########## Armstrong Circle Theatre ##########

############## season 8 1956-57 ##############

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

    NBC Tuesdays 9:30-10:30pm (weekly)(60min)(fortnightly) - Alternating with Kaiser Aluminum Hour

Host/ Narrator: John Cameron Swayze

      Ep 8.01 Armstrong Circle Theatre: THE BYSTANDER

02Oct56

starring:
Peggy McCay
William Prince
Gerald Sarracini

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Carnival 09Oct56 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.02 Armstrong Circle Theatre: S.O.S. FROM THE ANDREA DORIA

16Oct56 NBC

      Operation no. 56-2382 and 53-2382A

      Talent Associates production for NBC

      produced by Robert Costello

      television play by George Lefferts

      Based on a Colliers' magazine by Cornelius Ryan

directed by William Corrigan

      Video by Al McClellan

      Music supervision, John Geller

      Host: John Cameron Swayze

      starring:

      Kent Smith ...... Thure

      Bibi Osterwald .......... Martha Peterson

      Val Avery ........ Gino Dovelli

      Patty Duke ....... Marianne Doona

      Appearing:

      Lilly Doona (herself)

      Summary:

      This drama about the tragedy of the Andrea Doria is a combination

      of narration by John Cameron Swayze, film clips and a re-enactment

      of the story of Thure Peterson and his wife, who loses her life

      after heroic attempts to free her from beneath a steel beam. It

      also includes a re-enactment of the story of Lilly Doona who jumps

      overboard to rescue her daughter. The U.S. Coast Guard Search and

      Rescue Center plays a major role in the rescue efforts. [SC]

 (Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Angel's Ransom 23Oct56 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.03 Armstrong Circle Theatre: FLARE UP

     30Oct56 NBC Tue

     Operation no. 56-2483

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     produced by Robert Costello

     directed by Paul Bogart

     television play by Sheldon Stark

     Video by Al McClellan

     music supervision, John Geller

     Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring:

     Kent Smith ....... Dr. Bundesen

      (some sources - Lorne Greene in this part)

     Biff McGuire ....... Jim

     Alexander Scourby ....... Tomas Rico

     Patty Duke ............ Angelina

     Lois Wheeler ......... Mrs. Rico

     Appearing:

     Herman Bundesen ........ Himself

     Summary:

     An "Actual" drama of a polio outbreak in Chicago. One of the first

    victims is a young boy named Miguel Rico, who received only one shot

     of the three shots of the Salk vaccine. His father, Tomas, is convinced

     that he contracted polio from the vaccine. He is influential in his

     community and warns parents against the shots. Dr. Herman Bundesen,

     president of the Chicago Board of Health, decides to run the risks

     of administering shots in the middle of the polio season. Few are

     willing to take the shots. Mrs. Rico is afraid Angelina, their

     daughter, is coming down with the disease and convinces her husband

     that Miguel died because he received only one of the three shots and

     that Angelina should be treated.
*Note this is not the same episode as was aired 16Nov54. [DM]

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: The Big Board 06Nov56 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.04 Armstrong Circle Theatre: FLIGHT #387 FROM BUDAPEST

     13Nov56 NBC Tue

         Talent Associates prod no. 56-2584 for NBC

     Produced by Robert Costello

     Directed by William Corrigan

           Television play by Harold Gast.

     Video by Al McClellan

          Music supervision, John Geller.

      Host: John Cameron Swayze

            starring:

     William Redfield ....... Ferenc Iszak

     Gerald Sarracini ....... Polyak

     Jacqueline Scott ....... Emese Iszak

     George L. Smith ....... Captain

     Appearing:

            Béla Varga .......... Himself

      Summary:

     An "Actual" drama of how a small group of Hungarians escaped to West

     Germany. Polyak gathers people who wish to flee and, after great

     difficulty, arranges for a gun. They board a flight to a city near

     the border and plan to commandeer the plane. The man with their gun

     does not show up and they are not sure if they should proceed. They

     decide to go ahead and have to subdue a security officer. They fly

     on an almost empty tank and arrive safely in West Germany.

     Based on research material supplied by the Crusade for Freedom in

     support of Radio Free Europe and Free Europe Press.

 Synopsis 2:
The story of the escape of seven people from Communist Hungary.

The escape, which made recent headlines, was made on a commercial airplane,

commandeered in the air by the group. [RF]

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: The Rag Jungle 20Nov56 NBC Tue)

Armstrong Circle Theatre: (no details)

     27Nov56 NBC Tue

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Cracker Money 04Dec56 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.05 Armstrong Circle Theatre:  SEARCH, SEIZURE AND ARREST

     11Dec56 NBC Tue

     Operation no. 56-2777 and QK-13892

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     produced by Robert Costello

      television play by Jerome Coopersmith

     directed by William Corrigan

    Video by Al McClellan

     music supervision, John Geller

     Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring: written by Jerome Coopersmith
directed by William Corrigan
starring
Robert Pastene ....... Michaels
Walter Brooke ........ Boland
John Lehne ........... Alvin
Wallace Rooney ....... Vincenti
Dennis Patrick ....... Willy Frey

Synopsis 1:
A dramatization of the actual operations of a customs enforcement squad on a ship

 as it tracks down a man trying to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Inspector Michaels

boards a ship from Morocco and leads his squad in searching out the narcotics.

 They find some in the coat of a crew member named Alvin and hidden in various

places on the ship. Michaels turns over the case to the Customs agents. [TA]
Synopsis 2:
Based on the records of the U.S. Customs Office, a ship, trying to smuggle narcotics

into the U.S., is followed from Morocco to this country. Inspector Lou Michaels is

assigned to search the ship and find the heroin. [RF]
 

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Gwyneth 18Dec56 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.06 Armstrong Circle Theatre: OPERATION DEEP FREEZE:

CRASH OF THE OTTER 

     25Dec56 NBC Tue

     Operation no. 56-2863

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     Executive producer, David Susskind

     produced by Robert Costello

     television play by Irve Tunick

     directed by Paul Bogart

     Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring:

     Philip Abbott .......... Lt. Comm. Lathrop

     Val Avery ......... Ronald Levesque

     Gabriel Dell .......... Howard "Mukluk" Brown

     George L. Smith ......... Lt. Streich

     Appearing:

     Lt. Commander Glen H. Lathrop, Jr. (himself)

     Other Credits: 

     video by Al McClellan

     music supervision, John Geller

     Summary:

     An actual dramatization of seven men marooned by a plane crash in

     Antarctica. The plane, the Otter, is part of the largest Antarctic

     expedition in history, Operation Deep Freeze. The crash occurs during

     a blizzard and Lt. Comm. Glen H. Lathrop, Jr. of the U.S. Naval

     Reserve and his men must face the ice and cold to come out of the

     unchartered area alive. Their food and strength are ebbing, but they

     are finally rescued.

     Produced with the cooperation of the Department of Defense and the

     Department of the Navy.

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Mother 01Jan57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.07 Armstrong Circle Theatre: DIVORCESS ANONYMOUS

     08Jan57 NBC Tue

     no. 26 Operation no. QK-14193.

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     executive producer, David Susskind

     produced by Robert Costello

     Associate producer, Jacqueline Babbin

    written by Vance Bourjaily

     directed by William Corrigan

     music supervision, John Geller

     video by Al McClellan    

    Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring:

     Bibi Osterwald .......... Laura

     June Dayton .......... Eleanor

     Frank Overton ......... Sam

     Leonita Lovett ......... Sylvia

    Maxine Stuart ......... Anne

     Frank Marth ...... Mac

     Appearing:

     Sam Starr (himself)

     Summary:

     Drama of a woman on the verge of divorce and how Divorcees Anonymous,

     a Chicago organization, deals with such cases. The organization

     tries along with two divorced women to make the woman on the verge

     of divorce realize how much better it is to stay married. With the

     aid of Sam Starr, a Chicago attorney, they bring about a

     reconciliation. At the conclusion, Sam Starr speaks briefly about

     the pressing problem of divorce today.

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: A Real Fine Cutting Edge 15Jan57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.08 Armstrong Circle Theatre:  THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF HUNGARY

     22Jan57 NBC Tue

     Operation no. QK-14336

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     executive producer, David Susskind

     produced by Robert Costello

     written by Art Wallace

     director, William Corrigan

      Music supervision, John Geller

     video by Al McClellan

     Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring:

     Gerald Sarracini .......... Sandor Fisvek

     Bert Freed .......... Janos

     Eva Soreny .......... Anna Percelz

     Jon Cypher ......... Miklos

     Vilma Kurer ........ Eve

     Summary:

     This actual dramatization is the story of how three strangers, Anna

     Percelz, Sandor Fisvek and Ferenc Lukacs, become part of a force

     fighting a common enemy. The drama traces the heroic and tragic paths

     each follows until they meet to stand against the overwhelming power

     of the invading Soviet forces.

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Throw Me A Rope 29Jan57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.09 Armstrong Circle Theatre: ERROR IN JUDGMENT:

THE CASE OF PRISONER #16688

     05Feb57 NBC Tue

     no. 28 Operation no. QK-11487.

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     executive producer, David Susskind

     produced by Robert Costello

Associate producer, Jacqueline Babbin 

    television play by Roger O. Hirson

     directed by William Corrigan

     music supervision, John Geller

     video by Al McClellan    

Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring:

     Harry Townes ..... Roy Eaton

     Biff McGuire ..... Bob Gorman

     Patricia Smith ..... Helen Gorman

     Lawrence Weber ..... Barney Moran

     Raymond Bramley ..... Bill Cleery

     Appearing:

     Bob Gorman (himself)

     Summary:

     True-life drama of a young lawyer's untiring efforts to free a man

     he believes was unjustly convicted. The lawyer, Bob Gorman, examines

     the file of Roy Eaton, who has been serving time since 1940 in

     Joliet, Illinois for armed robbery. Eaton, bitter over the system

     which he feels discriminates against the poor and illiterate, is

     distrustful of the lawyer's efforts to prove there is equal justice

     under the law. The date for a re-trial is long since past and the

     State of Illinois must give a waiver. Barney Moran is responsible

     for this decision and he grants it. The evidence is submitted to

     the judge and Eaton is proclaimed innocent. At the end, Gorman

     speaks briefly on the fact that convicted people have rights and

     they must not be abrogated. [DM]

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: So Short a Season 12Feb57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.10 Armstrong Circle Theatre: THE TRIAL OF POZNAN

    19Feb57 NBC Tue

written by Alvin Boretz
starring:
Bert Freed
Peter Cookson
Hurd Hatfield

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Whereabouts Unknown 26Feb57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.11 Armstrong Circle Theatre: THE VANISHED

    05Mar57 NBC Tue
starring:
Everett Sloane

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: The Story of Crime 12Mar57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.12 Armstrong Circle Theatre: FOUR HOMES FOR DANNY

     19Mar57 NBC Tue

     Operation no. QK-14959

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     produced by Robert Costello

     written by Philip H. Reisman, Jr.

     director, William Corrigan

     Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring:

     Joe Maross ..... Mr. Robertshaw

     Peggy McCay ..... Mrs. Robertshaw

     Raymond Duke ..... Danny

     Richard Kendrick ..... Mr. Rice

     Barnard Hughes ..... Mr. Dubois

     Summary:

     The story of an unloved and misunderstood child, Danny, and the homes

     in which he lives and tries to find himself. He begins to be difficult

     at home and in class, but his nagging parents never think they might

     be partly responsible. He is sent to the New England Home for Little

     Wanderers, where friendly teachers and psychiatrists study but do not

     change youngsters' behavior. A temporary foster home is arranged for

     Danny. With the help of case workers, his parents change their

     feelings about their responsibilities to Danny and when he returns,

     he feels he will stay.

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: The Hollywood Award Winner 26Mar57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.13 Armstrong Circle Theatre:  ARSON: FILE #732

      02Apr57 NBC Tue

      Operation no. 57-536 and QK-15109

      Talent Associates production for NBC

      produced by Robert Costello

      television play by Jerome Coopersmith.

      directed by William Corrigan

      video by Al McClellan

      music supervision, John Geller.

      Host: John Cameron Swayze

    starring:

   John Kellogg

   Bill Zuckert

 Carl Low

     George L. Smith

   James Congdon

 Appearing:

      A. Bruce Bielaski (himself)

          Summary:

      Drama based on the work of the Fire Marshal's Office of Nassau

      County, Long Island, New York. A case history is presented about

      the solution of an arson for profit case, which goes into all the details

of the fire and investigations to the apprehension of the "torch."

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Murder in the House 09Apr57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.14 Armstrong Circle Theatre:  SLOW ASSASSINATION: PERÓN VS. LA PRENSA

     16Apr57 NBC Tue

     Operation no. QK-15263.

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     executive producer, David Susskind

     produced by Robert Costello

     teleplay written by Irve Tunick and Cullen Moore

     director, William Corrigan

 Music supervision, John Geller

     video by Al McClellan   

 Host: John Cameron Swayze

    starring:

     Kent Smith ..... Dr. Paz

     Philip Bourneuf ..... Ordońez

     Bruce Gordon ..... Gollan

     Val Avery ..... Napol

     Jonathan Harris ..... Von Braun

     Appearing:

     Dr. Alberto Gainza Paz (himself)

     Summary:

     A dramatization of the actual life and death struggle of an

     independent newspaper against the tyranny of the dictator, Juan Perón.

     The press of the world brought to light the fight of Dr. Alberto

     Gainza Paz, owner and publisher of the newspaper La prensa, who was

     forced to close down. He seeks refuge abroad where he continues his

     endeavors until Perón's downfall. On his return to Argentina, he

     reopens La prensa and re-establishes freedom of the press. 

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: A Man's Game 23Apr57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.15 Armstrong Circle Theatre: NIGHT COURT

     30Apr57 CBS Tue

     Operation no. QK-15404.

     Talent Associates production for NBC

     executive producer, David Susskind

     produced by Robert Costello

     written by Art Wallace

     director, William Corrigan

     Host: John Cameron Swayze

     starring:

     David White ....... Magistrate

     June Dayton ........ Mrs. Miller

     Wesley Lau ......... Mr. Miller

     Ivan Dixon ......... Carroll

     John Fieldler ......... Kean

     Appearing:

     John M. Murtaugh (himself)

     Other Credits:

     Music supervision, John Geller

     video by Al McClellan

     Summary:

     A dramatization based on fact of a typical night in New York's famous

     Night Court, the City Magistrate's Court, where cases of minor crimes

     and disturbances are handled. Insight is given into the proceedings

     between the judge and the defendants.

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: The Man Who Vanished 07May57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.16 Armstrong Circle Theatre: DAY OF DISASTER RIKER ISLAND

     14May57 CBS Tue

written by George Lefferts

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: The Deadly Silence 21May57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.17 Armstrong Circle Theatre: THREE CENTS WORTH OF FEAR

     28May57 CBS Tue

starring:
James Broderick
Frank Albertson
Lois Wheeler
Hugh Reilly
Ann Flood

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: Article 94: Homicide 04Jun57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.18 Armstrong Circle Theatre: MONEY FOR SALE

(aka The Counterfeiters)

     11Jun57 CBS Tue

written by Vance Bourjaily

starring:

Jerome Cowan

(Kaiser Aluminum Hour: A Passion For Revenge (final episode) 18Jun57 NBC Tue)

Ep 8.19 Armstrong Circle Theatre: THE HUNTED: THE EVA SORENY STORY

  25Jun57 CBS Tue  

written by Art Wallace
starring:
Eva Soreny ..... Herself
Robert Goodier ..... Steven Ormenyi
Cec Linder ..... Russian Soldier
Sandor Szabo ..... Bela Halasz
Synopsis:
The true story of Eva's escape from the Russians after the Hungarian revolt of last November.

Eva is preparing to play "Othello" at the Budapest Theater. At the same time, she has

been working with the revolutionary forces as a member of the theater committee. When

the uprising comes, and the Russians re-enter the city, Eva is approached by a Russian officer.

As a popular and respected star, she would be valuable to the Soviet cause, which could

use her as a propaganda tool. At this point, she and her husband, Steven Ormenyi, decide that

they must escape with their three young boys.
*Note: Eva Soreny might be called the Helen Hayes of Hungary. Less than a year ago she

was the first lady of the Budapest National Theater and known throughout the country

as a leading movie actress.

     (final episode on NBC aired 25June57 - the series  moved to CBS the following season)