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Have you seen or heard of this series!?

“Studio 57” was an anthology series that aired on the DuMont network, September 1954 to September 1955, then in syndication for 1 year. This series, sponsored by Heinz 57 & produced by Revue Studios, is notable for being the only DuMont series aired outside of North America (in this case, Australia). The episode entitled “It’s A Small World” served as the pilot for “Leave It To Beaver”. Actors who appeared in different episodes on DuMont include Hugh O’Brian, Natalie Wood, Robert Armstrong, Jean Byron, Lon Chaney Jr, Andy Clyde, Carolyn Jones, Brian Keith, Charles Coburn, Olive Sturgess & DeForest Kelley.

The DuMont network was launched 08/15/1946 & dissolved 08/06/1956; since it didn’t have the backing of radio beginnings, it lagged behind competitors such as CBS. Yet, it was creative & innovative. For instance, it was the 1st network to have Midwest TV stations receive live programing from stations on the East Coast, & vice versa. Other 1sts include: film production for TV (1944’s ‘Talk Fast, Mister’); situation comedy (“Mary Kay & Johnny”) & soap opera (“Faraway Hil”). The network’s series “Calvacade Of Stars” was hosted by Jackie Gleason, who starred in “The Honeymooners”. All 3 original Dumont-owned stations are still operating. Washington DC’s WTTG is the only 1 with the original call letters; it, along with New York’s WABD (became WNEW & now WNYW) are with FOX. The Pittsburgh affiliate, then WDTV, was renamed KDKA (after the radio station of the same name) by Westinghouse, which then acquired CBS in 1995.