The Growing Paynes
Encyclopedia
The Growing Paynes is a sitcom
that aired on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network
.
to 1949
. The series starred John Harvey
, Judy Parrish, David Anderson, Ann Sullivan, Lester Lonergan, Jr., and Warren Parker.
One of the first sitcoms to air in the United States, the 30-minute series was broadcast live
. Advertisements
for the sponsor, Wanamaker's Department Store
, were worked into the early stories.
Harvey and Parrish, who were husband and wife in real life, left the show in 1949 and were replaced by Edward Holmes and Elaine Stritch
as Mr. and Mrs. Payne. It marked Stritch's television debut.
and four episodes are at the Paley Center for Media.
is the Payne family's apartment. Comedic situations deal with the trials of an insurance salesman, George Payne (played by Harvey), his screwball wife, Laraine Payne (played by Parrish), and their young son, John Payne (played by Anderson). Often it is their maid, Birdie (played by Sullivan), who saves the day.
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 the now-defunct DuMont Television Network
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...
.
Broadcast history
The series aired on DuMont on Wednesdays at 8:30 pm EST for one season, 19481948 in television
The year 1948 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1948.-Events:*March 20 – Renowned Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini makes his television debut, conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra in an all-Wagner program.*June 21 – The first network...
to 1949
1949 in television
The year 1949 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1949.-Events:*January 3 – Colgate Theatre premieres on NBC....
. The series starred John Harvey
John Harvey (American actor)
John Harvey was an American actor. He starred in stage plays in Los Angeles, then went to New York, where he played Private Earhart in the hit comedy Kiss and Tell on Broadway....
, Judy Parrish, David Anderson, Ann Sullivan, Lester Lonergan, Jr., and Warren Parker.
One of the first sitcoms to air in the United States, the 30-minute series was broadcast live
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
. Advertisements
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for the sponsor, Wanamaker's Department Store
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. At its zenith in the early 20th century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York City at Broadway...
, were worked into the early stories.
Harvey and Parrish, who were husband and wife in real life, left the show in 1949 and were replaced by Edward Holmes and Elaine Stritch
Elaine Stritch
Elaine Stritch is an American actress and vocalist. She has appeared in numerous stage plays and musicals, feature films, and many television programs...
as Mr. and Mrs. Payne. It marked Stritch's television debut.
Episode status
One episode of The Growing Paynes is at the UCLA Film and Television ArchiveUCLA Film and Television Archive
The UCLA Film and Television Archive is an internationally renowned visual arts organization focused on the preservation, study, and appreciation of film and television, based at the University of California, Los Angeles. It holds more than 220,000 film and television titles and 27 million feet of...
and four episodes are at the Paley Center for Media.
Synopsis
The settingSetting (fiction)
In fiction, setting includes the time, location, and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. Setting has been referred to as story world or milieu to include a context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may...
is the Payne family's apartment. Comedic situations deal with the trials of an insurance salesman, George Payne (played by Harvey), his screwball wife, Laraine Payne (played by Parrish), and their young son, John Payne (played by Anderson). Often it is their maid, Birdie (played by Sullivan), who saves the day.
Cast
- John HarveyJohn Harvey (American actor)John Harvey was an American actor. He starred in stage plays in Los Angeles, then went to New York, where he played Private Earhart in the hit comedy Kiss and Tell on Broadway....
as George Payne (1948-1949) - Judy Parrish as Laraine Payne (1948-1949)
- David Anderson as John Payne
- Ann Sullivan as Birdie
- Lester Lonergan, Jr.
- Warren Parker
Replacement cast
- Edward Holmes as George Payne (1949)
- Elaine StritchElaine StritchElaine Stritch is an American actress and vocalist. She has appeared in numerous stage plays and musicals, feature films, and many television programs...
as Laraine Payne (1949)
See also
- Mary Kay and JohnnyMary Kay and JohnnyMary Kay and Johnny is the first situation comedy broadcast on network television in the United States. Starring real-life married couple Mary Kay Stearns and Johnny Stearns, the series is the first program to show a couple sharing a bed, and the first television series to show a woman's pregnancy...
(The first sitcom to air in the United States) - List of programs broadcast by the DuMont Television Network
- List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts
- 1948-49 United States network television schedule
External links
- The Growing Paynes at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- DuMont Historical Website