US Anthology series (chronological order) -
US Anthology series
(alphabetical
order) -
Sponsors
<Previous
"Pepsi Cola
Playhouse"
Next>
Hosted by Arlene Dahl (02-Oct-1953 to
02-Apr-1954)
Season
1 (1st half) (ABC) (1953-54)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Rina Fox, James Beer, Sal Crisanti,
J. Fred MacDonald (www.macfilms.com)
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)
############ Pepsi Cola Playhouse ############
######## season 1 (1st half)1953-54 ##########
##############################################
ABC Fridays 8:30-9:00 EST
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
1.01
[--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: WHEN LOVELY WOMEN
02Oct1953 ABC Fri
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Marguerite Chapman
James Millican
Karen Sharpe
Tony Randall
Irene Hervey
Ron Randell
Dick Simmons
Synopsis:
Romance concerns a woman dreams of a first love affair.
1.02 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: WAIT FOR ME DOWNSTAIRS
09Oct1953 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Fenton Earnshaw
Based on Cornell Woolrich's novel "Finger of Doom"
Directed by John English
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
John Hudson
Allene Roberts
Walter Sande
Maudie Prickett
George Chandler
Helen Mowery
Tol Avery
Virginia Brissac
Clark Howat
Synopsis:
A man in a strange city with a bride-to-be and suddenly she disappears. The
girl's employer thinks the man is
crazy because of this kidnapping tale and produces a girl who is supposed to
be the bride. This switch in girls
is baffling to one and all.
1.03 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE NIGHT LIGHT AT VORDEN'S
Revue Productions, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
16Oct1953 ABC Fri
Teleplay by August Derleth
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Craig Stevens ........ Ward Preston
Jean Byron ........... Vanessa Vorden
Myra McKinney ........ Bianca Vorden
Emmett Vogan ......... Harold Atkins
Bruce Payne .......... Dr. Paul Tabor
Synopsis 1:
A possessive mother uses every possible ruse to keep her only daughter from
marrying. [RF]
Synopsis: 2:
A domineering mother stops at nothing to keep her daughter from marrying her
schoolteacher suitor. [RF]
*Note: Syndication airing on "Your Playtime" 05Sep54.
1.04 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: DEATH HAS A SYSTEM
Revue Productions, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
23Oct1953 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Fenton Earnshaw / Story by Hendrik Vollaerts
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Director of photography Gilbert Warrenton
Editor Michael R. McAdam
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Ian MacDonald
Sally Mansfield
Kim Spalding
John Frederick
Alix Talton
Synopsis:
A man's desire to avenge the murder of his brother is fulfilled at a cost.
1.05 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE RAGGED STRANGER
Revue Productions, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
30Oct1953 ABC Fri
Written by Fenton Earnshaw
Directed by Robert G. Walker
Director of photography Gilbert Warrenton
Editor Helene Turner
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Joanne Davis
Michael Hall
Hayden Rorke
Natalie Schafer
Hugh Sanders
Ted Stanhope
John Milton Kennedy
Synopsis:
Larry Doyle is caught stealing a loaf of bread by one Neil Armstrong.
Armstrong talks him into staging a fake
hold up of his wife, allowing Armstrong to "fight" off the robber and appear
the hero. When the staged hold-up
ends up as a murder, Dolyle realizes he's been played for a fool and been
framed.
1.06 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: MELODY IN BLACK
Revue Productions, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
06Nov1953 ABC Fri
Written by James Gunn
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Director of photography Gilbert Warrenton
Editor Richard G. Wray
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Peter Graves ....... Fred Crain
Nancy Gates ........ Peggy Harper
Robert Paige ....... Roger Libbott
Dorothy Green
John Gallaudet
George Eldredge
Synopsis:
The town is gossiping about a local murder. Her continued piano lessons and
a $1000 note implicate a young girl in the crime.
*Syndication airing on "Your Playtime" 29Aug54.
1.07 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE HOUSE NOBODY WANTED
Revue Productons, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
13Nov1953 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Lawrence Kimble / Story by Fredric Brown
Directed by Richard Irving
Director of photography Clark Ramsey
Editor Helene Turner
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Fredric Brown
Craig Stevens.......... as Richard Fleming
Marilyne Erskine....... as Jennie Fleming
Sheila Bromley......... as Nelli Harlow
Jack Raine............. as George Sinder
Dean Cromer............ as The Killer
Synopsis:
A woman is sure her new husband fits the description of a known murderer.
[SC]
1.08 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: CLAIRE
Revue Productons, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
20Nov1953 ABC Fri
Written by James Gunn
Director Robert G. Walker
Director of photography Clark Ramsey
Editor Charles Craft
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Marguerite Chapman
Walter Coy
Marilyn Erskine
Douglas Kennedy
Synopsis:
A woman working hard to support her ill husband is put on the spot by the
nurse.
1.09 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: FROZEN ESCAPE
Revue Productons, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
27Nov1953 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Eugene Vale / Story by Robert Bice
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Director of photography Gilbert Warrenton
Editor Charles Craft
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Jorja Curtright ........ Julie
Morris Ankrum ........ Tom
DeForest Kelley ..... Jeff
Synopsis:
Jeff and Julie have been prospecting in the Alaskan wilds for three years.
Jeff has told Julie that he went
to visit his friend Arthur McLain -- who had recently struck it rich -- and
found him dead. Believing he'll
be blamed, Jeff insists on running away, but a blizzard blocks the pass and
the couple seek refuge with blind Tom,
stating that they'd been hunting. Tom confronts Jeff, saying that the radio
just reported Arthur McLain and his
dog killed in their cabin. As Jeff starts arguing threateningly with Tom,
Tom's dog starts growling. Tom points
out that Jeff is stuck there until the storm, because the only other way out
is past the Ranger station.
Julie tries to talk Jeff out of running away, insisting that "they don't
hang innocent people." Jeff is unconvinced.
However, Tom gets Julie alone and explains that Jeff must have been the
murderer. That night, Tom offers to let
Jeff escape if Jeff will give him the gold he must have stolen from Arthur
-- since only Jeff was a good enough
friend of Arthur's to have known where the gold was. Jeff demurs, trying to
hide the gold in his pocket. Tom attacks
Jeff, and the scuffle brings in Julie, who sees the gold and is now
convinced of her husband's guilt, despite Jeff's
protestations that he took it in a panic when he found Arthur dead. Jeff
frantically insists to Julie that Tom must
have done it, and they set up a trap to see if Tom is really blind. He is.
Whereupon Jeff hands his gun over to Julie
in despair. Julie finds Tom's hand bleeding and tends it. She steps out,
finds a torn blanket on Tom's sled, and on
returning overhears Tom telling Jeff that actually, Julie must be the
murderer, that she and Arthur were probably
having an affair. Jeff tells him to shut up. Julie goes to Tom's dog and
starts to untie it. Jeff begs her not to
set the dog on him. But the dog, freed, attacks Tom instead. Julie explains
that she noticed that the dog was really
growling at Tom, not Jeff; the attack proves that it's not really Tom's dog,
it's Arthur's. Tom's dog is dead in the
cabin where he killed Arthur.
1.10 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: VACATION WIFE
Revue Productions, Inc. (copyright date 31Dec53)
04Dec1953 ABC Fri
Written by Lawrence Kimble
Directed by Robert G. Walker
Editor Chandler House
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Frances Rafferty ...... Penny
Robert Paige .......... Sam
Robert Hutton ......... David
Dorothy Green ......... Selma
Geraldine Carr ........ Nella
Synopsis:
A young wife takes a vacation alone at a mountain resort and meets another
man.
*Syndication airing on "Star Theater" 17Sep54.
1.11 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE MOTIVE GOES ROUND AND ROUND
11Dec1953 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Lawrence Kimble / Story by Fredric Brown
Directed by Robert G. Walker
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Ludwig Donath
Eve Miller
Joseph Forte
Paul Keast
Gene Roth
Don Kennedy
Marvin Press
1.12 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: DEATH MAKES A PASS
18Dec1953 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Fenton Earnshaw / Story by Robert Harari
Directed by Herschel Daugherty
Director of photography Gilbert Warrenton
Editor Chandler House
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Lloyd Corrigan
Jay Novello
Margia Dean
George Eldredge
Paul Bradley
Matty Fain
1.13 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: WHO IS SYLVIA?
