"The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) TV series 1961-1966

Creator:

Carl Reiner
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

3 October 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The misadventures of a TV writer both at work and at home.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Husband Wife Relationship | Only Child | Insult | Army

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 20 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Dick Van Dyke	...	Robert 'Rob' Petrie (158 episodes, 1961-1966)
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Laura Petrie (153 episodes, 1961-1966)
Rose Marie	...	Sally Rogers (131 episodes, 1961-1966)
Morey Amsterdam	...	Maurice B. 'Buddy' Sorrell (131 episodes, 1961-1966)
Richard Deacon	...	Melvin 'Mel' Cooley (108 episodes, 1961-1966)
Larry Mathews	...	Richard Rosebud 'Ritchie' Petrie (70 episodes, 1961-1966)

Series Directed by
Jerry Paris		(84 episodes, 1963-1966)
John Rich		(41 episodes, 1961-1966)
Howard Morris		(5 episodes, 1963-1965)
Sheldon Leonard		(4 episodes, 1961-1963)
Alan Rafkin		(4 episodes, 1962-1964)
Lee Philips		(4 episodes, 1965)
Robert Butler		(2 episodes, 1961)
James Komack		(2 episodes, 1961)
Coby Ruskin		(2 episodes, 1962-1963)
Hal Cooper		(2 episodes, 1962)
Peter Baldwin		(2 episodes, 1964)
Theodore J. Flicker		(2 episodes, 1965)
Richard Erdman		(2 episodes, 1966)

Series Writing credits
Carl Reiner		(67 episodes, 1961-1966)
Sam Denoff		(29 episodes, 1963-1966)
Bill Persky		(29 episodes, 1963-1966)
Jerry Belson		(18 episodes, 1964-1966)
Garry Marshall		(18 episodes, 1964-1966)
Carl Kleinschmitt		(9 episodes, 1965-1966)
Dale McRaven		(9 episodes, 1965-1966)
Howard Merrill		(8 episodes, 1962-1964)
John Whedon		(7 episodes, 1962-1966)
Sheldon Keller		(7 episodes, 1962-1964)
Martin Ragaway		(5 episodes, 1962-1965)
Frank Tarloff		(3 episodes, 1961-1962)
Bill Idelson		(3 episodes, 1963-1964)
Ernest Chambers		(3 episodes, 1964-1965)
Joseph Cavella		(3 episodes, 1965)
Walter Kempley		(2 episodes, 1961-1962)
Ed Haas		(2 episodes, 1962)
Norm Liebmann		(2 episodes, 1962)
Ronald Alexander		(2 episodes, 1963)
Jay Burton		(2 episodes, 1964-1965)
Art Baer		(2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Ben Joelson		(2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Lawrence J. Cohen		(2 episodes, 1965)
Fred Freeman		(2 episodes, 1965)
Rick Mittleman		(2 episodes, 1965)
Joseph Bonaduce		(2 episodes, 1966)

Series Produced by
Ronald Jacobs	....	associate producer (158 episodes, 1961-1966)
Sheldon Leonard	....	executive producer (158 episodes, 1961-1966)
Carl Reiner	....	producer (95 episodes, 1961-1965)
Danny Thomas	....	executive producer / associate producer (6 episodes, 1962-1965)
Sam Denoff	....	producer (2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Bill Persky	....	producer (2 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Original Music by
Earle Hagen		(36 episodes, 1961-1966)

Series Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse		(67 episodes, 1961-1966)

Series Film Editing by
Bud Molin		(34 episodes, 1961-1963)
Beryl Gelfond		(4 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Casting by
Ruth Burch		(6 episodes, 1962-1965)
Marjorie Benson		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Kenneth A. Reid		(68 episodes, 1961-1966)

Series Set Decoration by
Ken Swartz		(62 episodes, 1961-1966)

Series Costume Design by
Harald Johnson		(5 episodes, 1962-1963)
Marge Makau		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Thomas Tuttle	....	makeup artist (67 episodes, 1961-1966)
Donna McDonough	....	hair stylist (38 episodes, 1962-1966)
Eleanor Edwards	....	hair stylist (23 episodes, 1961-1962)

Series Production Management
Frank E. Myers	....	production manager (62 episodes, 1961-1966)
Argyle Nelson	....	production supervisor (24 episodes, 1961-1962)
Ronald Jacobs	....	production supervisor (3 episodes, 1963-1965)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John C. Chulay	....	assistant director (60 episodes, 1961-1966)
Jay Sandrich	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1961)
Edward M. Hillie	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Glenn Ross	....	prop master / property master (37 episodes, 1961-1966)
Stuart Stephenson	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Cam McCulloch	....	sound engineer (61 episodes, 1961-1966)
Edward L. Sandlin	....	re-recording editor (24 episodes, 1961-1962)
Dick Le Grand	....	re-recording editor (8 episodes, 1962-1963)
Robert Reeve	....	re-recording editor (2 episodes, 1963)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
James Niver	....	camera coordinator (34 episodes, 1961-1963)
Robert Sousa	....	camera coordinator (4 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Casting Department
Ruth Burch	....	casting (60 episodes, 1961-1966)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Harald Johnson	....	costumes / costumer (62 episodes, 1961-1966)
Daroff	....	tailor: Mr. Van Dyke (4 episodes, 1962-1963)

