The Anderson Family

Your typical family oriented situation comedy. Probably the best know cast member was Walter Tetley who plays 12 year old 'Junior' Anderson. The father, Oliver was played by Dick Lane. I wasn't really familiar with him but see that he made multiple appearances on Jack Benny's show, Alan Young Show, & Bob Burns Show among others.

Louise Arthur played Mary Anderson, the mother who has several credits listed on Let George Do It.Lastly, Herb Rawlinson as next door neighbor Homer Meisters. Mr Rawlinson has done quite a bit of radio, with credits including Lux Radio Theater, Suspense, Family Theater, The Whistler......an impressive list.

The Anderson Family was a syndicated program (Hollywood Broadcasters) so dates aren't really relevant. Usually attributed to 1947. Titles are most likely assigned by collectors so they may be misleading as to the actual storyline.

Episode numbers may prove to be more problematic than I'd thought. It took about 10 minutes of research to see that contrary to what I thought I knew, there are more than 38 episodes. The RadioGOLDINdex has program numbers up to 50 which include 3 "missing" shows, Unfortunately, according to the Episode numbers I have, these missing shows are in my collection of 38.

An unanticipated conflict (maybe?). I've done what I did once before and organized Goldin's log numerically. I will TRY to use that as a guideline for the episode numbers assigned to these posts.

Forgot to mention - Titles taken primarily from OTTER. If anyone has anything more definitive like a titled script, it would be most helpful.  

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (01) Junior Wants A Horse
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (02) Mary's Father To Visit
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Today, when we look back at Walter Tetley we tend to think of him as one of the stars of radio and not just another voice on the air. I have to wonder if his contemporaries felt the same way. He seems so underutilized on this program. It's understandable that they wouldn't want a carbon copy of Leroy Forrester or Julius Abbruzio, but, at least so far in the series, he's just playing a regular kid. A part that any of the child actors (and many adult actors) could easily handle.  Maybe whoever played the part would be paid the same so Walter was just another actor who was available.

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (03) Borrowed Lawnmower
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (04) Junior Taken To Broadcast
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (05) A Trip To Tahiti
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For this next one, I changed the commonly used title so it could be more easily distinguished from another episode with a similar subject

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (06) Oliver's Picture In The Paper
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I have never heard of this program so I went to the newspapers to learn.  Unfortunately I still have more questions than answers.

There aren't any episode titles mentioned.  Rarely there is a plot tease.
What little I've found is here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

From what I've listened to so far, the episode closes with credits.  This is probably where the radiogoldindex credit listings come from.
However, none of the radiogoldindex listings mention Ge Ge Pearson, Virginia Gregg or Howard Swart as anything but a writer.

Are there even more than 47 episodes?
Were there two series: some Los Angeles-specific 1946 run and the syndicated episodes?

I also followed newspaper radio logs in hopes of finding a consistent episode count.  Of course, the count is all over the place.

• Station
  Airdate Range
  Sponsor
  Total Airdates
  
• KECA 790 (ABC) - Los Angeles, California
  1946-03-06 - 1946-11-19
  36 Airdates
  
• WTJS 1390 (ABC) - Jackson, Tennessee
  1948-06-10 - 1948-12-02
  Star Laundry, Jackson Cleaners
  26 Airdates
  
• KERO 1230 - Bakersfield, California
  1948-04-27 - 1948-08-03
  Radio Den (Philco)
  15 Airdates
  
• KGA 1510 (ABC) - Spokane, Washington
  1948-10-21 - 1949-07-14
  38 Airdates
  
• KRNR 1490 (MBS) - Eugene, Oregon
  1947-11-20 - 1948-05-14
  Emery Insurance
  27 Airdates
  
• WWPG 1340 (ABC) - West Palm Beach, Florida
  1948-04-25 - 1948-05-23
  5 Airdates
  
• WWPG 1340 (ABC) - West Palm Beach, Florida
  1950-10-24 - 1951-05-22
  Anthony's Men's Shop
  31 Airdates
  
• CFAC 960 - Calgary, Alberta
  1951-10-15 - 1952-03-31
  25 Airdates
  
• CFRN 1260 - Edmonton, Alberta
  1951-01-25 - 1952-01-17
  W. W. Arcade (Hardware Store)
  52 Airdates
  
• KLZ 560 (CBS) - Denver, Colorado
  1952-04-03 - 1952-06-26
  13 Airdates
  
• KSRO 1350 - Santa Rosa, California
  1949-09-19 - 1950-01-16
  18 Airdates
  
• KIPA 1110 (Aloha) - Hilo, Hawaii
  1950-01-09 - 1950-12-18 +
  Societe Cleaners, Wailoa Motors
  49+ Airdates
  

Thanks for the research.

