User reviews

I have fond memories of "Hank" and remember watching it religiously on Friday nights. I was in the seventh grade when the show was on. I thought it was extremely clever, and it contributed to a fascination with college that I already had. (I ended up spending 13 years in college and graduate school--but I took all my classes legally!) As I remember, the college president's major crusade was trying to catch students who audited classes. A few years later, he would have been happy if the biggest problem on campus was unregistered students sitting in on classes. I also remember that the president's daughter was Hank's girlfriend and that she knew all about Hank's illegal activities. In retrospect, however, I have to wonder why Hank could not have gotten an athletic scholarship since he was such a fabulous athlete. I don't remember seeing the last episode that wrapped up the show. It is too bad the network did not renew it.

I remember this show from watching the original broadcasts when I was pretty young, only I did not correctly remember the title. I recall the sub-theme that Hank could run so fast that the athletic coach wanted to know who he was, there was a certain implied irony (he was a natural athlete and could probably have attended college on a scholarship if he wasn't so preoccupied with auditing for free and running away). Long ago I tried to remember what the show was called and I confused the title with another show of the era so I probably doubly confused folks when I was reminiscing.

Anyhow, the show made a positive impression on me and I too had the problem of no one else having seen or remembered it until I did a Google search and stumbled upon it here.

I remember this show well from my childhood, along with the other TV sitcom Camp Runamuck. I was in 5th grade when this show came out and watched every episode. It was funny, and to this day every once in awhile, the show's catchy theme pops into my head and I try to remember the lyrics. I saw the lyrics elsewhere on this site or another only today and can finally see what they are, because I had long forgotten them. I liked the show because Hank was always a positive guy, doing his best to take care of his sister, get a good education and better himself. Of course, all the running around, the costume changes and his efforts to get an education on the sly kept me entertained. I too remember the last episode when he was caught, but in the end, it had a happy ending. Being just a kid who really loved the show, I watched knowing it was the final episode and stayed glued to the tube through the closing credits and the last run of the theme song. Isn't it something how some shows touch you and are remembered fondly in your memory as you're growing up? By the way, the notion of somebody repeatedly slipping into classes without paying, etc. isn't so far-fetched. It was recently in the newspaper here in Southern California about some guy attending several college courses to learn, yet he was never enrolled in them. I can't remember the rest of this true incident, but it did happen.

I'm doing this all from a memory that's 34 years old, so I may make some mistakes. What I remember about this delightfully funny program is:

Hank and his sister are orphans. They don't wish to be put in an orphanage, so Hank uses makeup and disguises to fool the authorities into believing that they are being cared for by an adult. Hank's scheme snow balls as he is forced to lie and pretend to be all sorts of people in order to keep the charade going without being caught. All the while, Hank is trying to get himself a good education (pretending to be someone he's not) so that he can better support his sister and remain independent.

I don't remember how long this series ran, but it is one of the very few that I can recall that actually had a closing episode.

Hank, in a zany and furious attempt to disguise himself as several people at once -- being one person in one place and then switching costumes, personas, and rooms at break-neck speed -- Hank is finally caught and his terrible secret revealed, much to the amazement of all. It is decided that Hank has shown tremendous resourcefulness and is granted his wish to remain in college and preserve his family, under the guardianship of one of the adults who knows him...one of his professors, I think.

As a child, I found this show extremely funny, maybe because I wished my own brothers were as nice as Hank. Oh well....

Wholesome television show of the 1960s where a young Hank wishes to pursue a college degree. Born of poverty, and an orphan, Hank doesn't let that get in his way as he desperately tries to pursue that degree.

Remember the words of the song to this show? He'll get his degree, his Phi Beta Key and do it all for free....that's Hank!

How he managed to sit in on classes to attain his goal was often quite hilarious.

Who remembers Coach Weiss and his wife Ethel?

This show was a good one because it valued education. It showed that with it, doors can open for you. Yes, opportunity in a comical way.

