Father Knows Best
(1954-1960)
30 minutes
Comedy / Family / Sitcom
Created By Ed James
Cast:
Robert Young as James 'Jim' Anderson Sr.
Jane Wyatt as Margaret Anderson
Elinor Donahue as Betty 'Princess' Anderson
Billy Gray as James 'Bud' Anderson Jr.
Lauren Chapin as Kathleen 'Kathy' 'Kitten' Anderson
The sitcom series began on CBS television October 3, 1954. Originally sponsored by Lorillard's Kent cigarettes in its first season, Scott Paper Company became the primary sponsor when the series moved to NBC in the fall of 1955, remaining as sponsor even after it moved back to CBS in September 1958, with Lever Brothers as an alternate sponsor from 1957 through 1960. A total of 203 episodes were produced, running until May 23, 1960.
Father Knows Best was a American radio and television comedy series based around a middle class family who lived in the Midwest. The cast later reunited to make a pair of television movies in 1977. Robert Young was the only actor who worked on the original version of this show on radio and made the transition to television.
Father Knows Best was a comedy about a wholesome family who lived in the Midwestern community of Springfield. The father character, Jim Anderson worked for an insurance company and the plots always centered around Jim coming home from a day at work and together with his wife, Margaret they would try to resolve the issues of everyday family life.
Episodes:
Season One
1. Bud Takes Up the Dance 10/3/1954
2. Lesson in Citizenship 10/10/1954
3. The Motor Scooter 10/17/1954
4. Football Tickets 10/24/1954
5. Live My Own Life 10/31/1954
6. Grandpa Jim's Rejuvenation 11/7/1954
7. Bud's Encounter With the Law 11/14/1954
8. Thanksgiving Day 11/21/1954
9. Second Honeymoon 11/28/1954
10. Typical Father 12/5/1954
11. Margaret Goes Dancing 12/12/1954
12. The Christmas Story 12/19/1954
13. Sparrow in the Window 12/26/1954
14. Boy's Week 1/2/1955
15. A Friend of Old George's 1/9/1955
16. Bud the Snob 1/16/1955
17. The Promised Playhouse 1/23/1955
18. Jim the Farmer 1/30/1955
19. Father of the Year 2/6/1955
20. The Mink Coat 2/13/1955
21. The Matchmaker 2/20/1955
22. Bud the Bridesmaid 2/27/1955
23. Proud Father 3/6/1955
24. Father Delivers the Papers 3/13/1955
25. No Partiality 3/20/1955
26. Close Decision 3/27/1955
Season Two
27. Art of Salesmanship 8/31/1955
28. Father's Private Life 9/7/1955
29. Lessons in Civics 9/14/1955
30. First Disillusionment 9/21/1955
31. Woman in the House 9/28/1955
32. New Girl at School 10/5/1955
33. Kathy Makes Magic 10/12/1955
34. Advantage to Betty 10/19/1955
35. The Big Test 10/26/1955
36. Father Is a Dope 11/2/1955
37. Spirit of Youth 11/9/1955
38. Bud, the Ladykiller 11/16/1955
39. Margaret's Premonition 11/30/1955
40. Stage to Yuma 12/7/1955
41. Bad Influence 12/14/1955
42. Betty Hates Carter 12/28/1955
43. Jim, the Tyrant 1/4/1956
44. Betty's Brother 1/11/1956
45. Betty Earns a Formal 1/18/1956
46. The House Painter 1/25/1956
47. Bud, the Wallflower 2/1/1956
48. The Bus to Nowhere 2/8/1956
49. Kathy, the Indian Giver 2/15/1956
50. The Historical Andersons 2/22/1956
51. The Grass is Greener 2/29/1956
52. The Persistent Guest 3/7/1956
53. Family Reunion 3/14/1956
54. Family Dines Out 3/28/1956
55. Bud, the Boxer 4/4/1956
56. Betty, Girl Engineer 4/11/1956
57. The Martins and the Coys 4/18/1956
58. Dilemma for Margaret 4/25/1956
59. Hero Father 5/2/1956
60. Father, the Naturalist 5/9/1956
61. The Ten Dollar Question 5/16/1956
62. Adopted Daughter 5/23/1956
63. Betty's Graduation 5/30/1956
Season Three
64. No Apron Strings 9/12/1956
65. Never in Twain 9/19/1956
66. Betty Goes to College 9/26/1956
67. Man About Town 10/3/1956
68. The Homing Pigeon 10/10/1956
69. Spaghetti for Margaret 10/17/1956
70. Betty's Birthday 10/24/1956
71. Bud, the Millionaire 10/31/1956
72. The Old Days 11/7/1956
73. Whistle Bait 11/14/1956
74. The Great Guy 11/21/1956
75. The Family Goes to New York 11/28/1956
76. Betty Goes Steady 12/5/1956
77. The Good Prospect 12/12/1956
78. The Angel's Sweater 12/19/1956
79. The Promising Young Man 12/26/1956
80. Margaret Hires a Gardener 1/2/1957
81. Swiss Family Anderson 1/9/1957
