The Golden Age of live American Television: late 40s - late 50s.
American television produced some of the best drama when recorded live. Numerous actors learnt or honed their craft, via appearances on shows like "Playhouse 90," "General Electric Theater," "Kraft Theatre" and others.
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- StarsEd HerlihyVaughn TaylorValerie CossartA well-received anthology series presenting live television dramas.
- CreatorJoe ConnellyStarsRonald ReaganDon HerbertNancy ReaganAn American anthology series, with a new episode and different actors and actresses each week. Hosted by Ronald Reagan, the series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.
- StarsBert LytellJay JacksonBob StantonThis live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc., during its eight-year run. During the first year, the show was sponsored by the Actor's Equity Association, and featured adaptations of Broadway plays and musicals. Bert Lytell, the former President of the Association, acted as host. During the second season, an agreement was made with the Book-of-the-Month Club, and the plays were adaptations of current novels. Starting in the third season, the television plays were adaptations of plays, novels, dramas, etc., by known and unknown authors. The title of the show was changed to "Repertory Theatre" (1949) for episodes 1.29 to 1.31 and "Arena Theatre" (1949) for episodes 1.32 to 1.38. Effective with episode 1.39, the original title was used. Starting with the fourth season, this show alternated weekly with "The Goodyear Theatre" (1951); starting in the eighth season, this program alternated with "The Goodyear Theatre" (1951) and "The ALCOA Hour" (1955).
- StarsWilliam ShatnerAlexander ScourbyClint YoungLive dramas that were broadcast every other week. The show had covered both light and serious drama and featured both well-known and not so well-known actors and actresses.
- StarsRichard JoyPaul LambertHelen KleebOf the many anthology series, this is considered the most ambitious with outstanding talent in front of the camera. Attracting top ranked directors and scripts, it was often filmed live including the entire first season.Rod Serling wrote some of his finest plays on this programme.
- StarsGeorgann JohnsonParker FennellyJames DeanA Friday night series lasting 2 seasons, of 30 minute playlets, interrupted by cute ads on the value of eating canned soup.
- CreatorFletcher MarkleStarsBetty FurnessPaul BransonCharlton HestonA pinnacle of the Golden Age of Television, "Studio One" presented a wide range of memorable dramas and received eighteen Emmy nominations and five wins during its prestigious nine-year run on CBS.
- StarsRobert MontgomeryJohn NewlandVaughn TaylorActor, Producer, and Director Robert Montgomery introduced each telecast, sometimes interviewing one of the stars, and sometimes appearing in the play.
- CreatorE.A. PattersonWilliam A. SeiterStarsArthur Q. BryanBill ErwinGeorge SandersPresented by Eastman Kodak, this show was a series of original scripts directed by acclaimed directors and featuring well-known performers. The stories ranged from musicals to comedies and dramas.
- StarsKen CarpenterJay JacksonOtto KrugerLive dramatic shows featuring Hollywood stars, adaptations of motion pictures, and a host accompanying. The host would introduce each act, and would conduct an interview with the stars at the end of the play.
- StarsWalter MatthauDavid WhiteConstance FordThe show featured original plays plus plays adapted from works.
- StarsGene RaymondJohn WarburtonNolan LearyAn anthology series which became the first successful filmed series on American television.
- StarsJane WymanPaul BryarTim GrahamAn anthology series hosted by Jane Wyman.
- StarsPolly BergenArlene DahlAnita ColbyAn anthology series with episodes split between comedies and drama. Anita Colby and Arlene Dahl shared hosting duties the first season that was originally filmed live but switched to film. Polly Bergen took over as hostess in the next year.
- StarsJames MasonIrene DunneRobert PaigeOriginally billed as "Playhouse of the Stars" this long running anthology series was originally presented live from New York City. Irene Dunne was briefly the hostess in 1952, and the show frequently used Broadway performers in classic stories.
- StarsDesi ArnazBetty FurnessBruce GordonAn anthology series hosted by Betty Furness in the first season, and Desi Arnaz in the second. Stories came from several genres, often based on fact. A two part episode was spun off as the popular show The Untouchables (1959).
- StarsElmer DavisCharles DingleRichard BishopDramatic anthology series presenting plays adopted from Pulitzer Prize winning stories, plays, novels, et cetera.
- StarsWilliam BrowerBiff McGuireErnest TruexAn anthology series based in New York City which attracted a high caliber group of actors, often Broadway stars. Stories were both drama and comedies, some original but others adaptions of films and plays.
- StarsThomas MitchellRussell ThorsonPaul HahnAnthology series based on the short stories of O. Henry.
- StarsJames WesterfieldMildred DunnockHenry JonesThis live show was seen through the "eye" of the camera. The actors in each episode would talk to the camera as if it were a person.
- StarsSylvia SidneyEdward Everett HortonMelville CooperThis syndicated show presented adaptations of Broadway shows.
