Donna Reed Show

Donna Reed Show

11/24/58 – 11/3/1966
ABC 30 minutes
Black and White
275 episodes

Donna Reed Show Cast

Donna Reed as Donna Stone
Carl Betz as Dr. Alex Stone
Shelley Fabares as Mary Stone (1958-1963)
Paul Petersen as Jeff Stone
Patti Petersen as Trish Stone (1963-1966)
Bob Crane as Dr. Dave Kelsey (1963-1965)
Ann McCrea as Midge Kelsey (1963-1966)
Janet Langard as Karen Holmby (1964-1965)
Darryl Richard as Smitty (1965-1966)

Donna Reed Show Theme Song

“Happy Days” by William Loose and John Seely

Donna Reed Show Tidbits

The Stone family lived in Hilldale. Alex (Carl Betz) was a pediatrician who had his office in the house. Donna (Donna Reed) and Alex had been married for 15 years when the show began and they had two kids, Mary (Shelley Fabares), who was three years older, and Jeff (Paul Petersen).

Mary goes off to college in 1962 and Jeff followed two season later. Paul Petersen’s real life sister, Patty joins the cast as Trish, an eight year old orphan who wants to live with the Stones and gets her wish.

In 1962 Columbia Pictures, under their Colpix label, set Stu Phillips about the task of producing hit singles for the teenage stars of the show. The result was Shelley Fabares’ ’62 hit Johnny Angel, and Petersen’s ’63 hit,My Dad.

Among the celebs who made their first major TV appearances on the show:
John Astin (“Mouse at Play” 5/10/61)
James Darren (“April Fool” 1/4/59)
George Hamilton (“Have Fun” 4/2/59)

The show was produced by Reed’s husband, Tony Owen.

Passings

Donna Reed died in 1986 of a pancreatic cancer, and Betz in 1978 of lung cancer.

Donna Reed

From the William Sasser collection
Paul Petersen
1983 Ashveille Film Festival

Shelley Fabares