Stanley (1956 TV series)

Stanley is an American situation comedy starring Buddy Hackett, Carol Burnett, and the voice of Paul Lynde. It aired on NBC-TV from September 24, 1956 to March 11, 1957 during the 1956–1957 television season. It was produced by Max Liebman, who previously produced Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows,[1] co-sponsored by American Tobacco (Pall Mall cigarettes) and The Toni Company (Bobbi Home Permanent, Pamper Shampoo).

Not to be confused with Stanley (2001 TV series).
Stanley
GenreSituation comedy
StarringBuddy Hackett
Carol Burnett
Paul Lynde
Production
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 24, 1956 (1956-09-24) –
March 11, 1957 (1957-03-11)

Plot summary

Stanley revolved around the adventures of the namesake character (Hackett) as the operator of a newsstand in a posh hotel in New York City, the Sussex-Fenton. Burnett played his girlfriend Celia, and Lynde voiced the unseen hotel owner Mr. Fenton, who never appeared on camera but frequently could be heard giving orders to his staff.[2]

In the show's introduction, the following line was recited: "You think you've got troubles. Stanley, he's got troubles!"

Broadcast history

As was the case with several such programs (but a declining number, even at this early stage of network television), Stanley was aired live. Several episodes of the series, preserved on kinescope film, are known to exist. The program aired on Monday nights at 8:30 pm EST opposite the popular Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts on CBS and the long-running The Voice of Firestone on ABC. After 19 weeks of low ratings, Stanley was canceled at mid-season replaced by Tales of Wells Fargo, a western which ran on NBC for the next five and a half years.[3]

Cast

On February 16, 1964, Hackett and Burnett were reunited on CBS-TV's What's My Line? A blind-folded Hackett recognized his former co-star's voice who appeared as that evening's mystery guest. After briefly discussing their short-lived roles on Stanley, Buddy exclaimed "That's the one the Nielsen guy threw off the air for us!" This was a reference to the show's first guest that evening who signed in as "Mr. X". He was actually A.C. Nielsen Jr. who headed the Nielsen ratings company.[4]

References
  1. Ess, Ramsey (December 13, 2013). "America Meets Buddy Hackett, Carol Burnett, and Woody Allen with 'Stanley'". New York. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  2. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  3. Adams, Val (December 18, 1956). "STANLEY' TO YIELD FOR TV WESTERN; Comedy Series With Buddy Hackett to Be Replaced by Wells Fargo". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  4. "What's My Line? (Mystery Guest: Carol Burnett)".


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