December Bride and Pete and Gladys – Two Forgotten Comedies
 

by Guy Belleranti

December Bride was a comedy that ran for five seasons on CBS. Beginning its run in 1954 the series centered on a charming and spry widow named Lily Ruskin (played by Spring Byington).

Lily lived with her daughter Ruth (played by Frances Rafferty) and son-in-law Matt (played by Dean Miller). Unlike the usual stereotype Lily was a much-loved mother-in-law. Wanting Lily to be happy, both Ruth and Matt often tried to find her the proper distinguished husband.

Lily’s friend Hilda Crocker (played by Verna Felton) also tried setting Lily up with suitable men.

Another important character was the next door neighbor, Pete Porter. Played by Harry Morgan (of television’s Dragnet and M*A*S*H), Pete was a sarcastic and wise cracking man who often complained about his nagging, scatter-brained wife, Gladys. Interestingly, Gladys was never seen on the series, just heard about from Pete.

When December Bride ended its run after five successful seasons in 1959 the television comedy Pete and Gladys was spun off as a new series. Harry Morgan reprised his role as Pete Porter, and Gladys was suddenly seen in the flesh, being played by comedian Cara Williams.

As it turned out Gladys wasn’t a nagging woman at all. She was more in the Lucy Ricardo vein, a sincere though scatter-brained red-head.

Also appearing on Pete and Gladys was Verna Felton, reprising her Hilda Crocker character from December Bride, and Gale Gordon as Gladys’ Uncle Paul.

Pete and Gladys never achieved the popularity of December Bride and lasted only two seasons, ending in 1962. Still, it was one of the first television series to be spun off from a previous program.

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