The Ruggles
The Ruggles is an early American family-oriented situation comedy series broadcast live on ABC. A few episodes were recorded on kinescope. The series began November 3, 1949 — a month after the radio hit The Life of Riley had moved to television on NBC — and ended on June 19, 1952.The Ruggles was also one of the first shows to originate from Hollywood rather than New York City, where most radio programs had been produced.
| The Ruggles | |
|---|---|
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| Starring |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | unknown |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | November 3, 1949 – June 19, 1952 |
Cast and changes
The star of the series is comedian Charlie Ruggles, playing a character with the same name. His wife, Margaret Ruggles, was played in the first season by Irene Tedrow, thereafter by Erin O'Brien-Moore. The television family also had four children: college co-ed Sharon Ruggles (Margaret Kerry), high school student Chuck Ruggles (Tom Bernard), and the young twins, Donna and Donald, played by Judy Nugent and Jimmy Hawkins. During the second season (1950–51), Lonnie Burr played an occasional recurring character named Oliver Quimby, a know-it-all neighbor kid.
Synopsis
Charlie Ruggles is a department manager for a company. His boss, Mr. Williams, and his secretary Miss Peabody, were seldom seen, and the exact nature of the firm's business was never clearly stated. His wife Margaret kept house, while their daughter Sharon attended UCLA, though she lived at home. Son Chuck was in high school, and the twins were in elementary school.
Most shows take place with just the family members in attendance. Because the shows were broadcast live, the set had to be large and elaborate. There was no audience on the set, and no laugh-track. Recorded theme music was played for entrances and exits. The final episode of the show, broadcast June 19, 1952, featured the wedding of Sharon Ruggles.
