John Sheda

Do you remember watching TV way back when. Later 50’s and early 60’s, for example. Now compare the shows back then to what we are forced to watch today. Quality isn’t even close, is it? We all had those three basic channels, plus PBS, and these stations had better shows than the gazilion or so we have today. You know I’m right. Mom turned the noon-time news on at, well, noon and then TV was off until late afternoon. Dr. Max & Mombo was always there to greet us. Remember Marshal J? Now that’s going back a long time. Then it was the evening news with Walter Cronkite. The night usually finished with Dave Shay, Tait Commings and Conrad Johnson sharing all the local news, sports and weather with us. Then “click” and the TV was off for another day. At least that’s the way it was at the Shedas way back when.

However between the early and the late news, boy, did we have some good television. And some great TV characters. What were your favorite shows? Here were some of mine?

Everyone loved The Ed Sullivan Show at 7 pm on Sunday evenings. How about Red Skelton, Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen? MIlton Berele was quite a comic as well. Were you one of those crazy Beatle fans that screamed and hollered as they performed live?

We loved those great westerns like Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Big Valley, The Virginian and of course, Maverick. They don’t make guys like Ben Cartright, Matt Dillon and James Garner anymore. And of course, if you got into any kind of legal trouble, just give Perry Mason a call. He never lost a case, did he? Always made the right move at exactly the right time. At, television you could count on.

Saturday mornings were reserved for cartoons. The ONLY day a kid could watch cartoons. And as we became teens back then, American Bandstand with Dick Clark was a favorite. Heard all the great songs, met the artists and prepared ourselves for the great dance moves. However, at every dance I ever attended back then, the guys just stood in a pack, hands in pocket, shuffling our feet. Too afraid to take a chance of being laughed at.

However no serious consideration of great TV back in the 60’s would be anywhere near complete without visiting Mayberry. Getting to know Aunt Bea, Claire, Floyd the barber, Goober & Gomer, Howard and even Otis was always a pleasure. That was the life, wasn’t it? And not much different than Chelsea actually. Or Montour, Tama or Toledo for that matter. Opie was the favorite son and isn’t it a great feeling to know that Ron Howard turned out so well. Kind of makes the world make sense, doesn’t it? Of course there’s the two stars of The Andy Griffith Show, Barney Fife and Andy Taylor. Great characters making up one of television’s all time great shows.

However, as time went on, we also enjoyed Mash, Cheers, Columbo, All In The Family, Bill Cosby, Happy Days, Three’s Company and many, many others.

So what were some of your favorites? Let me know at jsheda@indytel.com or call me at 319.327.4640. What show back in the fifties was your all time favorite????