I doubt if there are more than 50 (maybe 52 just to make it even) episodes made. Goldin has them numbered up to 50, saying he has 47 of them. The numbers he missed are ones that I have, but right now I don't know if they're in addition to the 47 or belong to the 47 under a different episode number. We'll find out soon enough.

There doesn't appear to be any kind of continuity (so far) so episode numbers have little significance at this point.

I'm a little suspicious of the blurbs that talk about Walter Tetley as "a precocious youngster who spends most of his waking hours in jams" or a "hurricane in bluejeans". I haven't heard any evidence of this (again --so far). Perhaps it evolved as the series went on. Maybe they just assumed he'd reprise Leroy or Julius.

It's funny but when I decided to post them it was just because Toebig posted just one and I thought folks might want the rest. Then i was annoyed because it became more involved than I wanted to get. Now, it's got me curious as to how it will all play out.   OTR -- it's a strange world.


I see that KECA got it wrong by naming Howard Swart as handling the role of Oliver.

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (07) New Car
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (08) Cowboy Boots
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I just learned today that Dick Lane, our Oliver, had quite a few movie roles. One of them was that of Inspector Farraday in at least 7 of the Boston Blackie flicks. Also in his career as a TV sports announcer I learned that it was Dick Lane and not Keith Jackson who first came out with the "Whoa Nellie" expression for those surprising moments in sports competition. (no verification for that)

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (09) Oliver Takes On Juvenile Delinquency
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Our first conflict - program number-wise The episode I have for #10 is shown on Goldin's list as #27. I would have just changed mine, but I have an episode 27 that's not described on on his list at all. For now, I've left my number 10 as number 10 and see what develops as we move on.

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (10) A Fur Coat For Mary's Birthday
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Had to do a little episode number shuffle today in order to line up with Goldin


Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (11) Saving The Adams' Marriage
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (12) A Meeting With I C Childs
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (13) New Roomer
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This next one is listed as a MISSING episode on Goldin's List. The show doesn't match any of the others described on his list

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (14) Fishing With The Boss
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Geezer wrote:Thanks for the research.
I see that KECA got it wrong by naming Howard Swart as handling the role of Oliver.

Leaning toward it not being a mistake.

From Radio Life, October 13, 1946:




Edit:
Haendiges has pics of a transcription disc that says 'Program 26 of fifty-two cut':
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jamesdecker wrote:

Geezer wrote:Thanks for the research.
I see that KECA got it wrong by naming Howard Swart as handling the role of Oliver.

Leaning toward it not being a mistake.

From Radio Life, October 13, 1946:




Edit:
Haendiges has pics of a transcription disc that says 'Program 26 of fifty-two cut':
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The Radio Life clipping shows a completely different cast. Maybe there was a previous run aired on KECA with that cast and then all the roles were recast for syndication. I wonder why. It seems that all the available episodes are from the syndicated series.  I have not heard any program with Mr Swart as Oliver. Do you know of any?

This series just keeps getting more and more interesting

I missed posting yesterday so we'll do 4 shows today.

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (15) Replacing A Football
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (16) Roses For Mrs Thompson
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (17) Mary's Friend Visits
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (18) Family & Homer Go Fishing
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Thanks for posting these Geez, all sound upgrades for me

99

Glad you're enjoying them 99.

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (23) Voice Lessons
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (24) Mr Tuttle Wants Investors
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I hope Oliver has been listening to "Man on the Farm"

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (25) Oliver Buys 25 Hens
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (26) Oliver Is Cast In Local Play
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Note - from the titles, Episode 26 sounds a lot like like Episode 34.
The story in #26 involves Mary's jealousy of Oliver's co-star Antoinette Murphy.
In #34 Oliver is angry because he wasn't cast in a new play.

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (27) Mary's Father 'Invents' A Horseshoe
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This next episode (28) is on the Goldin list as one of the missing episodes. I have one with that number and it doesn't match any of the other descriptions on the log

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (28) Mary Wants A Maid
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (29) Homer's Brother-in-Law
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (30) Homer's Wife Is Leaving Him
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Thanks for posting these, Geezer. I've only heard one or two episodes of this series, so I look forward to hearing these upgrades!

Hope you enjoy them mj. It's not one of the best sit-coms but the sound upgrade certainly makes it a better listen.

I've made a change to the commonly used title for this episode. It's definitely a Lonely Hearts Club.

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (31) The Lonely Hearts Club
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (32) Grading Three Building Lots
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entering the final stretch of episodes....

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (35) Mary's Father Wants House Nearby
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (36) Shower Gift For Gussie
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Here are the last two shows I have

Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (37) Uncle Harvey's Telegram
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Anderson Family 19xx-xx-xx (38) Taking Cousin Myrtle To The Symphony
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