25Dec1953 ABC Fri
Written by Lawrence Kimble
Directed by John English
Director of photography John MacBurnie
Editor Richard G. Wray
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Rick Jason
Frances Rafferty
Peter Graves
Tol Avery
1.14 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: MISS DARKNESS
01Jan1954 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Richard Collins & Fenton Earnshaw
Based on the story by Fredric Brown
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Director of photography John MacBurnie
Editor Charles Craft
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Peter Graves
Dee Carroll
Milton Parsons
Madge Blake
Kem Dibbs
Ruth Perrott
Charles Evans
Ruth Lee
Synopsis:
A girl recognizes a bank robber, and afraid to tell the police, seeks refuge
in a boarding house.
*Syndication airing on "Top Plays" 01Jan53.
1.15 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE GOLD THUMB
08Jan1954 ABC Fri
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Jeanne Cooper ...... Martha
Walter Reed .......... William Martin
Dolores Mann ........ Annie
Synopsis 1:
A ruthless sister plots murder in order to get a large inheritance.
Synopsis 2:
A drama concerning two sisters and the effect of an expected inheritance on
them.
*Syndicaiton airing on "Star Theater" 10Sep54.
1.16 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: ACCOUNT CLOSED
15Jan1954 ABC Fri
Teleplay by James Gunn / Story by Don James
Directed by Herschel Daugherty
Director of photography Gilbert Warrenton
Editor Chandler House
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Carolyn Jones
George Nader
Fay Roope
Madge Blake
Ford Stevens
Synopsis:
A bank embezzler defrauds an innocent victim.
1.17 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: FAREWELL PERFORMANCE
22Jan1954 ABC Fri
Teleplay by W.J. Stuart
Directed by John English
Director of photography John MacBurnie
Editor Chandler House
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
John Hoyt
Joan Shawlee
Alan Napier
Leslie Bradley
Reginald Sheffield
Bess Flowers
Synopsis:
A ventriloquist's wife brings on her own destruction when she plays up to an
actor with whom she was once friendly.
1.18 Pepsi Cola Playhouse: TOO GLOOMY FOR PRIVATE PUSHKIN
29Jan1954 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Lawrence Kimble / Story Richard Denning
Directed by Richard Irving
Director of photography Ellsworth Fredericks
Editor Richard G. Wray
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Steve Brodie
Robert Strauss
Maurice Kelly
Synopsis:
A bombed-out castle on the Italian war front becomes a refuge for a private
trying to evade the approaching German patrol.
1.19 Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE PSYCHOPHONIC NURSE
05Feb1954 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Fenton Earnshaw & Richard Collins / Story by David H. Keller
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Director of photography John MacBurnie
Editor Richard G. Wray
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Lee Marvin ............... John Temple
Joanne Davis ........... Susanna Temple
Tom Steele ............... Robot
Effie Laird
William Grueneberg
Mary Menzies
Karen Lilly
Synopsis:
A couple believe that raising their daughter scientifically will benefit
them so they employ a mechanical nurse.
1.20 Pepsi Cola Playhouse: A FAR, FAR BETTER THING
12Feb1954 ABC Fri
Written by Marion Cooper
Directed by John English
Director of photography John MacBurnie
Editor Michael R. McAdam
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Robert Lowery ..... George Loring
Nancy Gates ....... Virginia Sills
Sally Mansfield ... Betty Loring
Richard Gaines .... Len Sills
Franklyn Farnum ... Ship passenger
Bess Flowers ... Ship passenger
Synopsis:
A wife becomes infatuated with a fellow tourist during a cruise to Hawaii.
Synopsis 2:
A blackmail team posing as brother and sister, plotting against a married
couple.
*Syndication airing on "Your Playtime" 25Jul54.
1.21 Pepsi Cola Playhouse: LIVE A LITTLE
19Feb1954 ABC Fri
Written by Lawrence Kimble
Directed by Herschel Daugherty
Director of photography John MacBurnie
Editor Richard G. Wray
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Walter Coy
Marie Windsor
Jean Byron
Bethel Leslie
George Eldredge
Synopsis:
A devoted husband becomes involved with another woman in a life of crime.
