Starring Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard (12 half-hour episodes / 6 hours via digital download)
Ozzie Nelson was Red Skelton’s bandleader on “The Red Skelton Show”. Ozzie wife, Harriet Hilliard, was Skelton’s singer. When Red was drafted in 1944, Ozzie was prompted to create his own family, situation-comedy series. “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet” launched on CBS radio October 8, 1944, making a mid-season switch to NBC in 1949. It starred Ozzie as the head of the Nelson household that included wife Harriet and their two boys, David and Ricky. Each week, the Nelson’s found themselves in another amusing situation, much to the delight of the listeners. Because Ozzie felt they were too young, the Nelsons’ sons, David and Ricky, did not join the cast until the show’s fifth year. Prior to joining, their characters were portrayed by professional actors. Sponsored by International Sterling, the radio series enjoyed great popularity until 1954. In 1952, Ozzie brought the show to ABC television, attracting an even larger audience. It lasted until 1966, becoming the longest-running “live-action” non-animated sitcom in US television history.
