The most popular shows of the 1950's

You are referring to US television, I presume? More countries had TV in the 1950s than you might expect...even Sweden and Japan had TV.

"Most Popular in the 1950s" and "1950s Series Most Popular Today" are two different things.

"Kraft Television Theatre" was very popular in the 1950s and got very positive critical response, but has fallen into obscurity.

"I Married Joan" is well-known today, but it was never a Top 30 success during its original run. It was popular enough to last for 3 seasons, but it was hardly one of the more popular series during its original run...it became much more popular when it went into re-runs.

Then there's British TV. Popular UK series still remembered today include "The Adventures of Robin Hood", "The Larkins", "Hancock's Half Hour", and the various "Quatermass" TV mini-series ("The Quatermass Experiment", "Quatermass II", "Quatermass and the Pit"). It helps that they are on DVD.

But despite being quite popular at the time, "The Grove Family", "BBC Sunday Night Theatre", and "Life with the Lyons" are totally forgotten, along with many other popular UK series of the era. It does not help that most 1950s UK television is lost, due to BBC and ITV not having archival policies until the 1970s.

Australian TV is difficult because ratings information is scarce. It is likely the "Shell Presents" series of TV plays were popular, as they won a Logie award (which awards series based on popularity), but virtually nobody in Australia remembers the series today (although the play "Pardon Miss Westcott" is better remembered than the others). "The Bobby Limb Show" (1959-1961) was probably also popular, but has fallen into relative obscurity.


I haven't been playing dead! You know that, right, Kankuro?

In addition to those listed above

Truth or Consequences
Milton Berle
Arthur Godfrey
Your Show of Shows
Ed Sullivan
The Red Skelton Show
Make Room for Daddy (Danny Thomas)
See It Now
You Are There
This is Your Life
What's My Line
Art Linkletter shows
Disneyland/Wonderful World of Disney
Your Hit Parade
The Dinah Shore Show
Maverick
Today show - still on

A few off the top of my head

Medic
Have Gun Will Travel
Cheyenne
The Rebel
Peter Gunn
Topper
The Rifleman
Leave It To Beaver
Ozzie and Harriet
My Little Margie
Father Knows Best
Dragnet
M Squad
The Mickey Mouse Club
American Bandstand
Queen For A Day
Lassie



To God There Is No Zero. I Still Exist.

OK then. These, I think, we're not "Top 30", but they sure had a lot of fans:
"Life is Worth Living"
"Rocky King, Detective"
"Captain Video and His Video Rangers"
"The Trouble with Father"
"Cavalcade of Stars"
"The Pinky Lee Show" (despite being short-lived, it was popular)
"Watch Mr. Wizard"
"The Beulah Show"




I haven't been playing dead! You know that, right, Kankuro?

'50s shows that people remember today....

Some of those listed are pretty obscure, even if you lived in the '50s as I did. ("Rocky King"???)

Surprised no one has mentioned GUNSMOKE, which ran thru the '60s.

I Love Lucy

Volker Flenske: (While torturing David) I don't know why you're doing this to yourself!

"Studio One" and "Four Star Playhouse" were popular in the 1950s, and are still fairly popular today.


They should release more films and TV shows on DVD and Blu-ray

Here are some of mine:

December Bride
I Married Joan (This show may have helped I Love Lucy since they were similar types of sitcoms)
Life with Elizabeth (Betty White was very young then)
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Candid Camera (Allen Funt)
Phil Silvers
My Little Marggie
The Range Rider
Hopalong Cassidy
Roy Rodgers
The Life of Riley