Series Description

The Make Room For Daddy TV show was a family comedy series on ABC about Danny Williams, a successful nightclub entertainer, who tries to balance his demanding career with his wife, his kids and occasionally his elderly and old-fashioned Uncle. He got upset and yelled a lot at his wife and the children and then would always back down and sympathize with them after gaining a deeper understanding of the situation. The show typically ended with a song by either Danny or by the family.

Make Room For Daddy Cast

Danny Thomas .... Danny Williams
Jean Hagen .... Margaret Williams
Marjorie Lord .... Kathy "Clancey" O'Hara Williams
Rusty Hamer .... Rusty Williams
Angela Cartwright .... Linda Williams
Mary Wickes .... Liz O'Neal
Ben Lessy .... Benny
Jesse White .... Jesse Leeds
Hans Conried .... Uncle Tonoose
Louise Beavers .... Louise
Pat Carroll .... Bunny Halper
Sid Melton .... Charley Halper
Annette Funicello .... Gina Minelli
Pat Harrington, Jr. .... Pat Hannigan
Sherry Jackson .... Terry Williams
Penny Parker .... Terry Williams
Sheldon Leonard .... Phil Brokaw
Horace McMahon .... Horace
Amanda Randolph .... Louise

Make Room For Daddy Trivia

Make Room For Daddy was the series title for the first three seasons. After that, the name was changed to "The Danny Thomas Show". When reruns were shown in syndication after the series ended, all of the seasons were called "Make Room For Daddy".

The name for the series originated from Danny Thomas' real life. When he would return from performing "on the road", his children would have to move to different bedrooms to "Make Room For Daddy".

In 1956 Jean Hagen quit the series. Instead of replacing her with a new wife, Danny wrote her out of the scripts by explaining that she had died. During the fourth season, the show took on a kind of "Courtship of Eddie's Father" twist as Danny spent time dating women (often with the help of his kids) in an attempt to find himself a new wife and a new mother for the children. In 1957, Danny was successful in his quest and Margjorie Lord joined the cast. Unfortunately, the wedding did not take place on the air. When the fifth season began, Danny and Kathy were just returning from their honeymoon (along with Kathy's daughter from a previous marriage).

Make Room For Daddy created some "spin-off" series. Episode # 212, "Danny Meets Andy Griffith", was the pilot episode for the "Andy Griffith Show (1960)". Episode #252, "Everything Happens To Me", was the pilot for the "Joey Bishop Show". Bill Dana also got his own series after appearing on this show.

Sherry Jackson left the show in 1958. First her disappearance was explained by having her "away at school". Then in 1959, Penny Parker replaced her in the same role. Apparently enough time had passed for viewers to accept a different actress as Terry Williams.

Danny had several agents during Make Room For Daddy's run. Most interesting was Sheldon Leonard's role as his agent because Leonard was the "real-life" producer of "Make Room for Daddy". He had also appeared in some 1953 episodes as Danny's Masseur.

Another actor who played several different roles during the series run was Hans Conried. While his best-known role was "Uncle Tonoose", he also portrayed "Cousin Carl", "Uncle Oscar" and "Derrik Campbell".

Five years after the series ended, Danny Thomas starred on another series titled, "Make Room For Grandaddy". Kathy (Marjorie Lord), Rusty (Rusty Hamer) and Linda (Angela Cartwright) also returned for that show along with a new character (Terry's son) who made Danny a "Grandaddy".

Theme Song

Title: "Danny Boy"

Written By: "Fred Weatherley"

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling 
Tis you, tis you must go, and I must bide

But come you back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so

But if you come, and all the flowers are dying
And if I am dead, as dead I may well be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an Ave there for me

And I shall hear, tho soft you tread above me
And all my dreams shall warm and sweeter be
If you will bend and tell me that you love me
Then I will sleep in peace until you come to me

