Jonathan Frid made his debut as vampire Barnabas Collins #OTD in 1967.
The Emmy-nominated documentary DARK SHADOWS AND BEYOND — THE JONATHAN FRID STORY tells the story of how a Shakespearean actor became a pop culture icon.
It’s on Tubi (and I’m in it):
https://tubitv.com/movies/637245/dark-shadows-and-beyond-the-jonathan-frid-story
Tonight in 1964 — Gloria Swanson celebrated her 65th b’day w/ her first and only appearance on THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR.
“Behind the Locked Door” evokes SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950), with a grim Noir twist courtesy of writer Henry Slesar.
Watch: https://play.xumo.com/tv-shows/the-alfred-hitchcock-hour/XM0LMMJR7WJ701
Tonight in 1961 — John Fiedler starred on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.
"Incident in a Small Jail” delivers one of the most deliciously dark endings I've seen on a HITCHCOCK, courtesy of writer Henry Slesar.
Watch:
https://therokuchannel.roku.com/watch/a65aab9b79cf5b069c80a0f81b4a6839
#ClassicTV #1960sTV #AlfredHitchcock
#AlfredHitchcockPresents
Tonight in 1961 — Claude Rains starred on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.
Hitchcock himself directed "The Horseplayer," reuniting w/ his Oscar-nominated NOTORIOUS (1946) star.
Written by Henry Slesar w/ a typically perfect twist ending.
Stream it free here: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/watch/68adbccbe0d3519db3acae450303b895
Tonight in 1965 — MR. MAGOO’S DOCTOR FRANKENSTEIN aired on NBC.
Jim Backus stars in this surprisingly dark, beautifully animated adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel.
Produced by UPA for the series THE FAMOUS ADVENTURES OF MR. MAGOO. Watch on Internet Archive:
"I’m ambivalent about my career. I like it the way it is, because it doesn’t interfere with my life." — Barbara Feldon (in 1976)
Agent 99 is 92 today.
A 1966 commercial for CAP’N CRUNCH produced by Jay Ward (ROCKY & BULLWINKLE).
The iconic cereal mascot was created by Allan Burns (1935-2021), co-creator of THE MUNSTERS and MARY TYLER MOORE.
Burns was a writer for Jay Ward Productions, which did the ads for Quaker Oats from 1963-84.
Today in 1951 — WATCH MR. WIZARD debuted on NBC.
Don Herbert hosted this Peabody Award-winning science series until 1965 – and again on Nickelodeon in the 1980s.
This is news!
Akiva Goldsman to head up 3 reboots of mid-60s science fiction classic television shows.
I adored Time Tunnel and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Land of the Giants never quite caught my interest but it’s definitely got monsters.
Given the level of investment in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Lost in Space, we can expect these to be high end projects.
#ScifiTV #Scifi #1960s #1960sTV #Entertainment #Television #TimeTunnel #VoyageToTheBottomOfTheSea
#Monsterdon #Monsters #ScienceFiction
Tonight in 1966 — BATMAN debuted on ABC.
59 years later, Adam West and Burt Ward remain the most enduring dynamic duo. 
Tonight in 1968 — THE UNDERSEA WORLD OF JACQUES COUSTEAU debuted on ABC.
Rod Serling narrated this Emmy-winning documentary series.
Tonight in 1963 — Mutual of Omaha's WILD KINGDOM debuted on NBC.
Zoologist Marlin Perkins hosted the nature series for 22 years.
"We were trying to think of who could play Endora. And Elizabeth and I were in New York, at Bloomingdales, and we ran into Agnes Moorehead. And I thought, ‘My God. There she is!’”
— William Asher, BEWITCHED director/producer
Agnes Moorehead (1900–1974) was born on this date.
Tonight in 1961 — Anne Francis guest starred on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.
The soon-to-be star of HONEY WEST plays a neglected housewife who dallies with a cop in this Noir-ish tale from Henry Slesar.
Slesar’s crime-with-a-twist style would reach its apex as head writer of THE EDGE OF NIGHT.
The Jupiter 2 launched on this date in 1997.
John and Maureen Robinson led a crew that included their children (Judy, Penny, and Will), Don West, and saboteur Dr. Zachary Smith.
It was an honor to moderate a panel at the Sleepy Hollow Film Festival celebrating DARK SHADOWS and the centenary of star Jonathan Frid (who played Barnabas Collins).
I interviewed cast members Donna Wandrey, Marie Wallace, and Sharon Lentz on stage, joined by Mary O'Leary, producer/director of DARK SHADOWS AND BEYOND — THE JONATHAN FRID STORY.
Mary and I worked with Jonathan Frid in the 1980s, so it was a real full-circle moment.
Tonight in 1960 — THE BUGS BUNNY SHOW debuted on ABC in primetime.
It moved to Sat mornings in 1962 and aired until 2000 on ABC/CBS — the longest-running morning children's program in network TV history.
Tonight in 1960 — THE FLINTSTONES debuted on ABC.
Hanna-Barbera’s first prime-time cartoon was produced in color, but the first two seasons aired in black and white!
Tonight in 1969 — THE LESLIE UGGAMS SHOW debuted on CBS.
The Tony-winning singer/actress was just 26 — but insisted on an integrated cast + crew for her weekly variety show.
"People got to see somebody who looked like them,” she said in 2016. "I think that’s a great legacy."
