The series, which ran daily from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.[2] Eastern Time, was usually broadcast live and most of the time in color. Its live dramas were presented with minimal sets and costumes.[3] It was the first daily hour-long dramatic series on television.[4]
When it was broadcast, Matinee Theater was the most heavily promoted regularly scheduled daytime program on U.S. television.[5] Along with NBC's Home, the show was part of the network's effort to "provide quality 'adult' entertainment" in daytime programming.[1]
In its second season, the program had an audience of 7 million daily viewers.[3]
The series ended in 1958 due to its high budget; much higher than any other daytime program in television.[citation needed] In 1956, the program's budget was "about $73,000" to produce five episodes per week.[6] A few of the later episodes were preserved on color film for later rerun syndication under different titles. The scripts of the series' episodes are archived at the University of California, Los Angeles. Several episodes are preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive, The Paley Center, and the Library of Congress.
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. This series aired live at 3 p.m. Eastern time and 12 noon Pacific, in order to promote color TV (which had just been developed) to the American housewife as she labored over her ironing. Al [McCleery] 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 (or was) his own set decorator (selecting furnishings and hand props)—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.
Personnel and production
Directors included Walter Grauman, Boris Sagal, Lamont Johnson, Arthur Hiller, Lawrence Schwab, Allen A. Buckhantz, Alan Cooke, and Livia Granito.[2] The show initially had 16 directors, but McCleery released those who could not promptly answer questions about what they needed or wanted for episodes.[8]
A staff of about a dozen people searched through books, magazines, and material in the public domain, looking for ideas, and about the same number of writers produced material for the program.[6]
While one episode of the program was being broadcast, the next day's episode was in final rehearsal. Both occurred in the same studio, with a soundproof curtain separating the activities. Two crews of 75 technicians each worked on the projects. Meanwhile, four future episodes were being rehearsed in four rehearsal halls in a facility at the corner of Vine and Selma in Los Angeles.[8]
Notable guest stars
Zsa Zsa Gabor as Madame Brillon in The Last Voyage, 1957.
Story by: Melba Marlett Teleplay by: S.S. Schweitzer
June18,1956(1956-06-18)
164
164
"The Guest Cottage"
Unknown
William McCleery
June19,1956(1956-06-19)
165
165
"Forsaking All Others"
Unknown
Story by: Alice Duer Miller Teleplay by: Barbara Kay Davidson and Peggy Phillips
June20,1956(1956-06-20)
A chronicle of what happens when circumstances bring together a beautiful woman and a handsome man, each of whom is married to an invalid. Note: Based on the novel of the same name by Alice Duer Miller
Story by: John Van Druten and Lloyd Morris Teleplay by: Theodore Apstein
June22,1956(1956-06-22)
The story of a young woman who comes to visit relatives in this country and winds up in the middle of two romances being carried on by her two cousins. Note: Based on the Play of the same name by John Van Druten and Lloyd Morris
An unhappily married New York executive's wife involves herself in the romantic and financial problems of an artist. Note: Based on the short story "Moon Over Manhattan" by Pearl S. Buck
169
169
"But Fear Itself"
Unknown
Story by: Stuart Hawkins Teleplay by: Martin Grupsmith
June26,1956(1956-06-26)
An ex film star comes out of 14 years retirement to appear on a television show.
Story by: Roy Hargrave and Kenneth Phillips Britton Teleplay by: Warner Law
June29,1956(1956-06-29)
A college boy's efforts to cover up his murder of an off-campus bad girl who accuses him fathering her expected child. Note: Based on the play "Houseparty" by Roy Hargrave & Kenneth Phillips Britton
A young Englishwoman is swept off her feet by the attentions of a handsome American. But he doubts that their sudden love can be real or lasting. Note: Based on the play of the same name by John Van Druten
The principal of a Vermont Academy opposes one of the school's trustees who wants to alter the curriculum in order to make the academy more exclusive. Note: Based on a Novel by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
The aristocratic father of a young man decries the Declaration of Independence and such 'rebels' as Franklin, Jefferson and Adams. Loyal to the king, the father orders his son out of the house when the young man persists in his radical ideas
A newspaper editor feels that his principles are being compromised by his publisher's policies. But when it comes to his private life, he is knee high-principled.
177
177
"Black Chiffon"
Unknown
Story by: Leslie Storm Teleplay by: Phillip Barry Jr.
July6,1956(1956-07-06)
Two days before the marriage of her son, a woman who has an absolutely untarnished reputation unaccountably steals a black chiffon nightgown. Note: Based on a play by Leslie Storm
The story of the life of the eccentric residents of a guest house perched on the edge of a cliff. Note: Based on the Novel of the same name by Margaret Kennedy
A wife in a humdrum marriage battles her husband and her husband's family to save her daughter from a similar fate. Note: Based on the play of the same name by Vina Delmar
A Parisian family is exploited by the American tabloids and causes a scandal. Note: Based on the novel of the same name by Henry James
188
188
"Woman At The Window"
Walter Grauman
Story by: Nelia Gardner White Teleplay by: Nicolas E. Baehr
July24,1956(1956-07-24)
A young woman is about to free herself from the limitation of her charming sister when tragedy turns the latter into a dependent invalid.
189
189
"Another Sky"
Alan Cooke
Story by: Naomi Lane Babson Teleplay by: Betty Ulius
July25,1956(1956-07-25)
A young girl's silent adoration of first a missionary, then a sea captain finally brings her fulfillment of her dreams.
190
190
"Letter Of Introduction"
Unknown
Story by: James Carhartt and Nicolas Winter Teleplay by: William Templeton
July26,1956(1956-07-26)
The story of an American divorcee, transplanted to Paris who receives a letter stating that she is about to be visited by a young man who doesn't know she is his mother.
The story of a recently widowed woman's determination to rebuild her own life despite her sister's strange insistence on mournful respect for the dead.
193
193
"Belong To Me"
Livia Granita
Story by: Ann Pinchot Teleplay by: Gail Ingram
July31,1956(1956-07-31)
A young governess to a child whose parents are divorced is attracted to the father. Note: Based on an unpublished novelette "Love Wears A Golden Crown" by Ann Pinchot
A friend pays a visit to a man who lives in a sinister, dark mansion. The day he arrives, his host's sister is taken mysteriously ill and is not seen again. Note: Based on the short story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe
198
198
"Cupid Road A Horse"
Unknown
B.M. Atkinson Jr.
August7,1956(1956-08-07)
Grandpa Hoyt will be sent back to Iowa if he doesn't stop betting on the horses. The old man's grandsons want to keep him around, so they try and fix him up with wealthy Mrs. Conkwright.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
