Matinee Theater
Oct 31, 1955 (en)
Drama
[60] Min
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First Air DateOct 31, 1955
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ProductionNBC
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Rotten tomato33%
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Original titleMatinee Theater
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ReleaseOct 31, 1955
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en-
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.
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Music Supervisor
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George Lowther, Albert McCleery
Producer
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Casts
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Host
Casts : 1 / Crews : 2
Season 1 ( 1955-10-31)
Beginning Now
Episode: 1
Make Believe Mother
Episode: 2
The Persistent Image
Episode: 3
I'm Straight with the World
Episode: 4
Progress and Minnie Sweeney
Episode: 5
The House on Wildwood Lane
Episode: 6
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Episode: 7
One for the Road
Episode: 8
An Apple for Miss Myrtle
Episode: 9
The Man Without a Country
Episode: 10
Jigsaw
Episode: 11
She's the One with the Funny Face
Episode: 12
All the Hoffmeyers in the World
Episode: 13
The Aspern Papers
Episode: 14
Roman Fever
Episode: 15
Midsummer
Episode: 16
The Lady Chooses
Episode: 17
The Courtship of Miles Standish
Episode: 18
Dispossessed
Episode: 19
One for the Road
Episode: 20
The Touchstone
Episode: 21
Wuthering Heights
Episode: 22
The Brass Ring
Episode: 23
Jason
Episode: 24
Arrowsmith
Episode: 25
Passing Strange
Episode: 26
For These Services
Episode: 27
Cordially - With Bombs
Episode: 28
The White Oaks
Episode: 29
O'Toole from Moscow
Episode: 30
The Milwaukee Rocket
Episode: 31
This One is Different
Episode: 32
Sins of the Fathers
Episode: 33
See You on Sunday
Episode: 34
Coming of Age
Episode: 35
Technique
Episode: 36
Gallin: All-American
Episode: 37
Santa is No Saint
Episode: 38
The Unwelcomed
Episode: 39
The Red Sanders Story
Episode: 40
Class of '58
Episode: 41
Horns of the Dilemma
Episode: 42
Little Girls Grow Up
Episode: 43
The Shot
Episode: 44
Mr. Krane
Episode: 45
Yesterday is Gone
Episode: 46
Double Door
Episode: 47
The Happy Rest
Episode: 48
The Gate
Episode: 49
One Left Over
Episode: 50
All the Trees in the Field
Episode: 51
The Century Plant
Episode: 52
Friday the 13th
Episode: 53
The Old Maid
Episode: 54
Mother Was a Bachelor
Episode: 55
The Bottom of the River
Episode: 56
The Carefree Tree
Episode: 57
Interlude
Episode: 58
The Big Box
Episode: 59
Sincerely Yours, Charlie Fisher
Episode: 60
Doc
Episode: 61
The Amateur
Episode: 62
Light and Shadow
Episode: 63
Romney
Episode: 64
O Promise Me
Episode: 65
Hold My Hand and Run
Episode: 66
Dark Possession
Episode: 67
The Diamond
Episode: 68
Susan and God
Episode: 69
As Young As You Feel
Episode: 70
The White Knight
Episode: 71
The Anxious Years
Episode: 72
The Heart of Mary Lincoln
Episode: 73
The Middle Son
Episode: 74
Valentine's Day
Episode: 75
Summer Cannot Last
Episode: 76
The Last Battlefield
Episode: 77
The Catbird Seat
Episode: 78
Dream House
Episode: 79
The Runaways
Episode: 80
The Ledger
Episode: 81
When the Bough Breaks
Episode: 82
I Want to March
Episode: 83
Skylark
Episode: 84
Tall, Dark Stranger
Episode: 85
Anything But Love
Episode: 86
Robin Daw
Episode: 87
Letter to a Stranger
Episode: 88
Dinner at Antoine's
Episode: 89
The Mating of Watkins Tottle
Episode: 90
Her Son's Wife
