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Season
2 (CBS) (1953-54)
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
################### Omnibus ##################
############## season 2 1953-54 ##############
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CBS Sundays 5:00-6:30pm Eastern
2.01 [27] Omnibus: GLORY IN THE FLOWER
04Oct1953
Based on the play by William Inge
starring
Jessica Tandy .... Jackie
Hume Cronyn ...... Bartender
Ed Binns ......... Bitter ex-beau
Frank McHugh ..... Nostalgic drunk
James Dean ....... Bronco
Mark Rydell
Synopsis:
The story takes place at a roadhouse in a small town.
2) James Thurber's "The Little Kitty Stayed Cool" adapted by Tad Mosel starring
Carol Channing and Elliott Reid.
3) "The Little Fugitive" A red-headed, six-year-old boy from Brooklyn has $5.00
to spend one afternoon in Coney Island.
This prize-winning film by Ashley, Morris Engle and Ruth Orkin captures an
entertaining, human experience.
Alistair Cooke interviews the "star", Richard Androseo. (12min)
4) "Excerpts from Oklahoma" Alistair Cooke visits Rodgers and Hammerstein's
record-smashing musical.
Selections include "Surrey with the Fringe on the Top" and "The Farmer and the
Cowman". (17min)
*NOTE: "Glory in the Flower" was made into the 1961 film "Splendor in the
Grass".
2.02 [28] Omnibus: THE BATTLER
11Oct1953
Adapted by Arnold Schulman
Story by Ernest Hemingway
starring
Chester Morris ... The Battler
John Marriott .... Bugs
Dick York ........ Nick
Synopsis:
The story of a lonely hero, a once successful boxer now just a punch-drunk
has-been. [28 mins]
1) The first segment "The Battler" is Ernest Hemingway's story about a once
successful boxer who has become a lonely
has-been drunk.
2) The second segment "Lola Flores and Her Flamenco Dancers" has Lola Flores, a
renowned Spanish dancer and vocalist,
along with her dancing company and Paco Aguilera, flamenco guitarist, present a
special program of dance and music. (12min)
3) The third segment "Operation Hurricane" Host Alistair Cooke reads a letter
written in 1939 by Alfred Einstein to
President Roosevelt concerning the potential nuclear power threat, in which he
warns him to prepare the nation.
A film documents the research, preparation and explosion of the first British
atomic bomb at Monte Bello Island in the
Pacific in 1951. [24mins]
4) The fourth segment "Preview of King Lear" Host Alistair Cooke attends a
rehearsal of the Shakespearean play scheduled
for the following week. He chats with Producer Peter Brook concerning the sets
and with composer Virgil Thompson concerning
the original music score. [10mins]
2.03 [29] Omnibus: KING LEAR
18Oct1953
(90min)
Executive Producer Robert Saudek
Producer by Peter Brook
Based on the play by Shakespeare
Directed by Andrew McCullough
Music by Virgil Thompson
Fred Rickey
Hosted by Alistair Cooke
starring
Orson Welles ...... King Lear
Natasha Parry ..... Cordelia
Arnold Moss ....... Duke of Albany
Beatrice Straight.. Goneril
Margaret Phillips.. Regan
Bramwell Fletcher.. Earl of Kent
David J. Stewart .. Oswald
Alan Badel ........ Fool
Michael MacLiammoir .. Poor Tom
Frederic Worlock .. Earl of Gloucester
Scott Forbes ...... Duke of Cornwall
Wesley Addy ....... King of France
Fred Sadoff ....... Duke of Burgundy
Lloyd Bochner ..... First Gentleman
Chris Gampel ...... First Servant
Le Roi Operti ..... Doctor
Synopsis:
A foolish king divides his realm between his two ungrateful daughters.
*NOTE: Orson Welles TV-debut
*NOTE: Producer Peter Brook's wife Natasha Parry played Cordelia.
2.04 [30] Omnibus: THE GOLD DRESS
25Oct1953
adapted by Arnold Schulman
story by Stephen Vincent Benet
starring
Mildred Dunnock ... Louella
Jocelyn Brando
Raymond Bramley
Joseph Sweeney
Doro Merande
Perry Fiske
1) The first segment "The Gold Dress" based on a play by Stephen Vincent Benet
deals with a small proper New England town
has a rebel ghost, Louella, who decides to return for her one prized possession.
