THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW

Originally known as Make Room For Daddy, The Danny Thomas Show ran from 1953 to 1964 and holds the dubious distinction of being the first sitcom where a major character is written out of the show by being killed off. The show also hopped networks in 1957 from ABC to CBS. The show also made use of the three-camera shooting model, common to modern sitcoms, pioneered by Desilu Studios, where the show was filmed.

A number of guest stars, including Annette Funicello, made appearances on the show, as did Hans Conried. Conried played Danny’s eccentric “Uncle Tonoose.” Why Lebanese? Thomas was paying homage to his roots, as both his parents were from Lebanon. The name “Danny Thomas” doesn’t sound very middle eastern, you say? Of course that was a stage name. “The Amos Alphonsus Muzyad Yaqoob Show” doesn’t really have the same sort of ring to it.