CTVA US Anthology - "Fireside Theatre" (ZIV/NBC) Season 6 (1953-54)

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 Season 6 (NBC) (1953-54)
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

US Network Schedules  1953-1954


############### Fireside Theatre #############
############### season 6 1953-54 #############
##############################################
NBC Tuesdays 9:00-9:30pm Eastern (30min)
Host Gene Raymond  (verified #6.33 #6.36 #6.40 #6.41)
 

6.01 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE TRAITOR

01Sep53 NBC Tue

cast
Don Keefer ......... Paul
Richard Loo ........ Major Chang
Jerry Paris
Keye Luke
Synopsis:
American POWs plot an escape, unaware that a Communist spy is in their midst. [RF]

 

6.02 [--] Fireside Theatre: BLESS THE MAN

08Sep53 NBC Tue

Written by Eugene Vale
Story by Houston Branch
cast
William Bishop ..... Dr. Crawford Long
Joyce Holden ....... Caroline
James Parnell
Jonathan Hale
Synopsis:
Dr. Crawford Long, discoverer of anesthetic ether, gets a chance

to demonstrate its use---in an operation on his wife. [RF]

 

 6.03 [--] Fireside Theatre:  MAN ENOUGH FOR MILLIE
15Sep53 NBC Tue
starring
Eve Miller ....... Millie
Jim Davis ........ Luther
Barton MacLane ... Big Red
Synopsis:
Big Red is mighty protective of his daughter Millie and will only allow a suitor if he can beat him in a fight.

 

6.04 [--] Fireside Theatre: HIS NAME IS JASON

22Sep53 NBC Tue

starring
John Warburton ..... Jason
Gertrude Michael ..... Amanda
Beverly Washburn ..... Cassie
Synopsis:
An illiterate finds an unusual way to express devotion to her husband, an alcoholic. [RF]
 

6.05 [--] Fireside Theatre: DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY

29Sep53 NBC Tue

starring
Sheila Bromley ..... Alice
George Givot ....... George
Rick Vallin
Nick Dennis
George Conrad
Synopsis:
A destitute widow sets up a noisy concession next to the Four Greeks restaurant. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A restaurant owner is being driven out of business by his noisy new neighbor. [RF]

 

6.06 [--] Fireside Theatre: REFUGE

06Oct53 NBC Tue

Written by Gwen Bagni and John Bagni
starring
George Nader ....... Bob
Amanda Blake ....... Kathy
Gabor Curtiz ....... Dr. Van Loon
Synopsis:
Romance blossoms on a tropical isle known

as an international haven for fugitives. [RF]

 

 6.07 [--] Fireside Theatre:  THE FAVORABLE SIGNS
13Oct53
starring
Barton MacLane ..... Sgt. James Simmons
Jacqueline DeWit ... Rosetta Brannon
Pierre Watkin
Jack Shea
Lulu Mae Bohrman
Synopsis:
Sgt. Simmons investigates a phony psychic medium and winds

up bumbling his way thru his investigation.

 

6.08 [--] Fireside Theatre: PHANTOM OF THE BRIDGE

20Oct53 NBC Tue

cast
Paul Langton ....... Ben
Hamilton Camp
Rica Owen
Synopsis:
A newspaperman probes reports of a haunted bridge. [RF]

 

6.09 [--] Fireside Theatre: FULL PORTRAIT

27Oct53 NBC Tue

cast
Gene Raymond ....... Davidson
Norbert Schiller ... Roberts
Synopsis:
A journalist probes the past of a woman who died in his arms. [RF]
 

 6.10 [--] Fireside Theatre: MAN OF THE COMSTOCK
03Nov53 NBC Tue
starring
Bruce Bennett .... Bill Stewart
Andrea King
Morris Ankrum
Synopsis:
A man tries to bring law and order to the new Nevada territory.
 

6.11 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE SHATTERED DREAM

10Nov53 NBC Tue

cast
Douglas Kennedy .... Stafford
Aurelio Galli ...... Franz Kovic
Madge Meredith
Synopsis:
Racketeers threaten to destroy a young displaced person's dream of freedom. [RF]

 

6.12 [--] Fireside Theatre: APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH

17Nov53 NBC Tue

cast

George Nader ..... Web Martin

Eve Miller ....... Laura Chadson

Marjorie Stapp

Synopsis:

A hunting guide, cleared of homicide in the fatal shooting of a friend, still suffers

feelings of guilt. He returns to the isolated forest-scene of the accident and

 finds a disturbed young woman wandering there. [RF]

 