(29mins)
2) The second segment "Frank Lloyd Wright" A model of the new H.C. Price Company
Tower is illustrated as Alistair Cooke
introduces its architect who comments upon the features of the building and of
architecture in general - particurly in
relation to democracy, human comfort and economy. (23min)
3) The third segment "Les Paul and Mary Ford" Alistair Cooke interviews two very
popular musicians and is treated to a
"rehearsel" utilizing bogus and actual recording equipment which provides a
multi-track playback. (17min)
*NOTE: Stephen Vincent Benet's short story "The Gold Dress" first appeared in
Cosmopolitan on July 1942.
2.05 [31] Omnibus: THE MAN OF DESTINY
01Nov1953
by George Bernard Shaw
Alan Badel .... Napoleon
Joan Tetzel
Synopsis:
In an Italian courtyard in the late 19th century a spy bewitches Napoleon. (40
min)
"Football" Lou Little, head coach of Columbia University with the assistance of
his team, explains the protective equipment
required and various tactics employed; T-formation, flankers, spread ends,
man-in-motion, line-backers in an end run and
forward pass play. (11min)
"A Korean Prisoner of War" Lt. Paul Kniss and a lawyer, Mr. Fowler Hamilton
discuss the circumstances and Communist
treatment that led to the Lt's written confession admitting U.S. germ warfare
during the Korean conflict.
A communist film documents his actual testimony. (18min)
2.06 [32] Omnibus: A JURY OF HER PEERS
08Nov1953
by Susan Glaspell & Elizabeth Hart
directed by Yul Brynner
1) The first segment "A Jury of Her Peers" is a play by Susan Glaspell with
songs by Susan Reed and directed by Yul Brynner
About a woman on a farm in Maine is accused of murder and must face a jury of
her peers. (31min)
2) The second segment "Billy the Kid", is the Ballet Theatre Company
presentation of Eugene Loring's ballet based upon
the legend of America's most famous badman, starring John Kriza. Music by Aaron
Copeland. (30min)
3) The third segment is a documentary on the X-ray machine with an interview of
a specialist from the famed Mayo Clinic
in Rochester, Minnesota.
4) The fourth segment "Romance of Transportation" is an animated film produced
by the National Film Board of Canada and
explores most humorously the history and development of transportation. (12mins)
2.07 [33] Omnibus: THE RASPBERRY QUEEN
15Nov1953
by George Bellak
starring
Claudia Hall
Conrad Janis
1) The first segment "The Raspberry Queen" written by Martin Quigley is the
story of a press agent's efforts to make a
16-year-old drum majorette "The Raspberry Queen" of Wyandotte Valley. Starring
Conrad Janis and Claudia Hall. (18mins)
2) The second segment "The Moor's Pavane" a modern Renaissance dance ballet
based on Othello with Jose Limon and Company
set to music by Henry Purcell. (18mins)
3) The third segment is a documentary study of the life cycle of "The Sea
Horse". The male sea horse is the only male
of any species which bears and gives birth to its young. The film documents the
fertilization, gestation, birth and life
cycle of the sea horse. Produced and directed by Jean Painleve. (6mins)
4) The fourth segment "Dylan Thomas Memorial" In memory of Dylan Thomas after
his death the previous week at the age of 39,
Alistair Cooke comments upon his life. A recording of the author's magnificent
voice follows in which he reads his poem,
"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" dedicated to his father's all too easy
passage to death. (5min)
2.08 [34] Omnibus: TOINE
22Nov1953
adapted by Maurice Valency
story by Guy deMaupassant
Staged by Burgess Meredith
starring
Walter Slezak .... Toine
Elsa Lancaster
1) The first segment "Toine" by deMaupassant stars Walter Slezak and Elsa
Lancaster staged by Burgess Meredith. It takes
place in a small fishing village in the late 19th century, about a fun-loving
barkeep whose wife as he puts it,
"was born on a cloudy day".
2) The second segment is a concert by London's St. Paul Cathedral Choir who
perform "Jesu, Most Kind" by Bach; a Basque
carol, "The Infant King" and Sir Hubert Perry's "Coronation Anthem" with films
of Queen Elizabeth II's crowning.
Alistair Cooke interviews members of the Choir. (16mins)
3) The third segment is an interview with Arctic explorer Peter Freuchen, by
Alistair Cooke and talks about his life
with the Eskimos in Thule. A film illustrates how an Eskimo builds an igloo.
