Sally
GenreSituation comedy
StarringJoan Caulfield
Marion Lorne
Gale Gordon
Arte Johnson
Johnny Desmond
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
ProducerFrank Ross
Running time22–24 mins.
Production companyCaulross/Paramount Television
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 15, 1957 (1957-09-15) –
March 30, 1958 (1958-03-30)
Joan Caulfield (left) as Sally Truesdale and Marion Lorne as Myrtle Banford in Sally.

Sally is an American situation comedy that aired on NBC during the 1957-1958 television season. The series stars Joan Caulfield as Sally Truesdale, a young saleswoman at a department store who tours Europe with a widow who is the store's wealthy and scatter-brained owner. After the trip is over, Sally returns to work at the store.

Synopsis

Sally Truesdale is a young salesclerk at the Banford & Bleacher Department Store and eligible bachelorette who is reassigned to serve as the traveling companion of the store's wealthy co-owner, the matronly widow Myrtle Banford, during a lengthy trip to Europe.[1][2][3][4] They expect a normal vacation, but Mrs. Banford is eccentric and can be a little daffy, and as the two women travel from city to city, she tends to get into various kinds of trouble, while the fun-loving Sally also is prone to having exciting adventures.[1][2][5][6]

In mid-February 1958, the two women return home, and Sally resumes work as a salesclerk at the Banford & Bleacher Department Store, located in an unidentified large city somewhere in the United States.[1][2][4][5] Working with her at the store in addition to Mrs. Banford are store manager and part-owner Bascomb Bleacher, Sr., his lovable but incompetent son Bascomb Bleacher, Jr., and Jim Kendall, an artist who works in the store's advertising department and becomes Sally's boyfriend.[1][2][4]

Cast

Production

A Caulross/Paramount Television production,[4] Sally was the first filmed series produced by Paramount Television.[1][3] Joan Caulfield's husband, movie producer Frank Ross served as producer for the series;[3] it was his first television production.[7] The series included a laugh track.[4]

Reception

After the September 15, 1957, premiere of Sally, Ann Wardell Saunders wrote that the first episode was "too contrived and unrealistic for an adult audience, unless it were given a mid-Victorian setting."[8] As episodes aired over the next two months, it became apparent that viewers found the plots of Sally's and Mrs. Banford's adventures in Europe far-fetched[5] and the constant presence of Caulfield and Marion Lorne without other regular cast members monotonous.[5] Moreover, few American viewers could identify with the wealth, glamorous wardrobes, globe-trotting travel, and international situations depicted in the series.[6] Hollywood reporter Bob Thomas wrote in an October 19, 1957 article, "Judging from last week's program [the "Only in Paris" episode of October 13, 1957], it [Sally] appears to be one of the brighter spots in an otherwise dismal season. It had crisp writing, bright direction and sharp acting by Marion Lorne...and other accomplished actors."[9] However, critics often expressed negative opinions of Sally.[10]

Caulfield at first struck a defiant tone toward criticism and low viewership, saying in mid-October 1957, "If people don't like our show, they just don't have taste. I'm a tough audience. I've done some shows that make me cringe. But some of the Sally shows have made me real proud."[9] Faced with stiff competition from Maverick on ABC and The Jack Benny Program on CBS, however, Sally continued to draw low ratings, to Caulfield's surprise; she told the press, "And to think, we picked the 7:30 time spot ourselves, thinking it'd be a cinch to lick a little old western. Maybe we should have looked into a crystal ball."[10] By the end of November 1957, she was promising changes, with Sally returning to the United States to work in a department store, wearing plainer clothes, and having a steady romantic interest.[6] She also said that scripts would change to reflect broad comedy, and a man would be introduced into Mrs. Banford's life.[10]

Due to Sally′s low ratings, NBC was considering its cancellation by mid-December 1957.[11] On February 8, 1958, an article by Bob de Piante in the Oneonta Star described Sally as "one of the most miserable flops of the current TV season."[5] However, in describing the cast and premise changes Caulfield had promised, which were to roll out in the upcoming February 16 episode, he gave the revamped show a qualified endorsement, writing that Sally′s future was uncertain and that "if NBC is planning the new format just to satisfy a disgruntled sponsor, then the show will end up by the wayside," but adding: "If, however, the network is trying to make an honest change, Sally has the potential of being a top half-hour of entertainment."[5]

NBC promoted the February 16, 1958, broadcast of the first episode of Sally with its new premise and cast it as a "premiere" of the revamped show.[5] However, the changes did not save Sally. In The Philadelphia Inquirer on February 20, 1958, features writer Harry Harris described the overhaul of the show as "frantic but not very amusing" and said that Sally "seems certain to go down the drain."[12] The show lasted only seven episodes with its new premise and cast.

Despite Sally′s failure, Marion Lorne was nominated in 1958 for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Myrtle Banford.[13] She lost to Ann B. Davis, who received the award for her work on The Bob Cummings Show.[14]

Caulfield separated from Ross in 1959 and divorced him in 1960. She blamed the end of their marriage on the stress of working together on Sally.[15][16][17][18]

Broadcast history

Sally premiered on NBC on September 15, 1957.[1][2][3][4] It lasted only a single season, and its last episode aired on March 30, 1958.[1][2][3][4] It was broadcast at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays throughout its 26-episode run.[2][3][4]

Episodes

SOURCE [3][4][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55]

No.
overall 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Sally"William AsherPhil ShukenSeptember 15, 1957 (1957-09-15)
Sally meets Mrs. Banford in the series pilot for Sally. While working as a salesclerk at the Banford & Bleacher Department Store, Sally Truesdale mistakes the scatter-brained Myrtle Banford for a penniless shoplifter. Eventually, Sally learns that Mrs. Banford is a rich widow and the co-owner of the store, and that she is looking for a travelling companion for a trip to Europe. Sally agrees to accompany her, and two women set off on their European travels.
2"Sally Tries to Say No"UnknownUnknownSeptember 22, 1957 (1957-09-22)
While Sally and Mrs. Banford are aboard an ocean liner, Sally meets an attractive man. She dislikes him at first — but warms up to him during the voyage.
3"To Myrtle With Love"William AsherPhillip ShukenSeptember 29, 1957 (1957-09-29)
Alternative title "Mrs. Banford's Birthday." Sally and Mrs. Banford are visiting Paris on Mrs. Banford's birthday, and as a present Sally hires a dashing French gigolo, Messeur Coucheau, to escort Mrs. Banford for a night, thinking that it will make her feel young again. When he keeps reappearing to court Mrs. Banford, however, Sally realizes that he actually is not interested in Mrs. Banford — he wants romance with Sally. Guest stars: Francis Lederer, Alphonse Martell, Fred Cavens, and Maurice Marsac.
4"Free Thinkers"UnknownUnknownOctober 6, 1957 (1957-10-06)
Sally and Mrs. Banford visit a phony existentialist den to rescue a rich young American from its clutches.
5"Only in Paris"William AsherPhil ShukenOctober 13, 1957 (1957-10-13)
In Paris, Sally and Mrs. Banford meet a shy, bumbling man named George and try to build up his confidence. Guest star: Robert Sweeney
6"Monte Carlo"UnknownUnknownOctober 20, 1957 (1957-10-20)
While visiting Monte Carlo, Sally pretends to be an incurable gambler as a way of meeting a handsome psychiatrist who she thinks can get her an invitation to a gala ball for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.
7"Sally Meets Humberto"UnknownUnknownOctober 27, 1957 (1957-10-27)
In Italy, eight-year-old Humberto kidnaps Sally and Mrs. Banford because he wants them to hire him as their guide. Guest stars: Barry Gordon, Henry Corden, and Hope Summers.
8"When in Rome"UnknownUnknownNovember 3, 1957 (1957-11-03)
Sally and Mrs. Banford discover an abandoned infant at their hotel room door in Rome.
9"Sally Meets the Grand Duke"UnknownUnknownNovember 10, 1957 (1957-11-10)
While on the Riviera, Sally meets an elegant-looking man who claims to be a plumber, but she suspects that he is more than just an ordinary plumber. She turns out to be right: He is a grand duke. Guest star: John Abbott
10"Sally vs. the Prince"William AsherPhil ShukenNovember 17, 1957 (1957-11-17)
Aboard an ocean liner, Sally and Mrs. Banford become involved with an arrogant 10-year-old Arabian prince whose life is threatened.
11"Sally and the Sheikh"William AsherPhil ShukenDecember 1, 1957 (1957-12-01)
A sheikh kidnaps Sally because he wants her for his harem.
12"Sally and Lady Wingate"UnknownUnknownDecember 8, 1957 (1957-12-08)
Sally acts as a maid and Mrs. Banford as a cook to help their friend Lady Wingate sell her ancestral castle.
13"Presenting Miss Truesdale"UnknownUnknownDecember 22, 1957 (1957-12-22)
Mrs. Banford makes sacrifices so that Sally can be presented at Buckingham Palace.
14"The Winning of the Green"UnknownUnknownDecember 29, 1957 (1957-12-29)
While visiting Ireland, Mrs. Banford tries to make peace between two of her relatives who are enemies of one another.
15"Sally and the Actor"UnknownUnknownJanuary 5, 1958 (1958-01-05)
Sally's plans to help a stranded actor hit a snag.
