TV Shows of the 1950s
by ckapelet | created - 20 Jul 2021 | updated - 20 Jul 2021 | PublicList of shows from the 1950s.
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1. Crusader Rabbit (1950–1957)
4 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
The humorous adventures of the heroic Crusader Rabbit, and his sidekick Rags the Tiger.
Stars: Vern Louden, Roy Whaley, Russ Coughlan, GeGe Pearson
Votes: 172
2. The Cisco Kid (1950–1956)
TV-14 | 30 min | Western
The Cisco Kid rides through the American frontier with his sidekick, Pancho, fighting corruption with a blend of pride and humor that created a legend in the hearts of generations of television viewers.
Stars: Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, Troy Melton, Bill Catching
Votes: 643
3. I Love Lucy (1951–1957)
TV-Y | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.
Stars: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley
Votes: 28,942
4. Sky King (1951–1962)
TV-PG | 30 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
Fly plane... Bust bad guys... Fuss with niece and nephew... Eat Peter Pan Peanut Butter... Dat's it!
Stars: Kirby Grant, Gloria Winters, Ewing Mitchell, Ron Hagerthy
Votes: 561
5. The Roy Rogers Show (1951–1957)
30 min | Family, Western
The Double R Ranch featured "The King of the Cowboys" Roy, his "Smartest Horse in the Movies" Trigger, "Queen of the West" Dale, her horse Buttermilk, their dog Bullet, and even Pat's jeep, Nellybelle.
Stars: Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, Trigger, Pat Brady
Votes: 744
6. Adventures of Superman (1952–1958)
TV-G | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
The Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the "Daily Planet."
Stars: George Reeves, Noel Neill, Jack Larson, John Hamilton
Votes: 4,466
7. The Abbott and Costello Show (1952–1957)
TV-G | 25 min | Comedy, Family, Mystery
Bud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Fields' boarding house. Lou's girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Any premise would lead to slapstick, puns, lots of gimmicks from their movies.
Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Sid Fields, Gordon Jones
Votes: 1,351
8. The Jackie Gleason Show (1952– )
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy
Live variety show with Jackie Gleason.
Stars: Jack Lescoulie, The June Taylor Dancers, Ray Bloch, Jackie Gleason
Votes: 523
9. Victory at Sea (1952–1953)
30 min | Documentary, Action, War
Twenty-six episode series about naval combat during World War Two. Famous for its music score, eloquent narration and combat footage.
Stars: Leonard Graves, Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, George C. Marshall
Votes: 691
10. The Quatermass Experiment (1953)
30 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Horror
Follows the first manned space flight from Australia. In its return to Earth, from the crew of 3, only Victor Carroon, is still aboard. Examinations reveal that something attacked the crew as they were on course back to Earth.
Stars: Reginald Tate, Isabel Dean, Hugh Kelly, Paul Whitsun-Jones
Votes: 440
11. Sherlock Holmes (1954–1955)
TV-PG | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The adventures of master detective Sherlock Holmes as he and his assistant, Dr. Watson--and, somewhat reluctantly, the bumbling Inspector Lestrade--battle criminals in London.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan, Richard Larke
Votes: 1,098
12. The Honeymooners (1955–1956)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Stars: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph
Votes: 6,235
13. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1960)
Approved | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Family
Robin of Loxley, otherwise known as Robin Hood, and his band of Merry Men protect England from the evil machinations of Prince John while King Richard the Lionheart is away fighting in the Crusades.
Stars: Richard Greene, Victor Woolf, Archie Duncan, Alexander Gauge
Votes: 879
14. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962)
TV-14 | 25 min | Drama, Mystery
Series of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama, and comedy about people of different backgrounds committing murders, suicides, thefts, and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations, perceived or not.
Stars: Alfred Hitchcock, Harry Tyler, John Williams, Patricia Hitchcock
Votes: 19,338
15. Cheyenne (1955–1963)
TV-G | 60 min | Western
After the Civil War, nomadic adventurer Cheyenne Bodie roamed the West looking for fights, bad guys to beat up, and women. His job changed from episode to episode.
Stars: Clint Walker, Clyde Howdy, Chuck Hicks, Lane Chandler
Votes: 2,027
16. Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
TV-PG | 60 min | Western
Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough-and-tumble Dodge City.
Stars: James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis
Votes: 8,763
17. Highway Patrol (1955–1959)
TV-PG | 30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Powerful patrol cars, fast motorcycles, and superheterodyne two-way radios combine to fight crime on the rural highways of America's wide open spaces.
Stars: Broderick Crawford, Art Gilmore, William Boyett, Vance Skarstedt
Votes: 1,532
18. The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961)
TV-PG | 30 min | Western
Loosely based on historical fact, the series portrays the gunslinging Wyatt Earp and his successful determination for law and order.
Stars: Hugh O'Brian, Jimmy Noel, Ethan Laidlaw, Bill Coontz
Votes: 1,112
19. Circus Boy (1956–1958)
30 min | Family, Western
12-year-old Corky has been adopted by a traveling circus owned by Big Tim Champion. He is water boy to baby elephant Bimbo and otherwise participates in the behind-the-scenes life of the circus.
