The Golden Junkman (1956) User Reviews (2)

A Wonderful Pilot Episode

[Rainey-Dawn · 8/10 · 10 October 2015]

The Golden Junkman is the first episode for the TV show "Telephone Time" (it's Season 1, Episode 1). It stars Lon Chaney, Jr.

It's good heartfelt story of a man named Jules Samenian (Chaney) who wanted his two sons to have a better life and education than he had. Jules becomes a US Greek immigrant with his wife and 2 boys. His wife dies and he's left alone to raise his sons.

Jules becomes a very successful Junkman but his sons find themselves embarrassed over this while in school. By the time they enter college it becomes more than they can take when the other students make fun of them over their father's success as a Junkman. What does Jules do to make things right? You'll have to watch to find out the answer.

8/10

Debut episode stars Lon Chaney

[kevinolzak · 8/10 · 10 September 2011]

John Nesbitt (PASSING PARADE) was the initial host for this dramatic anthology series, and the debut episode, "The Golden Junkman," starred Lon Chaney in the title role of Jules Samenian, a Greek immigrant of unpolished English, who becomes the new manager of a junkyard owned by his friend Constantin (Peter Brocco). The ambitious Jules brings his family over from the old country, but a flu epidemic strikes down his wife, leaving the distraught husband alone to raise their two young sons. A cherished set of encyclopedias enables the boys to educate themselves, until their father is able to enroll them in military school, eventually graduating with honors. By this time, Jules has diversified and expanded the junkyard to include 20 more, becoming known as The Golden Junkman, while his pride in his sons' success is tempered by the ridicule they receive about their unschooled father, who they feel is smothering them. His initial pain at learning the truth manifests itself into a determination to become a learned student at a rival school, eventually earning a Bachelors' degree which he accepts in front of his two boys. Lon Chaney's wife Patsy later referred to this as her husband's finest television performance, supported by Thomas Browne Henry and young Corey Allen.