Episode: 91
The Shining Palace
Episode: 92
The Odd Ones
Episode: 93
A Cowboy for Chris
Episode: 94
The Rocking Chair
Episode: 95
The Big Guy
Episode: 96
Statute of Limitations
Episode: 97
The Baron and the Banshees
Episode: 98
Notebook Warrior
Episode: 99
Temptation for a King
Episode: 100
The White Knight
Episode: 101
The Anxious Years
Episode: 102
M is for the Many
Episode: 103
Silent Partner
Episode: 104
Winter in April
Episode: 105
Bread Upon the Waters
Episode: 106
The Giant Killer
Episode: 107
The Book of Ruth
Episode: 108
Singer in the Valley
Episode: 109
The Heart of a Husband
Episode: 110
From the Desk of Margaret Tydings
Episode: 111
But You Look Like Sisters
Episode: 112
The House of Seven Gables
Episode: 113
Fiddlin' Man
Episode: 114
The Hollow Woman
Episode: 115
People in Glass
Episode: 116
One of the Family
Episode: 117
Young Hands, Young Feet
Episode: 118
The Lark Shall Sing
Episode: 119
In Dread of Winter
Episode: 120
The Babylonian Heart
Episode: 121
Ask Me No Questions
Episode: 122
Whom Death Has Joined Together
Episode: 123
The Wedding
Episode: 124
The Reckoning
Episode: 125
A Woman Named Ruby
Episode: 126
The Bright Boy
Episode: 127
The Carefree Tree
Episode: 128
Graybeards and Witches
Episode: 129
The Legend of Jenny Lind
Episode: 130
Daughter of the Seventh Day
Episode: 131
Night Must Fall
Episode: 132
The 25th Hour
Episode: 133
A Man and His Maid
Episode: 134
Perspective
Episode: 135
The Catamaran
Episode: 136
Johnny Came Marching Home
Episode: 137
A Family Affair
Episode: 138
Blind Date
Episode: 139
To Have and to Hold
Episode: 140
Edwina Black
Episode: 141
The Spare Room
Episode: 142
The Bottle Imp
Episode: 143
Brief Music
Episode: 144
The Girl from Boro Park
Episode: 145
To Whom It May Concern
Episode: 146
Bachelor Buttons
Episode: 147
The Children of Papa Juan
Episode: 148
Herself Alone
Episode: 149
Three for the Money
Episode: 150
Taxi to the Moon
Episode: 151
The Goodtime Boys
Episode: 152
The American
Episode: 153
Cause for Suspicion
Episode: 154
Fight the Whole World
Episode: 155
Autumn Crocus
Episode: 156
George Has a Birthday
Episode: 157
The Serpent's Tooth
Episode: 158
Crime at Blossom's
Episode: 159
The Luck of Amos Currie
Episode: 160
Alison's House
Episode: 161
Safe Place
Episode: 162
The Guest Cottage
Episode: 163
Forsaking All Others
Episode: 164
Love, Honor and O'Day
Episode: 165
The Damask Cheek
Episode: 166
Moon Over
Episode: 167
But Fear Itself
Episode: 168
The Birthday Present
Episode: 169
The Ghost of Greenwich Village
Episode: 170
The Young and the Damned
Episode: 171
There's Always Juliet
Episode: 172
Seasoned Timber
Episode: 173
The Declaration
Episode: 174
High Places
Episode: 175
Black Chiffon
Episode: 176
Class of '58
Episode: 177
Marriage by the Millions
Episode: 178
Backfire
Episode: 179
The Bishop Misbehaves
Episode: 180
Remittance
Episode: 181
Beg, Borrow or Steal
Episode: 182
Summer Pavilion
Episode: 183
The Feast
Episode: 184
A Full, Rich Life
Episode: 185
The Reverberator
Episode: 186
Woman at the Window
Episode: 187
Another Sky
Episode: 188
Letter of Introduction
Episode: 189
Home at Seven
Episode: 190
The Cypress Tree
Episode: 191
Belong to Me
Episode: 192
Pygmalion Jones
Episode: 193
Gretel
Episode: 194
Some Man Will Want You
Episode: 195
The Fall of the House of Usher
Episode: 196
Cupid Rode a Horse
Episode: 197
The Old Payola
Episode: 198
The Perfect Alibi
Episode: 199
Season 2 ( 1956-08-27)
The House Off Fifth Avenue
Episode: 1
Yankee Doodler
Episode: 2
The Pink Hippopotamus
Episode: 3
September Tide
Episode: 4
Are You Listening?
