Two half-hour programs follow Dinah and Art, both from 1950. These are The Ed Wynn Show, and The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show. The Ed Wynn Show is memorable for having the Three Stooges on as guests. You can never go wrong with the Stooges. Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney may have been a big deal in 1950, but they have not really stood the test of time. Lots of ventriloquism business on this program.
Disc Two offers an interesting mix of programming, with a total of five half-hour shows on it. The first three are from the series Death Valley Days, all from 1953. This was a unique show in that it did not have an ongoing storyline ala Gunsmoke or Bonanza. The “main character” was the Death Valley region itself, and each episode focused on an event that occurred there in the late 1800s. The three shows are “Sego Lilies,” “Little Washington,” and “Dear Teacher.” Rounding out the DVD are an early Lawrence Welk Show (1956), and an episode from “Mr. Television,” himself, The Milton Berle Show (also 1956).
Disc three is mostly filled with game shows. These became very popular in the ‘50s of course. So popular in fact that there was a huge scandal in the latter part of the decade, which was addressed in Robert Redford’s film Quiz Show (1994). None of the programs on this disc were ever involved in any of that business though. ‘50s TV Classics contains three vintage game shows, Beat the Clock (1950), Name that Tune (1955), and the two-part Do You Trust Your Wife? (1957). The set concludes with a 1954 episode of The Red Skelton Show. All of the programs on this disc are a half-hour in length.
There are no bonus features on the set, but with over eight hours of nostalgic fun, who needs ‘em? ‘50s TV Classics offers a fascinating glimpse into a very different world, through the magic of television.
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