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Episode Guide
version 10.0 January 2008

(Ep 2.3)

compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
http://ctva.biz/index.htm

with contributions by:
Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
______________________________

PRODUCERS' SHOWCASE

 

First telecast: October 18, 1954 to May 27, 1957

NBC Mon 8:00-9:30

 

Live 90 minute productions were aired every fourth Monday for three seasons.

 

Showcase Productions Inc.

 

 

Ep 1.01  Producers' Showcase: TONIGHT AT 8:30

18Oct1954 NBC Mon

written by Noel Coward

directed by Otto Preminger

associate director Dominick Dunne

produced by Otto Preminger & John Bloch

original music composed and conducted by Carmen Dragon

Choreography, Richard Bastow

Gloria Vanderbilt, Narrator

starring

Ginger Rogers

Gig Young

Trevor Howard

Estelle Winwood

Martyn Green

Dermot McNamara

Ilka Chase

Synopsis:

3 playlets by Noel Coward

(1) "Red Peppers," a satirical affectionate look at small-time vaudeville with two musical numbers,

stars Ginger Rogers, Martyn Green, Estelle Winwood, Dermot McNamara.

(2) "Still Life," in which couple "see a stranger across a crowded room" and which was eventually

made into a movie titled, 'Brief Encounter', stars Ginger Rogers, Trevor Howard, Ilka Chase,

and Philip Borneuf

(3) "Shadow Play," musical about a crisis in an otherwise happy marriage, stars Ginger Rogers,

Gig Young, Margaret Hayes, David Orrick, John Baragrey, and in her television debut,

Gloria Vanderbilt.

 

Ep 1.02 Producers' Showcase: STATE OF THE UNION

15Nov1954 NBC Mon

written by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

directed by Arthur Penn

starring

Joseph Cotten ......... Grant Matthews

Margaret Sullavan ......... Mary Matthews

Nina Foch

Ray Walston

Synopsis:

An extremely successful and fundamentally honest businessman is lured into presidential ambitions,

and is forced to make compromise after compromise until he withdraws from the race,

determined to reform the system.

 

Ep 1.03 Producers' Showcase: DATELINE

13Dec1954 NBC Mon

written by Mel Tolkin & Robert Sherwood

directed by Alan Handley

producer Fred Coe

an Overseas Press Club Production

music by Harry Sosnick, Mitchell Ayres, Axel Stordahl

Host: John Daly

starring

Marian Anderson

Hal Boyle

Sid Caesar

Milton Caniff

Perry Como

Bob Considine

Fleur Cowles

Eddie Fisher

Ben Grauer

Bob Hope

H.V. Kaltenborn

Elsa Maxwell

Martha Raye

Carl Reiner

Richard Rodgers

Carl Sandburg

Lawrence Spivak

Robert Sherwood

Ray Walston

Synopsis:

A tribute to the American reporter presented in cooperation with Overseas Press Club of America, Inc.,

centering around the dateline that always prefaces a newspaper story, with correspondents

 reporting on numerous historic events.

John Daly hosts throughout, with vignettes of Waterloo 1815 (H.V. Kaltenborn interviews

Sid Caesar as Napoleon just after losing the battle), Caanan 1300 B.C. (Ben Grauer interviews

 Martha Raye as Delilah, as she cuts Samson's hair), Vineland, 1000 A.D. (Elsa Maxwell interviews

Carl Reiner as Lief Ericson), London 1954 (Bob Considine interviews Bob Hope); others in cast

 include Eddie Fisher (singing "Count Your Blessings" at request of President Eisenhower),

Bob Considine interviewing cartoonist Milton Caniff, leading to ballet by his character Steve Canyon,

 satire of "Meet the Press" called "Beat the Press" (with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Lawrence Spivak,

 H.V. Kaltenborn, Emanuel Freedman), WWII Ernie Pyle sketch by Robert Sherwood

 (with Sandy Kenyon, Ray Walston, David White, William Gunn, Philip Abbott), correspondent

 Inez Robb reports on scene with comedienne Martha Raye singing song for troops in

North Africa, Richard Rodgers explains what he wanted to achieve in music for "Victory at Sea"

and conducts orchestra, with Perry Como ("No Other Love") backed up by the Ray Charles

 Singers, Perry Como singing "Home For Christmas," filmed tribute to reporters by President

 Dwight Eisenhower, Carl Sandburg reads his poem honoring the press, Henry Ford, II

expresses hope for peace.

 

Ep 1.04 Producers' Showcase: CALL TO FREEDOM

07Jan1955 NBC Mon (rebroadcast on 05May1957)

produced by Henry Solomon

starring

Martha Moedl

Anton Dermota

Paul Schoeffler

Irmgard Seefried

Ludwig Weber

Waldemar Kmentt

Karl Kamann

Synopsis:

Relates the struggle for freedom in Austria from the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

to WWI, to Nazi domination, to WWII, to post-war Four Power Occupation, to final freedom,

keyed to the reopening of the rebuilt Vienna State Opera House in November, 1955 with the

 performance of Beetovan's opera "Fidelio." Produced by Henry Salomon, music scored

and conducted by Robert Russell Bennett, narrated by Alexander Scourby; opera cast includes

Martha Moedl, Anton Dermota, Paul Schoeffler, Irmgard Seefried, Ludwig Weber, Waldemar Kmentt,

Karl Kamann, with Karl Bohm conducting the Vienna Philharmonic.

*Note: Documentary made as part of "Project Twenty" series but run in Producer's Showcase

time slot with regular Producer's Showcase sponsors.

 

Ep 1.05 Producers' Showcase: YELLOW JACK

10Jan1955 NBC Mon

written by J.P. Miller

story Sidney Howard

directed by Delbert Mann

produced by Fred Coe

starring

Broderick Crawford ......... Walter Reed

Dennis O'Keefe ......... James Carroll

Raymond Massey ......... Stackpoole

Dane Clark ......... Jesse W. Lazear

E.G. Marshall ........ Dr. Carlos Finlay

Eva Marie Saint ........ Miss Blake

Jackie Cooper ........ O'Hara

Rod Steiger ....... Busch

Wally Cox ........ William H. Dean

Billy Redfield ........ McClelland

Victor Jory ....... Aristides Agramonte

Fred Stewart ....... William Crawford

Philip Abbott ........ Brinkerhof

Frederic Tozere ........ Col. Tory

Lorne Greene ........ Gorgas

with

Carlos Montalban, Peter Donat

John Lehne, Frank Sutton

Synopsis 1:

The story of the pursuit of the cause of yellow fever by Dr. Walter Reed and his

Army medical colleagues after the Spanish-American War.

Synopsis 2:

Yellow fever was once one of the dread diseases of the world. Control of the disease came about,

around the turn of the century, only through the heroic efforts of medical martyrs. The hunt that

culminated in the discovery of a type of mosquito was described by Paul de Kruif in his book,

Microbe hunters. Playwright Sidney Howard dramatized the hunt, with the collaboration of de Kruif,

titled the play Yellow Jack and saw it presented on Broadway in 1934. James Stewart originated

 the role of O'Hara, later played in the movie by Robert Montgomery.

 

Ep 1.06 Producers' Showcase: THE WOMEN

07Feb1955 NBC Mon

written by Sumner Locke Elliott

play by Claire Boothe Luce

directed by Vincent J. Donehue

assistant director Dominick Dunne

music direction and composition by Harry Sosnik

starring

Shelley Winters ........ Crystal Allen

Paulette Goddard ........ Sylvia Fowler

Mary Astor ......... Nancy Blake

Ruth Hussey ....... Marcy Haines

Nita Talbot ....... Olga

Nancy Olson ....... Peggy Day

Mary Boland ....... Countess Delage

Valerie Bettis ....... Miriam Aarons

Cathleen Nesbitt ....... Mrs. Moorehead

Helen Raymond ...... Mrs. Wagstaff

Jeanne Murray ....... Hairdresser

Agnes Doyle ....... Saleslady

Brett Somers ....... Cigarette Girl

Lennie Dunn ...... Hairdresser

Sandra Church ....... Debutante

Frances Woodbary ....... Dowager

Sara Mead ....... Helen

Bibi Osterwald

Summary:

A sociological satire on the female of the species, set against a glamorous Park

Avenue background that eventually extends to Reno and back, in which a happily married

society leader is prodded by the gossip of her "best friends" to divorce her husband.

 

Ep 1.07 Producers' Showcase: PETER PAN

07Mar1955 NBC Mon

written by Jerome Robbins

play by James M. Barrie

directed by Clark Jones (nominated for an Emmy)

produced by Fred Coe

starring

Mary Martin  ....... Peter Pan (won Emmy for her performance)

Kathleen Nolan ....... Wendy

Cyril Ritchard ....... Captain Hook/George Darling (nominated for an Emmy)

Margalo Gillmore ....... Mary Darling

Robert Harrington ...... John Darling

Joseph Stafford ....... Michael Darling

Joe E. Marks ....... Smee

Sondra Lee ....... Tiger Lily

Hellen Halliday ....... Liza

David Bean ....... Slightly

Joan Tewkesbury ...... Ostrich

Ian Tucker ....... Tootles

Norman Shelly ........ Crocodile

Ann Connolly ...... Wendy (as an adult)

Paris Theodore ...... Nibs

Frank Lindsay ...... Noodler

Pauline Moore ...... Jane

Synopsis:

Peter Pan takes Wendy to Never Neverland on an adventure in fantasy.

 

Ep 1.08 Producers' Showcase: REUNION IN VIENNA

04Apr1955 NBC Mon

written by David Shaw

play by Robert E. Sherwood

directed by Vincent Donehue

Associate Director Dominick Dunne

Guest Producer Jean Dalrylmple

sets by Ter-Arutunian

costumes by Guy Kent

produced by Fred Coe

starring

Herbert Berghof ....... Count Von Stainz

Peter Lorre ....... Poffy

Greer Garson

Brian Aherne

Cathleen Nesbitt

Lili Darvas

George Voskovec

Nehemiah Persoff

Robert Flemyng

Tamara Daykarhanova

Gene Saks

Synopsis:

The story of banished Austrian archduke who returns to Vienna for reunion of the old nobility

and reunites with his former love, now married to a psychoanalyst; stars Greer Garson,

Brian Aherne, Peter Lorre, Cathleen Nesbitt, Lili Darvis, Herbert Berghof, George Voskovec,

Nehemiah Persoff, Robert Flemyng, Tamara Daykarhanova, and Gene Saks in a bit part as a waiter

*Note: 1931 smash hit Broadway play by Robert E. Sherwood.

 

Ep 1.09 Producers' Showcase: DARKNESS AT NOON

02May1955 NBC Mon

written by Robert Alan Aurthur

play by Sidney Kingsley

novel by Arthur Koestler

directed by Delbert Mann

music by Harry Sosnik

starring

Lee J. Cobb

Nehemiah Persoff

Ruth Roman

Joseph Wiseman

David Wayne

Oscar Homolka

Mikhail Rasumny

Frederick Rolf

James Millhollin

Alfred Hesse

Henry Silva

Michael Gorrin

Norman Roland

Robert McQueeney

Synopsis:

Set in Russian prison during purge trials of 1930s, with prisoner Rubashov, an old Bolshevik,

 reviewing his life in series of flashbacks and tapped conversations with prisoner in adjoining cell.

*Note: Program closes with 58-second film clip of praise by Vice President Richard M. Nixon.

