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"General
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Hosted by Ronald Reagan
Season
4 (CBS) (1955-56)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox, James Beer
references:
TV Guide
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
######### General Electric Theater ###########
############## season 4 1955-56 ##############
##############################################
CBS Sundays 9:00-9:30 pm Eastern (30 min)(weekly)
4.01 [--] General Electric Theater: TRYOUT
02Oct55
starring
Ann Harding
Gene Nelson
4.02 [--] General Electric Theater: THE BOUNTY COURT MARTIAL
09Oct55
Written by Elihu Winer
starring
Raymond Massey ....... Lord Hook
Francis L. Sullivan ...... Captain William Bligh
Ronald Reagan ...... James Morrison
4.03 [--] General Electric Theater: LASH OF FEAR
15Oct55
Written by James Warner Bellah
starring
Keenan Wynn ....... Dandy
John Payne ....... Jingles
Nancy Gates ....... Lucy Gallatin
Synopsis:
A stagecoach driver and cavalry officer vie for the affections
of a young lady traveling west with them. [RF]
4.04 [--] General Electric Theater: OUTPOST AT HOME
23Oct55
starring
Ralph Bellamy
Bill Chapin
Synopsis:
The embittered son of a strict Army colonel in Germany shelters a deserter. [JB]
4.05 [--] General Electric Theater: SHADOW ON THE HEART (film)
30Oct55
starring
Kathryn Grayson ....... Julie Denton (her TV Debut)
John Ericson ...... Red
Chick Chandler ....... Carson
Hal Baylor ....... Brady
Joseph Corey ....... Tuttle
Ruth Lee ....... Bonnie
Synopsis:
While on duty on a lonely beach, a sailor meets a beautiful girl. It's love at first sight for the boy.
But he learns that the girl is blinded and pledged to marry another if her vision is restored. [TA]
4.06 [--] General Electric Theater: WINNER BY DECISION (film)
06Nov55
Adapted from a Budd Schulberg short story
Directed by William Attaway
starring
Harry Belafonte ....... Vinnie
Ethel Waters ........ Mother
Synopsis:
A promising and intelligent youth has great success in the ring. His mother wants him
to continue his education, his father and his manager want him to become a fighter. [RF]
4.07 [--] General Electric Theater: FAREWELL TO KENNEDY (film)
Revue prod #1141
13Nov55
Screenplay by Harold Swanton
Story by William Fay
Directed by Frank Tuttle
starring
Alan Ladd ....... Joe
Kathleen Crowley ...... Mary
Robert Armstrong ....... Kennedy
Martin Dean ....... Fielder
Frank Faylen ....... Farber
Syl Lamont ....... Freddie
Robert Osterloh ...... Solly
George J. Lewis ....... Needham
Isabel Randolph ....... Ma
Lee Erickson ....... Boy
Danny Richards Jr. ....... Marty
Synopsis:
A plainclothesman idolizes his fiancee's father. But he finds out that the older man,
a captain of detectives, has become involved with a crooked gang. The plainclothesman
has lost an idol. Duty must be done. [RF]
4.08 [--] General Electric Theater: PROSPER'S OLD MOTHER (film)
20Nov55
written by William Bowers
adapted from the Bret Harte story
starring
Ronald Reagan ....... Prosper
Ethel Barrymore ....... Mother
Charles Bronson ........ Pike
Edgar Buchanan ........ Colonel Starbottle
Dabbs Greer ....... Tom
Joyce Holden ....... Janet
Norman Leavitt ....... Slim
John Doucette ...... Bartender
Charles Halton ....... Welfare Man
Synopsis:
Orphaned Prosper sets out from his mining camp for San Francisco. He's looking for a
mother to bring back to the camp. And he finds one, a kindly old eccentric who drinks
medicine liberally flavored with 'hootch'. [RF]
4.09 [--] General Electric Theater: FROM THE TOP (film)
27Nov55
starring
Jack Carter ....... Heck
Lisa Kirk ....... Jackie Hilton
Buddy Rich ....... George
Walter Woolf King ....... Dr. Hallem
Synopsis:
A manager and his big time singing protegee have been engaged a long time.
