NBC Mondays 8:00-9:30 pm Eastern
This time slot shared with the Music Variety series "Caesar's Hour" starring Sid Caesar

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.