 

Ep 1.10 Producers' Showcase: THE PETRIFIED FOREST

30May1955 NBC Mon (rebroadcast 30Sep55)

written by Robert E. Sherwood

adapted by Tad Mosel

directed by Delbert Mann

music by Harry Sosnik

sets by Edward Stephenson
costumes by Robert Campbell
associate producer Bill Nichols

produced by Fred Coe

starring

Lauren Bacall ....... Gabby Maple

Humphrey Bogart ....... Duke Mantee

Henry Fonda ....... Alan Squier

Paul Hartman ....... Jason Maple

Jack Warden ....... Boze

Richard Jaeckel ....... Ruby

Natalie Schafer ....... Mrs. Chisholm

Richard Gaines ...... Mr. Chisholm

Jack Klugman ...... Jackie

Joseph Sweeney ....... Gramps

Steve Ritch ....... Lineman

Dick Elliott ....... Commander

Synopsis 1:

Set in Black Mesa Bar-B-Q at desert crosswords, as a patrons, owner and his daughter Gaby Maple and an unfortunate hitchhiker Alan Squier are held hostage by fleeing killer Duke Mantee and his henchmen, with Squier signing over his life insurance policy to Gaby to fund her dream of traveling to France to paint, and then persuading Mantee to kill him

Synopsis 2:

The scene is the Black Mesa Bar B-Q and filling station, an isolated oasis in the Arizona desert.

Here, among others, is restless Gabby Maple, who helps her father and grandfather to operate

the place. She wants desperately to leave, but the men are opposed.

Then the bleak routine of desert life is interrupted by the arrival of two figures.

The first is Alan Squier, poet, idealist, intellectual. When the people at the station

read news stories of Duke Mantee, bank robber and killer, Squier sees him as a symbol

of the law of survival of the fittest.

The second figure is Mantee himself. With the aid of his trigger-happy cronies, Mantee takes over

the place as a temporary hideout. Everyone present, and everyone who arrives becomes

Mantee's prisoner. (live from Burbank, California)

*Note: Bogart created the role of Mantee on Broadway in 1935; the Leslie Howard played Squier.

Both repeated the roles in the 1936 movie, and Bette Davis took the Gabby part.

 

Ep 1.11 Producers' Showcase: WIDE WIDE WORLD

27Jun1955 NBC Mon

directed by Dick Schneider

associate director Dominick Dunne

produced by Fred Rickey (who died 3 days before the telecast)

hosted by Dave Garroway

starring

Louis Armstrong

Velma Middleton

Synopsis:

Wonderful around the world look at the variety of talents and music performances.

("That's My Desire") backed up by the Woody Herman orchestra (with Woody singing),

 featuring Bobby Hackett on trumpet ("My Funny Valentine"); jam session of

"When The Saints Go Marchin' In;" Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, Ontario, featuring

 Lorne Greene in "Julius Caesar," with backstage segments with Director Michael Langham

and Artistic Director Tyrone Guthrie; Cantinflas, performing his famous "bullfighter" act from

 Tijuana Mexico; various scenes in New York City, Chicago, Des Moines, Denver, Salt Lake City,

 San Francisco, San Diego, Washington D.C., Mount Hood; the RCA commercial features

 Vaughn Monroe and Milton Berle.

 

Ep 1.12 Producers' Showcase: THE FOURPOSTER

25Jul1955 NBC Mon

written by Joseph Schrank

story by Jan de Hartog

directed by Clark Jones

associate director Dominick Dunne

starring

Hume Cronyn ....... Michael

Jessica Tandy .... Agnes (nominated for an Emmy for her role lost to Mary Martin in Peter Pan)

Barbara Dodd

Anita Cooper

Bob Heller

Anita Coursant

Roy Johnson

Eli Rill

Synopsis:

A gently humorous and perceptive story of a marriage, from the wedding night in 1890,

through 35 years of marriage, all in or near the couple's old four-poster bed, which finally

has to be left behind as being too large for their retirement apartment.

 

 

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Ep 2.01 Producers' Showcase: THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH

11Sep1955 NBC Mon

adapted by Ellen M. Violett

story by Thornton Wilder (pulitzer prize winning play 1942)

directed by Vincent Donehue

produced by Robert Whitehead

executive producer Fred Coe

Costume designs by Helene Pons

narrative by John Cameron Swayze

starring

George Abbott ....... George Antrobus

Mary Martin ....... Sabina

Helen Hayes ....... Margaret Antrobus

Don Murray ....... Henry

Florence Reed ....... Fortune Teller

Heller Halliday ....... Gladys

Frank Silvera ....... Judge

Jonathan Anderson ....... Professor

Synopsis:

The entire history of the world, with Mankind is represented by the Antrobus family.

Surviving the Creation, the Ice Age, the seven deadly plagues, the Black Death and

every other historical calamity, the unflappable and always fastidiously dressed George

Antrobus and his even-tempered wife , Margaret personify every man and woman who

has weathered the most harrowing of storms "by the skin of their teeth."

*Note: This episode was two hours. This was a rare acting job by Broadway director George Abbott.

Also actress Heller Halliday is the daughter of Mary Martin.

 

Ep 2.02 Producers' Showcase: OUR TOWN

19Sep1955 NBC Mon

written by David Shaw

story by Thornton Wilder

directed by Delbert Mann (nominated for an Emmy)

Associate Director Dominick Dunne

produced by Fred Coe

original music by James Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn

orchestrations and musical direction by Nelson Riddle

choreography by Valerie Bettis

costumes by Robert Campbell

sets by Otis Riggs

vocal direction by Norman Luboff

starring

Paul Newman ....... George Gibbs

Eva Marie Saint ....... Emily Webb

Frank Sinatra ....... Stage Manager

Sylvia Field ....... Mrs. Gibbs

Paul Hartman ....... Mr. Webb

Peg Hillias ....... Mrs. Webb

Ernest Truex ....... Dr. Gibbs

Shelley Fabares ...... Susan

Carol Veazie ....... Mrs Soames

with:

Anthony Sydes, David Saber

Charlotte Knight, Harvey B. Dunn

Synopsis 1:

The story depicts life in a rural New Hampshire village, with its humor and pathos;

stars Frank Sinatra as the Stage Manager, and Eva Marie Saint and Paul Newman as

the young lovers, Ernest Truex and Sylvia Field as his parents and Paul Hartman and

Peg Hillias as her parents, supported by Shelley Fabares, Tony Sydes, David Saber,

Carol Veazie, Charlotte Knight, and Harvey B. Dunne; songs written especially for this

television production included both "The Impatient Years" and "Love and Marriage;" this

is believed to be the only entertainment program in which Paul Newman sings

(in this case, a duet with Eva Marie Saint).

