Matinee Theater - Season 1

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Matinee Theater - Season 1
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Title:Matinee Theater - Season 1
Genre: Drama
Air Date: 1955-10-31
Season Number: 1
Total Episodes: 199
Stars: John Conte (Host)
Overview
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 was one of the art directors and, as soon as we were through televising one play, we had lunch and then met to plan next week’s show. That was over 50 years ago, and I’m trying to think; I believe the TV art director is his own set decorator —yes, of course! It had to be, since one of McCleery’s chief claims to favor with the producers was his elimination of the setting per se and simply decorating the scene with a minimum of props. It took a bit of ingenuity.
Seasons List
  • Season 1 (199 episode) - October 31, 1955
  • Season 2 (240 episode) - August 27, 1956
  • Season 3 (135 episode) - October 15, 1957

Episodes List

Beginning Now

Episode 1 : Beginning Now

October 31, 1955
Make Believe Mother

Episode 2 : Make Believe Mother

A man who left his wife and infant son turns up...
November 01, 1955
The Persistent Image

Episode 3 : The Persistent Image

A once successful writer, who now verges on the...
November 02, 1955
I'm Straight with the World

Episode 4 : I'm Straight with the World

This is the tragic love story of a man and woman...
November 03, 1955
Progress and Minnie Sweeney

Episode 5 : Progress and Minnie Sweeney

A young intern tries to convince his fiance she...
November 04, 1955
One for the Road

Episode 8 : One for the Road

November 09, 1955
Jigsaw

Episode 11 : Jigsaw

An elderly father is being pressured by his...
November 14, 1955
All the Hoffmeyers in the World

Episode 13 : All the Hoffmeyers in the World

During all the years of their married life, Helen...
November 16, 1955
The Aspern Papers

Episode 14 : The Aspern Papers

In a Korean battle five Americans become detached...
November 17, 1955
Roman Fever

Episode 15 : Roman Fever

A shy school principal and a rising young...
November 18, 1955
Midsummer

Episode 16 : Midsummer

November 21, 1955
The Lady Chooses

Episode 17 : The Lady Chooses

The daughter and sister of a pretty widown decide...
November 22, 1955
The Courtship of Miles Standish

Episode 18 : The Courtship of Miles Standish

A Polish merchant learns that his teen-age son...
November 23, 1955
Dispossessed

Episode 19 : Dispossessed

November 25, 1955
One for the Road

Episode 20 : One for the Road

A beautiful young socialite is found murdered.
November 28, 1955
The Touchstone

Episode 21 : The Touchstone

A middle-aged bachelor thus far has avoided...
November 29, 1955
Wuthering Heights

Episode 22 : Wuthering Heights

A mother discovers she is falling in love with...
November 30, 1955
The Brass Ring

Episode 23 : The Brass Ring

A meek little file clerk turns into a veritable...
December 01, 1955
Jason

Episode 24 : Jason

A husband has definite ideas about bringing up...
December 02, 1955
Arrowsmith

Episode 25 : Arrowsmith

Three generations come together to celebrate the...
December 05, 1955
Passing Strange

Episode 26 : Passing Strange

A woman art instructor entering her 30s falls in...
December 06, 1955
For These Services

Episode 27 : For These Services

Following the death of her husband, a widow...
December 07, 1955
The White Oaks

Episode 29 : The White Oaks

An elderly man of letters supports his orphaned...
December 09, 1955
The Milwaukee Rocket

Episode 31 : The Milwaukee Rocket

A young couple moves into the ground floor...
December 13, 1955
This One is Different

Episode 32 : This One is Different

A man is determined to prevent his teen-age...
December 14, 1955
Sins of the Fathers

Episode 33 : Sins of the Fathers

This is the well-known story of Biblical times...
December 15, 1955
See You on Sunday

Episode 34 : See You on Sunday

When a confirmed bachelor who owns a restaurant...
December 16, 1955
Coming of Age

Episode 35 : Coming of Age

A young English couple decide that they will live...
December 19, 1955
Technique

Episode 36 : Technique

A governess, in love with the father of her...
December 20, 1955
Gallin: All-American

Episode 37 : Gallin: All-American

The idyllic existence of an American college...
December 21, 1955
Santa is No Saint

Episode 38 : Santa is No Saint

The fifth wealthiest woman in the world hires...
December 22, 1955
The Unwelcomed

Episode 39 : The Unwelcomed

December 23, 1955
Little Girls Grow Up

Episode 43 : Little Girls Grow Up

A young man is trying to keep up pretenses even...
December 29, 1955
The Shot

Episode 44 : The Shot

December 30, 1955
Mr. Krane

Episode 45 : Mr. Krane

January 03, 1956
Yesterday is Gone

Episode 46 : Yesterday is Gone

A wealthy industrialist offers to revive the...
January 04, 1956
Double Door

Episode 47 : Double Door

January 05, 1956
The Happy Rest

Episode 48 : The Happy Rest

January 06, 1956
The Gate

Episode 49 : The Gate

January 09, 1956
One Left Over

Episode 50 : One Left Over

January 10, 1956
Friday the 13th

Episode 53 : Friday the 13th

January 13, 1956
The Old Maid

Episode 54 : The Old Maid

January 16, 1956
Interlude

Episode 58 : Interlude

January 20, 1956
The Big Box

Episode 59 : The Big Box

January 23, 1956
Doc

Episode 61 : Doc

January 25, 1956
The Amateur

Episode 62 : The Amateur

January 26, 1956
Romney

Episode 64 : Romney

January 30, 1956
O Promise Me

Episode 65 : O Promise Me

January 31, 1956
Dark Possession

Episode 67 : Dark Possession

February 02, 1956
The Diamond

Episode 68 : The Diamond

February 03, 1956
Susan and God

Episode 69 : Susan and God

February 06, 1956
The White Knight

Episode 71 : The White Knight

February 08, 1956
The Anxious Years

Episode 72 : The Anxious Years

February 09, 1956
The Middle Son

Episode 74 : The Middle Son

February 13, 1956
Valentine's Day

Episode 75 : Valentine's Day

February 14, 1956
The Catbird Seat

Episode 78 : The Catbird Seat

February 17, 1956
Dream House

Episode 79 : Dream House

February 20, 1956
The Runaways

Episode 80 : The Runaways

February 21, 1956
The Ledger

Episode 81 : The Ledger

February 22, 1956
I Want to March

Episode 83 : I Want to March

February 24, 1956
Skylark

Episode 84 : Skylark

February 27, 1956
Anything But Love

Episode 86 : Anything But Love

February 29, 1956
Robin Daw

Episode 87 : Robin Daw

March 01, 1956
The Odd Ones

Episode 93 : The Odd Ones

March 09, 1956
The Big Guy

Episode 96 : The Big Guy

March 14, 1956
The Wedding

Episode 124 : The Wedding

April 24, 1956
Safe Place

Episode 162 : Safe Place

June 18, 1956
Moon Over

Episode 167 : Moon Over

June 25, 1956
Backfire

Episode 179 : Backfire

July 12, 1956
Remittance

Episode 181 : Remittance

July 16, 1956
The Feast

Episode 184 : The Feast

July 19, 1956
Gretel

Episode 194 : Gretel

August 02, 1956