Actors Studio (1948-50)
aka The Play's The Thing
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Ian S, Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

ACTORS STUDIO
Actors Studio Production
Produced Live from New York
for
ABC (Sundays 8:30pm EST)(26Sep48-13Mar49)

ABC Thursdays (24Mar49-26May49)

ABC Wednesdays (28Sep49-26Oct49)
CBS  Tuesdays then Fridays (01Nov49-Jun50)
Produced by Donald Davis, Hume Cronyn

US Dramatic Anthology Series 56 episodes x 30 min

Host: Marc Connelly (second season)

Premise:
A live series based on the works of noted authors, produced by the
Actors Studio, a non-profit organization of professional performers.

Background:
The Actors Studio, New York was founded in October, 1947, by Cheryl Crawford,
Elia Kazan and Robert Lewis. Lee Strasberg was the most influential of
teachers associated with the Actors Studio. He was not directly
involved in its origin, and did not begin teaching there until 1949.

############### Actors Studio ###############
############## season 1 1948-49 ##############
##############################################
ABC Sundays 8:30pm EST (26Sep48-13Mar49)

ABC Thursdays (24Mar49-26May49)

Ep 1.01 Actors Studio: PORTRAIT OF A MADONNA
26-Sep-1948 ABC Sun

Adapted from Tennessee Williams' play
Directed by Ralph Warren
Staged by Hume Cronyn
starring
Jessica Tandy ..... Miss Lucretia Collins
John Randolph ..... Mr. Abrams
Ted Stewart ....... The Porter
Don Hamner ........ The Elevator Boy
David Pressman .... Mr. Abrams
Edward Binns ...... The Doctor
Jennifer Howard ... The Nurse
Synopsis:
An aging spinster spins a tale of rape and changes the lives of two people. [IN]

Ep 1.02 Actors Studio: NIGHT CLUB
3-Oct-1948 ABC Sun

Based on the short story by Katharine Brush
Directed by Ralph Warren
starring
Joan McCracken
Note: As with all the earlier "Actors Studio" episodes, there was a stage director. This episode was staged by Sanford Meisner. [IN]

Ep 1.03 Actors Studio: THE GIANT'S STAIR
10-Oct-1948 ABC Sun

Based on the Wilbur Daniel Steele short story
Directed by Ralph Warren
Staged by David Pressman
cast:
Julie Harris
Michael Strong
Maureen Stapleton
John E. Straube
Synopsis:
A husband and wife are stranded during a terrible storm with her
unbalanced sister. [IN]

Ep 1.04 Actors Studio: THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL
17-Oct-1948 ABC Sun (re-staged 29Nov49 CBS)
Based on the short story by Manuel Komroff

starring
Jocelyn Brando
Nancy Franklin
Don Hanmer
David Wayne

Ep 1.05 Actors Studio: THE CATBIRD SEAT
24-Oct-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Hiram Sherman
Mary Wickes

Ep 1.06 Actors Studio: THE INEXPERIENCED GHOST
31-Oct-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Lou Gilbert
Dennis King
Rex O'Malley

Ep 1.07 Actors Studio: ROPES
7-Nov-1948 ABC Sun
written by Charles Granillo
starring
Tom Ewell
Kim Hunter

Ep 1.08 Actors Studio: ESTHER
14-Nov-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Jocelyn Brando
Will Hare
Margaret Phillips

Ep 1.09 Actors Studio: GOODBYE, MISS LIZZIE BORDEN
21-Nov-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Muriel Kirkland
Mary Wickes

Ep 1.10 Actors Studio: TEN PERCENT
28-Nov-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Ruth Matteson

Ep 1.11 Actors Studio: THE NIGHT THE GHOST GOT IN
5-Dec-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Nydia Westman

Ep 1.12 Actors Studio: THE WIDOW OF WASDALE HEAD
12-Dec-1948 ABC Sun
starring
John Forsythe
Lois Wheeler

Ep 1.13 Actors Studio: THE MAN WHO LOST CHRISTMAS
19-Dec-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Russell Collins
Jane Hoffman

Ep 1.14 Actors Studio: TO THE LOVELY MARGARET
26-Dec-1948 ABC Sun
starring
Bambi Linn
William Redfield

