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Starring Peggy Wood & Judson Laire
Season 1 (CBS) (1949-50)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive [Updated Jan 2019 TA]
with contributions by:
Jim Brent, R.B. Huggins, Tom Alger, Robert P.Alexander, Randy Watts
references:
TV Guide /   Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

##################### Mama ###################
############## season 1 1949-50 ##############
#################### (live) ##################
CBS Fridays 8:00 pm EST
Los Angeles were approx. 2 weeks behind the New York City broadcasts 

 1.1 [--] Mama: (premier episode)
01Jul1949 CBS Friday
Producer-director: Ralph Nelson
(in association with Carol Irwin)
Writer: Frank Gabrielson
Synopsis:
According to a review in “Variety” magazine, the initial episode was “built around Papa’s attainment of citizenship.”
[Variety magazine, 06Jul49]
—Excerpts from “Billboard” review:
Friday's plot centered around Mama's efforts to help Papa become a citizen so the family would be real Americans.
Balked by Papa's bashful refusal to attend naturalization school, Mama went instead and taught Papa his lessons at home.
The whole family gathered in the kitchen to help Papa cram for his finals. After a suspenseful scene in the examiner's office,
the story followed thru to its logical conclusion as Papa won his citizen papers.
Tear-jerking was held to a minimum, but the script earned some honest heart tugs when Mama and Papa solemnly repeated their
oath of allegiance, while the camera flashed closeup views of their happy family. Restrained underplaying was mainly
responsible for the sincere emotional impact of this scene. [Billboard magazine, 16Jul49, review by June Bundy]
Note:
This plot-line was reprised on two later episodes: 19May1950 and 19Sep1952.

1.2 [--] Mama:
08Jul1949 CBS Friday

1.3 [--] Mama:
15Jul1949 CBS Friday

1.4 [--] Mama:
22Jul1949 CBS Friday

1.5 [--] Mama:
29Jul1949 CBS Friday

1.6 [--] Mama:
05Apr1949 CBS Friday

1.7 [--] Mama:
12Apr1949 CBS Friday

1.8 [--] Mama:
19Apr1949 CBS Friday

1.9 [--] Mama:
26Apr1949 CBS Friday

1.10 [--] Mama:
02Sep1949 CBS Friday

1.11 [--] Mama:
09Sep1949 CBS Friday

1.12 [--] Mama:
16Sep1949 CBS Friday

1.13 [--] Mama:
23Sep1949 CBS Friday

1.14 [--] Mama:
30Sep1949 CBS Friday

1.15 [--] Mama:
07Oct1949 CBS Friday

1.16 [--] Mama: JUST LIKE TV
14Oct1949 NYC WCBS-2 Friday 8pm
Los Angeles: 30Oct1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
JUST LIKE TV—You'll maybe remember when the talking machine made its appearance on the American scene, and just like
a television set it was the mecca of all uninvited neighbors. This is the situation that fares the Hansons tonight on
"Mama" over KTTV, channel 11, at 7:30. Peggy Wood is Mama, while Judson Laire is Papa, Dick Van Patten is the son Nels.
Rosemary Rice plays daughter Katrin, and Robin Morgan is a very cute little sister, Dagmar. [Long Beach Independent]

1.17 [--] Mama: HEART TROUBLE
21Oct1949 NYC WCBS-2 Friday 8pm
Los Angeles: 06Nov1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
HEART TROUBLE—Nels Hansen, son of Papa arid Mama, has a little bit of trouble with his sweetheart. Seems that Florabelle Jones,
the pretty Dallas, Texas, girl comes to visit again and Nels doesn't want to lose her so introduces her to his friend Tom,
captain of the high school football team. What happens then is divulged on "Mama" at 7:30 p. m. on KTTV, channel 11.

1.18 [--] Mama: LATE BUT GOOD
28Oct1949 NYC WCBS-2 Friday 8pm
Los Angeles: 13Nov1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
LATE BUT GOOD, A couple of weeks late (due to being kinescoped and sent out here from New York)
the theme of "Mama" on KTTV, channel 11 at 7:30 is Halloween.
The dead end kids of 1910 break a window in the Larsen home, Papa captures two of the young culprits and orders daughter
Katrin to call the police. At this point Mama steps in and things change fast.