(9mins)
4) The fourth segment is a demonstration of modern X-ray motion picture
technique by Dr. Raymond Gramiak of the University
of Rochester make up this Omnibus program.
5) The fifth segment "Place Names in the United States" Alistair Cooke traces
the westward movement of settlers in
mid-ninteenth century America, and explains how various towns received their
names. (4mins)
2.09 [35] Omnibus: THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT
29Nov1953
written by Hugh Wedlock Jr. & Howard Snyder
directed by Ralph Levy
Host Alistair Cooke
starring
Jeff Donnell ..... Elizabeth
Jack Benny ....... Athanael the Avenging Angel
Dorothy Malone ... Miss Rodholder
Hallene Hill
Frank Jacquet
1) The first segment "The Horn Blows at Midnight" is an adaptation of the 1945
film version also starring Jack Benny.
It's the story of an angel who is instructed to come down to Earth, blow his
horn at midnight and destroy this wicked world. But upon arriving on Earth,
angel Jack finds it isn't such a bad place after all and is loath to carry out
his orders. (57min)
*Based on the hilarious comedy film from 1945 which also starred Jack Benny.
2) The second segment "Introduction to William Shakespeare" Dr. Frank Baxter
whose telecourse on Shakespeare widened his
fame, provides an excellent brief lecture on the Shakespearean theater with a
model of the Globe Playhouse and verbal
exchanges with host Alistair Cooke. (10min)
3) The third segment "The California Condor" Excerpts from a United Artists
film, "Song of the Land" shot in California
by Edward Harrison over a period of four summers show the California Condor, one
of the most primitive birds known. Less
than 40 existed in 1953. (9min)
2.10 [36] Omnibus: CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
06Dec1953
adapted by Arnold Schulman
story by Ernest Hemingway
directed by Yul Brynner
starring
Roy Fitzell ..... Paco (ballet version)
Sal Mineo ....... Paco (dramatic version)
Johnny Stewart
Anne Bancroft
John Marley
Mario Gallo
Synopsis:
Dramatization of the Hemingway story of a young man confronted with his idol.
"Capital of the World" Dramatic adaptation. Arnold Schulman's dramatic
adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's story about a
brave young boy who dreams of becoming a bullfighter.
1) The first segment "Capital of the World" Eugene Loring introduces his ballet
adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's short
story concerning Paco, a young apprentice tailor, who desires to become a
bullfighter. Music by George Anthell.
Roy Fitzell in the lead.
2) The second segment "Capital of the World" is a dramatic interpretation of
Hemingway's short story, directed by Yul Brynner
featuring Sal Mineo and Anne Bancroft. The story is of a brave young boy who
dreams of becoming a bullfighter.
3) The third segment "Christmas Window at Lord and Taylors" Alistair Cooke tours
behind the scenes as Lord and Taylors,
Fifth Avenue, New York prepares its Christmas window display. A special
presentation by their toy symphony concludes the
program.
4) The fourth segment "Laughing Gas" Italian slapstick comedy is exhibited
through a sequence from the film "Curiosity"
in which a bank installs laughing gas as a protection from burglars. However,
complications arise when the system is put
to the test.
2.11 [37] Omnibus: THE NATURE OF THE BEAST
13Dec1953
by Moss Hart
starring
Mel Ferrer
The first act of the uncompleted Moss Hart play.
1) The first segment "The Nature of the Beast" is an experiment of the mind of
playwright Moss Hart as we preview the
first scene of his yet incomplete play concerning a man who feigns amnesia (Mel
Ferrer). The author later comments on the
scene with host Alistair Cooke. (30mins)
2) The second segment "Animals in Rocket Flight" a United States Air Force film
shows the behavior of white mice and monkeys
during and after test rocket flights in the early 1950's thus confirming the
theory that organic life can survive space
travel. (10mins)
3) The third segment "Birth of a Band" The Band of Manhattan uses Turkish
cymbals, French horns, a bassoon, picolo, and
other instruments not usually associated with a jazz band. Arranger Will Loran
explains the features of his form of
progressive jazz with the assistance of the orchestra and vocalists. (18min)
2.12 [38] Omnibus: MOM AND LEO
20Dec1953
starring
Helen Hayes
Robert Strauss
1) "Mom and Leo" is a dramatization about a mother (Helen Hayes) who attempts to
convince her son Leo (Robert Strauss)
that a steady job would be the best thing for him, and ends by convincing
herself instead after some theatrics. (14min)
2) "Irish Linen" a story by Mary Chase is about a little old proprietress in a
Dublin linen shop is confronted by a
rushed American tourist. Starring Helen Hayes and Evelyn Varden. (10mins)
3) "Mary's Baby" a Christmas poem by Shaemas O'Sheel is read by Helen Hayes.
