Visions (1976-80)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
Special thanks to Jeff Eldridge for his help with airdates and rebroadcast dates.
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
VISIONS
a KCET production
PBS
WNET-13 Television Laboratory ; WGBH New Television Workshop
US Dramatic Anthology 1976-80
Dramatic Anthology series based on original stories.
############ Visions #############
######### season 1 1976-77 #########
#################################
1.01 Visions: TWO BROTHERS
21-Oct-1976
cast:
Stephen Elliott ....... Dr. Markle
Judd Hirsch ........... Joe Morris
David Spielberg ....... David Morris
1.02 Visions: THE WAR WIDOW
28-Oct-1976
Written by Harvey Perr
Directed by Paul Bogart
cast:
Pamela Bellwood ....... Amy
Nan Martin ............ Annie
Tim Matheson .......... Leonard (voice)
Frances Lee McCain .... Jenny
Marian Seldes ......... Jenny's Friend
Synopsis:
Set during World War I, the story of Amy whose husband is away at war.
In her loneliness, she finds solace with a female photographer, only to find out
that she has fallen in love with her. [RF]
1.03 Visions: EL CORRIDO
04-Nov-1976
Written by Luis Valdez & El Teatro Campesino
Directed by Kirk Browing
Director of photography Lew Adams, Hank Geving, Ron Sheldon
Musical Director Daniel Valdez
Editor Roy Stewart
Produced by Barbara Schultz
cast:
Daniel Valdez ......... Beto
Luis Valdez ........... Old Man
Félix José Álvarez .... Jesus Rasquachi
Socorro Cruz .......... Foreman/Death
Della Gonzales ........ Madre
Jose Delgado .......... Truck Driver/Devil
Synopsis 1:
A surrealistic play about migrant Mexican farm workers. Valdez appears as an
old man whose 'corrido' (ballad) introduces a play within the play: the seriocomic
story of Jesus Rasquachi, an itinerant who struggles to maintain hope despite
a series of menial jobs and exploitative bosses. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Music blends with drama in Luis Valdez’ ’El Corrido,’ a surrealistic play about
migrant Mexican farm workers. Valdez appears as an old man whose ’corrido’ (ballad)
introduces a play within the play: the seriocomic story of Jesus Rasquachi, an itinerant
who struggles to maintain hope despite a series of menial jobs and exploitative bosses. [RF]
1.04 Visions: THE GOLD WATCH
11-Nov-1976
cast:
Philip Baker Hall ..... Severson
Robert Ito ............ Rev. Sugano
Mako .................. Masu Murakami
1.05 Visions: LIZA'S PIONEER DIARY
18-Nov-1976
cast:
Katherine Helmond ..... Aunt Sara
Dennis Redfieldn ...... Eben Stedman
Ayn Ruymen ............ Liza Stedman
1.06 Visions: THE GREAT CHERUB KNITWEAR STRIKE
25-Nov-1976
cast:
Adam Arkin ......... Bernie Heller
Leon Askin
Kathleen Beller ......... Ruth Schwartz
Dinah Manoff ......... Gisella Farkas
Ellen Travolta ......... Angie
1.07 Visions: LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY
02-Dec-1976
cast:
Richard Kneeland ......... Abram
Marguerite Lenert ......... Mother
Margo Skinner ......... Helen
Rose Weaver .......... Abigail
Daniel von Bargen ......... Guard
1.08 Visions: PENNSYLVANIA LYNCH
09-Dec-1976
cast:
Tom Atkins .......... Robert Dayka
Bo Brundin ......... Sandor
Lelia Goldoni ......... Eva Dayka
William Whitaker ......... Paul Dayka
1.09 Visions: SCENES FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS
16-Dec-1976
cast:
Mary Alice ......... Evelyn Burrell
Patricia Barry ......... Leonore Bishop
Carl Franklin ......... David Burrell
Marc McClure ......... Clifford
1.10 Visions: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN HEARTH
23-Dec-1976
written by Jean Shepherd