Series Editorial Department
Bud Molin	....	film editor (41 episodes, 1962-1963)

Series Music Department
Earle Hagen	....	composer: theme music / composer: additional music (158 episodes, 1961-1966)
Walter Popp	....	music coordinator (38 episodes, 1961-1966)

Series Other crew
Marjorie Mullen	....	continuity / script continuity (36 episodes, 1961-1966)
Carl Reiner	....	story consultant (12 episodes, 1961-1963)
Sylvia Lewis	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1963-1966)

Production Companies

• Calvada Productions
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1961-1969)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1961-1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• BFS Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS Films (1966-1971)
• Image Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 1, 2)
• Image Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (Best of Dick Van Dyke Show: Vols. 1-6)
• Image Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 3, 4, 5)
• Image Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Paramount Television
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (video) (7 episodes)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Viacom

Other Companies

• Ann Arnold, Beverly Hills  fashions by
• Arbé Originals  fashions by
• Botany 500  Mr. Van Dyke's wardrobe furnished by
• California Girl Inc.  fashions by
• Desilu Studios  filming location
• E.T. Jr., Los Angeles  fashions by
• Gibi Knits of Italy  fashions by
• Gino Paoli  fashions by
• Glen Glenn Sound  Sound
• Glenhaven Ltd.  suits by
• House of Gold  fashions by
• Ida K's, Wilshire  fashions by
• Laura Aponte of Rome  fashions by
• Lilli Ann  fashions by
• Mancini  fashions by
• Mr. Mort  fashions by
• Nardis of Dallas  fashions by
• Peggy Hunt  fashions by
• Philip Morris Cigarettes  original sponsor
• Procter & Gamble  original sponsor
• Swivante  fashions by
• Walter Bass, Beverly Hills  fashions by
• William Pearson, Los Angeles  fashions by

Also Known As:

All in a Day's Work (USA) (working title)
Double Trouble (USA) (working title)
Full House (USA) (working title)
Head of the Family (USA) (working title)
The Dick Van Dyke Daytime Show (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

30 min (158 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Calvada Productions

Trivia:

The running gag about Alan Brady's toupee was based on Max Liebman, the producer of "Your Show of Shows" (1950), who also wore a toupee.

Quotes:

Melvin (Mel) Cooley: It was the sketch. I knew Alan wouldn't like it. And when it comes to comedy, I have an unerring instinct.
Maurice (Buddy) Sorrell: That's right, you got the instinct of a herring.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

"Oh, Rob!"

The Dick Van Dyke Show has always been one of my favorites; from the first time I saw it in syndicated reruns, to the recent dvd releases. Despite the passage of time, it still holds up. The reason? It had the best writing and performances of any show and it presented real characters in believable situations. You can argue about other classic shows, like I Love Lucy, All in The Family, MASH, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Seinfeld, or Cheers; but, in my opinion this was the finest comedy show on television.

Carl Reiner is a comedy genius who turned his own life into a comedy goldmine. After starring in an unsold pilot, he was faced with the fact he was wrong to portray his own life. With the help of Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas, he was able to bring Rob Petrie to life, via Dick Van Dyke. He filled the series with great actors and the best writing on television. It was a perfect format, a show about a writer for a top variety show. It lent itself to logical guest appearances and a host of unusual and amusing situations. It was filled with a cast of great characters: lovable, if klutzy Rob Petrie, beautiful and talented wife Laura, joke machine Buddy Sorrell, sarcastic and love-starved Sally Rogers, pompous, but exploited producer Mel Cooley, demanding egomaniac boss Alan Brady, neighbors Jerry and Milly Helper, and cute son Richie Petrie. Everyone had their moments.

So many of the shows were classics that it is hard to pick favorites. There are the wonderful dream stories, such as "The Gunslinger", "It May Look Like A Walnut", and "The Bad Old Days". There are the performance shows, like "The Alan Brady Show Presents", "The Sam Pomerantz Scandals", and "The Alan Brady Show Goes to Jail". There are the flashbacks to Rob and Laura's courtship and early days of marriage, as well as Rob's beginnings with the Alan Bady Show. Then there are the ones that are just plain fun, like "A Ghost of A. Chantz", "Never Bathe on Saturday", and numerous others. The shows could also be quite touching, like "Buddy Sorrel, Man and Boy". Even weaker shows had great moments.

One of the reasons the show holds up well is that it lasted only 5 seasons and didn't get a chance to wear out its welcome. Everyone was at the top of their game when they called it quits.

When the show first came to "Nick at Night," I was ecstatic. I hadn't seen the show in several years and proceeded to tape the entire premiere marathon (which meant getting up early in the morning to change tapes). Those tapes quickly became worn out. Now, I have them on dvd, complete with promos, commentaries, features and other extras. This show will continue to live on as testament to the best of television comedy. Too bad they don't make shows like this anymore.