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"Alcoa Hour"
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Season
1 (NBC) (1955-56)
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 1 1955-56 #########
###############################
NBC Sundays 9:00-10:00pm ET
Alternating with Goodyear TV Playhouse (season 5) (NBC) (1955-56)
1.01 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE BLACK WINGS
16-Oct-1955 NBC Sun
produced by Herbert Brodkin
teleplay by Joseph Schull
directed by Norman Felton
guest stars
Wendell Corey ....... David Adams
Robert Flemyng ...... Bennett
Ann Todd ............ Jane Cornish
John Williams ....... Frazer
Byron Russell ....... Tobin
Frances Tannehill ... Lucy
Beulah Garrick ...... Eve
Synopsis:
A German physician who had been a Luftwaffe pilot during WWII
secretly endows a clinic for the treatment of victims of a bombing
raid he led over England, then falls in love with an English girl who
was crippled by the bombing. [RF]
1.02 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE SMALL SERVANT
30-Oct-1955 NBC Sun
written by S.I. Abelow
Based on Charles Dickens' "The Old Curiosity Shop".
guest stars
Laurence Harvey ..... Dick Swiveller
Halliwell Hobbes .... Reverend Garland
John Laurie ......... Sampson Brass
Brenda Forbes ....... Sophie Wackles
Murray Matheson ..... Padgett
Mary Wickes ......... Sally Brass
Francis Compton ..... Wrasp
Diane Cilento ....... Servant
Synopsis:
A young girl becomes the servant of the proprietor of an old curiosity shop
and falls for the man who lives above the shop.
*NOTE: This was actress Diane Cilento's American television debut.
1.03 [--] The Alcoa Hour: A GIRL CAN TELL
13-Nov-1955 NBC Sun
adapted by William McCleery
from F. Hugh Herbert's Broadway play
starring
Diana Lynn .......... Jennifer
Natalie Trundy ...... Nancy
Carleton Carpenter .. Artie
Dean Harens ......... George
Donald Symington .... Freddie
Jack Whiting ........ J.G.
William Redfield .... Bill
Paul McGrath ........ Father
Barbara Robbins ..... Mother
Elissa Zabor ........ Natasha
Synopsis:
Looking over the scrapbook containing pictures of all the men she ever kissed,
a mother tells her daughter of her hectic younger days and the beaus who made them so. [RF]
1.04 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THUNDER IN WASHINGTON
27-Nov-1955 NBC Sun
written by David Davidson
directed by Robert Mulligan
guest stars
Melvyn Douglas ......... Charles Turner
Ed Begley .............. Rep. Kilter
Russell Collins ........ Joe Horton
James Gregory .......... Martin Hobbes
Philip Coolidge ........ Mr. Herbert
Howard St. John ........ Mr. Meadows
Audra Lindley .......... Laura
Luis Van Rooten ........ President of the United States
Susan Halloran ......... Janie
Synopsis 1:
Inspired by recent capital-city doings, this is the story of a successful businessman
who comes to work for the government. He tries to use his newfound influence
to benefit the private business in which he still has an interest. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Charles Turner a highly competent business executive
answers a call from the President of the United States to
come to Washington to introduce efficiency into numerous
sprawling government agencies. Soon Turner's efforts at
reform offend almost everyone and he finds himself
defending his actions before a House Appropriations Committee. [RF]
*
Note: Luis Van Rooten spent hours studying the voice and
mannerisms of the President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
1.05 [--] The Alcoa Hour: UNDERTOW
11-Dec-1955 NBC Sun
written by Jack Kelsey
guest stars
Robert Preston ........ Doug Hallock
Teresa Wright ......... Sylvia Hallock
John Kerr ............. Jamie Hallock
Thomas Mitchell ....... Cap'n Hallock
Cathleen Nesbitt ...... Mother Hallock
Synopsis:
Cap'n Hallock and his taciturn hardworking wife and their two sons
live in Nova Scotia. It takes a near-tragedy to get the family to drop
it's reserve and reveal their true feelings.