I barely remembered this series from when I was a kid. Even then I thought the premise was interesting ... dropping IN to classes. :-)

Hank is college age, and he has an elementary school age sister. They're orphans. Hank runs every sort of business he can think of to create an income to provide for his sister. He has a truck with drinks and sandwiches and just about everything a college student needs. He runs a laundry service, he runs errands ... you name it.

He ALSO "drops in" to classes whenever he knows a student will be absent, wearing disguises and often running afoul of the Dean of Admissions, who also happens to be his girlfriend's father.

A few years ago I discovered the series in DVD "on demand" and bought it. We weren't disappointed. The series is funny and charming.

The reason I remember this show is because of my cousin, Katie Sweet, appearing in it. I was pretty young at the time and was thrilled to know someone from a TV show, even though I would see her only at family reunions. Katie Sweet was a child actress that appeared in numerous episodes of television shows at the time. Besides Hank, Katie appeared on Bonanza, The Fugitives, The Farmers Daughter, Lassie, Wagon Train, The Lucy Show, Ben Casey, and many others. She had an uncredited role in the movie Roustabout, and was one of the schoolchildren in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". She was related to the Grotes from Kentucky and would come to the reunions. She was not one of those spoiled child stars that you think of. Lost track of her in later years but I have heard she still lives in California.

I was researching director Leslie Martinson because I really liked his directing in an episode of Run For Your Life, came across Hank in a list of his directing credits and immediately remembered it.

I enjoyed this show a lot as a kid (3rd grade).

I distinctly remember one episode of this show where there was a Tom Boy like female character that was caught playing with dolls. She recovered from what to her was an embarrassing revelation by saying she used the dolls to practice "hand to hand combat."

Don't know if this was a guest star character of it was the Doris Royal character played by Linda Foster but I still remember that episode even though I probably only saw it once 48 years ago.

Too bad they never show this show in reruns but most shows that only lasted one season from that era do not get replayed.

I wish that Richard Kallman were better remembered as an artist than for this short-lived television series which didn't quite last a year. He was cast as the title character named Hank who in addition to supporting younger siblings with various endeavors was gaining a college education for free. The education mind you, not the accreditation for the courses he was auditing by various ways each week.

Hank was certainly one silly series. But as pointed out no sillier than My Mother the Car or even a successful show like Gilligan's Island. But Richard Kallman was destined to gain far more notoriety in the manner of his demise.

I was still in the closet back in 1980 and working for New York State Crime Victims Board when I was assigned a claim by Zara Kallman who was Richard's mom. Richard Kallman was a closeted gay man who by 1980 had left the acting profession and become a noted art dealer. On February 22, 1980 Richard Kallman and his partner Stephen Szladek were murdered in Kallman's apartment by three men who gained entrance and stole a lot of valuable art, antiques, and jewelry. It was a well planned and executed heist and it took over a year before the three were caught and even longer for them to be tried, convicted, and given lengthy prison sentances.

Through Zara Kallman I got to know Richard. Zara was living in California and Dick helped when he could. A dutiful son indeed.

I've no doubt Dick Kallman was victimized because even 11 years after Stonewall celebrities were not rushing to break down closet doors. We've seen in the past few years a lot of them break free from the closet like Neil Patrick Harris, George Takei, Ellen DeGeneres, and most recently Clay Aiken. Kallman's killers occupied that shadowy world of people who prayed on gays.

But the lesson for me in this horrible crime was that if a celebrity like Dick Kallman could be victimized like this, what does that hold for an obscure civil servant like your's truly? Within a year I was out at work and have never regretted it since.

So to Richard Kallman who after his own death influenced another life on this planet this review is dedicated. And to Zara Kallman who brought up a dutiful gay son whom she was proud of and who I was privileged to assist in her hour of tragedy this review is also dedicated. Having had a mother who also endured the loss of a child, I know what she went through.

I only wish Kallman had a better show for his epitaph.

