"Father Knows Best" (1954)TV series 1954-1960

Directors:

William D. Russell
Peter Tewksbury

Writers:

Ed James (characters)
Sumner Arthur Long (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | unknown

Release Date:

3 October 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The popular radio show comes to life in this hit sitcom about a wise family man, Jim Anderson, his common-sense wife Margaret and their children Betty...

Plot Keywords:

Springfield | Family | Father Daughter Relationship | Father Son Relationship | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Won 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 14 nominations

Cast

Robert Young	...	James 'Jim' Anderson / ... (57 episodes, 1954-1977)
Jane Wyatt	...	Margaret Anderson (57 episodes, 1954-1977)

Also Known As:

I Told You So (USA)

Runtime:

30 min | USA:30 min (203 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Western Electric Recording) | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Jane Wyatt's Margaret Anderson was originally played on radio by June Whitley Taylor and later by Jean Vander Pyl. Elinor Donahue's Betty was originally voiced by Rhoda Williams. Billy Gray's Bud once belonged to the voice of Ted Donaldson and Lauren Chapin's Kathy was earlier voiced by Norma Jean Nilsson. Other members of the radio cast have included: Eleanor Audley (Elizabeth), Herb Vigran (Hector) and Sam Edwards (Billy).

Quotes:

James 'Bud' Anderson, Jr.: Boy what a break, sweet and tender.
Kathy: You can always depend on me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Brilliant But Cancelled (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Waiting

The 1950s were a simpler time, and this father always knew best.

I wasn't quite 9 years old when "Father Knows Best" made its move to TV, so I didn't get to see any of the first episodes because we didn't get our first TV until a year later. But I vividly remember watching many episodes over its 10-year run. Robert Young as James 'Jim' Anderson, Sr. was written as the almost "perfect" father, and Jane Wyatt as Margaret Anderson was written as the almost "perfect" mother. More than anything else, thinking back, this was a series written as a model for what was generally considered the correct way for a family to live and interact back in the 1950s. Some viewers today might scoff at that notion, but coming just a few years after the big war, and running during much of the "cold war", as a youngster it was reassuring to see peace and harmony. We didn't have the big national news networks back then reporting everything that was bad, in gory detail, and today I see that as a blessing. Elinor Donahue as Betty Anderson, Billy Gray as 'Bud' Anderson, Jr., and Lauren Chapin as 'Kitten' Anderson completed the family. It is always fun to occasionally catch an old episode or two. While TV technical production values have improved, the 'messages' of the shows have not.