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The Stu Erwin Show

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The Stu Erwin Show
Also known asTrouble with Father
GenreSitcom
Written byArnold Belgard
Erna Lazarus
Lee Loeb
Al Martin
Lester Pine
Edward E. Seabrook
Directed byCharles Barton
Howard Bretherton
Frank R. Strayer
James Tinling
StarringStuart Erwin
June Collyer
Ann Todd
Sheila James
Willie Best
Theme music composerAlexander Laszlo
Opening theme"A Family Story"
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes130
Production
Executive producerRoland D. Reed
ProducersRoland D. Reed
Hal Roach, Jr.
CinematographyLucien Andriot
Walter Strenge
Lothrop B. Worth
Camera setupSingle-camera setup
Running time26 min
Production companiesHal Roach Studios
Roland D. Reed Productions Inc.
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseOctober 21, 1950 (1950-10-21) –
April 13, 1955 (1955-04-13)

The Stu Erwin Show (also known as Trouble with Father) is an American sitcom which aired on ABC from 1950 to 1955. Only four of the series’ five seasons on the network included new episodes; the 1953–54 season consisted entirely of reruns.

Synopsis

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The series' star, Stuart Erwin, played a bumbling high school principal named Stu Erwin. His wife, film ingenue from the late silent and early sound period, June Collyer, played the principal's wife, June Erwin.[1] Although Erwin and Collyer, who were married in 1931, had a son and a daughter, the series presented them as parents of two adolescent daughters played by Sheila James and Ann Todd who was replaced by Merry Anders in the series' final season.[2][3] One notable aspect of the show was that it featured black actor Willie Best in a regular supporting role.[4]

Predating modern single-camera sitcoms, The Stu Erwin Show originally aired without a laugh track (one was added in its final season), and each episode was around 26 minutes long, without commercials. During its original network run on ABC, it was sponsored by General Mills (1950–54), Paper Mate (1953-'54) and Liggett & Myers (1954–55).

Production

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The series was produced by Roland D. Reed and Hal Roach, Jr., and filmed at Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, California.[3] All 52 episodes of season one were first-run, followed by another 26 in season two for a total of 78 straight weeks of all-new shows before reruns began in the spring of 1952. Another 26 episodes were produced for the 1952–53 season, interspersed with reruns every third week between October 1952 and July 1953. Production then went on a lengthy hiatus while the network continued airing reruns from the summer of 1953 until the fall of 1954. The fourth and final season's 26 episodes aired between October 1954 and April 1955.

Episodes

[edit]

