Make Room for Daddy, Season 1, Episode 8, 'The Sea Captain' (1953)

After forgetting their father's birthday, Terry and Rusty put on a play.
With original commercials for the show's sponsors, Speidel Watchbands and Lucky Strike cigarettes. Alice Bauer, 'America's prettiest golf pro', promotes Lucky Strike during intermission.

[@jessiejames7492]

the actress here is the same one who did the dizzy blonde in SINGING IN THE RAIN doing the the first talking scene, if you remember . I think shes a wonderful actress

[@jerseymike7946]

Though forgotten now, Ben Lessy was a comedic genius, appearing in 19 episodes of Make Room for Daddy. His nightclub act at LA's Slapsy Maxie's was legendary, the biggest Hollywood stars and politicians packed the joint every night. His best work on TV was probably on 3 episodes of the Jack Benny Show. Phil Harris said if he had't been so short, homely and bald he could have had his own big career in TV, and Lessy knew it, but never complained.

[@oldblackstock2499]

The watch commercial at the beginning is cool. In the 50s here in the South the average mill worker was paid about 75 cents to $1.00 an hour. So, a ten dollar watch was about a days pay.

[@petegregory517]

My mom wore Speidel watches for years.

[@rccrowe2757]

Edgar Buchanan (Joseph P. "Uncle Joe" Carson: Petticoat Junction 1963 -1970) in one of his earliest TV roles as Capt. Chris. Ironically enough 10 years later he starred in Petticoat Junction . Which started in the fall of '63 on CBS TDTS's last season its 11th.The 63-64 season was one of the most dominant in TV history for any network. CBS had 9 of the top ten series including 1.Beverly Hillbillies.. 3) The Dick Van Dyke Show... 4) Petticoat Junction...5) The Andy Griffith Show...6) The Lucy Show ..7) Candid Camera... 8) Ed Sullivan Show...9) Danny Thomas Show.. 10) My Favorite Martian. Bonanza was ranked 3rd (NBC). ..

[@rccrowe2757]

CBS also had the No. 11- 15 ranked shows that season.. 11) Red Skelton Show...12 (3 way tie).. I've Got A Secret.. Jack Benny Program... and Lassie.. 15) Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine aka The Jackie Gleason Show.

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally telecast on November 17, 1953.

[@jp0308]

My God! I love the old shows from the 50's ( I was born in 1953) but Danny Thomas was an absolute sentimental vaudevillian ham! I'm not about to eschew the writers' comic humor, its some of the best, but sometimes episodes as this one are just a little bit over the top - pure corn. But I continue to view such productions from that era for historical reasons.

[@susanford2388]

alas the whole time Jean Hagen (Mrs. Williams) suffered severe alcoholism.

[@petegregory517]

Cost her being Ethel in I Love Lucy. They didn’t wanna have to deal with 2 of em.

[@jackkircher1755]

Captain played by Edgar Buchanan UNCLE Joe from Petticoat Junction

[@petegregory517]

Captain Jack and Uncle Billy on Leave it to Beaver.

[@jackkircher1755]

So glad the stupid Tabasco company isn't sponsor for once! They knew the effects of smoking back then but we're too stupid to not put out an advisory about it during the commercial! It would be 20 years before the advisory appeared on cigarette packs!

[@widetubevision4423]

Danny Thomas was 41 years old when he made this episode. I checked his bio on wikipedia. I enjoy watching the sponsors of the show especially the attractive woman at 14:06. Women were really women back in the 1950s.

[@fromthesidelines]

In January 1954, Speidel withdrew as the show's alternate sponsor; Chrysler's Dodge division replaced them for the next two and a half seasons.

[@arttrombley7385]

Desilu was responsible for the best of the best in Television programming. The 50's was a completely different World as opposed to today.

[@jessiejames7492]

he looks so young esp with that shirt

[@Drummed]

R u or were u associated with Grauman's Chinese Theater ?

[@fromthesidelines]

I wish I were a member of that family. But, no.

[@petegregory517]

14:29 doubt that would be allowed today. Opposite would be heralded though.

[@rccrowe2757]

Is it true that Danny and Jean Hagan didn't get along? She left after season 3 allegedly because she was not a happy camper ( disappointed in the scripts fighting w/Danny).

[@jessiejames7492]

she looked very feisty compared to the other actress who playd his wife. good for her

[@jackkircher1755]

I don't know about that but I do know that Sherry didn't care for Danny Thomas but loved Jean Hagan. When they killed her off, Sherry had a tough time dealing with it. She left the show soon after

[@rccrowe2757]

Addendum: Bonanza was ranked 2nd in '63-'64 not 3rd.

[@Drummed]

In Bonanza's entirety , I never watched one single episode. Black & white or color !

[@petervance6777]

Think it was the first network show in color in 59😞

[@fromthesidelines]

Ed Thorgersen speaks for Luckies.

[@tonypanzarella9387]

He was the long time voice of the sports highlights on the Fox Movietone newsreels.

[@fromthesidelines]

Right!

[@sherryjackson2083]

Jean could not stand kissing him because he used to chew tobacco and spit. Yuck!!!

[@Drummed]

I'm thinking just how rough & gruff smoking Lucky non filters would be on your respiratory tract these days. I can't imagine the pleasure this active woman of her time could stand smoking one of the harshest non filter cigarettes ever made. I don't even she smokes cigarettes at all. They just pay her to endorse the shit ! I'm also aware The American Tobacco Co. don't exist no more. I think R.J Reynolds has bought up the Lucky & Pall Mall name.

[@petegregory517]

Used to smoke Camel unfiltered.

[@petegregory517]

Our family Dr back in the ‘50’s-‘60’s used to smoke while treating us. He’d tell my dad he had to lose weight and stop smoking while he was puffin away and about 50 lbs overweight. My dad told him he’d lose weight and quit when he did. Ah yeah, good times, great days, men were men.