The Goldbergs
"The Goldbergs" is a pioneering American sitcom created, produced, written, and starred in by Gertrude Berg. Originally debuting as a radio show in 1929, it transitioned to television from 1949 to 1955, becoming one of the few shows to successfully make this shift. Set in New York City, the series focuses on the everyday challenges faced by an immigrant Jewish family, primarily through the character of Molly Goldberg, who embodies practical Yiddish American wisdom. The show reflects themes of assimilation and survival common to immigrant experiences in America, showcasing the dynamics of family life with warmth and humor.
Despite facing significant challenges, including the controversial ousting of its lead actor Philip Loeb due to political scrutiny, "The Goldbergs" returned to the air and continued to evolve over its lifespan. The series made a significant impact by being one of the first to portray Jewish American life on television, influencing numerous family sitcoms that followed. It is remembered not only for its unique cultural representation but also for its relatable storytelling that resonated with a broad audience.
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The Goldbergs
Identification Pioneering radio and television family drama
Date Aired on television from 1949 to 1955
The Goldbergs was a forerunner of both ethnic and family situation comedies, and it anticipated Desilu and MTM as entertainment companies dominated by a multifaceted woman.
Ward Cleaver, the archetypal father figure of Leave It to Beaver, and many another sitcom characters owe a great deal to Gertrude Berg , a woman who pioneered both the sitcom format and the warm, parental approach to dealing with the challenges of modern America. Berg was the creator, producer, writer, and star of a program known by several names but mainly as The Goldbergs.
Broadcast live on radio from 1929 until 1947 and on television from 1949 to 1955, The Goldbergs was one of a handful of shows that made a successful transition from radio to television. Beginning with The Rise of the Goldbergs in 1929, Berg drew upon both the ironies and situations of the Yiddish theater and the broader themes characteristic of every immigrant group trying to assimilate, or at least survive, in the United States. Appropriately, the show was set in the leading center of immigrants, New York City.
Although the cast, except for Berg, varied over the life of the show and the show’s family moved from the Bronx to the suburbs, the situation, the characters—Molly, Jake, Rosalie, Sammee, and Uncle David—and the approach remained the same. Life’s daily challenges were dealt with through the practical Yiddish American wisdom of the quintessential Jewish mother, Molly Goldberg.
The greatest challenge to both show and creator occurred when Philip Loeb, the first television Jake, was branded a communist sympathizer. After Loeb refused to name communist sympathizers when he was questioned by the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1951, General Foods canceled its sponsorship of The Goldbergs, and CBS dropped the show. According to one version of the affair, Loeb resigned to save the jobs of the remaining cast and crew, despite Berg’s refusal to fire him. Another version holds that Berg forced him out to save those jobs, mainly hers. In any case, eight months later The Goldbergs returned to the air on NBC. The next season it was on the DuMont network, and in the final season it was offered for first-run syndication under the title Molly.
Impact
The Goldbergs was one of the few network television shows to depict Jewish American life, and it made an indelible mark on the many family sitcoms that followed it.
Bibliography
Berg, Gertrude. Molly and Me. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1961. Berg’s autobiography covers more of her life and career than her years on The Goldbergs. It is a lively, opinionated, and somewhat self-aggrandizing memoir by a woman whose achievements were remarkable.
Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present. 8th ed. New York: Random House, 2003. Contains a brief but useful sketch of The Goldbergs on television, including a discussion of Philip Loeb’s resignation.
Dunning, John. Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1976. Provides useful background information on The Goldbergs before it went to television.