16"Sally vs. Feudalism"UnknownUnknownJanuary 12, 1958 (1958-01-12)
A waiter takes a tip meant for a busboy.
17"Look Hans, No Sally"UnknownUnknownJanuary 19, 1958 (1958-01-19)
After Sally and Mrs. Banford check into a Swiss chalet owned by the parents of a former college exchange student friend, Sally becomes the key figure in a romantic triangle.
18"Operation Intrigue"William AsherIrving Elinson & Robert O'BrienJanuary 26, 1958 (1958-01-26)
While traveling in West Germany along the border with East Germany, Sally and Mrs. Banford become suspicious of a man they believe is following them. They become convinced that he is a Soviet spy and decide to expose him.
19"World's Greatest Lover"UnknownUnknownFebruary 2, 1958 (1958-02-02)
While visiting Capri, Sally meets a handsome count. He asks her out on a date, but he has a reputation as a playboy, and all her friends advise her not to go. Sally has to decide whether or not to continue her relationship with him — and deflates the ego of the self-proclaimed "world's greatest lover."
20"Sally Comes Home"UnknownUnknownFebruary 16, 1958 (1958-02-16)
Sally and Mrs. Banford return home from their lengthy European trip, and Sally goes back to her job as a salesclerk at the Banford & Bleacher Department Store.
21"Coffee Break"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1958 (1958-02-23)
Bascomb Bleacher, Jr., opposes coffee breaks, and Sally loses her job when she institutes a "floating" coffee break at the department store.
22"Surprise, Surprise"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 1958 (1958-03-02)
The department store's staff plans a surprise party for Sally, but Mr. Bleacher thinks the party is for him.
23"Sally, the Comestician"William AsherIrving Elinson & Robet O'BrienMarch 9, 1958 (1958-03-09)
Sally decides that the department store would be more profitable if it made its own cosmetics, so she and Mrs. Banford use Sally′s bathtub to make Plum da Vie ("Plum of Life"), a new face cream made out of plums to sell at the store. Sally then works with Jim on an advertising campaign for Plum da Vie, in which Sally pretends to be the actress and singer Judy Holliday on the store's television show. Viewers fall for it, and Plum da Vie is a huge success — until a long line of women appear at the store demanding their money back because Plum da Vie does not work. (When Joan Caulfield in character as Sally provides a sneak peek at next week's show at the end of the episode, the background music is identical to the theme music for The Donna Reed Show, which premiered the following season.)
24"The Rival"UnknownUnknownMarch 16, 1958 (1958-03-16)
When a beautiful vamp descends upon the store, Sally tries to get her moved elsewhere.
25"Sally, the Love Doctor"William AsherAlan Lipscott and Robert FisherMarch 23, 1958 (1958-03-23)
Sally discovers that Bascomb Bleacher, Jr., plans to go to Tibet and become a Tibetan monk because he does not have the courage to ask a woman to marry him, so she convinces him to stay and decides to help him become more confident around women. Guest star: Carol Nugent.
26"Dear Myrtle"William AsherPhil Davis & Phil ShukenMarch 30, 1958 (1958-03-30)
An orphanage for which Mrs. Banford is a patron is in financial trouble, so as a benefit event for the orphans Sally organizes a musical show put on by the employees of the department store.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McNeil, Alex, Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, Fourth Edition, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, ISBN 0 14 02 4916 8, p. 719.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (Sixth Edition), New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, ISBN 0-345-39736-3, p. 897.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Classic TV Archive Sally Accessed 24 November 2020
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Leszczak, Bob, Single Season Sitcoms: A Complete Guide, 1948–1979, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2012, ISBN 978-0-7864-6812-6, p. 167.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 De Piante, Bob, "Viewing and Listening," The Oneonta Star, February 8, 1958, p. 12.
  6. 1 2 3 Mercer, Charles, "Joan Caulfield Meets Sunday Competition," The Austin Daily Herald, November 30, 1957, p. 16.
  7. ↑ "Television Topics," The Times (Munster, Indiana), September 29, 1957, p. 68.
