The Brothers is an American television sitcom broadcast by CBS from October 2, 1956, to March 26, 1957. Reruns of The Brothers were broadcast by CBS during the summer of 1958, alternating with repeats of Bachelor Father.
Synopsis The Brothers (original pilot title: The Box Brothers) was about the small adventures of the Box brothers, Gil and Harvey, who owned a photography studio in San Francisco. Harvey was the more aggressive, overbearing brother while Gil was a reserved, shy man who happily allowed his big brother to run things. Both of them had steady girlfriends who were matched to their personalities, Harvey's being the strong-willed, aggressive Dr. Margaret Kleeb and Gil's being the quiet, unassuming Marilee Dorf.
It was one of the first shows to have an unseen character. Andy, the darkroom person, was always heard but never seen.
Cast Actor Role Gale Gordon Harvey Box Bob Sweeney Gilmore "Gilly" Box Barbara Billingsley Barbara Ann Morriss Dr. Margaret Kleeb Nancy Hadley Marilee Dorf Oliver Blake Carl Dorf Robin Hughes Barrington Steel Frank Orth Captain Sam Box (1956) Howard McNear Captain Sam Box (1956-1957) Mary Lansing Hazel Rodney Bell Lester David Orrick Roscoe Blinder
Episodes Ep # Title Airdate 1 "Gilly's Birthday" October 2, 1956 2 "Dorf's Photo Machine" October 9, 1956 3 "Renting the Attic" October 16, 1956 4 "The Social Climber" October 23, 1956 5 "The Class Reunion" October 30, 1956 6 "The Quadrangle" November 6, 1956 7 "Girls, Girls, Girls" November 13, 1956 8 "Captain Sam's Testimonial Dinner" November 20, 1956 9 "The Babies" November 27, 1956 10 "The Other Harvey" December 4, 1956 11 "Box Park" December 18, 1956 12 "The Christmas Story" December 25, 1956 13 "Gilly's Adventure" January 1, 1957 14 "The Brave One" January 8, 1957 15 "The Crush" January 15, 1957 16 "Prisoners of Love" January 22, 1957 17 "The Social Club" January 29, 1957 18 "Gilly's Investment" February 5, 1957 19 "Gilly and the Movie Star" February 12, 1957 20 "Unwelcome Guest" February 26, 1957 21 "Stop That Bookmaking Up Three" March 5, 1957 22 "Picnic" March 12, 1957 23 "A Muscle for Harvey" March 19, 1957 24 "The Runaways" March 26, 1957
Production The Brothers was a Dallad Productions and Desilu Studios product. Episodes were filmed in black-and-white with a live audience. Edward Feldman was the producer, and Hy Averback was one of the writers. Bill Davenport, Jim Fritzell, Al Lewin, and Burt Styler were among the writers. Wilbur Hatch provided music. Sponsors included American Tobacco Company, Lever Brothers, Procter & Gamble, and Shaeffer Fountain Pens. It was broadcast on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Critical response After The Brothers went off the air, Feldman blamed critics for the cancellation. He said that prior to the series's debut advertising agencies, sponsors, and CBS all expected it to be a hit. "Then came the reviews on the first show", he said. "Most of the critics clobbered us, and overnight that enthusiasm of our original supporters vanished. Suddenly we were working in an atmosphere of failure."
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