Episode: 5
Ladies' Maid Bell
Episode: 6
100 Red Convertibles
Episode: 7
The Ivy Curtain
Episode: 8
The Gramercy Ghost
Episode: 9
Lovers
Episode: 10
Reach for the Stars
Episode: 11
I Like It Here
Episode: 12
A Question of Balance
Episode: 13
The Marriage Royal
Episode: 14
Mad Money
Episode: 15
A Letter from Johnny Brock
Episode: 16
Uncle Harry
Episode: 17
At Mrs. Leland's
Episode: 18
The House Next Door
Episode: 19
Alumni Reunion
Episode: 20
Sound of Fear
Episode: 21
Late Date
Episode: 22
Pride and Prejudice
Episode: 23
Pearls of Sheba
Episode: 24
The Stamp Caddy
Episode: 25
The Egotist
Episode: 26
The Family Man
Episode: 27
Sight Unseen
Episode: 28
The Eye of the Storm
Episode: 29
The Man in the Seven League Boots
Episode: 30
The Woman Across the Hall
Episode: 31
And Then There Were Three
Episode: 32
Shake the Stars Down
Episode: 33
Horse Power
Episode: 34
Without Sanction
Episode: 35
The Outing
Episode: 36
Thank You, Edmondo
Episode: 37
The Tell-Tale Heart
Episode: 38
Strangers on a Honeymoon
Episode: 39
A Dram of Poison
Episode: 40
The Shining Hour
Episode: 41
Love, Marriage and Five Thousand Dollars
Episode: 42
Step Into Darkness
Episode: 43
Candle in the Dark
Episode: 44
Savrola
Episode: 45
Table Set at Night
Episode: 46
Madame de Treymes
Episode: 47
The People vs. John Tarr
Episode: 48
The Location of Roycemore College
Episode: 49
Dracula
Episode: 50
Julie
Episode: 51
The Empty Nest
Episode: 52
Spare Your Pity
Episode: 53
The Last Leaf
Episode: 54
Therese
Episode: 55
Julie
Episode: 56
Refugee
Episode: 57
Jenny Kissed Me
Episode: 58
Miracle at Carville
Episode: 59
The Upper Hand
Episode: 60
Love is a Locksmith
Episode: 61
Captain Brassbound's Conversion
Episode: 62
The Wisp End
Episode: 63
Prominent Citizens
Episode: 64
Head of the Family
Episode: 65
Password
Episode: 66
Late Love
Episode: 67
Eugenie Grandet
Episode: 68
Cold Christmas
Episode: 69
Little Women
Episode: 70
For Sweetheart, Wife or Mother
Episode: 71
Smilin' Through
Episode: 72
Strong Medicine
Episode: 73
Everything's Relative
Episode: 74
Miss Morissa
Episode: 75
The Scandalous Priest
Episode: 76
Dark Victory
Episode: 77
The Lonely Look
Episode: 78
The Sudden Truth
Episode: 79
The Man in the Half-Moon
Episode: 80
The Hex
Episode: 81
If This Be Error
Episode: 82
On the Trail of the Kingsfield
Episode: 83
Here We Are
Episode: 84
Arms and the Man
Episode: 85
Home is the Hunted
Episode: 86
Madam Ada
Episode: 87
Night Train
Episode: 88
This Language
Episode: 89
The 13th Crypt
Episode: 90
Mr. Pirn Passes By
Episode: 91
Anything for a Laugh
Episode: 92
Realms of Gold
Episode: 93
Deacon of Oak Ridge
Episode: 94
Accent on Youth
Episode: 95
Three Kids
Episode: 96
Frankenstein
Episode: 97
The Most Dangerous Man
Episode: 98
One
Episode: 99
The Importance of Being Earnest
Episode: 100
The Brat's House
Episode: 101
Mr. Todd
Episode: 102
A Case of Pure Fiction
Episode: 103
The Master Builder
Episode: 104
The Others
Episode: 105
The Remarkable Mr. Jerome
Episode: 106
Bobbie
Episode: 107
The Hickory Limb
Episode: 108
The Bridge
Episode: 109
The Serpent's Tooth
Episode: 110
Voyage to Mandok
Episode: 111
The Day Before the Wedding
Episode: 112
Queen of Spades
Episode: 113
Shadow and Substance
Episode: 114
You Touched Me
Episode: 115
The Hemlock Cup
Episode: 116
Papa's Wife
Episode: 117
The Prizewinner
Episode: 118
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Episode: 119
Yesterday's Magic
Episode: 120
Tongue of Silver
Episode: 121
Peaceable Kingdom
Episode: 122
The 19th Hole
Episode: 123
Wedding in the Family
Episode: 124
The Ways of Courage
Episode: 125
Journey Into Darkness
Episode: 126
Barricade at the Big Black
Episode: 127
The Vicarious Years
Episode: 128
The First Year
Episode: 129
End of the Rope
Episode: 130
We Won't Be Any Trouble
Episode: 131
