CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Comedy Series
Pride of the Family (1953-54)
a.k.a. The Paul Hartman Show
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
contributions by:  Jim Brent, Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://www.us.imdb.com)
-------------------
PRIDE OF THE FAMILY
-------------------
Revue Productions, Inc.
for
ABC (Fridays 9:00 pm EST)
Produced by Bob Finkel

US Comedy series 1953-54     39 episodes x 30 min bw
release date 9Oct53
starring
Paul Hartman as Albie Morrison
Fay Wray as Catherine Morrison
Natalie Wood as Ann Morrison
Bobby Hyatt as Junior Morrison
Joey D. Vieira (later known as Donald Keeler) as Hollis Bridwell (character to be verified)
Recurring:
Steve Terrell as Tom (recurring)
Larry Blake as Frank (recurring)
Frank Ferguson as Murdock (recurring)

Premise:
Misadventures of The Morrison family in which the husband
can't do anything right.

########### Pride of the Family #############
############## season 1953-54 ################
##############################################
ABC Fridays 9:00 pm Eastern

   1.1 [--] Pride Of The Family: (pilot episode)
02Oct53 ABC Fri (Network rerun 09Jul54)
Synopsis 1:
Albie tries to perform a good deed for his family and winds up giving
them a good scare.
Synopsis 2:
Albie offers his life-insurance policy and collateral for a loan to
enable Ann to take a graduation trip. When the other Morrisons
discover the policy in his pocket they conclude he intends to end it
all. [JB]

1.2 [--] Pride Of The Family: A DUELING STORY
09Oct53 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Don Beddoe ........ Charlie
Steve Terrell ..... Tom (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie get quite a shock when his old crony, an industrial tycoon
returns to town. When the family finds the two sword-fighting they
immediately deduce they are trying to kill each other. Actually,
they're just rehearsing for a revival of their high-school play. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie and Charlie rehearse a fencing scene that Catherine thinks is for
real. [RF]

1.3 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE DANCE STORY
16Oct53 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Steve Terrell ..... Tom (recurring)
Danny Hellman ..... Billy
Synopsis 1:
Albie finds himself escorting a teenage "fireball" to the high school
prom. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
The afternoon before the annual school dance Ann gets into a quarrel
with her boyfriend, leaving her without a date. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie and Catherine try to patch up Ann's romance. [RF]

1.4 [--] Pride Of The Family: PORTRAIT STORY
23Oct53 ABC Fri
Synopsis:
Albie becomes the object of town gossip when he poses as a prehistoric
man for the artist-niece of his paper's biggest advertiser. [JB]

1.5 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE SELLS A HOUSE
30Oct53 ABC Fri (Network re-run 23Jul54)
Guest cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Arthur Lovejoy .... Mallory
Marjorie Bennett .. Mrs. Mallory
Synopsis 1:
Abie decides that the time has come to buy a bigger house because there
is only one bathroom and everyone wants to use it at the same time. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie finally becomes desperate about being last in line every morning.
He decides to sell the old homestead and buy a place with an extra bath. [JB]

1.6 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S DISHWASHER
06Nov53 ABC Fri
Synopsis 1:
Albie plans for a nice, quiet Saturday at home collide with his wife's
plans for a big housecleaning operation. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie and Junior try their hand at inventing. Albie finds himself in
trouble when he attempts to invent a dishwasher. [JB]

1.7 [--] Pride Of The Family: INCOME TAX COLLECTOR
13Nov53 ABC Fri
Synopsis:
Abie decides some pretty fast footwork is needed to elude the income
tax collector. [JB]

1.8 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE THANKSGIVING STORY
20Nov53 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Bill Davidson ..... Matt
William Fawcett ... Eldridge
Synopsis 1:
The Morrison's go to Uncle Matt's for the holiday. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie spreads Thanksgiving cheer by ending a feud between neighbors. [RF]

1.9 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE ANNIVERSARY STORY
27Nov53 ABC Fri (Network Re-run 6Aug54)
Guest cast:
Joey D. Vieira ..... Hollis
Synopsis 1:
Albie and his wife Catherine go to a secluded cottage for a second
honeymoon. But their vacation plans are disrupted by the unexpected
arrival of the children, who come to lend a helping hand to the "old
folks." [JB]
Synopsis 2:
The children's good intentions ruin Albie's second honeymoon. [RF]

