Richard Matheson (1926-2013)

Remembering When TV Didn't Suck

20 television icons from the '50s and 60s will be honored on a set of first-class postage stamps, "Early TV Memories" to be released Aug. 11 by The U.S. Postal Service.

The stylish set consists of stamps depicting (as seen above) Milton Berle; I LOVE LUCY stars Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance; host Red Skelton; goofy puppet Howdy Doody; DRAGNET star Jack Webb; canine superstar Lassie; William Boyd, also known as HOPALONG CASSIDY; YOU BET YOUR LIFE host Groucho Marx; the ever-lovely Dinah Shore; Sunday night legend Ed Sullivan; Kukla, Fran and Ollie; Phil Silvers of SGT. BILKO fame; The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) and Silver; PERRY MASON star and gay actor Raymond Burr; Director and TV host Alfred Hitchcock; The wonderful George Burns and Gracie Allen; the iconic Ozzie and Harriet Nelson; TV mastermind and host Steve Allen; TWILIGHT ZONE creator and host Rod Serling; and THE HONEYMOONERS, with the stars Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. Yes, they left out some classics (Jack Benny, WHAT'S MY LINE? and others), but I'm hoping this is just the first of many sets.