Ep 1.15 Actors Studio: A DAY IN TOWN
2-Jan-1949 ABC Sun
starring
Jocelyn Brando
Warren Stevens

Ep 1.16 Actors Studio: I'M NO HERO
9-Jan-1949 ABC Sun
starring
Harry Bellaver
Marlon Brando

Ep 1.17 Actors Studio: THE LITTLE WIFE
16-Jan-1949 ABC Sun (re-staged 17Jan50
written by William March
adapted by David Shaw
starring
Eva Marie Saint
Tom Ewell
George Keane
Kim Hunter
Mary McLeod

Ep 1.18 Actors Studio: THE LADY ON 142
23-Jan-1949 ABC Sun
starring
Jane Hoffman
Hiram Sherman

Ep 1.19 Actors Studio: A TRIP TO CZARDIS
30-Jan-1949 ABC Sun
starring
Julie Harris
Steven Hill

Ep 1.20 Actors Studio: JIM PEMBERTON AND HIS BOY TRIGGER
6 February 1949 ABC Sun
starring
Russell Collins
William Redfield
June Walker

Ep 1.21 Actors Studio: ZONE OF QUIET
13 February 1949 ABC Sun
starring
Anne Jackson
Eleanor Lynn
John Sylvester

Ep 1.22 Actors Studio: THE TELL-TALE HEART
20 February 1949 ABC Sun
starring
Russell Collins
Warren Stevens

Ep 1.23 Actors Studio: GREASY LUCK
27 February 1949 ABC Sun
starring
Jocelyn Brando
Steven Hill

Ep 1.24 Actors Studio: JOE MCSWEEN'S ATOMIC MACHINE
6 March 1949 ABC Sun (re-staged 31Jan50 CBS)
written by Richard P. Gehman
adapted by Michael Zeamer
directed by Alex Segal
produced by Donald Davis
starring
William Redfield
Nancy Franklin
Don Hanmer
Conrad Janis
Lenka Peterson
Jo Van Fleet
E.G. Marshall
Martin Balsam
Ray Montgomery
David Stewart
Bob McNanamen
Synopsis:
Joe McSween is a factory worker who builds a machine in his basement.
The machine doesn't do anything--it just runs. Naturally, everyone
thinks that it's an atomic machine and the government gets involved.

Ep 1.25 Actors Studio: DEAD MAN
13 March 1949 ABC Sun
starring
Julie Harris
John Sylvester

--------------------------------------

Moves to ABC Thursdays (24Mar49-26May49)

----------------------------------------------------------

Ep 1.26 Actors Studio: CONCERNING A WOMAN OF SIN
24 March 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Tom Ewell

Ep 1.27 Actors Studio: THREE O'CLOCK
31 March 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Philip Bourneuf
Steven Hill
Frances Reid

Ep 1.28 Actors Studio: A REPUTATION
7 April 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Edith Atwater
Tom Ewell

Ep 1.29 Actors Studio: I CAN'T BREATHE
14 April 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Ruth Matteson
Kevin McCarthy
Mary McCarthy

Ep 1.30 Actors Studio: FROM PARADISE TO BUTTE
21 April 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Joshua Shelley
Elliott Sullivan

Ep 1.31 Actors Studio: HERE COMES SPRING
28 April 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Curt Conway
Jack Gilford
Don Hanmer
Edith King
Cloris Leachman

Ep 1.32 Actors Studio: SOMEBODY HAS TO BE NOBODY
5 May 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Russell Collins
Phyllis Love
Byron McGrath
Lou Polan
Ann Summers

Ep 1.33 Actors Studio: SALT OF THE EARTH
12 May 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Edith King
Herbert Nelson
Ann Shepherd

Ep 1.34 Actors Studio: SPREADING THE NEWS
19 May 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Julie Harris
E.G. Marshall
Elliott Sullivan

Ep 1.35 Actors Studio: YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART
26 May 1949 ABC Thur
starring
Richard Boone
Cloris Leachman
John Sylvester

############### Actors Studio ###############
############## season 2 1949-50 ##############
##############################################

ABC Wednesdays (28Sep49-26Oct49)

2.01 [036] Actors Studio: THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
28 September 1949 ABC Wed
story by Oscar Wilde
starring
Edward Ashley
Wendy Barrie
Ruth Matteson
John Shay

Synopsis:

After inheriting a haunted mansion, a family must contend with the ghost.

