About this season
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.
Episodes (240)
1. The House Off Fifth Avenue
Aired 27 August 1956 • 60 min
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 to inherit her money, plans to make her the victim of her own ingenuity.
2. Yankee Doodler
Aired 29 August 1956 • 60 min
Halvard Solness a brilliant architect and builder, becomes moody and afraid of life as he grows old. Hilda a girl who represents the younger generation comes into his life at this point and inspires him to change his attitude.
3. The Pink Hippopotamus
Aired 30 August 1956 • 60 min
The governess of two motherless children believes they are possessed by the spirits of two deceased servants.
4. September Tide
Aired 31 August 1956 • 60 min
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 Churchill. Against the wishes of their parents, the young sweethearts plan to marry. Based on the biography by Anita Leslie of the parents of Sir Winston Churchill.
5. Are You Listening?
Aired 3 September 1956 • 60 min
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.
6. Ladies' Maid Bell
Aired 4 September 1956 • 60 min
A teenage daughter tries to effect a reconciliation between her divorced parents. The father is a famous author who has never had time for his family.
7. 100 Red Convertibles
Aired 5 September 1956 • 60 min
8. The Ivy Curtain
Aired 6 September 1956 • 60 min
9. The Gramercy Ghost
Aired 7 September 1956 • 60 min
10. Lovers
Aired 10 September 1956 • 60 min
11. Reach for the Stars
Aired 11 September 1956 • 60 min
12. I Like It Here
Aired 12 September 1956 • 60 min
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 script girl and decides to marry her, his daughter attempts to cause trouble. - Tv Guide
13. A Question of Balance
Aired 13 September 1956 • 60 min
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 unwelcome.
14. The Marriage Royal
Aired 14 September 1956 • 60 min
""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 that her meager salary will not support her aunt, her uncle and herself. When a rich old man comes to their small village, the girl goes immediately to strike up another friendship""--TV guide.
15. Mad Money
Aired 19 September 1956 • 60 min
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 in the small town where the carnival has stopped. The girl's finance comes to play the shell game with the money the couple have saved for their wedding. - Tv Guide
16. A Letter from Johnny Brock
Aired 20 September 1956 • 60 min
17. Uncle Harry
Aired 21 September 1956 • 60 min
18. At Mrs. Leland's
Aired 24 September 1956 • 60 min
19. The House Next Door
Aired 25 September 1956 • 60 min
20. Alumni Reunion
Aired 26 September 1956 • 60 min
21. Sound of Fear
Aired 27 September 1956 • 60 min
22. Late Date
Aired 28 September 1956 • 60 min
23. Pride and Prejudice
Aired 1 October 1956 • 60 min
24. Pearls of Sheba
Aired 2 October 1956 • 60 min
25. The Stamp Caddy
Aired 15 October 1956 • 60 min
26. The Egotist
Aired 16 October 1956 • 60 min
27. The Family Man
Aired 17 October 1956 • 60 min
28. Sight Unseen
Aired 18 October 1956 • 60 min
29. The Eye of the Storm
Aired 19 October 1956 • 60 min
30. The Man in the Seven League Boots
Aired 22 October 1956 • 60 min
31. The Woman Across the Hall
Aired 23 October 1956 • 60 min
32. And Then There Were Three
Aired 24 October 1956 • 60 min
33. Shake the Stars Down
Aired 29 October 1956 • 60 min
34. Horse Power
Aired 30 October 1956 • 60 min
35. Without Sanction
Aired 31 October 1956 • 60 min
36. The Outing
Aired 2 November 1956 • 60 min
37. Thank You, Edmondo
Aired 5 November 1956 • 60 min
38. The Tell-Tale Heart
Aired 6 November 1956 • 60 min
39. Strangers on a Honeymoon
Aired 7 November 1956 • 60 min
40. A Dram of Poison
Aired 8 November 1956 • 60 min
41. The Shining Hour
Aired 9 November 1956 • 60 min
42. Love, Marriage and Five Thousand Dollars
Aired 12 November 1956 • 60 min
43. Step Into Darkness
Aired 13 November 1956 • 60 min
44. Candle in the Dark
Aired 14 November 1956 • 60 min
45. Savrola
Aired 15 November 1956 • 60 min
46. Table Set at Night
Aired 16 November 1956 • 60 min
47. Madame de Treymes
Aired 19 November 1956 • 60 min
48. The People vs. John Tarr
Aired 20 November 1956 • 60 min
49. The Location of Roycemore College
Aired 21 November 1956 • 60 min
50. Dracula
Aired 23 November 1956 • 60 min
51. Julie
Aired 26 November 1956 • 60 min
52. The Empty Nest
Aired 27 November 1956 • 60 min
53. Spare Your Pity
Aired 28 November 1956 • 60 min
54. The Last Leaf
Aired 30 November 1956 • 60 min
55. Therese
Aired 3 December 1956 • 60 min
56. Julie
Aired 4 December 1956 • 60 min
57. Refugee
Aired 6 December 1956 • 60 min
58. Jenny Kissed Me
Aired 7 December 1956 • 60 min
59. Miracle at Carville
Aired 10 December 1956 • 60 min
60. The Upper Hand
Aired 11 December 1956 • 60 min
61. Love is a Locksmith
Aired 12 December 1956 • 60 min
62. Captain Brassbound's Conversion
Aired 13 December 1956 • 60 min
63. The Wisp End
Aired 14 December 1956 • 60 min
An aspiring violinist and his father disagree over the son's ability as a musician.
