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6 Classic Life With Elizabeth Episodes on DVD!
One of the earliest filmed syndicated comedy series in the United
States, Life With Elizabeth was a showcase for actress Betty White -- a
full-fledged star two decades before The Mary Tyler Moore Show and
three decades before Golden Girls. The series originated as a series of
short comic sketches, telecast live on a local basis from the Los
Angeles studios of KLAC-TV beginning in 1952.
Originally telecast as
part of the station's daily, five-hour variety show Hollywood on
Television, Life With Elizabeth concerned itself with the marriage of
heroine Elizabeth (White) and her husband Alvin (played by L.A.
announcer and future Jerry Lewis movie regular Del Moore). The stories
covered a variety of familiar domestic situations, from bringing the
boss home to dinner to building an addition to the porch. In some
episodes, Elizabeth and Alvin were newlyweds; in others, they had been
united in the bonds of holy matrimony for several years.
Whatever the
case, the KLAC announcer traded quips with the two main characters at
the beginning of each sketch, in fine "golden age" radio fashion; and
at the end of each playlet, Elizabeth and Alvin would turn to the
cameras and bid the viewers at home a fond goodbye. This basic format,
right down to the breaking of the traditional "fourth wall," was
retained when Life With Elizabeth was committed to film beginning in
1953, then syndicated by producer Don Fedderson (The Millionaire, My
Three Sons) on behalf of Guild Films.
Stars Betty White and Del Moore
were joined by such featured players as Lois Bridge, cast as the
couple's neighbor Chloe Skinridge; Ray Erlenborn, as Alvin's boss; Dick
Garton as Alvin's dimwitted buddy Richard; and veteran radio
personality Jess Kirkpatrick, who was usually cast as one of
Elizabeth's relatives. Rounding out the cast were the couple's pets,
Stormy the St. Bernard and Bandie the Pekinese. |