Synopsis 2:

Sinclair Lewis familiarized a generation of Americans with a satiric view of the American small

town. Wilder's play reverses the trend and takes a loving look at the inhabitants of the typical

town of Grover's Corners. The plot is pegged on the lives of a boy and a girl in the town and

follows them through romance, marriage and death.

Act 1: It's May 1901. The act opens at dawn on a street in Grover's Corners. We meet the

Gibbs' and Webbs' family homes and the office of the Grover's Corners Sentinel.

Songs: "Our Town" "Grover's Corners" "The Impatient Years".

Act 2: Now it's July 1904. Again we enter the Gibbs' and Webbs' homes, then travel

to an area near the school, the drugstore soda fountain and the church.

Songs: "Love and Marriage" "A Perfect Married Life" "The Impatient Years" (reprise) "Wasn't It A Wonderful Wedding?"

Act 3: Nine years have passed. It's summer 1913. The scene is the cemetary. Flashbacks take us

back to 1899. We return to the town in 1913 for the finale.

Song: "Look to Your Heart".

* Note: Musical version of Thornton Wilder's 1938 stage play (the most performed American stage play).

**Eva Marie Saint was nominated for an Emmy lost to Mary Martin in Peter Pan.

 

[--] Producers' Showcase: The Petrified Forest

30Sep1955 NBC Mon (rebroadcast from 30May55)

 

Ep 2.03 Producers' Showcase: CYRANO DE BERGERAC

17Oct1955 NBC Mon

Produced & staged by José Ferrer
Directed by Kirk Browning
Written by Joseph Schrank
Adaptation of Brian Hooker

Adaptated story of the Edmond Rostand classic
Production supervised by Donald Davis and Dorothy Matthews
Art Director: Richard Day
Costumes by Guy Kent.
starring
José Ferrer ............ Cyrano de Bergerac (nominated for an Emmy)
Claire Bloom ........... Roxanne
Christopher Plummer .... Christian de Neuvillette
Jacques Aubuchon ....... Ragueneau
Paula Laurence ......... Duenna
Edith King ............. Mother Marguerite
Will Kuluva ............ Cutpurse
Patricia Wheel ......... Sister Marthe
Robert Carroll ......... De Guiche
John McQuade ........... Lignieres
William Woodson ........ Le Bret
Sarah Marshall ......... Orange Girl
Dean Cetrulo ........... Valvert
Leopold Badia .......... Montfleury
Leon Charles ........... Carbon Castel-Jaloux
Eric Sinclair (?)
Synopsis 1:
The story of professional soldier with extraordinarily long nose and his unrequited

love for the fair Roxanne who woos her for her suitor, who dies on the battlefield,

after which the stricken Roxanne enters a convent, visited over the years by the

ever-faithful Cyrano until she realizes, too late, that it was his soul that she loved all along. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
In 17th century Paris, Cyrano de Bergerac cut a dashing figure. Both swordsman and poet,

Cyrano was capable of the grand passion. There was but one sizable obstacle

to his complete success - his nose. "'Tis a rock, a crag, a cape!" retorts Cyrano to a

nobleman who has made fun of the nose but lacks Cyrano's wit. The 19th century

 French dramatist Rostand seized on Cyrano's sensitiveness about his nose and

based his poignant romantic comedy on it. Rostand's Cyrano has found the love of his

 life in the fair Roxane. But shall Roxane give her love a creature with a proboscis

like Cyrano's? Not likely, Cyrano, therefore, will do the next best thing. The soldier Christian,

 handsome but empty-headed, shall woo the maiden with Cyrano's romantic verses. [RF]
*Note: José Ferrer repeats for television the role that won him resounding praise

on the Broadway stage and an Oscar in the movies.
 

Ep 2.04 Producers' Showcase: DATELINE II

14Nov1955 NBC Mon

script by Joseph Schrank

playlet script by Donald Bevan

directed by Alan Handley

produced by Donald Davis & Dorothy Mathews

Choreography by Tony Charmoli

set designer Jan Scott

Conductor George Bassman

starring

John Wayne as Himself

Peggy Lee as Herself

Milton Berle as Himself

William Holden as Himself

Greer Garson as Co-Emcee

John Steinbeck as Himself

Robert Frost as Himself

Irving Berlin as Himself

John Raitt as Himself

Janet Blair as Herself

Patricia Benoit as Marguerite Higgins (in playlet)

Darren McGavin as Ed (in playlet)

Jason Robards as Himself

Marguerite Higgins as Herself

Tom Gorman

Bert Freed

Frank Sutton

Robert Dryden

Synopsis:

Marguerite Higgins, international correspondent, is portrayed in a playlet based on an incident in her

career. The scene is a dugout near the front lines in the Korean War. A soldier brings in his

seriously wounded buddy and tries desperately to keep him alive until the medics arrive.

Summary:

Tonight's theme "Freedom of the Press"

A salute to foreign correspondents; presented in cooperation with

Overseas Press Club of America, Inc.

Milton Berle performs a monologue; Peggy Lee sings "You're My Thrill" and

 "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot;" Irving Berlin sings a few bars from "You Gotta Get Up;"

John Raitt sings "Free," written by Berlin especially for this program; Janet Blair sings

"The Funnies" and reads the funnies as a ballet from "Li'l Abner" is performed;

"Dateline Korea" is original playlet by Donald Bevan, honoring Pulitzer

Prize Winning correspondent Marguerite Higgins, with  Janet Blair and Greer Garson sing

"How About You;" John Wayne reminisces about role of Marine Correspondents;

Spanish dance by Antonio, assisted by Carmen Rojas; John Steinbeck "Memorium

 to Robert Capa" read by William Holden; Robert Frost

reads his poem "The land was ours before we were the land's;" Greer Garson pays tribute to

underground newspaper in Cracow Ghetto; entire cast sings "Free" in Finale.

