Matinee Theater
TV ShowEnded

Matinee Theater

5.0 / 10
1955
3 seasons
574 episodes
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.

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Cast

Seasons

  • Ep 1

    1.Beginning Now

    31-10-195560m
  • Ep 2

    2.Make Believe Mother

    01-11-195560m

    A man who left his wife and infant son turns up years later. He drops in for a visit at the home of his now-married son and grandchildren. His sudden appearance and penchant for...

  • Ep 3

    3.The Persistent Image

    02-11-195560m

    A once successful writer, who now verges on the alcoholic, makes one last attempt to sell his latest work. When this fails, he must decide which is more important, personal integr...

  • Ep 4

    4.I'm Straight with the World

    03-11-195560m

    This is the tragic love story of a man and woman who fall in love as youngsters, but each married another.

  • Ep 5

    5.Progress and Minnie Sweeney

    04-11-195560m

    A young intern tries to convince his fiance she shouldn't have the responsibility of supporting her divorced sister and the sister's child.

  • Ep 6

    6.The House on Wildwood Lane

    07-11-195560m
  • Ep 7

    7.Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

    08-11-195560m
  • Ep 8

    8.One for the Road

    09-11-195560m
  • Ep 9

    9.An Apple for Miss Myrtle

    10-11-195560m
  • Ep 10

    10.The Man Without a Country

    11-11-195560m
  • Ep 11

    11.Jigsaw

    14-11-195560m

    An elderly father is being pressured by his family to sell his orange groves to a real estate developer. He resists but starts to reconsider when he considers that his tomboy grand...

  • Ep 12

    12.She's the One with the Funny Face

    15-11-195560m
  • Ep 13

    13.All the Hoffmeyers in the World

    16-11-195560m

    During all the years of their married life, Helen has been bullied by her husband Phil--about the neglected house, her ill health and the care of their son. Lately, Phil has been s...

  • Ep 14

    14.The Aspern Papers

    17-11-195560m

    In a Korean battle five Americans become detached from their company. They take over a hut in which they find and capture two North Korean soldiers, and an orphaned youngster. The...

  • Ep 15

    15.Roman Fever

    18-11-195560m

    A shy school principal and a rising young attorney are both in love with the same woman. A man who looks a great deal like Abraham Lincoln arrives in town as a summer boarder and b...

  • Ep 16

    16.Midsummer

    21-11-195560m
  • Ep 17

    17.The Lady Chooses

    22-11-195560m

    The daughter and sister of a pretty widown decide to play Cupid. Both want to marry her off to a likely suitor. - Tv Guide

  • Ep 18

    18.The Courtship of Miles Standish

    23-11-195560m

    A Polish merchant learns that his teen-age son and daughter have been won over to communism. He laboriously arranges an escape from the country, with his rebellious son virtually h...

  • Ep 19

    19.Dispossessed

    25-11-195560m
  • Ep 20

    20.One for the Road

    28-11-195560m

    A beautiful young socialite is found murdered.

  • Ep 21

    21.The Touchstone

    29-11-195560m

    A middle-aged bachelor thus far has avoided matrimony. His friends, knowing he is in need of money, arrange a meeting with a prospective bride who might be willing to support a hu...

  • Ep 22

    22.Wuthering Heights

    30-11-195560m

    A mother discovers she is falling in love with the man her daughter has married.

  • Ep 23

    23.The Brass Ring

    01-12-195560m

    A meek little file clerk turns into a veritable tiger when his boss hires an efficiency expert. His file system has worked for 30 years. and he's not going to change it for an effi...

  • Ep 24

    24.Jason

    02-12-195560m

    A husband has definite ideas about bringing up his children. He feels his way of life on an isolated island is better than letting his offspring be subjected to education and othe...

  • Ep 25

    25.Arrowsmith

    05-12-195560m

    Three generations come together to celebrate the grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. During the evening the newly wedded granddaughter insists on modeling her grandmother's...

  • Ep 26

    26.Passing Strange

    06-12-195560m

    A woman art instructor entering her 30s falls in love with a pupil younger than she. Her overbearing brother tries to convince the woman that the artist is only using her to furth...

  • Ep 27

    27.For These Services

    07-12-195560m

    Following the death of her husband, a widow insists on keeping his tailor shop open even though business is falling off. A long-time friend, who has been in love with her for many...

