The Classic TV Archive - US Comedy Series
I Married Joan (1952-55) Hot Off The Wire: The Jim Backus Show (1960-61)
The Jim Backus Show/
Hot Off The Wire
Episode Guide - - September 2006
(Ep. #1.21 #1.34)
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Tom Alger, Jim Brent , Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com)
RayDic Production (Ray Singer, Dick Chevillat)
in association with
California National Productions, Inc.
for
First-Run Syndication
US comedy series 1960-61 39 episodes x 30 min bw
Starring
Jim Backus as John Michael "Mike" O'Toole
Nita Talbot as Dora Miles
with
Bobs Watson as Sidney, office boy
Premise:
Situation comedy starring Jim Backus as John Michael (Mike) O’Toole, editor
and owner of a struggling newspaper, perpetually striving to stave off
bankruptcy
#### The Jim Backus Show: Hot Off The Wire ###
############### season 1960-61 ###############
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Syndicated Program
Episodes Listed in RANDOM order
Production Sequence NOT known
[01] The Jim Backus Show: UNCLE CHESTER
O’Toole’s Uncle Chester comes to visit. But he’s a strain on his nephew’s
nerves and budget. [TA]
(Aired 6Dec60 on KXTV-10 Sacramento, Calif., Tues. at 7:30pm)
[02] The Jim Backus Show: THE THREE SISTERS
guest cast: [RF]
Gladys Hurlbut ......... Hortense
Cheerio Meredith ..... Mathilda
Lillian Culver ............ Bernice
Synopsis:
Three little old ladies come to keep house for O'Toole. They turn his
apartment into a bookie joint. [TA]
(Aired 17Dec60, WDAU-22, Scranton, Saturday at 10:30pm) [TA]
(Aired 03Aug61, WBZ-TV 4, Boston, Thursday at 7:00pm) [RF]
[03] The Jim Backus Show: PINKMALION
Guest cast:
Jim Callahan
Willis Bouchey
Synopsis:
Mike is refused an interview with a famous actress, so he decides to create
a movie star of his own. [TA]
(Aired 14Mar61 on KVAL-13 Eugene, Oregon, Tuesday 8:00pm)
[04] The Jim Backus Show: BABY, COME HOME
Synopsis 1:
Jim almost bungles an exclusive angle on a kidnap case. [TA]
(Aired 21Mar61 on KVAL-13 Eugene, Oregon, Tuesday 8:00pm)
Synopsis 2:
O'Toole, desperately wants to get an exclusive on a kidnapping case. [JB]
(21Nov60 7:00pm Channel 6 KOIN Portland, Oregon) [JB]
(23Dec60 7:30pm Channel 4 WTAE Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) [JB]
[05] The Jim Backus Show: ARABIAN NIGHT
Guest cast:
Dan Seymour
John Abbott
Synopsis:
O'Toole uses Dora as bait to get an interview with an Arabian prince. [TA]
(Aired 28Mar61 on KVAL-13 Eugene, Oregon, Tuesday 8:00pm)
(Aired 23Mar61 on WBX-4 Boston, Mass., Thursday 7:00pm)
[06] The Jim Backus Show: SAD SACK SANTA
Guest cast:
J. Pat O'Malley (as Santa)
Synopsis:
Mike finds a "Sad Sack Santa" sitting on a rooming-hours stoop,
he's in his Santa suit in the middle of summer - out of a job since
Christmas. [TA/JB]
(Aired 3Apr61 on WBTV-3, Charlotte, North Carolina, Monday at 7:00pm) [TA]
(aired 4May61 on WLWT-5, Cincinnati, Ohio, Thursday 6:30pm)[TA]
[07] The Jim Backus Show: SIDNEY’S SCOOP
Synopsis: Mike’s office boy writes a story that may well put the Globe out
of business. [TA]
(Aired 4Apr61 on WCYB-5, Bristol, Virginia, Tuesday at 6:45pm)
[08] The Jim Backus Show: WHEN A BODY MEETS A BODY
Mike may have a scoop: There’s a dead man lying in the back room of a
barbershop, and the police have not been notified. [TA]
(Aired 6Apr61 on WLOS-13 Asheville, North Carolina, Thursdays at 10:30pm)
[09] The Jim Backus Show: THE TEMPORARY SCOUNDREL
Guest cast:
Rolfe Sedan
Synopsis:
Mike makes a deal to change places for a day with Manuel Belmonte,
millionaire and man about town. [TA]
(Aired 17Apr61 on KOIN-6, Portland, Oregon, Monday at 7:00pm)
[10] The Jim Backus Show: ONCE UPON A MOOSE
Guest cast:
Pat Buttram (as Barnaby Bates)
Synopsis:
Mike and Nora try to prove that a man accused of murder is really innocent.
