The Laytons

The Laytons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network, from August to October 1948. The series starred Amanda Randolph, who became the first African-American performer in a regular role on a U.S. network TV series.[1] It co-starred Vera Tatum.[2]

The Laytons
GenreSitcom
Created byPat Faye
Written byBarbara Boothe
StarringAmanda Randolph
Vera Tatum
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkDuMont
Picture formatBlack-and-white
Audio formatMonaural
Original releaseAugust 11 (1948-08-11) –
October 13, 1948 (1948-10-13)

Overview

According to The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, "little is known about the content of this early series". The 30-minute program, produced and distributed by DuMont, aired on Wednesdays at 8pm (ET) on DuMont's affiliate stations. The program had been seen locally on DuMont's New York flagship station WABD, beginning in May/June 1948.[1]

According to Donald Bogle, the series made such a small impression that few remember The Laytons. However, the program paved the way for later TV shows starring or featuring black actors.[3] The final episode of the program aired on October 13, 1948.[1] Later in 1948, Randolph appeared again on DuMont, on a daytime series titled Amanda.

Episode status

As with most DuMont series, no recorded episodes of The Laytons are known to still exist.

See also

References
  1. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2007-10-17). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (9 ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 776. ISBN 0-345-49773-2.
  2. Internet Movie Database
  3. Bogle, Donald (2001). Primetime Blues: African Americans on Network Television. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, p. 14. ISBN 0-374-12720-4

Bibliography
  • David Weinstein, The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2004) ISBN 1-59213-245-6
  • Alex McNeil, Total Television, Fourth edition (New York: Penguin Books, 1980) ISBN 0-14-024916-8
  • Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, Third edition (New York: Ballantine Books, 1964) ISBN 0-345-31864-1
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