Window on Main Street

"Window on Main Street" is a fairly rare specimen from the early era of network television -- a true comedy-drama series. Back then, you seldom saw the two elements mixed in a single episode of a program. Sitcoms played everything for laughs, while dramatic series kept things serious 90% of the time, then ran the occasional humorous episode to break up the monotony.

This series went for the laugh and the lump in the throat simultaneously each week. It didn't catch on with the public, much to the disappointment of star Robert Young.

Young plays a middle-aged author, fairly successful in the literary world but not really famous. As the series begins, he has just lost his family in an accident. Trying to cope with this tragedy, he returns to the small hometown where his career began, determined to write about the lives of its ordinary people. It's writing as bereavement therapy. In each episode, in cooperation with the local newspaper, he uncovers a fairly interesting story, or at least meets an extraordinary person..

This series is a sentimental, low-key celebration of life in a small town. (It's sometimes reminiscent of the old Andy Hardy movies.) Maybe audiences at the time found it corny, or bittersweet. But I find it sort of interesting. I can't think of another show quite like it.

We recall him for Jim Anderson, head of that splendid nuclear family of the Eisenhower Middle American on FATHER KNOWS BEST, and again for his ideal physician DR. MARCUS WELBY. Robert Young never was ignored in the movies. His credits were above average: THE MORTAL STORM, THREE COMRADES, CROSSFIRE, WESTERN UNION, NORTHWEST PASSAGE, PART I - these are wonderful credits with top notch performances by Young to his credit. But like so many fine actors in the movies, he did not gain national fame until he was on American television in two smash series.

What is not recalled is how after FATHER KNOWS BEST, Young did this series, WINDOW ON MAIN STREET. He was a newspaper man returning to his Midwestern home town, and telling the stories of the people in the town one by one. But it was not a successful series. It came out in 1961, so I was too young to get involved in watching it. The only thing I remember was Young in a coming episode advertisement at the end of one of the shows holding up a dollar bill from the 1920s (which was larger in size than the ones in the 1950s and 1960s up to today), and said, "Do you remember when the dollar was this big?" I think that was the only time a commercial for a television episode was the most memorable thing about a show. I cannot tell what precisely went wrong with WINDOW ON MAN STREET, but it barely lasted half a season (judging from the number of episodes). It may have been the subject matter or the scripts or the position of the show in the weekly schedule. At least it did no real damage to Young's career - that's something. But it must have hurt his pride a bit - Young worked on the scripts and production.

A unique show for its time and for today viewers which creatively crafts plots with a focus on the residents of Millsburg.

Each episode provides a refreshing take on a moral solution of how everyday and unique human issues are tackled and resolved.

With the people of Millsburg being treated as a whole as opposed to just their symptoms.

Robert Young once again marvellously plays his character, as an author who returns to Millsburg to write about the people of Millsburg and events surrounding them.

Unfortunately cut short during its run with a lot of potentials to grow and transpire into a successful series.

This show has the look and feel of a treacly 1930s domestic comedy. It presents an image of America that had long vanished by 1961. Not surprising that the show lasted only a season when compared to the more exciting and up to date fare of the time - Route 66, Naked City, The Dick Van Dyke Show, etc.

Still, if one is need of a mild half hour's diversion, this might fit the bill. The show's value now of course lies in its nostalgia.

Robert Young plays author Cameron Brooks, who returns to his hometown to write stories of the people who live there. Young's Brooks is an innocently charming sort who dispenses homespun wit and wisdom to the townsfolk and helps them sort out their difficulties.

I certainly remember this show, especially the first episode. Cameron Brooks has just arrived in Millsburg. In a flashback, we see him as a young man when he was preparing to leave that town many years before. He is with a young girl named "Tina" and is telling her good-bye. They promise that when he returns to Millsburg, they will kiss. Back to the present, Brooks is seen meeting the townspeople. One of these is a woman named Chris Logan. As this episode moves toward its conclusion, it is seen that this woman is actually the "Tina" he said good-bye to (full-name Christina). He reminds her of the promise from years earlier that they will kiss. She remarks it was a promise made many years before. He notes that "promises were meant to be kept" and they do kiss. I thought it was a beautiful way to begin the TV series. Chris, played by Constance Moore, was a regular in the show.

Persons should remember that Robert Young had recently finished being in Father Knows Best (1954-1960) when he began this series. In fact, Father Knows Best continued on in prime time for two seasons (1960-61, 1961-62) on CBS. As such, Young was actually being seen in two separate shows in prime time during that 1961-62 TV season. Window on Main Street was on Mondays and Father Knows Best was on Wednesdays. Maybe the plot was too similar for the new series to take hold. Window was trying to solve the concerns of someone from the town in 30 minutes just as Father had tried to do with a family member or friend during its long run.

It's a series few remember or know of, but I do; particularly that opening episode.