[TA/JB]
(Aired 27Apr61 on WFIE-14 Evansville, Wednesday at 9:30pm) [TA]
[11] The Jim Backus Show: THE FIX
Guest cast:
Ben Weldon (as Little Augie)
Synopsis: In order to get the goods on Little Augie, a crook who has been
fixing fights, Mike gets Sydney to pose as a boxer. [TA]
(Aired 29Apr61 on WHIO-7, Dayton, Ohio, Saturday at 7:00pm)
(Aired 31Jan62 on WTMJ-4, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tuesday 10:15pm)
[12] The Jim Backus Show: IN THE ROUGH
Guest Cast:
Henny Backus (Jim Backus' wife) (as Henrietta Updyke)
Synopsis:
Wealthy Henrietta Updyke goes on an African safari and discovers a
golfer she thinks will revolutionize the links - a gorilla named Arnold
King. Golfer Jimmy Demaret appears as himself. [TA]
(Aired 9Jun61 on WAGA-5, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday 8:00pm)
(Aired 10Jun61 on WHIO-7, Dayton, OH, Saturday 7:00pm)
[13] The Jim Backus Show: THE HYPNOTIST
Guest cast:
Patric Knowles (as Lucifer Ferris)
Synopsis: O’Tolle discovers that Lucifer Ferris, Doctor of Hypnotic
Science, is really a con man. [TA]
(Aired 5Sep61 on WIBW-13, Topeka, Kansas, Tuesday at 8:00pm)
(Aired 14Sep61 on WTIC-3, Hartford, Connecticut, Thursday at 7:00pm)
[14] The Jim Backus Show: MIKE O'TOOLE, ANGLER
Guest cast:
Lewis Charles (as "Fingers" Larkin)
Synopsis
Asked to write some articles that will raise funds for an orphanage,
O'Toole hires "Fingers" Larkin to rob the orphanage safe. [TA/JB]
(Aired 12Oct61 on WLWT-5, Cincinnati, Ohio, Thursday at 7:00pm) [TA]
(10Nov60 10:00pm Channel 6 WJIM Lansing, Michigan) [JB]
[15] The Jim Backus Show: NO HELP WANTED
Synopsis:
O'Toole and Dora, mistaking actress Catherine Lyden for a poverty-stricken
housekeeper, are determined to help her. [TA]
(Aired 9Nov61 on WLWC-4, Columbus, Ohio, Thursday at 7:00pm)
[16] The Jim Backus Show: WAR BRIDE
Guest cast:
Alex Dunand (as Apache)
Synopsis:
Jean Reilly, a "War Bride" on the trail of her missing husband, tracks Mike
down and insists he is the man. [TA]
(Aired 4Dec61 on WEEK-43, Peoria, Illinois, Monday 6:30pm)
[17] The Jim Backus Show: THE TEXAS TYCOON
Synopsis:
Mike wants to bag Texas millionaire Handy Cameron as a financial backer. [TA]
(Aired 6Jan62 on WJW-8, Cleveland, Ohio, Tuesday 9:30pm)
[18] The Jim Backus Show: OLD ARMY GAME
Guest:
Maurice Gosfield (as Dillingham)
Robin Raymond (as Trudy)
Sellete Cole (as Millie)
Synopsis:
Private "Dilly" Dillingham asks Mike to help him break up a gang that
specializes in mugging soldiers. [TA]
(Aired 20Apr61 on WLWT-5, Cincinnati, OH, Thur. 7:00pm)
(Aired 23Jan62 on WTMJ-4 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tues. 10:15pm)
[19] The Jim Backus Show: THE PLANT
Synopsis:
Members of Mike's staff demand a raise. [TA]
(Aired 10Apr61 on KOIN-6, Portland, Oregon, Monday at 7:00pm)
Probably the same episode:
Jim Backus: (unknown episode title)
Synopsis:
Mike’s staff demand a raise. Somehow they just don’t go for his compromise:
retirement benefits at the age of 96.
