The People's Choice

Patricia Breslin, I loved you. Sure, it was puppy love, but what do you expect? I was only 2 to 5 years old during the original broadcast of "People's Choice," but I was precocious. And besides, I mainly watched you in re-runs from the NYC television stations in the early 1950s, so I was probably at least 6.

And then there was your co-staring role in "Crooked Road," on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, a show I will never forget, along with Walther Mathau as the crooked deputy. By the time you appeared on The Twilight Zone, season 4, "No Time Like the Past," I was truly ready to appreciate your maternal charms. You were the mother I always wished I had had.

Now, when I happen upon a vision of you on a wonderful old television time capsule, it as though I were in love with you all over for the first time. I wonder how many thousands, nay millions, of once young American males feel the same way about you?

You, Patricia Breslin, are my ideal, the virginal girl of my pre- pubescent fantasies, a woman I shall always seek, and never find, except in my dreams.

Unless, of course, I find a way to travel back in time. Somewhere. In time. Must go back. Focus! Concentrate! Ohio. Or is it Willoughby? Whatever.

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.

Jackie Cooper stars as New City councilman Socrates "Sock" Miller. Patricia Breslin plays Mandy Peoples, daughter of New City's Mayor, who has her eyes set romantically on Sock. Her father is very much against this relationship as he believes Sock is a bit too unstable to provide Mandy a decent future. Sock lives in a trailer court with his Aunt Gus who supports the relationship with Mandy. Other regulars characters include Sock's mooching service buddy Rollo and Crutcher, the former councilman and rival for Mandy that Sock beat in the election. The writing is clever, the cast is very good and it's all given a little extra craziness as the audience is allowed to hear what Sock's basset Cleo is thinking in relation to the action. Eventually Sock and Mandy get married but keep it a secret as long as they can. This show is more then just inventing the secret marriage ploy. It is genuinely funny. If you like the era it may be for you. If not or if you can't stand black and white (too bad because you miss out on many good programs)then avoid this. However, if you don't mind black and white and enjoy dialog that isn't one continuous sexual innuendo please take a look. Cleo is a great!

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.

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.