6.13 [--] Fireside Theatre: WE'LL NEVER HAVE A NICKEL

24Nov53 NBC Tue

cast
Hayden Rorke ....... Gerry Warren
Ann Doran .......... Eva
Taylor Holmes ...... Morris
Gloria Talbott ..... Penny
Synopsis:
Gerry Warren, the power behind a successful Broadway producer,

faces mounting pressure to strike out on his own. [RF]

 

6.14 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE ALIEN

01Dec53 NBC Tue

starring
Don Keefer ....... Jerry

Ron Hagerthy ....... George
Walter Sande ....... Gunther
Synopsis:
A Polish national, framed on a narcotics charge, is awaiting deportation. In order

 to be with his wife, who is expecting a child, the man decides to escape. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A Polish national, framed on a narcotics charge, eludes authorities to join his pregnant wife. [RF]

 

6.15 [--] Fireside Theatre: BOY DOWN THE ROAD

08Dec53 NBC Tue

cast
Lee Aaker .......... Sandy
Ron Hagerthy ....... Anson
Walter Sande ....... Hayes
Fiona O'Shiel
Synopsis:
Two orphaned brothers are plagued by a man who blames

 the older boy for the death of his son. [RF]

 

6.16 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE SUITORS 

15Dec53 NBC Tue

written by Seeley Lester & Merwin Gerard

story by Octavus Roy Cohen

cast

Peggie Castle ...... Kate
Peter Graves ....... Ed
Vince Edwards ...... Clint

Charles Meredith

Stanley Blystone

Lee Roberts

Hank Patterson

Synopsis:

A turn-of-the century tale in which a young woman must decide

which of two suitors she will accept. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
Kate is the center of an odd romantic triangle: one of the men, a sheriff, must bring in the other for robbery.
*Note: Also listed as Suitors.

 

6.17 [--] Fireside Theatre: PRACTICALLY CHRISTMAS

22Dec53 NBC Tue

cast
Peter Reynolds ..... Joey
Renata Vanni ....... Mama
Anthony Caruso ..... Papa
Synopsis:
The imminent arrival of a new baby threatens to disrupt the Christmas plans of an Italian family. [RF]

 

6.18 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE WILD EARTH

29Dec53 NBC Tue

cast
Jim Davis .......... Wesley Dean
Pamela Duncan ...... Annie
Synopsis:
The owner of an orange grove turns to an itinerant family for help when a frost threatens to destroy his crop. [RF]

 

6.19 [--] Fireside Theatre: MOSES AND MR. AIKEN

05Jan54 NBC Tue

cast

Porter Hall ........ Mr. Aiken

Lillian Culver

William Bakewell ... Ransome

Synopsis:

The life of sedate, meticulous, never-late-to-the-office Mr. Aiken is

completely disrupted by a little kitten called Moses. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A man (Porter Hall) who sheltered a stray kitten is catapulted to fame faster than he can say "meow." [RF]

 

6.20 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE FIRST PRIZE

12Jan54 NBC Tue

cast

Billy Gray ......... Barry

Grandon Rhodes

Olan Soule

Synopsis:

The untalented son of a publisher father enters a national writing contest with

a manuscript that is not his own, and wins first prize. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A publisher's son experiences pangs of conscience when an essay he plagiarized wins a contest. [RF]

 

6.21 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE INSUFFERABLE WOMAN

19Jan54 NBC Tue

Written by Beatrice Joy Chute

Based on a story by Nathaniel Curtis

cast

Eve McVeagh ........ Murial Tannant
William Bakewell ... Ames

Leslie Banning

Robert Hutton

Madge Meredith

Ralph Dumke

Synopsis:

An advertising executive with theatrical ambitions finds himself in the dilemma of

having to use the wife of an important client as the lead in an amateur play. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
Muriel Tannant may not have any talent, but she's getting into

show business anyhow---courtesy of her wealthy husband. [RF]

 

6.22 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE UNCROSSED RIVER

26Jan54 NBC Tue

cast

Bruce Bennett ...... Dan Summers
James Griffith ..... Ed Fallon
Andrea King ........ Muriel

Synopsis:

At the turning point in the budding political career, a young man finds himself

faced by a blackmailer, who threatens to release on altered version of an unfortunate

 incident in his military career. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A young lawyer's blossoming political career is threatened by a blackmailing Army acquaintance. [RF]

 

  6.23 [--] Fireside Theatre: no details

02Feb54 NBC Tue

 

6.24 [--] Fireside Theatre: JOE GIORDANO AND MR. LINCOLN

09Feb54 NBC Tue

written by Ellwood Ullman

directed by Frank Wisbar

cast

Peter Price ........ Dominic
Mario Siletti ...... Joe
Argentina Brunetti.. Mama
Gloria Talbott
Frank Yaconelli
Synopsis 1:
When his son is selected to recite the Gettysburg Address,

