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Season
2 (NBC) (1956-57)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
TV Guide /
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive / Writers Guild of America (wga)
###############################
########### The Alcoa Hour ##########
######## season 2 1956-57 #######
###############################
NBC Sundays 9:00-10:00pm ET
Alternating with Goodyear TV Playhouse (season 6) (NBC) (1956-57)
2.01 [--] The Alcoa Hour: FLIGHT INTO DANGER
16-Sep-1956 NBC Sun
Produced by Phillip Barry Jr.
written by Arthur Hailey
Directed by Herbert Hirschman
guest stars
Patricia Barry ....... Stewardess
Macdonald Carey ...... George Spencer
Geoffrey Horne ....... Treleaven
Liam Redmond ......... Dr. Baird
John Drainie ......... Harry Burdick
Felix Deebank ........ Pilot
Robert Dryden ........ Co-Pilot
Geoffrey Toone ....... Captain
Synopsis:
A small plane pilot takes control of a large passenger plane
after the pilots fall victim to food poisoning.
*Note: Hailey wrote this episode Pre "Airport".
2.02 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE BIG WAVE
30-Sep-1956 NBC Sun
written by Pearl Buck
Directed by Norman Felton
guest stars
Joseph Anthony ..... Farmer Father
Hume Cronyn ..... Wise Gentleman
Carol Lynley ..... Setsu
Vivian Nathan ..... Farmer Mother
Milton Selzer ..... Fisherman Father
Rip Torn ..... Kino
Robert Morse .... Jiya
Synopsis:
After a tidal wave wipes out the family of a boy and elderly man
teaches him how to survive and continue living.
2.03 [--] The Alcoa Hour: KEY LARGO
14-Oct-1956 NBC Sun
adapted by Alvin Sapinsley
story by Maxwell Anderson
guest stars
Anne Bancroft ..... Alegre
Alfred Drake ..... King
Lorne Greene ..... Sheriff Gash
Victor Jory .... D'Alcala
John Marley ... Corky
J. Carrol Naish ... Murillo
Synopsis:
A gang of criminals takes refuge at a hotel during a hurricane in Key Largo.
2.04 [--] The Alcoa Hour: MORNING'S AT SEVEN
04-Nov-1956 NBC Sun
adapted by Robert Wallstens
based on a play by Paul Osborn
guest stars
Dorothy Gish ..... Arry Gibbs
Lillian Gish ..... Esther Crampton
David Wayne ..... Homer Bolton
June Lockhart ........ Myrtle Brown
Dorothy Stickney ..... Ida Bolton
Evelyn Varden ........ Cora
Synopsis:
The four Gibbs sisters plot to get Ida's forty year old son Homer married.
[--]
18Nov56 NBC Sun - no details
2.05 [--] The Alcoa Hour: MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. BAXTER
02-Dec-1956 NBC Sun
adapted by William McCleery
based on a novel by Edward Streeter
guest stars
Patricia Benoit ..... Polly
Margaret Hamilton ..... Mrs. Gillyard
Dennis King .... George Baxter
John McGiver ..... Mr. Bernhard
Cornelia Otis Skinner ..... Susan Baxter
Synopsis:
A stingy man tries to shop for his family's gifts with the least amount of cash.
