I like to try and match the era of the show with that of the tv. But I have yet to find anything I can really get into from the round tube b/w era. I usually end up watching something called "Space Ranger" on these sets, but I'm looking for a wider selection. Detective shows, westerns, space programs are all good, just wondering what's out there. Any suggestions?

The Lone Ranger is one I watch. The first run of the Dragnet series was early 50's. Highway Patrol is hard to find but a great series. I have been snooping for early 50's series and I have not run into a good source. And of course there is always I Love Lucy.

You Bet Your Life, with Groucho Marx.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042171/

One of the funniest shows ever made.

Here are a few more I've found enjoyable, sadly most early TV was live so theres not a lot of original stuff around except in Kinescope form.


The ultra low budget, but very enjoyable Sci Fi series Tales of Tomorrow: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043238/


Jack Benny, one of the funniest guys ever: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042116/


Not originally for TV but has the right vibe: The Superman Serial: http://www.amazon.com/Superman-1948-Theatrical-Serials-Collection/dp/B000I8OM94/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1260133787&sr=1-4

Here Comes Tobar, a collection of early TV action shows:
http://www.amazon.com/Action-Divers-Captain-Fathom-Counterspy/dp/B0013XZ70G/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1260133787&sr=1-9

Very true Eric about the live stuff. I totally forgot about the Jack Benny show. My absolute all time favorite comedian. I have several dvd's of the tv show. Always great laughs. Couple more tv shows that can be found. I Married Joan and The Bob Cummings Show, originally aired as Love That Bob.

I picked up a few of these dvd collections of old 50s shows grouped by type, some westerns, some sci-fi, some detective shows.

In one of these collections "150 classic sci-fi shows" there's some old tv ads on 2 of the shows. "GE Theater" (narrated by Ronald Reagan) has some tv advertisements where they show the GE tvs of the past and present, so you see some GE mechanical tvs and 1930s electronic sets compared the new models of the mid-50s. Another show called "Lights Out" has Admiral commercials and you get to see the new rectangular screen sets for 1951. Admiral is also really pushing their refrigerators in these, even more than the tvs.

Also, I never realized there was so many Twilight Zone-like shows made in the 50s. In addition to those 2 with the tv ads mentioned above, I also discovered "Tales of Tomorrow" and "One Step Beyond."

Kinda "Kiddie", but good for a laff w/its "$1.98" sets was "Captain Video"..."Hiway Patrol"...Oh, boy ! I just BARELY remember that one-That heavyset older dude growling "10-4" all the time, making a '55 Buick do things it tweren't sposed to do...Hehehehe...

Kinda "Kiddie", but good for a laff w/its "$1.98" sets was "Captain Video"..."Hiway Patrol"...Oh, boy ! I just BARELY remember that one-That heavyset older dude growling "10-4" all the time, making a '55 Buick do things it tweren't sposed to do...Hehehehe...


Broderick Crawford (hey I'm old what can I say)

Unfortunately I have found that many 50s era programs look terrible on DVD, much worse than they would have in original airings...in fact, still worse than the 16mm prints from which the transfers were made looked 40-some years ago while being syndicated to local stations. The age of the source material is only partly the reason why they look so bad. Many public domain releases suffer from a transfer process that was just plain sloppy.

Among the titles I would recommend for period-correct viewing on your round B&W screen are Private Secretary, Life Of Riley and Topper. But note that what I recommend are the shows themselves, not the DVDs on which you may find them!

Amos n' Andy is good early 50's comedy, I have a collection on VHS that includes the original commercials for their sponsor, Blatz beer. BTW, the stories featured on One Step Beyond are based on actual events, cool stuff. If you like mystery/suspense stuff, I recommend Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Boris Karloff's Thriller.