John Steinbeck's contribution is a eulogy of magazine photographer Robert Capa.

Capa was killed last year in Indo-China.

 

Ep 2.05 Producers' Showcase: SLEEPING BEAUTY

14Dec55 NBC Mon

directed by Clark Jones

Score by Tchaikovsky

choreography after Petipa

art direction by Richard Day

music adaptation by Robert Irving

costumes by Oliver Messel

starring

Margot Fonteyn

Michael Soames

Frederick Ashton

Beryl Grey

Pauline Clayden

Rosemary Lindsay

Rowena Jackson

Philip Chatfield

Brian Shaw
*Note: Special introduction written by John Van Druten, acted by David Wayne, by Sadler's Wells Ballet.

**Nominated for an Emmy as Best Single Program of the Year (lost to Peter Pan)

 

[--] Producers' Shocase: Peter Pan

09Jan1956  NBC Mon (Restaged)

starring

Mary Martin as Peter Pan

Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook

 

Ep 2.06 Producers' Showcase: FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

30Jan1956 NBC Mon

directed by Kirk Browning

produced by Sol Hurok

hosted by Charles Laughton

starring

Jussi Björling as Rodolfo in "La Boheme" scene

Isaac Stern as Himself

Renata Tebaldi as Mimi in "La Boheme" scene
Summary:

Musical director George Bassman, orchestra conducted by Max Rudolph of the Metropolitan Opera;

stage concert with 13 of world's top opera singers and musicians, each performing a single number.

The performers included  are:

Bbaritone Leonard Warren ("Prologue" from Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci"),

Tenor Jan Peerce ("Vesti La Giubba" from Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci"),

Violinist Isaac Stern (lst movement of Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto in E  Minor"),

Soprano Zhinka Milanov ("Vissi d'Arte" from Puccini's "Tosca"),

Coloratura Soprano Roberta Peters ("The Doll Song" from Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffman"),

Cellist Gregor Piatigorsky ("Adagio and Rondo for Cello and Orchestra" by Carl Maria Von Weber),

Contralto Marian Anderson ("Beautiful City," "Poor Me," "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"),

Mezzo-Sopranos Blanche Thebom and Mildred Miller ("Barcarolle" duet from Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffman"),

Mezzo-Soprano Rise Stevens ("Card Song" from Bizet's "Carmen"),

Tenor Jussi Bjoerling ("Che Gelida Manina" from Puccini's "La Boheme")

Soprano Renata Tebaldi ("Mi Chiamano Mimi," from Puccini's "La Boheme"),

Duet by Bjoerling and Tebaldi ("O Soave Fanciulla" from Puccini's "La Boheme"),

Pianist Artur Rubenstein (Chopin's "Polonaise in C# Minor").

Plus a large supporting cast of singers, dancers. [RF]

 

Ep 2.07 Producers' Showcase: CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA

05Mar1956 NBC Mon

written by George Bernard Shaw

adapted by Joseph Schrank

directed by Kirk Browning

starring

Sir Cedric Hardwicke .......... Julius Caesar

Claire Bloom ........... Cleopatra

Jack Hawkins .......... Rufio

Judith Anderson ......... Ftatateeta

Farley Granger ......... Appollodorus

Cyril Ritchard ...... Brittannus

Thomas Gomez ........ Pothinus

Francis Compton ....... Theodotus

Rhoden Streeter ...... Ptolemy

Patrick MacNee ...... Lucius Septimus

Robert Goodier ...... Centurion

Richard Ward ...... Nubian

Loraine Grover ....... Iris

Jo Rabb ....... Charmian

Michael Enserro ....... Major Domo

Murray Vines ....... Priest

Raymond St. Jacques ....... Eygptian Soldier

Synopsis 1:

The story concentrates on the encounter of the girl queen with the great Roman Emperor

Julius Caesar. Now a battle-hardened veteran and experienced ruler in his 50's, Caesar finds

the young Cleopatra ignorant of how to behave and how to rule wisely. He becomes her instructor.

 In the midst of court intrigue she has Caesar's help in strengthening her hand.

Synopsis 2:

Most of us think of Cleopatra as the alluring empress of ancient Egypt, who captivated

the Roman Antony and eventually died by her own hand. This is the picture painted

by Shakespeare in his "Antony and Cleopatra". But some 50 years ago Shaw's ironic

comedy "Caesar and Cleopatra" appeared, treating the beginning instead of the end

of her spectacular career. [RF]

 

Ep 2.08 Producers' Showcase: THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET

02Apr1956 NBC Mon

written by Rudolf Besier

adapted by Guthrie McClintic

directed by Vincent J. Donehue

assistant director Guthrie McClintic

produced by Fred Coe

starring

Katharine Cornell ............ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Henry Daniell .......... Edward Moulton-Barrett

Anthony Quayle ........ Robert Browning

Nancy Coleman ........Henrietta

Margalo Gilmore ........ Arabel

Brenda Forbes ........ Wilson

Lisa Daniels ......... Bella Hedley

Donald Harron ....... Octavius

Geoffrey Lumb ....... Dr. Chambers

Edward Hunt ...... Captain Surtees Cook

William Podmore ....... Dr. Ford-Waterlow
Synopsis:

The story of the relationship of famed Victorian poet Elizabeth Moulton-Barrett, first, with

her possessive father, and then to the vital and vigorous Victorian poet Robert Browning,

beginning with their first meeting at the Barrett home on 50 Wimpole Street on May 20, 1845;

at the time, Elizabeth was a 40-year old bedridden invalid, dominated by her widowed father;

when her doctor recommends a trip to Italy for her health, Browning declares his love for her,

foiling her father's plan to spoil the trip by arranging one of his own by secretly marrying

her and taking her to Italy after all. [RF]

 

 *Note: Teleplay of 1931 Broadway play by Rudolf Besier (which starred Katharine Cornell,

and was staged by her husband Guthrie McClintic), staged and adapted by Guthrie McClintic,

and again starring "The First Lady of the American Theatre" in her television debut,

Katharine Cornell, directed by Vincent J. Donehue.