(3min)
4) The fourth segment "The 51st Dragon" Heywood Broun's story of a medieval boy
who was trained to slay dragons through
a slogan he learned is adapted to a UPA animated cartoons. Narrated by John
Lund. (12min)
5) The fifth segment "The Young Fighter" a documentary that uses a newly
developed camera and sound equipment that was
designed to make subjects unaware of being photographed. (35mins)
2.13 [39] Omnibus: THE SOJOURNER (aka THE INVISIBLE WALL)
27Dec1953 (26min)
Written by Carson McCullers
Directed by Robert Ellis Miller
Staged by Mel Ferrer
starring
Lorne Greene ..... Ed Bailey
David Wayne ...... John Ferris
Frances Starr .... Mother
Neva Patterson ... Elizabeth
Johnny Kellin .... Billy Bailey
Rex Thompson ..... Valentin
Synopsis:
1) The first segment "The Sojourner" is a dramatization of Carson McCuller's
play about a lonely, unsettled man who is
summoned home from Paris when his father dies. Through a conversation with his
mother and a visit with his ex-wife and
her new family, he discovers the invisible shield of love he left in Paris.
Staged by Mel Ferrer. (24mins)
2) The second segment "Chicken Little" an original operetta with libretto by
William Engvick and music by Alec Wilder.
The scene is a barnyard. (26min)
3) The third segment "Melies the Magician" (23min)
Georges Melies, a professional magician, in 1896 began his career as the first
major film producer by inventing his own
camera, the first film studio with movable backgrounds, ingenious trick film
techniques, and organizing and operating
the first entertainment cinema. This French documentary film uses considerable
footage from several of his films,
including, "Trip to the Moon" and "400 Tricks of the Devil". Shots of his widow
who survived his death in 1937 are also
included. (23 min)
2.14 [40] Omnibus: NOBODY'S FOOL
03Jan1954
by Arnold Sundgaard & Tad Mosel
based on John Steinbeck's story from his collection "The Pastures of Heaven".
starring
Thomas Mitchell
Rosemary DeCamp
E.G. Marshall
Everett Sloane
1) The first segment "Nobody's Fool" is a film play from John Steinbeck's "The
Pastures of Heaven" collection of stories.
It is the story about a valley farmer who was renowned for his avarice and as a
result divorced love and happiness from
the lives of his wife and daughter in his fear of being discovered. (29mins)
2) The second segment "Village Incident - India" is a live drama using the
living newspaper technique written by Arnold
Sundgaard. The drama takes up the problems of a single village in India during
it's transition towards modern technology
and revised social systems after 6 1/2 years of independence. Starring E.G.
Marshall and Everett Sloane. (31mins)
3) The third segment "Benediction" New Years greetings from Alistair Cooke who
reads a short poem by Stanley J. Kunitz. (2min)
*NOTE: This is the first of three presentations from John Steinbeck's "The
Pastures of Heaven" collection.
2.15 [41] Omnibus: THE REMARKABLE CASE OF MR. BRUHL
10Jan1954
Adapted by Tad Mosel
Based on a story by James Thurber
starring
Elliott Nugent ... Mr. Bruhl
Synopsis:
Mr. Bruhl's life is turned upside down, when it turns out that he looks exactly
like an escaped convict.
1) The first segment "The Remarkable Case of Mr. Bruhl" is adapted from James
Thurber's story about Mr. Bruhl's life is
turned upside down, when it turns out that he looks exactly like an escaped
convict.
2) The second segment "Decision for Chemistry" Excerpts from a film produced by
the Monsanto Chemical Company.
