<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><em>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Classic TV: The 50s</em></p>
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<p dir="auto"><strong>KELLfromwashington</strong> — <em>12 years ago(April 10, 2013 12:39 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">Could any of you make a list of the most popular TV shows from the 1950's that people are still aware of today ?</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/166456/the-most-popular-shows-of-the-1950-s</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 23:49:56 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/166456.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:15 GMT</pubDate><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:35 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>jonmac-78418</strong> — <em>9 years ago(December 31, 2016 10:26 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">A couple more, which may not be so popular nowadays(or even in the 50s) and probably not remembered by all that many viewers:<br />
1)The Thin Man<br />
2)Johnny Staccato</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393997</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393997</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:35 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:33 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>Divtal-1</strong> — <em>10 years ago(April 02, 2016 07:24 AM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">And, let's not forget our little freckled friend "Howdy Doody."</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393996</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393996</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:33 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:31 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>398</strong> — <em>10 years ago(April 01, 2016 09:53 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">Not from personal opinion, but what the ratings said.<br />
The two top shows of the 1950's were I Love Lucy during the first half,<br />
and Gunsmoke during the second half.<br />
Game showsthe most popular were You Bet Your Life, and I've Got a Secret.  What's My Line is also still remembered, although it was never in the top ten I believe.<br />
Big money game shows had a vogue in mid-decade, and The $64,000 Question actually rated #1, but these faded fast and I have never seen one reshown.<br />
The Danny Thomas Show was actually the second most popular sit-com after Lucy.  It does not seem as well remembered as Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best among others.<br />
Perry Mason didn't dominate the ratings back then, but was one of the most popular in syndication.<br />
Dragnet was the highest rated cop show of the fifties.  Highway Patrol was syndicated and therefore didn't appear in the primetime ratings, but I think was very popular.<br />
So was Sea Hunt.<br />
The highest rated anthology was The General Electric Theatre hosted by Ronald Reagan.</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393995</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393995</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:31 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:30 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>NewtonFigg</strong> — <em>11 years ago(September 28, 2014 08:40 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">The Untouchables<br />
Gene Autry<br />
Wyatt Earp<br />
Tales of Welles Fargo<br />
Racket Squad<br />
Highway Patrol<br />
D.A.'s Man<br />
Pantomine Quiz<br />
Topper<br />
Rin Tin Tin<br />
Broadway Open House<br />
Amos 'n Andy<br />
Gangbusters<br />
Ed Wynn<br />
George Gobel<br />
Sugarfoot<br />
21<br />
Tic Tac Dough</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393994</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393994</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:30 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:28 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>BWRocks</strong> — <em>11 years ago(August 25, 2014 09:20 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">** I Love Lucy **<br />
The Honeymooners<br />
The Twilight Zone<br />
Leave it to Beaver<br />
Make Room for Daddy<br />
The Donna Reed Show<br />
Dennis the Menace<br />
Alfred Hitchcock Presents<br />
Father Knows Best</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393993</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393993</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:28 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:27 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>kijii</strong> — <em>11 years ago(July 23, 2014 10:46 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">Here are some of mine:<br />
December Bride<br />
I Married Joan (This show may have helped I Love Lucy since they were similar types of sitcoms)<br />
Life with Elizabeth (Betty White was very young then)<br />
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show<br />
Candid Camera (Allen Funt)<br />
Phil Silvers<br />
My Little Marggie<br />
The Range Rider<br />
Hopalong Cassidy<br />
Roy Rodgers<br />
The Life of Riley</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393992</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393992</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:27 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:25 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>Thor-Delta</strong> — <em>11 years ago(June 03, 2014 09:19 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">"Studio One" and "Four Star Playhouse" were popular in the 1950s, and are still fairly popular today.<br />