But he's too busy booking her to take time off for marriage. Finally,
the strain of overwork becomes too much for the songstress. [RF]
4.10 [--] General Electric Theater: FEATHERTOP
04Dec55
Adapted by Maurice Valency
Based on a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne
starring
Natalie Wood ....... Polly
John Carlyle
Carleton Carpenter
Synopsis:
A scarecrow is brought magicially to life.
4.11 [--] General Electric Theater: THE SEEDS OF HATE
11-Dec-1955 CBS Sun (Rerun on "Summer Playhouse" 8Aug58 ABC Fri)[JB]
Teleplay by Gerald Drayson Adams / Story by Marvin De Vries
Directed by Sidney Lanfield
starring
Charlton Heston ....... Tim
Steve Cochran .......... Drogo
Robert Bice ............ Clem
Diana Douglas .......... Nora
Nancy Kulp ............. Miss Lamb
Frank Lackteen ......... Tom-Tom
Jim Karath ............. Pete
Christian Pasques ...... Lonny
Synopsis:
A man is torn between his conscience and loyalty when a friend shoots an
Indian in the back. Even the Indian had been an
idol of his son’s, the man at first refuses to aid local townspeople in the
arrest of the murderer. [JB]
4.12 [--] General Electric Theater: LET IT RAIN
18Dec55
Directed by Ralph Nelson
starring
Ronald Reagan ...... Loren McCall
Cloris Leachman .... Leah Beth
Lillian Bronson
Burt Mustin
Synopsis:
A writer finds romance in a sleepy southern town that keeps its
memories of the Civil War, and its ghosts, very much alive.
4.13 [--] General Electric Theater: A CHILD IS BORN
25Dec55
Produced by Mort Abraham
Written by Stephen Vincent Benet
Directed by Don Medford
Music by Bernard Herrmann
starring
Robert Middleton ....... Innkeeper
Nadine Conner ....... Innkeeper's Wife
Theodor Lippman ....... Dismas the Thief
4.14 [--] General Electric Theater: PORTRAIT OF A BALLERINA
01Jan56
starring
Joyce Vanderveen ....... Helene
Lili Darvas ....... Mme. Brideau
Steven Geray ....... M. Brideau
Marc Wilder ....... Dancer
Synopsis:
Set in 1882 Paris, a young girl gets her big break for the Paris Ballet
after much sacrifice from her mother. [RF]
4.15 [--] General Electric Theater: ESTEBAN'S LEGACY
08Jan56
Teleplay by Theodore Apstein
From the story by Norman Katkov
Hosted by Ronald Reagan
starring
Ricardo Montalban .. Esteban Espinosa
Movita ............. Tula
David Colman ....... Orlando Espinosa
Edward Colmans ..... Montoya
Eugene Iglesias .... Teacher
Lou Krugman ........ Chavez
Sid Cassel ......... Presidente
Rosa Turich ........ Anna
Synopsis:
A carpenter returns to his village discouraged by
his lack of success and respect. [RF]
4.16 [--] General Electric Theater: THE BALLAD OF MENDER MCCLURE
15Jan56
starring
Thomas Mitchell
Vincent Price
Synopsis:
A mysteriously familiar stranger sees fit to practice
a bit of magic on a lazy, selfish Ozark hillbilly. [RF]
4.17 [--] General Electric Theater: THE MUSE AND MRS. PARKINSON
22Jan56
adapted from the James B. Gidney 1948 story
starring
Edward Everett Horton ......... Mr. Parkinson
Barbara Jo Allen ....... Mrs. Parkinson (credited as Vera Vague)
Synopsis:
Mr. Parkinson's life has followed a familiar pattern up to now.
