The Golden Age of live American Television: late 40s - late 50s.
by alexanderdavies-99382 | created - 28 May 2022 | updated - 30 Nov 2022 | PublicAmerican television produced some of the best drama when recorded live. Numerous actors learnt or honed their craft, via appearances on shows like "Playhouse 90," "General Electric Theater," "Kraft Theatre" and others.
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1. Kraft Theatre (1947–1958)
60 min | Drama
A well-received anthology series presenting live television dramas.
Stars: Ed Herlihy, Vaughn Taylor, Valerie Cossart, Dan Morgan
Votes: 222
2. General Electric Theater (1953–1962)
TV-G | 30 min | Drama
An American anthology series, with a new episode and different actors and actresses each week. Hosted by Ronald Reagan, the series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.
Stars: Ronald Reagan, Don Herbert, Nancy Reagan, Lee Marvin
Votes: 431
3. The Philco Television Playhouse (1948–1956)
60 min | Drama
This live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc., during its eight-year run. During the first year, the show was sponsored by the Actor's Equity ... See full summary »
Stars: Bert Lytell, Jay Jackson, Bob Stanton, E.G. Marshall
Votes: 137
4. The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956–1957)
60 min | Drama
Live dramas that were broadcast every other week. The show had covered both light and serious drama and featured both well-known and not so well-known actors and actresses.
Stars: William Shatner, Alexander Scourby, Clint Young, Paul Newman
Votes: 63
5. Playhouse 90 (1956–1961)
90 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Of the many anthology series, this is considered the most ambitious with outstanding talent in front of the camera. Attracting top ranked directors and scripts, it was often filmed live including the entire first season.
Stars: Richard Joy, Paul Lambert, Helen Kleeb, Charles Bickford
Votes: 419
Rod Serling wrote some of his finest plays on this programme.
6. Campbell Summer Soundstage (1952–1954)
30 min | Drama
A Friday night series lasting 2 seasons, of 30 minute playlets, interrupted by cute ads on the value of eating canned soup.
Stars: Georgann Johnson, Parker Fennelly, James Dean, Don Hanmer
Votes: 40
7. Studio One (1948–1958)
60 min | Drama
A pinnacle of the Golden Age of Television, "Studio One" presented a wide range of memorable dramas and received eighteen Emmy nominations and five wins during its prestigious nine-year run on CBS.
Stars: Betty Furness, Paul Branson, Charlton Heston, Mary Sinclair
Votes: 328
8. Robert Montgomery Presents (1950–1957)
60 min | Drama
Actor, Producer, and Director Robert Montgomery introduced each telecast, sometimes interviewing one of the stars, and sometimes appearing in the play.
Stars: Robert Montgomery, John Newland, Vaughn Taylor, Elizabeth Montgomery
Votes: 136
9. Screen Directors Playhouse (1955–1956)
30 min | Drama
Presented by Eastman Kodak, this show was a series of original scripts directed by acclaimed directors and featuring well-known performers. The stories ranged from musicals to comedies and dramas.
Stars: Arthur Q. Bryan, Bill Erwin, George Sanders, Macdonald Carey
Votes: 175
10. Lux Video Theatre (1950–1959)
30 min | Comedy, Drama
Live dramatic shows featuring Hollywood stars, adaptations of motion pictures, and a host accompanying. The host would introduce each act, and would conduct an interview with the stars at the end of the play.
Stars: Ken Carpenter, Jay Jackson, Otto Kruger, Gordon MacRae
Votes: 153
11. Goodyear Playhouse (1951–1957)
60 min | Drama
The show featured original plays plus plays adapted from works.
Stars: Walter Matthau, David White, Constance Ford, Kim Stanley
Votes: 111
12. Fireside Theatre (1949–1955)
30 min | Drama
An anthology series which became the first successful filmed series on American television.
Stars: Gene Raymond, John Warburton, Nolan Leary, Dabbs Greer
Votes: 96
14. Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (1955–1958)
30 min | Drama
An anthology series hosted by Jane Wyman.