Episodes List With Original Air Dates

Season 1

1. Uncle Daddy (9/29/1953)
2. Party Dress (10/6/1953)
3. Second Honeymoon (10/13/1953)
4. Mother-In-Law (10/20/1953)
5. Anniversary (10/27/1953)
6. Margaret, Non-Pro (11/3/1953)
7. The Visiting Englishman (11/10/1953)
8. The Sea Capt. (11/17/1953)
9. Thanksgiving Story (11/24/1953)
11. Margaret's Job (12/8/1953)
12. Wonderland (12/15/1953)
13. Christmas (12/22/1953)
14. Toledo (12/29/1953)
15. Margaret's Jealousy (1/5/1954)
16. Terry for President (1/12/1954)
17. True Blue Benny (1/19/1954)
18. Rusty Runs Away (1/26/1954)
19. The Professor (2/2/1954)
20. Burlesque (2/9/1954)
21. Black Eyes (2/16/1954)
22. Margaret's Birthday (2/23/1954)
23. The Matchmaker (3/2/1954)
24. Night Club (3/9/1954)
25. Terry's Career (3/16/1954)
26. School Festival (3/23/1954)
27. Rusty's Pal (3/30/1954)
28. Julia's Birthday (4/6/1954)
29. Pittsburgh (4/13/1954)
30. Danny's Vacation (4/20/1954)

Season 2

31. Family Trouble (9/28/1954)
32. Tonsillectomy (10/5/1954)
33. Terry Takes Charge (10/12/1954)
34. Danny Has a Baby (10/19/1954)
35. Military School (10/26/1954)
36. Danny Lands in Pictures (11/2/1954)
37. Hollywood Trip (11/9/1954)
38. Anniversary (11/16/1954)
39. Margaret's Aunt (11/23/1954)
40. Terry's Boyfriend (11/30/1954)
41. Margaret Feels Neglected (12/7/1954)
42. Father of the Year (12/14/1954)
43. The Anna Maria Alberghetti Show (12/21/1954)
44. The New Year's Show (12/28/1954)
45. Jesse's Romance (1/4/1955)
46. Terry Gets Her Own Room (1/11/1955)
47. Danny Goes on TV (1/18/1955)
48. Terry's First Big Crush (1/25/1955)
49. The Children's Governess (2/1/1955)
50. Daddy's Biography (2/8/1955)
51. Danny Tries Real Estate (2/15/1955)
52. Rusty Gets a Haircut (2/22/1955)
53. Terry's Teen-Age Birthday (3/1/1955)
54. Peter Pan (3/8/1955)
55. The Piano Teacher (3/22/1955)
56. The Newpaper Man's Show (3/29/1955)
57. The Philosopher (4/5/1955)
58. Father-Son Show (4/12/1955)
59. The Benefit Show (4/19/1955)
60. A Trip to Wisconsin (4/26/1955)

Season 3

61. Davy Crockett (9/13/1955)
62. Little League (9/20/1955)
63 Margaret Goes Home to Mother (9/27/1955)
64. Love Thy Neighbor (10/4/1955)
65. Rusty Gets a Job (10/11/1955)
66. Big Shot (10/18/1955)
67. Danny's Palladium Offer (10/25/1955)
68. The London Palladium (11/1/1955)
69. Sonnets from the Lebanese (11/8/1955)
70. High Society (11/15/1955)
71. The Smugglers (11/22/1955)
72. Danny's Old Girlfriend (11/29/1955)
73. Louise's Suprise Party (12/6/1955)
74. Mr. Williams Goes Legit (12/13/1955)
75. Danny Strikes Oil (12/20/1955)
76. Terry's Party (12/27/1955)
77. The Songwriter (1/17/1956)
78. Star of the Family (1/24/1956)
79. Margaret's Cousin (1/31/1956)
80. Like Father, Like Son (2/7/1956)
81. Wyatt Earp Visits the Williamses (2/14/1956)
82. Who Can Figure Kids? (2/21/1956)
83. Terry and the Sorority (2/28/1956)
84. Danny and Jesse Split (3/6/1956)
85. Terry Has a Date (3/13/1956)
86. Don't Yell at Your Children (3/20/1956)
87. Coats and Boats (3/27/1956)
88. We're Going to Chicago (4/3/1956)
89. Danny Goes on USO Tour (4/10/1956)
90. Danny's Birthday (4/17/1956)

