News

Nichelle Nichols and Don Marshall starred in a historic 1964 teleplay

It was the first teleplay written by an African-American woman to air on network television.June 2, 2020, 2:26PM By MeTV Staff MGM TelevisionShare

In 1963, Ann Flagg was earning her master’s degree in theatre arts at Northwestern University while also teaching grade-school drama. An assignment in one of her college classes would turn into an opportunity to meet future TV stars Nichelle Nichols and Don Marshall and see her work broadcast to millions of people across the country.

Flagg told Jet magazine in 1964 she, “Originally wrote the play as an exercise in ‘tension and economy of words, paring it down to the bare bones.'” Titled Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’, the play won first prize in the Samuel French Annual Inter-collegiate Playwriting Contest. Flagg soon received word from TV producer Joe Scully, who wanted to film the play on the CBS show Repertoire Workshop. The program was created to showcase new writing and acting talent and he felt Flagg and her script deserved to be highlighted.

In Great Getting’ Up Mornin’ Nichelle Nichols and Don Marshall play parents whose 6-year-old daughter is about to be one of the first black 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren allowed to attend a previously all-white school. The episode was first broadcast in Los Angeles in January of 1964 then in cities all over the country a month later.

That same year, Nichols and Marshall also starred as a couple in an episode of The Lieutenant (pictured above), the military drama created by Gene Roddenberry. The Star Trek creator would, of course, later cast Nichols as Lt. Uhura, but Marshall also made an appearance on the space series in the episode “The Galileo Seven” — not to mention his other role on the Irwin Allen adventure series Land of the Giants.

In their earthly roles as Joanne and Chris Logan, part of an exclusively African-American cast, Nichols and Marshall were an important part of a historic television first. Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’ was the first teleplay written by an African-American woman to be broadcast on television. Writer Ann Flagg was even flown out to meet the cast and work with the show’s producers and director during filming!

Related Posts

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Utah date sparks backlash over NFL star’s presence around the pop sensation

Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce were recently spotted on a dinner date in Park City, Utah, marking their first public appearance since the Super Bowl in…

Breaking News: Last night, NFL superstar Travis Kelce and pop sensation Taylor Swift officially tied the knot in a jaw-dropping ceremony that left fans and A-listers in awe! The couple’s whirlwind romance, which began in 2023, reached its unforgettable climax with a lavish celebration attended by the biggest names in sports and entertainment. SEE 10 EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS of the Star-Studded Wedding!

In an event that had the world buzzing, NFL superstar Travis Kelce and global pop sensation Taylor Swift tied the knot in a stunning ceremony that no one…

Blake Lively Loses Over 1.2 Million Instagram Followers While Justin Baldoni Has Gained Amid Their Feud

In a surprising turn of events, Hollywood stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have found themselves in the middle of a public feud, sparking a massive social media…

Bill Gates Strikes Back at Elon Musk, Announces $333 Million Offer to Buy X—Musk’s Immediate Reaction Shakes the Internet!

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is known for making headlines with his social media statements. In a recent post on X, Musk made a bold claim, stating…

Elon Musk’s Daughter Reveals The Real Reason He Hates That She’s Trans—And Yep, That Tracks

Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s estranged trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, revealed why Musk despises her trans identity so much. The SpaceX cofounder has made several transphobic comments, including his belief that gender reassignment surgery was…

In an interview on CNN, MAGA Senator Markwayne Mullin made the correct point that a tariff is a tax that is “passed on to consumers,” a fact that Trump has refused to acknowledge.

Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin admitted the truth about tariffs in an interview with CNN, making the correct point that tariffs are taxes “passed on to consumers,” a…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *