About this season
TV Reader's Digest is the title of a 30 minute American television anthology drama series which aired on the ABC from 1955 to 1956. Based on articles that appeared in Reader's Digest magazine, the episodes based on true stories which were varied in their themes, plots and content. Themes included crime, heroism, mystery, romance, and human interest. Episode writers included Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, Cleveland Amory and Frank Gruber. Some of the actors who were cast in the episodes included: Claude Akins, Leon Askin, Jean Byron, Chuck Connors, Peter Graves, Tod Griffin, Francis McDonald, Max Showalter, John Howard, Lee Marvin, Gene Raymond, Jerry Paris, and Michael Winkelman.
Episodes (39)
1. Child Pioneer
Aired 17 October 1955 • 30 min
2. The Old Master Detective
Aired 24 October 1955 • 30 min
3. The Archer-Shee Case
Aired 31 October 1955 • 30 min
4. The Brainwashing of John Hayes
Aired 7 November 1955 • 30 min
5. The Making of a Submarine
Aired 14 November 1955 • 30 min
6. The Voyage of Captain Tom Jones, Pirate
Aired 21 November 1955 • 30 min
7. If I Were Rich
Aired 28 November 1955 • 30 min
Longing to move up in the world and escape their ordinary lives, the Johnson family pin all their hopes on a sweepstakes ticket. When their ticket becomes one of twenty finalists, temptation to sell it before the prize is selected wears on them, but they win it. Afterward, what looked like a life of ease turns into problems and heartache.
8. The Sad Death of a Hero
Aired 5 December 1955 • 30 min
9. Emergency Case
Aired 12 December 1955 • 30 min
10. When the Wise Men Appeared
Aired 19 December 1955 • 30 min
11. Ordeal at Yuba Gap
Aired 26 December 1955 • 30 min
12. In the Eye of a Hurricane
Aired 2 January 1956 • 30 min
13. Why the Choir Was Late
Aired 9 January 1956 • 30 min
14. The Man Who Beat Death
Aired 16 January 1956 • 30 min
15. A Bell for Okinawa
Aired 23 January 1956 • 30 min
16. Cochise, Greatest of the Apaches
Aired 30 January 1956 • 30 min
17. The Mystery of Minnie
Aired 6 February 1956 • 30 min
18. Texas in New York
Aired 13 February 1955 • 30 min
19. Return from Oblivion
Aired 20 February 1956 • 30 min
20. The Case of the Uncertain Hand
Aired 27 February 1956 • 30 min
21. It's a Wise Father
Aired 5 March 1956 • 30 min
22. Night Court
Aired 12 March 1956 • 30 min
23. No Horse, No Wife, No Mustache
Aired 19 March 1956 • 30 min
24. The Trigger Finger Clue
Aired 26 March 1956 • 30 min
25. The Secret Weapon of Joe Smith
Aired 2 April 1956 • 30 min
26. Courage
Aired 9 April 1956 • 30 min
27. The Woman Who Changed Her Mind
Aired 16 April 1956 • 30 min
28. Uncle Sam's C-Men
Aired 23 April 1956 • 30 min
29. Miss Victoria
Aired 30 April 1956 • 30 min
30. The Old, Old Story
Aired 7 May 1956 • 30 min
31. Britain's Most Baffling Murder Case
Aired 14 May 1956 • 30 min
32. Down on the Tennessee
Aired 21 May 1956 • 30 min
33. The Man Who Dreamt Winners
Aired 28 May 1956 • 30 min
34. The General's Escape
Aired 4 June 1956 • 30 min
35. The Gigantic Bank Note Swindle
Aired 11 June 1956 • 30 min
36. Go Fight City Hall
Aired 18 June 1956 • 30 min
37. Family Reunion USA
Aired 25 June 1956 • 30 min
38. The Only Way Out
Aired 2 July 1956 • 30 min
39. The Smuggler
Aired 9 July 1956 • 30 min