64. Prominent Citizens
Aired 17 December 1956 • 60 min
65. Head of the Family
Aired 18 December 1956 • 60 min
66. Password
Aired 19 December 1956 • 60 min
67. Late Love
Aired 20 December 1956 • 60 min
68. Eugenie Grandet
Aired 21 December 1956 • 60 min
69. Cold Christmas
Aired 24 December 1956 • 60 min
70. Little Women
Aired 25 December 1956 • 60 min
71. For Sweetheart, Wife or Mother
Aired 26 December 1956 • 60 min
72. Smilin' Through
Aired 27 December 1956 • 60 min
73. Strong Medicine
Aired 28 December 1956 • 60 min
74. Everything's Relative
Aired 31 December 1956 • 60 min
75. Miss Morissa
Aired 2 January 1957 • 60 min
76. The Scandalous Priest
Aired 3 January 1957 • 60 min
77. Dark Victory
Aired 4 January 1957 • 60 min
78. The Lonely Look
Aired 7 January 1957 • 60 min
79. The Sudden Truth
Aired 8 January 1957 • 60 min
80. The Man in the Half-Moon
Aired 9 January 1957 • 60 min
81. The Hex
Aired 10 January 1957 • 60 min
82. If This Be Error
Aired 11 January 1957 • 60 min
83. On the Trail of the Kingsfield
Aired 14 January 1957 • 60 min
84. Here We Are
Aired 15 January 1957 • 60 min
85. Arms and the Man
Aired 16 January 1957 • 60 min
86. Home is the Hunted
Aired 17 January 1957 • 60 min
87. Madam Ada
Aired 18 January 1957 • 60 min
88. Night Train
Aired 22 January 1957 • 60 min
89. This Language
Aired 23 January 1957 • 60 min
90. The 13th Crypt
Aired 24 January 1957 • 60 min
91. Mr. Pirn Passes By
Aired 25 January 1957 • 60 min
92. Anything for a Laugh
Aired 29 January 1957 • 60 min
93. Realms of Gold
Aired 30 January 1957 • 60 min
94. Deacon of Oak Ridge
Aired 31 January 1957 • 60 min
95. Accent on Youth
Aired 1 February 1957 • 60 min
96. Three Kids
Aired 4 February 1957 • 60 min
97. Frankenstein
Aired 5 February 1957 • 60 min
98. The Most Dangerous Man
Aired 6 February 1957 • 60 min
99. One
Aired 7 February 1957 • 60 min
100. The Importance of Being Earnest
Aired 8 February 1957 • 60 min
101. The Brat's House
Aired 11 February 1957 • 60 min
102. Mr. Todd
Aired 12 February 1957 • 60 min
103. A Case of Pure Fiction
Aired 13 February 1957 • 60 min
104. The Master Builder
Aired 14 February 1957 • 60 min
105. The Others
Aired 15 February 1957 • 60 min
106. The Remarkable Mr. Jerome
Aired 19 February 1957 • 60 min
107. Bobbie
Aired 20 February 1957 • 60 min
108. The Hickory Limb
Aired 21 February 1957 • 60 min
109. The Bridge
Aired 22 February 1957 • 60 min
110. The Serpent's Tooth
Aired 25 February 1957 • 60 min
111. Voyage to Mandok
Aired 26 February 1957 • 60 min
112. The Day Before the Wedding
Aired 27 February 1957 • 60 min
113. Queen of Spades
Aired 28 February 1957 • 60 min
114. Shadow and Substance
Aired 1 March 1957 • 60 min
115. You Touched Me
Aired 4 March 1957 • 60 min
116. The Hemlock Cup
Aired 5 March 1957 • 60 min
117. Papa's Wife
Aired 6 March 1957 • 60 min
118. The Prizewinner
Aired 7 March 1957 • 60 min
119. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Aired 8 March 1957 • 60 min
120. Yesterday's Magic
Aired 14 March 1957 • 60 min
121. Tongue of Silver
Aired 15 March 1957 • 60 min
122. Peaceable Kingdom
Aired 18 March 1957 • 60 min
123. The 19th Hole
Aired 19 March 1957 • 60 min
124. Wedding in the Family
Aired 20 March 1957 • 60 min
125. The Ways of Courage
Aired 25 March 1957 • 60 min
