That’s My Boy (1954-1955)

1954 Publicity shot for That’s My Boy tv show also featuring Jarring Jack Jackson played by Eddie Mayehoff
In the 1954 television season, Stratton was a regular on the This Eisenhower-era CBS situation comedy That’s My Boy. This live television sitcom starring Eddie Mayehoff and Gil was based on the 1951 Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis film of the same name from 1951. He played the Jerry Lewis role of Junior Jackson. It was ironic that Gil, a sports fan and future L.A. Rams announcer, played the bookish un-athletic son of a retired football star Jarring Jack Jackson (played by Eddie Mayhoff). the character, Junior was being pushed into playing football by his dad, a construction contractor. His mother ‘Alice Jackson’ was played by the actress Rochelle Hudson, who funnily was only six years older than Gil at the time of filming!
Gil got a 2 page article in Life Magazine for his work on this show in the August 23, 1954 issue.

1954 LIFE Magazine spread Don’t Kill this Umpire. Gil Stratton is also an actor who plays a harmless Milquetoast on TV.

1954 LIFE Magazine spread Don’t Kill this Umpire. Gil Stratton is also an actor who plays a harmless Milquetoast on TV.

1954 LIFE Magazine spread Don’t Kill this Umpire. Gil Stratton is also an actor who plays a harmless Milquetoast on TV.

As an Umpire Gil Stratton calls a ball foul during play in a Pacific Coast League game. He began umpiring in high school where he also played hockey. From LIFE Magazine

1954 Publicity shot for That’s My Boy tv show also featuring Jarring Jack Jackson played by Eddie Mayehoff