''It's Higgins, Sir'' is a
radio
Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
program in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
with Harry McNaughton as the title character.
It had a limited run on NBC in 1951
as a summer replacement for ''The Bob Hope Show''.
The program's premise was that among an American family's bequests from a British relative was a
butler
A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some a ...
, Higgins. Episodes "focused on the attempts of the English butler to adjust to life in America and to his new employers, and of the family to adjust to having a butler."
[Terrace, Vincent (1981), ''Radio's Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930–1960''. A.S. Barnes & Company, Inc. . p. 132.]
Others in the cast besides McNaughton were
Vinton Hayworth
Vinton Hayworth (June 4, 1906 – May 21, 1970), also known as Jack Arnold and Vincent Haworth,Although some sources cite Vinton Hayworth's real surname as Haworthwhich clearly shows the surname as Hayworth. The genealogy site indicates that his ...
,
Peggy Allenby
Peggy Allenby (February 1, 1896 – March 23, 1966) was an American stage, film, television, and radio actress.
Early life
Allenby was born Eleanor Byrne Fox in New York City and attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart. She entered theatrical ...
, Charles Nevil, Pat Hosley,
Denise Alexander
Denise Alexander is an American actress, best known for her role as Lesley Webber on ''General Hospital'', a role she originally played from 1973 to 1984 (contract), 1996 to 2009, and a guest stint in 2013, in honor of the show's 50th anniversa ...
,
[ Ethel Wilson and Adelaide Klein. ][ One website commented, "It's McNaughton that drives the programme with his fantastic comedic timing, and the rest of the cast does an amazing job in helping him to shine."
Although ''Higgins'' didn't last beyond the summer of 1951, two subsequent television programs had links to the show. A website pointed out the connections: ]A year and a half later in 1953, NBC premiered the family sitcom, ''My Son Jeep
''My Son Jeep'' is an American situation comedy originally broadcast on the NBC Radio and Television networks in 1953 (radio: January 25-June 14; television: July 4-September 22, with a "sneak preview" on June 3). Set in Grove Fall, USA, the pro ...
'', using the same musical score as Higgins and in one episode, it was mentioned that the Roberts family were neighbors to the Allison Family. More directly, here was''Our Man Higgins
''Our Man Higgins'' is an American sitcom that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from October 3, 1962, to May 17, 1963.
Synopsis
''Our Man Higgins'' follows the adventures of an England, English butler portrayed by Stanley Holloway, w ...
'' starring Stanley Holloway as the butler to the McRoberts family.
References
{{Reflist
External links
''It's Higgins, Sir'' episode log and commentary from The Digital Deli Too
* ttps://archive.org/details/ItsHigginsSir All 13 episodes of ''It's Higgins, Sir'' available from archive.org
All 13 episodes of ''It's Higgins, Sir'' available from Radio Echoes
1950s American radio programs
American comedy radio programs
NBC radio programs