Life is Worth Living
Encyclopedia
Life is Worth Living is an inspirational American television series which ran on the DuMont Television Network
from February 12, 1952 to April 26, 1955, then on ABC
until 1957.
(later Archbishop
) Fulton J. Sheen
, the series consisted mainly of Sheen speaking to the camera and discussing moral issues of the day, often using blackboard
drawings and lists to help explain the topic. When the blackboard was filled he would move to another part of the set, and request one of his "angels" (actually one of the TV crew) to clean the blackboard.
In 1952, DuMont was searching for programming ideas and put on a series of rotating religious programs with a Protestant minister, a Jewish rabbi
, and a Catholic
bishop
. While the other shows did not catch on, the bishop (Sheen) became an overnight hit, found a sponsor in Admiral
television sets, and was DuMont's only Emmy Award winner in its brief period of broadcasting. It also held the distinction of being aired on more stations (169) than any other regularly scheduled DuMont program. Life Is Worth Living is believed to have been the most widely viewed religious series in the history of television.
Prior to Life Is Worth Living, Sheen had appeared on the radio program The Catholic Hour from 1928 to 1952. With his hypnotic gaze, disarming smile, and dramatic delivery, Sheen was a natural for television. Airing opposite NBC
's highly popular Milton Berle
show on Tuesday nights, Sheen was the only person ever to give "Mr. Television", also known as "Uncle Miltie", a run for his money. Sheen drew as many as 10 million viewers each week.
Sheen and Berle enjoyed a friendly rivalry. Berle is reported to have joked, "We both work for the same boss, 'Sky Chief Supreme'", making reference to a grade of gasoline produced by Texaco
, his sponsor. Later, when Sheen won an Emmy, Berle quipped, "He's got better writers - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!" As a take-off on Berle's popular nickname with the public, Sheen once opened his program by saying "Good evening, this is Uncle Fultie."
The charismatic Sheen became one of television's earliest and most unlikely superstars, winning an Emmy Award
for "Most Outstanding Television Personality" in 1952. During his acceptance speech he happily borrowed Berle's line, crediting his four writers - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - for his success.
Sheen often made controversial statements against communism
and socialism
. In 1953 an episode of Life Is Worth Living consisted of a reading of the burial scene from Julius Caesar
, with Sheen substituting the names of Stalin, Beria, Malenkov and Vishinsky for Caesar, Cassius
, Marc Antony and Brutus
. Sheen dramatically stated "Stalin must one day meet his judgment." One week later, Russian dictator Joseph Stalin
was dead from a stroke
.
, then lectured for a while, and returned to television in 1961 with The Fulton Sheen Program, essentially a revival of Life Is Worth Living. The show was broadcast on local stations across America until 1968, with the later programs in color. Times had changed, however, and the 1960s programs did not match the audience of his earlier years. Sheen was later appointed as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
, New York. He died in 1979.
, with new introductions by actor Joseph Campanella
. St. Bernard's Institute in Rochester, New York owns the copyrights to the series, and The Fulton J. Sheen Company, Inc. owns the licensing rights.
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
from February 12, 1952 to April 26, 1955, then on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
until 1957.
Broadcast history
Hosted by BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
(later Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
) Fulton J. Sheen
Fulton J. Sheen
Servant of God Fulton John Sheen, born Peter John Sheen was an American archbishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio...
, the series consisted mainly of Sheen speaking to the camera and discussing moral issues of the day, often using blackboard
Blackboard
A chalkboard is a reusable writing surface.Blackboard may also refer to:* Blackboards are synonymous with "boards of infamy", an element of agitation-propaganda in the Soviet Union in 1930s, coincidental with Holodomor...
drawings and lists to help explain the topic. When the blackboard was filled he would move to another part of the set, and request one of his "angels" (actually one of the TV crew) to clean the blackboard.