82. Brief Holiday 1/16/1957
83. The Lawn Party 1/23/1957
84. Short Wave 1/30/1957
85. Carnival 2/6/1957
86. Betty and the Jet Pilot 2/13/1957
87. Trip to Hillsborough 2/20/1957
88. An Evening to Remember 2/27/1957
89. Bud Buys a Car 3/13/1957
90. Safety First 3/20/1957
91. Bud, the Hero 3/27/1957
92. Betty, the Track Star 4/3/1957
93. The Spelling Bee 4/17/1957
94. Bud, the Philanthropist 4/24/1957
95. Baby in the House 5/1/1957
96. Class Prophecy 5/8/1957
97. The Art of Romance 5/15/1957
98. Margaret Disowns Her Family 5/22/1957
99. Grandpa Retires 5/29/1957
100. Shoot for the Moon 6/5/1957
Season Four
101. Follow the Leader 9/25/1957
102. The Awkward Hero 10/2/1957
103. The Good Neighbor 10/9/1957
104. Bud, the Executive 10/16/1957
105. Sentenced to Happiness 10/23/1957
106. Mother Goes to School 10/30/1957
107. The Indispensable Man 11/6/1957
108. Kathy's Big Chance 11/13/1957
109. Margaret Learns to Drive 11/20/1957
110. The Way of a Dictator 12/4/1957
111. Mr. Beal Meets His Match 12/11/1957
112. Kathy Makes a Wish 12/25/1957
113. Man With a Plan 1/1/1958
114. Big Sister 1/8/1958
115. Calypso Kid 1/15/1958
116. Father's Biography 1/22/1958
117. The Rivals 1/29/1958
118. Bud, the Mind Reader 2/5/1958
119. Margaret's Other Family 2/12/1958
120. The Trial 2/19/1958
121. Revenge is Sweet 2/26/1958
122. Country Cousin 3/5/1958
123. Poor Old Dad 3/12/1958
124. Betty's Crusade 3/19/1958
125. Young Love 3/26/1958
126. Tell It to Mom 4/2/1958
127. A Friend in Need 4/16/1958
128. A Medal for Margaret 4/23/1958
129. The Weaker Sex 4/30/1958
130. Jim, the Answer Man 5/14/1958
131. Bud Quits School 5/21/1958
132. A Matter of Pride 6/4/1958
133. Betty Finds a Cause 6/11/1958
Season Five
134. Vine Covered Cottage 9/15/1958
135. Be Kind to Bud Week 9/22/1958
136. Kathy's Romance 9/29/1958
137. Voice From the Past 10/6/1958
138. Frank's Family Trees 10/13/1958
139. Always Plan Ahead 10/20/1958
140. Second Wedding 10/27/1958
141. Bud, the Caretaker 11/3/1958
142. Betty, the Pioneer Woman 11/10/1958
143. Fair Exchange 11/17/1958
144. Bud, the Snob 11/24/1958
145. Margaret Wins a Car 12/1/1958
146. The Great Experiment 12/8/1958
147. The Christmas Story 12/15/1958
148. The Basketball Coach 12/22/1958
149. Kathy, Girl Executive 12/29/1958
150. The Good Samaritan 1/5/1959
151. The Ideal Father 1/12/1959
152. Big Shot Bud 1/19/1959
153. Hard Luck Leo 1/26/1959
154. Bud, the Campus Romeo 2/2/1959
155. Crisis Over a Kiss 2/9/1959
156. Kathy Grows Up 2/16/1959
157. A Man of Merit 2/23/1959
158. Betty Makes a Choice 3/2/1959
159. It's a Small World 3/9/1959
160. Two Loves Has Bud 3/16/1959
161. An Extraordinary Woman 3/23/1959
162. The Art of Romance 3/30/1959
163. Formula for Happiness 4/6/1959
164. Bud and the Debutante 4/13/1959
165. The Promised Playhouse 4/20/1959
166. The Meanest Professor 4/27/1959
167. Live My Own Life 5/4/1959
168. Bud Has A Problem 5/11/1959
169. The Great Anderson Mystery 5/18/1959
170. Margaret Goes Dancing 5/25/1959
171. The Gold Turnip 6/1/1959
Season Six
172. A Day in the Country 10/5/1959
173. Bud Branches Out 10/12/1959
174. The Gardener's Big Day 10/19/1959
175. The Imposter 10/26/1959
176. Bud Plays It Safe 11/2/1959
177. Bicycle Trip for Two 11/9/1959
178. First Disillusionment 11/16/1959
179. Margaret's Old Flame 11/23/1959
180. Kathy Becomes a Girl 11/30/1959
181. Bud, the Willing Worker 12/7/1959
182. Turn the Other Cheek 12/14/1959
183. Good Joke on Mom 12/28/1959
184. Betty's Double 1/4/1960
185. Father, the Naturalist 1/11/1960
186. Bud Hides Behind a Skirt 1/18/1960
187. Togetherness 1/25/1960
188. Second Best 2/1/1960
189. Kathy's Big Deception 2/8/1960
190. Cupid Knows Best 2/15/1960
191. The Big Test 2/22/1960
192. Jim's Big Surprise 2/29/1960
193. Time to Retire 3/7/1960
194. Bud, the Speculator 3/14/1960
195. The $500 Letter 3/21/1960
196. Adopted Daughter 3/28/1960
197. Family Contest 4/4/1960
198. Love and Learn 4/11/1960
199. Blind Date 4/18/1960
200. Betty's Career Problem 4/25/1960
201. Bud Lives It Up 5/9/1960
202. Not His Type 5/16/1960
203. Betty's Graduation 5/23/1960
Father Knows Best - Intro