3) The third segment "Forgery in Art" Chief Advisory to the Amsterdam Municipal
Museum, Mr. M.M. van Dantzig displays
examples of fake and original pieces of art, and explains how they are detected
through application of historical facts,
X-rays, and chemical analysis. (14min)
2.16 [42] Omnibus: THE DUCHESS AND THE SMUGS
17Jan1954
adapted by Ellen Violett
Based on the novel by Pamela Frankau
starring
Susan Strasberg .... Penelope
John Beal .......... Francis
Lilyan Chaunvin .... Jeanne
Andre Charise ...... Laurent
Felix Deebank ...... Mr. Bradley
Carol Goodner ...... Mrs. Bradley
Janet Parker ....... Eva
Charles Taylor ..... Don
Lili Darvas ........ The Duchess
Synopsis:
Story of a young girl living on the Riviera, and the conflict in her mind. The
conflict is symbolized by her envy of a staid English family.
Synopsis 2:
A young English girl, in her loneliness and confusion finds herself angered and
embarassed by her parents and more
particularly their visiting scandalous and charming Duchess when the prudish
family next door disapproves of their habits. (42min)
2) The second segment "Henry A. Barnes, Traffic Engineer" Mr. Barnes, who worked
on traffic problems in such cities as
Denver and Baltimore outlines some of the perplexities and solutions concerning
metropolitan traffic control. He illustrates with various models the application
of complex electronic devices. (14min)
2.17 [43] Omnibus: NOTHING SO MONSTROUS
24Jan1954
starring
Lew Ayres ........ Julius Maltby
Tommy Rettig ..... Robert
Arthur Shields ... Jacob O'Shaugnessy
Nan Boardman
Randy Stuart
Anthony Sydes
Isabel Withers
Synopsis:
Story about a crazy woman driver who blames all her antics on other drivers.
*Note: From the comic French film, "The Spice of Life" starring Noel Noel.
1) The first segment "Nothing So Monstrous" is a dramatized adaptation of one of
John Steinbeck's stories from his
collection "The Pastures of Heaven". Community pressures alter the lives of
three heretofore contented people -
Jacob O'Shaugnessy (Arthur Shields), Julius Maltby (Lew Ayres) and his young son
Robert (Tommy Rettig). [29mins]
2) The second segment "E=MC2 (Columbia University Cyclotron) On January 25,
1939, scientists succeeded in splitting
the first uranium atom at the Columbia University cyclotron. OMNIBUS celebrates
the 15th anniversary by visiting the
cellar installation. Dr. John R. Dunning, dean of Engineering at Columbia, who
first led the experiment, recounts the
past by explaining the equipment and the splitting process in action. (17min)
An insight into the Columbia University cyclatron, an interview with the builder
of animated signs.
3) The third segment "The Hunter" Arne Sucksdorff's camera records an early
morning walk by a hunter and his dog as they
view the beauty of nature and search for game. (9min)
4) The fourth segment "Signs" Douglas Leigh programs the animated electronic
figures which are displayed on Broadway.
He tells of the history of outdoor advertising and explains the function of a
variety devices, some rather formidable.
2.18 [44] Omnibus: SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOODS
31Jan1954 (62 min)
Opera by Ottorino Repighi
Directed by Robert Banner
Libretto by Arnold Schulman
Lyrics by William Engvick
starring
Jim Hawthorne
Jo Sullivan
Helena Scott
Frank Rogier
Rosemary Kuhlmann
Gloria Lane
Leon Lischner
George Irving
Michael Pollack
Nadia Witkowska
Helen Rice
Muriel Shaw
Patricia Bybell
Dorie Fretwell
Synopsis:
The first American performance of Respighi's opera, Sleeping Beauty in the wood.
The opera opens with a puppet sequence
in an enchanted forest. Fairies and elves are summoned to present their gifts to
the princess, but the wicked witch arrives
to cast a spell.
2) The second segment "Skiing" with cinematographer John Jay who discusses the
popular winter sport and illustrates his
topic with a number of his films showing novices and professionals in action.
3) The third segment "The Conquest of Everest" Sir Edmond Hillary and other
members of Sir John Hunt's expedition explain
their successful ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. Films, drawings and a
model are used to illustrate their
historic feat. (22min)
plus other fine features (Greyhound Bus;
Nash-Kelvinator; Scott Paper)
2.19 [45] Omnibus: COMEDY IN MUSIC
07Feb1954
starring
Victor Borge
Royal Dano
1) The first segment "Comedy in Music" pianist-satirist Victor Borge performs
his one-man show in an entertaining
interlude by disrupting the conventions of the world of music. [18mins]
2) The second segment is an interview with Ski Lecturer John Jay
3) The third segment is a documentary on recovery of art treasures sunk off
coast of France.
