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Matinee Theater (1955)

5.3 3 seasons 574 episodes Ended

Drama

Matinee Theater is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from 1955 to 1958. The series, which ran daily in the afternoon, was frequently live. It was produced by Albert McCleery, Darrell Ross, George Cahan and Frank Price with executive producer George Lowther. McCleery had previously produced the live series Cameo Theatre which introduced to television the concept of theater-in-the-round, TV plays staged with minimal sets. Jim Buckley of the Pewter Plough Playhouse recalled: 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 live, airing around noon in order to promote color TV to the American housewife as she labored over her ironing. Al 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 his own set decorator —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.

Watch S2 E1 Latest: S3 E135

Seasons & episodes

The House Off Fifth AvenueAug 27, 1956 · 1h 0m

A well-known woman mystery writer believes she has found the way to commit the perfect murder. Unknown to her, a greedy nephew, who stands…

Yankee DoodlerAug 29, 1956 · 1h 0m

Halvard Solness a brilliant architect and builder, becomes moody and afraid of life as he grows old. Hilda a girl who represents the younge…

The Pink HippopotamusAug 30, 1956 · 1h 0m

The governess of two motherless children believes they are possessed by the spirits of two deceased servants.

September TideAug 31, 1956 · 1h 0m

the story of the romance of Jennie Jerome, an American girl, who fell in love with the son of the Duke of Marlborough, Lord Randolph Church…

Are You Listening?Sep 3, 1956 · 1h 0m

A 15-year-old boy who suffers from lack of attention tries to get attention from his mother by showing off a watch he has stolen.

Ladies' Maid BellSep 4, 1956 · 1h 0m

A teenage daughter tries to effect a reconciliation between her divorced parents. The father is a famous author who has never had time for…

100 Red ConvertiblesSep 5, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Ivy CurtainSep 6, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Gramercy GhostSep 7, 1956 · 1h 0m

LoversSep 10, 1956 · 1h 0m

Reach for the StarsSep 11, 1956 · 1h 0m

I Like It HereSep 12, 1956 · 1h 0m

The child star of a TV show has her father convinced she is capable only of angelic behavior. But when the father falls in love with a scri…

A Question of BalanceSep 13, 1956 · 1h 0m

In 1874 a former New York city policeman walks all the way to Texas to claim a ranch left to him by a relative. He finds that he is unwelco…

The Marriage RoyalSep 14, 1956 · 1h 0m

""A young girl's boy friend is appalled at the way she plays on people's emotions for monetary rewards. She tries to make him understand th…

Mad MoneySep 19, 1956 · 1h 0m

Harry Parker, a man who has spent his entire life traveling with carivals learns that the granddaughter of a woman he had once loved lives…

A Letter from Johnny BrockSep 20, 1956 · 1h 0m

Uncle HarrySep 21, 1956 · 1h 0m

At Mrs. Leland'sSep 24, 1956 · 1h 0m

The House Next DoorSep 25, 1956 · 1h 0m

Alumni ReunionSep 26, 1956 · 1h 0m

Sound of FearSep 27, 1956 · 1h 0m

Late DateSep 28, 1956 · 1h 0m

Pride and PrejudiceOct 1, 1956 · 1h 0m

Pearls of ShebaOct 2, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Stamp CaddyOct 15, 1956 · 1h 0m

The EgotistOct 16, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Family ManOct 17, 1956 · 1h 0m

Sight UnseenOct 18, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Eye of the StormOct 19, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Man in the Seven League BootsOct 22, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Woman Across the HallOct 23, 1956 · 1h 0m

And Then There Were ThreeOct 24, 1956 · 1h 0m

Shake the Stars DownOct 29, 1956 · 1h 0m

Horse PowerOct 30, 1956 · 1h 0m

Without SanctionOct 31, 1956 · 1h 0m

The OutingNov 2, 1956 · 1h 0m

Thank You, EdmondoNov 5, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Tell-Tale HeartNov 6, 1956 · 1h 0m

Strangers on a HoneymoonNov 7, 1956 · 1h 0m

A Dram of PoisonNov 8, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Shining HourNov 9, 1956 · 1h 0m

Love, Marriage and Five Thousand DollarsNov 12, 1956 · 1h 0m

Step Into DarknessNov 13, 1956 · 1h 0m

Candle in the DarkNov 14, 1956 · 1h 0m

SavrolaNov 15, 1956 · 1h 0m

Table Set at NightNov 16, 1956 · 1h 0m

Madame de TreymesNov 19, 1956 · 1h 0m

The People vs. John TarrNov 20, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Location of Roycemore CollegeNov 21, 1956 · 1h 0m

DraculaNov 23, 1956 · 1h 0m

JulieNov 26, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Empty NestNov 27, 1956 · 1h 0m

Spare Your PityNov 28, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Last LeafNov 30, 1956 · 1h 0m

ThereseDec 3, 1956 · 1h 0m

JulieDec 4, 1956 · 1h 0m

RefugeeDec 6, 1956 · 1h 0m

Jenny Kissed MeDec 7, 1956 · 1h 0m

Miracle at CarvilleDec 10, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Upper HandDec 11, 1956 · 1h 0m

Love is a LocksmithDec 12, 1956 · 1h 0m

Captain Brassbound's ConversionDec 13, 1956 · 1h 0m

The Wisp EndDec 14, 1956 · 1h 0m

An aspiring violinist and his father disagree over the son's ability as a musician.