Season 1 (1950–51)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Mr. Lamont Stays All Night"Howard BrethertonCharles ShowsOctober 21, 1950 (1950-10-21)
22"The Contest"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Arnold Belgard
October 28, 1950 (1950-10-28)
33"Stu's Holiday"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Arnold Belgard
November 4, 1950 (1950-11-04)
44"Dr. I.Q. Erwin"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Les Pine & Oliver Crawford
November 11, 1950 (1950-11-11)
55"Father Finds a Genius"
"Father Finds a Junior"
UnknownCharles ShowsNovember 18, 1950 (1950-11-18)
66"Father's Little Gift"UnknownCharles ShowsNovember 25, 1950 (1950-11-25)
77"June's Romance"
"The Poison Story"
UnknownCharles ShowsDecember 2, 1950 (1950-12-02)
88"Thank You, Mr. Jarvis"Howard BrethertonCharles Shows & Warren WilsonDecember 9, 1950 (1950-12-09)
99"Father Gets Into the Act"Frank R. StrayerStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Fred Shevin
December 16, 1950 (1950-12-16)
1010"Problem Party"
"Spooks"
Howard BrethertonArthur HoerlDecember 23, 1950 (1950-12-23)
1111"Lesson in Tolerance"UnknownCharles ShowsDecember 30, 1950 (1950-12-30)
1212"Father Knows Best"UnknownCharles ShowsJanuary 6, 1951 (1951-01-06)
1313"Competition"UnknownCharles ShowsJanuary 13, 1951 (1951-01-13)
1414"The Ugly Duckling"UnknownCharles ShowsJanuary 20, 1951 (1951-01-20)
1515"Telephonitis"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Arnold Belgard
January 27, 1951 (1951-01-27)
1616"Bugle Sounds"UnknownCharles ShowsFebruary 3, 1951 (1951-02-03)
1717"What Paper Do You Read?"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Nathaniel Curtis
February 10, 1951 (1951-02-10)
1818"Hot Rod"UnknownCharles ShowsFebruary 17, 1951 (1951-02-17)
1919"Cousin Steve Pays a Visit"UnknownCharles ShowsFebruary 24, 1951 (1951-02-24)
2020"High Finance"Howard BrethertonCharles ShowsMarch 3, 1951 (1951-03-03)
2121"The Helping Hand"UnknownCharles ShowsMarch 10, 1951 (1951-03-10)
2222"Wedding Bells"Howard BrethertonArnold Belgard & Charles ShowsMarch 17, 1951 (1951-03-17)
2323"Black Saturday"Frank R. StrayerLee Loeb & Charles ShowsMarch 24, 1951 (1951-03-24)
2424"Father and Shakespeare"UnknownStory by : Charles Shows
Teleplay by : Nathaniel Curtis
March 31, 1951 (1951-03-31)
2525"Stu's Private Eye"UnknownCharles ShowsApril 7, 1951 (1951-04-07)
2626"Class Reunion"UnknownCharles ShowsApril 14, 1951 (1951-04-14)
2727"Erwin Goes to the Dogs"
"Stu Goes to the Dogs"
UnknownCharles ShowsApril 21, 1951 (1951-04-21)
2828"Interior Decorating"UnknownCharles ShowsApril 28, 1951 (1951-04-28)
2929"Milk of Human Kindness"UnknownCharles ShowsMay 5, 1951 (1951-05-05)
3030"Baby Knows Best"UnknownCharles ShowsMay 12, 1951 (1951-05-12)
3131"Weighty Problem"UnknownCharles ShowsMay 19, 1951 (1951-05-19)
3232"Father Picks a Queen"Howard BrethertonErna LazarusMay 26, 1951 (1951-05-26)
3333"The Great Debate"Howard BrethertonOliver Crawford & Charles ShowsJune 2, 1951 (1951-06-02)
3434"The Burglar Alarm"Howard BrethertonLee Loeb & Charles ShowsJune 9, 1951 (1951-06-09)
3535"Many Happy Returns"Howard BrethertonLee LoebJune 16, 1951 (1951-06-16)
3636"The Present"UnknownCharles ShowsJune 23, 1951 (1951-06-23)
3737"Private Enterprise"James TinlingCharles ShowsJune 30, 1951 (1951-06-30)
3838"TV Comes to the Erwins"
"To Buy or Not to Buy a TV"
Howard BrethertonCharles ShowsJuly 7, 1951 (1951-07-07)
3939"Springtime for Father"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Charles S. Belden
July 14, 1951 (1951-07-14)
4040"Doctor's Examination"Howard BrethertonLee LoebJuly 21, 1951 (1951-07-21)
4141"Barbecue"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Arthur Hoerl
July 28, 1951 (1951-07-28)
4242"Quarantine"Howard BrethertonLee Loeb & Charles ShowsAugust 4, 1951 (1951-08-04)
4343"Dear Dora"Howard BrethertonCharles ShowsAugust 11, 1951 (1951-08-11)
4444"June Serves on a Jury"UnknownCharles ShowsAugust 18, 1951 (1951-08-18)
4545"Nothing But the Truth"James TinlingStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Al Martin
August 25, 1951 (1951-08-25)
4646"Roughing It"Howard BrethertonStory by : Charles Shows,
Teleplay by : Warren Wilson
September 1, 1951 (1951-09-01)
4747"Cafe Society"UnknownCharles ShowsSeptember 8, 1951 (1951-09-08)
4848"I Spy"UnknownCharles ShowsSeptember 15, 1951 (1951-09-15)
4949"Track Meet"UnknownCharles ShowsSeptember 22, 1951 (1951-09-22)
5050"That's My Mother"UnknownCharles ShowsSeptember 29, 1951 (1951-09-29)
5151"The Pen Is Mightier"Howard BrethertonAl Martin & Charles ShowsOctober 6, 1951 (1951-10-06)
5252"It's Just Money"Howard BrethertonAl MartinOctober 13, 1951 (1951-10-13)