126. Journey Into Darkness
Aired 26 March 1957 • 60 min
127. Barricade at the Big Black
Aired 27 March 1957 • 60 min
128. The Vicarious Years
Aired 28 March 1957 • 60 min
129. The First Year
Aired 29 March 1957 • 60 min
130. End of the Rope
Aired 1 April 1957 • 60 min
131. We Won't Be Any Trouble
Aired 2 April 1957 • 60 min
132. The Daughter of Mata Hari
Aired 3 April 1957 • 60 min
133. Talk You of Killing
Aired 4 April 1957 • 60 min
134. The Pursuit of Happiness
Aired 5 April 1957 • 60 min
135. Wuthering Heights [restaged]
Aired 8 April 1957 • 60 min
136. Long Distance
Aired 9 April 1957 • 60 min
137. The Point of Cleaning
Aired 10 April 1957 • 60 min
138. The Sport
Aired 11 April 1957 • 60 min
139. The Flashing Stream
Aired 12 April 1957 • 60 min
140. Thread That Runs So True
Aired 15 April 1957 • 60 min
141. Jamie Picks a Wife
Aired 16 April 1957 • 60 min
142. Blind Man's Bluff
Aired 17 April 1957 • 60 min
143. The Story of Joseph
Aired 19 April 1957 • 60 min
144. Pushover
Aired 24 April 1957 • 60 min
145. Ashes in the Wind
Aired 25 April 1957 • 60 min
146. A Hat, a Coat, a Glove
Aired 26 April 1957 • 60 min
147. The Professional
Aired 29 April 1957 • 60 min
148. Guardians of the Temple
Aired 30 April 1957 • 60 min
149. The Short Safari of B'wana Ben
Aired 1 May 1957 • 60 min
150. Church on Monday
Aired 2 May 1957 • 60 min
151. The Gioconda Smile
Aired 3 May 1957 • 60 min
152. Show of Strength
Aired 6 May 1957 • 60 min
153. Make Believe Affair
Aired 7 May 1957 • 60 min
154. Hymn to the Dedicated
Aired 8 May 1957 • 60 min
155. Thursday's Child
Aired 9 May 1957 • 60 min
156. Big-Hearted Herbert
Aired 10 May 1957 • 60 min
157. The Embattled Maiden
Aired 13 May 1957 • 60 min
158. The Middle-Aged Freshman
Aired 14 May 1957 • 60 min
159. Best Friend in Town
Aired 15 May 1957 • 60 min
160. Jane Eyre
Aired 16 May 1957 • 60 min
161. Starmaster
Aired 17 May 1957 • 60 min
162. Aftermath
Aired 20 May 1957 • 60 min
163. Guest at the Embassy
Aired 21 May 1957 • 60 min
164. Second-Hand Lover
Aired 22 May 1957 • 60 min
165. The Avenging of Anne Leete
Aired 23 May 1957 • 60 min
166. The Lonesome Husband
Aired 24 May 1957 • 60 min
167. Puzzle in the Stars
Aired 27 May 1957 • 60 min
168. The Gwendolyn Harleth Story
Aired 28 May 1957 • 60 min
169. The Girls Named Almaya
Aired 29 May 1957 • 60 min
170. The Dream That Was Fixed
Aired 30 May 1957 • 60 min
171. A Growing Wonder
Aired 31 May 1957 • 60 min
172. Bachelor Father
Aired 3 June 1957 • 60 min
173. The Golden Door
Aired 4 June 1957 • 60 min
174. Rain in the Morning
Aired 5 June 1957 • 60 min
175. Eye of the Storm
Aired 7 June 1957 • 60 min
176. Rich Man, Poor Man
Aired 10 June 1957 • 60 min
177. The Party Dress
Aired 11 June 1957 • 60 min
178. White-Headed Boy
Aired 12 June 1957 • 60 min
179. Liza
Aired 17 June 1957 • 60 min
180. Pigeons and People
Aired 19 June 1957 • 60 min
181. Things Hoped For
Aired 20 June 1957 • 60 min
182. Mr. Wendigo
Aired 21 June 1957 • 60 min
183. Stopover
Aired 24 June 1957 • 60 min
184. A Light in the Sky
Aired 25 June 1957 • 60 min
185. The Charmer
Aired 26 June 1957 • 60 min
186. The Brief Candle
Aired 28 June 1957 • 60 min
A young man pays a visit to the family mansion in Newport, R.I., now presided over by its sole occupant, his aunt.
