Jamie (TV series)
| Jamie | |
|---|---|
Screen shot of opening sequence of Jamie
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| Starring |
Brandon deWilde Ernest Truex Polly Rowles Kathleen Nolan Alice Pearce Eva Marie Saint (Pilot) |
| Theme music composer |
Hugh Martin, Jr. Series Bernie Green, Pilot |
| Opening theme | "Whistle Stop" |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of seasons | 1.2 |
| No. of episodes | 22, plus Pilot |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | David Susskind |
| Producer(s) |
Julian Claman, Series Herbert Brodkin, Pilot |
| Camera setup | Live; Multi-camera; Kinescope |
| Running time | 30 min, approx. |
| Production company(s) | Talent Associates |
| Distributor | American Broadcasting Company (ABC) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC-TV |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | October 5, 1953 – October 4, 1954 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | ABC Album/Plymouth Playhouse (Pilot) |
Jamie is a sitcom television series, created by David Susskind's Talent Associates, that was telecast live in the United States of America by ABC-TV from October 5, 1953, until October 4, 1954. The series was the result of the success of the pilot, an episode of the ABC Album/Plymouth Playhouse entitled Jamie, which aired on April 26, 1953. The pilot cast would return for the series, except that of Eva Marie Saint who would be replaced by Kathleen Nolan.
Star of the show was 11-year-old Brandon deWilde, whose rising fame had catapulted him to national prominence in a period of 3 years. Debuting on Broadway in The Member of the Wedding in 1950, he followed with the film version in 1952. He then received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his 1953 portrayal of the young Joey Starrett in George Stevens' film Shane, his most memorable role.
Jamie was to be aired live and there was some publicity at the time about the problems of a youngster, however gifted, being so deeply involved in the pressures of a weekly series. deWilde's parents had obtained a contract that allowed him to drop out of the series on short notice if he wanted to, or if his parents felt it was impairing his emotional growth.
Jamie ran through the 1953-54 season on ABC, but then 2 episodes into its second season it was abrubtly cancelled. ABC was having trouble with one of the show's sponsors over what was described as "mundane" business matters, having nothing to do with deWilde's age issue.
Although not available on home media, the series pilot and several episodes are known to have survived.
Jamie aired live in black-and-white on ABC in the 7:30 pm Monday timeslot and starred Brandon deWilde, as Jamie, a 7 year-old whose parents had recently died and found himself with no place to unpack his suitcase. Moved from relative to relative, he finally arrives at the home of Aunt Laurie. There he takes on the persona of a modern day Tom Sawyer. He immediately bonds with Grandpa, another forgotten soul, and they share in a number of "adventures" together.
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Wikipedia