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Many Happy Returns
Created byParke Levy
StarringJohn McGiver
Elinor Donahue
Mark Goddard
Elena Verdugo
Mickey Manners
Theme music composerDavid Rose
Parke Levy
ComposerPete Rugolo
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
ProducerParke Levy
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesLindabob Productions
MGM Television
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 21, 1964 (1964-09-21) –
April 12, 1965 (1965-04-12)

Many Happy Returns is an American sitcom that ran on CBS for twenty-six episodes, from September 21, 1964 to April 12, 1965.[1] General Foods sponsored it[2] from 9:30 to 10 Eastern Time on Monday nights.[3]

Personnel

The show starred John McGiver as widower Walter Burnley, the manager of the Adjustments and Refunds Department at the fictitious Krockmeyer's Department Store in Los Angeles. Elinor Donahue played Burnley's daughter, Joan Randall. Mark Goddard played Joan's husband, Bob Randall. The Randalls' daughter, Laurie, was played by Andrea Sacino.[2]

Elena Verdugo played complaint department employee Lynn Hall, with Richard Collier as Harry Price, Jesslyn Fax as Wilma Fritter, and Mickey Manners as Joe Foley, all store employees. Doris Packer played Cornelia. Russell Collins was cast as Burnley's demanding, often unreasonable boss, Owen Sharp.[2]

Parke Levy was the program's creator and executive producer.[4] Directors included Theodore J. Flicker, Stanley Z. Cherry, and Sherman Marks. Writers included Earl Barret, Hannibal Coons, Sid Dorfman, Phil Green, Harvey Helm, Albert E. Lewin, Norman Paul, and Harry Winkler.[2]

David Rose and Levy composed the show's theme.[2]