  • Ep 28

    28.Cordially - With Bombs

    08-12-195560m
  • Ep 29

    29.The White Oaks

    09-12-195560m

    An elderly man of letters supports his orphaned teen-age granddaughter. When he hires a young male secretary, the girl believes she has fallen in love. -Tv Guide

  • Ep 30

    30.O'Toole from Moscow

    12-12-195560m
  • Ep 31

    31.The Milwaukee Rocket

    13-12-195560m

    A young couple moves into the ground floor apartment of a mansion owned by an elderly woman. The husband at first resents the fact that the old lady imposes on his wife to do house...

  • Ep 32

    32.This One is Different

    14-12-195560m

    A man is determined to prevent his teen-age daughter from leaving home and entering a convent - Tv Guide

  • Ep 33

    33.Sins of the Fathers

    15-12-195560m

    This is the well-known story of Biblical times about Ruth, whose devotion to her mother-in-law tkes her into a new land among strangers.

  • Ep 34

    34.See You on Sunday

    16-12-195560m

    When a confirmed bachelor who owns a restaurant tries to sell his special recipe for a salad dressing, he gets involved with a beautiful girl FBI agent.

  • Ep 35

    35.Coming of Age

    19-12-195560m

    A young English couple decide that they will live with the groom's aged mother after the wedding. When the bride puts up her house for sale, her five brothers and sisters, whom sh...

  • Ep 36

    36.Technique

    20-12-195560m

    A governess, in love with the father of her charge, is dismayed when she learns the widower is unaware of her feelings and plans to marry another woman. In her bitter disappointme...

  • Ep 37

    37.Gallin: All-American

    21-12-195560m

    The idyllic existence of an American college professor, who has moved with his second wife and two children to Mexico, is menaced by the sudden appearance of his first wife, who is...

  • Ep 38

    38.Santa is No Saint

    22-12-195560m

    The fifth wealthiest woman in the world hires detectives to trail her fifth husband and ensure his faithfulness. The husband decides to regain his freedom by arranging his own ""d...

  • Ep 39

    39.The Unwelcomed

    23-12-195560m
  • Ep 40

    40.The Red Sanders Story

    26-12-195560m
  • Ep 41

    41.Class of '58

    09-07-195660m
  • Ep 42

    42.Horns of the Dilemma

    28-12-195560m
  • Ep 43

    43.Little Girls Grow Up

    29-12-195560m

    A young man is trying to keep up pretenses even though the business he inherited from his father is failing. He is furious when a practical joker at the alumni reunion asks him if...

  • Ep 44

    44.The Shot

    30-12-195560m
  • Ep 45

    45.Mr. Krane

    03-01-195660m
  • Ep 46

    46.Yesterday is Gone

    04-01-195660m

    A wealthy industrialist offers to revive the dwindling industry in a small town. In his ruthless business dealings he threatens to ruin the town banker. The other prominent citiz...