2.02 [037] Actors Studio: TERROR IN THE STREETS
5 October 1949 ABC Wed
starring
Robert Carroll
Ann Shepherd

2.03 [038] Actors Studio: IT'S A FREE COUNTRY
12 October 1949 ABC Wed
starring
Nancy Franklin
Don Hanmer
Jessie Royce Landis

2.04 [039] Actors Studio: WE'LL NEVER HAVE A NICKEL
19 October 1949 ABC Wed
starring
Cloris Leachman
John Sylvester

2.05 [040] Actors Studio: CLARISSA
26 October 1949 ABC Wed
starring
Jean Muir

--------------------------------
Changes Networks from ABC to CBS
--------------------------------

CBS  Tuesdays then Fridays (01Nov49-Jun50)

2.06 [041] Actors Studio: THE RETURN TO KANSAS CITY
01Nov1949 CBS Tue
starring
Kim Hunter
Elliott Sullivan

2.07 [042] Actors Studio: O'HALLORAN'S LUCK
08Nov1949 CBS Tue
starring
Cloris Leachman
George Reeves

2.08 [043] Actors Studio: THE FRAME-UP
15Nov1949 CBS Tue
written by Ring Lardner
adapted by David Shaw
starring
Cloris Leachman
Joshua Shelley

2.09 [044] Actors Studio: THE THREE STRANGERS
22 November 1949 CBS Tue
starring
Steven Hill
John Randolph

2.10 [045] Actors Studio: THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL (re-staged)
29Nov1949 CBS Tue (first staged 170ct48 ABC)
starring
Jocelyn Brando
Nancy Franklin
Don Hanmer
David Wayne


2.11 [046] Actors Studio: THE MAN WITH THE HEART IN THE HIGHLANDS
06Dec1949 CBS Tue
starring
John McQuade

2.12 [047] Actors Studio: THE MIDWAY
13Dec1949 CBS Tue
written by George Batson & Richard McCracken
starring
Stephen Elliott
George Reeves
Ann Shepherd
Richard Boone

2.13 [048] Actors Studio: A CHILD IS BORN
20Dec1949 CBS Tue
starring
Jean Muir

2.14 [049] Actors Studio: A COUNTRY FULL OF SWEDES
27Dec1949 CBS Tue
written by Erskine Caldwell
adapted by Sam Elkin
starring
E.G. Marshall
Dorothy Sands
Elliott Sullivan

2.15 [050] Actors Studio: HANNAH
03Jan1950 CBS Tue
written by Mary Wilkins
adapted by David Shaw
starring
Eva Condon
Leslie Nielsen
Frances Ingalls

2.16 [051] Actors Studio: AN INGENUE OF THE SIERRAS
10Jan1950 CBS Tue
written by Bret Harte
starring
Nancy Franklin
Elliott Sullivan
Jabez Gray

2.17 [052] Actors Studio: THE LITTLE WIFE (re-staged)
17Jan1950 CBS Tue (first staged 16Jan49 ABC)
written by William March
adapted by David Shaw
starring
Eva Marie Saint
Tom Ewell
George Keane
Kim Hunter
Mary McLeod

2.18 [053] Actors Studio: THE TIMID GUY
24Jan1950 CBS Tue
written by William McLeod Raine
adapted by Howard Rodman
directed by Yul Brynner
starring
Henry Jones
Patricia Kirkland
Jack Klugman
Philip Truex

2.19 [054] Actors Studio: JOE MCSWEEN'S ATOMIC MACHINE (re-staged)
31Jan1950 CBS Tue (first staged 6Mar49 ABC)
Producer Donald Davis

Written by Richard B. Gehman
Adapted by Michael Zeamer
Directed by Alex Segal
starring
William Redfield
Conrad Janis
James Stephens
Lenka Peterson
Don Hanmer
Amy Douglas
Jo Van Fleet
E.G. Marshall
Martin Balsam
Ray Montgomery
David Stewart
Bob McNanamen
Synopsis:
Joe McSween is a factory worker who builds a machine in his basement.
The machine doesn't do anything--it just runs. Naturally, everyone
thinks that it's an atomic machine and the government gets involved.