Season 4

91. Boarding School (10/1/1956)
92. The Nelson Eddy Show (10/8/1956)
93. Problem Father (10/15/1956)
94. Be a Pal to Your Son (10/22/1956)
95. Den Mother (10/29/1956)
96. Terry at the Crossroads (11/5/1956)
97. Danny Goes to Texas (11/12/1956)
98. The Diary (11/19/1956)
99. Talented Kid (11/26/1956)
100. Danny's Comeback (12/3/1956)
101. My Fair Vocal Coach (12/10/1956)
102. Pride Takes a Holiday (12/17/1956)
103. Christmas and Clowns (12/24/1956)
104. Liz's Boyfriend (12/24/1956)
105. The School Teacher (1/7/1957)
106. Danny's Date (1/14/1957)
107. Girl from Iowa (1/21/1957)
108. Danny Goes Social (1/28/1957)
109. Lobster Story (2/4/1957)
110. The Flashback Show (2/14/1957)
111. Danny's Fiance (2/21/1957)
112. My Friend Harry (2/28/1957)
113. Uncle Tonoose Pays a Visit (3/7/1957)
114. The Model (3/14/1957)
115. The Orphan Asylum (3/21/1957)
116. Little League Umpire (3/28/1957)
117. Danny Meets Kathy (4/4/1957)
118. Men Are Men (4/11/1957)
119. Little Miss Moppet (4/18/1957)
120. Danny's Proposal (4/25/1957)

Season 5

121. Lose Me in Las Vegas (10/7/1957)
122. Terry vs. Kathy (10/14/1957)
123. Kathy Is Approved (10/21/1957)
124. The Dinah Shore Show (10/28/1957)
125. Parents are Pigeons (11/4/1957)
126. Two Sleepy People (11/11/1957)
127. Danny Meets His Father-In-Law (11/18/1957)
128. Honesty Is the Best Policy (11/25/1957)
129. Terry, the Breadwinner (12/2/1957)
130. The Non Orgs (12/9/1957)
131. The Soap Box Derby (12/16/1957)
132. Man's Best Friend (12/23/1957)
133. Chess Game (12/30/1957)
134. The Bob Hope Show (1/6/1958)
135. Evil Eye Schultz (1/13/1958)
136. The Honeymoon (1/20/1958)
137. The Raffle Tickets (1/27/1958)
138. Rusty, the Bully (2/3/1958)
139. St. Vincent's Frolics (2/10/1958)
140. Pardon My Accent (2/17/1958)
141. Terry's Crush (2/24/1958)
142. Uncle Tonoose and Mr. Daly (3/3/1958)
143. Danny Roars Again (3/10/1958)
144. The Country Girl (3/17/1958)
145. Good Old Days (3/24/1958)
146. Terry's Coach (3/31/1958)
147. Make Room for Father-In-Law (4/7/1958)
148. Family Ties (4/21/1958)
149. Danny the Performer (4/28/1958)
150. Terry's Girlfriend (5/5/1958)
151. You Gotta Be Miserable to Be Happy (5/12/1958)
152. Too Good For Words (5/19/1958)
153. Rusty, the Man (5/26/1958)

Season 6

154. The Bob Hope Show (10/6/1958)
155. Rusty, the Ward-Heeler (10/13/1958)
156. First Anniversary (10/20/1958)
157. Terry Goes Steady (10/27/1958)
158. Take a Message (11/3/1958)
159. A Locket for Linda (11/10/1958)
160. Jack Benny Takes Danny's Job (11/17/1958)
161. Uncle Tonoose's Fling (11/24/1958)
162. Linda's Tonsils (12/1/1958)
163. Dinah Shore and Danny are Rivals (12/8/1958)
164. The Reunion (12/15/1958)
165. Kathy's Career (12/22/1958)
166. Saints Come Marching In (12/29/1958)
167. Lucy Upsets the Williams Household (1/5/1959)
168. Tony Bennett Gets Danny's Help (1/12/1959)
169. Tennessee Ernie Stays for Dinner (1/19/1959)
170. Bob Hope and Danny Become Directors (1/26/1959)
171. Red Tape (2/2/1959)
172. Gina from Italy (2/9/1959)
173. Shirley Jones Makes Good (2/16/1959)
174. Gina's First Date (2/23/1959)
175. Growing Pains (3/2/1959)
176. Frankie Laine Sings for Gina (3/9/1959)
177. Kathy Leaves Danny (3/16/1959)
178. Latin Lover (3/23/1959)
179. Losers Weepers (3/30/1959)
180. Grandma's Diet (4/6/1959)
181. Double Dinner (4/20/1959)
182. Danny's Big Fan (4/27/1959)
183. Surprise Party (5/4/1959)
184. Gina for President (5/11/1959)
185. The Practical Joke (5/18/1959)
186. Linda's Giant (5/25/1959)