1.19 [--] Mama:
04Nov1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: probably 20Nov1949
no details

1.20 [--] Mama: PRODIGAL SON
11Nov1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 27Nov1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
PRODIGAL SON—"Mama" is an expert at human relationships, and manages to prove this by bringing together Axel Bull, the butcher,
and his prodigal son, George, on her "Mama" show over KTTV, channel 11, at 7:30 p. m. [Long Beach Independent]

1.21 [--] Mama: ROMANCE ANEW
18Nov1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 04Dec1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
ROMANCE ANEW— Mama and Papa Hansen develop some new romance when "Mama" is seen on KTTV, channel 11, at 7:30 tonight.
Mama gets some new eyeglasses and thinks they detract from her appearance. Papa gives her unexpected consolation and
romance blooms anew. [Long Beach Independent]

1.22 [--] Mama:
25Nov1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 11Dec1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
no details [Long Beach Independent]

1.23 [--] Mama:
02Dec1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 18Dec1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
no details [Long Beach Independent]

1.24 [--] Mama:
09Dec1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 25Dec1949 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
no details [Long Beach Independent]

1.25 [--] Mama: COUSIN TRINA WINS
16Dec1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 01Jan1950 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
COUSIN TRINA WINS-Mama switches numbers on two entries in the Norwegian meat ball cooking contest and thereby enables her sister
Trina to win a contest and a suitor too. [Long Beach Independent]

1.26 [--] Mama: CHRISTMAS IS BACK
23Dec1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 08Jan1950 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
CHRISTMAS IS BACK — Due to the inability of present TV executives to arrange for the western viewers to see timely shows, we will
again have two-week old kinescopes to watch today. "Mama" on KTTV. channel 11, at 7:30 p. m., offers "Christmas Eve at The Hansen house.”
[Long Beach Independent, 8Jan50]

1.27 [--] Mama: A MOOCHER MEETS HIS MATCH [Detroit Times]
30Dec1949 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 15Jan1950 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
no details

1.28 [--] Mama: MAMA'S BAD DAY / aka I REMEMBER MAMA [UCLA]
06Jan1950 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 22Jan1950 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
Mama becomes discouraged with her family. [Canton Ohio Repository]
—matching episode?
[--] I REMEMBER MAMA (no title card, but the show’s title is announced)
Source: Cascadia Entertainment DVD – Catalog # CCE-546 - “Comedy, Vol. 2” [RBH]
Note: The following episode did not have an episode title;
it was presented live and the transfer on the DVD
was taken from a kinescope (or a tape transfer of a kinescope). [RBH]
Directed by Ralph Nelson
Written by Frank Gabrielson
Suggested by Kathryn Forbes’ Novel “Mama’s Bank Account”
Produced for CBS by Carol Irwin
Regular Cast:
Peggy Wood ............... Mama
Judson Laire ............. Papa
Rosemary Rice ............ Katrin
Dick Van Patten .......... Nels
Robin Morgan ............. Dagmar
Ruth Gates ............... Aunt Jenny
Guest Cast:
Ellen Maher .............. Mrs. Lindquist
Abby Lewis ............... Mrs. Riestrum
Synopsis:
Mama is having a bad day; she feels unappreciated by her family and leaves the house to play cards with her friends. [RBH]

x.xx [--] Mama: THE PIANO TEACHER (1950) [UCLA]
airdate not known

1.29 [--] Mama:
13Jan1950 CBS Friday

1.30 [--] Mama:
20Jan1950 CBS Friday

1.31 [--] Mama:
27Jan1950 CBS Friday

1.32 [--] Mama:
03Feb1950 CBS Friday
Synopsis:
Mama foils a fortune-telling scheme. [Columbus Dispatch]

