Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! This week, I’m sharing the results of last month’s poll. The question was, “Which neglected ’50s and ’60s shows would you MOST like to see covered here?” These are the results — from 340 total votes and an estimated 82 voters…

• I DREAM OF JEANNIE (32)
• THE GEORGE BURNS & GRACIE ALLEN SHOW (31)
• THE PHIL SILVERS SHOW (30)
• THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW (29)
• THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (28)
• THE MUNSTERS (26)
• THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS (25 + 1 write-in)
• LEAVE IT TO BEAVER (21)
• GET SMART (19)
• THE DORIS DAY SHOW (16)
• THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW (15)
• CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU? (15)
• AMOS ‘N’ ANDY (14)
• MY FAVORITE MARTIAN (10)
• THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW (7)
• MCHALE’S NAVY (5)
• GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C. (3)
• Write-In: THE GHOST & MRS. MUIR (3)
• Write-In: I MARRIED JOAN (1)
• Write-In: TOPPER (1)
• Write-In: DECEMBER BRIDE (1)
• Write-In: THE PATTY DUKE SHOW (1)
• Write-In: PETTICOAT JUNCTION (1)
• Write-In: THE BILL DANA SHOW (1)
• Write-In: THE CARA WILLIAMS SHOW (1)
• Write-In: JULIA (1)
• Write-In: THE GOVERNOR AND J.J. (1)
• Write-In: A radio request – THE PHIL HARRIS-ALICE FAYE SHOW (1)

What does this mean? Well, I have yet to make any definitive decisions on what you’ll see covered here when we conclude our look at the ’90s and return to the ’50s and ’60s — sometime near the end of 2019 — but I do know that I will probably be featuring less than half of the above. I’d love to cover them all, but time makes that impossible… The seven most popular shows (bolded) are probably the safest bets, and I’d like to give Wildcard treatment to The Bill Dana Show and The Governor And J.J., at the very least. Stay tuned for more soon…

Now, as a thank you to all who voted — and even those who didn’t — I have another holiday treat: an artifact not seen since it was initially broadcast on Christmas Eve 1951… It’s an episode of Studs’ Place, a little known dramedy starring Studs Terkel that originated live from Chicago’s WNBQ starting in late 1949. It became a national program in the spring of 1950 — first on NBC, and then that fall on ABC, where it ran until 1952… Set in a Chicago eatery, Studs’ Place was a semi-scripted, semi-improv’d example of the “Chicago School” of Television, which prized intimacy and spontaneity — but not to the detriment of truth. You’ll notice in watching this installment — guest starring Terkel’s pal Mahalia Jackson (in what may be her network TV debut) — that the series doesn’t play for either belly laughs or edge-of-your-seat dramatics, making it part of a genre that mainstream audiences couldn’t readily categorize… Sadly, the show is today just a footnote in the career of Studs Terkel, a pioneer of Chicago television. That’s why I’m happy to bring back the December 24, 1951 broadcast of Studs’ Place!

For subscribers interested in obtaining a copy of this program — along with nine other episodes and the 1961 reunion — please comment below and let me know!

Come back next week for another Wildcard post! And stay tuned Tuesday for Just Shoot Me!