- StarsTim O'ConnorJames ValentineHurd HatfieldThe award winning bing play of Mary Chase came to television in 1958. It tells the story of Elwood P. Dowd (Art Carney), a personable chap who drinks a little, and befriends a "pookah", a six foot rabbit he calls "Harvey". Unfortunately, his sister and main caregiver Veta Louise Simmons formation Lorne, and her spinster daughter Myrtle Mae, have had Elwood's condition negatively affect their social lives. Elwood's engaging personality with its one flaw creates problems for those around him. So his sister, thinking it is in his best interests, seeks a cure for her brother's problem. But nothing is ever that simple.
- StarsJack LemmonDavid NivenRobert RyanWhen The Alcoa Hour dramatic anthology series moved from Sunday night to Monday, both the name and the format were changed. Instead of having a completely different cast for each episode, the series now used a set group of actors who would appear repeatedly throughout the series in various roles. While most of the productions were serious dramas, a few comedies were also included in the mix.
- StarsWalter MatthauLee MarvinMargaret HamiltonAmerican television anthology series that aired in 1954 on the American Broadcasting Company "ABC" as a summer replacement for The Motorola Television Hour on alternate weeks from June 1, 1954 to September 21, 1954, swapping airings with the U.S. Steel Hour. The series was produced by Herbert Brodkin. There were nine episodes, one of which was written by Rod Serling.
- StarsPhilip CareyLaraine DayWillis BoucheyThis show started in New York City, with Broadway actors and actresses. It then moved to Hollywood, California, where Hollywood actors and actresses headed the cast.
- StarsFred AstaireKeir DulleaBrian EliotHosted by famous dancer and actor Fred Astaire, this series presented a new drama with each week's episode. Unlike some of the earlier drama series, which tended either toward classics or toward light subject matter, this series often had powerful stories about painful or controversial subjects. Many big names got involved with this series, including actors like Charlton Heston and Lee Marvin, directors like John Ford, and writers like Ray Bradbury.
- StarsLeslie NielsenAudrey HepburnGrace KellyA short-lived American anthology series, lasting for about 3 months. Its first episode was an adaptation of the novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. The show featured early television appearances by then-popular film actors, such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. The series was created by famed theatre manager Norris Houghton, but failed to find a show sponsor.
- StarsCedric HardwickeJane WyattPatricia SmithMotorola Hour was one of many anthology series in the 1950's. It aired every other week on ABC, featuring top ranked talent in original scripts and well known stories.
- StarsLuis Van RootenRobert EmhardtLoïs BoltonThis live series featured adaptations of other works (novels, plays, et cetera) plus original works for the show. It was primarily dramas, but a few musicals also were presented. The show is considered one of the major drama series during The Golden Age of Television. Up through episode 1.8, the show alternated with "The Goodyear Theatre" and "The Philco Television Playhouse"; beginning with episode 1.9 to the end of the series in 1957, the show alternated with "The Goodyear Theatre".
- StarsRobert EmhardtMilton BerleJimmy DuranteA show featuring various specials. Some specials were comedy, and others were serious drama by famous authors.
- CreatorJay DratlerStarsJoel AldrichTim GrahamJean ByronThis dramatic anthology series went into open syndication when the DuMont Television Network ceased operations.
- StarsDavid NivenDick PowellCharles BoyerThis show featured four rotating stars, Charles Boyer, David Niven, Ida Lupino, and Dick Powell in individual episodes consisting of everything from comedy to drama.
- CreatorLuke ShortCharles A. WallaceStarsDick PowellWalter SandeDenver PyleAn anthology based (earlier more so than later) on the novels and stories of Zane Grey. Dick Powell was often the star, as well as the host.
- StarsDon TaylorJames WhitmoreDon RicklesA syndicated anthology television series. It was produced by Four Star Productions, and some of the episodes were intended as pilots for potential series. At least one episode was devoted to the pirate Captain Kidd, in order to see whether the audience would be receptive to a pirate-themed series.
- StarsGene Raymond
- StarsDon DeForeWilliam FrawleyJeffrey SilverA live CBS half-hour dramatic anthology series, but on two networks in its second season (as "Bigelow-Sanford Theater"); Sunday evenings over CBS and Thursday evenings over DuMont.
- StarsDouglas EdwardsSandy BeckerBob SherryDocumentary dramas, plays that were based on true stories, were the forte of Armstrong Circle Theater. Many movie actors and actresses got their start here.
- StarsCyril RitchardClaire BloomMary MartinThis program aired once every fourth week, and was one of the most costly live shows of the 1950s. Many stars appeared on this show.
- StarsLynn BariOnslow StevensRandy StuartWhen a chamber in a mansion manifests a loud, eerie whistling, Carnacki is called to investigate. He makes an exceedingly thorough search of the room, but can find no explanation. He is still not convinced of the supernatural nature of the sound until he climbs a ladder outside and peers into the room through the window: the floor of the room itself is puckering like a pair of grotesque, blistered lips. He hears Tassoc, the mansion's owner, calling for help, and enters the room via the window.
- StarsGloria SwansonWilliam BoyettJim HaywardAn American weekly anthology series, hosted by veteran actress Gloria Swanson. The show was created for New York City's television market and was broadcast by local television station WPIX. Most of the episodes were filmed in New York City, while some were reportedly filmed on location in Mexico. The show was an early work for production company Bing Crosby Productions, which was owned by actor and singer Bing Crosby.