The American Family Robinson was a syndicated series produced by the National Industrial Council during the depression years. The story line embraced the principles of free enterprise and self help, not coincidently a dissenting opinion to the New Deal politics of the day. It was also very loosely akin to the famous story of the Swiss Family Robinson, a shipwrecked family who survived completely on their own initiative.

Bill Adams portrayed the lead character of Luke Robinson, who owned Centerville's Herald newspaper and led his family through hard times with a conservative philosophy. _AOTA