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 (135)
1. Father Come Home
Aired 15 October 1957 • 60 min
In a small town, enraged townsfolk refuse to believe the tale of a stranger. He claims that the man they believe committed a murder was miles away at the time of the killing.
2. Villa of the Angels
Aired 16 October 1957 • 60 min
Frank Wilson is bringing his boss home for dinner and is anxious to make a good impression. He asks his wife Jane to try not to be so shy and tells her she must learn to be more decisive. During the day a strange young man comes to the house posing as a magazine salesman. Jane feels that this a good opportunity to practice being forceful.- Tv Guide
3. A Tone of Time
Aired 17 October 1957 • 60 min
A successful career woman falls ill and discovers someone has been administering small doses of poison to her every day. - Tv Guide
4. Almost Any Man Will Do
Aired 18 October 1957 • 60 min
After years of carrying the responsibilities of two jobs, Mitchell Dayton has a nervous breakdown. He moves his family to Florida where he takes a job in a gas station. One afternoon he is knocked unconscious, and when he awakens he is hundreds of miles away from home with no money, no identification, and suffers from amnesia. - Tv Guide
5. Sing for Me
Aired 21 October 1957 • 60 min
Gomer, a beautiful young girl is blamed by townspeople for the suicide of one of their men. They are about to kill her when Hosea saves her life. The young prophet falls in love with Gomer, grateful to Hosea, promises to become his wife. - Tv Guide
6. Run for the Money
Aired 22 October 1957 • 60 min
Recently promoted, a young man is offered help in learning his new duties. The offer comes from a young-lady collegue, whose real motive is to break up his marriage.
7. Lest We Forget
Aired 23 October 1957 • 60 min
8. The Glass Hill
Aired 24 October 1957 • 60 min
Marcia Miller has inherited her successful mother's talent for fashion designing. But Marcia has decided she doesn't want to follow in her mother's footsteps. - Tv Guide
9. Out of the Frying Pan
Aired 25 October 1957 • 60 min
Pretty Martha Radway is vigorously campaigning with members of the League of Women Voters for a new school in their town.
10. The Last Stop
Aired 28 October 1957 • 60 min
Dr. Austin Sloper had always hoped that his daughter Catherine would grow into as charming and brilliant as woman as her mother had been. But Catherine grew up to be a very ordinary woman. - Tv Guide
11. The Weak and the Strong
Aired 29 October 1957 • 60 min
The year is 1962, and it is known that Russia is planning a full-scale nuclear attack against the U. S and Canada. In a desperate last-minute effort to avert war, the president makes plans to fly to Russia to meet directly with the Russian leaders. - Tv Guide
12. Nine-Finger Jack
Aired 30 October 1957 • 60 min
13. Elementals
Aired 31 October 1957 • 60 min
14. Plummer in Paradise
Aired 1 November 1957 • 60 min
15. Something About a Dollar
Aired 4 November 1957 • 60 min
16. Return in Winter
Aired 7 November 1957 • 60 min
17. Grandmama and Grandfather
Aired 8 November 1957 • 60 min
18. Aesop and Rhodope
Aired 11 November 1957 • 60 min
19. All Over the World
Aired 12 November 1957 • 60 min
20. The Ransom of Sigmund Freud
Aired 13 November 1957 • 60 min
21. Iris
Aired 14 November 1957 • 60 min
22. Remember Me Kindly
Aired 15 November 1957 • 60 min
23. The Embassy House
Aired 18 November 1957 • 60 min
24. Witness to Murder
Aired 19 November 1957 • 60 min
25. The Johnson House
Aired 20 November 1957 • 60 min
26. Cadenza
Aired 25 November 1957 • 60 min
27. Green Shores
Aired 26 November 1957 • 60 min
28. A Question of Balance
Aired 27 November 1957 • 60 min
29. Daniel Webster and the Sea Serpent
Aired 29 November 1957 • 60 min
30. The Conversation Tables
Aired 2 December 1957 • 60 min
31. Out of My Darkness
Aired 3 December 1957 • 60 min
32. The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
Aired 4 December 1957 • 60 min
33. The Broom and the Groom
Aired 5 December 1957 • 60 min
34. A Cloud for Jeni
Aired 6 December 1957 • 60 min
35. The Consul
Aired 9 December 1957 • 60 min
36. The Old Friend
Aired 10 December 1957 • 60 min
37. Give Me a Wand
Aired 10 December 1957 • 60 min
38. The Sure Thing
Aired 11 December 1957 • 60 min
39. Dark of the Moon
Aired 12 December 1957 • 60 min
40. The Giver and the Gift
Aired 13 December 1957 • 60 min
41. No Time for Comedy
Aired 16 December 1957 • 60 min
42. Gentleman of Fortune
Aired 17 December 1957 • 60 min
43. The Gentleman Caller
Aired 18 December 1957 • 60 min
44. Tender Leaves
Aired 19 December 1957 • 60 min
45. In 25 Words or Less
Aired 20 December 1957 • 60 min
46. Sara Crewe