directed by Fred Barzyk & David R. Loxton
Produced by Barbara Schultz
Narrated by Jean Shepherd
cast:
Barbara Bolton......... Mother
James Broderick ....... Father
David Elliott ......... Young Ralph
Jean Shepherd ......... Adult Ralph
Leigh Brown ........... Lovely Arlita
James Bonnell ......... Delivery Man
Chris Clark ........... Gertz
Frank Dolan ........... Leopold Doppler
Joey Faye ............. Al
Adam Goodman .......... Randy Parker
Peter Graham .......... Budge
David S. Howard ....... Zudock
Ed Huberman ........... Uncle Carl
William Lampley ....... Flick
Joe Mayo .............. Awkie
Andrea McCullough ..... Clara Mae
Stephen Nuding ........ Halfback
John Peters ........... Morty
Tobi Pilavin .......... Daphne Bigelow
David Pokat ........... Sherby
Carlton Power ......... John
Sol Schwade ........... Walter
Michael Stein ......... Steelmill Worker
Bryan Utman ........... Schwartz
Roberta Wallach ....... Wanda Hickey
1.11 Visions: THE TAPESTRY / CIRCLES
30-Dec-1976
cast:
Alvin Childress .......... Rev. Paradise
Glynn Turman ........... Axis
Ebony Wright ....... Lavender
1.12 Visions: THE GARDENER'S SON
06-Jan-1977
Written by Cormac McCarthy
Directed by Richard Pearce
Director of photography Fred Murphy
cast:
Ned Beatty ............ Pinky
Brad Dourif ........... Robert McEvoy
Nan Martin ............ Mrs. Gregg
1.13 Visions: THE PRISON GAME
13-Jan-1977
cast:
Peter Bonerz .......... Henry Stokes
Severn Darden .......... Marvin Simeon
Pat Skelton .......... Prison Guard
Jessica Walter ........... Anna II
Cara Williams ........... Anna III
########### Visions #############
####### season 2 1977-78 ########
#################################
PBS Saturdays 9pm 90min
2.01 Visions: IOWA
08-Oct-1977 (copyright date 02Oct77)
teleplay by Murray Mednick
cast:
Carol Fox ............ Eileen
Bethel Leslie ........ Mary
Warren Stevens ....... Neal
Nora Heflin .......... Margaret
Peggy Feury .......... Grandma
Alma Beltran ......... Claudia
Ellen Travolta ....... Nurse
Synopsis:
A bittersweet drama about a family reunion that recalls the generation gap dramas
of the 1960s and explores such contemporary themes as the quest for roots. [RF]
2.02 Visions: FREEMAN
15-Oct-1977 (copyright date 09Oct77)
Written by Phillip Hayes Dean
cast:
Dick Anthony Williams . Freeman
Louis Gossett Jr. ..... Rex
Richard Ward .......... Ned
Paulene Myers ......... Teresa
Chip Fields ........... Osa Lee
Synopsis:
Story about a young black foundry worker whose pride and idealism become
obstacles to his political ambitions in a small Michigan city. [RF]
2.03 Visions: ALAMBRISTA! THE ILLEGAL
22-Oct-1977 (copyright date 16Oct77)
Based on Robert M. Young's play
cast:
Domingo Ambriz ........ Roberto
Trinidad Silva ........ Joe
Linda Gillin .......... Sharon
Ned Beatty ............ Anglo Coyote
Ludevina Mendez Salazar .... Roberto's wife
Edward James Olmos .... First Drunk
Julius Harris ......... Second Drunk
Synopsis:
Explores a timely issue - the hiring of illegal aliens by following a hopeful young Mexican
through border crossing and subsequent exploitation in a series of menial jobs. [RF]
2.04 Visions: THE DANCING BEAR
29-Oct-1977 (copyright date 23Oct77)
Based on a story by Conrad Bromberg
cast:
Tyne Daly ............ Ann
Charles Durning ...... Cubby Doucette
Verna Bloom .......... Nancy Doucette
Burt Brinckerhoff .... Alan Stone
Joshua Bryant ........ Dr. Rosen
Quinn Cummings ....... Daughter Bitsy
Lou Wills ............ Siegal
Jessica Rains ........ Marina
Michael Aldredge ..... Murphy
Robert Gibbons ....... Coleman
Synopsis:
Conrad Bromberg's "The Dancing Bear" is a tragicomic character study of
an aging actor separated from his alcoholic wife and desperately hoping for a break:
a movie role that calls for a lively folk dancer. [RF]
2.05 Visions: OVER-UNDER, SIDEWAYS-DOWN
05-Nov-1977 (copyright date 30Oct77)
Written by Eugene Corr & Peter Gessner
cast:
Robert Viharo ........ Roy Stennis
Sharon Goldman ....... Jan Stennis
Larry Patterson ...... Johnson
Michael Cavanaugh .... Rich
Roy Andrews .......... Wilbur
Joe Bellan ........... Baseball Scout
Eugene Anselm Corr ... Coach
Robert A. Behling .... Frank
Synopsis:
Over-under, sideways-down, describes the emotional turmoil of a California
blue-collar worker with ambitions to become a pro-baseball player. [RF]
2.06 Visions: PLEASANTVILLE
12-Nov-1977 (copyright date 06Nov77)
Written by Kenneth Locker & Vicki Polon
cast:
Gale Sondergaard ..... Ora Drummond
Michael Del Viscovo Jr..... Matthew
John Bottoms ......... George Pocello
Marcia Jean King ..... Jo Pocello
Robert Hitt .......... Desmond Slattery
Kelley Martin ........ Betsy
Robert Howe .......... Roger
Suzanne Weber ........ Granddaughter
Synopsis:
An eccentric recluse shares memories with her granddaughter and fights
to save her house from a proposed highway.
*Note: Filmed in Connecticut [RF]
2.07 Visions: YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE
19-Nov-1977 (copyright date 13Nov77)
Written by Brother Jonathan (OSF)
cast:
Tom La Grua .......... Tom LaPorta
Robert Symonds ....... Papa LaPorta
Angela Clarke ........ Mama LaPorta
Marian Zajac ......... Elaine
Joseph Stern ......... Dolan
Philip Baker Hall .... Boyle
Synopsis:
A Vietnam veteran whose readjustment to civilian life is complicated by haunting
memories of the war, his father's death, a bout with drugs and his first meaningful romance. [RF]
2.08 Visions: ALL I COULD SEE FROM WHERE I STOOD
26-Nov-1977 (copyright date 20Nov77)
cast:
Richard Gilliland .... Mark Taylor
Season Hubley ........ Sara Blakemore
Louise Latham ........ Mary Blakemore
Phyllis Thaxter ...... Mrs. Taylor
2.10 Visions: A SECRET SPACE
04-Dec-1977
cast:
Robert Klein ......... Rebbe
Phyllis Newman ....... Ann
Jon Matthews ......... David
########### Visions #############
####### season 3 1978-79 ########
#################################
3.01 Visions: CHARLIE SMITH AND THE FRITTER TREE
09-Oct-1978
Written by Charlie Johnson
Directed by Fred Barzyk & David R. Loxton
Produced by Barbara Schultz
cast:
Glynn Turman ......... Young Charlie
Schultz
Donny Cooper ......... Mitchell Watkins
Richard Ward ......... Old Charlie Smith
Richard Dysart ....... Rancher Smith
Morgan Freeman ....... Railroad Bill
Clifton Powell ....... Orderly
Synopsis:
Based on the true story of Charlie Smith the African American who was 134 years old in 1978.
The story is told of when he came to America in the 1850's as a slave till he died at age 137.
This Florida nursing home resident was the oldest man living in the World. [RF]
3.02 Visions: ESCAPE
16-Oct-1978
cast:
Marc Singer
3.03 Visions: FANS OF THE KOSKO SHOW
23-Oct-1978
cast:
Eileen Brennan
Carol Kane
########### Visions #############
####### season 4 1979-80 ########
#################################
4.01 Visions: SHOES AND STRINGS
12-Jan-1980
4.02 Visions: IT'S THE WILLINGNESS
19-Jan-1980
cast:
R.G. Armstrong
Bonnie Bartlett
Guy Boyd
Stephanie Faracy
George Hearn
Mary Beth Hurt
Christopher Lloyd
4.03 Visions: HE WANTS HER BACK
26-Jan-1980
cast:
Susan Anspach
########### Visions #############
########### the end #############
#################################
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.