AIRED: 1952-53 DAD: Babbo Bonino (Ezio Pinza) / Widower DAD’S JOB: Basso Profundo operatic singer KIDS: Doris(Lenka Peterson), Jerry(Chet Allen, then Donald Harris), Carlo(Oliver Andes), Francesca(Gaye Hudson), Andrew(Van Dyke Parks) WHERE’S MOM?: Dead, recently STAND-IN “MOM”: Martha (Mary Wickes) / Maid This series holds the distinction of being the earliest TV Single Dad show created specifically for television. Though short-lived, …
Thunderbirds
DAD: Jeff Tracy / Widower DAD’S JOB: Billionaire recluse KIDS: Scott, Virgil, Alan, John, and Gordon Tracy (late teens/twenties) WHERE’S MOM?: Storyline says Jeff’s wife died because no one “rescued” her STAND-IN “MOM”: Kyrano (Kee-Ron-Noooo!) Hey, they’re made of wood, but so was Pinocchio, and he had a Single Dad! Thunderbirds had the same interpersonal dynamic as Bonanza, typical of …
The Rifleman
Aired: 1958-63 DAD’S JOB: Rifleman / Homesteader KIDS: Mark (Johnny Crawford)(12) WHERE’S MOM?: Dead for quite some time – unknown. STAND-IN “MOM”: Miss Milly Scott (Joan Taylor) If you’re over 60, this is probably going to be one of the first five TV shows you will name if someone asks you about TV Single Dads. Take The Andy Griffith Show, …
Lancer
DAD’S JOB: Rancher KIDS: Scott Lancer (Wayne Maunder), Johnny Madrid Lancer (James Stacy) 20-something, foster daughter Teresa O’Brien (Elizabeth Baur) late teens WHERE’S MOM?: 3 kids – 3 different dead moms. STAND-IN “MOM”: Jelly Hoskins (Paul Bringear) / Ranch Hand Boy oh boy, this smells like Bonanza. Or maybe the Single-Dad version of Big Valley. Murdoch Lancer had a ranch, …
The Alvin Show
DAD’S JOB: Booking Agent KIDS: Alvin (voice of Ross Bagdasarian), Simon (voice of Ross Bagdasarian), and Theodore (voice of Ross Bagdasarian) Chipmunk WHERE’S MOM?: Unknown STAND-IN “MOM”: Unknown This one will cause arguments as to “Is David Seville a Single Dad?” — except — David has (on at least two shows) needed to make sure the boys got to school …
My Son Jeep
DAD: Dr. Robert Allison (Jeffrey Lynn) / Widower DAD’S JOB: M.D. (like Donna Reed’s husband) KIDS: Peggy (13) (Betty Lou Keim), Jeep (10) (Martin Huston) WHERE’S MOM?: Dead. STAND-IN “MOM”: Mrs. Bixby (Leona Powers) / housekeeper Another half-year wonder, this show was a precursor of Leave It to Beaver, but without June Cleaver. Jeep Allison got into the same kind …
Jonny Quest
DAD’S JOB: Scientist / Maniac KIDS: Jonny Quest (voice of Tim Mathieson)(10), Hadji (voice of Danny Bravo) (11) WHERE’S MOM?: Who knows? Dead, hopefully. STAND-IN “MOM”: Race Bannon (voice of Mike Road) Another “nightmare Single Dad,” Dr. Benton Quest truly deserved to have his kids taken away from him. Jonny never went to school, was constantly being endangered by his …
The Ed Wynn Show
Aired: 1958-1959 DAD: John Beamer (Ed Wynn ) / Widower-Grandfather DAD’S JOB: Retired? KIDS: Laurie (Jacklyn O’Donnell) (18), Midge (Sherry Alberoni) (9) WHERE’S MOM?: Dead – so is Dad. STAND-IN “MOM”: John Beamer — the grandfather. Here’s a great twist on the “Not the Dad-Single Dad Show” motif (like Bachelor Father) — in this case, the “Dad” is the grandfather …
The Governor & J.J.
DAD’S JOB: Governor KIDS: J.J (20-ish) (Julie Sommars) WHERE’S MOM?: Dead for a while – unknown cause. STAND-IN “MOM”: none