Wonderful John Acton

Wonderful John Acton is an American television situation comedy that was broadcast on NBC from July 5, 1953, until September 22, 1953.[1]

Background

Edward A. Byron, the producer,[2] based the title character on his own grandfather. The concept for the series began when Byron related anecdotes about his childhood in Newport, Kentucky, during a birthday dinner. "A few days later," he said, "Tom McDermott, an ad agency guy, buttonholed me on the street -- told me I ought to write those things down, that he thought they'd make a good TV series."[3]

Premise

Kevin Acton narrated episodes about his grandfather, John, whom Kevin considered to be "wonderful". The setting was 1919 in Ludlow, Kentucky, where John Acton owned and operated (and lived in the back of) a store that sold candy and notions. He was also the county clerk. Kevin was seen as a child in episodes but the adult Kevin was not seen as narrator.[4] Julia was John's widowed daughter and 12-year-old Kevin's mother. Aunt Bessie was John Acton's sister.[2]

Cast

Production

Grey Lockwood was the director.[2] Writers included Byron, William Kendall Clarke, Robert J. Shaw, and Martha Wilkerson. John Gart provided music.[1] The show originated from WNBT in New York City.[5]

As a summer replacement for Red Skelton's program,[6] Wonderful John Acton was broadcast on Sundays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time from July 5, 1953, through August 31, 1953. It was moved to Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. beginning on September 8, 1953, ending its run in that time slot on September 22, 1953, for a total of 13 episodes. It was broadcast live in black-and white, sometimes with a studio audience. Sponsors included Revlon.[1] An article in The New York Times described the September shift of NBC's My Son Jeep and Wonderful John Acton to Milton Berle's usual time slot as putting "two of its more promising half-hour summer shows into the ccomedian's time period for a three-week 'showcasing' for prospective sponsors."[7]

Critical response

TV critic Steven H. Scheuer wrote that Wonderful John Acton was "a real 'sleeper'. It's a charming and nostalgic bit of Americana, a family comedy".[8] He described the cast as "excellent".[8]

A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety called the program "a charming, nostalgic re-creation of the life of an athentic Irish-American tribe ..."[9] It said that the episode "was a bit too contrived" but commended Martin's performance as Uncle Terrence.[9] The review also complimented Lockwood's directing, the "lower middle-class of yesterday sets", and the "lilting Irish musical accompaniment".[9]

References
  1. Leszczak, Bob (November 16, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-7864-6812-6. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  2. McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 923. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  3. Hackett, Rita (July 7, 1953). "Eddie Byron Puts the Home Town On Television". The Cincinnati Post. p. 9. Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 1129. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  5. "This Week — Network Debuts, Highlights, Changes". Ross Reports. July 5, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. "Eight More Shows to Start Summer Schedule on Video". The Kansas City Star. July 5, 1953. p. 5 D. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Lohman, Sidney (August 30, 1953). "News and Notes Gathered from the Studios: Video to Get a New Symphonic Hour -- Radio Girds for the New Season". The New York Times. p. X 9. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  8. Scheuer, Steven H. (July 27, 1953). "TV Key". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 22. Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Wonderful John Acton". Variety. July 15, 1953. p. 31. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
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