Best of Broadway
(1954-55)
Sponsors
- Westinghouse
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
BEST OF BROADWAY
CBS
Produced by Martin Manulis
September 15, 1954 to May 4, 1955
CBS Wed 10:00-11:00
Every fourth Wednesday the Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts were
preempted by "The Best of Broadway".
All episode were in color.
The Westinghouse product demonstrations with Betty Furness
were done in color for the first time.
########## Best of Broadway #########
########### season 1 1954-55 #########
##################################
1.01 [--] Best of Broadway: THE ROYAL FAMILY
15-Sep-1954 CBS Wed
Adapted by Ronald Alexander
Based on the play by Edna Ferber
Directed by Paul Nickell
starring
Frederic March ... Tony Cavendish
Charles Coburn ... Oscar Wolfe
Claudette Colbert ... Julie Cavendish
Helen Hayes ... Franny Cavendish
Nancy Olson ... Gwen Cavendish
Synopsis:
The eccentric Cavendish family of theatrical performers and their comedic lives.
1.02 [--] Best of Broadway: THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
13-Oct-1954 CBS Wed
Adapted by Ronald Alexander
Based on the play by Moss Hart
Directed by David Alexander
starring
Joan Bennett as Lorraine Sheldon
Monty Woolley as Sheridan Whiteside
Catherine Doucet as Harriet Stanley
Sylvia Field as Mrs. Stanley
Reginald Gardiner as Beverly Carlton
Margaret Hamilton as Sarah
Buster Keaton as Dr. Bradley
Bert Lahr as Banjo
Merle Oberon as Maggie Cutler
Zasu Pitts as Miss Preen
William Prince as Bert Jefferson
Howard St. John as Mr. Stanley
Frank Tweddell as John
Synopsis:
A visiting theater critic breaks his hip in a midwestern town and winds
up staying there trying to recuperate.
1.03 [--] Best of Broadway: PANAMA HATTIE
10-Nov-1954 CBS Wed
adapted by Herbert Baker
based on the book by Herbert Fields
starring
Art Carney as Woozy
Neil Hamilton as Charlie Randolph
Jack E. Leonard as Windy
Joseph Macauley as Bartender
Mort Marshall as First Spy
Ethel Merman as Hattie Maloney
Ray Middleton as Nick Bullett
Tony Mottola as Senor Aguilar
Karin Wolfe as Gerry
1.04 [--] Best of Broadway: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
08-Dec-1954 CBS Wed
play by Philip Barry
starring
Mary Astor as Margaret Lord
Richard Carlson as Mike Connor
Dick Foran as George Kittredge
Herbert Marshall as Seth Lord
Dorothy McGuire as Tracy Lord
Neva Patterson as Liz Imbrie
John Payne as C.K. Dexter Haven
Charles Winninger as Uncle Willie
1.05 [--] Best of Broadway: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
05-Jan-1955 CBS Wed
adapted by Russel Crouse & Howard Lindsay
play by Joseph Kesselring
starring
Helen Hayes as Abby Brewster
Billie Burke as Martha Brewster
Orson Bean as Mortimer Brewster
John Alexander as 'Teddy Roosevelt' Brewster
Boris Karloff as Jonathan Brewster
Peter Lorre as Dr. Einstein
Richard Bishop as Lieutenant Rooney
Edward Everett Horton as Witherspoon
King Calder as Policeman Brophy
Bruce Gordon as Policeman Klein
Allan Tower as Reverend Dr. Harper
1.06 [--] Best of Broadway: THE SHOW-OFF
02-Feb-1955 CBS Wed
based on the play by George Kelly
starring
Jackie Gleason as Aubrey Piper
Cathy O'Donnell as Amy Fisher
Carleton Carpenter as Joe Fisher
Alice Ghostley as Clara Hyland
Thelma Ritter as Mrs. Fisher
1.07 [--] Best of Broadway: THE GUARDSMAN
02-Mar-1955 CBS Wed
adapted by Reginald Jackson
play by Ferenc Molnar
starring
Claudette Colbert as Actress
Franchot Tone as Actor
Mary Boland as Mama
Mary Grace Canfield as Liesl
Reginald Gardiner as Critic
Margaret Hamilton as Usher
1.08 [--] Best of Broadway: STAGE DOOR
06-Apr-1955 CBS Wed
adapted by Gore Vidal
play by Edna Ferber & George S. Kaufman
starring
Rhonda Fleming ...... Jean Maitland
Dennis Morgan ....... David Kingsley
Diana Lynn .......... Terry Randall
Elsa Lanchester ..... Mrs. Orcutt
Peggy Ann Garner .... Kaye Hamilton
Charles Drake ....... Keith Burgess
Victor Moore ........ Adolph Gretzl
Nita Talbot ......... Judith Canfield
Virginia Vincent .... Bernice Niemeyer
Treva Frazee ........ Bobby Melrose
Kathleen Maguire .... Louise Mitchell
Melissa Weston ...... Pat Kendall
Elizabeth York ...... Mary Harper
Synopsis:
At the Footlights Club, would-be Broadway actresses eat, sleep and
wait for that big phone call. Under the watchful eye of Mrs. Orcutt, herself
a former actress, they live their own little dramas of
success and failure. [RF]
1.09 [--] Best of Broadway: BROADWAY
04-May-1955 CBS Wed
adapted by Phillip Dunning
play by George Abbott
starring
Joseph Cotten as Dan McCorn
Piper Laurie as Billie Moore
Keenan Wynn as Steve Crandell
Martha Hyer as Pearl
Don Gordon as Dolph
Frank Marth as Scar Edwards
Carole Mathews as Mazie
Gene Nelson as Roy Lane
David Sheiner as Joe
Akim Tamiroff as Nick Verdis
Iggie Wolfington as Porky
########## Best of Broadway ########
############# the end ############
##################################
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