The year 1953 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events during 1953.
Carolyn Sue Jones was an American actress of television and film. She began her film career in the early 1950s, and by the end of the decade had achieved recognition with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Bachelor Party (1957) and a Golden Globe Award as one of the most promising new actresses of 1959. Her film career continued for another 20 years. In 1964, Jones began playing the role of matriarch Morticia Addams in the black and white television series The Addams Family.
CBS Playhouse is an American anthology drama television series that aired on CBS from 1967 to 1970. Airing twelve plays over the course of its run, the series won ten Primetime Emmy Awards and featured many noteworthy actors and playwrights.
Herbert Brodkin was an American producer and director of film and television.
"The Plot to Kill Stalin" was an American television play broadcast on September 25, 1958, on the CBS television network. It was the first episode of the third season of the anthology television series Playhouse 90. Delbert Mann was the director, and the cast included Melvyn Douglas as Joseph Stalin, Eli Wallach as Stalin's personal secretary, and Oskar Homolka as Nikita Khrushchev. It was nominated for two Sylvania Television Awards: as the outstanding telecast of 1958 and for Douglas as outstanding actor in a television program.
"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.
"The Blackwell Story" was an American television film broadcast live on February 28, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 22nd episode of the first season of Playhouse 90. Joanne Dru played the role of Elizabeth Blackwell.
"The Return of Ansel Gibbs" was an American television play broadcast on November 27, 1958, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90.
"The Raider" was an American television play broadcast on February 19, 1959 as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. The cast included Frank Lovejoy, Donald Crisp, and Rod Taylor. Franklin Schaffner was the director and Loring Mandel the writer.
"Dark as the Night" is an American television film broadcast on June 18, 1959 as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. The cast includes Laraine Day and Michael Wilding.
"The Great Gatsby" is an American television play broadcast live on June 26, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. David Shaw wrote the teleplay, adapted from the novel of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Franklin Schaffner directed. Jeanne Crain, Robert Ryan, and Rod Taylor starred, and Rod Serling was the host.
"The Innocent Sleep" is an American television play broadcast live on June 5, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Tad Mosel wrote the teleplay, and Franklin Schaffner directed. Hope Lange, John Ericson, and Buster Keaton starred, and Raymond Burr was the host.
"Natchez" is an American television play broadcast live on May 29, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Martin M. Goldsmith wrote the teleplay based on a story by E.A. Ellington. David Lowell Rich directed. Cliff Robertson, Macdonald Carey, and Thomas Mitchell starred.
"Rumors of Evening" is an American television play broadcast on May 1, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. John Frankenheimer directed. Barbara Bel Geddes, John Kerr, and Robert Loggia starred, and The Kingston Trio also appeared as Bob, Dave, and Nick.
"Point of No Return" was an American television play broadcast on February 20, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Franklin Schaffner directed. Charlton Heston and Hope Lange starred.
"The Violent Heart" is an American television play broadcast on February 6, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. John Frankenheimer directed. Dana Wynter and Ben Gazzara starred.
"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 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.
"The Dungeon" was an American television film broadcast on April 17, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. David Swift wrote the teleplay and directed. Paul Douglas, Agnes Moorehead, and Dennis Weaver starred.