  • Ep 47

    47.Double Door

    05-01-195660m
  • Ep 48

    48.The Happy Rest

    06-01-195660m
  • Ep 49

    49.The Gate

    09-01-195660m
  • Ep 50

    50.One Left Over

    10-01-195660m
  • Ep 51

    51.All the Trees in the Field

    11-01-195660m
  • Ep 52

    52.The Century Plant

    12-01-195660m
  • Ep 53

    53.Friday the 13th

    13-01-195660m
  • Ep 54

    54.The Old Maid

    16-01-195660m
  • Ep 55

    55.Mother Was a Bachelor

    17-01-195660m
  • Ep 56

    56.The Bottom of the River

    18-01-195660m
  • Ep 57

    57.The Carefree Tree

    19-01-195660m
  • Ep 58

    58.Interlude

    20-01-195660m
  • Ep 59

    59.The Big Box

    23-01-195660m
  • Ep 60

    60.Sincerely Yours, Charlie Fisher

    24-01-195660m
  • Ep 61

    61.Doc

    25-01-195660m
  • Ep 62

    62.The Amateur

    26-01-195660m
  • Ep 63

    63.Light and Shadow

    27-01-195660m
  • Ep 64

    64.Romney

    30-01-195660m
  • Ep 65

    65.O Promise Me

    31-01-195660m
  • Ep 66

    66.Hold My Hand and Run

    01-02-195660m
  • Ep 67

    67.Dark Possession

    02-02-195660m
  • Ep 68

    68.The Diamond

    03-02-195660m
  • Ep 69

    69.Susan and God

    06-02-195660m
  • Ep 70

    70.As Young As You Feel

    07-02-195660m
  • Ep 71

    71.The White Knight

    08-02-195660m
  • Ep 72

    72.The Anxious Years

    09-02-195660m
  • Ep 73

    73.The Heart of Mary Lincoln

    10-02-195660m
  • Ep 74

    74.The Middle Son

    13-02-195660m
  • Ep 75

    75.Valentine's Day

    14-02-195660m
  • Ep 76

    76.Summer Cannot Last

    15-02-195660m
  • Ep 77

    77.The Last Battlefield

    16-02-195660m
  • Ep 78

    78.The Catbird Seat

    17-02-195660m
  • Ep 79

    79.Dream House

    20-02-195660m
  • Ep 80

    80.The Runaways

    21-02-195660m
  • Ep 81

    81.The Ledger

    22-02-195660m
  • Ep 82

    82.When the Bough Breaks

    23-02-195660m
  • Ep 83

    83.I Want to March

    24-02-195660m
  • Ep 84

    84.Skylark

    27-02-195660m
  • Ep 85

    85.Tall, Dark Stranger

    28-02-195660m
  • Ep 86

    86.Anything But Love

    29-02-195660m
  • Ep 87

    87.Robin Daw

    01-03-195660m
  • Ep 88

    88.Letter to a Stranger

    02-03-195660m
  • Ep 89

    89.Dinner at Antoine's

    05-03-195660m
  • Ep 90

    90.The Mating of Watkins Tottle

    06-03-195660m
  • Ep 91

    91.Her Son's Wife

    07-03-195660m
  • Ep 92

    92.The Shining Palace

    08-03-195660m
  • Ep 93

    93.The Odd Ones

    09-03-195660m
  • Ep 94

    94.A Cowboy for Chris

    12-03-195660m
  • Ep 95

    95.The Rocking Chair

    13-03-195660m
  • Ep 96

    96.The Big Guy

    14-03-195660m
  • Ep 97

    97.Statute of Limitations

    15-03-195660m
  • Ep 98

    98.The Baron and the Banshees

    16-03-195660m
  • Ep 99

    99.Notebook Warrior

    19-03-195660m
  • Ep 100

    100.Temptation for a King

    20-03-195660m
  • Ep 101

    101.The White Knight

    21-03-195660m
  • Ep 102

    102.The Anxious Years

    22-03-195660m
  • Ep 103

    103.M is for the Many

    23-03-195660m
  • Ep 104

    104.Silent Partner

    26-03-195660m
  • Ep 105

    105.Winter in April

    27-03-195660m
  • Ep 106

    106.Bread Upon the Waters

    28-03-195660m
  • Ep 107

    107.The Giant Killer

    29-03-195660m
  • Ep 108

    108.The Book of Ruth

    30-03-195660m
  • Ep 109

    109.Singer in the Valley

    02-04-195660m
  • Ep 110

    110.The Heart of a Husband

    03-04-195660m
  • Ep 111

    111.From the Desk of Margaret Tydings

    04-04-195660m
  • Ep 112

    112.But You Look Like Sisters

    05-04-195660m
  • Ep 113

    113.The House of Seven Gables

    06-04-195660m
  • Ep 114

    114.Fiddlin' Man

    09-04-195660m
  • Ep 115

    115.The Hollow Woman

    10-04-195660m
  • Ep 116

    116.People in Glass

    11-04-195660m
  • Ep 117

    117.One of the Family

    12-04-195660m
  • Ep 118

    118.Young Hands, Young Feet

    13-04-195660m
  • Ep 119

    119.The Lark Shall Sing

    16-04-195660m
  • Ep 120

    120.In Dread of Winter

    17-04-195660m
  • Ep 121

    121.The Babylonian Heart

    19-04-195660m
  • Ep 122

    122.Ask Me No Questions

    20-04-195660m
  • Ep 123

    123.Whom Death Has Joined Together

    23-04-195660m
  • Ep 124

    124.The Wedding

    24-04-195660m
  • Ep 125

    125.The Reckoning

    25-04-195660m
  • Ep 126

    126.A Woman Named Ruby

    26-04-195660m
  • Ep 127

    127.The Bright Boy

    27-04-195660m
  • Ep 128

    128.The Carefree Tree

    30-04-195660m
  • Ep 129

    129.Graybeards and Witches

    01-05-195660m
  • Ep 130

    130.The Legend of Jenny Lind

    02-05-195660m
  • Ep 131

    131.Daughter of the Seventh Day

    03-05-195660m
  • Ep 132

    132.Night Must Fall

    04-05-195660m
  • Ep 133

    133.The 25th Hour

    07-05-195660m
  • Ep 134

    134.A Man and His Maid

    08-05-195660m
  • Ep 135

    135.Perspective

    09-05-195660m
  • Ep 136

    136.The Catamaran

    10-05-195660m
  • Ep 137

    137.Johnny Came Marching Home

    11-05-195660m
  • Ep 138

    138.A Family Affair

    14-05-195660m
  • Ep 139

    139.Blind Date

    16-05-195660m
  • Ep 140

    140.To Have and to Hold

    17-05-195660m
  • Ep 141

    141.Edwina Black

    18-05-195660m
  • Ep 142

    142.The Spare Room

    21-05-195660m
  • Ep 143

    143.The Bottle Imp

    22-05-195660m
  • Ep 144

    144.Brief Music

    23-05-195660m
  • Ep 145

    145.The Girl from Boro Park

    24-05-195660m
  • Ep 146

    146.To Whom It May Concern

    25-05-195660m
  • Ep 147

    147.Bachelor Buttons

    28-05-195660m
  • Ep 148

    148.The Children of Papa Juan

    29-05-195660m
  • Ep 149

    149.Herself Alone

    30-05-195660m
  • Ep 150

    150.Three for the Money

    31-05-195660m
  • Ep 151

    151.Taxi to the Moon

    01-06-195660m
  • Ep 152

    152.The Goodtime Boys

    04-06-195660m
  • Ep 153

    153.The American

    05-06-195660m
  • Ep 154

    154.Cause for Suspicion

    06-06-195660m
  • Ep 155

    155.Fight the Whole World

    07-06-195660m
  • Ep 156

    156.Autumn Crocus

    08-06-195660m
  • Ep 157

    157.George Has a Birthday

    11-06-195660m
  • Ep 158

    158.The Serpent's Tooth

    12-06-195660m
  • Ep 159

    159.Crime at Blossom's

    13-06-195660m
  • Ep 160

    160.The Luck of Amos Currie

    14-06-195660m
  • Ep 161

    161.Alison's House

    15-06-195660m
  • Ep 162

    162.Safe Place

    18-06-195660m
  • Ep 163

    163.The Guest Cottage

    19-06-195660m
  • Ep 164

    164.Forsaking All Others

    20-06-195660m
  • Ep 165

    165.Love, Honor and O'Day

    21-06-195660m
  • Ep 166

    166.The Damask Cheek

    22-06-195660m
  • Ep 167

    167.Moon Over

    25-06-195660m
  • Ep 168

    168.But Fear Itself

    26-06-195660m
  • Ep 169

    169.The Birthday Present

    27-06-195660m
  • Ep 170

    170.The Ghost of Greenwich Village

    28-06-195660m

    A college boy accidentally kills a girl who is trying to blackmail him.

  • Ep 171

    171.The Young and the Damned

    29-06-195660m
  • Ep 172

    172.There's Always Juliet

    02-07-195660m
  • Ep 173

    173.Seasoned Timber

    03-07-195660m
  • Ep 174

    174.The Declaration

    04-07-195660m
  • Ep 175

    175.High Places

    05-07-195660m
  • Ep 176

    176.Black Chiffon

    06-07-195660m
  • Ep 177

    177.Class of '58

    09-07-195660m
  • Ep 178

    178.Marriage by the Millions

    11-07-195660m
  • Ep 179

    179.Backfire

    12-07-195660m
  • Ep 180

    180.The Bishop Misbehaves

    13-07-195660m
  • Ep 181

    181.Remittance

    16-07-195660m
  • Ep 182

    182.Beg, Borrow or Steal

    17-07-195660m
  • Ep 183

    183.Summer Pavilion

    18-07-195660m
  • Ep 184

    184.The Feast

    19-07-195660m
  • Ep 185

    185.A Full, Rich Life

    20-07-195660m
  • Ep 186

    186.The Reverberator

    23-07-195660m
  • Ep 187

    187.Woman at the Window

    24-07-195660m
  • Ep 188

    188.Another Sky

    25-07-195660m
  • Ep 189

    189.Letter of Introduction

    26-07-195660m

    An American divorcee, transplanted to Paris, receives a letter stating that she is about to be visited by a young man who doesn't know she is his mother.

  • Ep 190

    190.Home at Seven

    27-07-195660m
  • Ep 191

    191.The Cypress Tree

    30-07-195660m
  • Ep 192

    192.Belong to Me

    31-07-195660m
  • Ep 193

    193.Pygmalion Jones

    01-08-195660m
  • Ep 194

    194.Gretel

    02-08-195660m
  • Ep 195

    195.Some Man Will Want You

    03-08-195660m
  • Ep 196

    196.The Fall of the House of Usher

    06-08-195660m
  • Ep 197

    197.Cupid Rode a Horse

    07-08-195660m
  • Ep 198

    198.The Old Payola

    08-08-195660m
  • Ep 199

    199.The Perfect Alibi

    10-08-195660m

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