Aired 23 December 1957 • 60 min
47. Amahl and the Night Visitors
Aired 24 December 1957 • 60 min
48. The Little Minister
Aired 25 December 1957 • 60 min
49. Daughter of Kings
Aired 31 December 1957 • 60 min
50. The Survival Kit
Aired 2 January 1958 • 60 min
51. The House with the Golden Street
Aired 3 January 1958 • 60 min
52. The Europeans
Aired 6 January 1958 • 60 min
53. The Collected Letters of Mr. Sage
Aired 7 January 1958 • 60 min
54. Two-Picture Deal
Aired 8 January 1958 • 60 min
55. The Great Obstacle Courtship
Aired 9 January 1958 • 60 min
56. A Chance to Die
Aired 10 January 1958 • 60 min
57. Home on the Range
Aired 13 January 1958 • 60 min
58. The Makropoulos Secret
Aired 14 January 1958 • 60 min
59. More Than a Man
Aired 15 January 1958 • 60 min
60. Something Stolen, Something New
Aired 16 January 1958 • 60 min
61. Thunderbolt
Aired 17 January 1958 • 60 min
62. Daisy Mayne
Aired 20 January 1958 • 60 min
63. The Man Who Wanted to Hate
Aired 21 January 1958 • 60 min
64. The Golden Fleecing
Aired 22 January 1958 • 60 min
65. Forever and Ever
Aired 23 January 1958 • 60 min
66. Decision
Aired 24 January 1958 • 60 min
67. Solider's Boy
Aired 27 January 1958 • 60 min
68. The Man with Pointed Toes
Aired 28 January 1958 • 60 min
69. Love Out of Town
Aired 31 January 1958 • 60 min
70. Cave-In
Aired 3 February 1958 • 60 min
71. The Iceman
Aired 4 February 1958 • 60 min
72. The Long, Long Laugh
Aired 5 February 1958 • 60 min
73. Man Without a Country
Aired 6 February 1958 • 60 min
74. The Odd Ones
Aired 7 February 1958 • 60 min
75. Monsieur Beaucaire
Aired 11 February 1958 • 60 min
76. Life Upon the Wicked Stage
Aired 12 February 1958 • 60 min
77. Without Fear or Favor
Aired 13 February 1958 • 60 min
78. The Third Person
Aired 14 February 1958 • 60 min
79. Eden End
Aired 17 February 1958 • 60 min
80. The 10th Muse
Aired 18 February 1958 • 60 min
81. Goodbye on Thursday
Aired 20 February 1958 • 60 min
82. Heart's Desire
Aired 21 February 1958 • 60 min
83. Marriage of Convenience
Aired 24 February 1958 • 60 min
84. The Suicide Club
Aired 25 February 1958 • 60 min
85. The 65th Floor
Aired 26 February 1958 • 60 min
86. The Hickory Heart
Aired 27 February 1958 • 60 min
87. The Devil's Violin
Aired 28 February 1958 • 60 min
88. Wednesday's Child
Aired 4 March 1958 • 60 min
89. Vigilante
Aired 5 March 1958 • 60 min
90. The Prophet Hosea
Aired 7 March 1958 • 60 min
91. Mrs. Moonlight
Aired 10 March 1958 • 60 min
92. With Love We Live
Aired 11 March 1958 • 60 min
93. You and I
Aired 12 March 1958 • 60 min
94. Career Angel
Aired 13 March 1958 • 60 min
95. Contingent Fire
Aired 14 March 1958 • 60 min
96. Anxious Night
Aired 18 March 1958 • 60 min
97. On Approval
Aired 19 March 1958 • 60 min
98. Dandy Dick
Aired 20 March 1958 • 60 min
99. Hush, Mahala, Hush
Aired 21 March 1958 • 60 min
100. O'Rourke's House
Aired 25 March 1958 • 60 min
101. The Alleyway
Aired 26 March 1958 • 60 min
102. The Vagabond
Aired 27 March 1958 • 60 min
103. The Silver Spider
Aired 28 March 1958 • 60 min
104. Design for Glory
Aired 1 April 1958 • 60 min
105. The Inspector General
Aired 2 April 1958 • 60 min
106. The Two Mrs. Carrolls
Aired 3 April 1958 • 60 min
107. The Velvet Glove
Aired 4 April 1958 • 60 min
108. Death Takes a Holiday
Aired 8 April 1958 • 60 min
109. Man of the House
Aired 9 April 1958 • 60 min
110. A Case of Fear
Aired 10 April 1958 • 60 min
111. Walk in the Sky
Aired 11 April 1958 • 60 min
112. The Canterville Ghost
Aired 15 April 1958 • 60 min
113. Found Money
Aired 17 April 1958 • 60 min
114. Washington Whispers Money
Aired 18 April 1958 • 60 min
115. A Boy Grows Up
Aired 22 April 1958 • 60 min
116. Phony Venus
Aired 23 April 1958 • 60 min
117. Some Blessed People
Aired 24 April 1958 • 60 min
118. The Quiet Street
Aired 25 April 1958 • 60 min
119. The Quest of Quesnay
Aired 7 May 1958 • 60 min
120. Angel Street
Aired 9 May 1958 • 60 min
121. The Cause
Aired 12 May 1958 • 60 min
122. Much Ado About Nothing, Part 1
Aired 20 May 1958 • 60 min
123. Much Ado About Nothing, Part 2
Aired 21 May 1958 • 60 min
124. Day of Discoveries
Aired 22 May 1958 • 60 min
125. The Young and the Fair
Aired 23 May 1958 • 60 min
126. The Riddle of Mary Murray
Aired 27 May 1958 • 60 min
127. Button Button
Aired 29 May 1958 • 60 min
128. The End of the Season
Aired 3 June 1958 • 60 min
129. Look Out for John Tucker
Aired 4 June 1958 • 60 min
130. The Road to Recovery
Aired 5 June 1958 • 60 min
131. The Nightbird's Crying
Aired 6 June 1958 • 60 min
132. The Story of Marcia Gordon
Aired 10 June 1958 • 60 min
133. Town in Turmoil
Aired 11 June 1958 • 60 min
134. Washington Square
Aired 12 June 1958 • 60 min
135. Course for Collision
Aired 13 June 1958 • 60 min