1.10 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE RADIOACTIVE STORY
04Dec53 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Douglas Fowley .... Bushnell
Synopsis 1:
Albie believes he is the victim of a deadly radioactive solution. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Trouble begins when Albie mistakes sleeping pills for vitamins. [RF]

1.11 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE CHICKEN FARM
11Dec53 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Steve Terrell ..... Tom (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie visits his uncle's chicken farm and walks in on a feud. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie's desire to be close to nature leads to complications. [JB]

1.12 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE CHRISTMAS STORY
18Dec53 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Ralph Gamble ...... Van Wyck
Larry Blake ....... Frank
Sarah Selby ....... Mrs. Hunter
Synopsis 1:
Albie is thrilled at the prospect of playing Santa Claus in the PTA's
presentation of a school pageant. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie gets the role of St. Nick in the PTA Christmas show. [RF]

1.13 [--] Pride Of The Family: ANN'S STAGE STRUCK PHASE
25Dec53 ABC Fri (Network re-run 20Aug54)
Guest cast:
Walter Reed ....... Cunningham
Steve Terrell ..... Tom (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie decides to help his daughter get a job as an actress and has
reason to regret it. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
The acting bug bites Ann, and trouble breaks out for the Morrisons. [RF]

[--] 01Jan54 - no details

1.14 [--] Pride Of The Family: UNCLE HARRY'S VISIT
08Jan54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Ralph Sanford ..... Uncle Harry
Edward Clark ...... George
Synopsis 1:
Uncle Harry arrives and puts the Morrison household in a dither. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Visiting Uncle Harry (Ralph Sanford) fills Albie with self-doubt. [RF]

1.15 [--] Pride Of The Family: CATHERINE'S BIRTHDAY
15Jan54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Joey D. Vieira .... Hollis
Lois Austin ....... Mrs. Murdock
Synopsis 1:
Albie tries to stage a surprise party for Catherine. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie makes plans to surprise Catherine on her birthday. [RF]

1.16 [--] Pride Of The Family: BARBECUE STORY
22Jan54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Steve Terrell ..... Tom (recurring)
Archie Twitchell .. Fire Chief
Synopsis 1:
Albie decides to build a backyard barbecue but his neighbor, Frank,
won't let him work on it. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Despite interference of "helpful" neighbor Frank, Albie forges ahead
with his plans to build a barbecue. The reason for all this misspent
energy: Albie is convinced that daughter Ann is wild about outdoor
cookery. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie builds a barbecue despite neighbor Frank's helpful advice. [RF]

1.17 [--] Pride Of The Family: ARTS AND CRAFTS STORY
29Jan54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Don Beddoe ........ Charlie
Sarah Selby ....... Wilma
Synopsis 1:
Albie sets out to convince his family that he enjoys the "finer
things in life." [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie tries to keep pace with Catherine's pursuit of the fine arts,
but he finds his taste doesn't go beyond the fistic arts. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie pursues the fine arts, but finds he prefers the art of boxing. [RF]

1.18 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S HEALTH DIET
05Feb54 ABC Fri (Network rerun 03Sep54)
Guest cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Joseph Vieira ..... Hollis
Synopsis 1:
Albie goes on a diet but doesn't get much help from his family [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Concerned about the peril of eating rich foods, Albie Morrison adopts
a special "radiant nutrition diet." [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Frank tricks Albie into going on a new health diet. [RF]

1.19 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE FEELS HIS AGE
12Feb54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Frank Ferguson .... Murdock (recurring)
Willis Bouchey .... Dr. Hammond
Synopsis 1:
Albie becomes convinced that he has become old before his time. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
The family worries that Albie is contemplating suicide. [rf]

1.20 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S OLD FLAME
19Feb54 ABC Fri
Guest Cast:
Barbara Billingsley .. the old flame
Doug Kennedy ......... her husband
Synopsis 1:
Albie's attentions to an old flame make Catherine burn. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie's attention to a childhood sweetheart, who has separated from
her husband, get him into trouble with his wife. It's all a
misunderstanding, however, as Albie is just trying to get the girl to
go back to her husband. Albie's wife doesn't know this, so . . .
poor Albie. [JB]

