Friends and family members know I enjoy old TV shows. I’m talking about Gunsmoke, Route 66, The Twilight Zone, Star Trek (original), The Andy Griffith Show, Perry Mason and several others. Most of my favorites were made, at least initially, in the 1950s and 1960s. Why do I watch them? I do not know all of the reasons, but I have given it some thought. So, here goes.
I will begin with what I think is obvious to many who watch old shows. Outstanding actors, writers and directors worked on those famous TV series. That has something to do with why I have seen every episode of some I mentioned. And, I have made it a point to watch every episode of some series that may not be as well remembered these days, such as Peter Gunn and The Rebel.
Watching old TV shows is helping me, at this point in life, to study history. In particular, a history of our culture. I am not going to pretend to be any sort of scholar when it comes to our culture. But, by watching and listening closely, I am learning about our culture in this way. And, I am using culture in a broad sense here. I liked this definition I read on Wikipedia today: “Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.”
It may surprise you to read here that I think Gunsmoke dealt directly with much that is not pleasant in culture. Poverty, abuse of women, child abuse, abuse of those with disabilities, fear and rejection of those perceived as different from everyone else, racism, loneliness, despair, greed, violent resistance to cultural change and, basically, all sorts of violence often carried out for senseless reasons. Those stories set in the 1870s were quite relevant a century later. Actually, the stories ring true today.
An excellent cast, brilliant writers and other “creatives” presented all of that in stories that kept viewers watching for 20 years, beginning in 1955. (For several years, a radio version of Gunsmoke was airing simultaneously, presenting the same themes with an entirely different cast.) I admit that it is not always easy to watch. Fortunately, Gunsmoke also featured occasional episodes that were comical and much lighter. I suppose all involved in the show knew that viewers needed a break, sometimes.
I also enjoy watching actors early in their careers in old TV shows before they became stars. You will see Robert Redford (Twilight Zone), Jack Nicholson (Andy Griffith Show) , Loretta Swit (Gunsmoke), Sally Kellerman (Star Trek), and so on. Some readers are likely aware of an interesting connection between Swit and Kellerman.
One of my new “hobbies” is going on IMDB to read about many of the actors I come across in old TV shows. I find that some left acting as young adults, choosing to pursue other careers and lifestyles. Some never got beyond small roles despite several years in TV and movies. I am especially fascinated by those who began TV careers late in life and made frequent appearances in seemingly every popular TV show for years. One of my favorites is Burt Mustin. You will find him in The Twilight Zone, The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, All in the Family, Dragnet and on and on. Mustin worked steadily until age 91 (Phyllis), a year before his death. Leave it to Beaver fans will remember him as Gus the Fireman.
Old TV shows, like old songs, also take me back to an earlier time in my life. When I see The Lawrence Welk Show, I drift back to my great-grandmother’s home, where the first color TV I ever saw stood in her combination living room/bedroom. Watching Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, I am back in the little apartment Candace and I had in college. Lost in Space reminds me that I often had to watch summer reruns of it because it aired while my Boy Scout troop often met. I follow Bill Mumy (Will Robinson) on social media to make up for those lost episodes. The Man from UNCLE reminds me of the days my friends and I played our improvised Man from UNCLE game on the playground of St. Gregory’s elementary school. Mostly, we boys ran around playing rough enough to annoy the School Sisters of Notre Dame trying to keep us in line.
I will continue watching some old shows. I find some that I never knew existed (Casey Jones) or had forgotten (The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp). Seeing Hugh O’Brian again as Marshal Earp reminded me of how I started “packing” a cap pistol as a little boy because I wanted so badly to be Wyatt Earp.
I have not completely abandoned watching today’s TV shows. Currently, Candace and I are working our way through every episode of Heartland, a series set and made in Canada that started in 2007 and continues today. Of course, there are horses and folks in western wear, so that helps. We discovered it on Netflix (see how up-to-date I can be). And, we have seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Virgin River and so on. We also have enjoyed several British series, ranging from Doc Martin to Foyle’s War, in recent years.
Still, I have a special place in my heart for Marshal Dillon and Miss Kitty, Sheriff Taylor, Tod Stiles, Captain Kirk and others. A black-and-white visit to Dodge City or Mayberry is hard to beat.
It's KPC Again 