The Alan Young Show
| The Alan Young Show | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Variety, comedy |
| Written by |
|
| Starring | Alan Young |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | April 6, 1950 – June 21, 1953 |
The Alan Young Show is an American radio and television series presented in diverse formats over a nine-year period and starring English-born comedian Alan Young.
Radio
The series began on
From October 3, 1944, to June 28, 1946, the program was on ABC Radio with Young's girlfriend Betty portrayed by Jean Gillespie and Doris Singleton and with Ed Begley as Betty's father. Will Glickman and Jay Sommers were the writers.[3]
The program returned to NBC September 20, 1946, - May 30, 1947, with Ipana as sponsor. It was off in 1948. When it returned to NBC January 11, 1949 - July 5, 1949, Louise Erickson played Betty and Jim Backus was heard as wealthy and snobbish playboy Hubert Updike III. Don Wilson was the announcer, and George Wylie provided the music. Helen Mack was the producer and director.[3]
Television
Young had his first television program on the West Coast beginning on March 14, 1950, and the network version of The Alan Young Show debuted on CBS on April 6, 1950,[1] as a variety, sketch comedy show. Each program typically contained a monologue, one or two songs by a vocalist and two skits.[4]
The show went on hiatus after its March 27, 1952, episode. When it returned for its final season on February 15, 1953,
In 1951, The Alan Young Show received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series, and Young won the Best Actor Emmy Award.[5]
Personnel
Regulars on the first version included Polly Bergen (in her national TV debut),[1] Ben Wright, Joseph Kearns, Mabel Paige, Phillips Tead and the Lud Gluskin Orchestra.[6] Nina Bara was also a featured comedienne.[7] On the second version, Dawn Addams played Young's girlfriend and Melville Faber portraying his son.[citation needed] John Heistand was the announcer. Lud Gluskin directed the orchestra.[8]
Ralph Levy and Dick Linkroum produced and directed, and Joe Connolly and Bob Mosher produced and wrote for the program. Alan Dinehart and Edward Bernds also directed. Other writers included Young, Leo Solomon, Dave Schwartz, Nate Monaster, and Stanley Shapiro.[1]
Critical response
A review of the program's September 28, 1950, episode in the trade publication Billboard called Young "one of the most original performers in video".[8] However, the reviewer questioned the use of two long skits when Young's work came across better in shorter segments.[8]
Cast
- Ilene Woods as Singing Neighbor
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4766-0874-7. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-4766-4465-3. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-984045-8. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- ^ "Awards Search". Emmy Awards. Television Academy. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3305-6.
- ^ Staff, "Space Girl 'Tonga' to Appear At White-Barne Grand Opening," The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Wednesday 17 November 1954, Volume LXI, Number 67, page 8.
- ^ a b c Bundy, June (October 7, 1950). "Alan Young Show". Billboard. p. 9. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
External links
- The Alan Young Show at IMDb
- The Alan Young Show clips at TV4u.com
- January 16 1951 episode viewable on the Internet Archive
- Four 1945-46 episodes audio-only on the Internet Archive