  8. ↑ Saunders, Ann Wardell, "Looking 'N' Listening," The San Bernardino County Sun, September 29, 1957, p. 23.
  9. 1 2 Thomas, Bob, "Joan Caulfield Should Have Hit In Show 'Sally'," Freeport Journal-Standard (Freeport, Illinois), October 19, 1957, p. 10.
  10. 1 2 3 Tokke, Marik, "Sally Makes Changes: There′ll Be Love, Broad Humor," The Akron Beacon Journal, November 28, 1957, p. 82.
  11. ↑ "N.B.C. May Cancel 'Sally' Series on TV," New York Times, December 11, 1957.
  12. ↑ Harris, Harry, "Comediennes on Way Out," The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 20, 1958, p. 16.
  13. ↑ imdb.com Marion Lorne Awards
  14. ↑ imdb.com Ann B. Davis Awards
  15. ↑ Scott, Vernon (6 December 1959). "Joan Caulfield, Real Life Soap Opera Heroine". Chicago Tribune. p. 3D. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Joan Caulfield Seeking Divorce". New York Times. 17 Mar 1959. p. 40.
  17. ↑ Vernon, Scott (Dec 6, 1959). "Joan Caulfield, Real Life Soap Opera Heroine". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. nD.
  18. ↑ "Joan Caulfield Divorces Film Producer Ross". Los Angeles Times. 10 April 1959. p. 2.
  19. ↑ imdb.com Sally (1957–1958) Episode List
  20. ↑ TV Tango September 15, 1957 Sunday
  21. ↑ Torre, Marie, et al., "Previews of Tonight's Major Television Programs," Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), September 5, 1957, p. 97.
  22. ↑ "Week's Radio-Television Listings," The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), September 15, 1957, p. 83.
  23. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, September 28, 1957, p. 8.
  24. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, October 5, 1957, p. 8.
  25. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, October 12, 1957, p. 24.
  26. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, October 19, 1957, p. 10.
  27. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, October 26, 1957, p. 10.
  28. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, November 2, 1957, p. 11.
  29. ↑ TV Tango November 3, 1957 Sunday
  30. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, November 9, 1957, p. 16.
  31. ↑ "TV-DIAL-O-LOGUE," The San Bernardino County Sun, November 10, 1957, p. 22.
  32. ↑ "TV," Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California), November 10, 1957, p. 52.
  33. ↑ "Sunday, Nov. 10," The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 10, 1957, p. 248.
  34. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, November 16, 1957, p. 11.
  35. ↑ "TV Listings for Sunday," The Miami News, November 18, 1957, p. 87.
  36. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, November 23, 1957, p. 17.
  37. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, November 30, 1957, p. 8.
  38. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, December 7, 1957, p. 10.
  39. ↑ "Today's Programs," The Pittsburgh Press TV Graphic, December 1, 1957, p. 3.
  40. ↑ "Today's Programs," The Pittsburgh Press TV Graphic, December 22, 1957, p. 3.
  41. ↑ "Today's Programs," The Pittsburgh Press TV Graphic, December 29, 1957, p. 4.
  42. ↑ "Television Guide for the Week Beginning Sunday, December 29, 1957," Daily Mountain Eagle (Jasper, Alabama), December 26, 1957, p. 10.
  43. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, February 1, 1958, p. 8.
  44. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, January 4, 1958, p. 8.
  45. ↑ "TV Program, Sunday January 5," The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio), January 4,1958, p. 18.
  46. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, January 11, 1958, p. 8.
  47. ↑ "TV Dial-O-Logue," The San Bernardino County Sun, January 12, 1958, p 51.
  48. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, January 18, 1958, p. 8.
  49. ↑ "Today's Programs, Sun., Jan. 19," The Pittsburgh Press TV Graphic, January 19, 1958, p. 3.
  50. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, February 15, 1958, p. 8.
  51. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, February 22, 1958, p. 10.
  52. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, March 1, 1958, p. 8.
  53. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, March 8, 1958, p. 8.
  54. ↑ "Week-End Television and Radio Programs," Schenectady Gazette, March 15, 1958, p. 11.
  55. ↑ "The Globe's Complete Television Schedules for This Week," The Boston Globe, March 16, 1957, p. 68.
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