1.21 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE SHAGGY DOG STORY
26Feb54 ABC Fri (Network Re-run 30Jul54)
Guest cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Junior receives a dog as a gift, but the problem is the pooch hates
Albie. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie gets a dog for his son but finds that the new pet falls far
short of being "man's best friend" because of the strange aversion
to anyone but women and children. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie gets stuck dog-sitting with Samson, a huge, mischievous pooch. [RF]

1.22 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S NEW CHAIR
05Mar54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Because Catherine dislikes Albie's favorite chair she replaces it
with a scientific health chair. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Catherine replaces the comfortable old sofa with a contour chair. [RF]

1.23 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S ECONOMY WAVE
12Mar54 ABC Fri (Network Re-run 13Aug54)
Guest Cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie tries some clever psychology to promote a little thrift in his
family. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie's economy project ends up costing a bundle. [RF]

1.24 [--] Pride Of The Family: ANN'S BOYFRIENDS
19Mar54 ABC Fri
Guest Cast:
Hal Baylor ........ "Flash Williams," the football hero
Tom Bernard ....... Tom
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
A bragging football hero becomes the apple of Ann's eye, much to
the distress of Albie, his wife and Ann's regular boy friend. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Ann's new love: a dense football star with a super ego. [RF]

1.25 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE ANTIQUE WATCH
26Mar54 ABC Fri (Network Re-run 27Aug54)
Guest Cast:
Frank Ferguson .... Murdock (recurring)
Lillian Hamilton ... May
Synopsis 1:
Albie fears his son is a watch-pilferer when he finds his boss's
antique watch in Junior's room. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie suffers in silence when he learns that his own son is a crook. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie imagines the worst after he finds a watch hidden in Junior's
room. [RF]

1.26 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE THE CLOWN
02Apr54 ABC
Synopsis:
Albie dresses as a clown to entertain the hospitalized orphans. [JB]

1.27 [--] Pride Of The Family: CATHERINE'S OLD FRIEND
09Apr54 ABC Fri (Network Re-run 10Sep54)
Guest cast:
Tol Avery ......... Dennison
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie's life gets quite a jolt when Catherine's old boyfriend, who is
now a successful businessman, comes for a visit. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
A local man, and former suitor of Albie's wife, returns to town in
triumph. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie meets Catherine's ex-suitor, who makes quite a first impression. [RF]

1.28 [--] Pride Of The Family: BRINGING BACK ROMANCE
16Apr54 ABC Fri (Network Re-run 17Sep54)
Guest cast:
Rodney Bell ....... Larry
Irene Booth ....... Lois
Synopsis 1:
Albie decides to wage a one-man campaign for the institution of
marriage when he invites a young couple who have made up their minds
against marriage. He attempts to prove by the domestic bliss in his
home that they are making a mistake. However, like most of Albie's
schemes, this one backfires. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie plays cupid when a friend of his quarrels with his fiancée.
Albie invites the pair over for dinner in order to show them how
wonderful married life really is. Naturally complications develop
in Albie's plan. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie plays Cupid for a fellow worker and his girl. [RF]

1.29 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S REBELLION
23Apr54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Vera Marshe ....... Cynthia
Synopsis 1:
Junior can't see the point of eating dinner anywhere but in front
of the TV set. Says he: "It seems like a waste of time-just to eat!"
A satire on the effects of TV on the American family. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie prohibits TV viewing and misses the chance of a lifetime. [RF]

1.30 [--] Pride Of The Family: BIG BOSS'S SON
30Apr54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Danny Richards Jr. ... Ronny
Gavin Gordon ......... Pomeroy
Synopsis 1:
Albie attempts to rehabilitate his boss's 12-year-old son, but soon
learns that it is impossible. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie's boss comes to town and brings with him his 12-year-old son,
a precocious practical joker. After young Ronnie has made himself the
most unpopular boy around town, Albie sets out to teach him a lesson.
Synopsis 3:
Albie becomes nursemaid for his big boss's obnoxious young son. [RF]

1.31 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S HOME WORK
07May54 ABC Fri (Network Re-run 24Sep54)
Guest cast:
Joanne Davis ...... Miss Perkins
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Don Beddoe ........ Charlie
Synopsis 1:
Albie tries to help Junior with his arithmetic and gets into trouble
with both Junior and his teacher. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie gets a lesson in arithmetic from Junior's teacher. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Albie helps Junior with his homework and learns a big lesson. [RF]

