Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of the mid-1950s usually were hour-long shows, the title highlighted the network's intention to present something unusual: a weekly series of hour-and-a-half-long dramas rather than 60-minute plays.
Robert Alan Aurthur was an American screenwriter, film director, and film producer. Many of his works examined race relations and featured In the Heat of the Night star Sidney Poitier.
"The Comedian" is a 1957 live television drama written by Rod Serling from a novella by Ernest Lehman, directed by John Frankenheimer, and starring Mickey Rooney, Edmond O'Brien, Kim Hunter, Mel Tormé and Constance Ford.
JamesPinckney Miller was an American writer whose pen name was "JP Miller". He was a leading playwright during the Golden Age of Television, receiving three Emmy nominations. A novelist and screenwriter, he was best known for Days of Wine and Roses, directed by John Frankenheimer for Playhouse 90 (1958) and later the 1962 film of the same name directed by Blake Edwards.
Martin Ellyot Manulis was an American television, film, and theatre producer. Manulis was best known for his work in the 1950s producing the CBS Television programs Suspense, Studio One Summer Theatre, Climax!, The Best of Broadway and Playhouse 90. He was the sole producer of the award-winning drama series, Playhouse 90, during its first two seasons from 1956 to 1958.
"Days of Wine and Roses" was a 1958 American teleplay by JP Miller which dramatized the problems of alcoholism. John Frankenheimer directed the cast headed by Cliff Robertson, Piper Laurie and Charles Bickford.
"Forbidden Area" was an American television play broadcast live on October 4, 1956, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the premiere episode of the series. The play concerns efforts to thwart a massive, Christmastime nuclear attack from a fleet of Russian submarines located off the coast of the United States. Rod Serling wrote the screenplay, and John Frankenheimer directed. Charlton Heston, Tab Hunter, Diana Lynn, and Charles Bickford starred.
"A Town Has Turned to Dust" is an American television play broadcast live on June 19, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Rod Serling wrote the teleplay, and John Frankenheimer directed. Rod Steiger and William Shatner starred.
"Rendezvous in Black" was an American television play broadcast live on October 18, 1956, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90.
"Eloise" was an American television play broadcast on November 22, 1956, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the eighth episode of the series.
"The Edge of Innocence" was an American television film broadcast on November 7, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It aired as the ninth episode of the second season.
"The Death of Manolete" was an American television play broadcast live on September 12, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the first episode of the second season and featured Jack Palance in the role of Manolete. Producer Martin Manulis later called it "the classic clinker of all time."
"Old Man" is an American television play broadcast on November 20, 1958, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. The production, starring Sterling Hayden and Geraldine Page, was adapted by Horton Foote from the short novel "Old Man" by William Faulkner. It was nominated for three Emmy Awards: for most outstanding program of the year; for best single performance by an actress (Page); and for best writing of a single dramatic program one hour or longer (Foote).
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" was an American television play broadcast in two parts on March 12 and March 19, 1959, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It is a television adaptation of the 1940 novel by Ernest Hemingway. John Frankenheimer was the director. The cast included Jason Robards, Maria Schell, and Maureen Stapleton.
"Face of a Hero" is an American television play broadcast on January 1, 1959 as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. John Frankenheimer was the director and John Houseman the producer. The cast included Jack Lemmon and Rip Torn.
"The Blue Men" was an American television play broadcast on January 15, 1959 as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. John Frankenheimer was the director and Alvin Boretz the writer. The cast included Edmond O'Brien and Jack Warden.
"The Thundering Wave" was an American television play broadcast on December 12, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. John Frankenheimer directed. James Mason, Franchot Tone, and Joan Bennett starred.
"The Troublemakers" was an American television play broadcast on November 21, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. John Frankenheimer directed. Ben Gazzara, Barbara Rush, and Keenan Wynn starred.
"The Jet Propelled Couch" is an American television play broadcast on November 14, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Burgess Meredith and James Clark directed. Donald O'Connor, David Wayne, and Peter Lorre starred.
"The Last Man" was an American television play broadcast live from CBS Television City in Hollywood on January 9, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Aaron Spelling wrote the teleplay, John Frankenheimer directed, and Paul Newman hosted. Sterling Hayden, Carolyn Jones, and Wallace Ford starred. It was later made into a feature film, One Foot in Hell.
