Sitcoms Online Photo Galleries - Ezio Pinza as Bonino

Bonino aired from September until December 1953 on NBC.

This live situation comedy starred the operatic basso Ezio Pinza as Bonino, a world famous concert singer. Bonino's wife had died, leaving him with 8 children to support.He abandoned his professional touring-much to the chagrin of his concert manager, Walter Rogers ( David Opatoshu) , and Rusty his valet(Mike Kellin)-but found that his children had grown very independent during his absence.

The rest of the cast included Mary Wickes as Martha, the maid; Conrad Janis ( later of Mork And Mindy fame), as eldest son Edward; Lenka Petterson as daughter Doris; Chet Allen ( and later Donald Harris), as son Terry; Oliver Andes as son Carlo; Gaye Huston as daughter Francesca; and Van Dyke Parks as son Andrew.Parks grew up to be a rock-music producer and composer and cowrote ( with Brian Wilson), the Beach Boys hits " Heroes And Villians" and " Surf's Up."

Mr. Pinza sang once during each episode.

For a biography of Ezio Pinza go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezio_Pinza

For more on Bonino including an interview with Van Dyke Parks go to www.tvdads.com/tvdparks.shtml

For a page celebrating the life of Mary wickes go to www.lucyfan.com/marywickes.html

To watch Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin sing " Some Enchanted Evening" on a 1954 General Electrics TV Special go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1qpQb11YWc