Debuting on 19 October 1954, real-life husband and wife Ronald Colman and Benita Hume starred, reprising their roles as Dr William Todhunter Hall (she called him ‘Toddy’) and “former actress” Victoria Cromwell Hall (he called her ‘Vicky’), respectively.
Colman had also garnered acclaim in his days as a leading man on the silver screen, in Lost Horizon and The Prisoner of Zenda, but they both exhibited a flair for comedy on the radio version of The Jack Benny Show, leading to their own radio show and eventually their own TV sitcom.
Here they resided at #1 Faculty Row, in an unnamed Midwestern state in the town of Ivy. William was the literate and witty college president at rural Ivy College.
Members of the faculty included Dr Merriweather (Ray Collins and then James Todd) and Clarence Wellman (Herb Butterfield), the chairman of the board of trustees.
The Hall’s all-knowing housekeeper, Alice, was portrayed by Mary Wickes.
One of the more memorable elements of the series was its theme (“We love the Halls of Ivy/That surround us here today”), rendered in suitably collegiate fashion by a male chorus. The song achieved some popularity on records during the early 1950s.
The final episode aired on 29 September 1955.
Dr William Todhunter Hall
Ronald Colman Victoria Cromwell Hall
Benita Hume Dr Merriweather
Ray Collins
James Todd Clarence Wellman
Herb Butterfield Alice
Mary Wickes
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Colman had also garnered acclaim in his days as a leading man on the silver screen, in Lost Horizon and The Prisoner of Zenda, but they both exhibited a flair for comedy on the radio version of The Jack Benny Show, leading to their own radio show and eventually their own TV sitcom.