1.33 [--] Mama:
10Feb1950 CBS Friday
Los Angeles: 19Feb1950 KTTV-11 Sun. 7:30pm
Synopsis:
Aunt Jenny mortgages her home to invest in an oil well but Mama gets hep
and saves the day and the dough on "Mama" at 7:30 on KTTV (11). [Long Beach Independent]

1.34 [--] Mama:
17Feb1950 CBS Friday

1.35 [--] Mama:
24Feb1950 CBS Friday
Synopsis:
The humility of an old junk man and Dagmar Hanson’s unprejudiced admiration for him put shame in the hearts of some leading
church members during the CBS telecast of “Mama,” starring Peggy Wood, Friday. It is time for the annual church supper in the
basement of St. Olaf’s and, as usual, Mama is a member of the food and entertainment committee. Each year, it has been the
custom to have a plain menu, with Pastor Stockmen telling stories and Andy Palloti, the junk man, playing his mouth organ.
But some wealthy people have moved into the community and certain citizens wish to impress them, so they persuade Mama to
leave Andy out of the program. Mama feels badly about it, but does nothing to prevent hurting the junk man’s feelings.
However when she comes upon teaching Dagmar the Norwegian national anthem, she decides to go to Pastor Stockman.
The minister solves the problem by volunteering to drop out of the program himself and inviting Andy to take his place.
[review in 02Mar50 Jersey Journal]

1.36 [--] Mama:
03Mar1950 CBS Friday
Synopsis:
Mama loses temporarily until she remembers the parable of the ewe lamb. [Columbus Dispatch]

1.37 [--] Mama:
10Mar1950 CBS Friday
Synopsis:
Katrin Hanson discovers that rumor has a way of magnifying the truth during “Mama.” Katrin is cooking dinner when Nels comes in
and finds a note from Mama saying that she and Papa will be home later. Puzzled by Mama’s unusual behavior, the children are further
mystified when their parents arrive with several packages containing new clothes for everyone and new curtains for the kitchen.
Mama explains that an uncle of her died in Norway and left her $150 plus the family Bible, a brooch and some teaspoons, but that
the news should not be spread about the community. However, Katrin in her excitement exaggerates the extent of the legacy in
whispering to her friends, and pretty soon the amount has grown to $10,000. [Jersey Journal]

1.38 [--] Mama:
17Mar1950 CBS Friday

1.39 [--] Mama:
24Mar1950 CBS Friday

1.40 [--] Mama:
31Mar1950 CBS Friday

1.41 [--] Mama:
07Apr1950 CBS Friday
Synopsis:
Mama gets involved in amateur theatricals. [Detroit Times]

1.42 [--] Mama:
14Apr1950 CBS Friday

1.4x [--] Mama:
21Apr1950 CBS Friday
Synopsis:
Papa Hanson goes to night school for “Mama.” [Columbus Dispatch; Columbus, OH]

1.44 [--] Mama:
28Apr1950 CBS Friday

1.4x [--] Mama:
05May1950 CBS Friday

1.46 [--] Mama:
12May1950 CBS Friday

1.4x [--] Mama:
19May1950 CBS Friday
Synopsis:
Mama and family re-enact naturalization for “I Am an American Day.” [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
Synopsis 2:
Of all the stories Katrin tells on the “Mama” program few have been as moving as last Friday’s repeat performance of the premiere
program that introduced the series last July.
The episode Katrin (Rosemary Rice) recalled was the naturalization ceremony of Papa, in which he asked the judge to allow his wife to join.
Those who take their citizenship for granted during this year’s “I Am an American” observance learned from Judson Laire’s and Peggy Woods’
performances what a precious thing it is to be called an American. [Detroit Times]

1.48 [--] Mama:
26May1950 CBS Friday

1.49 [--] Mama: (season finale)
02June1950 CBS Friday 8pm Eastern

[--] 09-Jun-1950 - start of Summer replacement series: “We Take Your Word” (09June50 - 23June50) and “The Show Goes On” (30June50 - 27July50).
“Mama” returned for its second season on 04Aug1950.

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