Production

Many Happy Returns was produced by MGM Studios and Lindabob Productions. Episodes were filmed in black-and-white with a laugh track.[2]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Many Happy Returns"Sherman MarksParke Levy & Norman PaulSeptember 21, 1964 (1964-09-21)
Walter gets involved in a spat between a newlywed and her in-laws, only for his family to get the impression he's the one planning to run away with the new bride.
2"Walter Meets the Machine"UnknownUnknownSeptember 28, 1964 (1964-09-28)
When Walter's complaint department is set to be replaced by a computer named IRMA, it's up to him to show Sharp that a human being has advantages over technology.
3"It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog"UnknownUnknownOctober 5, 1964 (1964-10-05)
A lady returns a dog to the department store, and Walter gives it to his granddaughter. Then the lady's angry husband demands the dog be returned.
4"Bye, Bye Cupid"UnknownUnknownOctober 12, 1964 (1964-10-12)
Sharp schemes to play Cupid for his single sister and an unsuspecting Walter.
5"Burnley at the Bridge"UnknownUnknownOctober 19, 1964 (1964-10-19)
When Lynn announces her engagement to a soldier, Walter takes on the role of a protective father figure.
6"Joe's Place"UnknownUnknownOctober 26, 1964 (1964-10-26)
Joan plans an elegant dinner party...but Walter isn't on the guest list.
7"The Best Seller"UnknownUnknownNovember 9, 1964 (1964-11-09)
Walter hatches a plot to improve the book sales of a struggling author.
8"Mother Burnley's Chickens"UnknownUnknownNovember 16, 1964 (1964-11-16)
Walter gets to understand Harry's nerves firsthand, when he's asked to babysit---for Harry's eight kids.
9"Krockmeyer on Avon"UnknownUnknownNovember 23, 1964 (1964-11-23)
Joe dreams of being an actor---so he plans on quitting the department store.
10"East is West"UnknownUnknownNovember 30, 1964 (1964-11-30)
Walter is tasked with luring the account of a Japanese camera maker to the store, which is easier said than done with the language and cultural barriers.
11"The House Divided"Theodore J. FlickerStory by : Sidney Green & Harvey Helm,
Teleplay by : Sid Dorfman & Parke Levy		December 7, 1964 (1964-12-07)
A man suffers a fall in the store and sues, with Walter's son-in-law Bob representing him.
12"The Fashion Show"UnknownUnknownDecember 14, 1964 (1964-12-14)
The store offers up a fashion show for the customers, but a demanding fashion designer steamrolls the store staff with her demands.
13"The Shoplifter"UnknownUnknownDecember 21, 1964 (1964-12-21)
Walter knows a woman is shoplifting from the store in order to return the goods for cash, but the trouble is proving it.
14"The Surprise Visit"UnknownUnknownDecember 28, 1964 (1964-12-28)
Returns are down, and Walter thinks his staff deserves a raise. Sharp instead wants to fire someone.
15"Taming of the Beast"UnknownUnknownJanuary 4, 1965 (1965-01-04)
It's a race against the clock: Wilma's cats are having kittens, but her building is being demolished at the same time.
16"No Nose is Good Nose"UnknownUnknownJanuary 11, 1965 (1965-01-11)
It's many happy returns for Sharp on his birthday, but Walter's plans to throw a surprise party hit a snag with the arrival of an efficiency expert: Sharp's nephew (Arte Johnson).
17"Foster Father of the Bride"UnknownUnknownJanuary 18, 1965 (1965-01-18)
When Lynn's soldier fiancé calls off the wedding, Walter impersonates a general to find out why.
18"The Diamond"UnknownUnknownJanuary 25, 1965 (1965-01-25)
Walter plays mediator for a young couple, forbidden to marry by the girl's status-conscious father.
19"Three on a Honeymoon"UnknownUnknownFebruary 1, 1965 (1965-02-01)
A pair of newlyweds find themselves stranded in the store after closing time, and Walter works to salvage their honeymoon.
20"Pop Goes the Easel"UnknownUnknownFebruary 8, 1965 (1965-02-08)
Walter's brush with the art world turns sour, when the canvas he gave a struggling artist to use turns out to be a priceless painting owned by Sharp's wife.
21"The Krockmeyer Caper"UnknownUnknownFebruary 15, 1965 (1965-02-15)
Walter buys a golf bag someone returned to the store, unaware that a pair of crooks have their loot hidden away inside.
22"Big White Lie"UnknownUnknownMarch 8, 1965 (1965-03-08)
When Sharp unknowingly insults an Italian businesswoman, jeopardizing the store's merger plans, Walter has to impersonate Sharp to try and smooth things over
23"Idol Threats"UnknownUnknownMarch 22, 1965 (1965-03-22)
A superstitious customer returns an ivory figurine that he says is hexed, which turns the store upside down with a string of unfortunate coincidences.
24"A Date for Walter"UnknownUnknownMarch 29, 1965 (1965-03-29)
Joe's job is in jeopardy, and the root cause turns out to be his girlfriend's mother.
25"The Woodsman"Gene ReynoldsEarl BarretApril 5, 1965 (1965-04-05)
The urbane Walter meets his match in the great outdoors when he volunteers to take two neglected boys camping.
26"It's a Gift"Stanley Z. CherryAlbert E. Lewin & Burt StylerApril 12, 1965 (1965-04-12)
Walter inserts himself as peacemaker in a lover's spat between his nephew and the nephew's wife. But the inexpensive peace offering he orders for the wife is instead delivered as a $300 dress.

History

Many Happy Returns ran opposite The Bing Crosby Show on ABC and The Andy Williams Show on NBC It was replaced by reruns of The Danny Thomas Show.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hyatt, Wesley (2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. pp. 145–146. ISBN 978-1-4766-0515-9. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Leszczak, Bob (2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. pp. 113–115. ISBN 978-0-7864-9305-0. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 626. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  4. ^ Tucker, David C. (19 April 2010). Lost Laughs of '50s and '60s Television: Thirty Sitcoms That Faded Off Screen. McFarland. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-7864-5582-9. Retrieved November 16, 2021.

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