65TH, 70TH & 75TH ANNIVERSARIES

 We've come to the end of our anniversary celebration--fittingly at the beginning. This is where Saturday mornings began; although it'd be a while before becoming what most of us remember. This is the Golden Age: the shows turning 65, 70 and 75 this year.

A DATE WITH JUDY

A DATE WITH JUDY

(ABC, June 2, 1951-September 30, 1953)

American Broadcasting Company

MAIN CAST:

Patricia Crowley & Mary Linn Beller – Judy Foster

Jimmy Sommer – Ogden “Oogie” Pringle

Gene O’Donnell & John Gibson – Melvin Foster

Anna Lee & Flora Campbell – Dora Foster

Judson Rees & Peter Avarmo – Randolph Foster

            A Date With Judy began its life as a teenage comedy radio series on NBC as a summer replacement for Bob Hope’s show, The Pepsodent Show (named for sponsor of both shows, Pepsodent toothpaste). Starring then 14-year-old Ann Gillis as Judy, the series focused on the teenaged girl who was deemed the most datable in town, but had a habit of attracting trouble and causing chaos wherever she went. The show began on June 24^th, 1941 and ran until May 25, 1950; with Dellie Ellis (later known as Joan Lorring) taking over as Judy in the second season, and Louise Erickson in the third for the remainder. The series moved to ABC for its final season, sponsored by Ford Motors and Revere Cameras. 

The radio cast photo from an article after Erickson took over the role.

            The show proved immensely popular, gaining a movie adaptation from MGM in 1948 starring Jane Powell in the title role. The movie was also a hit, earning over $4.5 million at the box office. When the radio show ended, ABC decided to adapt it again; this time for their television network. Patricia Crowley played the title role, with Gene O’Donnell and Anna Lee as her parents, Melvin and Dora, Judson Rees as her brother, Randolph, and Jimmy Sommer as Judy’s boyfriend, Ogden “Oogie” Pringle. The series was produced and written by Aleen Leslie and primarily sponsored by Clorets Chewing Gum.

Judy and Oogie sharing a shake.

            A Date with Judy debuted on ABC on June 2^nd, 1951, airing on Saturday mornings. When the season ended, ABC decided to retool the show and move it to primetime on Thursdays and later Wednesdays for the remainder of its run. The entire cast was replaced, with Mary Linn Beller as Judy; John Gibson as Melvin; Flora Campbell as Dora; and Peter Avarmo as Randolph. Only Sommer was retained as Oogie, and Leslie continued to produce and write for the show. It ended after three seasons on September 30, 1953; replaced by British detective drama Saber of London (also known as The Vise).

Judy's first comic appearance.

            While the radio show was on the air, National Periodical Publications (the precursor of DC Comics) began publication of a comic based on the series. It ran for 79 issues between 1947 and 1960, outliving every incarnation of the show. As for the show itself, clips and stills have not yet found their way online, assuming any had survived their initial broadcasts due to storage issues and the wide practice of wiping and recycling expensive film stock.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Unavailable at this time.

Originally posted in 2018. Updated in 2025.