April 6, 1950 (1950-04-06) – June 21, 1953 (1953-06-21)
The Alan Young Show is an American radio and television series presented in diverse formats over a nine-year period and starring English-born comedian Alan Young.
The series began on NBC Radio, running June 28, 1944 - September 20, 1944, as a summer replacement for Eddie Cantor's program with Sal Hepatica as sponsor.[1] Young's character was "a bashful young man".[2] The show also featured vocalist Bea Wain, with music by Peter Van Steeden.[3]
The program returned to NBC September 20, 1946, - May 30, 1947, with Ipana as sponsor. It was off in 1948. When it returned to NBC January 11, 1949 - July 5, 1949, Louise Erickson played Betty and Jim Backus was heard as wealthy and snobbish playboy Hubert Updike III. Don Wilson was the announcer, and George Wylie provided the music. Helen Mack was the producer and director.[3]
Young had his first television program on the West Coast beginning on March 14, 1950, and the network version of The Alan Young Show debuted on CBS on April 6, 1950,[1] as a variety, sketch comedy show. Each program typically contained a monologue, one or two songs by a vocalist and two skits.[4]
The show went on hiatus after its March 27, 1952, episode. When it returned for its final season on February 15, 1953,[1] the tone and format of the show changed into the more conventional sitcom, with Young playing a bank teller.The show alternated weeks with Ken Murray's The Ken Murray Show under the title Time to Smile. In the last two weeks of the season, the format returned to its earlier style, but it was cancelled at the end of the season.[4] It ended on June 21, 1953.[1]
A review of the program's September 28, 1950, episode in the trade publication Billboard called Young "one of the most original performers in video".[8] However, the reviewer questioned the use of two long skits when Young's work came across better in shorter segments.[8]
^"Awards Search". Emmy Awards. Television Academy. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
^Terrace, Vincent (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007 (Volume 1 A-E). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN978-0-7864-3305-6.
^Staff, "Space Girl 'Tonga' to Appear At White-Barne Grand Opening," The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Wednesday 17 November 1954, Volume LXI, Number 67, page 8.
^ abcBundy, June (October 7, 1950). "Alan Young Show". Billboard. p. 9. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