1.22 Pepsi Cola Playhouse: HIS BROTHER'S GIRL
26Feb1954 ABC Fri
Written by Fenton Earnshaw
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Director of photography Gilbert Warrenton
Editor Richard G. Wray
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
George Nader
Nancy Gates
Keith Larsen
Ellen Corby
Charles Evans
Synopsis:
A college professor loses a chance at a promotion because of his brother's
involvement in a cafe brawl over a girl.
1.23 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: TAPS FOR A HOOFER
05Mar1954 ABC Fri
Written by Les Crutchfield
Directed by John English
Director of photography Clark Ramsey
Editor Richard G. Wray
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Roy Roberts
Andrea King
Peggy Knudsen
Synopsis:
A fading dancing star uses the remnant of glamour that still clings to his
name to lure unwary maidens into his clutches.
1.24 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: DON'T YOU REMEMBER?
12Mar1954 ABC Fri
Written by Lawrence Kimble
Directed by Herschel Daughtery
Director of photography Clark Ramsey
Editor Edward A. Biery
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Philip Ober .......... Paul
Nancy Gates ....... Anne Collins
Frances Bavier .... Helen Collins
Synopsis:
A lonely man returns to his boyhood village to find his former sweetheart
still young and beautiful.
1.25 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: OPEN SEASON
19Mar1954 ABC Fri
Written by Harold Shumate
Directed by Rod Amateau
Director of photography Ellsworth Fredericks
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Lee Marvin
Dennis Morgan
Douglass Montgomery
Fay Roope
Gordon Jones
Synopsis:
A man suspects his wife of unfaithfulness and arranges a showdown at a duck
hunt with the other man.
1.26 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE SILENCE
26Mar1954 ABC Fri
Teleplay by Lawrence Kimble / Story by George Carousso
Directed by Richard Irving
Director of photography Clark Ramsey
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Rod Cameron
Carolyn Jones
James Millican
Richard Travis
Julian Upton
Synopsis:
A woman frightens the construction workers in the jungles of India when they
believe she is the "kiss of death".
1.27 [--] Pepsi Cola Playhouse: THE GREY AND GOLD DRESS
02Apr1954 ABC Fri
Written by James Gunn
Directed by Herschel Daugherty
Director of photography Clark Ramsey
Editor Michael R. McAdam
Hosted by Arlene Dahl
starring
Vera Miles .............. Nancy
Peggy Converse .... Jane
Gertrude Michael ... Coralee
Jan Arvan
Gerry Gaylor
Synopsis:
A supposedly exclusive dress design alters lives of three women. [RF]
*Note: Commercials for RICHARD
HUDNUT HOME PERMANENT (with Julia Meade)
and LUCKY STRIKE CIGARETTES—ends with
animated spot for Lucky Strike
(c. 12/31/54) airing on Your Play Time a summer replacement series. [JFM]
--------------------------------------------
Anita Colby replaces Arlene Dahl as hostess from 09-Apr-1954
mid-way through the first season
--------------------------------------------
############# Pepsi Cola Playhouse
###########
########## end of season 1 (1st half) #########
##############################################
Have you any comments, corrections, episode titles, air dates,
production numbers, directors, writers, story/synopsis, guest stars, cast lists,
etc?
Have you any old videos, or tv guides? Dust them off and let us know if you have
any information on this series or any other tv series from the
Golden Age of TV, which is missing from any episode guides on the web. Perhaps a
certain episode of a particular series coincided with a key
moment in your life, or in world events - and or has left a vivid memory of when
it was shown. Let us know. Would you like to see any other
tv series guides on this site? If so please e-mail The Classic TV Archive - see
Feedback below.
This guide may be distributed and copied freely, in its entirety, for personal
use. All original author and copyright information must
remain intact. Any sales or other uses of this document are expressly forbidden,
without the specific consent of the author(s).
Copyright © The Classic TV Archive. All rights reserved.
Return to The
Classic TV Archive Home Page
Feedback
-
Anthology Forum