Prominent CitizensDec 17, 1956 · 1h 0m

Head of the FamilyDec 18, 1956 · 1h 0m

PasswordDec 19, 1956 · 1h 0m

Late LoveDec 20, 1956 · 1h 0m

Eugenie GrandetDec 21, 1956 · 1h 0m

Cold ChristmasDec 24, 1956 · 1h 0m

Little WomenDec 25, 1956 · 1h 0m

For Sweetheart, Wife or MotherDec 26, 1956 · 1h 0m

Smilin' ThroughDec 27, 1956 · 1h 0m

Strong MedicineDec 28, 1956 · 1h 0m

Everything's RelativeDec 31, 1956 · 1h 0m

Miss MorissaJan 2, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Scandalous PriestJan 3, 1957 · 1h 0m

Dark VictoryJan 4, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Lonely LookJan 7, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Sudden TruthJan 8, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Man in the Half-MoonJan 9, 1957 · 1h 0m

The HexJan 10, 1957 · 1h 0m

If This Be ErrorJan 11, 1957 · 1h 0m

On the Trail of the KingsfieldJan 14, 1957 · 1h 0m

Here We AreJan 15, 1957 · 1h 0m

Arms and the ManJan 16, 1957 · 1h 0m

Home is the HuntedJan 17, 1957 · 1h 0m

Madam AdaJan 18, 1957 · 1h 0m

Night TrainJan 22, 1957 · 1h 0m

This LanguageJan 23, 1957 · 1h 0m

The 13th CryptJan 24, 1957 · 1h 0m

Mr. Pirn Passes ByJan 25, 1957 · 1h 0m

Anything for a LaughJan 29, 1957 · 1h 0m

Realms of GoldJan 30, 1957 · 1h 0m

Deacon of Oak RidgeJan 31, 1957 · 1h 0m

Accent on YouthFeb 1, 1957 · 1h 0m

Three KidsFeb 4, 1957 · 1h 0m

FrankensteinFeb 5, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Most Dangerous ManFeb 6, 1957 · 1h 0m

OneFeb 7, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Importance of Being EarnestFeb 8, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Brat's HouseFeb 11, 1957 · 1h 0m

Mr. ToddFeb 12, 1957 · 1h 0m

A Case of Pure FictionFeb 13, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Master BuilderFeb 14, 1957 · 1h 0m

The OthersFeb 15, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Remarkable Mr. JeromeFeb 19, 1957 · 1h 0m

BobbieFeb 20, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Hickory LimbFeb 21, 1957 · 1h 0m

The BridgeFeb 22, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Serpent's ToothFeb 25, 1957 · 1h 0m

Voyage to MandokFeb 26, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Day Before the WeddingFeb 27, 1957 · 1h 0m

Queen of SpadesFeb 28, 1957 · 1h 0m

Shadow and SubstanceMar 1, 1957 · 1h 0m

You Touched MeMar 4, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Hemlock CupMar 5, 1957 · 1h 0m

Papa's WifeMar 6, 1957 · 1h 0m

The PrizewinnerMar 7, 1957 · 1h 0m

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeMar 8, 1957 · 1h 0m

Yesterday's MagicMar 14, 1957 · 1h 0m

Tongue of SilverMar 15, 1957 · 1h 0m

Peaceable KingdomMar 18, 1957 · 1h 0m

The 19th HoleMar 19, 1957 · 1h 0m

Wedding in the FamilyMar 20, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Ways of CourageMar 25, 1957 · 1h 0m

Journey Into DarknessMar 26, 1957 · 1h 0m

Barricade at the Big BlackMar 27, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Vicarious YearsMar 28, 1957 · 1h 0m

The First YearMar 29, 1957 · 1h 0m

End of the RopeApr 1, 1957 · 1h 0m

We Won't Be Any TroubleApr 2, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Daughter of Mata HariApr 3, 1957 · 1h 0m

Talk You of KillingApr 4, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Pursuit of HappinessApr 5, 1957 · 1h 0m

Wuthering Heights [restaged]Apr 8, 1957 · 1h 0m

Long DistanceApr 9, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Point of CleaningApr 10, 1957 · 1h 0m

The SportApr 11, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Flashing StreamApr 12, 1957 · 1h 0m

Thread That Runs So TrueApr 15, 1957 · 1h 0m

Jamie Picks a WifeApr 16, 1957 · 1h 0m

Blind Man's BluffApr 17, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Story of JosephApr 19, 1957 · 1h 0m

PushoverApr 24, 1957 · 1h 0m

Ashes in the WindApr 25, 1957 · 1h 0m

A Hat, a Coat, a GloveApr 26, 1957 · 1h 0m

The ProfessionalApr 29, 1957 · 1h 0m

Guardians of the TempleApr 30, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Short Safari of B'wana BenMay 1, 1957 · 1h 0m

