Being from across the pond we relied on American series at our local Saturday cinema. Commonly known as The Flea Pit , a 3 pence bit would transport you to another world. We kids suffered with Flash every week What was your favourite series !
I am not sure if "Great Minds Run In The Same Channel" or "Fools Think Alike!" I was just about to post this when you popped on first! One of my favorite old television shows was Ralph Edward's "This Is Your Life!" He would surprise celebrities in all fields and show them their history through film clips, stills and people in their lives! This segment is Boris Karloff, famous horror actor!
I did enjoy "This is Your Life" that show compared to some of the stuff that is on TV now was very classy. I also watched "Flash Gordon". I was a big Western fan, Maverick was one of my favorites.
This is Your Life was a great show I remember when I was younger my sisters watched it all the time. I like a whole lot of the classic TV programs. Perhaps one of my favorites and I have seen numerous times is Gilligan's Island. Yes, this show could be silly at times, for example many people could get to the island but the castaways could never get off, but it was sitll entertaining none the less. I still watch this show in reruns.
Something that we still get on a regular basis on TV in the UK is Columbo. Of course, the formula is always the same - you know who the guilty party is in the first few minutes, but the fun is in seeing how Columbo manages to work it out. It is in a similar vein to our own Inspector Morse, just with shabbier clothes.
We watch a lot of old shows. Not many new ones we like. Gunsmoke and Cheyenne are two that are currently on every day. I've seen Columbo a few times lately too.
Before Gilligan's Island, Bob Denver starred as Maynard G. Krebs, a beatnik on the Dobis Gillis Show! http://www.bobdenver.com/dobie-gillis/
We never had television until the 70s, but I have see some of the older shows from time to time and I find them amusing. Sometimes the way they were produced can seem very amateur compared to the professionalism we have become used to today. Although, they do have their, place, especially when compared to some of the rubbish we have to watch.
When I was growing up my Grandma took me to church with her. She loved to go to the movies too. We went to the movie theatre and watched mostly samurai movies. I liked it though we had to see it in subbed movies. After the movie we always visited a saimin or ramin shop that had the sweetest and softest BBQ shish kabobs. I love being with Grandma. Grandma and I caught the bus to go everywhere. Grandma since then has passed away, but I've fond memories of her and I going to church, movies and eating our snacks.
There were a lot of favorites on my list. One show I never missed was "Combat" Staring Vic Morrow. My childhood dream was to be a soldier. That never happened because of medical problems. "Gunsmoke" was another.
One of my favorites was 'Sky King' on Saturdays at noon. I loved hearing the sound of the airplane as this a very exotic experience having grown up in a very rural area!
Yes, I know in fact I have seen episodes of Dobie Gillis as well in reruns over the years. The funny thing is I heard that it was this role that almost cost him the part on Gilligan. Why because Sherwood Schwatz who created the show wasn't sure that the guy who was known for playing a beatnik hippy in his last show could be accepted playing a bumbling sailor. Well, apparently the gamble paid off in giving Denver the part in the end.
For some reason, didn't watch many of the sitcoms growing up. Once married, became a fan of "All In The Family" which probably contributed to some of my 'bent' mind today! Growing up, the folks always had to watch The Lawrence Welk Show... which I grew to hate. Lots of westerns... 'Have Gun, Will Travel', 'Gunsmoke', 'Wanted Dead or Alive', 'The Rifleman', 'Rawhide', 'Wagon Train'. The game shows were also watched... 'I've Got a Secret', 'What's My Line', 'Name That Tune', 'To Tell The Truth', 'Truth or Consequences'. And, a couple of the detective shows... 'Dragnet', 'Tightrope', 'Mannix'.