My Little Margie

Gale Storm starred in this series for three years. The show was originally a summer replacement for "I Love Lucy". It ran for nine episodes and then was picked up for the fall season. Charles Farrell co-starred as Margie's father Vern Albright. This was one of the rare sitcoms of the time that did not include a traditional family. Vern is a widower and he spends much of his time in the series trying to keep Margie away from boyfriends he deems unsuitable. Margie, on the other hand is frequently trying to keep Vern away from gold-digging women, attracted to the attractive Vern and his money. This is a charming series that really made a star out of Gale Storm. Other fun people in the cast include Hillary Brooke as Vern's sometime girlfriend Roberta Townsend, Willie Best as Charlie, the elevator operator in the Albright's apartment building, Clarence Kolb as Mr. Honeywell, Vern's boss(also the only hearing-impaired actor I've ever seen to appear on-screen wearing a hearing aid), and perhaps best of all, Gertrude Hoffman as Mrs. Odetts, the daffy oldster who lives across the hall from the Albrights. Check this show out. It's Fun.

Have to give My Little Margie a 10 as I find myself laughing out loud several times per episode. Something about a top notch cast of talented / seasoned veterans willing to take prat-falls, being chased by monkeys and donning disguises strictly for the sake of laughter that brings out a refreshing charm. Every character is genuinely funny and love the way each one at times can be pivotal to the storyline or just appear supplying funny fuel to the shenanigans. Plus the show features a multi-generational cast of silly heads who eventually all get into hot water, eat crow and make situations worse by trying to be smart. Even though these characters may be stereotypical, knucklehead father, grouchy cheapskate boss, goofy unemployed boyfriend, feisty old neighbor (the amazing Gertrude Hoffman as Mrs. Odettes), suspicious girlfriend and Margie (always in need of money and a larger allowance) I find these characters and the show itself more honest and well rounded than most TV shows broadcast today .....including dramas. Seems many shows today are focused on it lead stars, same age group, with little character support from others. My Little Margie mixes it up and provides laughter from a creative ensemble of goof-balls and high spirited interaction amongst them. Priceless joy and enjoying these airings on RTV.

They don't make them this sweet and pure anymore. Even "Family Matters' and "Full House" weren't as innocent as this show.

This starred former "B movie" queen Gale Storm and major Silent Screen star Charles Farrell. They make quite a TV pair those two, almost like a husband and wive, but they're father and daughter. Get this, they spent ALL their vacations together which is kind of weird even back in the 50's.

Gale Storm plays Margie Albright. Margie is nearly 30, not married, no job, lives at home, AND still getting an allowance! She spends her time whining about how little money she gets, scheming to find ways of making more money or helping her Dad out of a jam. All this usually gets her into a jam.

Her Father, Vern Albright, is played by Charles Farrell. He works for Honeywell & Todd, an investment firm. Vern is always getting the firm new clients and trying to become a partner in the business. Mr Honeywell will not let that happen. How about Mr Todd?? You never get to see him. There is a cast of characters to add to the fun. Hilary Brooks(The Enchanted Cottage, Fuller Brush Man,...) as Vern's on/off girlfriend, Don Hayden as Margie's on/off boyfriend, and Gertrude Hoffman as crazy old Mrs. Odetts.

I use to watch this show when I was a kid. They showed repeats of it after church on Sundays. I thought it was neat how they started off the show with their pictures talking. My husband thinks the show is one of the best ever made and laughs like crazy when we watch his "My Little Margie" VHS box sets(!). I think that the show is an interesting and sweet, and that my husband needs to get out more......

In hindsight, I think "My Little Margie" was a TV sit com version of the Frederick March and Teresa Wright characters in "The Best Years of Our Lives" (if Al Stevenson and Peggy had been on speed). Charles Farrel played a vice president at Honeywell and Todd Investment Counselors. He played Vernon Albright as a guy who would really prefer to apply his considerable financial expertise in the back room with the financial ledgers, but who always seemed to find that his main job was in making a good impression on the rich matron client of the week so that she would give her account or keep her account at Honeywell and Todd. The more he would try to maintain a proper image, the more Margie would get him into some madcap situation in which they were doing things like running through a haunted castle and swinging fireplace pokers at strange characters in medieval armor who were emerging from a huge fireplace and clanking down the hallways. Situations would reach a fever pitch of hysteria; but as Gale Storm always pointed out to Farrel at the end, "It all worked out. And Dad always shrugged with a sigh of a smile, "Well, that's my Little Margie."

Someone said that Margie was almost 30 and still living at home. Actually Gale Storm was playing a 21 year old "taking care" of her "old" father, played by silent screen star, Charles Farrell.

I've bought three of the DVD boxes so far and have enjoyed these episodes in between watching the antics of Joan Davis in "I Married Joan." I enjoy these shows much better than the junk they call comedies on today's TV.

In "Margie," I especially love the episodes with Gertrude Hoffman, who lives across the hall from the Albrights and plays Margie's 'Ethel Mertz' even though she is probably in her 80s! She's a hip old lady who'd look quite comfortable riding a hog with a Hell's Angel.

Once Margie said to Mrs. Odets (Hoffman), "Mrs. Odets, you still have that "certain something" that draws men to you." Odets smiles slyly and says, "Yes, Margie, but I've had it a long, LONG time."

Gertrude Hoffman brings to mind her wonderful performance in the movie "Caged," where she played "Millie, the old lifer." After the prison matron draws her hand back to slap Millie, she stares up at her and says, "Hit me, and I'll put your lights out." And she MEANT it! Why she wasn't nominated for an Oscar for that I'll never know.

Gale Storm is still living as this is being written. If she ever comes to IMDb, I want her to know that I loved her on both of her series, this one and "Oh, Susanna!" Also, I have on video, her surprise by Ralph Edwards when he featured her on This Is Your Life. Gale, you were beautiful and a delight to watch.

Trivia: "My Little Margie" was a summer replacement for "I Love Lucy" and was such a hit with the public, the network picked it up and gave it its own time slot.