Season 2 (1951–52)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
531"Hate the Love Seat"Howard BrethertonErna LazarusOctober 19, 1951 (1951-10-19)
542"The Bonus"Howard BrethertonAl MartinOctober 26, 1951 (1951-10-26)
553"Nice Little Doggie"James TinlingLee LoebNovember 2, 1951 (1951-11-02)
564"The French Teacher"UnknownUnknownNovember 9, 1951 (1951-11-09)
575"Erwin for President"UnknownUnknownNovember 16, 1951 (1951-11-16)
586"Father Does His Homework"Howard BrethertonM. Randall & R. StewartNovember 23, 1951 (1951-11-23)
597"In a Pickle"James TinlingAl MartinNovember 30, 1951 (1951-11-30)
608"Jackie Knows All"Howard BrethertonLee LoebDecember 7, 1951 (1951-12-07)
619"The Big Game"Howard BrethertonArnold BelgardDecember 14, 1951 (1951-12-14)
6210"Tempest in a Teapot"UnknownUnknownDecember 21, 1951 (1951-12-21)
6311"Egg Noggin'"James TinlingCharles S. BeldenDecember 28, 1951 (1951-12-28)
6412"Stu Has a Baby"Howard BrethertonUnknownJanuary 4, 1952 (1952-01-04)
6513"Joyce's Romance"UnknownUnknownJanuary 11, 1952 (1952-01-11)
6614"Brown Eyes"UnknownUnknownJanuary 18, 1952 (1952-01-18)
6715"Love Bug"Howard BrethertonArnold BelgardJanuary 25, 1952 (1952-01-25)
6816"The Business"Howard BrethertonAl MartinFebruary 1, 1952 (1952-02-01)
6917"Premature Engagement"UnknownUnknownFebruary 8, 1952 (1952-02-08)
7018"Jackie Writes a Book"UnknownUnknownFebruary 15, 1952 (1952-02-15)
7119"A Very Rainy Day"Howard BrethertonLee LoebFebruary 22, 1952 (1952-02-22)
7220"Quiet Place"
"Quiet Please"
Howard BrethertonCharles BeldenFebruary 29, 1952 (1952-02-29)
7321"Trouble Below"UnknownUnknownMarch 7, 1952 (1952-03-07)
7422"A Party Comes to Life"Howard BrethertonArthur HoerlMarch 14, 1952 (1952-03-14)
7523"Runaway"UnknownUnknownMarch 21, 1952 (1952-03-21)
7624"Boys Aren't Everything"UnknownUnknownMarch 28, 1952 (1952-03-28)
7725"Stu Paints the Roof"UnknownUnknownApril 4, 1952 (1952-04-04)
7826"On the Trail"UnknownUnknownApril 11, 1952 (1952-04-11)

Season 3 (1952–53)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
791"Jackie Finds a Cause"Howard BrethertonErna LazarusOctober 17, 1952 (1952-10-17)
802"Object Lesson"UnknownUnknownOctober 24, 1952 (1952-10-24)
813"Goin' Steady"UnknownUnknownNovember 7, 1952 (1952-11-07)
824"Fur Coat"UnknownUnknownNovember 14, 1952 (1952-11-14)
835"Father Takes a Pet"Howard BrethertonRoy Stewart & Margaret RandallNovember 28, 1952 (1952-11-28)
846"The Game"
"The Contest"
UnknownUnknownDecember 5, 1952 (1952-12-05)
857"The Golden Key"Howard BrethertonEve GreeneDecember 19, 1952 (1952-12-19)
868"Stu's Jalopy"UnknownUnknownDecember 26, 1952 (1952-12-26)
879"The Blow-Up"
"The Big Blow-Up"
UnknownUnknownJanuary 9, 1953 (1953-01-09)
8810"Leave It to Stu"Howard BrethertonAl MartinJanuary 16, 1953 (1953-01-16)
8911"Stu's Secret"UnknownUnknownJanuary 30, 1953 (1953-01-30)
9012"Fair Exchange"Howard BrethertonAl MartinFebruary 6, 1953 (1953-02-06)
9113"Stu Sells the House"UnknownUnknownFebruary 20, 1953 (1953-02-20)
9214"In the Shade of the Old Family Tree"Howard BrethertonErna LazarusFebruary 27, 1953 (1953-02-27)
9315"Art Appreciation"UnknownUnknownMarch 13, 1953 (1953-03-13)
9416"Operation Hamster"UnknownUnknownMarch 20, 1953 (1953-03-20)
9517"Youth, It's Wonderful"Howard BrethertonRoy Stewart & Margaret RandallApril 3, 1953 (1953-04-03)
9618"Jackie's Newspaper"Howard BrethertonLee LoebApril 10, 1953 (1953-04-10)
9719"The Landlord"Howard BrethertonWarren WilsonApril 24, 1953 (1953-04-24)
9820"Yvette"UnknownUnknownMay 1, 1953 (1953-05-01)
9921"Nothing Like a Friend"UnknownUnknownMay 15, 1953 (1953-05-15)
10022"Farewell to Hamilton High"UnknownUnknownMay 22, 1953 (1953-05-22)
10123"Love Thy Neighbor"UnknownUnknownJune 5, 1953 (1953-06-05)
10224"The Day the Circus Came to Town"UnknownUnknownJune 12, 1953 (1953-06-12)
10325"All for Father"UnknownUnknownJune 26, 1953 (1953-06-26)
10426"The Three Budgeteers"UnknownUnknownJuly 3, 1953 (1953-07-03)

