“I miss Mr. Peepers.” --Snoopy
(That’s from “Home Is On Top Of A Dog House.” One of the sequels to the hit minibook “Happiness Is A Warm Puppy.”)
So, I’ve been watching a DVD of some old episodes of “Mr. Peepers”. All from the fall of 1952. Wally Cox is great. I especially love the opening and closing bits.
It’s interesting to see so many actors that turn up later all over TV. E.g., “Aunt Clara” from “Bewitched.” (Which helped me solve 53-down in my crossword. What, I’m not supposed to look at the credits?) There’s also a fine young actor named “Anthony Randall”. Wonder whatever happened to him.
The basics of a sitcom were all there, but it’s clearer about the borrowing from earlier forms. Lots of scenes clearly based on stage comedy. Sound effects from radio. The use of music to start and end scenes is there. That sort of stuff.