, the screen cut to a slide similar to the one the adorns the top of today's entry.  Usually, there would be an announcer who intoned those words that annoyed you to no end.

"We are experiencing technical difficulties.  Please stand by."

As you waited for what seemed to be an eternity, you were regaled with some little-known Ray Conniff cover song.  And you hated every single musical note that came out of the box.  Meanwhile, I'm missing what happened to Abbott and Costello in the haunted house.

My grandmother would go one better.  She'd get up and hit the side of the television. 

"Come on, you stupids."

As if the force of her hand could be felt all the way down at Metromedia Channel 5 in New York.  She actually might have thought she could move those tech guys any faster.

Dr. Kildare:  For a brief period of time, medical dramas were all the rage.  They were so popular that kids (like me) actually wore intern shirts to school.  There were two such shows on and, from what I remembered, you watched one or the other but not both.  It was almost like a battle of the titans.  Dr. Kildare vs. Ben Casey.  To be clear, you had to pick one as your favorite.  I went with Richard Chamberlain and Raymond Massey.  Why?  Ben Casey was on at 10PM Monday nights and this was at least an hour after my bedtime.

That Girl:  Truth be told, I don't think I watched a single complete episode of this Marlo Thomas sitcom.  But, I certainly wouldn't miss the opening credits to see the convoluted way in which the writers got to the moment where somebody exclaimed "That Girl!"  The opening credits were always terrific.  The show itself?  No clue.


When Marlo Thomas changed her hair in the later seasons, I would always find it fascinating that the style would magically switch out during the credits. 

To this day, I can't walk amongst the fountains at Lincoln Center without humming the theme song.

The Munsters:  In a battle similar to the Kildare vs. Casey match-up, there were two "monster" sitcoms on at one point.  Once again, you didn't or maybe couldn't be a fan of both.  You were either a fan of "The Munsters" or "The Addams Family."  You virtually had to pick sides.  My grandmother was partial to Fred Gwynne and company, so that made my decision a no-brainer.  Once my grandmother saw the Addams' "Thing" come out of the box...

"Stupid.  They are trying to make the people crazy."

Done.

This time around, kids didn't necessarily dress like ghouls to go to school.  But, there were other toys associated with the show.  I remember using my allowance to buy a Herman Munster doll.  It had real, well, acrylic hair.  And I promptly tried to shampoo it.  Suddenly, Herman Munster looked a lot more like Phyllis Diller.

Charlie Chan Theater:  Well, this wasn't a prime time show, but certainly a Saturday afternoon treat with Grandma.  At 3PM every week, Metromedia Channel 5 in New York would flash a slide opening this week's Chan movie.  The graphics were undoubtedly offensive to Asians.  As for me and my grandmother, we loved it.  We were always partial to the first Chan played by Warner Oland and his #1 son as portrayed by Keye Luke. 

But, another wonderful flashback for me goes back to my chosen snack for Charlie Chan Theater each and every Saturday.  I've written previously...

A Slim Jim.

Actually, two. Back then, they weren't that long. Probably six inches in length. I figured this was my protein requirement for the week. Because it was meat, right? Right????

I savored my two Slim Jims so much that I would eat them slowly. Craving every nitrate, morsel by morsel, as it slid down to whatever part of my stomach would try to process it. Every week, I'd run to Charlie's, get my Slim Jims, and then plop down in front of Grandma's TV to watch Charlie Chan Mystery Theater on Channel 5, Metromedia in New York. And I would slowly ease the "meat" out of the Slim Jims. I could make the two of them last for the entire show.

Password:  My grandmother couldn't read.  As a result, she couldn't enjoy those television game shows that involved the flashing of clues, words, etc..  But, she really liked Password as hosted by Allen Ludden.  Why?  Because the announcer always told her what she couldn't read...

"And the password is........"

77 Sunset Strip:  Back when I watched this with Grandma, I thought longingly of how cool it must be to cruise along Sunset Strip.  Having now made many trips across it, I can say "not so much."  Still, this detective yarn gave me a glorious image of Hollywood.

My more vivid memory of this show had nothing to do with me or my grandmother.  I had a female cousin who is older and was in her teens at the time.  She was totally over the moon for actor Roger Smith.  He was all she could talk about.  I was a kid and hormones were yet to be found in my bloodwork.  I'd look at my cousin and wonder what all the fuss was about.  How can you get this worked up over some guy on television.

Well, I would soon find out...

Bracken's World:  Well, heck, as I got older, I didn't watch everything with my grandmother.  Nope, this was my first "adult" show.  Watched in the privacy of my own room.  You'll know why shortly.  I've written about this show and its place in Len history previously when it came it at #21 on the list of My Top 25 Favorite TV Shows of All Time.  As we flashback...

I would expect very few of you will remember "Bracken's World." It aired for just 41 episodes on Fridays at 10PM on NBC from September 19, 1969 through December 25, 1970. The drama had marginal ratings in its first season and pretty much tanked during its second year, which was cut short at mid-season.

