Hennesey
Encyclopedia
Hennesey is an American
military sitcom
that aired on CBS
from 1959 to 1962. The series, which aired for three seasons, stars Jackie Cooper
in the title role.
doctor Lt. Charles "Chick" Hennesey, with Abby Dalton
as Navy nurse Lt. Martha Hale. They were assigned to the hospital at the San Diego U.S. Naval Station. The show often featured guest stars, including Charles Bronson
, Marty Ingels
, Jack Cassidy
, Soupy Sales
, Mickey Rooney
and Frank Gorshin
.
Cooper starred in, produced and directed the series, drawing upon his real-life experience as a World War II Navy veteran and his continuing service for many years as an officer in the Naval Reserve. He was a former child actor who starred in the Our Gang
comedies of the early 1930s and then moved on to feature films.
Scriptwriter Richard Baer
wrote thirty-eight of Hennesey's episodes beginning in 1960, which earned him an Emmy nomination.
starring Gertrude Berg
in the role of Cooper's "Aunt Sarah". In the last of Berg's television series, the character, as a 62-year-old widow, enrolls in college
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1959 to 1962. The series, which aired for three seasons, stars Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper was an American actor, television director, producer and executive. He was a child actor who managed to make the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination...
in the title role.
Synopsis
Cooper played NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
doctor Lt. Charles "Chick" Hennesey, with Abby Dalton
Abby Dalton
Abby Dalton is an American actress.Born as Marlene Wasden in Las Vegas, Nevada, she has made numerous appearances on television, including the recurring role of "Julia Cumson" on Falcon Crest...
as Navy nurse Lt. Martha Hale. They were assigned to the hospital at the San Diego U.S. Naval Station. The show often featured guest stars, including Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
, Marty Ingels
Marty Ingels
Marty Ingels is an actor, comedian, theatrical agent, and, by many, best known as the voice of many cartoon characters and commercials. Born Martin Ingerman in Brooklyn, New York, he is the son of Jacob and Minnie Ingerman.His voice-overs and commercials include those for Paul Masson wines, with...
, Jack Cassidy
Jack Cassidy
John Joseph Edward “Jack” Cassidy was an American actor of stage, film and screen.His frequent professional persona was that of an urbane, super-confident egotist with a dramatic flair, much in the manner of Broadway actor Frank Fay...
, Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
, Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
and Frank Gorshin
Frank Gorshin
Frank John Gorshin, Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show...
.
Cast
- Jackie CooperJackie CooperJackie Cooper was an American actor, television director, producer and executive. He was a child actor who managed to make the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination...
as Lt. Charles "Chick" Hennesey - Abby DaltonAbby DaltonAbby Dalton is an American actress.Born as Marlene Wasden in Las Vegas, Nevada, she has made numerous appearances on television, including the recurring role of "Julia Cumson" on Falcon Crest...
as Lt. Martha Hale - Roscoe KarnsRoscoe KarnsRoscoe Karns was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964.He played the title role in the popular DuMont Television Network series Rocky King, Inside Detective from 1950 to 1954...
as Capt. Walter Shafer - Henry KulkyHenry KulkyHenry Kulky was an American actor and former professional wrestler from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, probably best remembered as Chief Petty Officer Curly Jones from season 1 of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea....
as Max Bronski - James KomackJames KomackJames Komack was an American actor, writer and film producer. Komack was in the original cast of the Broadway musical Damn Yankees and also in the film version; in both productions, he was one of the baseball players who perform the song " Heart"...
as Harvey Spencer Blair III - Arte JohnsonArte JohnsonArthur Stanton Eric "Arte" Johnson is an American comic actor. Johnson was a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. His best-remembered "character" was that of a German soldier with the catchphrase: "Verrrry interesting, but...['stupid', 'not very funny', and other variations]".-Early life:Johnson...
as Seaman Shatz - Herb EllisHerb EllisMitchell Herbert "Herb" Ellis was an American jazz guitarist. Perhaps best known for his 1950s membership in the trio of pianist Oscar Peterson, Ellis was also a staple of west-coast studio recording sessions, and was described by critic Scott Yanow as "an excellent bop-based guitarist with a...
as Dr. Dan Wagner - Robert GistRobert GistRobert Gist was an American actor and film director. He was married to actress Agnes Moorehead from 1954 to 1958, although they separated in 1955. They met during the filming of The Stratton Story .- Biography :...
as Dr. Owen King - Stephen Roberts as Commander Wilker
- Harry Holcombe as William Hale
- Ted Fish as Chief Branman
- Frank GorshinFrank GorshinFrank John Gorshin, Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show...
as Seaman Pulaski - Meg WyllieMeg WyllieMargaret Gillespie "Meg" Wyllie was an American actress. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was the first ever Star Trek villain, the Talosian Keeper in the first Star Trek: The Original Series pilot episode The Cage. The character was voiced by Malachi Throne...
as Mrs. Shafer
Production notes
The series was notable for an extremely catchy theme tune (by Sonny Burke), a jazzy hornpipe played by tuba and piccolo. Hennesey was also innovative for being the first series to employ what has since become a standard device in television: beginning the dialog and action of each episode during the opening credits.Cooper starred in, produced and directed the series, drawing upon his real-life experience as a World War II Navy veteran and his continuing service for many years as an officer in the Naval Reserve. He was a former child actor who starred in the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
comedies of the early 1930s and then moved on to feature films.
Scriptwriter Richard Baer
Richard Baer (writer)
Richard Baer was an American writer and screenwriter. Baer wrote for more than 56 television shows, many of which were sitcoms, throughout his career, including The Munsters, Leave It to Beaver and Bewitched....
wrote thirty-eight of Hennesey's episodes beginning in 1960, which earned him an Emmy nomination.
Spin-off
Hennesey aired the pilot for the 1961-1962 CBS sitcom Mrs. G. Goes to CollegeMrs. G. Goes to College
Mrs. G. Goes To College is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from October 4, 1961 to April 5, 1962...
starring Gertrude Berg
Gertrude Berg
Gertrude Berg was an American actress and screenwriter. A pioneer of classic radio, she was one of the first women to create, write, produce and star in a long-running hit when she premiered her serial comedy-drama The Rise of the Goldbergs , later known as The Goldbergs.-Career:Berg was born...
in the role of Cooper's "Aunt Sarah". In the last of Berg's television series, the character, as a 62-year-old widow, enrolls in college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
.