The Daughter of Mata Hari
Episode: 132
Talk You of Killing
Episode: 133
The Pursuit of Happiness
Episode: 134
Wuthering Heights [restaged]
Episode: 135
Long Distance
Episode: 136
The Point of Cleaning
Episode: 137
The Sport
Episode: 138
The Flashing Stream
Episode: 139
Thread That Runs So True
Episode: 140
Jamie Picks a Wife
Episode: 141
Blind Man's Bluff
Episode: 142
The Story of Joseph
Episode: 143
Pushover
Episode: 144
Ashes in the Wind
Episode: 145
A Hat, a Coat, a Glove
Episode: 146
The Professional
Episode: 147
Guardians of the Temple
Episode: 148
The Short Safari of B'wana Ben
Episode: 149
Church on Monday
Episode: 150
The Gioconda Smile
Episode: 151
Show of Strength
Episode: 152
Make Believe Affair
Episode: 153
Hymn to the Dedicated
Episode: 154
Thursday's Child
Episode: 155
Big-Hearted Herbert
Episode: 156
The Embattled Maiden
Episode: 157
The Middle-Aged Freshman
Episode: 158
Best Friend in Town
Episode: 159
Jane Eyre
Episode: 160
Starmaster
Episode: 161
Aftermath
Episode: 162
Guest at the Embassy
Episode: 163
Second-Hand Lover
Episode: 164
The Avenging of Anne Leete
Episode: 165
The Lonesome Husband
Episode: 166
Puzzle in the Stars
Episode: 167
The Gwendolyn Harleth Story
Episode: 168
The Girls Named Almaya
Episode: 169
The Dream That Was Fixed
Episode: 170
A Growing Wonder
Episode: 171
Bachelor Father
Episode: 172
The Golden Door
Episode: 173
Rain in the Morning
Episode: 174
Eye of the Storm
Episode: 175
Rich Man, Poor Man
Episode: 176
The Party Dress
Episode: 177
White-Headed Boy
Episode: 178
Liza
Episode: 179
Pigeons and People
Episode: 180
Things Hoped For
Episode: 181
Mr. Wendigo
Episode: 182
Stopover
Episode: 183
A Light in the Sky
Episode: 184
The Charmer
Episode: 185
The Brief Candle
Episode: 186
Too Much Johnson
Episode: 187
Money in the Bank
Episode: 188
Trouble Traine
Episode: 189
The Last Voyage
Episode: 190
The Price of Scandal
Episode: 191
But When She Was Bad
Episode: 192
The Fable of Harry
Episode: 193
Portrait in Mini
Episode: 194
The Cask of Amontillado
Episode: 195
The Richest Man in the World
Episode: 196
The Last Hour
Episode: 197
The First Captain
Episode: 198
Shuttered Hearts
Episode: 199
One for All
Episode: 200
Call It a Day
Episode: 201
Ann Veronica
Episode: 202
Boys Will Be Men
Episode: 203
The Forbidden Search
Episode: 204
The Fawn with Crooked Teeth
Episode: 205
The Rose Bush
Episode: 207
Finley's Fan Club
Episode: 208
Laugh a Little Tear
Episode: 209
The Invisible Man
Episode: 210
Where Angels Fear
Episode: 211
First Love
Episode: 212
The Last Survivors
Episode: 213
Time for Action
Episode: 214
Haven's End
Episode: 215
Heed the Falling Sparrow
Episode: 216
The President's Child Bride
Episode: 217
Now or Never
Episode: 218
Awakening
Episode: 219
Angel Face
Episode: 220
The Star Sapphire
Episode: 221
Women Have Ways
Episode: 222
Jewel Boy
Episode: 223
Molly Morgan
Episode: 224
Woman Alone
Episode: 225
Among Strangers
Episode: 226
The Adjustable Mr. Willing
Episode: 227
Freedom Comes Later
Episode: 228
In the Fog
Episode: 229
Son of 37 Fathers
Episode: 230
Hand Me Down
Episode: 231
Emma
Episode: 232
Personal Equation
Episode: 233
Night Cry
Episode: 234
The Mysterious Disappearance
Episode: 235
The Impersonal Touch
Episode: 236
The Story of Sarah
Episode: 237
The Waiting Swan
Episode: 238
One Mummy Too Many
Episode: 239
Hearthstones
Episode: 240
The Reluctant Heiress
Episode: 241
Season 3 ( 1957-10-15)
Father Come Home
Episode: 1
Villa of the Angels
Episode: 2
A Tone of Time
Episode: 3
Almost Any Man Will Do
Episode: 4
Sing for Me
Episode: 5
Run for the Money
Episode: 6
Lest We Forget
Episode: 7
The Glass Hill
Episode: 8
Out of the Frying Pan
Episode: 9
The Last Stop
Episode: 10
The Weak and the Strong
Episode: 11
Nine-Finger Jack
Episode: 12
Elementals
Episode: 13
Plummer in Paradise
Episode: 14
