The People's Choice

I was a little girl when I watched this program. Like many sitcoms from this period, it knew how to be cute and clever without falling back on tired innuendos. I remember that I enjoyed it, and I even remembered the names of the main characters, but most of all, I was in love with Cleo. She was cuddly and adorable and just gorgeous. I would love to see them again, but I've heard rumors that many of the episodes have been lost. I hope this is not true. My dad actually got me a Basset Hound puppy. We called him Leo, and he was a great dog who I still remember very fondly, especially since he was the last thing my dad ever gave me before his sudden, untimely death. It was also my introduction to Jackie Cooper, best known as a child actor until this point.

I used to watch The People's Choice reruns in the '60's when I was a kid. I loved it then, partly because I loved the funny things Cleo, the basset hound, had to say. Since I haven't watched the show as an adult, I can't say how I would like it now, but the cutesy romance and the basset hound grabbed the attention of a 12 year old. At the time I thought Jackie Cooper was a hotty, too. I loved to watch the young couple trying to put one over on dear old dad. I didn't really understand why they couldn't tell him they were married, but I guess I didn't let it worry me much. I understand that the shows are in public domain, now, and I'm trying to locate the complete series on DVD.

This is a fun show from the mid-50's. As far as I know there is only a 5 episode DVD available, however, there may be "copies" of all the episodes available from various vendors on the internet. Cleo the basset hound is hilarious with a personality similar to Droopy the Dog. For whatever reason this series seems to have been forgotten which is a shame. Jackie Cooper top notch as he was in Hennesey. Patricia Breslin and Paul Maxey (the mayor) standout as well. You may not know John Stephenson by name but you will recognize his voice when you hear it if you watched Hanna-Barbara cartoons. The voice of Cleo is Mary Jane Croft who many will remember as "Mary Jane" from The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy.

Sock Miller was a nice young man, straight out of "Dear Andrew". His basset hound Cleo gave him advice, and it was a very funny show. I wish TVLAND would replay it.Mary Jane Croft, was the voice of Cleo, and many people know her from her being Lucille Ball's second sidekick after Vivian Vance.

Okay, it was the fifties. You couldn't suggest that attractive, favorable characters, you leads, could be having unmarried sex. But wait! Suppose they're *secretly* married! Then it's okay that they sneak off and do things that don't get explained, but provide opportunity for comedy as they perpetually are almost getting caught.