Father knows Best

The series began August 25, 1949, on NBC Radio. Set in the Midwest,
it starred Robert Young as the General Insurance agent Jim
Anderson. His wife Margaret was first portrayed by June Whitley and
later by Jean Vander Pyl. The Anderson children were Betty (Rhoda
Williams), Bud (Ted Donaldson), and Kathy (Norma Jean Nilsson).
Others in the cast were Eleanor Audley, Herb Vigran, and Sam
Edwards. Sponsored through most of its run by General Foods, the
series was heard Thursday evenings on NBC until March 25, 1954. On
the radio program, the character of Jim differs from the later
television character. The radio Jim is far more sarcastic and shows
he really rules over his family. Jim also calls his children names,
something common on radio but lost in the TV series. For example,
Jim says, "What a bunch of stupid children I have." Margaret is
portrayed as a paragon of solid reason and patience, unless the
plot calls for her to act a bit off; for example, in a Halloween
episode, Margaret cannot understand how a table floats in the air.
But that is a rare exception. Betty, on radio, is portrayed as a
status-seeking, boy-crazy teenage girl. To her, every little thing
is "the worst thing that could ever happen." Bud, on radio, is
portrayed as an "all-American" boy who always seems to need "just a
bit more" money, though he gets $1.25 (nearly $14.00 in 2021) per
week in allowance. Bud is in charge of always having to answer the
phone, which he hates. He is also shown as a somewhat dim boy who
takes everything literally; for example, Jim might say, "Go jump in
the lake," to which Bud would reply, "Okay, Dad; which lake should
I go jump into?" He also uses the phrase "Holy Cow" to express
displeasure. On radio, Kathy often is portrayed as a source of
irritation. She whines, cries and complains about her status in the
family as being overlooked. She often is the source of money to her
brother and sister, although she is in hock several years on her
own allowance. you may have heard the Anderson family on my
Thanksgiving episode and if you haven't I would recommend going
back and listening to that but this morning we welcome to Anderson
family to the show for the first time in the first episode the
Anderson family is sitting down for breakfast one day when all the
sudden breakfast starts going downhill. Mr and Mrs Anderson's three
kids each their father's permission to buy things and use things.
but the Anderson's oldest daughter Betty Anderson wants to let her
family know that she is getting married. which her father Mr
Anderson does not like because she has not even finished college
yet. so Betty persuades her parents to let the young man come over
for dinner to see how they like him. but they're two other kids bud
and their youngest daughter Kathleen are flabbergasted. because
their dad won't let them give the money or let them borrow his car.
but when Betty is engaged to be married they invite her fiance over
for dinner. and it is the pilot episode. in this second episode it
is called The exchange card. one morning Mr Anderson is going over
the Christmas holiday budget and says how they've been
overspending. so Mr Anderson comes up with a plan for the family to
save money but each of his children need money to do stuff with and
each time Mr Anderson says no. but later on Mrs Anderson comes up
with a solution on how to better manage their money. I hope you
guys enjoy Mr Robert Young in the NBC comedy show Father knows Best
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show guys thanks.