While there were many TV series in the '60's that I loved, this was one of the two most memorable (the other being "The Defenders"). It was funny, touching, and dear. I remember very well how sad I was while watching the final episode. But, the episode was so dear and moving that even a lover of the series could feel all right. I knew that the show wasn't very popular; nobody else in my crowd watched it, and hardly anyone seemed to know of it. I'm very glad to see from the reviews here that I wasn't nearly alone in my love of the show.

I remember watching this show in 1965. I think it was on the same year as Camp Runamuck. Even though I was young, I found the plot ridiculous--a young man using disguises to drop into college-- especially since I was spending most of my time figuring out how to cut class. But by today's standards, Hank wasn't all that bad, and certainly no more ludicrous than My Mother The Car or Mr. Ed. I think they could have improved the show by having him live secretly beneath the school, like, say, the Phantom of the Opera. Selling hot dogs to already under-nourished kids doesn't do much to create sympathy for a protagonist. Then again, that was them year fluffernutters became popular, so who knows?

I just happened to be looking at some old favorites and stumbled on this one. I was a fan of Hank too. Friday nights at 8 PM...followed by Camp Runamuck (another fond memory) at 8:30 (or vice versa)...... Hank did an unusual thing on this show..while others were "dropping out" of college, he "dropped in". He couldn't afford tuition and this was his only option for an education he desperately wanted. The other comments were accurate about his disguises and staying one step ahead of everyone...

The final episode had him impersonating another student (false chin and all) who was supposed to be under quarantine. He is finally caught after all his close calls during the run of the show. But, in his disguise, he had taken a standard exam and had scored the highest score ever recorded. He is assured of a scholarship and all his hard work is rewarded. The show ends with his future at the college assured........

Clever concept for a TV show. A 1965 American television sitcom that starred Dick Kallman in the title role. The show is a notable early example of a program with a true series finale in which the underlying premise of the series reaches a natural conclusion with its final episode.

I saw Dick Kallman in Chicago starring in a road production of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying as Finch (Spring 1964) & was thrilled to be able to see him on his weekly sitcom. Although a 1-season wonder Hank did a great series finale. ☺

I remember this show only because there was an episode where the Dodgers' Maury Wills appeared in full uniform to teach the baseball team the fundamentals of base stealing. I found that to be pretty informative. Hank was somehow on the baseball team. The team wore uniforms that looked like Washington Senators hand-me-downs. In the 1960s many Dodger players appeared on TV shows, especially the variety shows.

I was 8 years old when I watched Hank and thought what a great older brother he would make being that he had a younger sister and I for a long time was an only child and then I became an older brother. It was a show that I never forgot though out all my life and was very sadden when Dick's life was cut short in 1980. Also at such a young I thought it really cool to see him on Hullabaloo A Go Go I did not know that Hank could sing all i thought he did was try hard to sneak into college classes. So where can i get to view some Hank shows? Also I have to wonder for the times back in the 60's how his song Looking Around did not become a hit. It really is one awesome song. Feel free to write. Be Well Lou

to all "Hank" fans, I seem to recall the theme song going something like this:

He's up with the sun, And he's got the college singing, As he goes off on another swinging day.

There're jobs to be done, Or errands to run, He's A - Number One - OK!

He'll drive, clean your clothes, Be a butler or a porter, If it means another quarter in the bank.

He'll get his degree, His Phi Beta key, And get 'em both for free, That's Hank.

I was a fan too. The main thing I would add to the other comments is that Hank was a terrific athlete. Dabbs Greer, who seems to coach all of the college's teams, always had a practice or a game or a meet in the way of Hank's next class. So when he'd cut across the field Greer would always wonder who that wonderful, sprinter, kicker, halfback was. I haven't seen anything resembling a tape of this but perhaps one will surface on TVLand or at the Museum of Television and Radio. Maybe they'll do a Title IX remake of it. An athlete dropping into class has more of a farcical element than in 1965.

I remember watching the show as a young teen. Its vague, but I remember him in a medical school class episode. It seems there was also a professor that was supportive of his attending class, though I don't remember if he knew Hank was not enrolled.