1.06 [--] The Alcoa Hour: AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
25-Dec-1955
Gian Carlo Menotti's Opera
guest stars
Rosemary Kuhlman ...... Amahl's Mother
David Aiken ........... King Melchior
Leon Lishner .......... King Balthasar
Andrew McKinley ....... King Caspar
Glen Tetley ........... Dancing Shepherd
Synopsis:
Amahl, a poor cripple boy, is visited by the Three Kings on their way
to pay homage to the Christ child. [RF]
1.07 [--] The Alcoa Hour: MAN ON A TIGER
08-Jan-1956 NBC Sun
written by Roger O. Hirson
adapted from a short story by Adman David Levy
guest stars
Melvyn Douglas ........ Jim Conway
Tony Randall .......... Bill Holmes
Polly Rowles .......... Susan
Keenan Wynn ........... Curley Ames
Virginia Kaye ......... Ruth Wilson
Frank Schofield ....... Kaplow
Jan Farrand ........... Lily
Jerome Kilty .......... Steve Morgan
Lisa Howard ........... Kitty
Mort Stephens ......... George
Synopsis:
The story of success and failure, where admen's accounts, TV comedians
fight for prestige and the small fry of
television fight for their very existence.
1.08 [--] The Alcoa Hour: A PATCH OF FAITH
22-Jan-1956 NBC Sun
Written by John Secondari,
author of the novel on which the movie "Three Coins in
the Fountain" was based.
Directed by Sidney Lumet
guest stars
Lee J. Cobb ........ Zocco
Theodore Bikel ..... Il Vecchio
Robert Emhardt ..... Van Vlick
Lilia Skala ........ Mrs. Van Vlick
Will Kuluva ........ Oste
Miko Oscard ........ Peppino
Henry Lascoe ....... Bridagiere
Synopsis:
A schoolmaster in a small Italian town suffers when his pupils are taunted
because
they are too poor to afford football uniforms. He tries to raise money by staging
a benefit concert starring a young Dutch pianist. [RF]
1.09 [--] The Alcoa Hour: LONG AFTER SUMMER
05-Feb-1956 NBC Sun
produced by Herbert Brodkin
written by Dale Wasserman
story by Robert Nathan
directed by Sidney Lumet
guest stars
Robert Preston ........ Tom Waycroff
Susan Kohner .......... Joanna
Cameron Prud'Homme .... Alben
Ben Astar ............. Manuel
Donald Harron ......... Jack
Simon Oakland ......... Bert
Augusta Merighi ....... Josie
Raymond Bramley ....... Minister
Ralph Camargo
Synopsis:
The scene is Cape Cod, New England. A cynical sculptor hires a young orphan
girl as a housekeeper. She falls in love with the son of his best friend, but an
ensuing tragedy arouses her employer's concern. [RF]
1.10 [--] The Alcoa Hour: TRAGEDY IN A TEMPORARY TOWN
19-Feb-1956 NBC Sun
written by Reginald Rose
directed by Sidney Lumet
guest stars
Ed Binns .............. Anderson
Lloyd Bridges ......... Alec Beggs
Robert Emhardt ........ Matt Fisher
Donald Harron ......... Mickey Doran
Betty Lou Keim ........ Dotty Fisher
Will Kuluva ........... Julio Infante
Vivian Nathan ......... Grace Beggs
Milton Selzer ......... Pike
Clifford Tatum Jr. .... Buddy Beggs
Jack Warden ........... Frank Doran
Jane White
Robert Dryden
Synopsis:
A vigilante group is formed after a girl is assaulted at
a construction camp. The mob descends on an innocent
Puerto Rican victim and the hero opposes the mob. [RF]
* Note According to Jack Gould, "Mr. Rose's final scene--the mob descending
on an innocent Puerto Rican victim--did make the viewer's flesh creep. And
the raw vigor of the hero's denunciation of the mob--the man's language had
uncommon pungency--was extraordinarily vivid
video drama."
"Tragedy in a Temporary Town" won a Robert E. Sherwood Television Award
and a citation from the Anti Defamation League of B'nai B'rith as the best
dramatic program of the year dealing with intergroup relations.
