Matinee Theater (1955)
Matinee Theater is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from 1955 to 1958. The series, which ran daily in the afternoon, was frequently live. It was produced by Albert McCleery, Darrell Ross, George Cahan and Frank Price with executive producer George Lowther. McCleery had previously produced the live series Cameo Theatre which introduced to television the concept of theater-in-the-round, TV plays staged with minimal sets.
Jim Buckley of the Pewter Plough Playhouse recalled:
When Al McCleery got back to the States, he originated a most ambitious theatrical TV series for NBC called Matinee Theater: to televise five different stage plays per week live, airing around noon in order to promote color TV to the American housewife as she labored over her ironing. Al was the producer. He hired five directors and five art directors. Richard Bennett, one of our first early presidents of the Pewter Plough Corporation, was one of the directors and I
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3x01 End of The Rope
27 June, 1958 11:00 pm
In a small town, enraged townsfolk refuse to believe the tale of a stranger. He claims that the man they believe committed a murder was miles away at the time of the killing.
3x02 Rain In the Morning
26 June, 1958 11:00 pm
Frank Wilson is bringing his boss home for dinner and is anxious to make a good impression. He asks his wife Jane to try not to be so shy and tells her she must learn to be more decisive. During the day a strange young man comes to the house posing as a magazine salesman. Jane feels that this a good opportunity to practice being forceful.- Tv Guide
3x03 From the Desk of Margaret Tydings
25 June, 1958 11:00 pm
A successful career woman falls ill and discovers someone has been administering small doses of poison to her every day. - Tv Guide
3x04 Journey Into Darkness
24 June, 1958 11:00 pm
After years of carrying the responsibilities of two jobs, Mitchell Dayton has a nervous breakdown. He moves his family to Florida where he takes a job in a gas station. One afternoon he is knocked unconscious, and when he awakens he is hundreds of miles away from home with no money, no identification, and suffers from amnesia. - Tv Guide
3x05 The Prophet Hosea
23 June, 1958 11:00 pm
Gomer, a beautiful young girl is blamed by townspeople for the suicide of one of their men. They are about to kill her when Hosea saves her life. The young prophet falls in love with Gomer, grateful to Hosea, promises to become his wife. - Tv Guide
3x06 The 65th Floor
09 June, 1958 11:00 pm
Recently promoted, a young man is offered help in learning his new duties. The offer comes from a young-lady collegue, whose real motive is to break up his marriage.
3x07 The Cause
12 May, 1958 11:00 pm
3x08 The Story of Marcia Gordon
10 June, 1958 11:00 pm
Marcia Miller has inherited her successful mother's talent for fashion designing. But Marcia has decided she doesn't want to follow in her mother's footsteps. - Tv Guide
3x09 Town in a Turmoil
11 June, 1958 11:00 pm
Pretty Martha Radway is vigorously campaigning with members of the League of Women Voters for a new school in their town.
3x10 Washington Square
12 June, 1958 11:00 pm
Dr. Austin Sloper had always hoped that his daughter Catherine would grow into as charming and brilliant as woman as her mother had been. But Catherine grew up to be a very ordinary woman. - Tv Guide
3x11 Course for Collision
12 June, 1958 11:00 pm
The year is 1962, and it is known that Russia is planning a full-scale nuclear attack against the U. S and Canada. In a desperate last-minute effort to avert war, the president makes plans to fly to Russia to meet directly with the Russian leaders. - Tv Guide
3x141 The Guest of Quesnay
07 May, 1958 11:00 pm
A millionaire playboy vanishes and mysteriously reappears after two years in another identity at the Country Inn.
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