I have been watching some episodes of the early 1950s TV series THE BEAULAH SHOW...it is a lot of fun! And for as show that only lasted 2 season's it sure had a LOT of cast changes.
Evidently the first season was filmed in New York and starred Ethel Waters as Beaulah. The following season the show relocated to Los Angeles and the entire cast changed. Either Ethel Waters became ill and couldn't continue in the role or she did not want to relocate to the west coast, I don't know, but Lousie Beavers, Hattie McDaniel, and Amanda Randolph all played Beaulah the following season...either Louise or Hattie died during the show's run and I don't know the reason for the other actress leaving...but no having seen Ethel, Hattie, and Louise all play the character on TV I must say that I prefer Ethel...in fact, I enjoyed the New York actors better...or maybe it was the New York director that was just better.
However, Stuffy Singer who played son Donnie during season two is quite good.
Oh, and Butterfly McQueen plays Beulah's friend Oriele in the first season and she is hilarioius...in fact she really steals the show!!!! Rudy Dandridge took over the role the second season and is not nearly as amusing.
Really the show is identical to the later series HAZEL...except that in BEULAH the family's maid is black and in HAZEL she is white.
There was some controversy with THE BEULAH SHOW (because Beulah is a maid to a white family), but more protests were aimed towards AMOS AND ANDY which was airing at the same time and was a more popular show.
I couldn't tell you if either show deserved the controversy and protests (I have never seen AMOS AND ANDY) but I can say that THE BEULAH SHOW is cute and funny at times and never seemed to belittle anyone...the family treated Beulah, and her boyfriend William, just like they were a part of the family (and both black performers had their names above everyone else in the show).
So there you are...you mileage may vary.