Church on MondayMay 2, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Gioconda SmileMay 3, 1957 · 1h 0m

Show of StrengthMay 6, 1957 · 1h 0m

Make Believe AffairMay 7, 1957 · 1h 0m

Hymn to the DedicatedMay 8, 1957 · 1h 0m

Thursday's ChildMay 9, 1957 · 1h 0m

Big-Hearted HerbertMay 10, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Embattled MaidenMay 13, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Middle-Aged FreshmanMay 14, 1957 · 1h 0m

Best Friend in TownMay 15, 1957 · 1h 0m

Jane EyreMay 16, 1957 · 1h 0m

StarmasterMay 17, 1957 · 1h 0m

AftermathMay 20, 1957 · 1h 0m

Guest at the EmbassyMay 21, 1957 · 1h 0m

Second-Hand LoverMay 22, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Avenging of Anne LeeteMay 23, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Lonesome HusbandMay 24, 1957 · 1h 0m

Puzzle in the StarsMay 27, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Gwendolyn Harleth StoryMay 28, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Girls Named AlmayaMay 29, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Dream That Was FixedMay 30, 1957 · 1h 0m

A Growing WonderMay 31, 1957 · 1h 0m

Bachelor FatherJun 3, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Golden DoorJun 4, 1957 · 1h 0m

Rain in the MorningJun 5, 1957 · 1h 0m

Eye of the StormJun 7, 1957 · 1h 0m

Rich Man, Poor ManJun 10, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Party DressJun 11, 1957 · 1h 0m

White-Headed BoyJun 12, 1957 · 1h 0m

LizaJun 17, 1957 · 1h 0m

Pigeons and PeopleJun 19, 1957 · 1h 0m

Things Hoped ForJun 20, 1957 · 1h 0m

Mr. WendigoJun 21, 1957 · 1h 0m

StopoverJun 24, 1957 · 1h 0m

A Light in the SkyJun 25, 1957 · 1h 0m

The CharmerJun 26, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Brief CandleJun 28, 1957 · 1h 0m

A young man pays a visit to the family mansion in Newport, R.I., now presided over by its sole occupant, his aunt.

Too Much JohnsonJul 1, 1957 · 1h 0m

Money in the BankJul 2, 1957 · 1h 0m

Trouble TraineJul 3, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Last VoyageJul 4, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Price of ScandalJul 5, 1957 · 1h 0m

But When She Was BadJul 11, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Fable of HarryJul 12, 1957 · 1h 0m

Portrait in MiniJul 15, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Cask of AmontilladoJul 16, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Richest Man in the WorldJul 17, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Last HourJul 18, 1957 · 1h 0m

The First CaptainJul 22, 1957 · 1h 0m

Shuttered HeartsJul 24, 1957 · 1h 0m

One for AllJul 25, 1957 · 1h 0m

Call It a DayJul 26, 1957 · 1h 0m

Ann VeronicaJul 29, 1957 · 1h 0m

Boys Will Be MenJul 30, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Forbidden SearchJul 31, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Fawn with Crooked TeethAug 1, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Rose BushAug 5, 1957 · 1h 0m

Finley's Fan ClubAug 6, 1957 · 1h 0m

Laugh a Little TearAug 7, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Invisible ManAug 8, 1957 · 1h 0m

Where Angels FearAug 9, 1957 · 1h 0m

First LoveAug 13, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Last SurvivorsAug 14, 1957 · 1h 0m

Time for ActionAug 15, 1957 · 1h 0m

Haven's EndAug 20, 1957 · 1h 0m

Heed the Falling SparrowAug 21, 1957 · 1h 0m

The President's Child BrideAug 22, 1957 · 1h 0m

Now or NeverAug 23, 1957 · 1h 0m

AwakeningAug 27, 1957 · 1h 0m

Angel FaceAug 28, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Star SapphireAug 29, 1957 · 1h 0m

Women Have WaysAug 30, 1957 · 1h 0m

Jewel BoySep 2, 1957 · 1h 0m

Molly MorganSep 3, 1957 · 1h 0m

Woman AloneSep 4, 1957 · 1h 0m

Among StrangersSep 6, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Adjustable Mr. WillingSep 9, 1957 · 1h 0m

Freedom Comes LaterSep 10, 1957 · 1h 0m

In the FogSep 11, 1957 · 1h 0m

Son of 37 FathersSep 12, 1957 · 1h 0m

Hand Me DownSep 13, 1957 · 1h 0m

EmmaSep 16, 1957 · 1h 0m

Personal EquationSep 17, 1957 · 1h 0m

Night CrySep 18, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Mysterious DisappearanceSep 19, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Impersonal TouchSep 20, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Story of SarahSep 22, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Waiting SwanSep 24, 1957 · 1h 0m

One Mummy Too ManySep 25, 1957 · 1h 0m

HearthstonesSep 26, 1957 · 1h 0m

The Reluctant HeiressSep 27, 1957 · 1h 0m

Cast

John ConteHost