Private Secretary (1953–1957)

Susie is secretary to handsome talent agent Peter Sands and keeps getting messed up in (and messing up) his private life. She's assisted (usually) by receptionist Vi and semi-rival Sylvia. ... See full summary »

Stars:

Ann Sothern, Don Porter, Ann Tyrrell

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Ann Sothern	...	Susie McNamara (104 episodes, 1953-1957)

Storyline

Susie is secretary to handsome talent agent Peter Sands and keeps getting messed up in (and messing up) his private life. She's assisted (usually) by receptionist Vi and semi-rival Sylvia. Cagey is Peter's business rival. The show alternated Sunday nights with "The Jack Benny Show."

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Plot Keywords:

sitcom

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Susie

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jack Chertok Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Under the title "Susie", this was shown again in syndicated reruns in the 1960's, sometimes in rotation with "The Ann Sothern Show" (when the entire series "Susie" ended, episodes of "The Ann Sothern Show" would begin, then after they had ended, "Susie" began again, from its first episode to its last).

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Connections

Referenced in The Jack Benny Program: Irene Dunne Show (1953)

User Reviews

Type this Show into Your Memory ***1/2

"Private Secretary" was such a good show.

Remember the beginning with that fabulous typewriter going so quickly. Since typewriters are obsolete today, could Susie MacNamara had been as effective on her computer? While technology has changed for the better, this is one example where the show would have been hurt.

Didn't Ernest Truex appear with Ms. Sothern? Or, was he on a subsequent show of hers highlighting a hotel known as the Barkley House?

Vi, Ann Tyrell, was great as a zany co-worker. I vividly remember her for her brief stint in "Good Morning, Miss Dove" as the parent of a young Freddy Makepeace, who had a good heart but found trouble so easily. Her daughter would receive an Oscar nomination years later for "Fat City."

The beginning of the show had great theme music set off by the noise of a fast going typewriter. Secretaries could identify with this show, especially those who looked to get their bosses out of jams.

I also remember Don Porter as the Conservative incumbent senator up against the very liberal senator in "The Candidate," as well as the bigoted father-in-law to be in the Lucille Ball version of "Mame."