Four Star Playhouse
Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.
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Where to Watch(AU)
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Cast
Seasons
- Ep 1
1.My Wife Geraldine
25-09-195230mMan invents a wife, then accused of murdering her.
- Ep 2
2.Dante's Inferno
02-10-195230mWillie Dante owns a bar and gambling house called Dante's Inferno. One night, the wife of an acquaintance tells Willie that her husband has threatened her. Willie comforts her and...
- Ep 3
3.The Lost Silk Hat
23-10-195230mEnglishman must retrieve his hat after visiting his love.
- Ep 4
4.Backstage
06-11-195230mAn actor named Paul is out on an evening stroll when he sees a young woman attempting to jump off a bridge. After a struggle, he discovers her name is Amy and she is homeless. Paul...
- Ep 5
5.Welcome Home
20-11-195230mA notorious criminal returns to his home town after 15 years away, and a young man wants to join him in notoriety and, probably, death at the hands of police.
- Ep 6
6.The Island
04-12-195230mRebellious physician on an island in the South Pacific.
- Ep 7
7.The Officer and the Lady
18-12-195230mA reformed pickpocket in Paris obtains the purse of an attractive woman. He reads a letter telling about her dying son, and he decides to grant the boy's wish to meet his father.
- Ep 8
8.Knockout
01-01-195330mMiddleweight boxer finds his big bout has been fixed.
- Ep 9
9.Man on a Train
15-01-195330mWilliam encounters an old acquaintance, John Dwerrihouse, on a train with 75,000 pounds. Only later did William learn that Dwerrihouse had disappeared four months earlier after emb...
- Ep 10
10.Trail's End
29-01-195330mA famous marshal of Dodge City sets out in search of the murderous Sonoma Kid and runs into a tragedy of the desert.
- Ep 11
11.Sound Off, My Love
12-02-195330mWoman buys hearing aid and hears husband plot her murder.
- Ep 12
12.The Man in the Box
26-02-195330mBoyer plays four roles in story of a director and his woes.
- Ep 13
13.No Identity
12-03-195330mYoung boy fights to win his foster mother's love.
- Ep 14
14.The Man Who Walked Out On Himself
26-03-195330mAfter separating from his wife, a wealthy clubman is about to marry a much young woman -- whereupon his mirror image walks out on him in disgust.
- Ep 15
15.The Last Voyage
23-04-195330mSea captain discovers a time bomb is planted on his ship.
- Ep 16
16.Night Ride
07-05-195330mFive people, one a murderer, are trapped on subway.
- Ep 17
17.The Ladies On His Mind
21-05-195330mA psychiatrist listens to his female patients go on about their troubles. As they talk, he imagines himself within each of their stories.
- Ep 18
18.To Whom It May Concern
04-06-195330mA bank employee mails a letter to his boss confessing to stealing $7000 and includes the stocks he bought with the money. As he puts a gun to his head, he sees in the paper that th...
- Ep 19
19.Shadowed
18-06-195330mPast haunts politician running for Senator.
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