Season 7

187. Terry Comes Home (10/5/1959)
188. Rusty's Day in Court (10/12/1959)
189. The Chinese Doll (10/19/1959)
190. Cupid's Little Helper (10/26/1959)
191. Terry Meets Him (11/2/1959)
192. Jealousy (11/9/1959)
193. Terry Goes Bohemian (11/16/1959)
194. Rusty, the Weightlifter (11/23/1959)
195. Tonoose, the Matchmaker (11/30/1959)
196. Danny and Milton Berle Quit Show Biz (12/7/1959)
197. Danny and the Little Men (12/14/1959)
198. A Dog's Life (12/21/1959)
199. Kathy Crashes TV (12/28/1959)
200. Nightclub Owners (1/4/1960)
201. That Ol' Devil Jack Benny (1/11/1960)
202. How to Be Head of the House (1/18/1960)
203. Danny, the Housewife (1/25/1960)
204. Apple Polishers (2/1/1960)
205. Tonoose Makes Wedding Plans (2/8/1960)
206. Danny Meets Andy Griffith (2/15/1960)
207. Battle of the In-Laws (2/22/1960)
208. Eulogy for Tonoose (2/29/1960)
209. Linda Wants to Be a Boy (3/7/1960)
210. Bachelor Party (3/14/1960)
211. Danny, the Handyman (3/21/1960)
212. The Wedding (3/28/1960)
213. Three on a Honeymoon (4/4/1960)
214. The Deerfield Story (4/11/1960)
215. The Singing Delinquent (4/18/1960)
216. Rusty and the Tomboy (4/25/1960)
217. Family Portrait (5/9/1960)
218. Little Lord Fauntleroy (5/16/1960)
219. Rusty's Advice to Linda (5/23/1960)

Season 8

220. Kathy Delivers the Mail (10/3/1960)
221. Report Card (10/10/1960)
222. Danny and the Actor's School (10/17/1960)
223. Kathy and the Glamour Girl (10/31/1960)
224. Danny Proposes to His Wife (11/7/1960)
225. Kathy, the Matchmaker (11/14/1960)
226. Tonoose, the Liar (11/21/1960)
227. Linda, the Performer (11/28/1960)
228. Danny and the Dentist (12/5/1960)
229. Fugitive Father (12/12/1960)
230. Singing Sisters (12/19/1960)
231. Rusty the Rat (12/26/1960)
232. The Plant (1/2/1961)
233. Democracy at Work (1/9/1961)
234. You Can Fight City Hall (1/16/1961)
235. The Whoopee Show (1/23/1961)
236. The Rum Cake (1/30/1961)
237. Tonoose, the Boss (2/6/1961)
238. Rusty, the Millionaire (2/13/1961)
239. Good Old Burlesque (2/20/1961)
240. Four Angels (2/27/1961)
241. The Scrubwoman (3/13/1961)
242. Everything Happens to Me (3/27/1961)
243. Old Man Danny (4/3/1961)
244. Danny and the Hoodlums (4/10/1961)
245. Rusty's Punishment (4/17/1961)
246. The Scoutmaster (4/24/1961)
247. The Magician (5/1/1961)
248. The Woman Behind the Man (5/8/1961)
249. Teenage Thrush (5/15/1961)
250. The Party Wrecker (5/22/1961)