He commutes to his brokerage job during the week and plays golf on
weekends and seems to be a happy, ordinary chap. The big change comes
when the fact that he is secretly a poet is brought to light. [RF]
4.18 [--] General Electric Theater: SUMMER PROMISE
29Jan56
Teleplay by Larry Marcus & Collier Young
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Associate Producer William Frye
Director of photography John L. Russell A.S.C.
Progress Reporter Don Herbert
Hosted by Ronald Reagan
starring
Joan Fontaine ...... Countess Irene Forelli
Scott Marlowe ...... Jim Goodwin
Philip Ober ........ Mr. Goodwin
Betsy Palmer ....... Ann Davis
Sally Fraser .......
Lisa Golm .......... Maid
*
Art Director ........... Martin Obzina
Editorial Supervisor ... Richard G. Wray, A.C.E.
Film Editor ............ Michael R. McAdam
Set Decorator .......... Ralph Sylos
Sound .................. William Brady
Assistant Director ..... Richard Birrie
Music Supervisor ....... Stanley Wilson
Wardrobe Supervisor .... Vincent Dee
Makeup ................. Leo Lotito Jr.
Synopsis:
A young man becomes infatuated with the older Countess and the
Countess falls for the young man unaware that the young man
plans to wed his childhood sweetheart. [RF]
4.19 [--] General Electric Theater: THE SONG CARUSO SANG
05Feb56
written by Shirley Peterson
starring
Anna Maria Alberghetti
4.20 [--] General Electric Theater: PROLOGUE TO GLORY
12Feb56
Written by E.P. Conkle
starring
John Ireland ....... Abe Lincoln
Joanne Woodward .... Ann Rutledge
Marjorie Rambeau ... Granny Rutledge
Lillian Bronson .... Mrs. Rutledge
Herbert Ellis ...... Lt. Roberts
4.21 [--] General Electric Theater: THE HONEST MAN
[verifed -RF]
19Feb56 CBS Sun
Associate Producer William Frye
Written and Directed by Frank Tashlin
Based on a story by Richard George Pedicini
Hosted by Ronald Reagan
starring
Jack Benny ......... Sheldon Weeks
Zsa Zsa Gabor ...... Countess Gloria
Jack LaRue ......... Nick Rocco
Mary Lawrence ...... Laura
Barbara Lawrence ... Stormy
Charles Bronson .... Henry
Nesdon Booth ....... Lt. Wilkins
Mara McAfee ........ Gertrude
Pat Wallace ........ Jenny
Herb Ellis, James Cross, Pat Walker, Mara McAfee, Mollie McCart, Lani McIntire
*
Art Director .... Martin Obzina
Editorial Supervisor ... Richard G. Wray
Film Editor ... Daniel A. Nathan A.C.E.
Set Decorator ... James S. Redd
Sound .... Frank Sarver
Assistant director ... James Hogan
Music Supervisor .... Stanley Wilson
Wardrobe Supervisor ... Vincent Dee
Makeup .... Jack Barron
Synopsis:
A piano tuner smitten with love gets inadvertently involved with gangsters,
stolen jewels and trouble with
a bevy of beauties. [RF]
4.22 [--] General Electric Theater: TRY TO REMEMBER
26Feb56
starring
Ronald Reagan ........... Det. Dan 'Irish' Murphy
Kim Hunter ......... Mary Murphy
Angie Dickinson ...... Shaw
Barry Kelley ..... Jack
Raymond Bailey ..... Richards
Dorothy Bernard ..... O'Kelley
Whit Bissell ..... Dolph
Adeline De Walt Reynolds ..... Mrs. Brack
Chuck Webster ..... Detective Harris
Synopsis:
Police detective Dan "Irish" Murphy has a more than professional interest in
finding the murderer of a door-to-door salesman. The man is found stabbed
in Murphy's home, with Mrs. Murphy lying unconscious nearby. [RF]
4.23 [--] General Electric Theater: A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN
04Mar56
Adapted by D.J. Powers
From the Sinclair Lewis story
starring
Paul Muni ....... Senator Ryder
Christopher Plummer ....... Walter Shelley
Polly Bergen ....... Susan Barry
Jocelyn Brando ....... Nurse
Synopsis:
Former Senator Ryder is in his 90's now. But when he was in his prime, he was an
internationally respected statesman. Oblivious to the passing of the years, Ryder's mind
dwells only on his days of glory. His only friend now is a neighbor, a frivolous young lady
named Susan. But Ryder does have one priceless treasure, a letter written to him by
Queen Victoria. Word of its existence reaches Walter Shelley, an ambitious young
history scholar. and Shelley determines to get access to the letter.
