It's a Man's World

It's really nice to read the comments from those of you who remember, as do I, the best series of the early 60s. Like so many of you, I was absolutely crushed when I learned that the show was going to be canceled. If memory serves, that was the first time I was moved to write a letter of protest. (I was a teenager and identified strongly with the show--this may have laid the seeds of further activism a few years later, when protest truly came into its own.) The thing that stands out most to me as I think back now, is reading in TV Guide that the reason the show was being canceled is that it was considered "too intelligent". I was appalled! What a sad, sad commentary on the time, on our country, on the TV industry in general...

If we're voting, I cast mine with the rest of the people who would buy a DVD of the series. Come on, doesn't someone out there have (1) the necessary connections and (2) the desire to make some money??

It is Sunday and I was Googling around and ran out of people - so entered It's A Man's World not knowing I would actually find something! I was an extra in Hollywood back when extras were heavily unionized and one had to be registered with Central, Independent and other casting agencies to work. I landed a permanent job on It's A Man's World as double (for Glenn), stand-in (for Randy), and extra on all episodes. I submitted a story line that Peter Tewksbury and James Menzies (co-creators) almost bought - almost! So, they gave me an acting part in the episode entitled "I Count My Life in Coffee Cups" - one line "Hey Gerri" (to actress Diane Sayer). I've been 40+ year personal friends with Kate Murtagh (Mrs. Dobson) and saw Randy at a country music event at the Pomona Fairgrounds about ten years ago. I knew about Ted Bessell of course, but, until visiting this site, knew nothing of Michael Burns or the sad news about Glen. I heard that the negatives were lost - but the TV Archives at UCLA might have them. I would also like to know. This was posted earlier but my email address has changed - is now midnite-zephyr@kc.rr.com Bill Doty

There are 19 episodes of the one-hour series which aired on NBC from Fall, 1962 until just after the turn of the year, 1963 - and was then canceled by NBC, over many protests nationwide. Copyright is owned by Universal and the "masters" (16mm I believe) are among the holdings of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Archives at UCLA. Director Peter Tewksbury and stars Glenn Corbett (Wes) and Ted Bessell (Tom Tom) are all now deceased. Star Michael Burns (a Yale PhD, author and retired professor from Mt.Holyoke College lives in Danville, KY); star Randy Boone still lives in southern California. How do I know? I worked on all 19 episodes of "It's A Man's World." Bill (Now ret. in Kansas City)

I too, remember this show. I can't remember specific episodes, but there must be a good reason for a ten year-old boy to keep a lasting impression of a TV show that was on over forty years ago. If memory serves, I believe it was on Monday nights on NBC. It's funny that all of us who remember this show were young children at the time. This was not a "kid's" show, per se. Although it was on only for a year, it is still fondly remembered even after all these years. That says something! I'm sure there are thousands more out there who feel the same. The cast and writers should be proud. I would like to see it again someday if it becomes available.

Four young men live on a houseboat and have serious-comic adventures. It was by far my favorite show of the '62-'63 season but I only remember fragments now. One episode had mishaps of hauling a load of tires cross country where all the tires eventually ended up rolling away down a hill. Another had one of the main characters doing something wrong enough to threaten Glenn Corbett's guardianship of orphaned brother Michael Burns. The four male leads were up and coming faces on TV. They all went onto other TV series but Glen Corbett and Ted Bessell endured the longest. Would love to see these shows again after forty years to see if they compare well to my fond memories.