Websters Replace Brewsters: The Way It Was, 9 March

1945---Those Websters, a situation comedy set in the fictitious Chicago suburb Spring City, premieres on CBS as a replacement for the four-year-old comedy That Brewster Boy.

The short-lived replacement will be remembered if at all as the first known starring vehicle for old-time radio journeyman Willard Waterman (as George Webster), whose future will include succeeding Harold Peary as The Great Gildersleeve and a recurring role (as Mr. Merriweather) in the Ronald and Benita Colman comedy vehicle, The Halls of Ivy.

Waterman's supporting cast includes Connie Crowder (as Mrs. Webster), Arthur Young (as Billy Green, later replaced by Gil Stratton, Jr.) Joan Alt (as Billy's sister), Jerry Spellman (as Jeep), and Jane Webb (as Belinda Boyd).

Charles Irving announces the show, which is written by Priscilla Kent, Albert G. Miller, and Frank and Doris Hursley.

A kind of second-hand version of The Aldrich Family, That Brewster Boy had run since 1941 (first on NBC). It will be remembered primarily, if at all, for the actors who were the second and third to play the title role of Joey Brewster---Arnold Stang, the future sidekick to edgy radio satirist Henry Morgan and later the voice of cartoons' Top Cat; and, Dick York, the future co-star of television's Bewitched. (And, as it happens, the future husband of Joan Alt, to whom he remained married for the rest of his life.)

Three of That Brewster Boy's cast---Connie Crowder (Jane Brewster), Jerry Spellman (Pee Wee) and Jane Webb (Minerva)---played in Those Websters. Also part of That Brewster Boy was Bill Idelson (Chuck), known best for his longtime role as Rush Gook in Vic and Sade.

Pauline Hopkins and Owen Vincent were the writer and director of That Brewster Boy. They were sending bundles to the Communists to help fight the Nazis so naturally they were branded as Communists. The advertising agency came around, hired everyone from under them and they were going to change the name of the show and get rid of Pauline and Owen. Well, I was fresh out of the slum. It was the first time I ever had any money, but I went to Pauline and Owen and told them straight out that I didn't know what it was all about, but that I was with them. I wouldn't sign with the agency. Of course, I was taken off the show.

---Dick York, explaining the change from That Brewster Boy to Those Websters, in one of several 1991 interviews with John Douglas, the year before York died of emphysema.

CHANNEL SURFING . . .

1943: CARNEGIE HALL, PART TWO---God help us but Gracie (Allen) is still bent on playing the piano in Carnegie Hall with jazz legend Paul Whiteman, who fears she'll slaughter either his or the fabled concert venue's reputation---while she frets over insuring her fingers, and neither George (Burns) nor Whiteman can talk her out of the gig, on tonight's edition of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. (CBS.) Special guests: Jose Turbe, Deems Taylor. Additional cast: Bill Goodwin, Jimmy Cash. Music: Paul Whiteman. Writers: Frank Galen, Paul Henning, Keith Fowler.

1947: AWAKENING AND ACCLAIM---Charlie cross-examines Edgar (Bergen) over the latter's missing from breakfast and tries talking him into subscribing to a wake-up service ("My slogan is 'You Sleep, I Reap,' says service operator McCarthy), Mortimer thinks he's too old to memorise a poem a child of five could memorise, and Charlie is named Model Boy for the Men of Tomorrow Foundation---for which honour guest Monty Woolley turns out to have nominated him (which explains his horning in on a farewell lunch), on tonight's edition of The Charlie McCarthy Show. (NBC.) Cast: Ken Carpenter, Anita Gordon, Pat Patrick. Music: Ray Noble. Writers: Possibly Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher, Royal Foster, Dick Mack.

PREMIERING TODAY . . .

1893---Ara Gerald (actress: Our Gal Sunday), Sydney, Australia.
1902---Will Geer (actor: Bright Horizon, Family Theater), Franfort, Indiana.
1914---Fred Clark (actor: This Is Your FBI, Amos 'n' Andy), Lincoln, California.
1918---Marguerite Chapman (actress: Family Theater, Silver Theatre, Screen Guild Theatre), Chatham, New York.
1934---Joyce Van Patten (actress: Reg'lar Fellas), Queens, New York.
1935---Keely Smith (singer: Here's to Veterans), Norfolk, Virginia.