What a feather that would be in his academic cap! [RF]
4.24 [--] General Electric Theater: STEINMETZ
11Mar56
starring
Franchot Tone ....... Charles Proteus Steinmetz
Synopsis:
The story of scientist Charles Proteus Steinmetz, the man who "made" lightning.
He did research for General Electric and then went on to become a professor
of Union College in Schenectady. [RF]
4.25 [--] General Electric Theater: THE NIGHT GOES ON
18Mar56
Story by Hagar Wilde
Director of photography John Russell (Emmy nominated)
starring
Rosalind Russell ....... Cynthia
Anthony George ....... Roberto
George Macready ....... Henry
Carmen Matthews ....... Margaret
Charass Hughes ....... Conchita
Synopsis:
An embittered spinster lives on her brother's ranch in Mexico.
She becomes attracted to a young ranch hand, and when he
doesn't return her affection she decides to get revenge. [RF]
*Note: Syndication airing on Summer Theater 20Jun57.
4.26 [--] General Electric Theater: REFLECTED GLORY
25Mar56
Adapted by Arthur Arent
based on a play by George Kelly
starring
Ethel Merman ....... Muriel Flood
Walter Matthau
Synopsis:
A successful actress is torn between the desire to marry and settle down,
and the urge to continue her career on the stage. Her producer is against
her plans to leave the stage, for a number
of reasons. [RF]
*Note: The play opened on Broadway in 1936, starring Tallulah Bankhead.
4.27 [--] General Electric Theater: THE EASTER GIFT
01Apr56
Teleplay by D.J. Powers (as D.J. Power)
From a story by Frances Ancker and Cynthia Hope
Hosted by Ronald Reagan
starring
Macdonald Carey .... David Bothwell
Mary Fickett ....... Margaret Bothwell
Michael Allen ...... Jake
Edward Brian ....... Billy
Harriet MacGibbon .. Mrs. King
Maxine Stuart ...... Alice
Robin Lawson ....... Mr. Carpenter
Synopsis:
A family endure a difficult time and come together during Easter. [RF]
4.28 [--] General Electric Theater: JUDY GARLAND MUSICAL SPECIAL
08Apr56
Introduced & Hosted by Ronald Reagan
Produced by Sid Luft
starring
Judy Garland
Peter Gennaro
Concert Pianist Leonard Pennario performs "Bolero"
*
Judy sings with Nelson Riddle and his orchestra these songs:
"I Feel a Song Coming On"
"I Will Come Back"
"When the World Was Young"
"Life Is A Bowl of Cherries"
"Dirty Hands, Dirty Face"
"Come Rain or Come Shine"
"I'll Be Seeing You"
*
(Joe Bushkin is on piano, unconfirmed)
4.29 [--] General Electric Theater: THAT'S THE MAN!
