The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is an American sitcom, airing on ABC from October 3, 1952 through March 26, 1966, starring the real life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television where it continued its success, running on both radio and television for a few years. The series stars Ozzie Nelson and his wife, singer Harriet Nelson, and their young sons, David and Eric "Ricky" Nelson. Don DeFore had a recurring role as the Nelsons' friendly neighbor "Thorny".
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (Season 2)
New Chairs (Episode 1)
Air date: 1953-09-18
Overview: Confusion reigns when the local department store delivers two new chairs to the wrong Nelson family and then drops off additional chairs or takes back the wrong pieces of Nelson's furniture.
The Party (Episode 2)
Air date: 1953-09-25
Overview: Ricky and David are upset about not being invited to Will Thornberry's party. Later, they discover it’s a misunderstanding. But then, Ozzie finds out he wasn’t invited by “Thorny” (Will’s father) to a party occurring that same evening, and he becomes irritated with his best friend— unwilling to take the same advice he gave his kids and talk it over with him.
The Boys' Paper Route (Episode 3)
Air date: 1953-10-02
Overview: The boys just got a newspaper route, but it's Ozzie who winds up having to make the rounds on their first morning.
The Window Pane (Episode 4)
Air date: 1953-10-09
Overview: Ozzie is falling behind on his list of chores around the house, so the rest of the family pitches in and helps out.
David's Pipe (Episode 5)
Air date: 1953-10-16
Overview: An old friend of the family mails a monogrammed pipe to David, not realizing he isn't even college age, yet.
David's Birthday (Episode 6)
Air date: 1953-10-23
Overview: It's David's 17th birthday, and he's trying to do anything he can to look older because he has a crush on Sally Patterson, a girl who is only interested in older men.
No Noise (Episode 7)
Air date: 1953-10-30
Overview: Herb Dunkle talks to Ozzie about a new organization in town, "The National Anti-Noise Society". But is this new club ready for Ozzie & Thorny to join?
The Hustler (Episode 8)
Air date: 1953-11-06
Overview: Ricky intends to make extra money selling a spot remover. He's very successful but when things go wrong to entire family pitches in to help.
Young City Officials (Episode 9)
Air date: 1953-11-13
Overview: David and Will Thornberry's school essays give them both a chance to be mayor for the day during "Civic Day". Now if only Ozzie and Thorny will quit arguing about which son is going to be the honorable mayor.
The Suggestion Box (Episode 10)
Air date: 1953-11-20
Overview: The Nelsons decide to start using a suggestion box for family matters.
The Ladder (Episode 11)
Air date: 1953-11-27
Overview: Ozzie and Thorny get themselves marooned on a roof without a ladder.
Parental Guidance (Episode 12)
Air date: 1953-12-04
Overview: David wants to start weightlifting and working out early in the morning, while Ricky wants to start staying up late and watching movies on the late show. Ozzie decides to let the boys have their way.
The Insurance Policy (Episode 13)
Air date: 1953-12-11
Overview: Harriet loses a gold pin Ozzie had given her. It was insured, and they collect on it. The check comes made out to both of them, and they disagree on who should endorse it over to the other person and what the money should be spent on.
The Credit Reference (Episode 14)
Air date: 1953-12-18
Overview: Thorny needs a reference about his fiscal worthiness and asks Ozzie to write one for him. Ozzie as a joke writes a negative one but goes into a panic when he thinks Ricky mailed it.
The Miracle (Episode 15)
Air date: 1953-12-25
Overview: Ozzie tells his family a story from his childhood of when he wished for a white Christmas.
The Hunter (Episode 16)
Air date: 1954-01-01
Overview: Ozzie takes steps to get out of going hunting with Thorny.
Ozzie's Night Out (Episode 17)
Air date: 1954-01-08
Overview: The wife and kids give Ozzie the night off from helping them with their chores and homework, so with mixed feelings, he tries to amuse himself by spending a night out on the town.
The Camera Show (Episode 18)
Air date: 1954-01-15
Overview: Ozzie buys cameras for everyone in the family. It doesn't take long for him to get caught in a compromising position on film.