Stars: Jane Wyman, Paul Bryar, Tim Graham, Simon Scott
Votes: 69
15. The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953–1955)
30 min | Drama
An anthology series with episodes split between comedies and drama. Anita Colby and Arlene Dahl shared hosting duties the first season that was originally filmed live but switched to film. ... See full summary »
Stars: Polly Bergen, Arlene Dahl, Anita Colby, Dorothy Green
Votes: 65
16. Schlitz Playhouse (1951–1959)
30 min | Comedy, Drama
Originally billed as "Playhouse of the Stars" this long running anthology series was originally presented live from New York City. Irene Dunne was briefly the hostess in 1952, and the show frequently used Broadway performers in classic stories.
Stars: James Mason, Irene Dunne, Robert Paige, Walter Coy
Votes: 338
17. Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958–1960)
60 min | Drama
An anthology series hosted by Betty Furness in the first season, and Desi Arnaz in the second. Stories came from several genres, often based on fact. A two part episode was spun off as the popular show The Untouchables (1959).
Stars: Desi Arnaz, Betty Furness, Bruce Gordon, Keenan Wynn
Votes: 143
18. Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (1950–1952)
60 min | Drama
Dramatic anthology series presenting plays adopted from Pulitzer Prize winning stories, plays, novels, et cetera.
Stars: Elmer Davis, Charles Dingle, Richard Bishop, Joan Chandler
Votes: 50
19. The Ford Theatre Hour (1948–1953)
60 min | Drama
An anthology series based in New York City which attracted a high caliber group of actors, often Broadway stars. Stories were both drama and comedies, some original but others adaptions of films and plays.
Stars: William Brower, Biff McGuire, Ernest Truex, Ruth McDevitt
Votes: 67
20. The O. Henry Playhouse (1957)
30 min | Drama
Anthology series based on the short stories of O. Henry.
Stars: Thomas Mitchell, Russell Thorson, Paul Hahn, Robert Karnes
Votes: 51
21. The Gulf Playhouse (1952–1953)
30 min | Drama
This live show was seen through the "eye" of the camera. The actors in each episode would talk to the camera as if it were a person.
Stars: James Westerfield, Mildred Dunnock, Henry Jones, Eddie Bracken
Votes: 35
22. Broadway Television Theatre (1952–1954)
60 min | Comedy, Drama
This syndicated show presented adaptations of Broadway shows.
Stars: Sylvia Sidney, Edward Everett Horton, Melville Cooper, Ernest Truex
Votes: 37
23. Ponds Theater (1953– )
60 min | Drama
Stars: Valerie Cossart, Harry Townes, Mildred Dunnock, Carmen Mathews
Votes: 52
24. The DuPont Show of the Month (1957–1961)
90 min | Comedy, Drama, History
The award winning bing play of Mary Chase came to television in 1958. It tells the story of Elwood P. Dowd (Art Carney), a personable chap who drinks a little, and befriends a "pookah", a ... See full summary »
Stars: Tim O'Connor, James Valentine, Hurd Hatfield, John Colicos
Votes: 104
25. Alcoa Theatre (1957–1960)
30 min | Drama
When The Alcoa Hour dramatic anthology series moved from Sunday night to Monday, both the name and the format were changed. Instead of having a completely different cast for each episode, ... See full summary »
Stars: Jack Lemmon, David Niven, Robert Ryan, Jane Powell
Votes: 90
26. Center Stage (1954)
60 min | Drama
American television anthology series that aired in 1954 on the American Broadcasting Company "ABC" as a summer replacement for The Motorola Television Hour on alternate weeks from June 1, ... See full summary »
Stars: Walter Matthau, Lee Marvin, Margaret Hamilton, Jack Warden
Votes: 21
27. The Ford Television Theatre (1952–1957)
30 min | Drama
This show started in New York City, with Broadway actors and actresses. It then moved to Hollywood, California, where Hollywood actors and actresses headed the cast.