1.11 [--] The Alcoa Hour: MAN ON FIRE
04-Mar-1956 NBC Sun
written by Malvin Wald & Jack Jacobs
guest stars
Tom Ewell ............. Earl Carleton
Patricia Barry ........ Nina
Neva Patterson ........ Gwen
Jerome Thor ........... Shaw
Ed Begley ............. Sam
Lois Bolton ........... Mrs. Delaney
Russell Collins ....... Judge
Van Dyke Parks ........ Ted
Synopsis:
A successful business man agrees to a divorce but insists on retaining custody
of the couple's young boy. Later, after remarrying, his wife tries for and wins
custody of the child. This so disillusions and embitters the man that he turns
against his friends, associates and finally the law. [RF]
1.12 [--] The Alcoa Hour: DOLL FACE
18-Mar-1956 NBC Sun
written by Jerome Ross
guest stars
Gene Lyons ............ Harry Banning
Nancy Malone .......... Grace Schroeder
Addison Powell ........ Arthur Jelliffe
Glenda Farrell ........ Eloise Schroeder
Frank McHugh .......... George Schroeder
Patricia Englund ...... The Manicurist
Jeff Harris ........... The Bellboy
1.13 [--] The Alcoa Hour: FINKLE'S COMET
01-Apr-1956 NBC Sun
written by Herman Raucher
Directed by Sidney Lumet
guest stars
David Opatoshu ........ Morris Finkle
Hans Conried .......... Schnobble
Norman Fell ........... Marvie
Donald Mayo ........... Professor Caswell
Lenka Peterson ........ Marilyn
Ned Wertimer .......... Terry
Henry Lascoe .......... Mirsky
Synopsis:
A candy store owner looks out his window
and finds he is the only one who saw the comet.
1.14 [--] The Alcoa Hour: EVEN THE WEARIEST RIVER
15-Apr-1956 NBC Sun
written by Alvin Sapinsley
guest stars
Lee Grant ............. Lennie Converse
Boris Karloff ......... Doc Dixon
Christopher Plummer.... Bruce Quealy
Jason Robards ......... Bridger
Franchot Tone ......... Sheriff Converse
Frank Marth ........... Crawford
Robert Dryden ......... Olan
Archie Smith .......... Matt
John Shellie .......... McAdam
Milton Selzer ......... Upton
Frank Overton ......... Barton Steinbach
Synopsis:
A triple tragedy has marked a small town in the West. The frontier village as
mirrored
in the final day of it's sheriff, a 70-year-old lawman whose failing eyesight
and hearing tries to put off the inevitable
realization that he's obsolete.
*NOTE: The title "Even the Weariest River" is based on a Western legend
in blank verse.
1.15 [--] The Alcoa Hour: PARIS AND MRS. PERLMAN
29-Apr-1956 NBC Sun
written by John Vlahos
guest stars
Gertrude Berg ......... Sophie Perlman
Claude Dauphin ........ Monsieur Aristide Duchamp
Sanford Meisner ....... Lew Stern
Joey Walsh ............ Leon
Janet Fox ............. Rose
Synopsis:
A lovable middle-aged widow unexpectedly finds romance with a Galic
charmer during a European trip, but the Frenchman admits he is a fortune-hunter.
1.16 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE PRESIDENT
13-May-1956 NBC Sun
written by David Davidson
guest stars
Claude Rains .......... Paul Westman
Mildred Dunnock ....... Grace Westman
Everett Sloane ........ Bill Groody
Alfred Ryder .......... Harvey Wilson
Larry Gates ........... Fulton Wills
Luis Van Rooten ....... Foster
David White ........... Sully
Fred Clark ............ Governor Dan Cowlin
Allen Collins
Robert Dryden
Howard Wierum
John Boruff
1.17 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE CONFIDENCE MAN
27-May-1956 NBC Sun
written by Ernest Kinoy
guest stars
Hume Cronyn .......... Sam Pickens
Jessica Tandy ........ Olivia Crummit
Dorothy Sands ........ Mrs. Crummit
John McGovern ........ Harry Crummit
Synopsis:
A con artist poses as a clergyman and insinuates himself into a men's club
where he takes up collection for a bogus missionary project. Sam ends up in the
streets once he is found out and meets a wealthy spinster named Olivia
whom he sets up as his next pigeon.