Courage (Episode 19)
Air date: 1954-01-22
Overview: Ozzie takes the courageous step of gathering enough nerve to return some of Harriet's lingerie.
The Incentive (Episode 20)
Air date: 1954-01-29
Overview: After promising to double whatever money his youngest son has left over at the end of the week, Ricky's collection of old pop bottles may cost Ozzie a pretty penny.
Too Many Children (Episode 21)
Air date: 1954-02-05
Overview: The Nelsons wind up with a houseful of kids on a sleepover.
Harriet Gives a Party (Episode 22)
Air date: 1954-02-12
Overview: Harriet decides to give a dinner party but runs into problems when she learns her friend has already planned a dinner party and the Thornberrys are not invited.
David's Career (Episode 23)
Air date: 1954-02-19
Overview: David's been spending time at Thompson's Garage. Ozzie thinks David may want to become a mechanic when he gets out of school. This is a great idea, until Ozzie talks to Thorny about what his son Will wants to do when he graduates.
Old Fashioned Remedy (Episode 24)
Air date: 1954-02-26
Overview: Ozzie treats a cold the way his mother used to do - with booze.
The Initiation (Episode 25)
Air date: 1954-03-05
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Dave is in charge of his club's initiation committee, and Thorny's son Will is among the pledges that must undergo the process.
Ricky's Lost Letter (Episode 26)
Air date: 1954-03-12
Overview: Ricky wants to send a letter to a cute girl who wrote to him, but Ozzie has accidentally destroyed the envelope containing her return address.
Father and Son Tournament (Episode 27)
Air date: 1954-03-19
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Both Dave and Ricky want Ozzie to partner with them for the Father And Son Table Tennis Tournament. The dilemma is that he can only play with one son.
Gentleman David (Episode 28)
Air date: 1954-03-26
Overview: The school's Backward Dance is tonight. The girls invite the boys to this event. Fearing that David doesn't have a date to the dance, Ozzie meddles in his son's affairs.
David Writes a Column (Episode 29)
Air date: 1954-04-02
Overview: David has a school assignment to write an article for the school paper. Unable to think of a subject to write about. Ozzie suggests writing an article about the school's baseball team's latest slump.
Overprotection (Episode 30)
Air date: 1954-04-09
Overview: Ozzie and Harriet anguish over whether or not to allow 13-year-old Ricky to take a 150-mile train trip on his own.
Be On Time (Episode 31)
Air date: 1954-04-16
Overview: It looks like Ozzie's going to be late to a luncheon where he's scheduled to deliver a speech on the importance of being on time.
An Evening with Hamlet (Episode 32)
Air date: 1954-04-23
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Ozzie and Thorny stage their version of "Hamlet" in the Nelson's living room.
The New Neighbor (Episode 33)
Air date: 1954-04-30
Overview: After meeting his new neighbor at the bank, Ozzie beliefs he's a thief and stole his penknife. When hinting to his new neighbor didn't solve the problem, Ozzie decided he needed to warn Thorny and put his valuables in the bank.
The Bird's Nest (Episode 34)
Air date: 1954-05-07
Overview: Ozzie needs to have the roof gutter repaired before the next rain, but a bird's nest is holding up the works.
A Friend of the Family (Episode 35)
Air date: 1954-05-14
Overview: Harriet writes to 'Aunt Martha', who gives advice through her 'A Friend of the Family' column in the local newspaper.
A Tuxedo for David (Episode 36)
Writer: Ozzie Nelson
Air date: 1954-05-21
Overview: David has a formal school dance coming up and needs a tux.
The Painter (Episode 37)
Writer: Ozzie Nelson
Air date: 1954-05-28
Overview: The family gives the den a makeover. Meanwhile, Ozzie has his eyes on a new set of golf clubs, hoping they’ll give him an edge in a golf tournament.
Economical Ozzie (Episode 38)
Air date: 1954-06-04
Overview: After giving David a lecture on saving his money, Ozzie and Thorny indulge in some impulsive buying at the local sporting goods store.
The Swimming Pool (Episode 39)
Air date: 1954-06-11
Overview: Everyone in the neighborhood wants to use Ozzie's new backyard pool. The trouble is - it hasn't been built, yet.
