The Ruggles
Encyclopedia
The Ruggles is an early American family-oriented situation comedies. The series, broadcast live on ABC
, with a few episodes recorded on kinescope
, began November 3, 1949--a month after radio hit The Life of Riley
moved to television on NBC
---and ended on June 19, 1952. The Ruggles was also one of the first to originate from Hollywood rather than New York City
, where most radio programs had been produced.
, playing a character with the same name. His wife, Margaret Ruggles, was played in the first season by Irene Tedrow
, thereafter by Erin O'Brien-Moore
. The television family also had four children: college co-ed Sharon Ruggles (Margaret Kerry
), high school student Chuck Ruggles (Tom Bernard), and the young twins, Donna and Donald, played by Judy Nugent
and Jimmy Hawkins
. During the second season (1950-51), Lonnie Burr
played an occasional recurring character named Oliver Quimby, a know-it-all neighbor kid.
Most shows take place in the Ruggles living room and kitchen, with just the family members in attendance. Because the shows were broadcast live, the set had to be large and elaborate. There was no audience on the set, and no laugh-track. Recorded theme music was played for entrances and exits. The final episode of the show, broadcast June 19, 1952, featured the wedding of Sharon Ruggles.
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...
, with a few episodes recorded on kinescope
Kinescope
Kinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program made by filming the picture from a video monitor...
, began November 3, 1949--a month after radio hit The Life of Riley
The Life of Riley
The Life of Riley, with William Bendix in the title role, is a popular American radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film, a long-run 1950s television series , and a 1958 Dell comic book...
moved to television on 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...
---and ended on June 19, 1952. The Ruggles was also one of the first to originate from Hollywood rather than New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where most radio programs had been produced.
Cast and changes
The star of the series is comedian Charlie RugglesCharles Ruggles
Charles Sherman “Charlie” Ruggles was a comic American actor. In a career spanning six decades, Ruggles appeared in close to 100 feature films. He was also the brother of director, producer, and silent actor Wesley Ruggles .-Background:Charlie Ruggles was born in Los Angeles, California in 1886...
, playing a character with the same name. His wife, Margaret Ruggles, was played in the first season by Irene Tedrow
Irene Tedrow
Irene Tedrow was an American character actress in stage, film, television and radio. Tedrow is also the mother of actress Enid Kent.-Career:...
, thereafter by Erin O'Brien-Moore
Erin O'Brien-Moore
Erin O'Brien-Moore was an American actress.Moore's acting career began onstage. Noticed in a Broadway stage production, she was signed to a movie contract...
. The television family also had four children: college co-ed Sharon Ruggles (Margaret Kerry
Margaret Kerry
Margaret Kerry is an American actress, motivational speaker and radio host best known for her 1953 work as the model for Tinker Bell in the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature, Peter Pan.-Career:...
), high school student Chuck Ruggles (Tom Bernard), and the young twins, Donna and Donald, played by Judy Nugent
Judy Nugent
-Early life:Nugent was born in Los Angeles, California, daughter of Lucille and Carl Nugent. Her father was a property master for MGM, her mother later became a talent agent, managing Judy's career and that of her older sister, Carol Nugent.-Career:...
and Jimmy Hawkins
Jimmy Hawkins
James F. Hawkins , known as Jimmy Hawkins, and later, Jim Hawkins, is an American actor and film producer whose career began as a child actor to such Hollywood stars as Lana Turner, Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, and Donna Reed...
. During the second season (1950-51), Lonnie Burr
Lonnie Burr
Lonnie Burr was born on May 31, 1943, in Dayton, Kentucky. He is an American actor, dancer/choreographer, singer, director and author of Danish, French, Scots-Irish and German descent, best known for having been a star on the original Mickey Mouse Club television show from 1955 to 1959...
played an occasional recurring character named Oliver Quimby, a know-it-all neighbor kid.
Synopsis
Charlie Ruggles is a department manager for a company. His boss, Mr. Williams, and his secretary Miss Peabody, were seldom seen, and the exact nature of the firm's business was never clearly stated. His wife Margaret kept house, while their daughter Sharon attended UCLA, though she lived at home. Son Chuck was in high school, and the twins were in elementary school.Most shows take place in the Ruggles living room and kitchen, with just the family members in attendance. Because the shows were broadcast live, the set had to be large and elaborate. There was no audience on the set, and no laugh-track. Recorded theme music was played for entrances and exits. The final episode of the show, broadcast June 19, 1952, featured the wedding of Sharon Ruggles.