 

Ep 2.09 Producers' Showcase: DODSWORTH

30Apr1956 NBC Mon

written by David Shaw

story by Sidney Howard

directed by Alex Segal

produced by Alex Segal

starring

Florence Eldridge ......... Fran Dodsworth

Fredric March ........ Sam Dodsworth

Claire Trevor

Celia Lovsky ........ Baroness von Obersdorf

Geraldine Fitzgerald

Regis Toomey

Olive Sturgess

Clyde Lockert
Summary:

Show: based on novel by Sinclair Lewis, adapted as 1934 Broadway play by Sidney Howard,

adapted for television by David Shaw, produced and directed by Alex Segal; story of Midwest

industrialist who lets wife obsessed with youth bully him into retirement and a grand European

tour, eventually seeing through her, her promiscuity, and the pretensions of European society

and leaving for a civilized widow. [RF]

 

Ep 2.10 Producers' Showcase: BLOOMER GIRL

28May1956 NBC Mon

written by Leslie Stevens

story by Sig Herzig & Fred Saidy

directed by Alex Segal

produced by Alex Segal

music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. 'Yip' Harburg

choreographed by Agnes de Mille

starring

Barbara Cook ......... Evalina Applegate

Keith Andes ......... Jefferson Calhoun

Carmen Matthews ......... Dolly Bloomer

Paul Ford .......... Horatio Applegate

Nydia Westman .......... Serena Applegate

Patricia Hammerlee .......... Daisy

Paula Stewart ......... Julia

Roy Spearman .......... Pompey

Elsie Rhodes .......... Octavia

Danny Scholl ......... Ebeneezer

Jack Russell .......... Joshua

Paul McGrath .......... Governor

Heywood Hale Broun ........ Sheriff
Summary:

The story is set shortly before Civil War and centers around Evalina, sixth daughter of a

hoop skirt manufacturer who sides with her Aunt Dolly Bloomer, an avid suffragette,

and falls in love with a handsome slave owner, Jefferson Calhoun. [RF]

Songs:

The songs include "Right as the Rain", "When the Boys Come Home", "Got a Song",

 "Never Was Born", "Evalina", and "The Eagle and Me", a showstopper performed

by the previously enslaved Pompey (Roy Spearman).

*Note: Television version of 1944 hit Broadway musical comedy, based on book by

Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy with spectacular Civil War Ballet. Bloomer Girl was not

filmed in Hollywood, this Producers' Showcase version is the only known visual

record of this popular musical.

 

Ep 2.12 Producers' Showcase: HAPPY BIRTHDAY

25Jun1956 NBC Mon

written by Anita Loos

directed by Alex Segal

produced by Alex Segal

starring

Tina Louise ........ Maude

Betty Field ......... Addie

Barry Nelson ......... Paul

Enid Markey .......... Tot

Harry Bellaver .......... Herman

Harold Vermilyen .......... Father

Luella Gear ......... Emma

Wynn Gibson .......... Gail

William Harrigan .......... Mr. Bemis
Synopsis:

 The story of modest and inhibited Newark librarian who secretly loves handsome young

bank clerk, schemes to meet him in a bar and gets drunk herself but successfully pursues

a campaign to woo him, aided by the bar patrons. [RF]

*Note: adapted from the 1946 Anita Loos Broadway comedy; produced and directed by Alex Segal.

 

Ep 2.13 Producers' Showcase: ROSALINDA

23Jul1956 NBC Mon

written by Sid Kuller

from the Max Reinhardt-Erich Korngold version of "Die Fledermaus".

directed by Bob Banner

produced by Edwin Lester

starring

Cyril Ritchard ........ Gabriel Von Eisenstein

Jean Fenn ........ Rosalinda

Sig Arno

Wiere Brothers

Lois Hunt

Robert Wright

Thomas Hayward

Ralph Dumke
*Note: Edwin Lester Los Angeles-San Francisco Light Opera Association,

music by Johnann Strauss (Fledermaus), book by Gottfried Reinhardt and John Mechan Jr.,

 lyrics by Paul Kerby and Sid Kuller, choreography by Todd Bolender, design by Oliver Smith.

 

#####################################

#########Producers' Showcase#########

###########season 3 1956-57##########

#####################################

 

Ep 3.01 Producers' Showcase: THE LORD DON'T PLAY FAVORITES

17Sep1956 NBC Mon

written by Jo Swerling & Hal Stanley

story by Patrick Malloy

directed by Clark Jones

starring

Robert Stack

Louis Armstrong

Dick Haymes

Buster Keaton

Kay Starr

Synopsis:

The story of small-time traveling circus stranded in a drought-stricken small Kansas town,

subjected to huge fine by city fathers as a way of raising money to pay for a professional

rain-maker, when the circus needed money to enter its trick horse in the county races, with

circus duping yokels into paying the race fee to the circus ringmaster posing as the rain-maker.

*Note: an original musical play, with Jo Swerling and Hal Stanley adapting book from

Patrick Malloy's short story, with music by Hal Stanley and lyrics by Irving Taylor.

 

Ep 3.02 Producers' Showcase: THE LETTER

15Oct1956 NBC Mon

written by Joseph Schrank

story by W. Somerset Maugham

directed by William Wyler (his television debut)(backed up by Kirk Browning)

starring

Michael Rennie ....... Howard Joyce

Siobhan McKenna ....... Leslie Crosbie

John Mills ....... Robert Crosbie

Cathleen Cordell ....... Mrs. Joyce

Aki Aleong ....... Ong Chi Seng

Anna May Wong ....... Chinese Woman

John Irving ....... John Withers

Synopsis:

British southeast Asia plantation wife having an affair kills her lover before he can leave her

for a Chinese woman, claiming self-defense, but the Chinese woman has the letter which the

murderess wrote to her lover to set up the meeting; she steals her still-unaware husband's

savings so that her lawyer can buy the letter back to protect the reputation of the husband,

who is his friend; the wife is acquitted at the trial for lack of evidence, but when the husband

learns the truth, he rejects her.

