One thing I've noticed about entertainment programs of the 50s/60s is that, although religion in general was more commonly (and positively) presented than today, rarely were specific churches mentioned. When church services were shown (like in a Christmas episode), they were generic mainline Protestant. Were there any entertainment shows of this era that mentioned specific denominations? And were evangelical/Catholic/Jewish services ever portrayed on TV at this time?
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Religion on classic sitcoms/dramas
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The only Jewish service I can remember was Buddy's Bar Mitzvah on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". And no, a specific denomination was never shown; For example, Andy, Barney and the gang attended Mayberry's "All Souls Church". A little off the subject, but "The Andy Griffith Show" is the only place I can remember a real fraternal organization being mentioned (Masons); Other shows had made up groups like the Raccoon Lodge, The Mystic Knights of The Sea, etc.
If/when religion came up on cop shows, cops were mostly shown as Catholic. Dragnet's second* Christmas episode depicted the search of a missing "Baby Jesus" from a Catholic Church's nativity scene. This episode was re-shot for Dragnet's second series in the late 60's. In another Dragnet episode, when two officers are shot, a priest is called to administer last rites and counsel the officers' wives.
*The original Christmas episode was about kid getting killed by a gun given as a Christmas present and Joe Friday's "Jesus Speech" message: "You don't give a kid a gun for Christmas." The gun rights crowd got stirred up and the episode was replaced with the second Christmas episode.
*The original Christmas episode was about kid getting killed by a gun given as a Christmas present and Joe Friday's "Jesus Speech" message: "You don't give a kid a gun for Christmas." The gun rights crowd got stirred up and the episode was replaced with the second Christmas episode.
You mean there were many gun control activists 60 years ago?
I assume you mean when the original "Dragnet" went into syndication.
ixnay
I mean in subsequent Christmas seasons during the original network run, when the "Big Little Jesus" episode was repeated. The "22 Rifle for Christmas" episode was run on radio in 1949 and repeated three times without incident but stirred up controversy when it was done on TV. After that both radio and TV Dragnets ran the "Big Little Jesus" each year. The "22 Rifle for Christmas" is available on DVD and both radio and TV versions are on "You Tube."
The Bunkers (All in the Family) apparently occasionally darkened the door of the church Rev. Felcher (Rev. Fletcher. Felcher! Whatever) pastored, and Archie gave a eulogy for Jerome "Stretch" Cunningham at a synagogue, not having learned of his friend's Judaism until after Stretch's passing.
Their next door neighbors, Irene and Frank Lorenzo, were Catholic. Father Majeski had a recurring role. Archie was involved in a traffic accident and insisted on a Jewish lawyer and the firm of Rabinowitz and Rabinowitz continued to represent him through "Archie Bunker's Place." The Meathead was a non-practicing or "lapsed" Catholic, and his uncle insisted on a Catholic wedding.
All in the Family did mention religion quite a bit.
Edith was an Episcopalian
Mike was explicitly atheist, and Gloria didn't seem interested in religion either
The Lorenzo's were Catholic
Multiple characters were Jewish, most notably Stephanie
The obvious question is what was Archie. He didn't like going to church with Edith (or her pastor), which suggested he wasn't Episcopalian himself.
Edith was an Episcopalian
Mike was explicitly atheist, and Gloria didn't seem interested in religion either
The Lorenzo's were Catholic
Multiple characters were Jewish, most notably Stephanie
The obvious question is what was Archie. He didn't like going to church with Edith (or her pastor), which suggested he wasn't Episcopalian himself.
50 years ago next month, Batman was nearly married to Marsha, Queen of Diamonds--until trusty butler Alfred came up with the incredibly implausible excuse that he was already married--to Aunt Harriet (with her face hidden). It was a church wedding.
Doubtful. Episcopal priests are not called "reverend" except in formal introductions when the full name is used. An Episcopal priest would be called "Father Felcher."
This message board thead notes that Edith did identify as Episcopalian, but also mentions how unlikely that identification is based on other parts of the series.
