Remembering “Mama”

 

by Guy Belleranti


One of the popular television programs from 1949 to early 1957 was Mama (a.k.a. I Remember Mama). The program sprang from characters and situations detailed in the book Mama’s Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes, and from the subsequent play and wonderful 1948 movie I Remember Mama. 

Mama was a mixture of drama and comedy. The setting was San Francisco in the early 1900’s, and the characters were the Norwegian-American Hansen family and some of their close relatives. Stories were seen through the eyes and remembrances of eldest daughter Katrin, an aspiring writer who records activities in her diary. 

The program opener had Katrin saying: "I remember the big white house on Elm Street, and my little sister Dagmar, and my big brother Nels, and Papa. But most of all, I Remember Mama."

Mama, you see, is the warm-hearted and wise guiding light of the working-class family. She was played by Peggy Wood (who was later nominated for an Oscar for her role as Mother Abbess (Mother Superior) in The Sound of Music). 

Katrin was portrayed by Rosemary Rich. 

Some of the other main characters and the people who played them included:

Lars “Papa” Hansen played by Judson Laire

Nels Hansen played by Dick Van Patton

Youngest sibling Dagmar was played by Iris Mann (1949), Robin Morgan (1950 - 1956) and Toni Campbell (1957)

Aunt Jenny played by Ruth Gates 

Uncle “Gunnar” Gunnerson played by Carl Frank 

Aunt Trina Gunnerson played by Alice Frost 

The program ran on CBS, and, except for the final 13 episodes, was aired live. Kinescope recordings of the live broadcasts were prepared for the showings on the West Coast, however, these recordings aren’t usable for the type of repetitive re-runs seen in other older programs like I Love Lucy, Leave It to Beaver, etc. Thus, today Mama is pretty much forgotten. That’s too bad, because by all accounts it was an excellent and realistic program featuring warmth, comedy and drama. 


more articles by  Guy Belleranti


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