So You Want A Television Set (1953)

 

So You Want A Television Set - 1953

Coming up next is 1953's short film "So You Want A Television Set", a story about a couple who get a brand new TV.  Disaster strikes on the first night.

The film's cast includes George O'Hanlon, Phyllis Coates, Rodney Bell, Doris Day, and Gordon MacRae.

Joe McDoakes is trying to have breakfast and read his newspaper.  His wife Alice asks him why they can't have a television set.  "Alice, television is just radio with eye strain," he tells her.  She starts to cry and he relents.  They can get a TV set.

Alice turns and lifts the cover off of a brand new set.  Surprise!  Joe is flabbergasted.

Right away things go wrong.  Joe asks his friend Marvin to help with the installation.  Marvin is only too happy to help "install" it.  He proceeds to take every single part out to make sure it's done "right".

Joe is also a little upset with Alice when she unveils two new television chairs.  He can't justify the expense.  "You have to sit somewhere when you are watching television," she says.  He looks around the room at the other seating options.

And then, of course, there's a disagreement about what to watch.  Joe wants wrestling.  Alice wants a movie.

Tensions rise when Marvin and his wife come over and want to watch the new TV.  They even kick Alice and Joe out of their new chairs, relegating them to the back row!

More neighbors notice that the McDoakes' have a new TV and want to join the party.  By now, Joe is getting pretty upset.

It becomes a little too much for him when he's got to serve them all beer and potato chips.

The group can't agree on a program to watch.  As they all get up at once to change the channel, they run into Joe and cause him to spill beer and potato chips all over himself.  He has a sort of breakdown and throws a glass through the television screen.  Later, he storms out to cool off.

He decides to go and see a movie starring Doris Day and Gordon MacRae.

It's a lucky thing for him that he's there.  He wins the theater door prize: a new Ford automobile!

To his utter delight, he discovers that he's sitting next to one of the stars of the movie, Doris Day.

Joe turns to his neighbor to share his good fortune.  It turns out to be Gordon MacRae, who is not so amused.  "Hey, you know who's sittin' next to me?  Doris Day!" Joe exclaims.  "I know.  She was with me until you took my seat," says Gordon, who promptly switches seats with Joe.

"Gordon MacRae!" exclaims Joe.  "Gordon MacRae and Doris Day!"  They both shush him as the movie rolls on.

Cast rundown:

   George O'Hanlon.............................Joe McDoakes

   Phyllis Coates..................................Alice McDoakes

   Rodney Bell.....................................Marvin Schulz

   Doris Day.......................................Herself

   Gordon MacRae...............................Himself

And that's it for So You Want A Television Set.  This is just one in a whole  short film series featuring Joe McDoakes.  The series spanned sixty-three short films and went from the years 1942 to 1956.  Doris Day and Gordon MacRae appeared in this installment to promote their new film "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon".

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