(PILOT) "THE SITTER'S BABY" *Spring Byington * Charlie Ruggles * Roberta Shore & Jimmy Hawkins

This clip was from The Golden Age of Television.... entitled "THE SITTER'S BABY"...A proposed Pilot from Screen Gems(Columbia Pictures TV arm).It starred Spring Byington with Alice Backes and Toby Michaels who ran The Westwood Baby Sitting Service. In it Jimmy Hawkins was reunited with Guest star Charlie Ruggles. Jimmy played young Donald Ruggles in one of the first family sitcoms on TV (THE RUGGLES" ABC Network 1949-1952). Jimmy Hawkins was a child actor, most notable Tommy Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life"(1946) After he played Donald Ruggles in "The Ruggles" , then he was signed to play TAGG OAKLEY in the "ANNIE OAKLEY" series ('53-'58) he was on Petticoat Junction for 3 seasons & a regular for 8 seasons on The Donna Reed Show (Mary, Shelley Fabares boyfriend, Scotty '58-'66).He played Elvis Presley's sidekick in 2 MGM Musicals "Girl Happy" and "Spinout". He later became a Motion Picture and TV Producer. Author of 5 books on It's A Wonderful Life.
Little Trivia too...Jimmy & Roberta Shore( her real name was "Jymme Schourop...a very good singer too ) worked together in an episode of OZZIE & HARRIET" entitled "Rick and The Maid Of Honor". Jimmy must have liked the sport coat he's wearing in this clip...you can see it again on You Tube in an episode of The Donna Reed Show(Clip 3)_ "Change Partners & Dance" and Petticoat Junction (Clip 3) "Betty Jo's First Love". But it is a nice looking sport coat. Guess the actors had to supply their own wardrobe.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Spring Byington
• Charlie Ruggles
• Jimmy Hawkins
• Roberta Shore
• Ozzie & Harriet
• Donna Reed Show
• Annie Oakley
• Tagg Oakley
• Elvis
• Girl Happy
• Spinout
• The Ruggles

[goldie0800]

How nice to see Spring Byington and Charlie Ruggles together! Both are among my favorite movie people. Thanks.

[khtyson1]

I like Jimmy Hawkins and Roberta Shore

[fromthesidelines]

This originally appeared on "ALCOA-GOODYEAR THEATER" (which became "AWARD THEATER" in syndication, and "THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION" on A&E in the late '80s)- several episodes doubled as pilots for potential series [but only ONE was sold- "You Should Meet My Sister" (5/16/60), which appeared on CBS as "MY SISTER EILEEN" in the fall of 1960]. This unsold idea, which would have been titled "HERE COMES MELINDA" (Spring's first attempt at a series after "DECEMBER BRIDE"), aired on May 9, 1960.