15Apr56
adapted from the Melville Davison Post story
starring
Nancy Davis ........ Evelyn Kent
Ray Milland ....... Russell Kent
Katherine Warren ....... Mrs. Bolton
Hayden Rorke ....... Mr. Bolton
Grandon Rhodes ....... Mr. Carruthers
Carolyn Craig ....... Betty
Jean Dixon ....... Secretary
Wilfred Knapp ....... Hubbard
4.30 [--] General Electric Theater: THE LORD'S DOLLAR
22Apr56
written by D.J. Powers
starring
Ronald Reagan ....... Harry Tate
4.31 [--] General Electric Theater: HMS MARLBOROUGH WILL ENTER PORT
29Apr56
starring
Joseph Cotten ....... Captain
Strother Martin ....... Gunnery Officer Daly
Jan Merlin ....... Ensign Merritt
Dan Barton ....... Navigator Haines
William Boyett ....... First Lt. Mitchell
Arthur Hanson ....... Medical Officer Chapman
George Matthews ....... Chief Engineer Crawford
James McCallion ....... Captain's Steward
4.32 [--] General Electric Theater: THE SHUNNING
06May56
written by James Costigan
starring
Lilia Skala
Joan Lorring
Synopsis:
An Amish girl decides to find adventure in a big city before getting married. [RF]
[--] General Electric Theater: no details
13May56
4.33 [--] General Electric Theater: THE HAT WITH ROSES
20May56
Produced by Leo Davis
Teleplay by Theodore Apstein
From a story by Margaret Cousins
Directed by Don Medford
Hosted by Ronald Reagan
starring
Gisele MacKenzie ... Hope Craddock
Betty Lou Keim ..... Judy Matthews
Betty Garde ........ Annie
Joseph Sullivan .... Frank Tucker
Margaret Barker .... Alice Sharrod
Carol Lynley ....... Schoolgirl (uncredited)
*
Technical Director .... Lou Tedesco
Lighting .............. Sal Bonsignore
Costume Designer ...... Gene Collin
Musical Director ...... Eugene Cines
Story Editor .......... Theodore Apstein
Production Supervisor.. Robert Foshko
Art Director .......... John Robert Lloyd
Synopsis:
A schoolteacher fails one of her students and tries to
show her student compassion and
understanding. [RF]
4.34 [--] General Electric Theater: THE GOLDEN KEY
27May56
Written by Shirley Peterson
Adapted from the Ernest William Horning 'Crime Doctor's Story'.
starring
Joe E. Brown ....... Earl Hall
Van Dyke Parks ..... Horace
Kenny Delmar ...... MacLane
Robert Emhardt
Synopsis:
An aged railroad man breaks free of the doldrums of
retirement with the help of a young boy's friendship. [RF]
4.35 [--] General Electric Theater: O'HOOLIHAN AND THE LEPRECHAUN
03Jun56
written by George Lowther
starring
Roddy McDowall ..... Leprechaun
E.G. Marshall ....... O'Hoolihan
Anne Jackson
4.36 [--] General Electric Theater: EXITS AND ENTRANCES
10Jun56
starring
Charlie Applewhite ........ Howard Burdick
4.37 [--] General Electric Theater: ALIEN ANGEL
17Jun56
written by Hal Hackady
starring
Patty McCormick
4.38 [--] General Electric Theater: EMERGENCY CALL
24Jun56
Teleplay By John Kneubuhl & Leslie Slote
Based On A Story By John Ehle
Directed By Jules Bricken
Guest cast:
Vera Miles ......... Mrs. Eaton
Harvey Stephens .... Dr. Williams
Virginia Christine.. The Head Nurse
Nancy Evans ........ The Nurse
Herb Vigran ........ The News Editor
Dorothy Adams ...... The 2nd Phone Operator
Lela Bliss ......... The 1st Phone Operator
Clark Howat ........ The Orderly
Dana Dillaway ...... Little Girl
Synopsis:
A frantic mother tries desperately to find her husband to inform him
that their little girl has been hospitalized in severe shock after
being hit by a car, and is asking for him. [SC]
4.39 [--] General Electric Theater: MAN WITH A VENGEANCE
01Jul56
starring
Walter Matthau
Dennis King
######### General Electric Theater
###########
############## end of season 4 ###############
##############################################
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