CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Comedy Series
The Duke (1954)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Jim Brent, Robert Leszczak
references:
TV Guide / Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
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THE DUKE
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Production Company Not Known
for
NBC (Fridays)
Produced by William Harmon

US Comedy series Summer 1954 13 episodes x 30 min
(02July54-24Sep54)
  Starring:
Paul Gilbert as The Duke (Duke Zenkee aka Duke London)
Phyllis Coates as Gloria
with:
Allen Jenkins as Johnny (former trainer)
Claude Stroud as Rudy Cromwell
Sheldon Leonard as Sam Marco

Premise:
When prize fighter Duke Zenlee believes he is meant for the finer things in life, he quits the boxing ring
and opens a night club. Stories relate Duke's efforts to enjoy his new life, despite the efforts of his former
trainer, JOhnny, to get him back into the ring.

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NBC Fridays

1.01 [--] The Duke: (episode title not known)
02Jul54 NBC Fri
A beautiful blonde convinces the Duke that his oil portraits would be
more successful if they were of his fighter friends. The Duke goes down
to Stillman’s gym to seek subject matter, but the promoters think he’s
arrived to resume training. [JB]

1.02 [--] The Duke: (episode title not known)
09Jul54 NBC Fri
The Duke meets a female admirer in the park and she urges him to return
to the ring. When his nightclub partner learns of this he sends another
girl around to tell the Duke to stick to the arty life. The girls stage
a free-for-all to try to settle the situation. [JB]

[03] 16Jul54
[04] 23Jul54
[05] 30Jul54
[06] 06Aug54
[07] 13Aug54
[08] 20Aug54
[09] 27Aug54
[10] 03Sep54
[11] 10Sep54
[12] 17Sep54
[13] 24Sep54

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[--] THE DUKE (pilot - live show) [verified -RL]
NBC Airdate Not Known (1954)
Written by Charles Isaacs and Jack Elinson
Directed by Dick McDonough
Produced by Bill Harmon
Cast:
Paul Gilbert is Duke London
Allen Jenkins is Jimmy, Duke's trainer
Sheldon Leonard is Sam
Phyllis Coates is Gloria
Claude Stroud is Rudy
Synopsis:
Duke London is a retired boxer, much to the chagrin of his trainer, Jimmy. But there's no going back for Duke.
In fact, his new best friend, Rudy, has introduced him to the opera, art and classical music. Duke is a changed
man, and his new venture is a nightclub called, oddly enough, "THE DUKE'S." Near the end of the episode, Duke
DOES get back into the ring, raising Jimmy's hopes of a return to glory, but the Duke is only in the ring to
paint portraits ofthe other boxers.
Duke breaks into song frequently, and sings "I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE" in this debut episode. [RL]

[--] The Duke: SHAKESPEARE IN THE NIGHTCLUB  [verified -RL]
NBC Airdate Not Known (1954)
Directed by Sid Smith
Written by Charles Isaacs and Jack Elinson
Guest Cast
Steven Wooten
Rudy Lee
Bart Bradley
Mimi Gibson
Synopsis
Duke puts on a show to raise money for a kid's charity in his new nightclub. When he USES kids in the
cast, it makes for a very unique interpretation of Shakespeare's "A MID SUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM."
It is interesting to note in this episode that Paul Gilbert (Duke London) does a lengthy one-man-show
to open the episode. Apparently, Paul was proficient in many aspects of show business, and shows them all
here, singing, dancing, and playing every instrument in his orchestra (clarinet, trumpet, sax, piano, drums and
bass guitar). [RL]

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