Stars: Micky Dolenz, Noah Beery Jr., Robert Lowery, Bimbo the Elephant
Votes: 265
20. Broken Arrow (1956–1958)
30 min | Western
Indian Agent Tom Jeffords makes friends with Chief Cochise, becoming a blood brother of the Apache. Together they fight white schemers and renegade Indians.
Stars: John Lupton, Michael Ansara, Steven Ritch, Steve Conte
Votes: 271
21. The Gumby Show (1956–1969)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Innovative "Claymation" adventures of Gumby and his horse Pokey.
Stars: Art Clokey, Dal McKennon, Norma MacMillan, Ruth Eggleston
Votes: 1,584
22. The Buccaneers (1956–1957)
30 min | Adventure, Drama
The Crown takes Tempest's stronghold. The ex-pirate wins a pardon and becomes a privateer. He and Deputy Gov. Beamish fight Spanish raiders despite their unease. They defend the Caribbean.
Stars: Robert Shaw, Paul Hansard, Brian Rawlinson, Edwin Richfield
Votes: 189
23. Perry Mason (1957–1966)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The trials of a master criminal defense attorney handling the most difficult cases in support of the innocent.
Stars: Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Ray Collins
Votes: 11,857
24. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950–1958)
30 min | Comedy
Neighbor Blanche Morton frequently joined Gracie in escapades which annoy hubby Harry and provides George with an opportunity to offer a humorous soliloquy.
Stars: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bea Benaderet, Harry von Zell
Votes: 1,536
25. The Gene Autry Show (1950–1955)
30 min | Western
The already legendary singing cowboy rode with his comic pal Pat from town to town bringing justice, song and his horse Champion to the old Southwest.
Stars: Gene Autry, Champion, Pat Buttram, Bob Woodward
Votes: 266
26. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Ozzie and Harriet Nelson raise their two sons Ricky and David. As the sons age, they experience teenage dating problems, marriage and careers.
Stars: Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Nelson, Ricky Nelson, David Nelson
Votes: 1,607
27. Our Miss Brooks (1952–1956)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Miss Brooks is an English teacher who has a low paying job, lousy boss, has a crush on a teacher and whose student drives her to school. She lives in a boarding house.
Stars: Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Jane Morgan, Robert Rockwell
Votes: 718
28. The Danny Thomas Show (1953–1965)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Danny is a New York entertainer. Between his co-stars at the nightclub where he performs and his wife and kids, he has dilemmas galore, which he somehow manages to resolve and still laugh.
Stars: Danny Thomas, Rusty Hamer, Marjorie Lord, Angela Cartwright
Votes: 1,247
29. Father Knows Best (1954–1960)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
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, Bud and Kathy.
Stars: Robert Young, Lauren Chapin, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray
Votes: 2,640
30. Annie Oakley (1954–1957)
30 min | Western
A fictionalized account of the life of legendary Wild West sharpshooter Annie Oakley.
Stars: Gail Davis, Brad Johnson, Jimmy Hawkins, Bob Woodward
Votes: 379
31. The Phil Silvers Show (1955–1959)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Master Sergeant Bilko, regularly helped by the soldiers at Fort Baxter's motor pool, spends little time performing his duties by constantly trying to obtain money through various get-rich-quick scams and promotions.
Stars: Phil Silvers, Harvey Lembeck, Paul Ford, Allan Melvin
Votes: 1,737
32. Science Fiction Theatre (1955–1957)
25 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
In this science-fiction anthology series host Truman Bradley introduces stories extrapolated from actual scientific data available in the 1950's, concentrating on such concepts as space flight, UFO's and mental telepathy.
Stars: Truman Bradley, Michael Fox, Marshall Thompson, Peter Hansen
Votes: 444
33. Zane Grey Theatre (1956–1961)
TV-PG | 25 min | Western
An anthology based (earlier more so than later) on the novels and stories of Zane Grey. Dick Powell was often the star, as well as the host.
Stars: Dick Powell, Walter Sande, Denver Pyle, Bill Erwin
Votes: 582
34. Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963)
Approved | 25 min | Western
The adventures of a gentlemanly gunfighter-for-hire.
Stars: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham, Stewart East
Votes: 3,335
35. Zorro (1957–1959)
TV-G | 30 min | Adventure, Family, Western
Don Diego de la Vega opposes the corrupt tyrants of Spanish California as the masked swordsman, Zorro.
Stars: Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin, Don Diamond
Votes: 4,158
36. Colt .45 (1957–1960)
30 min | Western
Christopher Colt appeared to be a gun salesman, but he was actually a government agent tracking down notorious bad guys. His cousin Sam took the lead when the studio had contract disputes with the original star.
Stars: Wayde Preston, Donald May, Kenneth MacDonald, Don 'Red' Barry
Votes: 133
37. Maverick (1957–1962)
TV-14 | 60 min | Western
Bret and Bart Maverick are well-dressed gamblers who migrate from town to town always looking for a good game.