2.06 [--] The Alcoa Hour: ADVENTURE IN DIAMONDS
09-Dec-1956 NBC Sun
Adapted by Jerome Coopersmith
Based on the story by David E. Walker
guest stars
Gary Merrill ......... Walter Keyser
Viveca Lindfors ...... Anna
Robert Flemyng ....... Major
Cameron Prud'Homme ... Peter
Geoffrey Toone ....... Leeds
Maureen Hurley ....... Julia
John Mackwood ........ Captain
Fred Herrick ......... Fisherman
Synopsis:
During World War 2 it was imperative for England to get a supply of Dutch
industrial
diamonds before they fell into Nazi hands. Walter Keyser, born Dutch but an
Englishman by choice, was chosen to go to Amsterdam and persuade the
Dutch diamond merchants to let him take their gems
back to London. [RF]
2.07 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN
23-Dec-1956 NBC Sun
Producer Joel Spectre
Based on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"
Directed by Daniel Petrie
guest stars
Basil Rathbone ..... Ebenezer Scrooge
Martyn Green ..... Bob Cratchit
Philippa Bevans ..... Mrs. Dilber
Vic Damone ..... Young Scrooge
Johnny Desmond ..... Fred
Alice Frost ..... Mrs. Cratchit
Bryan Herbert ...... Mr. Fezziwig
Dennis Kohler ..... Tiny Tim
Ian Martin ..... Ghost of Christmas Past
Patrice Munsel ..... Belle
Betty Madigan ..... Martha Cratchit
Robert Weede ..... Marley's Ghost
Robert Wright ..... Spirit of Christmas Present
The Four Lads (singing group)
2.08 [--] The Alcoa Hour: A DOUBLE LIFE
06-Jan-1957 NBC Sun
written by Maurice Valency
guest stars
Shelley Winters ..... Pat
Nina Foch ..... Brita
Eric Portman ..... Tony
Ross Martin .... Frank
Hilda Haynes ..... Gladys
Ludwig Donath ..... Max
Henderson Forsythe ..... Victor
Luis Van Rooten ..... Vito
Wallace Rooney ..... Cooley
Synopsis:
A Shakespearean actor is portraying Othello on the stage. He comes to
believe that his wife is attracted to another man, and, like Othello, he
feels compelled to commit murder. [RF]
2.09 [--] The Alcoa Hour: RIDE THE WILD MARE
20-Jan-1957 NBC Sun
written by Alfred D. Gato
guest stars
Lloyd Bridges ....... Danny Mayo
Betty Field ......... Marge Mayo
Edward Andrews ...... George
Murvyn Vye .......... Gus
John Marley ......... Vic
Kevin Coughlin ...... Fred
Synopsis:
A man's gambling problem affects his family as well as their finances
especially when he couldn't be bothered going to work.
2.10 [--] The Alcoa Hour: NO LICENSE TO KILL (I)
03-Feb-1957 NBC Sun
written by Alvin Boretz
directed by Herbert Hirschman
Narrator: Victor Riesel
guest stars
Hume Cronyn ..... Ralph Grimes
Eileen Heckart ..... Vi Miller
Carl Betz ..... Howard Miller
Maureen Cassidy ..... Dorothy Grimes
Jack Klugman ..... Tyler
Edward Binns ..... Lt. Marchese
Helen Wallace ....... Mrs. Miller Sr.
Synopsis:
A highway accident leads to a new safety law.
*Note: This episode was restaged with new actors
01Sep57.
2.11 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
17-Feb-1957 NBC Sun
adapted by Philip Barry Jr.
based on the play by Philip Barry Sr.
guest stars
Robert Preston ...... Tom Collier
Joanne Linville ..... Daisy Sage
Meg Mundy ........... Cecelia Henry
Alan Hale Jr. ....... Red Regan
Paul McGrath ........ Rufus Collier
Mary Welch .......... Fran
Synopsis:
A man must explain to his wife about his mistress when
she begins to suspect something is amiss.
2.12 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE LAST TRAIN TO PUSAN
03-Mar-1957 NBC Sun
adapted by Theodore Apstein
based on Vern Sneider's story
guest stars
Gary Merrill ........ Johnny Davis
Virginia Kaye ....... Sister Maria
Philip Ahn .......... Major Pak
Erlinda Cortes ...... Lee Su Im
Synopsis:
Johnny Davis, a World War 2 veteran, now an enterprising young businessman
in Korea in 1950. Davis, an engineer discovers that his factory and shipping interests
are being sabotaged. Davis tries to enlist the help of a young secretary, Catherine,
to spy on the suspected saboteurs. [RF]
2.13 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE ORIGINAL MISS CHASE
17-Mar-1957 NBC Sun
based on the play "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" by Frederick Lonsdale
guest stars
Nanette Fabray .... Rosemary Chase
Darren McGavin .... Arthur Bryan
Hiram Sherman .... Elton Andrews
John Williams .... Charles Gillis
Evelyn Varden .... Mrs. Andrews
Henry Lascoe .... Mr. Romaine
Synopsis:
A singer becomes a socialite in the ultimate scam of deceit.
2.14 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE BIG BUILD-UP
31-Mar-1957 NBC Sun
written by Roger O. Hirson
guest stars
E.G. Marshall ..... Herman Magnus
George Peppard ..... Eddie Pierce
Jason Robards Jr. .... Bert Palmer
Robert Simon .... Mr. Price
Diane Gentner .... Isabel
Leonard Stone .... Longden
Sorrell Booke ..... Bartender
Synopsis:
A movie producer goes to great lengths to make his films box-office hits. Producer
Herman Magnus realizes that his new arty movie needs box office appeal. He decides
to do a build-up campaign on Eddie Price, a modest but ambitious actor in the film,
as a wild rebellious youth similar to the character he plays in the film. [RF]
*Note: Mickey and Sylvia, song duo, make a special appearance in this dramatic episode.