(Aired 13Feb62 on WTMJ-4, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tuesday 10:15pm)
[20] The Jim Backus Show: THE WOMAN'S TOUCH
Synopsis:
"The Woman's Touch" results in some changes around the office.
Dora (Nita Talbot) takes over operations for a week and hires a new sales
manager - with a winning personality but a very questionable
background. [TA]
(Aired 13Feb61 on WBBM-2, Chicago, Ill. Tuesday 6:30pm)
1.21 [--] The Jim Backus Show: O'TOOLE AND SON [UCLA]
c1960 Syndicated program.
a California National presentation
Prooduced by Ray Singer, Dick Chevillat
Written by Elon Packard, Stanley Davis.
Directed by Christian Nyby
director of photography, Paul Ivano
film editor
music by David Rose.
Guest Cast:
Robert B. Williams,
Ellen Corby,
Minerva Urecal,
Damien O'Flynn.
Synopsis 1:
"Newspaper editor Mike O'Toole (Backus) is to receive 100,000 dollars
as stipulated in his uncle's will, only on the condition that he have
an heir to carry on the family name. The problem: no heir" [UCLA]
Synopsis 2:
To qualify as an heir for a fortune, Mike decides to adopt a son - his office boy!. [TA]
(US synd.: 31Jul61 WJAC-6, Johnstown, PA, Monday 7:00pm)
(US synd.: 7Aug61 WSFA-12, Montgomery, AL,Monday 8:00pm)
[22] The Jim Backus Show: FLOUNDERED IN FLORIDA
Starring: Jim Backus, Nita Talbot, with: Bobs Watson
Guest Cast:
Milton Frome (as Irving Rudolph), Vivi Janiss (as Mrs. Rudolph),
Arlene Hunter (as Angela), Alan Carney (as Hogan)
Olan Soule (as Elmo), Alan Davis (as Harold)
The bathing suit manufacturers are having a convention in Miami.
Mike O'Toole, Headline Press Service editor lands the job of
handling the publicity for Sally's bathing suits. He appoints
cub reporter Sidney and they fly off for Florida in grand style -
heading straight for trouble. [DM]
(13Sep61 Associated-Rediffusion, London UK, Wed 6:15 pm)
[23] The Jim Backus Show: FAREWELL TO DORA
Dora's decided to accept a better job. [TA]
(Aired 30Jun61 on WAFA-5, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday 8:00pm)
[24] The Jim Backus Show : THE MARRY-GO-ROUND
Guest cast:
Barbara Perry (as Lollypop)
Synopsis #1:
Charles Ruggles stars as a millionaire playboy who plans to wed a
showgirl until exposed by editor O'Toole. [TA]
Synopsis #2:
O'Toole and Dora go to great lengths to get the story on a rich old man
who plans to marry Lollypop, a young showgirl. [TA]
(Aired 24Nov60 on WRCV-3, Philadelphia, Thursday 7:00pm)
(Aired 23Sep61 on WHIO-7, Dayton, OH, Saturday 7:00pm)
[25] The Jim Backus Show: FRAME-UP
Synopsis:
O'Toole has a sleuth investigate the case of a neighborhood
policeman accused of beating up a boy. [TA]
(Aired 15Dec60 on WRCV-3, Philadelphia, Thursday 7:00pm)
[26] The Jim Backus Show: PAINTING CAPER
Synopsis:
Trying to impress a potential subscriber to Headline Press Service, O'Toole
poses as an art expert. [TA]
(Aired 29Jan61 on WROC-5, Rochester, NY, Sunday at 10:30pm)
[27] The Jim Backus Show : PIANO PRODIGY
Synopsis:
The Headline Press Service jumps at the opportunity to do publicity for a
child piano prodigy. [TA]
(Aired 31Jan61 on WGR-2, Buffalo, NY, Tuesday at 7:00pm)
(Aired 31Jan61 on WICU-12, Erie, PA, Tuesday at 7:30pm)
1.28 [--] The Jim Backus Show: THE DESK
Starring:
Jim Backus (as Mike O'Toole), Nita Talbot (as Dora Miles)
with: Bobs Watson (as Sidney)
Guest Cast:
Arch Johnson ........... Patrolman Larson
