1961 Sponsor Version The Dick Van Dyke Show Opening Credits

[fromthesidelines]

...Aubrey saw to it that NONE of the comedy pilots Desilu produced for CBS' 1964-'65 schedule were picked up, forcing Lucy to return for another season [without "THE LUCY SHOW", there would have no Desilu-produced series on ANY network]- probably one reason why she said, "I cannot live with that man!". Procter & Gamble was perfectly content to have '"PETTICOAT JUNCTION" follow Red Skelton on Tuesdays, telling Aubrey they'd pull all of their advertising AND soap operas IF he moved the show.

[fromthesidelines]

True, 'tom'. James Aubrey, the "Smiling Cobra" president of CBS at the time, was thinking of moving "PETTICOAT JUNCTION" to Monday nights to fill Lucy's time period after she considered ending her series (he "shoehorned" that show inbetween Red Skelton and Jack Benny on Tuesdays during its first season, making it a "Top 10" hit, but losing Benny in the process- he was so angry at Aubrey "splitting up" Skelton and him from the previous season, he went to NBC the following season)...

[tomservo56954]

This version is the only one where Mary Tyler Moore is billed over Larry Matthews.

[MarkinDC]

I was born in '62, and literally grew up on this show, in prime time and syndication. Always remembered this version of the theme as SO jazzy, with the bongos especially. THANKS MUCH for posting.

[fromthesidelines]

Incidentally, Procter & Gamble [Cheer, Crest, Camay, Mr. Clean, etc.] was the sole sponsor during the first season. When it looked as if the show was going to be cancelled after season one, executive producer Sheldon Leonard personally went to P&G's headquarters in Cincinnati, begging them to give it another chance. They finally said, "If you can find an alternate sponsor, we'll continue our primary support". He did- Lorillard's Kent cigarettes- and P&G insisted that CBS keep the show on...

[tomservo56954]

@fromthesidelines P&G can be one tough customer...when Lucille Ball was thinking about ending THE LUCY SHOW in 1964, the soap folks demanded CBS renegotiate with Lucy, or they would pull all their advertising from the network. They didn't sponsor her, but among the issues involved was P&G's concern that their show PETTICOAT JUNCTION would be moved into the time slot no longer filled by LUCY. Bottom line--both shows returned for the 1964-65 season at the same time slot.

[fromthesidelines]

This opening title {"publicity still montage"} was seen during the first three months of the series [October- December 1961]. A shortened version- with a slight variation of the theme heard after season two- was seen (after an opening "teaser" scene) during the remainder of season one. Note the publicity photo of Dick at :07; that's the one resketched and shown in the lower left-hand corner in all closing credits seen in network repeats and syndication, instead of the original sponsor's logos.

[jed6271]

Thanks for clarifying the origins of the openings, it has been misquoted on other sources about which openings were used in 1961-62. Interestingly, Earle Hagen once said in a later interview (2000) that he never remembered the "bongo drums" from the Season 1 opening credits when he was asked about it!

[KingPowerlineHOS]

Dick van Dyke is awesome!!! I like him in Mary Poppins and Night at the Muesuem those are definitly my favorite. I wish I was able to see this show. I'm only 13 so that's a real downer :( anyway awesome vid!

[rickybobbychuva]

you can watch a few of the episode here on youtube

[OldTelivisionRocks]

@KingPowerlineHOS able to see this show when it first appeared? or now? Because I've been watching Dick Van Dyke since I was your age (I'm now 17), you can see all seasons on hulu.