4) The fourth segment is from the 1952 Lincoln Part 1: series "The End and the
Beginning" excerpts from the early and
last days of Abraham Lincoln, starring Royal Dano.
2.20 [46] Omnibus: THE CONFIDENTIAL CLERK
14Feb1954
by Budd Schulberg
1)The Confidential Clerk, T.S. Eliot play
starring
Claude Rains ..... Father
Douglas Watson ... Son
Poet W.H. Auden introduces the selection from T.S. Eliot's play by commenting
upon 20th century poetry and Eliot's
influence. Eliot's friend and producer Henry Sherek tells of the man and his
play. (18min)
2)The second segment "The Whale Who Wanted to be a Submarine" is narrated by
Orson Bean. The humorous story of a whale
with a consuming passion to serve his country and encounters the bureaucratic
structure of the government agencies and
enough psychiatric treatment to send him back with a splash. Written and
illustrated by Leo Salkin.
and a narration of "The Whale Who Wanted to Be a Submarine," written and
illustrated by Cartoonist Leo Salkin.
3) The third segment "Azuma Kabuki Dancers and Musicians"
Japans Azuma Kabuki dancers will make their American debut on this program.
The art of Kabuki involves both dancing and the drama, since Japanese dances
usually tell a story.
4) The fourth segment "Paso Doble" was especially written for Omnibus by Budd
Schulberg. The cast includes Will Kuluva,
Kim Stanley, Arthur Franz, John Cassavettes and Alexander Scourby. The story is
about a pair of newleyweds in a Mexico
City cafe who befriend a matador whose defeat and ultimate death are sealed by
his father and social system so remote
from their own.
starring
Will Kuluva ......... Alfredo
Kim Stanley ......... Sara
Arthur Franz ........ Fred
John Cassavetes ..... Pepe
Alexander Scourby ... El Indio
2.21 [47] Omnibus: A TIME OUT OF WAR
21Feb1954
1) "A Time Out of War" is an award-winning film produced by student Dennis
Sanders as his master's thesis at the University
of Southern California and was photographed by his brother Terry. The plot is
based upon Robert W. Chambers' Civil War story
"Pickets". [17 mins]
2) Yale Shakespeare Festival with Burgess Meredith joining Alistair Cooke at
Yale University where Dr. A. Whitney Griswold,
President of Yale, explains the function of the Shakespearean Festival. Mr.
Cooke tours some exhibits, talks with staff
members and hears students enact scenes from "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in the
original English. [42 min]
3) South African Folk Songs by popular South African folksingers Josef Marais
and Maranda are presented in a medley of
popular tunes in their area. Burgess Meredith interviews them. [12 mins]
2.22 [48] Omnibus: HILDE AND THE TURNPIKE
28Feb1954
by Alfred Sutro
Play by Andy K. Lewis
starring
Peggy McCay ... Hilde
Gene Saks
Olga Fabian ... Hilde's Mother
(1) Hilde & the Turnpike
Hilde's restlessness is symbolized by the nearby turnpike which threads past her
quiet rural horizon until she meets a
young man whose life was trapped by it. Her determination to find a man changes
the picture.
(2) Undersea Research Part III
The French Navy's specially designed Bathyscaphe carried Captain Jacques Yves
Cousteau 13,000 feet below the surface of
the sea. The Captain discusses this special device and illustrates its function
with film. [23 min]
(3) A Marriage Has Been Arranged
the scene of Alfred Sutro's play
starring
Lorne Greene
Joan Greenwood
Synopsis:
In an Edwardian garden a self-made man and a lady with financial aspirations
discuss a business-like marriage arrangement,
and discover each other in their frank exchanges. (19min)
2.23 [49] Omnibus: THE HOUSE
07Mar1954
(1) The House
From John Steinbeck's "The Pastures of Heaven".
starring
Buddy Ebsen ...... Pat Humbert
Mabel Paige
Jonathan Winters
Synopsis:
The story of Pat Humbert has a burning hatred for his domineering mother's home
and his belated efforts to completely
remodel the house in the image of a young lady whose marital course follows
another path. (29min)
(2) The second segment "Letters to be Answered" Alistair Cooke reads letters
sent in by listeners.