--------------------------------------

Moves to CBS Fridays 9-10pm (03Feb50-23Jun50)(fortnightly)

----------------------------------------------------------

 
2.20 [055] Actors Studio: TELAS, THE KING
03Feb1950 CBS Fri
written by Herman Sudermann
adapted by Alvin Sapinsley
starring
Eva Marie Saint
Leslie Nielsen
Robert Pastene
Rod Steiger
Susan Douglas Rubes

 [--] Theatre Hour: THE ROYAL FAMILY
10Feb1950 CBS Fri
starring
Margaret Wycherly
Carol Goodner
Richard Waring

2.21 [056] Actors Studio: MR. MUMMERY'S SUSPICION
17Feb1950 CBS Fri
written by Dorothy Sayers
starring
Ann Shaw
George Keane
Synopsis:
Mr. Mummery is out to catch a cook who disappeared after poisoning her guests.

[--] Theatre Hour: UNCLE HARRY
24Feb1950 CBS Fri
starring
Joseph Schildkraut
Eva Le Gallienne
 

2.22 [057] Actor's Studio: THE APPLE TREE
03Mar1950 CBS Fri
starring
Grace Kelly
John Merivale
Patricia Kirkland
 

[--] Theatre Hour: ROOM SERVICE [Last program of the series]
10Mar1950 CBS Fri
starring
Jack Carson
Hume Cronyn

2.23 [058] Actor's Studio: THE PINK HUSSAR
17Mar1950 CBS Fri
starring
Joseph Buloff
Lenore Aubert
George Keane

2.24 [059] Actor's Studio-aka-The Play's the Thing
31Mar1950 CBS Fri

2.25 [060] The Play's the Thing -aka - Actor's Studio: SANCTUARY IN PARIS
14Apr1950 CBS Fri
starring
Elliott Sullivan
Joan Chandler

Richard Boone
James Doohan
Edward Kogan
Richard Malek
Joseph A. Kramm
Reinhold Schunzel

2.26 [061] The Play's the Thing -aka - Actor's Studio: SCREWBALL
28Apr1950 CBS Fri
starring
Jack Gilford
Lee Grant
Edith King

2.27 [062] Actor's Studio: ALISON'S HOUSE
21May1950 CBS Saturday ??????
Based on the play by Susan Glaspell
starring
John Merivale
Flora Campbell
Reginald Mason
Synopsis:
The Stanhope family go thru the deceased poetess Alison's belongings

 and find unpublished works that would bring the family a fortune.

2.28 [063] The Play's the Thing -aka - Actor's Studio: THE TOKEN
26May1950 CBS Fri
starring
Grace Kelly
Mark Roberts

Lucy Vines
Synopsis:
A New England seaport town in the days of the clipper ships as a gesture of love is lost.

2.29 [064] The Play's the Thing -aka - Actor's Studio: THE SWAN
09Jun1950 CBS Fri
Producer Donald Davis
Adapted by Melville C. Baker
Based on the play by Ferenc Molnar
Directed by David Pressman
starring
Grace Kelly ....... Princess Alexandra
George Keane ...... Prince Albert
Alfred Ryder ...... Dr. Nicholas Agi
Dennis Hoey ....... Father Hyacinth
Leopoldine Konstantin ... Princess Maria
Jane Hoffman ...... Princess Beatrix

Synopsis:
A man is hired to tutor the children of an aristocratic family in this story of

love developing between a commoner and a princess.

2.30 [065] The Play's the Thing -aka - Actor's Studio: THE GOOD COMPANIONS
23Jun1950 CBS Fri
Story by J.B. Priestly
Hosted by Marc Connelly
starring
Edith Atwater
James Noble
Nancy Franklin

Synopsis:
When the theatrical group they're in disbands, a vaudeville performer, a wealthy

spinster and a school music teacher team up to produce a new show.

("The Play's The Thing" 17Mar50-30Jun50, CBS Fridays, 60 min)

################ Actors Studio ###############
################## appendix ##################
##############################################
Museum of Television "lost programs"
https://www.mtr.org/involved/losttv.htm

Actor's Studio
(1948-1950)
We are searching for examples of this live anthology series that
featured such students of the legendary acting school as Kim Hunter, Julie
Harris, Jessica Tandy, Martin Balsam, and Marlon Brando.

############### Actors Studio ###############
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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