1.18 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE MAGIC HORN
10-Jun-1956 NBC Sun
written by Herman Raucher
guest stars
Ralph Meeker ......... Billy Hepburn
Sal Mineo ............ Tommy Angelo
Buzzy Drootin ........ Bide-o-wee Smith (famed Jazz Drummer)
Vic Dickenson ........ Stromberg Harris
Ruby Braff ........... Spencer Lee
Jimmy McPartland ..... Jambo Reader
Bert Freed ........... Manager
Milt Hinton .......... Woosh Johnson
Peanuts Hucko ........ the Greek
Synopsis:
A story of Jazz musicians in Chicago during the Twenties.
1.19 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE ARCHANGEL HARRIGAN
24-Jun-1956 NBC Sun
written by Lorenzo Semple Jr.
guest stars
Darren McGavin ....... Harrigan
Frank Aletter ........ Tommy Sanford
Walter Burke ......... Sam Adams
Ann Dere ............. Mae Jenks
Pat Hingle ........... Red
Janice Rule .......... Rosie McLeod
Frank Tweddell ....... Charlie Jenks
John Shellie ......... Jud
Synopsis:
Harrigan claims that he can fly but everyone believes him
crazy and go about having him locked up.
1.20 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE PIPER OF ST. JAMES
08-Jul-1956 NBC Sun
written by Hugh Kemp
guest stars
Brenda Forbes ...... Jenkins
Barry Jones ...... Hamish
Patrick O'Neal ...... Jamie
Peggy Maurer ...... Julia
Patrick Macnee ...... Charlie
William Hansen ...... R.B. Angus
Pat Harrington ...... Bartender
1.21 [--] The Alcoa Hour: SISTER
22-Jul-1956 NBC Sun
written by Sidney Carroll
guest stars
Gladys Cooper ..... Aunt Pauline
Cathleen Nesbitt ...... Angelica
Vincent Price ..... Alvanley
Synopsis:
A spinster still hasn't recovered from the loss of her identical twin when her nephew
weaves a web of deceit in order to take advantage of her fragile state.
1.22 [--] The Alcoa Hour: KISS AND TELL
05-Aug-1956 NBC Sun
written by F. Hugh Herbert
guest stars
Robin Morgan ......... Corliss Archer
Warren Berlinger ..... Dexter Franklin
John Connell ......... Lenny Archer
Jerome Cowan ......... Harry Archer
Florida Friebus ...... Mrs. Franklin
Polly Rowles ......... Janet Archer
Steven Chase ......... Uncle George
Howard St. John ...... Mr. Pringle
Marion Randall ....... Mildred Pringle
Synopsis:
The antics of 15-year-old Corliss Archer in keeping her brother's marriage
a secret cause a series of hilarious events.
1.23 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE BIG VOTE
19-Aug-1956 NBC Sun
written by David Karp
guest stars
Ed Begley ............ Michael Francis Dixon
Kathleen Maguire ..... Eileen Dixon
Walter Matthau ....... Bill Egan
Luis Van Rooten ...... Bernstein
Walter Burke ......... Devlin
Robert Emhardt ....... Teddy Harrison
William Harrigan ..... Emil Drucker
Jay Barney ........... Hofmeyer
Synopsis:
Defeat comes as a surprise to an old-line politician in this drama of local
politics.
1.24 [--] The Alcoa Hour: THE GIRL IN CHAPTER ONE
02-Sep-1956 NBC Sun
written by Elihu Winer
guest stars
James Daly .... Vernon Elder
Joanne Woodward .... Margaret Spencer
Madge Evans .... Agnes Spencer
Anne Seymour .... Mary Elder
Warren Parker
Wallace Rooney
Synopsis:
A Pulitzer Prize novelist's talent has faded. He returns to his small hometown
and
meets a young girl who greatly admires him. Romance blossoms and it appears that
she will become his fourth wife. Suddenly he discovers that she is the daughter
of the woman he jilted 20 years ago.
################## Alcoa Hour
################
############### end of season 1 ##############
##############################################
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