They should release more films and TV shows on DVD and Blu-ray</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393991</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393991</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:25 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:24 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>hiddenagenda1</strong> — <em>11 years ago(June 02, 2014 12:52 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">I Love Lucy<br />
Volker Flenske: (While torturing David) I don't know why you're doing this to yourself!</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393990</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393990</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:24 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:22 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>jimbo97-1</strong> — <em>12 years ago(May 19, 2013 09:53 AM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">'50s shows that people remember today.<br />
Some of those listed are pretty obscure, even if you lived in the '50s as I did.  ("Rocky King"???)<br />
Surprised no one has mentioned GUNSMOKE, which ran thru the '60s.</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393989</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393989</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:22 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:21 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>Thor-Delta</strong> — <em>12 years ago(April 12, 2013 03:06 AM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">OK then. These, I think, we're not "Top 30", but they sure had a lot of fans:<br />
"Life is Worth Living"<br />
"Rocky King, Detective"<br />
"Captain Video and His Video Rangers"<br />
"The Trouble with Father"<br />
"Cavalcade of Stars"<br />
"The Pinky Lee Show" (despite being short-lived, it was popular)<br />
"Watch Mr. Wizard"<br />
"The Beulah Show"<br />
I haven't been playing dead! You know that, right, Kankuro?</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393988</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393988</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:21 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:19 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>Iridescent_Phantom</strong> — <em>12 years ago(April 11, 2013 07:45 PM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">A few off the top of my head<br />
Medic<br />
Have Gun Will Travel<br />
Cheyenne<br />
The Rebel<br />
Peter Gunn<br />
Topper<br />
The Rifleman<br />
Leave It To Beaver<br />
Ozzie and Harriet<br />
My Little Margie<br />
Father Knows Best<br />
Dragnet<br />
M Squad<br />
The Mickey Mouse Club<br />
American Bandstand<br />
Queen For A Day<br />
Lassie<br />
To God There Is No Zero. I Still Exist.</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393987</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393987</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:19 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:18 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>Patricia91</strong> — <em>12 years ago(April 11, 2013 07:23 AM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">In addition to those listed above<br />
Truth or Consequences<br />
Milton Berle<br />
Arthur Godfrey<br />
Your Show of Shows<br />
Ed Sullivan<br />
The Red Skelton Show<br />
Make Room for Daddy (Danny Thomas)<br />
See It Now<br />
You Are There<br />
This is Your Life<br />
What's My Line<br />
Art Linkletter shows<br />
Disneyland/Wonderful World of Disney<br />
Your Hit Parade<br />
The Dinah Shore Show<br />
Maverick<br />
Today show - still on</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393986</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393986</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reply to The most popular shows of the 1950&#x27;s on Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:16 GMT]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>Thor-Delta</strong> — <em>12 years ago(April 11, 2013 03:05 AM)</em></p>
<p dir="auto">You are referring to US television, I presume? More countries had TV in the 1950s than you might expecteven Sweden and Japan had TV.<br />
"Most Popular in the 1950s" and "1950s Series Most Popular Today" are two different things.<br />
"Kraft Television Theatre" was very popular in the 1950s and got very positive critical response, but has fallen into obscurity.<br />
"I Married Joan" is well-known today, but it was never a Top 30 success during its original run. It was popular enough to last for 3 seasons, but it was hardly one of the more popular series during its original runit became much more popular when it went into re-runs.<br />
Then there's British TV. Popular UK series still remembered today include "The Adventures of Robin Hood", "The Larkins", "Hancock's Half Hour", and the various "Quatermass" TV mini-series ("The Quatermass Experiment", "Quatermass II", "Quatermass and the Pit"). It helps that they are on DVD.<br />
But despite being quite popular at the time, "The Grove Family", "BBC Sunday Night Theatre", and "Life with the Lyons" are totally forgotten, along with many other popular UK series of the era.  It does not help that most 1950s UK television is lost, due to BBC and ITV not having archival policies until the 1970s.<br />
Australian TV is difficult because ratings information is scarce. It is likely the "Shell Presents" series of TV plays were popular, as they won a Logie award (which awards series based on popularity), but virtually nobody in Australia remembers the series today (although the play "Pardon Miss Westcott" is better remembered than the others). "The Bobby Limb Show" (1959-1961) was probably also popular, but has fallen into relative obscurity.<br />
I haven't been playing dead! You know that, right, Kankuro?</p>
]]></description><link>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393985</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1393985</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[fgadmin]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:44:16 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>