Mister Peepers - An Early and Nearly Forgotten Television Comedy

by Guy Belleranti

One of the earliest TV sitcoms featured Wally Cox (you may remember him from his appearances on Hollywood Squares or as the voice of Underdog) in the title role of Mister Peepers. The thirty minute program ran on NBC from 1952 to 1955, and was shot live.

A studious and nerdy looking man (before the term nerdy existed), Robinson Peepers was the science teacher at Jefferson Junior High School. He wore horned-rim glasses and was a meek, gentle-hearted man who cared about others, and showed it in his actions. Mr. Peepers tried to instill pride in his students, earning the love and respect of them in the process.

Most episodes involved Mr. Peepers getting involved in problems of various sorts, and then having to find his way out of them. Though he was a shy man Mr. Peepers also had an assertive side, and he could stand his ground when necessary. By standing his ground and/or by using some clever and resourceful thinking he was always able to solve the problem by episode’s end.

Cox won an Emmy for his performance in the role, though it is said that he later complained about how the part typecast him.

Other people to appear on program included:

- A young Tony Randall as Harvey Weskitt, co-teacher and more worldly friend of Mr. Peepers

- Patricia Benoit as Nancy Remington, the school nurse and romantic interest of Mr. Robinson Peepers

- Marion Lorne as the dotty Mrs. Gurney, wife of the principal Gabriel Gurney (played by Joseph Foley). Lorne also played the smothering mother of Robert Walker’s character in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Strangers on a Train and, in the 1960’s, the bumbling Aunt Clara on Bewitched

- Georgann Johnson as Marge, Harvey Weskitt’s love interest and eventual wife

The program had charm and featured good writing and performances. However, like many other live programs of the era, it was only preserved on kinescope. Thus, the copies that do survive have a poorer image and sound quality than some of its peers, i.e. programs like I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners. Still, many episodes of Mister Peepers are available on DVD.

more articles by Guy Belleranti

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