My Son Jeep
A widowed doctor raises his children in a small town.
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My Son Jeep was an American situation comedy that ran on NBC Radio from January 25, 1953 to June 14, 1953, and was revived on CBS Radio from October 3, 1955 to November 9, 1956. A television version ran on NBC from July 4, 1953 to September 22, 1953, preceded by a sneak preview on June 3, 1953.
Radio
The program centered on Dr. Robert Allison, a widower in the small town of Grove Falls, who raised his children Peggy and 10-year-old Jeep with help from maid Mrs. Bixby. Barbara Miller served as the doctor's receptionist and low-key romantic interest. Jeep acquired his nickname from a fascination with a Jeep seen in a parade; his sister preferred being called Margaret.
Dr. Allison narrated the episodes. The show aired Sundays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time until April 1953, then moved to 7–7:30 p.m.
A revived 15-minute version ran weeknights at 8 p.m. Eastern Time from October 1955, later moving to 9 p.m. Singer Don Cherry guest-starred as himself on March 9, 1956.
Television
The television version retained the same format as the radio program. Peggy was age 13, and Barbara Miller worked part-time as a receptionist and substitute teacher. Boots was Jeep's best friend and frequent accomplice in trouble. The cast included Martin Huston as Jeep, Jeffrey Lynn as Dr. Robert Allison, Betty Lou Keim as Peggy, Anne Sargent as Barbara Miller, Leona Powers as Mrs. Bixby, William Lally as Tommy Clifford, and Richard Wigginton as Boots.
Rockhill and Jeep Productions produced the show, with Hudson Faussett as producer, Grey Lockwood as director, and Walter Black and William Mendreck as writers. It initially aired Saturdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, then moved to Tuesdays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. beginning September 1, 1953. An early broadcast on June 5, 1953, filled a half-hour gap left by a presidential address preempting Kraft Television Theatre; positive reaction led to the show becoming a summer replacement for Ethel and Albert on a sustaining basis.
The Library of Congress holds one episode. A New York Times review of the June 3, 1953 episode called it genuinely amusing, praising Huston's portrayal, good writing, engaging cast, and tongue-in-cheek attitude. Variety noted Lynn's warmth and ease as the father, Huston's study of a 10-year-old's attributes, and complimented the rest of the cast, directing pace, camerawork, and overall production.
More in 1950s American Sitcoms
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: My Son Jeep (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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