1960s Timeline

June 6, 1962 - George Burns (pictured with Ann-Margret) and Carol Channing won critical acclaim at the premiere of their comedy show at the Orpheum Theatre in Seattle. The pair had never worked together before. “A little more touring vaudeville like the Burns and Channing brand could kill television,” Louis Guzzo of The Seattle Times reported. Mr. Burns, 66, thus performed for the first time with anyone other than his wife, Gracie Allen, who retired in 1958. Miss Channing, at

June 2, 1962 - ABC recently sent film crews into American nightclubs and cabarets to obtain material for a documentary on new trends in comedy, with an emphasis on political and social satire. A half-hour program entitled “The New Comedians” will be televised on “Close-Up” on June 12 at 10 p.m. Comedians to be seen include Dick Gregory (pictured) and Mort Sahl and two groups of satirists billed as Second City and the Uniquecorns. #classicmovies #1960s #OTD #comedy #classictv

May 24, 1962 - Soupy Sales (pictured right with Tony Curtis), television’s foremost target for pie throwers, is coming to New York to be the host of “Tonight” on NBC-TV for one week beginning June 4. The question arose whether viewers of the show, accustomed to oral darts, could expect pie throwing, too, when Mr. Sales appears. “Undoubtedly there will be some of that, but that’s not the purpose of putting Soupy on our program,” said Perry Cross, producer of the show. “We will

Nov. 1, 1961 - “Bachelor in Paradise,” an MGM comedy with Bob Hope and Lana Turner, will open at New York’s Capitol Theatre on Nov. 16, following the current “Back Street.” Janis Paige, Jim Hutton, and Paula Prentiss are also in the production, which was directed by Jack Arnold. A bachelor author (Hope) of sleazy books moves to a family-oriented subdivision, where he becomes an unofficial relationship advisor to unhappy local housewives — to the dismay of their respective hus

Sept. 27, 1961 - Tonight on "The Joey Bishop Show," Joey expects to be doing publicity work for Marilyn Monroe, but his new client is a chimp who recently appeared in a film. Joey manages to get the chimp on the "Tonight" show with Jack Paar. But, when the trainer doesn't show, Joey must join his new client before the cameras. 8:30 p.m. on NBC. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy #entertainment #podcast

Sept. 20, 1961 - Tonight marks the series premiere of "The Joey Bishop Show," to be televised at 8:30 p.m. on NBC. Storylines during the season will revolve around Joey's misadventures concerning his public relations job and problems with his colorful family. Bishop began his career as part of a stand-up comedy act with his older brother, Maury. He has appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dinah Shore Show, and many other variety programs. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #s

Sept. 17, 1961 - On tonight's "Car 54, Where Are You?" pilot episode, Officers Toody (Joe E. Ross) and Muldoon (Fred Gwynne) are desperate to go fishing. But after shift-swapping with the entire precinct and avoiding any issuance of tickets (to avert court duty), will they actually go? 8:30 p.m. on #NBC. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy

Sept. 14, 1961 - On tonight's Season Four premiere of "The Donna Reed Show," Mary's careless driving leads to an unexpected romantic evening with a young pop singer (James Darren, left with Shelley Fabares) followed by heartbreak when he leaves for the army. 8 p.m. on #ABC. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy

Sept. 14, 1961 - The "Red Skelton Show," long a television fixture at 9:30 p.m. on CBS, will be rescheduled at 9 p.m. when it begins its 11th season on Sept. 26. "Ichabod and Me," a new comedy series, will be switched to the 9:30 p.m time slot. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy

Sept. 13, 1961 - Dick Gregory, who won quick fame last spring as the first Negro comic to succeed in metropolitan cabarets, is back at New York's Blue Angel. Mr. Gregory has expanded his target range. In a new string of jokes tried out for the first time this week, he refers to the German, truck-borne escapees as the "East Berlin Freedom Riders." "They are people who push the gas pedal down to the floor and don't look right or left," he says. "In New York, we call them cab dr

Aug. 23, 1961 - George Gobel, the television comedian, and his partner David O'Malley today sold their 50 percent share in the TV comedy series, "Leave It to Beaver," for $1 million. Revue Productions, the purchaser, now owns the ABC-TV series outright. "Beaver" recently completed its fourth year. The show is about an inquisitive and often naïve boy, Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver (Jerry Mathers, bottom right), and his adventures at home, school, and around his suburban neighb

July 26, 1961 - Shirley Booth, whose knowledge of show business is extensive, has been learning that the television series is a thing apart. At the moment she is in the midst of making the third episode of a series called "Hazel." It is about the famous cartoon character. The series will go on NBC in late September. "I am still feeling my way with Hazel," she said. "She must have humor of course. She has to have a strong maternal complex. She has to be sort of 'butch' so she

July 19, 1961 - Mort Sahl made his British debut today on a BBC television program. As usual, the comedian wore a sweater and open-necked shirt and carried a rolled-up newspaper. He did not lampoon British customs or personalities, concentrating on his familiar American targets. His greatest targets were President Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and even Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy. The Daily Mail reported that the BBC had received "a number of calls" after the show,