Season 4 (1954–55)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1051"Jackie's First Date"Howard BrethertonWilliam E. Raynor & Herbert F. MargolisOctober 20, 1954 (1954-10-20)
1062"Father's Financier"UnknownUnknownOctober 27, 1954 (1954-10-27)
1073"Puppy Love"UnknownEdward E. Seabrook & Homer McCoyNovember 3, 1954 (1954-11-03)
1084"Father's Big Chance"UnknownUnknownNovember 10, 1954 (1954-11-10)
1095"Right About Face"UnknownEve GreeneNovember 17, 1954 (1954-11-17)
1106"Father's Boy"UnknownEdward E. Seabrook & Homer McCoyNovember 24, 1954 (1954-11-24)
1117"Fleetwing"UnknownJohn Tucker BattleDecember 1, 1954 (1954-12-01)
1128"Soft Touch"UnknownUnknownDecember 8, 1954 (1954-12-08)
1139"The Wedding Bouquet"UnknownWanda TuchockDecember 15, 1954 (1954-12-15)
11410"Lohengrin Blues"UnknownFrank Gill Jr. & G. Carleton BrownDecember 22, 1954 (1954-12-22)
11511"The Honeymooners"UnknownWilliam E. Raynor & Herbert F. MargolisDecember 29, 1954 (1954-12-29)
11612"The Uninvited Guests"UnknownUnknownJanuary 5, 1955 (1955-01-05)
11713"One of the Boys"Howard BrethertonWilliam E. Raynor & Herbert F. MargolisJanuary 12, 1955 (1955-01-12)
11814"Down on the Farm"UnknownUnknownJanuary 19, 1955 (1955-01-19)
11915"Father Becomes Efficient"UnknownWilliam E. Raynor & Herbert F. MargolisJanuary 26, 1955 (1955-01-26)
12016"Interfering In-Laws"UnknownWilliam E. Raynor & Herbert F. MargolisFebruary 2, 1955 (1955-02-02)
12117"The First Fight"UnknownNathaniel CurtisFebruary 9, 1955 (1955-02-09)
12218"Two-Car Family"UnknownUnknownFebruary 16, 1955 (1955-02-16)
12319"The Helping Heart"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1955 (1955-02-23)
12420"The French Influence"Charles BartonWarren WilsonMarch 2, 1955 (1955-03-02)
12521"Women Drivers"UnknownUnknownMarch 9, 1955 (1955-03-09)
12622"A Job for Jimmy"Charles BartonUnknownMarch 16, 1955 (1955-03-16)
12723"Separate Vacations"UnknownUnknownMarch 23, 1955 (1955-03-23)
12824"Pecans vs. Pistachio"UnknownWanda TuchockMarch 30, 1955 (1955-03-30)
12925"The Pearl Necklace"Howard BrethertonRoy Stewart & Margaret RandallApril 6, 1955 (1955-04-06)
13026"The Matchmakers"UnknownUnknownApril 13, 1955 (1955-04-13)

Syndication and Home release

[edit]

The series was widely syndicated by Official Films[5] through the late 1960s. The show is currently seen on the Retro TV Network as of July 2018.

Many episodes of the program have fallen into the public domain. As such, various budget DVD releases of public domain episodes have been released.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Barnes, Mike (December 17, 2014). "Stu Erwin, Former Development Exec at MTM Enterprises, Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  2. ^ Pedersen, Erik (February 17, 2020). "Ann Basart Dies: Child Film Actress & 1950s Sitcom Regular Was 88". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Magers, Boyd (1999). Westerns women : interviews with 50 leading ladies of movie and television westerns from the 1930s to the 1960s. Michael G. Fitzgerald. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 15. ISBN 0-7864-0672-0. OCLC 41017554.
  4. ^ Littleton, Darryl (2006). Black comedians on Black comedy : how African-Americans taught us to laugh. New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 46. ISBN 1-55783-680-9. OCLC 69734562.
  5. ^ "WCBS to Strip Erwin Reruns". Billboard. August 18, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
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