The Richard Boone Show
GenreAnthology
Written byReuben Bercovitch
Harry Julian Fink
William D. Gordon
John Haase
J.R. Littlefield
Joel Madison
E. Jack Neuman
Clifford Odets
Dale Wasserman
Bob Wehling
Directed byRichard Boone
Robert Butler
Robert Gist
Lamont Johnson
Buzz Kulik
Harry Morgan
Presented byRichard Boone
Theme music composerHenry Mancini
Country of originUSA
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes25
Production
Executive producersMark Goodson
Bill Todman
ProducerBuck Houghton
Running time60 mins.
Production companyMark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 24, 1963 (1963-09-24) –
March 31, 1964 (1964-03-31)

The Richard Boone Show[1] is an anthology television series. It aired on NBC from September 24, 1963 until September 15, 1964.[2] It was broadcast on Tuesdays from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time.[3]

Synopsis

Richard Boone hosted the series[2] and starred in about half of the episodes, garnering an Emmy nomination for himself and a Golden Globe award for the show. His repertory company of 15 actors included up-and-comers such as Guy Stockwell and Robert Blake as well as such established performers as Bethel Leslie, Jeanette Nolan (both of whom likewise received 1964 Emmy nominations[4]), Warren Stevens and Harry Morgan. They rotated parts freely; each appeared in most episodes, and each starred in at least one.

A Goodson-Todman production,[2] the series boasted Clifford Odets among its regular writers, and Buck Houghton produced.[5]

Programmed against the CBS sitcom, Petticoat Junction, Boone's anthology show was unable to find or keep an audience. It was cancelled after only one season,[6] and has not been syndicated or released on home video, except for a brief showing on the Global Television Network in Canada in the late 1980s.[citation needed]

The show's theme tune, "How Soon" by Henry Mancini, was released as a single in the United Kingdom by RCA Victor in August 1964;[7] and peaked at no lower than Number 10 in the UK Singles Chart.[a]

Repertory cast

Richard Boone[2] 25 episodes
Jeanette Nolan[2] 25 episodes
Warren Stevens[2] 16 episodes
Bethel Leslie[2] 15 episodes
Harry Morgan[2] 15 episodes
Ford Rainey[2] 14 episodes
Guy Stockwell[2] 14 episodes
Lloyd Bochner[2] 13 episodes
Laura Devon[2] 11 episodes
Robert Blake[2] 10 episodes
June Harding[2] 9 episodes

Notes

  1. ^ After sitting at Number 12 on Billboard's "Hits of the World" UK list for two weeks, "How Soon" appears in the November 4, 1964 list just below the Number 9 entry, the Hollies' "We're Through." However, Mancini's tune is also labeled "Number 9".[8] As there is no accompanying explanation, it remains unclear whether this reflects a perceived tie between the two or is simply a typo on Billboard's part.

References

  1. ^ Bowie, Stephen (21 April 2014). "The Richard Boone Show: 11 actors in an infinite number of roles". A.V. Club. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 695. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  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. 856. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  4. ^ "Emmy Nominations". Variety. April 29, 1964. p. 146. ProQuest 962672575. Outstanding actress — Ruby Dee, 'Express Stop from Lenox Ave.' seg of 'Nurse' (CBS); Bethel Leslie, 'Statement of Fact' seg of Richard Boone Show (NBC); Jeanette Nolan, 'Vote On 11' seg of Richard Boone series; Diana Sands, 'Who Do You Kill' seg of 'East Side, West Side' (CBS); Shelley Winters, 'Two Is the Number' (Bob Hope Show, NBC)
  5. ^ "MONDAY MEMO: What are new shows about? Here's a summary; NBC". Broadcasting. July 8, 1963. p. 29. ProQuest 1014468057. The Richard Boone Show: One-hour repertory drama (Tuesday, 9-10), with Richard Boone heading 10-member company. Clifford Odets will serve as script writer-editor, with Buck Houghton producer. A Goodson-Todman production, in association with NBC-TV.
  6. ^ Bawden, James; Miller, Ron (2019). Conversations with Legendary Television Stars: Interviews from the First Fifty Years. The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813177656. "BAWDEN: I'm intrigued by The Richard Boone Show [1963–1964] because it was very different. MORGAN: After Medic, Dick Boone could write his own ticket at NBC. And he asked for a TV repertory hour—different story every week, but with the same cast of actors. Sometimes I'd have the lead, on other occasions I'd get one line. NBC loathed it. It didn't fit in any of their boxes at all. [...] We started in September 1963, got walloped every week by Petticoat Junction on CBS. NBC lost patience and canceled us in March after just 15 episodes."
  7. ^ "In Your Shops Today". Disc. August 29, 1964. p. 6. ProQuest 1777071342. HOW SOON (Theme from the Richard Boone Show) Henry Mancini and his Orchestra. RCA 1414.
  8. ^ "Hits of the World; Britain". Billboard. October 24, 1964. p. 44. ProQuest 1286190391. 15 – I WON'T FORGET YOU—Jim Reeves (RCA)—Burlington Music; 16 – HOW SOON—Henry Mancini (RCA)—Chappell; 17 – You Really Got Me—Kinks (Pye)—Kassner Music See also:
    • "Hits of the World; Britain". Billboard. October 31, 1964. p. 36. ProQuest 1286257282. 11 – Rag Doll—Four Seasons (Philips)—Ardmore & Beechwood; 12 – HOW SOON—Henry Mancini (RCA)—Chappell; 13 – I WOULDN'T TRADE YOU FOR THE WORLD—Bachelors (Decca)—142 Music.
    • "Hits of the World; Britain". Billboard. November 7, 1964. p. 28. ProQuest 1286274670. 11 – ONE WAY LOVE—Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (Parlophone)—Mellin Music; 12 – HOW SOON—Henry Mancini (RCA)—Chappell; 13 - SHA LA LA—Manfred Mann (HMV)—Belinda Music
    • "Hits of the World; Britain". Billboard. November 14, 1964. p. 34. ProQuest 1286275710. 9 – WE'RE THROUGH—Hollies (Parlophone); 9 – HOW SOON—Henry Mancini (RCA); 11 – Where Did Our Love Go—Supremes (Stateside)
    • "Hits of the World; Britain". Billboard. November 21, 1964. p. 38. ProQuest 1777071342. 15 – ONE WAY LOVE—Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (Parlophone)—Mellin Music; 16 – HOW SOON—Henry Mancini (RCA)—Chappell; 17 – REMEMBER (WALKIN' IN THE SAND)—Shangri-Las (Red Bird)—Mellin Music

External links

Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series
Films by Lewis Milestone
Works by Clifford Odets
Categories