 

Ep 3.03 Producers' Showcase: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

12Nov1956 NBC Mon

Produced by Alvin Cooperman

Written by Helen Deutsch

Directed by Clark Jones

Original musical version of the classic children's tale

Music by Jerry Livingston and lyrics by Helen Deutsch

Sets and costumes by Reuben Ter-Arutunian

With vocal arrangements by Ray Charles

starring

Joel Grey ....... Jack

Celeste Holm ....... Mad Meggie

Leora Dana ....... Mother

Peggy King ....... Tillie the Girl Next Door

Cyril Ritchard ....... the Peddler

Dennis King ....... Narrator

Arnold Stang ....... Mr. Fum

Billy Gilbert ....... Mr. Poopledoop/The Giant

Synopsis 1:

As the Peddler who exchanges the magic beans for Jack's cow,

Cyril sang THERE ONCE WAS A BOY AND HIS NAME WAS JACK

and THIS IS THE ONE about the cow.

Later in the plot, Cyril and Celeste Holm, revealed as having plotted to

bring Jack to the Giant's land in order for him to slay the giant,

sing THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL. 

This production seemed heavily influenced by the 1939 WIZARD OF OZ,

in that everything turned out to be a dream, and the characters Jack met in the

Giant's land were played mainly by the same actors he knew in his hometown,

Billy Gilbert appearing as both the town bully and the giant.

Synopsis 2:

Psychological twist is added: Jack not only conquers the giant,

but also conquers his own fears and insecurity and grows up.

Synopsis 3:

Jack is a teenage ne'er-do-well who lives on a farm with his

nagging mother. The story tells how, with others' help, he

redeems himself and those around him.

Songs:

 

Ep 3.04 Producers' Showcase: FESTIVAL OF MUSIC (Second Edition)

10Dec1956 NBC Mon

directed by Kirk Browning

produced by Sol Hurok

hosted by José Ferrer

starring

Victoria De Los Angeles

Barry Morrell

Elizabeth Doubleday

Virginio Assandri

Arthur Newman (in opening scene of Verdi's "La Traviata")

Marian Anderson ("Heav'n, Heav'n," "My Lord, What a Mornin'," "Roll, Jord'n Roll")

pianist Artur Rubenstein (Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsodie on a Theme by Paganini,")

Alfred Wallenstein conducting the Symphony of the Air Orchestra

guitarist Andres Segovia (Gavotte by J.S. Bach, Allegretto by M. Torroba)

Kirk Jordan (Last Act Death Scene from Mussorgsky's "Boris Gudonov")

As well as a large supporting cast.

Program:
Act 1 "La Traviata" ....... Verdi
Victoria de los Angeles, soprano
Richard Tucker, tenor
Death Scene "Boris Godunoff" ...... Moussorgsky
Boris Christoff, bass
Nicola Moscona, bass
Selected Spirituals ............... Traditional
Marian Anderson, contralto
Guitar Selections ................. Various
Andres Segovia
"Variations on a Theme of Paganini" .... Rachmaninoff

Artur Rubinstein, pianist

Synopsis:

Once again impresario S. Hurok brings to the television screen 90 minutes of

music performed by outstanding artists. The singers and instrumentalists

will be accompanied by the Symphony of the Air under the baton of

Alfred Wallenstein. A large chorus and corps de ballet are featured.

This concert offers fewer performers than the previous Festival. [RF]

 

Ep 3.05 Producers' Showcase: WIDE, WIDE WORLD II

06Jan1957  NBC Mon

directed by Delbert Mann

produced by Herbert Sussan

starring

Helen Keller

Polly Thomson

Katharine Cornell

David Garroway

 

Ep 3.06 Producers' Showcase: RUGGLES OF RED GAP

03Feb1957 NBC Mon

Adapted by David Shaw

Based on the novel by Harry Leon Wilson

Directed by Clark Jones

Assistant director Dominick Dunne

hosted by Garry Moore

starring

Michael Redgrave

David Wayne

Imogene Coca

Jane Powell

Peter Lawford

Paul Lynde

Musical version of classic tale of English butler who is "lost" in a poker game by

his noble English employer to a nouveau riche couple from out West,

who charms the community and resigns from service to open a restaurant.

 

Ep 3.07 Producers' Showcase: MAYERLING

24Feb1957  NBC Mon (Jan 9, 1956)

written by Irmgard von Cube & Andrew McCullough

story by Jean Scholpfer (under pseudonym Claude Anet)

directed by Anatole Litvak

starring

Audrey Hepburn ....... Maria Vetsera

Mel Ferrer ....... Prince Rudolph of Habsburg

Raymond Massey ....... The Prime Minister

Diana Wynyard ....... The Empress

Lorne Greene

Nehemiah Persoff

Nancy Marchand

David Opatoshu

Michael Evans

Basil Sydney

Pippa Scott

Monique van Vooren

Barry Kroeger

Charles Mendick

John Irving

Peter Donat

Suzy Parker

Lilia Skala
Synopsis:

Based on the true story set in the Austro-Hungarian capital in which married Crown Prince

