The first such adaptation was How to Marry a Millionaire, which was spun from the 1953 movie of the same name which starred Hollywood icons Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, & Marilyn Monroe. However, Fox's Irving Asher found out the networks weren't interested, so he entered into a deal with National Telefilm Associates to syndicate the series as part of a 90 minute block in 1958.
While the TV Millionaire lasted just 2 seasons, and a total of 52 episodes, it's most notable for the series debut of future TV icon Barbara Eden, seven years before I Dream of Jeannie. Season 2 lasted just 13 episodes, spread out over 10 months due to a hiatus in the first half of 1960.
The basic plot remained the same. Three 20-somethings share a posh apartment and a dream, while evading the attempts of the building manager to evict them due to late rent payments. Radio veteran Joseph Kearns, later of Dennis The Menace, joined the series halfway through the first season.
Edit, 3/30/21: Had to change the video. Here's the intro:
Rating: B.
Great stuff. Everybody had a crush on Barbara Eden, me included, but one of my all-time favorite celebrity crushes from the era, Merry Anders, joined her here. Anders was uncredited in the film version of MILLIONAIRE, and thankfully, just about every series from the 1950's and 1960's seemed to have her as a guest at least once.
ReplyDeleteToo bad channels like Decades can't pick this show up.....
ReplyDeleteToo bad indeed.
ReplyDeleteComment got accidentally posted before I posted the other part; I especially love Season 2 of this because Lisa Gaye (my favorite of all the LOVE THAT BOB models) joined the cast. She might be the one actress of the 1950's and 1960's who appeared on more series than Anders. They retired around the same time in the early 1970's, and Lisa Gaye actually retired to my home state with her husband. Just wonderful seeing these three actresses together for an entire season.
Now, that would be worth a column or three......
ReplyDelete