Stars: Jack Kelly, James Garner, Roger Moore, Lane Chandler
Votes: 3,628
38. How to Marry a Millionaire (1957–1959)
30 min | Comedy, Romance
Motherly Mike, ditzy but sexy Loco, and sensible Greta move to the big city to find themselves wealthy men to turn into husbands. After the first year Greta gets married with Gwen the new roommate in this syndicated series.
Stars: Merry Anders, Barbara Eden, Lori Nelson, Jimmy Cross
Votes: 99
39. Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans (1957)
Approved | 30 min | Adventure, Drama, Western
Nat Cutler, known as Hawkeye, is a fur trader. With his faithful Indian companion Chingachgook, the last of the Mohican tribe, he fights to protect settlers against the raiding Huron Indians.
Stars: John Hart, Lon Chaney Jr., Bill Walsh, John Vernon
Votes: 272
40. The Real McCoys (1957– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Family
From the hills of West Virginia, Amos McCoy moves his family to an inherited farm in California. Grandpa Amos is quick to give advice to his three grandchildren and wonders how his neighbors ever managed without him around.
Stars: Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, Kathleen Nolan, Tony Martinez
Votes: 1,298
41. Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends.
Stars: Jerry Mathers, Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow
Votes: 9,357
42. Wagon Train (1957–1965)
TV-PG | 75 min | Western
Stories of the journeys of a wagon train as it leaves post-Civil War Missouri on its way to California through the plains, deserts, and Rocky Mountains.
Stars: Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Robert Horton, John McIntire
Votes: 3,754
43. The Rifleman (1958–1963)
TV-PG | 30 min | Family, Western
The adventures of a Wild West rancher, wielding a customized rapid-fire Winchester rifle, and his son.
Stars: Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, Paul Fix, Joe Benson
Votes: 5,019
44. Peter Gunn (1958–1961)
TV-14 | 30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Peter Gunn is a private detective with a knack for finding trouble. His cases often mean he runs into the shadiest characters, most vicious thugs and the most powerful crime bosses. Cool and resourceful, he always gets the guilty party.
Stars: Craig Stevens, Herschel Bernardi, Lola Albright, Bill Chadney
Votes: 1,657
45. 77 Sunset Strip (1958–1964)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Stu Bailey and Jeff Spencer are the wisecracking, womanizing private-detective heroes of this Warner Brothers drama.
Stars: Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, Jacqueline Beer
Votes: 1,636
46. Northwest Passage (1958–1959)
25 min | Adventure
Major Robert Rogers organized "Rogers Rangers" to search for the alleged waterway across the United States during the French and Indian War (1754-1759). Helping Rogers, an experienced ... See full summary »
Stars: Keith Larsen, Buddy Ebsen, Don Burnett, Philip Tonge
Votes: 121
47. Sea Hunt (1958–1961)
30 min | Action, Adventure
Mike Nelson is a scuba diver in the days when it was still very new. He works alone, it was mostly carried through his voice-over narrations. These gave the show a flavor of a radio program.
Stars: Lloyd Bridges, Ken Drake, Courtney Brown, Jan Harrison
Votes: 1,411
48. Bat Masterson (1958–1961)
TV-14 | 30 min | Western
Bat Masterson roams The West and defends the innocent.
Stars: Gene Barry, Allen Jaffe, Allison Hayes, Ken Drake
Votes: 1,225
49. The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A loving mother and wife deals with situations and problems of a middle-class family in the late 1950s and the early 1960s.
Stars: Donna Reed, Paul Petersen, Carl Betz, Shelley Fabares
Votes: 1,895
50. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
TV-PG | 50 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Ordinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.
Stars: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, Jay Overholts, James Turley
Votes: 93,248
51. Rawhide (1959–1965)
TV-PG | 50 min | Western
Gil Favor is trail boss of a continuous cattle drive. He is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way.
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, Steve Raines, Eric Fleming
Votes: 4,616
52. The Untouchables (1959–1963)
50 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Special Agent Eliot Ness and his elite team of incorruptable agents battle organized crime in 1930s Chicago.
Stars: Robert Stack, Walter Winchell, Nicholas Georgiade, Paul Picerni
Votes: 3,081
53. One Step Beyond (1959–1961)
Approved | 25 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
"One Step Beyond" was a collection of tales about paranormal events, horrifying folklore, and the world of the unknown.
Stars: John Newland, Robert Douglas, Olan Soule, Will J. White
Votes: 1,879
54. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959–1963)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Comedy, Family
A young man schemes and attempts to get the "better things in life" mostly popularity, success, and most importantly, girls.
Stars: Dwayne Hickman, Bob Denver, Frank Faylen, Florida Friebus
Votes: 2,058
55. The Bullwinkle Show (1959–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Rocky, a plucky flying squirrel and Bullwinkle, a bumbling but lovable moose, have a series of ongoing adventures.
Stars: Bill Scott, June Foray, Paul Frees, Edward Everett Horton
Votes: 4,596
56. Bonanza (1959–1973)
TV-PG | 49 min | Western
The Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.
Stars: Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts
Votes: 11,010
57. Dennis the Menace (1959–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Television episodes built around the same sorts of incidents found in Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip.
Stars: Herbert Anderson, Jay North, Gloria Henry, Billy Booth
Votes: 2,551
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