2.15 [--] The Alcoa Hour: NOTHING TO LOSE
14-Apr-1957 NBC Sun
written by Jerome Ross
guest stars
Ralph Bellamy .... Dutch Scranton
Robert Emhardt .... Doc Jones
James Whitmore .... Warden Lightfoot
Harry Bellaver .... Williams
Mike Kellin .... Ernest Chowder Waybel
Frank Sutton .... Radcliffe
Edmon Ryan .... Assitant Warden
Frank Blair .... TV Reporter
George Ebeling .... Chaplain
2.16 [--] The Alcoa Hour: MECHANICAL MANHUNT
28-Apr-1957 NBC Sun
written by Harold Swanton
guest stars
Sallie Brophy .... Susan
Richard Kiley .... Peter Melnecke
Robert Arden .... Jerome
Lois Bolton .... Agnes
Ward Costello .... Charlie
Victor Thorley .... Malotte
Parker McCormick .... Landlady
[--] The Alcoa Hour: preempted for Bob Hope Comedy Special
05-May-1957
2.17 [--] The Alcoa Hour: PROTEGE
19-May-1957 NBC Sun
written by Philo Higley
guest stars
Skip Homeier .... Dick Carr
Betsy Palmer .... Ann Fenn
Evelyn Varden .... Clara Carr
Ed Wynn .... Billy Bishop
David White .... Bixby
Lee Meriwether .... Girl
2.18 [--] Alcoa Hour: 02Jun57 NBC Sun - no details
2.19 [--] The Alcoa Hour: MRS. GILLING AND THE SKYSCRAPER
09-Jun-1957 NBC Sun
written by Sumner Locke Elliot
guest stars
Helen Hayes ....... Mrs. Gilling
Katherine Squire ..... Annie
Wilfrid Hyde-White ..... Gordon
Jack Klugman ..... George
Leueen MacGrath .... Pauline
Joanna Roos ..... Francine
Kathleen Comegys .... Mrs. Millie Roos
Halliwell Hobbes .... Doorman
Synopsis:
An elderly lady who tries to save her apartment from the owners of her building
who intend to demolish it to make way for a skyscraper. [RF]
2.20 [--] The Alcoa Hour: AWAKE WITH FEAR
23-Jun-1957 NBC Sun
written by David Driscoll
guest stars
Eddie Bracken .... Charlie Joyce
Henry Jones .... Ed Krieber
Loïs Bolton .... Bernice Schmidt
Virginia Kaye .... Dorothy Parsons
Dennis Kohler .... Buster Joyce
Synopsis:
Charlie Joyce, a white-collar worker, lives a quiet, almost humdrum life
with his wife and two children. One morning Charlie receives a poison-pen
letter which he passes off as a practical joke sent by Ed Krieber, one
of his office buddies. But when he confronts Ed with
the threatening
letter, Ed convinces him that he wasn't the one who sent it. [RF]
2.21 [--] The Alcoa Hour: HOSTAGES TO FORTUNE
07-Jul-1957 NBC Sun
written by John H. Secondari
guest stars
Anne Bancroft .... Giselle
Charles Korvin .... Von Zimmer
Rip Torn .... Pierre
Joe De Santis .... Dr. Hartman
Charles Cooper .... Lt. Gerhardt
Harold Vermilyea .... Grandfather
2.22 [--] The Alcoa Hour: HE'S FOR ME
21-Jul-1957 NBC Sun
written by Michael Dreyfus
music & lyrics by Michael Brown
guest stars
Roddy McDowall .... Max
Joan Hovis .... Pat
Larry Blyden .... Ralph
Elaine Stritch .... Laura
Synopsis:
The story of two boy who spy two pretty girls and naturally decide they must get
acquainted.
The boys, Max and Ralph, share an apartment in the building where Laura and Pat have
their apartment. The boys don't know it, but the girls are as anxious to meet them as they
are to meet the girls. Max hatches a scheme to bring about an accidentally-on-purpose
meeting with Pat at the basement washing machine. Things go swimmingly in the basement,
but when Max gets back to the apartment, he realizes he still hasn't found out the girl's names.