Near the conclusion of the second season of OMNIBUS, host Alistair Cooke reads
and responds to letters submitted by
various viewers concerning certain programs - the California Condor, the rocket
flight of the mice, comments by Frank
Lloyd Wright concerning Levittown etc. (7min)
3) The third segment "Treason, 1780" is the story of Benedict Arnold from a
series of authentic letters written to and
by Benedict Arnold are used in dramatizing the events that led to his betrayal
of his country during the American Revolution.
Starring Martin Brooks as Benedict Arnold. [31mins]
4) The fourth segment "Jonathan Winters" Comedian Jonathan Winters pays tribute
to a gasoline attendant, a mad doctor
and General Custer in a series of hilarious monologues. (11min)
2.24 [50] Omnibus: THREE SKETCHES
14Mar1954
by James Thomas Flexner
(1) Three Sketches
(2) Shoot the Nets
(3) The Gambler, the Nun and the Radio"
1) The first segment "Three Sketches" has London comedienne and Broadway star
Hermione Gingold featured in three short
comical sketches. The first "Conquest" with Cyril Ritchard as two mountain
climbers who argue about who reached the summit
first. The second "Hats" has Hermione visiting a hat shop. The third "Cello
Lesson" Hermione presents a portion of her
Broadway hit, "Almanac".
2) The second segment "Shoot the Nets" is a Dutch film that won the Robert
Flagherty Award for best European documentary
in 1953. It traces the activities of Dutch herring fishermen as they bring in
the first catch of the season. Produced and
directed by Herman van der Horst.
3) The third segment "The Gambler, The Nun and the Radio, adapted from Ernest
Hemingway's short story featuring Geraldine
Fitzgerald and Harry Townes. It is the story of a nun who desires to be a saint
and a Mexican gambler who aits his murderer
as he recovers in a hospital. [39mins]
2.25 [51] Omnibus: TELL ME IF IT HURTS
21Mar1954
1) Tell Me If It Hurts
A comedy film made in England describing a trip to the dentist.
2) Ballet Girl will depict the arduous training of a young girl aiming to be a
ballerina.
3) The second segment "Arteriosclerosis" A combination microprojector and motion
picture camera focused upon a functioning
blood vessel illustrates the cause and effect of arteriosclerosis. Tests
indicate the presence of cholestrol and other
fats which contribute to the condition. (10min)
4) Village Festival
5) A tour of the New York Times city room and composing room and how the first
edition of tomorrow's Times is prepared.
The fifth segment "The New York Times" with Host Alistair Cooke visiting the
central offices of the most comprehensive
newspaper in the business as Omnibus documents the multiplicity of activities in
preparing a morning edition, in this case
the March 22, 1954 issue. Coverage includes numerous activities and interviews
with staff members in the central news room,
the teletype room as we preview James Reston's story, the composing room, layout
presentations and the assembly of dummy
plates. Of most interest is the editor's daily news conference as they review
significant news to be included and stressed.
Alistair Cooke concludes by interviewing the TIMES publisher and president Louis
Sulzberger.
2.26 [52] Omnibus: THE APOLLO OF BELLAC
28Mar1954
Adapted by Maurice Valency
Staged by Cyril Ritchard
starring
Gaby Rodgers
Claude Dauphin
Una O'Connor
Oscar Karlweis .... President
Mel Ferrer ........ Chairman of the Board
"The Apollo Of Bellac" is the first segment is Jean Giraudoux's play, adapted
for television by Maurice Valency and
staged by Cyril Ritchard.
The scene is the front office of the Bureau of International Inventions in
Paris. The heroine (Gaby Rodgers) an inventor
of sorts, discovers that the quickest way to a man's heart is a semi-sincere
sort of flattery that whisks her all the way to the President (Oscar Karlweis)
and the chairman of the Board (Mel Ferrer). The man behind her success is
portrayed by Claude Dauphin.
(2) Omnibus in Retrospect; A cavalcade of the program's 1953-54 highlights also
is shown.
Synopsis:
The play is written by Jean Girauriuox who authored the current Broadway hit, "Odline".
The story of a secretary who is looking for a job and meets a humorous stranger
who advises her to tell her prospective
employers that they are handsome.
################### Omnibus
##################
############### end of season 2 ##############
##############################################
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