Something About a Dollar
Episode: 15
Return in Winter
Episode: 16
Grandmama and Grandfather
Episode: 17
Aesop and Rhodope
Episode: 18
All Over the World
Episode: 19
The Ransom of Sigmund Freud
Episode: 20
Iris
Episode: 21
Remember Me Kindly
Episode: 22
The Embassy House
Episode: 23
Witness to Murder
Episode: 24
The Johnson House
Episode: 25
Cadenza
Episode: 26
Green Shores
Episode: 27
A Question of Balance
Episode: 28
Daniel Webster and the Sea Serpent
Episode: 29
The Conversation Tables
Episode: 30
Out of My Darkness
Episode: 31
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
Episode: 32
The Broom and the Groom
Episode: 33
A Cloud for Jeni
Episode: 34
The Consul
Episode: 35
The Old Friend
Episode: 36
Give Me a Wand
Episode: 37
The Sure Thing
Episode: 38
Dark of the Moon
Episode: 39
The Giver and the Gift
Episode: 40
No Time for Comedy
Episode: 41
Gentleman of Fortune
Episode: 42
The Gentleman Caller
Episode: 43
Tender Leaves
Episode: 44
In 25 Words or Less
Episode: 45
Sara Crewe
Episode: 46
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Episode: 47
The Little Minister
Episode: 48
Daughter of Kings
Episode: 49
The Survival Kit
Episode: 50
The House with the Golden Street
Episode: 51
The Europeans
Episode: 52
The Collected Letters of Mr. Sage
Episode: 53
Two-Picture Deal
Episode: 54
The Great Obstacle Courtship
Episode: 55
A Chance to Die
Episode: 56
Home on the Range
Episode: 57
The Makropoulos Secret
Episode: 58
More Than a Man
Episode: 59
Something Stolen, Something New
Episode: 60
Thunderbolt
Episode: 61
Daisy Mayne
Episode: 62
The Man Who Wanted to Hate
Episode: 63
The Golden Fleecing
Episode: 64
Forever and Ever
Episode: 65
Decision
Episode: 66
Solider's Boy
Episode: 67
The Man with Pointed Toes
Episode: 68
Love Out of Town
Episode: 69
Cave-In
Episode: 70
The Iceman
Episode: 71
The Long, Long Laugh
Episode: 72
Man Without a Country
Episode: 73
The Odd Ones
Episode: 74
Monsieur Beaucaire
Episode: 75
Life Upon the Wicked Stage
Episode: 76
Without Fear or Favor
Episode: 77
The Third Person
Episode: 78
Eden End
Episode: 79
The 10th Muse
Episode: 80
Goodbye on Thursday
Episode: 81
Heart's Desire
Episode: 82
Marriage of Convenience
Episode: 83
The Suicide Club
Episode: 84
The 65th Floor
Episode: 85
The Hickory Heart
Episode: 86
The Devil's Violin
Episode: 87
Wednesday's Child
Episode: 88
Vigilante
Episode: 89
The Prophet Hosea
Episode: 90
Mrs. Moonlight
Episode: 91
With Love We Live
Episode: 92
You and I
Episode: 93
Career Angel
Episode: 94
Contingent Fire
Episode: 95
Anxious Night
Episode: 96
On Approval
Episode: 97
Dandy Dick
Episode: 98
Hush, Mahala, Hush
Episode: 99
O'Rourke's House
Episode: 100
The Alleyway
Episode: 101
The Vagabond
Episode: 102
The Silver Spider
Episode: 103
Design for Glory
Episode: 104
The Inspector General
Episode: 105
The Two Mrs. Carrolls
Episode: 106
The Velvet Glove
Episode: 107
Death Takes a Holiday
Episode: 108
Man of the House
Episode: 109
A Case of Fear
Episode: 110
Walk in the Sky
Episode: 111
The Canterville Ghost
Episode: 112
Found Money
Episode: 113
Washington Whispers Money
Episode: 114
A Boy Grows Up
Episode: 115
Phony Venus
Episode: 116
Some Blessed People
Episode: 117
The Quiet Street
Episode: 118
The Quest of Quesnay
Episode: 119
Angel Street
Episode: 120
The Cause
Episode: 121
Much Ado About Nothing, Part 1
Episode: 122
Much Ado About Nothing, Part 2
Episode: 123
Day of Discoveries
Episode: 124
The Young and the Fair
Episode: 125
The Riddle of Mary Murray
Episode: 126
Button Button
Episode: 127
The End of the Season
Episode: 128
Look Out for John Tucker
Episode: 129
The Road to Recovery
Episode: 130
The Nightbird's Crying
Episode: 131
The Story of Marcia Gordon
Episode: 132
Town in Turmoil
Episode: 133
Washington Square
Episode: 134
Course for Collision
Episode: 135