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.
Lux Video Theatre is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays.
Tad Mosel was an American playwright and one of the leading dramatists of hour-long teleplay genre for live television during the 1950s. He received the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play All the Way Home.
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.
"Verdict of Three" was an American television play broadcast on April 24, 1958, as 31st episode of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. James P. Cavanagh wrote the teleplay loosely based on the 1940 novel, Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate. Buzz Kulik directed and Martin Manulis produced. Michael Wilding, Angela Lansbury, and Yvonne De Carlo 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.
"No Time at All" was an American television film broadcast on February 13, 1958, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 23rd episode of the second season of Playhouse 90.
"Rendezvous in Black" was an American television play broadcast live on October 18, 1956, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90.
"The Hostess with the Mostes'" was an American television play broadcast live on March 21, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 25th episode of the first season. Shirley Booth played the part of socialite Perle Mesta.
"Judgment at Nuremberg" is an American television play broadcast live on April 16, 1959, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was a courtroom drama written by Abby Mann and directed by George Roy Hill that depicts the trial of four German judicial officials as part of the Nuremberg trials. Claude Rains starred as the presiding judge with Maximilian Schell as the defense attorney, Melvyn Douglas as the prosecutor, and Paul Lukas as the former German Minister of Justice.
"A Trip to Paradise" is an American television play broadcast on March 26, 1959 as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. The cast includes Susan Oliver and Burt Brinckerhoff. Buzz Kulik is the director, and the teleplay is written by Adrian Spies.
"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.
"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 Playroom" was an American television play broadcast on October 10, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Tad Mosel wrote the teleplay. Franklin Schaffner directed, Martin Manulis was the producer, Dominick Dunne was the assistant to the producer, and Albert Heschong was the art director. Mike Todd was the host, and Tony Randall, Nina Foch, and Patricia Neal starred.
"The Mystery of Thirteen" was an American television play broadcast in 1957 as part of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Jack Lemmon starred as the notorious English physician, William Palmer, who was suspected of 13 murders and was hanged in 1856 for poisoning a close friend. Margaret O'Brien co-starred, David Shaw wrote the teleplay, and Robert Mulligan directed.
"The Clouded Image" was an American television play broadcast on November 7, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. James P. Cavanaugh wrote the teleplay, as an adaptation of Josephine Tey's novel Brat Farrar. Franklin J. Schaffner directed, and Martin Manulis was the producer. Farley Granger, Judith Anderson, and Vincent Price starred.
"Panic Button" was an American television play broadcast on November 28, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Rod Serling wrote the teleplay. Franklin Schaffner directed, Martin Manulis was the producer, and Dominick Dunne was the executive assistant. Robert Stack, Vera Miles, and Lee J. Cobb starred.
"For I Have Loved Strangers" was an American television play broadcast on December 19, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Elick Moll wrote the teleplay based on a story by Don Murray and Fred Clasel. Franklin Schaffner directed, Martin Manulis was the producer, and Hedda Hopper hosted. Don Murray and Hope Lange starred. The story was based on Murray's personal experience working with European refugees. Both Murray and Lange donated their salaries from the production to the Homeless European Land Program (HELP) founded by Murray.
"The Gentleman From Seventh Avenue" was an American television play broadcast on January 30, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Elick Moll wrote the teleplay, Allen Reisner directed, Martin Manulis was the producer, and Albert Heschong was the art director. Walter Slezak, Patricia Neal, and Sylvia Sidney starred.
"Portrait of a Murderer" was an American television play broadcast on February 27, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Leslie Stevens wrote the teleplay, as an adaptation of a story by Abby Mann. Arthur Penn directed, Martin Manulis produced, and Dominick Dunne was an assistant to the producer. Tab Hunter and Geraldine Page starred. Hunter received an Emmy nomination for his performance.
