The latest installment of Balladeer’s Blog’s recurring segment Forgotten Television.
CITIZEN SOLDIER (1956-1957) – Also known as The Big Attack, this half-hour series depicted dramatic reenactments of real wartime incidents from World War Two, STARRING THE ACTUAL SERVICEMEN WHO TOOK PART IN THEM!
That gimmick made Citizen Soldier stand out from the many other programs devoted to dramatizations of wartime events, but it was very obvious at times that an episode’s star was just a Citizen Actor and not a professional. If you put aside unrealistic thespian expectations, you’ll likely find this series riveting.
Charles Marquis Warren directed and Ron W. Alcorn produced this syndicated program that lasted for one season of 39 episodes.
Among my favorite episodes:
THE LITTLE PRIVATE – This episode starred Joe Richardson reenacting his World War Two experience of coming right out of Boot Camp with his unit and winding up at the front lines for the Battle of the Bulge. His recent training with the most up to date bazookas came in handy to save his entire unit. Continue reading
TONY ORLANDO AND DAWN – This musical variety series filled a real need for CBS after Sonny and Cher’s show went off the air in May of 1974 due to their divorce. The network couldn’t believe their luck when Tony Orlando and Dawn, riding near the top of the charts and possessing a non-threatening charm, were then available. 
Obviously, the trio’s singing act is still fairly well known, but I’m often surprised that many people have forgotten about their 56-episode television show. If you’ve never heard of this act, the name “Dawn” was originally the entire group name as a means for Tony Orlando to do a single outside of his current recording contract. 
DECOY (1957-1958) – Nobody doesn’t like Beverly Garland! For decades, she was a pleasant presence in B-movies and television. Here’s the very first tv show about a female cop, with Beverly pitch-perfect as a tough, savvy undercover policewoman. 
NOTE: Frank Campanella is sometimes listed as her “co-star” but actually he played a different character in each of the 3 episodes he appeared in. 
ANNA AND THE KING (1972) – It’s a shame that so few people remember this 13-episode attempt to make a television series of Margaret Landon’s classic novel Anna and the King of Siam. The producers even scored the coup of signing screen legend Yul Brynner himself to reprise his role as the King of Siam from the novel’s revered musical adaptation The King and I. 
Samantha Eggar was cast as Anna Leonowens, the British governess brought to Siam in 1862 by King Mongkut to provide a more cosmopolitan element to the education of his children, including 12-year-old son and heir Prince Chulalongkorn, played by Brian Tochi. 
COWBOY G-MEN (1952-1953) – A reader recently mentioned the old Robert Conrad series The Wild Wild West, and that reminded me of The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. AND the much earlier television western titled Cowboy G-Men. That last series featured fictional exploits of U.S. Secret Service Agents in the old west. 
Okay, not THAT Keith Richards. 
THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI (1949) – In this 12-chapter Republic serial the Keithmeister General starred as Jesse James with Robert Bice as his brother Frank. Future Lois Lane Noel Neill played Peg Royer, while B-movie staple Gene Roth was along for the ride in a supporting role. 
THE LIVING CHRIST SERIES (1951) – Keith was At His Satanic Majesty’s Request as Judas in this 12-episode television series about incidents in the life of Jesus Christ. Each episode filled a 30-minute time slot. 
THE ALASKANS (1959-1960) – The gold rushes in Alaska during the late 1890s and early 1900s provided the usual tableaus of boom towns, claim-jumping, gambling and gunslinging. Unlike such rushes in the Continental United States, the frigid temperatures and monumental snows of Alaska added unique twists to the wild west feel of gold-seeking. 
The series was produced by 
THE SWAMP FOX (1959-1961) – With the 4th of July fast approaching, it’s past time for a seasonal post. The Swamp Fox is a piece of Forgotten Television that ran sporadically on Walt Disney’s programs. Eight episodes were produced over two years with Leslie Nielsen in the lead role and each one filled a 1-hour time slot. 
Marion and his men knew the South Carolina swamplands like the proverbial backs of their hands and could strike the British then disappear deep into the swamps, foiling any pursuit. Obviously, as a television production The Swamp Fox featured a very romanticized version of Marion and his escapades.
BLACKE’S MAGIC (1986) – HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, GENTLEMEN! Last Father’s Day I reviewed the neglected television series 
Hal Linden played Alexander Blacke, a big-name, big-money stage magician. While investigating the seemingly impossible murder of an old friend, Alex gets help from his former conman father Leonard, portrayed by Harry Morgan. 
THURSDAY’S GAME (1972, 1974) – Completed in 1972 and intended for theaters, this film sat on the shelf and was ultimately reedited as a made for tv movie complete with those fades to black going into commercial breaks. Thursday’s Game isn’t bad, but it will work best for viewers of a certain age or young trivia buffs who will appreciate all the incredible tv stars from the time period. 
Gene Wilder and Bob Newhart star as Harry Evers and Marvin Ellison, respectively. Harry is the producer of a poorly rated daytime gameshow, while Marvin is a clothier needing a hot new fashion idea to save his company. 
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