Sitcom character references and backstory references are filled with more contradictions than - well - the Bible. That said, people often self-identify with a religion they no longer practice. Or they attend a church of another denomination for various reasons. Even the Queen is Anglican (Episcopalian) in England and Church of Scotland (Presbyterian - Calvinist) in Scotland. The Episcopal Church is generally regarded as "liberal" and elite. I can imagine Archie balking at that and at high church - Gregorian liturgy, so Edith attends the Rev. Felcher's church (with which Edith also self-identified) to go with Archie.
the waltons
The obvious ones:
The Waltons are Baptist. It's mentioned numerous times, and their denomination is a large part of their lives.
Sister Bertrille in The Flying Nun is Catholic.
In both the book and TV series Christy, minister David Grantland is Presbyterian.
The obvious ones:
The Waltons are Baptist. It's mentioned numerous times, and their denomination is a large part of their lives.
Sister Bertrille in The Flying Nun is Catholic.
In both the book and TV series Christy, minister David Grantland is Presbyterian.
Samantha Stevens and Endora were Wiccan.
On MASH Father Mulcahy was Catholic, but he ministered to whoever came through the MASH unit. Hawkeye was an agnostic. It was mentioned in some episodes that Radar and Col. Potter were Methodist and Major Winchester was Presbyterian. Depending on the episode Klinger was atheist or Muslim, although it wasn't clear at times whether he was serious or if it was just during one of his attempts at a section 8. In most other cases the religions of other main characters wasn't mentioned.
As I recall, John Sr. wasn't all that sold, having to be cajoled to attend with the rest of the family and even walking out on the sermon in one episode.
On "Frasier," Lilith was Jewish and Frasier and Lilith's son Frederick was raised in the faith. There was a hilarious episode in which Frasier thought he was speaking Hebrew at Frederick's Bar Mitzvah but was actually speaking Vulcan!
No, he was speaking Klingon.
Also on "Cheers," Woody was Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) and Kelly was Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the conflict almost broke up their marriage. Frasier said he was Episcopalian and expressed his resentment of how Lilith only allowed Frederick to be exposed to her religious background, not his. But he told Woody he would have to "give in" to Kelly on everything if he ever wanted to see her naked again.
here are some more
I don't know if the Ingalls' religion was ever specifically stated in either the Little House books or the TV series, but the real Laura Ingalls Wilder was a Congregationalist. In the TV series, the families are shown at services a number of times.
On a related note, Dabbs Greer, who played Rev. Alden in Little House, was always playing ministers. He married Mike and Carol in the pilot episode of The Brady Bunch.
It's been years since I've seen Father Dowling Mysteries. He was always working on cases and I don't remember if we ever saw him actually say Mass!
Rev. Timothy Johnson was a regular character on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, but even though I've seen all the episodes a number of times, I don't know if his denomination was ever specified.
A short-lived TV show I enjoyed in the 1990s was called Nothing Sacred, about an inner-city parish that remarkably had two priests!
And your useless trivia for the day: Barbie is said to be Lutheran, probably because she is from Wisconsin. (I am not making this up!)
I don't know if the Ingalls' religion was ever specifically stated in either the Little House books or the TV series, but the real Laura Ingalls Wilder was a Congregationalist. In the TV series, the families are shown at services a number of times.
On a related note, Dabbs Greer, who played Rev. Alden in Little House, was always playing ministers. He married Mike and Carol in the pilot episode of The Brady Bunch.
It's been years since I've seen Father Dowling Mysteries. He was always working on cases and I don't remember if we ever saw him actually say Mass!
Rev. Timothy Johnson was a regular character on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, but even though I've seen all the episodes a number of times, I don't know if his denomination was ever specified.
A short-lived TV show I enjoyed in the 1990s was called Nothing Sacred, about an inner-city parish that remarkably had two priests!
And your useless trivia for the day: Barbie is said to be Lutheran, probably because she is from Wisconsin. (I am not making this up!)
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