Although I only saw a few episodes it had quite an impact on encouraging me toward college. As a teen without much in the way of funding, I tried Hanks method of attending college classes by audit,less the fake mustache. I attended at least 15 classes just to learn the material.(audit without paying used to be pretty easy in the 70s). Professors were always willing to read my papers and let me test. I later earned my BS and graduate degree, and work in emergency medical research and nanotechnology, in part thanks to Hanks example. Thanks Hank!

Wow. I was starting to think I was the only person who REMEMBERED "Hank", let alone really enjoyed it! Was almost to the point of declaring my memory of the program to be a figment of my imagination when I finally came across a couple websites that actually had some info and clips! More proof you can find ANYTHING on the web, I guess! It's just nice to see the pics and remember my youth.

"Hank" has provided me with years of fun as a "stump anyone" trivia question! Many people actually accuse me of "making it up" when I share the plot line with them! Now I'll be able to send them the link to the sites!

Doug

Wow! I finally managed to stumble onto the name of this show and found a web site with clips. I recalled this show years later when at college, mentioning that it was the first time I had heard of the term "auditing a course". No one recalled it, and some implied I imagined the whole thing. A couple of times in the 80's, I wrote TV newspaper columnists about the show and had my article printed saying they could be no help. I was starting to think the show was a dream!

Anyway, I enjoyed the short run of "Hank". It was somewhat like the more popular "Dobie Gillis", but with more positive role models.

I have been trying to figure out the name of this show for years. I stumbled across the answer reading some comments about Camp Runamuck. I was 13 when they were on and loved both shows. I could never understand why they both disappeared so fast. I'm not totally sure TV executives always know what they are doing. I can remember looking forward to Friday nights. My parents usually went food shopping around the time these shows were coming on. As a result I would have a hour of uninterrupted entertainment. I have enjoyed all the comments. It sure would be great if TV land would show these old shows once in a while. I guess there can be a problem getting the rights to show them. Thanks for the memories. Mike

I also watched this show when I was a kid. I remember only the last line of the theme "He'll get his degree, his phi beta key, and get them both for free, that's Hank!"

But what I find more interesting is that, in this IMDb entry, the actor playing the lead, and titular, character isn't in the initial cast list - you have to press "more" to see him. (laugh).

Let me comment now on another IMDb "feature", the 10 line comment minimum. I finished all I intended to say above - you needn't read any further. There's nothing at all to do with Hank in this paragraph or anything following. But IMDb requires me to type more junk to accept my comment on a warm memory of a silly show. I have had the same reactions from others when I tell them about Hank - they don't remember it and think I've made it up or am imagining it - that other commenters relate.

I had the same reaction to my memory of Colonel Bleep. I spent years trying to explain to people this TV cartoon about an alien space man who looked like he was riding a unicycle and his sidekicks a caveman and marionette puppet who battled space villains in the rings of Saturn and the asteroid belt. No one remembered that either. I was beginning to believe I had imagined it all - I had a very vivid imagination as a kid, especially when it came to space related thoughts. But a few years ago I found some video tapes of Colonel Bleep episodes. I bought them immediately, and watched them as soon as I got home. They were just as I remembered them. Still, they were kids' entertainment and didn't hold me anymore, but it was such a relief to know that I hadn't made it all up.

Well, this should be enough. I hope their memory chokes on the extra junk people type just to get through the ten line minimum.

Thanks flicker-16 for the theme song lyrics. I could only remember from "Be a butler or a porter" to the end; but I was only 5 when the show originally aired. I don't remember the plots of the show, but I thought the ambulance as a lunch truck was cool. Maybe there was a subliminal effect on me as I wound up cramming four years of college into five before I graduated. Thirty-odd years later, I find these obscure TV shows vividly etched on my mind. Who didn't love Dave Madden in "Camp Runamuck" (Is that really how it was spelled?) or Avery Schreiber trying to get his hands on Jerry Van Dyke's 1928 Porter in "My Mother the Car"? I'm still looking for the complete "Pruitts of Southampton" on DVD.