The Soldiers (TV series)

The Soldiers was a 1955 NBC 11-episode summer sitcom starring Hal March, Tom D'Andrea, Red Pearson, and John Dehner.[1][2][3][4] The series was sent in mono and black and white. It was directed by Bud Yorkin and written by Hal March and Tom D'Andrea. On television the half-hour series was broadcast on Saturdays from June 25, 1955 to September 3, 1955.

The series featuring the misadventures of two reluctant privates played by March and D'Andrea; John Dehner as the captain, and Red Pearson as the sergeant. Mickey Rooney guest starred in one segment. The Soldiers was Hal March's first starring role in a television series. [5]

March and D'Andrea, who used their first names as series characters, had previously appeared in these same roles on the NBC anthology series, The Colgate Comedy Hour. In one episode a soldier becomes depressed because he cannot see his wife on their anniversary, having sent her a bus ticket to meet him. Without money for the meal, Hal and Tom raise funds for the soldier but wind up in jail doing so.[5]

After the series failed to take root, D'Andrea returned to his role as Jim Gillis on William Bendix's NBC sitcom, The Life of Riley; March became host of CBS's The $64,000 Question.