Rudolph of Habsburg meets and falls in love with the beautiful Countess Maria Vetsera,

only to join her in a murder/suicide pact after his father Emperor Franz Josef ordered

him to break off the romance.
*Note: Television version of classic movie, in turn based on novel "Idyl's End"

by Jean Scholpfer, writing under pseudonym Claude Anet, adapted by Irmgard von Cube

and Andrew McCullough, produced, directed and staged by Anatole Litvak in

his television debut, directed for television by Kirk Browning,

Ep 3.08 Producers' Showcase: ROMEO AND JULIET

04Mar1957 NBC Mon

Directed by Clark Jones
Supervised directing by Michael Benthall (for the Old Vic)
Incidental music composed by Brian Easdale
produced by Sol Hurok
starring
Claire Bloom .......... Juliet
John Neville .......... Romeo
Paul Rogers ........... Mercutio
Jeremy Brett .......... Paris
Richard Wordsworth .... Tybalt
Jack Gwillim .......... Friar Laurence
Margaret Courtenay .... Lady Capulet
Ernest Hare ........... Capulet
Denis Holmes .......... Montague
Charles Gray .......... Escalus, Prince of Verona
Wynne Clark ........... Nurse
Job Stewart ........... Peter
Ronald Allen .......... Benvolio
Jennifer Wilson ....... Lady in waiting
Synopsis:
Two families of Verona, Italy, the Montagues and the Capulets, are involved in a deadly feud.

 When the son of the Montagues, Romeo, falls rapturously in love with the Capulet's

 daughter Juliet, the two overcome a dozen obstacles to meet and in secret to marry.

But a street brawl brings about Romeo's exile; Juliet is to be forced into another marriage.

 Their romance ends in death for both. [RF]
*Note: This marks the U.S. television debut of the Old Vic Company,

the most distinguished in England.
 

Ep 3.09 Producers' Showcase: THE GREAT SEBASTIANS

01Apr1957 NBC Mon

written by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

directed by Franklin Schaffner

starring

Lynn Fontanne ........ Essie Sebastian

Alfred Lunt ......... Rudi Sebastian

Akim Tamiroff ......... General Otakar Zandek

Lisa Ferraday ......... Vlasta Habova

Simon Oakland ........... Sergeant Javorsky

Anne Francine ......... Colonel Bradacova

Arny Freeman ........... Josef

Eugenia Rawls ........... Sophie Cerny

Martin Brandt .......... 1st Security Policeman
Peter Gumeny ....... 2nd Security Policeman

with

Stefan Schnabel, Boris Tumarin

Alan Furlan, Rebecca Sand

Synopsis 1:
On the day in 1948 when Jan Masaryk dies, Essie and Rudi Sebastian, a second-rate

mind-reading act, are winding up their appearance at a theater in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and

preparing to return to England. Backstage they receive two visitors. One is a lady colonel of the

Czech Army who suggests that they donate a substantial portion of their earnings to a government

welfare fund. The second is General Otakar Zandek who invites them to perform that night at a party

for Communist officials. In very short order the Great Sebastians are snarled in political intrigue.
Synopsis 2:
Show: television version of comedy-melodrama Broadway play set in Communist Prague in 1948,

by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, adapted by them, directed by Franklin Schaffner; set in

Prague in 1948, comedy-melodrama of vaudeville mind-reading team commanded by Communist

general to entertain at a private party to use their talents to ferret out traitors; they are asked to falsely

swear that the patriot Masaryk was depressed, thus excusing his apparent murder; they refuse,

and escape by using their stage tricks.

 

Ep 3.10 Producers' Showcase: CINDERELLA

29Apr1957 NBC Mon

written by Frederick Ashton

directed by Clark Jones

produced by Sol Hurok

starring

Margot Fonteyn

Michael Somes

Frederick Ashton

Kenneth MacMillan

Svetlana Beriosova

Philip Chatfield

Show: Sol Hurok presentation of Sadler's Wells Ballet Company (n/k/a The Royal Ballet)

of ballet set to music by Sergei Prokofiev; directed by Clark Jones; choreographed and

adapted for television by Frederick Ashton; featuring Margot Fonteyn, Michael Somes,

Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Svetlana Beriosova, Philip Chatfield,

 and the entire corps de ballet.

 

Ep 3.11 Producers' Showcase: MR. BROADWAY

11May1957 NBC Mon

written by Sam & Bella Spewack

directed by Sidney Lumet

starring

Mickey Rooney .......... George M. Cohan

Eddie Foy Jr.

Teresa Brewer

Garry Moore

Gloria DeHaven

June Havoc

Roberta Sherwood

Show: Musical version of rags-to-Vaudeville-riches life of George M. Cohan, written for

television by Sam and Bella Spewack, with music and lyrics by George M. Cohan; directed

by Sidney Lumet; musical numbers and choreography staged by Peter Gennaro; songs include

 "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Harrigan," "Over There," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and

 "You're a Grand Old Flag;"

 

Ep 3.12 Producers' Showcase: FESTIVAL OF MAGIC

27May1957 NBC Mon

written by Ernie Kovacs

based on an idea by David Jacobson & Hal Friedman

directed by Charles S. Dubin

musical director George Bassman

magic co-ordinator, Milburne Christopher

produced by Mort Abrahams

starring

Ernie Kovacs

Peter Hanley

Henry Lascoe

Dean Almquist

Jimmy Yohan

 Sid Raymond

Joe Callaway
Synopsis:

Hosted by Ernie Kovacs (who doubles as amateur magician whose acts fail miserably),

features world famous magicians from seven countries performing their best-known acts:

Milbourne Christopher (American who catches bullet in his teeth), Richard Cardini

(British, performing sleight-of-hand), Robert Harbin (South African escape artist who

gets out of strait jacket while suspended upside down in mid-air), June Merlin (Irish animal

 specialist who works with white mice and rabbits), Sorcar (India, buzz-sawing woman in half),

Rene Septembre (France animal specialist), Mr. and Mrs. Li King Si (Chinese sword jugglers)

####################

Television Awards:

Best Dramatic Series 1955 Producer's Showcase winner

 Producer's Showcase - "Our Town Song: Love and Marriage" - Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen 
 

Best Producer Live Series

Fred Coe - Producers Showcase 1955
 

Best Program of the Year

Peter Pan - Producers Showcase

 

######################################################

################## Producers' Showcase ##################

####################### the end #######################

####################################################

 

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