Search - 50 CLASSIC TV SHOWS on DVD

Includes Bob Hope's third TV special (1950)

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 09/09/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"EMSON's 50 CLASSIC TV SHOWS consists of 4 flipdiscs stored in stagger fashion on both sides of a double-thick snapcase. None of the individual programs are identified, nor is any literature included with this collection. Picture and sound quality vary from mostly OK to occasionally bad (note will be made of the latter). Some purported as "shows" are only highlights. Best here (and worth this set's price) is an uncut early 1950s live Bob Hope hour, his third ever ahow as host. Bob, Les Brown and USO cast celebrate the military. Worst condition-wise are fragmentary Colgate Comedy Hours. (Box contents are mislabeled. There are 3 Lone Rangers and one Milton Berle show.)


DISC 1A--
OZZIE & HARRIET: #1 missing 4 minutes. #3 minus 2 minutes. Jazzy music is flown in for end titles. These three are mid-1960s programs.
YOU BET YOUR LIFE (Groucho Marx): All are missing about 4 minutes. 1954-58 DeSoto shows. Secret word: Money, House, Chair. #2 has Don Drysdale and bride (Ginger) as first contestants ('58).

DISC 1B--
RED SKELTON: Three complete half-hour shows, including the United Nations special. Decent sound.
BURNS & ALLEN: Early 1950s. All three are complete; better than average transfers.


DISC 2A--
THE TROUBLE WITH FATHER (Stu Erwin, June Collyer): Three complete episodes. Good audio but picture is improperly centered.
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW - Three Season 1 shows. No opening or end credit music. Sound on #1 is poor.

DISC 2B--
THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES:Three B&W season 1 episodes have overdubbed banjo theme at front and end. Audio on #1 is poor.
DRAGNET (Jack Webb): Three complete mid-50s chapters. Filtered audio on #2.


DISC #3A--
FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE: #1: Girl on the Park Bench (12/3/53) - Joan Fontaine, Craig Stevens | #2: Full Circle (10/27/55) - David Niven, Joanne Woodward | The Contest (11/4/54) - Dick Powell (dir. Robert Florey). Muffled sound on this one, no openng sequence.
LIFE WITH ELIZABETH (Betty White): #2 has bad sound. All three are complete chapters, including Betty's closing comments.

DISC 3B--
ONE STEP BEYOND (John Newland): #1: Dead Ringer (12/1/59) - Norma Crane, Grant Williams | #2: Earthquake (1/12/60) - David Opatoshu) | #3: The Dark Room (2/10/59) - Marcel Dalio, Cloris Leachman. All are decent transfers.
OUR GANG: Complete two-reelers with Blackhawk Films title card. #1: OUR GANG FOLLIES OF 1938 - Alfalfa sings "Learn to Croon" | #2:SCHOOL'S OUT (1931) - Miss Crabtree's pop quiz gets funny answers | BEAR SHOOTERS (1930) - Poachers try to scare the kids from their campsite


DISC 4A--
THE LUCY SHOW: Two shows. #1 has muffled audio. #2 is shortened by 2 minutes.
FLASH GORDON (Steve Holland, Irene Champlin, Joseph Nash): #1: The Claim Jumpers (11/12/54) | #2: Akim the Terrible (11/5/54) | #3 The Breath of Death (11/26/54).
FRIGIDAIRE presents THE BOB HOPE COMEDY HOUR (11/26/50--normally Colgate Comedy Hour): Marilyn Maxwell, Hi Hatters, Taylor Maids, Jimmy Wakely - Finely preserved kinescope of complete Korean War-era program with an appreciative all-military audience. (Bob sings comic "Tumblin' Tumbleweeds" duet with Wakely) Outstanding show!

DISC 4B--
ABBOTT & COSTELLO : Poor quality multi-generational dubs are highlights from COLGATE COMEDY HOURs. #1 (21 mins.) includes "Who's on First" routine. #2 (14 mins.) has a Frankenstein skit.
THE BUICK SHOW (Milton Berle): Peter Lawford, Carol Channing, Arnold Stang - Filtered sound. 37 minutes of 55.
LONE RANGER: #1: The Legion of Old Timers (9/8/49) - DeForest Kelley | #2: The Renegade (11/3/49) - Gene Roth, Ralph Moody, Lane Chandler | #3: Old Joe's Sister (12/22/49) - Ann O'Neal, Joel Friedkin (muffled audio, -2½ mins.)"