1.32 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE AND THE NEW CATHERINE
14May54 ABC Fri
Synopsis:
Catherine, under the influence of a magazine on modern living, decides
to spend less time on household chores and more time with her children.
The family fights back! [JB]

1.33 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S DISCIPLINE CAMPAIGN (aka "Albie's Comfort Campaign")
21May54 ABC
Guest cast:
Sandra Gould ...... Cynthia
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie decides to rule his children with an iron hand. But something
happens that completely reverses his plans. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Seeking comfort from his family, Albie takes the advice of his
neighbor and cracks the whip. [RF]
Synopsis 3:
Feeling ignored by his family, Albie demands attention and gets it. [RF]

1.34 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE BUYS A SPORTS COAT
28May54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Gavin Gordon ...... Pomeroy
Frank Ferguson .... Murdock (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie goes to the board-of-directors meeting at which he's to deliver
the annual financial report for his paper. He is forced to wear his
neighbor's lounge sports-jacket, which is decidedly out of place at
such a conservative gathering. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie gets stuck wearing a loud sport coat to a business meeting. [RF]

1.35 [--] Pride Of The Family: HONEST ALBIE
04Jun54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Vera Marshe ....... Cynthia
Larry Blake ....... Frank (recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Albie judges a flower show, and the winning chrysanthemums turn out
to be his wife's. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Trouble blossoms when Albie is made judge in a flower contest. [RF]

1.36 [--] Pride Of The Family: THE WOMEN HATERS
11Jun54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Jerilyn Oliver .... Grace
Synopsis 1:
Junior falls in love with a girl just after he joins a Woman-Haters
club. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Junior, age 12, and his pals have solemnly sworn to hate all females.
Then he sets eyes on Grace, petite, blonde, and bewitching. [JB]
Synopsis 3:
Junior's Woman-Haters Club has a short life span thanks to a charming
young visitor. [RF]

1.37 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE BABY SITS
18Jun54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Tom Bernard ....... Tom
Synopsis 1:
Junior takes a job as babysitter, but it isn't long before the whole
family is asked to help him. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Businessman Junior takes over Ann's baby-sitting jobs and regrets it. [RF]

1.38 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE'S TRAIN TRIP
25Jun54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Lyle Talbot ....... Foster
Synopsis 1:
Albie decides to take the family along on a business trip to
Cleveland. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Junior's wild imagination turns a quiet train trip into near chaos. [RF]

1.39 [--] Pride Of The Family: ALBIE HELPS THE LOVELORN
02Jul54 ABC Fri
Guest cast:
Frank Ferguson .... Murdock (recurring)
Connie Marshall ... Martha
Synopsis 1:
Albie helps the lovelorn in the form of a young bride who wants to
find her missing husband. Soft-hearted Albie acts in his capacity of
classified-ad manager of the Chronicle. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
Albie tries to help a young woman locate her missing husband. [RF]

==========================================
Summer 1954 Network Re-Runs on ABC Fridays
==========================================

[--] 09Jul54 re-run of "Pilot episode" (Original air date 2Oct53)
[--] 16Jul54 - no details
[--] 23Jul54 re-run of "Albie Sells a House" (Original air date 30Oct53)
[--] 30Jul54 re-run of "The Shaggy Dog" (Original air date 26Feb54)
[--] 06Aug54 re-run of "Anniversary Story" (Original air date 27Nov53)
[--] 13Aug54 re-run of "Albie's Economy Wave" (Original air date 12Mar54)

[--] re-run of 20Aug54 "Ann's Stage Struck Phase" (Orig. Airdate 25Dec53)
Albie's daughter Ann wins a role with group of strolling players and
decides to devote her life to the theater.

[--] 27Aug54 rerun of "The Antique Watch" (Original air date 26Mar54)
[--] 03Sep54 re-run of "Albie's Health Diet" (Original air date 05Feb54)
[--] 10Sep54 re-run of "Catherine's Old Friend" (Original air date 09Apr54)
[--] 17Sep54 re-run of "Bring Back Romance" (Original air date 16Apr54)
[--] 24Sep54 re-run of "Albie's Homework" (Original air date 07May54)

########### Pride of the Family #############
################# the end ##################
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