In 1952, DuMont was searching for programming ideas and put on a series of rotating religious programs with a Protestant minister, a Jewish rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, and a Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. While the other shows did not catch on, the bishop (Sheen) became an overnight hit, found a sponsor in Admiral
Admiral (electrical appliances)
Admiral is an American appliance brand currently manufactured by Whirlpool Corporation. The brand is sold at The Home Depot.Ross Siragusa founded Continental Radio and Television Corp. as a maker of consumer electronics in Chicago during 1934. This later became Admiral Corp. Its annual sales were...
television sets, and was DuMont's only Emmy Award winner in its brief period of broadcasting. It also held the distinction of being aired on more stations (169) than any other regularly scheduled DuMont program. Life Is Worth Living is believed to have been the most widely viewed religious series in the history of television.
Prior to Life Is Worth Living, Sheen had appeared on the radio program The Catholic Hour from 1928 to 1952. With his hypnotic gaze, disarming smile, and dramatic delivery, Sheen was a natural for television. Airing opposite NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's highly popular Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
show on Tuesday nights, Sheen was the only person ever to give "Mr. Television", also known as "Uncle Miltie", a run for his money. Sheen drew as many as 10 million viewers each week.
Sheen and Berle enjoyed a friendly rivalry. Berle is reported to have joked, "We both work for the same boss, 'Sky Chief Supreme'", making reference to a grade of gasoline produced by Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
, his sponsor. Later, when Sheen won an Emmy, Berle quipped, "He's got better writers - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!" As a take-off on Berle's popular nickname with the public, Sheen once opened his program by saying "Good evening, this is Uncle Fultie."
The charismatic Sheen became one of television's earliest and most unlikely superstars, winning an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for "Most Outstanding Television Personality" in 1952. During his acceptance speech he happily borrowed Berle's line, crediting his four writers - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - for his success.
Sheen often made controversial statements against communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. In 1953 an episode of Life Is Worth Living consisted of a reading of the burial scene from Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, with Sheen substituting the names of Stalin, Beria, Malenkov and Vishinsky for Caesar, Cassius
Gaius Cassius Longinus
Gaius Cassius Longinus was a Roman senator, a leading instigator of the plot to kill Julius Caesar, and the brother in-law of Marcus Junius Brutus.-Early life:...
, Marc Antony and Brutus
Brutus
Brutus is the cognomen of the Roman gens Junia, a prominent family of the Roman Republic. The plural of Brutus is Bruti, and the vocative form is Brute, as immortalized in the quotation "Et tu, Brute?", from Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar....
. Sheen dramatically stated "Stalin must one day meet his judgment." One week later, Russian dictator Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
was dead from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
Network change
When DuMont ceased network broadcasting in 1955, Sheen moved his show to ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, then lectured for a while, and returned to television in 1961 with The Fulton Sheen Program, essentially a revival of Life Is Worth Living. The show was broadcast on local stations across America until 1968, with the later programs in color. Times had changed, however, and the 1960s programs did not match the audience of his earlier years. Sheen was later appointed as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Greater Rochester region of New York State in the United States. The region that the Diocese comprises extends from its northern border on the south shore of Lake Ontario through the Finger Lakes region to its...
, New York. He died in 1979.
Syndication
Reruns of Life Is Worth Living and The Fulton Sheen Program continued to circulate as late as the early 1990s on broadcast stations, and are currently televised by EWTNEternal Word Television Network
The Eternal Word Television Network is an American cable television network which presents Catholic-themed programming. It was founded in 1980 by Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA...
, with new introductions by actor Joseph Campanella
Joseph Campanella
Joseph Campanella in Lewistown, Pennsylvania is an American character actor who has appeared in over 200 TV and film roles since 1955, including such shows as The Eleventh Hour, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The Road West, The Golden Girls and Mama's Family. He also had a role in...
. St. Bernard's Institute in Rochester, New York owns the copyrights to the series, and The Fulton J. Sheen Company, Inc. owns the licensing rights.
See also
- List of programs broadcast by the DuMont Television Network
- List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts