"The Philco Television Playhouse" (1948) TV series 1948-1955

Directors:

Ira Skutch
Fred Coe

Writers:

Robert Anderson (writer)
Robert Alan Aurthur (multiple episodes)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | unknown

Release Date:

3 October 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc. during it's eight year run...

Plot Keywords:

Anthology | Company Sponsor Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 8 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win

Cast

Bert Lytell

...

Himself, Host / ... (45 episodes, 1948-1949)

Also Known As:

Arena Theatre (USA) (new title)
Repertory Theatre (USA) (new title)
The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Showcase Productions

Trivia:

During the eighth season (August 1955-February 1956), this show alternated with "Goodyear Theatre" (1957) and "The Alcoa Hour" (1955).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film (2002) (TV)

It really was the Golden Age of Television.

As we enter Y2K, it's good to look back on such terrific programs as The Philco Television Playhouse (so named for a time when one sponsor would pick up the whole tab for the series), when the production people strove for excellence, to do the very best they could on the air for their audience, and when actual thought and attention to the on-screen activities was mandatory. (It was for programs such as this that the "TV Dinner" was created, for better or worse. But at least there was something then to attract our continuous attention.) Philco Television Playhouse and the other anthologies of the day were very, very good television, indeed.