The Laytons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network, from August to October 1948. The series starred Amanda Randolph, who became the first African-American performer in a regular role on a U.S. network TV series. It co-starred Vera Tatum and Broadway actress Elizabeth Brew. Overview According to The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, "little is known about the content of this early series". The 30-minute program, produced and distributed by DuMont, aired on Wednesdays at 8pm (ET) on DuMont's affiliate stations. The program had been seen locally on DuMont's New York flagship station WABD, beginning in May/June 1948. According to Donald Bogle, the series made such a small impression that few remember The Laytons. However, the program paved the way for later TV shows starring or featuring black actors. The final episode of the program aired on October 13, 1948. Later in 1948, Randolph appeared again on DuMont, on a daytime series titled Amanda. Episode status As with most DuMont series, no recorded episodes of The Laytons are known to still exist. See also List of programs broadcast by the DuMont Television Network List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts 1948-49 United States network television schedule References Bibliography David Weinstein, The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2004) Alex McNeil, Total Television, Fourth edition (New York: Penguin Books, 1980) Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, Third edition (New York: Ballantine Books, 1964) External links DuMont historical website 1948 American television series debuts 1948 American television series endings 1940s American sitcoms American black sitcoms Black-and-white American television shows DuMont Television Network original programming Lost television shows