187. Too Much Johnson
Aired 1 July 1957 • 60 min
188. Money in the Bank
Aired 2 July 1957 • 60 min
189. Trouble Traine
Aired 3 July 1957 • 60 min
190. The Last Voyage
Aired 4 July 1957 • 60 min
191. The Price of Scandal
Aired 5 July 1957 • 60 min
192. But When She Was Bad
Aired 11 July 1957 • 60 min
193. The Fable of Harry
Aired 12 July 1957 • 60 min
194. Portrait in Mini
Aired 15 July 1957 • 60 min
195. The Cask of Amontillado
Aired 16 July 1957 • 60 min
196. The Richest Man in the World
Aired 17 July 1957 • 60 min
197. The Last Hour
Aired 18 July 1957 • 60 min
198. The First Captain
Aired 22 July 1957 • 60 min
199. Shuttered Hearts
Aired 24 July 1957 • 60 min
200. One for All
Aired 25 July 1957 • 60 min
201. Call It a Day
Aired 26 July 1957 • 60 min
202. Ann Veronica
Aired 29 July 1957 • 60 min
203. Boys Will Be Men
Aired 30 July 1957 • 60 min
204. The Forbidden Search
Aired 31 July 1957 • 60 min
205. The Fawn with Crooked Teeth
Aired 1 August 1957 • 60 min
207. The Rose Bush
Aired 5 August 1957 • 60 min
208. Finley's Fan Club
Aired 6 August 1957 • 60 min
209. Laugh a Little Tear
Aired 7 August 1957 • 60 min
210. The Invisible Man
Aired 8 August 1957 • 60 min
211. Where Angels Fear
Aired 9 August 1957 • 60 min
212. First Love
Aired 13 August 1957 • 60 min
213. The Last Survivors
Aired 14 August 1957 • 60 min
214. Time for Action
Aired 15 August 1957 • 60 min
215. Haven's End
Aired 20 August 1957 • 60 min
216. Heed the Falling Sparrow
Aired 21 August 1957 • 60 min
217. The President's Child Bride
Aired 22 August 1957 • 60 min
218. Now or Never
Aired 23 August 1957 • 60 min
219. Awakening
Aired 27 August 1957 • 60 min
220. Angel Face
Aired 28 August 1957 • 60 min
221. The Star Sapphire
Aired 29 August 1957 • 60 min
222. Women Have Ways
Aired 30 August 1957 • 60 min
223. Jewel Boy
Aired 2 September 1957 • 60 min
224. Molly Morgan
Aired 3 September 1957 • 60 min
225. Woman Alone
Aired 4 September 1957 • 60 min
226. Among Strangers
Aired 6 September 1957 • 60 min
227. The Adjustable Mr. Willing
Aired 9 September 1957 • 60 min
228. Freedom Comes Later
Aired 10 September 1957 • 60 min
229. In the Fog
Aired 11 September 1957 • 60 min
230. Son of 37 Fathers
Aired 12 September 1957 • 60 min
231. Hand Me Down
Aired 13 September 1957 • 60 min
232. Emma
Aired 16 September 1957 • 60 min
233. Personal Equation
Aired 17 September 1957 • 60 min
234. Night Cry
Aired 18 September 1957 • 60 min
235. The Mysterious Disappearance
Aired 19 September 1957 • 60 min
236. The Impersonal Touch
Aired 20 September 1957 • 60 min
237. The Story of Sarah
Aired 22 September 1957 • 60 min
238. The Waiting Swan
Aired 24 September 1957 • 60 min
239. One Mummy Too Many
Aired 25 September 1957 • 60 min
240. Hearthstones
Aired 26 September 1957 • 60 min
241. The Reluctant Heiress
Aired 27 September 1957 • 60 min