October 1, 1952…’This Is Your Life’ Debuts On NBC
October 1, 1952…’This Is Your Life’ Debuts On NBC
‘This Is Your Life’ had its genesis in radio as a good natured gesture on the ‘Truth or Consequences’ show in 1946. General Omar Bradley asked Ralph Edwards to do something to help returning World War II veterans, especially paraplegics. He said they were depressed and reluctant to see anyone, including their families. Ralph’s ingenious solution was to profile a returning hero on his radio program, which created a “voice” for all veterans. Lawrence Tranter was selected as the first honoree. His story was told by surprising him with people from his past – family, friends, school teachers, and others in an emotion-filled episode. Knowing Tranter had ambitions to be a watch repair technician, the show arranged for him to attend the Bulova School of Watchmaking in New York.
‘This Is Your Life’ began its official TV run on October 1, 1952 with the life of Laura Stone Marr, mother of actor Milburn Stone who we best remember as “Doc” on Gunsmoke. An instant hit on NBC, the show virtually stopped America in its tracks every Wednesday night and ran till 1961.
This was among the first NBC series to originate from California, so in order to get this on the air in the east in early prime time the show had to start in late afternoon with a kinescope broadcast for the west coast. The reason the east rarely ran a kine was that most of the nation’s population was there…the most viewers got the best quality.
The photos below are from the 1958 Francis Farmer episode and were taken by the father of Jim Early. Thanks to Jim for sharing them with us as these are the only known color photos of the show. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
Bobby, do you know which studio this originated from?
Great photo! My grandfather (Phil Davis) was the writer for T or C and TIYL.
Wow!
The “Frances” movie, made by Mel Brooks’s production company, plays fast and loose with the facts (like most “biopics”). The Farmer episode of “This Is Your Life” was included in a rerun package on A&E in the ’80s, and is presumably on the trading circuit.
Frances Farmer moved,to Indianapolis sometime around this time and hosted an afternoon movie program. It aired on what was then NBC affiliate, WFBM channel 6. Her live hosted segments were shown in color with their one TK-41. WFBM became WRTV back in the 70’s and became an ABC affiliate.
This moment is portrayed in the 1982 Jessica Lang film on Farmer’s life, “Francis.” It’s after Farmer’s breakdown and mental hospital stay – very chilling.