Magnavox Theatre is an American television anthology of comedies and dramas that aired seven hour-long episodes on CBS in 1950, alternating weekly with Ford Theatre.[1] All were live except episode six (The Three Musketeers), which according to CBS, was the first hour-long film made in Hollywood for television.[1] The film was made by Hal Roach Studios Inc., which also made "The Battle of Pilgrim Hill", which was scheduled to be broadcast on December 8, 1950.[2]

Like its alternate-week counterpart, Magnavox Theatre offered the promise of adaptations of classic literature, novels, and short stories in addition to original dramas.[3] The program was produced by Garth Montgomery. The series was directed by Budd Boetticher and Richard L. Bare. Among its guest stars were Kim Stanley, Robert Clarke, Leslie Nielsen, Marjorie Lord, Dane Clark, Cecil Kellaway, and Edward Everett Horton.

A review in The New York Times cited much negative and little positive about the program's second episode, "In the Fog". It ended with an overall opinion of the first two episodes: "A show of this type is supposed to have a little 'oomph.' All that can be said so far is 'humph.'"[4]

Partial list of episodes

Caption text
DateTitleAuthorStar
September 13, 1950"The Tale of the Wolf"Ferenc MolnárIlona Massey[5]
September 29, 1950"In the Fog"Richard Harding DavisFrancis L. Sullivan[4]
October 13, 1950"Strange Harbor"--Geraldine Brooks[5]: 202 
November 24, 1950"The Three Musketeers"Alexandre DumasCharles Lang[5]: 205 
December 8, 1950"The Hurricane at Pilgrim Hill"--Cecil Kellaway[5]: 206 

References

  1. 1 2 Tim Brooks; Earle Marsh (2003). "Footlights Theater (Dramatic Anthology)". The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (Eighth ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 423. ISBN 978-0-345-45542-0.
  2. ↑ "film report" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 20, 1950. p. 69. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  3. ↑ Stretch, Bud (September 15, 1950). "Air Waves". Courier-Post. New Jersey, Camden. p. 6. Retrieved October 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Radio and TV in Review". The New York Times. September 30, 1950. p. 19. ProQuest 111558208. Retrieved October 31, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hawes, William (16 November 2015). Live Television Drama, 1946-1951. McFarland. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-4766-0849-5. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
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