Growing up in the 50's meant kids' TV was filled with scripted show like Circus Boy, Rin Tin Tin, Cisco Kid, and more. It was expected we could pay attention and follow a plot and learn a lesson. In Circus Boy it was Noah Beery, Jr (Joey the Clown) or Robert Lowery (Big Tim Champion) who helped Micky Dolenz (Corky) see the bigger picture: how to get along with people, show kindness, compassion, and understanding. There are times I shake my head at my generation and wonder what happened. We grew up with TV writers and actors trying to show us how to be good people, then we became flower children, but one of the best educated generations ever. And now we are either elites to be despised for working hard to achieve success or frightened selfish strangers who fear the future and expect a wall to be built to save us. What happened? Corky and the circus faced hatred, fear, bankruptcy, but learned to pull together and go on.
The show also featured actors on the way up and who Hollywood considered used up. Some were Lee Van Cleef. Tim Considine, Robert Burton, Dean Fredericks, Sheb Wooley, Lyle Talbot, Burt Mustin, Harry Strang, John Hart, Francis McDonald, and Jack Elam.
The Hortense the Hippo episode is like a who's who with Harold Peary (The Great Gildersleeve himself) as Al Garson, Frank Jenks (Great character actor in 40's and 50's films) as Flash, William "Billy" Benedict (East Side Kids/Bowery Boys) as Punk, and Rusty Wescoatt (appeared in episodes of almost every kid's TV show from 50's from Captain Video to The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin) as the deputy.
The show also featured actors on the way up and who Hollywood considered used up. Some were Lee Van Cleef. Tim Considine, Robert Burton, Dean Fredericks, Sheb Wooley, Lyle Talbot, Burt Mustin, Harry Strang, John Hart, Francis McDonald, and Jack Elam.
The Hortense the Hippo episode is like a who's who with Harold Peary (The Great Gildersleeve himself) as Al Garson, Frank Jenks (Great character actor in 40's and 50's films) as Flash, William "Billy" Benedict (East Side Kids/Bowery Boys) as Punk, and Rusty Wescoatt (appeared in episodes of almost every kid's TV show from 50's from Captain Video to The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin) as the deputy.