Season 9

251. For Every Man There's a Woman (10/2/1961)
252. Linda Runs Away (10/9/1961)
253. Love Letters (10/16/1961)
254. The Trumpet Player (10/23/1961)
255. Tonoose vs. Daly (10/30/1961)
256. Hen Pecked Charley (11/13/1961)
257. Danny Weaves a Web (11/20/1961)
258. Danny and Durante (11/27/1961)
259. Danny and the Brownies (12/4/1961)
260. Tonoose's Plot (12/11/1961)
261. Keeping Up With the Joneses (12/18/1961)
262. Teacher for a Day (12/25/1961)
263. Useless Charley (1/1/1962)
264. A Baby for Charley (1/8/1962)
265. Linda the Tomboy (1/15/1962)
266. The Big Fight (1/22/1962)
267. Cassanova Tonoose (1/29/1962)
268. Charley Does It Himself (2/5/1962)
269. The P.T.A. Bash (2/12/1962)
270. A Nose By Any Other Name (2/19/1962)
271. Cassanova Junior (2/26/1962)
272. Temper, Temper (3/5/1962)
273. Hunger Strike (3/12/1962)
274. Bunny Cooks a Meal (3/19/1962)
275. Jose's Protoge (3/26/1962)
276. Danny and Bob Hope Get Away from it All (4/2/1962)
277. Extrasensory Charley (4/9/1962)
278. Kathy, the Pro (4/16/1962)
279. A Promise is a Promise (4/23/1962)
280. The Smart Aleck (4/30/1962)
281. Baby (5/7/1962)

Season 10

282. The Baby Hates Charley (10/1/1962)
283. Danny's Replacement (10/8/1962)
284. What Are Friends For? (10/15/1962)
285. The British Sense of Humor (10/22/1962)
286. Jose Rents the Cops (10/29/1962)
287. Rusty for President (11/5/1962)
288. A-Hunting We Will Go (11/12/1962)
289. Ten Years Ago Today (11/19/1962)
290. Jose the Scholar (11/26/1962)
291. The Ould Sod (12/3/1962)
292. Tonoose, Life of the Party (12/10/1962)
293. Danny's English Friend (12/17/1962)
294. Bunny the Brownie Leader (12/24/1962)
295. Charley the Artist (12/31/1962)
296. Lost French Boy (1/7/1963)
297. Jose the Dog Sitter (1/14/1963)
298. Tonoose Needs Glasses (1/21/1963)
299. Million Dollar Dress (1/28/1963)
300. Rusty's Birthday(2/4/1963)
301. Charley the Tiger (2/11/1963)
302. The Roman Patriot (2/18/1963)
303. Jose's Listd Tour (2/25/1963)
304. Bunny's Cousin (3/4/1963)
305. When In Rome (3/11/1963)
306. That Old Feeling (3/18/1963)
307. Louise to the Rescue (3/25/1963)
308. Venetian Melody (4/1/1963)
309. Charley My Boy (4/8/1963)
310. Linda, the Grownup (4/15/1963)
311. Homecoming (4/22/1963)
312. Tonoose's Brother (4/29/1963)
313. Jose's Rival (5/6/1963)

Season 11

314. The Country Squires (9/30/1963)
315. The Perfect Crime (10/7/1963)
316. Here's the $50 Back (10/14/1963)
317. The Woman Behind the Jokes (10/21/1963)
318. Title Unknown (10/28/1963)
319. Title Unknown (11/4/1963)
320. My Fair Uncle (11/11/1963)
321. Shy Alfie (11/18/1963)
322. Oh, the Clancys (12/2/1963)
323. The Hex (12/9/1963)
324. The Two Musketeers (12/16/1963)
325. Christmas Story (12/23/1963)
326. Peaceful Co-Existence (12/30/1963)
327. The Bowling Partners (1/6/1964)
328. Linda's Crush (1/13/1964)
329. Kathy, the Secretary (1/20/1964)
330. The Quiz Show (1/27/1964)
331. Howdy, Neighbors (2/3/1964)
332. The Antique Dealers (2/10/1964)
333. Bunny Gets Into the Act (2/17/1964)
334. Sense of Humor (2/24/1964)
335. Tonoose Gets a Job (3/2/1964)
336. The Leprechaun (3/9/1964)
337. Pupa from Italy (3/16/1964)
338. Pupa's Pooch (3/23/1964)
339. Pupa Loves Rusty (3/30/1964)
340. Beautiful Lady (4/6/1964)
341. Call off the Hounds (4/13/1964)
342. Rusty and the Chorus Girl (4/20/1964)
343. The Persistent Cop (4/27/1964)