Joe rebels at buying a new outfit for the boy. [RF]

Synopsis 2:

The 12-year-old son of a grocer is chosen to recite Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. [RF]

Synopsis 3:
Reciting the Gettysburg Address in a school play is an honor for a young Italian-American---and a traumatic experience for his family. [RF]
 

6.25 [--] Fireside Theatre: TOUCH THE EARTH

16Feb54 NBC Tue

starring
Irene Hervey  ....... Louise
George Wallace ..... Morgan
Gloria Talbot
James Craven
Synopsis:
Hired as a stablehand, a man exerts powerful influence on his employers. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A stablehand tries to free a paralyzed girl from her tyrannical mother. [RF]

 

6.26 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE GRASS IS GREENER (film)
23Feb1954
Produced & Directed by Frank Wisbar
Teleplay by David Dortort & Frederick Kohner
Story by Frederick Kohner
Director of photography Benjamin H. Kline
cast
Ralph Dumke ..... Richard
Gene Raymond
Frances Robinson
Paul E. Burns
Helen Mowery
B.G. Norman
Harry Carey Jr.
John Warburton
Synopsis:
A retired actor gets the urge to act again when his family insists on buying a TV set. [RF]
 

6.27 [--] Fireside Theatre: ACT OF GOD NOTWITHSTANDING

02Mar54 NBC Tue (rerun 30Aug54)

starring
Bill Henry ....... Kennedy
Kim Spalding ..... Walt Stevens
Synopsis:
A raging snowstorm endangers a hospital's power supply. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
Electricians work feverishly to prevent a blizzard from knocking out a hospital's power supply. [RF]
 

6.28 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE FARNSWORTH CASE

09Mar54 NBC Tue

starring

Ruth Clifford ..... Mrs. Farnsworth
John Agar ......... John Cushing
Tracey Roberts .... Denise
Synopsis:
A murder trial comes to a surprising climax. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
No one doubts that Mrs. Farnsworth killed her husband.

It's her motive that has everybody confused. [RF]

 

6.29 [--] Fireside Theatre:  RINGO'S LAST ASSIGNMENT
16Mar54 Tue WTRF-TV Wheeling West VA.
starring
Tom Powers ......... Barney Ringo
Mary Orr ........... Ellen
Jonathan Hole ...... Mike
Synopsis:
A veteran reporter learns he is being replace by a cub reporter - a girl. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
With retirement age approaching, journalist Barney Ringo isn't about to go quietly: he has just arranged a scoop interview with a giant industrialist. [RF]
*Note: TV Guide does not list this title as airing "The Exile".

 

6.30 [--] Fireside Theatre: RETRIBUTION

23Mar54 NBC Tue

written by William Hopson

adapted by Herbert Little Jr. & David Victor

cast

Kenneth Tobey ...... Joe Ellison
Faith Domergue ..... Mariana
Paul Picerni ....... Flores

Trevor Bardette

Paul Fix

Robert Osterloh

Joseph Granby

Charles Cane

John Eldridge

Gene Coogan

Synopsis:
A man returns to his home to prove his brother's death was no accident. [TA]
Synopsis 2:
Ex-cop Joe Ellison returns to his home town to find out the cause of his brother's sudden death. [RF]

 

6.31 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE RELENTLESS WEAVERS

30Mar54 NBC Tue

story based on Ray Bradbury's Dark Carnival

cast
Alan Wells ......... Tom
Grandon Rhodes ..... Carleton
Sallie Brophy ...... Mary
Leo Gordon
Tim Considine
Synopsis:
An overambitious scientist murders the man with whom he was working on an important project. [RF]

 

6.32 [--] Fireside Theatre: INVITATION TO MARRIAGE (film)

06Apr54 NBC Tue

cast

Gene Raymond ....... Brent
Lola Albright ...... Joyce
Hugh Sanders ....... Bruce
Eve McVeagh ........ Marge
Synopsis 1:
A career woman tries to prove ambition has not changed her. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
A bachelor who deplores career women falls in love with one. [RF]

 

6.33 [--] Fireside Theatre: BEYOND THE CROSS (film)

13Apr54 NBC Tue

written by Dana Burnet

adapted by Curtis Kenyon

host Gene Raymond

cast

Peter Graves ....... Robert
John Hudson ........ Jim White

Suzanne Dalbert

Beverly Tyler

Adrienne D'Amricourt

Louis Mercier

Hugh Sanders

Alphonse Martell

Synopsis:
An ex-pilot vacationing in France meets a man, apparently the victim of amnesia,

who resembles in every way a flier friend killed during the war. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
An ex-pilot is shaken by a meeting with an apparent amnesic who resembles a flier killed in World War II. [RF]

