Life with the Lyons is a British radio and television sitcom franchise that ran between 1950 and 1961.

Background

Following a highly publicized trial against their stalker, American actors Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels moved to London in 1935. For several years, the couple commuted between London and Los Angeles, where their children resided with Daniels' mother and Lyon was under contract to 20th Century Fox.

At the advent of World War II, Lyon and Daniels were touring England in vaudeville when Lyon developed the idea for a radio series in an effort to boost morale. In 1940, the couple debuted Hi, Gang!, in which they starred with Vic Oliver with scripts written by Daniels. During the war, Lyon joined the newly formed Special Services unit of the United States military while Daniels served as a war correspondent. Following the war, the Lyons moved to London permanently with their children. Deciding to expand their show into a family effort, Hi, Gang! ended in 1949.

Life With the Lyons was created by Daniels, which she developed with Bob Block and Bill Harding. The trio would often work on scripts late at night in the family's basement. and rebroadcast at later dates.

Cast

  • Bebe Daniels Lyon as Bebe Lyon
  • Ben Lyon as Ben Lyon
  • Barbara Lyon as Barbara Lyon
  • Richard Lyon as Richard Lyon
  • Molly Weir as Aggie MacDonald
  • Richard Bellaers as Robin Lyon (series 5–7, radio; series 1–2, television)
  • Horace Percival as Mr Wimple
  • Doris Rogers as Florrie Wainwright

Following Barbara's marriage to Russell Turner, he began a recurring role as her husband Russell. Hugh Morton recurred throughout the series as Ben's boss.

Films

Two feature films both directed by Val Guest were made with the cast of the series between the radio and television versions. The Lyons' contract called for them to receive a percentage of the film's profits.

  • Life with the Lyons (1954)
  • The Lyons in Paris (1955)

Television

In 1954, the family appeared in a special on BBC Television. Following its success and that of the first feature film, the network approved a television adaption of Life With the Lyons. BBC aired the first two series, consisting of four episodes each, in the summers of 1955 and 1956 respectively. In 1957, ITV picked up the series for a full fall series of 10 episodes.

References

  • Life with the Lyons (radio series) at the Internet Archive
  • Life with the Lyons on Old Time Radio Outlaws