East Side/ West Side (1963) - w/ James Earl Jones & Cicely Tyson

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Published 2018-11-20

East Side/West Side is an American drama series starring George C. Scott, Elizabeth Wilson, Cicely Tyson, and later on, Linden Chiles. The series aired for one season (1963–1964) and was shown Monday nights on CBS.

Set in New York City, the show explored issues of urban life, some of them grim. Though it won critical praise, it also generated some controversy. TV Guide ranked it #6 on their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon" -
The series centers on Scott in the role of Neil Brock, a New York City social worker who worked for the private agency Community Welfare Service, with his secretary, Jane Foster, played by actress Cicely Tyson. Episodes of East Side/West Side covered topics relevant to the inner city, with many controversial issues explored.

An exemplary episode of East Side/West Side entitled "Who Do You Kill?" aired on 4 November 1963. The story portrays how a black couple in their early twenties living in a Harlem tenement face the death of their infant daughter, who is bitten by a rat while in her crib. Diana Sands played the mother who works in a neighborhood bar to support the family. Her husband, played by James Earl Jones, is frustrated by unemployment and grows more bitter each day.
--Wikipedia/Mary Ann Watson

Big ups to JoeyBoey the original poster. this episode is missing 5 minutes but has great performances from Scott, Tyson, Diana Sands and James Earl Jones remain powerful.

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All Comments (21)

@schreck2020 3 years ago

This TV series was very important to me during sophomore year in high school and was one of the reasons I became a lawyer. I grew up in a very provincial community, in the Chicago metropolitan area that included redlining and discrimination against people of different religions, races, and nationalities. This TV series opened my eyes to how other people lived. Each week I watched a different social issue being addressed by caring, empathetic people. The stories were compelling. The series was also an opportunity to see great acting performances by people from different ethnicities and races. The series may have only lasted one season ... but it impressed me deeply and it became a “watershed” series for many fine TV shows that followed. This episode is one of the best. And so many of the actors went on to brilliant careers and honors. Thank you for letting me see it again.
@mazzb305 5 years ago

This channel is truly a treasure. Thanks for all the work you do, it's greatly appreciated.
@tracyd1233 5 years ago

I was 16 when this show was on TV. It influenced me to choose Medical Social Work as a profession. Haven't seen this since 1963. Thank you for uploading.
@GarwinWayne 5 years ago

Diana Sands..that was a gorgeous woman. Too bad many people don't know of her. A pioneer on the Broadway circuit, childhood friends with Diahann Carroll. RIP
@tangie7 5 years ago

Very good drama...I wasnt born then, but I never heard of this drama or seen a rerun. I love anything with Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones in it. The waitress was Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun.
@boomerang905 3 years ago

Diana Sands has been gone forever and I still miss her. This series aired when I was in 8th grade and I loved it!! Cicely looked like a girl, and she was nearing middle age even then! Black genes keep on growing!
@TrangPakbaby 5 years ago

We lost someone real special when we lost Diana Sands. Thank god we have her films that live on. Rip sweet angel 😘
@wotchermystic2335 2 years ago

Reading the comments, so many people credit it with influencing their choice in profession. It’s amazing to see how many people’s lives this series affected in only one season.
@nyterpfan 5 years ago

This TV series only lasted one season. Why?? It was too intelligent, and too real!! The network suits don't usually let something this good last for very long, sad to say.
@gayle2020 4 years ago

Cicely Tyson was the first and only person I had ever seen that wore an afro on tv. Back then we didn't know about an 'afro'. It was hair that wasn't straightened with a hot comb!!!! I was in shock and particularly intrigued. Next thing you knew it was the style to have and I made sure I had mine!!
@teacherjansfavorites 5 years ago

I remember watching this show with my mother when I was around 11 years old. I am so happy to see a lot of these coming back on YouTube. Even at that young age I knew that this was a great show. Too bad a lot of people have never seen it, but you are giving them the opportunity here on YouTube. Thanks!
@AK-jw7rx 3 years ago

This show was so far ahead of its time. The performances were iconic. I wonder if the doctors really did all they could or they just let the little girl die bc they didn't care. #RIPCicelyTyson
@kaila62kaila 5 years ago

The story is sad. But what great performances from James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson and Diana Sands!
@darrincobb6714 3 years ago

I can why it only lasted 1 season but it was enough to pass the torch light. Thanks for digging it out.
@kimwingate4541 3 years ago

Thank you for showing this to me my brother's went to Diana Sands school in the bronx my mother always told us she was a great lady that died to soon
@cojaysea 1 year ago

I remember this show as a 12 year old , I’ve never forgotten it because of the realistic and serious topics . The following is from Wikipedia Despite the high quality of both the writing and acting, the show's penchant for taking on touchy topics forced many potential advertisers to avoid sponsorship of the show, while a number of local stations across the country also chose not to present the program to their viewers. It is said that CBS programming head James Aubrey clashed with Scott regarding the direction of the show, which also was a factor in the cancellation.[3] Oh and thanks for the upload . They don’t make them like that anymore.
@levernthompson5577 3 years ago

I was just born in March of '63. I never heard of Diana Sands before or have I ever seen this series. ONE THING I KNOW, THESE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES ARE THE EPITOME' OF EXCELLENCE IN EVERY WAY
@christhomas5761 5 years ago

Diana Sands was such great actress... So sad she only lived about 10 /years after this film, died in her thirties.
@PatriciaRuthLewis 3 years ago

I remember it like it was yesterday, I watched it every week Ms Cicely Tyson(Black ensembles) were rare to find on TV back in the 50's and 60's that's why I was eating this show up Cicely played Secretary to (George C Scott's) character who was a Social worker she was a trailblazer. RIP always and forever in our hearts.
@husseinm.4723 3 years ago

It's such a shame we lost Diana Sands so early -- she would've been a big star.