 

6.34 [--] Fireside Theatre: NINE QUARTS OF WATER

20Apr54 NBC Tue

starring
Jeff York .......... Monty Bryan
Amanda Blake ....... Louise Connor
Synopsis:
A young man finds it hard to adjust to the staunchly feminist

schoolteacher boarding with his family. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A stiff-necked man-about-town plots to clamp the lid on a

schoolteacher's crusade for women's rights. [RF]

 

6.35 [--] Fireside Theatre: A CASE OF INDEPENDENCE

27Apr54 NBC Tue

starring

Nick Dennis

George Givot

George Conrad
Rick Vallin
Synopsis:

Trouble threatens partnership of Four Greeks restaurant

when Andy decides to be an executive. [RF]

 

6.36 [--] Fireside Theatre: LIKE FATHER, SO THE SON (film)

04May54 NBC Tue

written by Mark Hager

adapted by Herbert Little Jr, & David Victor

host Gene Raymond

cast

Hugh Sanders

Norman Ollestad

Marjorie Lord

Skipp Torgerson

Emile Meyer

Nolan Leary

Robert Foulk

William Fawcett

 

6.37 [--] Fireside Theatre: FIGHT NIGHT

11May54 NBC Tue

starring
Hugh Beaumont
Mary Beth Hughes
Synopsis:
A detective, watching a fight on TV, sees a murderer he's been hunting for months. [RF]

 

6.38 [--] Fireside Theatre: HARVEST OF WRATH

18May54 NBC Tue

cast
Charles Drake ...... David
Faith Domergue ..... Jenny
Synopsis:
A young bride devises a scheme for curbing her husband's unpredictable temper. [RF]

 

6.39 [--] Fireside Theatre: JUROR ON TRIAL (film)

25May54 NBC Tue

cast

Julie Bishop ....... Irene Adams

John Shelton ....... Dexter Andrews

Wally Cassell ....... Tony

Jonathan Hale ....... Charlie Bellamy

Synopsis:

A man and his former wife are chosen to serve on the jury for a man accused of murder.

The wife feels that the defendant's only crime was a failure to respect the rights of others.

Her former mate was also guilty of this failing. [RF]

 

6.40 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE WHOLE TRUTH (film)

01Jun54 NBC Tue

written by Eugene Vale

host Gene Raymond

cast

Hayden Rorke ........ Tobin

Barbara Billingsley

Peter Price

Charles Meredith

Leon Burbank

Teddy Infuhr

Dee Pollock

Robert Foulk

Synopsis:
A judge's son claims that he became involved with a

gang of delinquents to save his father's life. [RF]

 

6.41 [--] Fireside Theatre: BREAD UPON THE WATERS (film)

08Jun54 NBC Tue

written by Merwin Gerard

produced & directed by Frank Wisbar

director of photography Benjamin Kline

host Gene Raymond

cast

Peter Graves ...... Lonnie Berghoff
John Banner ....... Amos
Birgit Nielsen .... Marge
Karen Verne ....... Anna
Synopsis:
A young girl faces a snag in her wedding plans when tradition rules

that her older sister must marry first. [RF]

Synopsis 2:
A youth returns to his uncle's home hoping to marry one of the man's wards. [RF]
*Note: Set in a Pennsylvania Dutch community during the last century.
 

6.42 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE FAVORABLE SIGNS

15Jun54 NBC Tue

cast
Barton MacLane ..... Simmons
Jacqueline de Wit... Rosetta
Synopsis:
A battle of wits rages between a fortuneteller and the policeman

 who's trying to put her out of business. [RF]

 

6.43 [--] Fireside Theatre: VALLEY OF SHADOWS

22Jun54 NBC Tue

cast
Dabbs Greer ........ Saul Marcus
Jeff York .......... Brooks
Synopsis:
A storekeeper tries to oust the murderous gang that is terrorizing his town. [RF]

 

6.44 [--] Fireside Theatre: THE DESERT ANSWER

29Jun54 NBC Tue

starring

Frances Robinson ... Katie
James Millican ..... Thad
Synopsis:
A little Indian boy changes a woman's views of her desert life. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
A government agent's efforts to help local Indians are blocked by his bride. [RF]
*Note: Aired 13Mar54 Sat WDTV Pittsburgh PA

 

[--] Fireside Theatre: ACTS OF GOD NOTWITHSTANDING
30Aug54 (rerun from 02Mar54)


############### Fireside Theatre #############
############### end of season 6 ##############
##############################################

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