Stars: Philip Carey, Laraine Day, Willis Bouchey, Thomas Mitchell
Votes: 276
28. Alcoa Premiere (1961–1963)
60 min | Drama
Hosted by famous dancer and actor Fred Astaire, this series presented a new drama with each week's episode. Unlike some of the earlier drama series, which tended either toward classics or ... See full summary »
Stars: Fred Astaire, Keir Dullea, Brian Eliot, Paul Comi
Votes: 141
29. CBS Television Workshop (1952– )
30 min | Drama
A short-lived American anthology series, lasting for about 3 months. Its first episode was an adaptation of the novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. The show featured early ... See full summary »
Stars: Leslie Nielsen, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Sidney Poitier
Votes: 64
30. The Philip Morris Playhouse (1953–1954)
30 min | Drama
Stars: Everett Sloane, John Beal, Donald Cook, Kent Smith
Votes: 32
31. The Motorola Television Hour (1953–1954)
60 min | Drama
Motorola Hour was one of many anthology series in the 1950's. It aired every other week on ABC, featuring top ranked talent in original scripts and well known stories.
Stars: Cedric Hardwicke, Jane Wyatt, Patricia Smith, Jack Palance
Votes: 41
32. The Alcoa Hour (1955–1957)
60 min | Drama
This live series featured adaptations of other works (novels, plays, et cetera) plus original works for the show. It was primarily dramas, but a few musicals also were presented. The show ... See full summary »
Stars: Luis Van Rooten, Robert Emhardt, Loïs Bolton, Robert Dryden
Votes: 98
33. Sunday Showcase (1959–1961)
60 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A show featuring various specials. Some specials were comedy, and others were serious drama by famous authors.
Stars: Robert Emhardt, Milton Berle, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope
Votes: 161
34. Studio 57 (1954–1958)
30 min | Drama, Family
This dramatic anthology series went into open syndication when the DuMont Television Network ceased operations.
Stars: Joel Aldrich, Tim Graham, Jean Byron, Marguerite Chapman
Votes: 244
35. Four Star Playhouse (1952–1956)
30 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
This show featured four rotating stars, Charles Boyer, David Niven, Ida Lupino, and Dick Powell in individual episodes consisting of everything from comedy to drama.
Stars: David Niven, Dick Powell, Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino
Votes: 243
36. Zane Grey Theatre (1956–1961)
TV-PG | 25 min | Western
An anthology based (earlier more so than later) on the novels and stories of Zane Grey. Dick Powell was often the star, as well as the host.
Stars: Dick Powell, Walter Sande, Denver Pyle, Bill Erwin
Votes: 582
37. Chevron Hall of Stars (1956)
30 min | Comedy, Drama, Western
A syndicated anthology television series. It was produced by Four Star Productions, and some of the episodes were intended as pilots for potential series. At least one episode was devoted ... See full summary »
Stars: Don Taylor, James Whitmore, Don Rickles, Ted de Corsia
Votes: 33
39. Medallion Theatre (1953–1954)
30 min | Drama
Stars: Jackie Cooper, Claude Rains, Eddie Albert, Richard Kiley
Votes: 35
40. The Bigelow Theatre (1950–1951)
30 min | Drama, Family
A live CBS half-hour dramatic anthology series, but on two networks in its second season (as "Bigelow-Sanford Theater"); Sunday evenings over CBS and Thursday evenings over DuMont.
Stars: Don DeFore, William Frawley, Jeffrey Silver, Ann Dvorak
Votes: 58
41. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
60 min | Drama
Documentary dramas, plays that were based on true stories, were the forte of Armstrong Circle Theater. Many movie actors and actresses got their start here.
Stars: Douglas Edwards, Sandy Becker, Bob Sherry, John Cameron Swayze
Votes: 123
42. Producers' Showcase (1954–1957)
90 min | Drama, Musical, Comedy
This program aired once every fourth week, and was one of the most costly live shows of the 1950s. Many stars appeared on this show.
Stars: Cyril Ritchard, Claire Bloom, Mary Martin, David Wayne
Votes: 186
43. Chevron Theatre (1952–1953)
30 min | Drama
When a chamber in a mansion manifests a loud, eerie whistling, Carnacki is called to investigate. He makes an exceedingly thorough search of the room, but can find no explanation. He is ... See full summary »
Stars: Lynn Bari, Onslow Stevens, Randy Stuart, Gar Moore
Votes: 23
44. Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson (1952– )
30 min | Drama
An American weekly anthology series, hosted by veteran actress Gloria Swanson. The show was created for New York City's television market and was broadcast by local television station WPIX.... See full summary »
Stars: Gloria Swanson, William Boyett, Jim Hayward, Barbara Wooddell
Votes: 56
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