# His Honor, Homer Bell

His Honor, Homer Bell is a half-hour filmed American sitcom series made by NBC Films for first-run syndication. It starred Gene Lockhart in the title role. Thirty-nine episodes were produced by NBC in 1955. The first station that aired the series was KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, starting February 24, 1955. Station WJAC-TV in Johnstown, Pennsylvania was still running it as late as January 1961.

## Premise

Homer Bell (Gene Lockhart) is both an elected judge and a practising attorney in midwestern Spring City. He is a middle-aged widower, who is guardian to his orphaned niece, fifteen year-old Cassandra "Casey" Bell (Mary Lee Dearring). They are both looked after by the housekeeper-cook Maude (Jane Moultrie). Casey is a tomboy whose efforts to help her uncle often backfire. Maude is a superb cook, who is often recruited to change employers. Homer Bell, well regarded by his constituents, nevertheless finds himself landing in situations which might compromise their good will. He also can't resist helping anyone who seeks his aid.

## Production

Despite its supposed midwestern setting, the series was produced by Galahad Productions at the NBC Films studio in Brooklyn. Himan Brown was the producer for Galahad; he also directed some episodes. Other directors included Derwin Abbe and Will Price. There was no pilot episode as such, since NBC produced it for syndication. The show started filming in late 1954; by mid-January 1955 NBC felt confident enough to advertise the 39 episode package of shows in a trade paper. Midwood High School in Brooklyn was used for exterior shots of the Spring City courthouse.

## Reception

There was very little critical response to this show, not unusual for a syndicated series without a major star. Critic Allen Rich said it was "much ado about nothing".

## Broadcast history

The first episode broadcast was on Thursday, February 24, 1955, by KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. The initial sponsor at KCOP-TV and other West Coast cities was the Union Pacific Railroad. Within a month, stations in Nebraska, Texas, Oregon, and Washington had started showing it. Since it was syndicated, stations ran it on different days of the week, and at various times, usually before or after network programming in the evening. Since there was no continuity between episodes, stations ran them in whichever sequence suited them.

### Episodes

For clarity, "Original Air Date" is based on the first major broadcaster of the series, KCOP Channel 13 in Los Angeles. Episode titles and summaries are accurate where given but incomplete, and possibly out of original air date sequence. Cast lists are unknown save for one episode.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | 1 | "This Old House" | Unknown | Unknown | February 24, 1955 (1955-02-24) |
| Cousin Edwin is on his annual visit with schemes to fix up the Bell home. Cast: Parker Fennelly ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Driver's License" | Unknown | Ed Jurist | March 3, 1955 (1955-03-03) |
| Judge Bell forgets to renew his driver's license then gets stopped by cop. Cast: ||||||
| 3 | 3 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | March 10, 1955 (1955-03-10) |
| With Maude away, Casey tries to make dinner for the Governor. Cast: ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Homer's Birthday" | Derwin Abbe | Ed Jurist | March 17, 1955 (1955-03-17) |
| Cast: Staato Cotsworth, Bill Zuckert, Bill Martell ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Man She Loved" | Unknown | Ed Jurist | March 24, 1955 (1955-03-24) |
| Homer Bell hears an old flame is in town so he hides out. Cast: ||||||
| 6 | 6 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | March 31, 1955 (1955-03-31) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Courtship" | Unknown | Unknown | April 7, 1955 (1955-04-07) |
| Judge thinks Casey wants a mom so he decides to go wooing. Cast: ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Cooknappers" | Unknown | Unknown | April 14, 1955 (1955-04-14) |
| Judge invites friends for dinner but they try to steal Maude from him. Cast: ||||||
| 9 | 9 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | April 21, 1955 (1955-04-21) |
| A dog joins the Bell household causing commotion. Cast: ||||||
| 10 | 10 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | April 28, 1955 (1955-04-28) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Aunt Kathryn" | Unknown | Unknown | May 6, 1955 (1955-05-06) |
| The Bell household is visited by Aunt Kathryn. Cast: ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Casey at the Bat!" | Unknown | Ed Jurist | May 13, 1955 (1955-05-13) |
| Local women protest when Casey is kicked off the boys' baseball team. Cast: ||||||
| 13 | 13 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | May 20, 1955 (1955-05-20) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 14 | 14 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | May 27, 1955 (1955-05-27) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Timmy" | Unknown | Unknown | June 3, 1955 (1955-06-03) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 16 | 16 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | June 10, 1955 (1955-06-10) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 17 | 17 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | June 17, 1955 (1955-06-17) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 18 | 18 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | June 24, 1955 (1955-06-24) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 19 | 19 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | July 1, 1955 (1955-07-01) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 20 | 20 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | July 8, 1955 (1955-07-08) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 21 | 21 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | July 15, 1955 (1955-07-15) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 22 | 22 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | July 22, 1955 (1955-07-22) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 23 | 23 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | July 29, 1955 (1955-07-29) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 24 | 24 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | August 5, 1955 (1955-08-05) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 25 | 25 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | August 12, 1955 (1955-08-12) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 26 | 26 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | August 19, 1955 (1955-08-19) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 27 | 27 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | August 26, 1955 (1955-08-26) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 28 | 28 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | September 2, 1955 (1955-09-02) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 29 | 29 | "School Play" | Unknown | Unknown | September 9, 1955 (1955-09-09) |
| Trying to help Casey's school play, Homer gets stuck in a suit of armor. Cast: ||||||
| 30 | 30 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | September 16, 1955 (1955-09-16) |
| Judge must settle dispute between pretty young gal and snobbish woman. Cast: ||||||
| 31 | 31 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | September 23, 1955 (1955-09-23) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 32 | 32 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | September 30, 1955 (1955-09-30) |
| Judge hosts party at which friend unexpectedly doesn't announce engagement. Cast: ||||||
| 33 | 33 | TBA | Unknown | Unknown | October 7, 1955 (1955-10-07) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 34 | 34 | "The Shutterbug" | Unknown | Unknown | October 14, 1955 (1955-10-14) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 35 | 35 | "Red Tape" | Unknown | Unknown | October 23, 1955 (1955-10-23) |
| The Judge gets entangled in official forms and documents Cast: ||||||
| 36 | 36 | "Aunt Catherine Story" | Unknown | Unknown | October 30, 1955 (1955-10-30) |
| The Judge once again gets caught up in unwanted marriage plans. Cast: ||||||
| 37 | 37 | "Substitute Sitter" | Unknown | Unknown | November 7, 1955 (1955-11-07) |
| Casey can't keep babysitting date so Homer substitutes for her. Cast: ||||||
| 38 | 38 | "Equal Justice" | Unknown | Unknown | November 14, 1955 (1955-11-14) |
| Cast: ||||||
| 39 | 39 | "The Farm" | Unknown | Unknown | November 21, 1955 (1955-11-21) |
| Cast: ||||||