Ralph comes up with the solution to this one and runs into Laura.
Alas, in this case things don't go well at all. [RF]
*
Songs
"Try a Little Love" .... Max, Ralph
"He's For Me".... Pat
"I Never Knew That I'd Find You" .... Pat, Max
"You're Cute, You're Sweet" .... Max
"No Good Man" .... Laura
"Love's Anything You Wish" .... Pat, Max, Laura, Ralph
"A Dollar and a Quarter and a Dime" .... Max, Ralph
"What Do They Know About Love? .... Ralph, Laura
"You're for Me" ..... Pat, Max
2.23 [--] The Alcoa Hour: WEEKEND IN VERMONT
04-Aug-1957 NBC Sun
written by Ernest Kinoy
guest stars
Patricia Barry .... Grace Barre
William Traylor .... Warren
Tony Randall .... Stan Kasper
Aina Niemela .... Jean
Dorothy Stickney .... Mrs. Barre
Howard Lindsay .... Mr. Barre
Synopsis:
Two couples get away for the weekend in Vermont when their
trip turns into a comedy of errors.
2.24 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE TROUBLE WITH WOMEN
11-Aug-1957 NBC Sun
written by John Whedon
guest stars
Audrey Christie .... Marcia Barry
Walter Matthau .... George Barry
Hiram Sherman .... Porky
Jeff Harris .... Artie
Shirley Standlee .... Debbie
Synopsis:
After twenty years of neglect from his wife a man takes
up with his much younger and prettier secretary.
2.25 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE LITTLEST LITTLE LEAGUER
25-Aug-1957 NBC Sun
written by Blanche Hanalis
guest stars
Jacob Kalich ... Grandfather
Peter Lazer ... Benjamin "Benjie" Hauptmann
Vivian Nathan ... Marretta Hauptmann
Nehemiah Persoff ... Willie Hauptmann
Sal Maglie ... Himself
Tommy White ... Neighbor Boy
Synopsis:
Child genius Benjie Hauptmann can build a homemade cyclotron
but can't play baseball. He meets Brooklyn hurler Sal Maglie and learns
how to make the team. Benjie teaches his grandfather atomic science.
2.26 [--] The Alcoa Hour: NO LICENSE TO KILL II
01-Sep-1957 NBC Sun
written by Alvin Boretz
directed by Herbert Hirschman
Narrator: Governor Abraham A. Ribicoff of Connecticut.
guest stars
Eddie Albert .... Ralph Grimes
Maureen Stapleton .... Vi Miller
Robert Strauss .... Lt. Marchesse
Frank Overton .... Tyler
Hugh Reilly ... Howard Miller
Louis Badolati ... Pollard
Stephen Chase ... Burou
Cathleen Nesbitt ... Mrs. Miller Sr.
Frederick Rolf ... Dr. Lane
Michael Strong ... Resident Doctor
Norman Twin ... Kirkland
Synopsis:
Governor Abraham A. Ribicoff of Connecticut narrates the story of the 24 hours
in the lives of persons to be involved in a fatal accident on the Merritt Parkway.
2.27 [--] The Alcoa Hour: 15 OCTOBER 1864
15-Sep-1957 NBC Sun
written by Louis Pelletier
guest stars
Alan Nixon .... Lt. Bennett Young
James Pritchett .... Philip Cullen
Paul Tripp .... Roger Harrison
Clu Gulager .... James Wesley
Olive Sturgess .... Hannah
2.28 [--] The Alcoa Hour: NIGHT (Final episode of The Alcoa Hour).
22-Sep-1957 NBC Sun
written by Bill Barrett
guest stars
E.G. Marshall ..... Shorty
Virginia Vincent .... Cleo
Jason Robards .... Jayson
Franchot Tone .... Prince
Addison Powell .... Dr. Chula
Amy Freeman .... Riga
Bill Zuckert .... Brophy
William Hansen ....Santa
From 30-Sep-1957 the series moved to Monday nights on NBC and was reduced to half an hour
and was on film rather than live.
It still alternated with Alcoa but the overall title for the series was "A Turn of Fate", which was dropped by February 1958.
There was to be a rotating roster of regulars (David Niven, Robert Ryan, Jane Powell, Charles Boyer and Jack Lemmon)
################## Alcoa Hour
################
################### the end ##################
##############################################
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