And, in the truest sense of being forgotten, it is dreadfully hard to even find anything about it anywhere. No one reruns it. There are a few truncated episode guides on the internet. There are no clips on YouTube, except for a photo gallery about Leslie Nielsen (he joined the cast for the second year) set to the second season theme song which was done by the Lettermen. Some joker on eBay is actually selling VHS dubs of selected episodes. The first season theme song (which I still hum to this day) is on a TV Theme Songs website, but I can't figure out how to load the musical link to this link. Nevertheless, largely, the show is long gone and even longer forgotten.

But not by me.

"Bracken's World" was my first foray into Appointment Television. Oh, sure, there were a bunch of shows from my childhood that were never missed. But, this program was indeed exclusively my own. Nobody else in my house watched it. Not my parents. Not my grandmother. I had one good friend in the neighborhood who was equally addicted, but she and I were essentially the smallest fan club possible.

I didn't give a shit. I loved it!

There was a lot going on for me in the fall of 1969. Those months would provide for me the most golden memories of my childhood. The New York Mets went from last place to first place and wound up their most amazing season with a World Series win over the Baltimore Orioles. Given that most of my friends "up the block" were Yankee fans, this, too, was a feat and an enjoyment exclusive only to me. I suddenly felt validated as a sports fan.

And "Bracken's World" gave me credence as my first hour-long "adult" drama that I was watching all on my own. It was mine. Only mine.

"Bracken's World" was just what the title said. A world run by movie mogul John Bracken. It was the story of Century Studios and, given that it was shot on the 2oth Century Fox lot, they really didn't need to modify too much signage. Ironically, my current LA apartment is probably on part of the Fox backlot that was sold off by Darryl Zanuck to cover some huge debts. Somehow, I'd like to think that I am living right now on part of what was "Bracken's World."

Century Studios was a throwback to the way that movie studios like MGM or Paramount used to be. Big communities with lots of people in residence. The house director. The studio head's executive assistant. The acting coach. The stunt man. The Marlon Brando wannabe. A family in a work environment. It made me decide right then and there that I wanted to be in the entertainment business. Up until I ran into "Bracken's World," I always thought I was going to wind up as a veterinarian. This show changed that all for me. Permanently.

And then there were the three resident starlets on the show. One Marilyn Monroe type, one Grace Kelly type, and one Loretta Young type. There was something for everybody's tastes.

And those three beauties, played by Karen Jensen, Laraine Stephens, and Linda Harrison, made me move toward adulthood in a completely different way. Perhaps that's another reason why I was watching this all by myself.

Another great thing about "Bracken's World" was they dragged in tons of cameos and guest stars. People who were just walking through the studio. Debbie Reynolds. Ricardo Montalban. Edward G. Robinson. Janet Leigh. Ida Lupino. A who's who of Hollywood back numbers. Hell, during a bulk of the first season, Bracken's assistant was played by the legendary Eleanor Parker, and she has pretty much disappeared ever since. Great stuff for a starstruck kid who suddenly realized that there was a lot more to life than a Jerry Koosman victory.

Sadly, "Bracken's World" never really caught on. I have some theories why, especially in light that it did have an okay-sized audience its first season. During that initial year, Bracken was never seen a la the disenfranchised voice they used on "Charlie's Angels." He was always on a conference call from New York or Cannes or some other place where you normally find studio moguls.

The producers, in an effort to spice up the show in its second season, elected to show us all John Bracken and the role was played by Leslie Nielsen. With all due respect to the actor who shares my birthday, this move did not work. The Bracken character was much more imposing and powerful when you were removed from him. It changed the series and not for the better.

The other second season turn-off was the direct result of a poor choice of plotlines. In the second episode that year, they decided to kill off the alcoholic wife of house director Kevin Grant, played by Peter Haskell. They did so in a story very reminiscent of what happened to Sharon Tate at the hands of Charles Manson. The only problem is that this aired only about a year after the real event and it certainly was way too fresh in the minds of the viewer. A major disconnect.

My Three Sons:  A good friend mentioned that this was one of his favorites after last Sunday's blog and I agree.  How could I forget it?  This was my first Lawrence Welk liberation show.  It was on the same time as every other TV in my house was tuned to the Lennon Sisters and company.  But, I had finally scored my own portable television so I could savor the goings on with Fred MacMurray and the boys.

Oddly enough, I didn't watch this show until several seasons in.  As a result, I missed a whole son.  The oldest had departed already and Barry Livingston came in as Ernie.  Why wasn't this updated to read "My Four Sons?"  This always confused me.

It was fun watching a houseful of siblings.  This show might have been the envy of all us only children.

But, then again, none of us kids were ever completely alone.  We always had that wonderful machine in the living room.  Illuminating our face with its picture tube.   And taking us to places near and far. 

Dinner last night:  Turkey burger at Pig N' Whistle.