William McLean ......... Dave
Jim Callahan ........... Lou
Herb Vigran ............ Pete
Larry Blake ............ Detective Forrest
John Harmon ............ Benedict
Robert B. Williams ..... Heartless Harry
Synopsis 1:
Police believe that David Benedict murdered his missing wife. Mike has a
different idea. [TA]
(US: 03Feb61 CFTO-9, Agincourt, Ontario, Friday at 7:00pm)
Synopsis 2:
Hiding from the police after failing to deliver the key witness in a murder
case, O'Toole accidentally locks himself in his rolltop desk and is trapped
there while the slaying turns out to be something else. [UK]
(UK: 23Aug61 ITV A-R London, Wed 6:30pm)
[29] The Jim Backus Show: DORA'S VACATION
Guest cast:
Yvonne Craig (as Debbie)
Robert Burton (as Mr. Duffield)
Synopsis:
When Dora insists upon taking her long overdue vacation, Mike hires
a giddy teenager to take her place. [TA]
(Aired 25May61 on WBZ-4, Boston, Mass., Thursday 7:00pm)
(Aired 15Jun61 on WLWT-5, Cincinnati, OH, Thur. 7:00pm)
[30] The Jim Backus Show : MIKE CHEATS A CHEATER
O'Toole wants to expose a phony drama teacher, so he poses as a
millionaire's son and enters the acting class. [TA]
(Local 26Jan61 broadcast, WBZ-4, Boston, Mass, Thurs. 7:00pm)
[31] The Jim Backus Show: DEAR MINNIE
Guest cast:
ZaSu Pitts (as Minnie)
Hanley Stafford (as Chester)
Minnie Morgan writes a lonely-hearts column. But from the looks of her
muddled life, she doesn't follow her own advice. [TA]
(Local 11May61 broadcast, WBZ-4, Boston, Mass, Thurs. 7:00pm)
(Local 3Jun61 broadcast WHIO-7, Dayton, OH, Saturday 7:00pm)
[32] The Jim Backus Show: THE NEPHEW
An old lady dies and leaves her money to her cat. [TA]
(Local 01Dec60 broadcast, WRCV-3, Philadelphia, Thurs. 7:00pm)
[33] The Jim Backus Show: THE BIRTHDAY BOY
A party isn't the only surprise that Mike gets on his birthday - a pair of
black eyes also marks the occasion. [TA]
(Local 22Jun61 broadcast, WLWT-5, Cincinnati, OH, Thurs. 7:00pm)
1.34 [--] The Jim Backus Show: SOUTH HAMPTON STORY
Synopsis:
O'Toole goes to get a story on an heiress. He gets more than a story
- he gets engaged to her. [TA/JB]
(US synd: 03Jan61, WTMJ Ch. 4 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 10:15pm) [JB]
(US synd: 14Jan61, WHIO-7, Dayton, OH, Saturday 7:00pm) [TA]
(US synd: 21Aug61 WSFA-12, Montgomery, AL, Monday 8:00pm) [TA]
[35] The Jim Backus Show: CRIME A LA CARTE
In order to get a scoop, O'Toole poses as stool pigeon with
information about a fictitious crime. [TA/JB]
(Local 19Jan61 broadcast, WLWT-5, Cincinnati, OH, Thur. 7:00pm) [TA]
[36] The Jim Backus Show: MEET MELVIN
O'Toole isn't too receptive to Dora's request for a raise. [TA/JB]
(Local 23Feb61 broadcast, WLWT-5, Cincinnati, OH, Thur. 7:00pm)[TA]
[37] The Jim Backus Show: THE PATRIOTS
When a subscriber to Headline Press Service wants to cancel,
O'Toole makes up a story about a revolution in a Latin American
country. [TA]
(Aired 22Aug61 on KLEW-3, Lewiston, Idaho, Tuesday 9:00pm)
[38] The Jim Backus Show: THE MAD BOMBER
A man infuriated by an article about himself, is determined to get even
using one of his homemade bombs. [JB]
(16Oct60 9:30pm Channel 5 KSD St. Louis, Missouri)
[39] The Jim Backus Show: GIFT FOR GRANDMA
Mike and Sidney buy a present for grandma, a hot necklace. [JB]
#### The Jim Backus Show: Hot Off The Wire ###
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