Father Knows Best (039) 1950-05-18 Betty's Screen Test

The series began on August 25, 1949, on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Radio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC Radio</a>. Set in the Midwest, it starred <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Young_(actor)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Young</a> as the General Insurance agent Jim Anderson. His wife Margaret was first portrayed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Whitley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">June Whitley</a> and later by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Vander_Pyl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jean Vander Pyl</a>. The Anderson children were Betty (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhoda_Williams" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rhoda Williams</a>), Bud (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Donaldson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ted Donaldson</a>) and Kathy (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Jean_Nilsson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norma Jean Nilsson</a>). Others in the cast were <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Audley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eleanor Audley</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Vigran" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herb Vigran</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Edwards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sam Edwards</a>. Sponsored through most of its run by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Foods" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">General Foods</a>, the series was heard Thursday evenings on NBC until March 25, 1954.<br /><br />On the radio program, the character of Jim differs from the later television character. The radio Jim is far more <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcastic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sarcastic</a> and shows he really rules over his family. Jim also calls his children names, something common on radio but lost in the TV series. For example, Jim says, "What a bunch of stupid children I have." Margaret is portrayed as a paragon of solid reason and patience, unless the plot calls for her to act a bit off; for example, in a Halloween episode, Margaret cannot understand how a table floats in the air. But that is a rare exception.

TV & Film

History

Film History

The series began on August 25, 1949, on NBC Radio. Set in the Midwest, it starred Robert Young as the General Insurance agent Jim Anderson. His wife Margaret was first portrayed by June Whitley and later by Jean Vander Pyl. The Anderson children were Betty (Rhoda Williams), Bud (Ted Donaldson) and Kathy (Norma Jean Nilsson). Others in the cast were Eleanor Audley, Herb Vigran, and Sam Edwards. Sponsored through most of its run by General Foods, the series was heard Thursday evenings on NBC until March 25, 1954.On the radio program, the character of Jim differs from the later television character. The radio Jim is far more sarcastic and shows he really rules over his family. Jim also calls his children names, something common on radio but lost in the TV series. For example, Jim says, "What a bunch of stupid children I have." Margaret is portrayed as a paragon of solid reason and patience, unless the plot calls for her to act a bit off; for example, in a Halloween episode, Margaret cannot understand how a table floats in the air. But that is a rare exception.

The series began on August 25, 1949, on&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Radio" rel="noopener noreferrer">NBC Radio</a>. Set in the Midwest, it starred&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Young_(actor)" rel="noopener noreferrer">Robert Young</a>&nbsp;as the General Insurance agent Jim Anderson. His wife Margaret was first portrayed by&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Whitley" rel="noopener noreferrer">June Whitley</a>&nbsp;and later by&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Vander_Pyl" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jean Vander Pyl</a>. The Anderson children were Betty (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhoda_Williams" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rhoda Williams</a>), Bud (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Donaldson" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ted Donaldson</a>) and Kathy (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Jean_Nilsson" rel="noopener noreferrer">Norma Jean Nilsson</a>). Others in the cast were&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Audley" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eleanor Audley</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Vigran" rel="noopener noreferrer">Herb Vigran</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Edwards" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sam Edwards</a>. Sponsored through most of its run by&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Foods" rel="noopener noreferrer">General Foods</a>, the series was heard Thursday evenings on NBC until March 25, 1954.<br><br>On the radio program, the character of Jim differs from the later television character. The radio Jim is far more&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcastic" rel="noopener noreferrer">sarcastic</a>&nbsp;and shows he really rules over his family. Jim also calls his children names, something common on radio but lost in the TV series. For example, Jim says, "What a bunch of stupid children I have." Margaret is portrayed as a paragon of solid reason and patience, unless the plot calls for her to act a bit off; for example, in a Halloween episode, Margaret cannot understand how a table floats in the air. But that is a rare exception.

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Father Knows Best (039) 1950-05-18 Betty's Screen Test

Father Knows Best (039) 1950-05-18 Betty's Screen Test