Medallion Theatre Explained

Alt Name:Chrysler Medallion Theatre
Genre:Anthology series
Num Episodes:30
Producer:William Spier
Runtime:30 minutes
Network:CBS

Medallion Theatre, aka Chrysler Medallion Theatre, is a 30-minute American anthology series that aired on CBS from July 11, 1953, to April 3, 1954.[1] Henry Fonda (in the premiere telecast "The Decision of Arrowsmith"), Claude Rains, and Janet Gaynor made their major television dramatic debuts on this series in various 1953 episodes. Others guest stars included Helen Hayes, Charlton Heston, Ronald Reagan, Jack Lemmon, Rod Steiger, and Roddy McDowell. Among its writers were Rod Serling and Robert Anderson. Directors included Ralph Nelson, Don Medford, Robert Stevens, and Seymour Robbie. The original producer was William Spier.[2]

Premise

Spier said that older short stories were selected for their quality: "Thirty or forty years ago, writers knew content better, and by using their stories we hope to get what we're aiming at, dramas with fiber and dimension."[3]

Production

All thirty episodes were aired live from New York.[4] Mort Abrahams was associate producer, Samuel Leve was the set designer, and Robert Tallman the story editor.[5]

Reaction

Ben Gross of the New York Daily News said it was "a welcome recruit to the ranks of live dramatic shows". Columnist John Crosby was intrigued at the show's extracting a storyline for its premiere episode from a longer work, and praised the cast, writing, and all-around production.[6]

Broadcast history

By mid-February 1954 columnist Erskine Johnson reported that CBS had decided to replace Medallion Theater with a new sitcom called That's My Boy.[7] About the same time, the producer role was taken over by Mort Abrahams.[8]

Episodes

List of Episodes of Medallion Theatre (in original broadcast order)
DateTitleCastNotes
Jul 11, 1953The Decision of ArrowsmithHenry Fonda, Diana Douglas, Juano Hernández[9] An extract from the novel by Sinclair Lewis.[10]
Jul 18, 1953 A Job for Jimmy ValentineRonald ReaganAdaption from O. Henry short story.[11]
Jul 25, 1953 Grand Cross of the CrescentJack Lemmon, Ernest Truex, Freddie Bartholomew[12]
Aug 01, 1953 Claude Rains, Richard Kiley, Russell CollinsThe Evelyn Waugh short story is given a happy ending.[13]
Aug 08, 1950 Mrs. Union Station June Havoc, Scott McKay, Richard CarlyleNewlywed has to compete with husband's electric train hobby.[14]
Aug 15, 1953 The Consul Charles RugglesA diplomat deals with a visiting politician, adapted from Richard Harding Davis story.[15]
Aug 22, 1953 The Quiet Village Robert PrestonFilm director (Preston) plots revenge on actor.[16]
Aug 29, 1953 Columbo Discovers Italy Dane ClarkBrooklyn shoemaker inherits decaying island hotel.[17]
Sep 05, 1953 Scent of the Roses Martha Scott, Patricia SmithSouthern woman bides her time in pursuing a husband.[18]
Sep 12, 1953 The Padre of San Pablo Zachary ScottMexican bank-robber assumes identity of deceased priest.[19]
Sep 19, 1953 The Bartlett Desk Edward Everett Horton, Mildred NatwickAntique dealer badgers poor woman for her family heirloom.[20]
Sep 26, 1953 The Big Bow Mystery Cedric HardwickeRetired Scotland Yard detective solves crime.[21]
Oct 03, 1953 Claude RainsBarrister defends cadet accused of stealing five shillings.[22]
Oct 10, 1953 Trouble Train Jeffrey Lynn, Madge Evans, Iris MannSon of separated couple tries to reunite them.[23]
Oct 17, 1953 A Time for Heroes Victor MooreMoore plays aged Civil War veteran.[24]
Oct 24, 1953 Return Match Maria Riva, Joseph Anthony, William PrinceTennis player ex- roils woman's second marriage.[25]
Oct 31, 1953 Gran'ma Rebel Jackie Cooper, Betsy von Furstenberg, Beulah Bondi[26]
Nov 07, 1953 Battle Hymn Helen Hayes, Wesley Addy, Stephen CortleighHarriet Beecher Stowe ponders her novel's contribution to starting the Civil War.[27]
Nov 14, 1953 The Bishop's CandlesticksVictor Jory and Barry JonesAn episode from the first volume of Les Misérables.[28]
Nov 21, 1953 Edward Everett Horton[29]
Nov 28, 1953 Dear Cynthia [30]
Dec 05, 1953 Crimson Velvet Aging star attempts to revive her career.[31]
Dec 12, 1953 A Day in Town Poverty-stricken farmer must sell his land to feed his family.[32]
Dec 19, 1953 Twenty-four Men to a Plane Two former flying officers clash over a General's diary.[33]
Dec 26, 1953 They Called Them the Meek This was a drama by Rod Serling.[34] [35]
Jan 02, 1954 A Suitable MarriageOtto Kruger, Roddy McDowell, Ann Shoemaker, Lenka Peterson, Morton Stevens, and Francis Compton.[36]
Jan 09, 1954 The Magic Touch Ghost writer's integrity is challenged by his son.[37]
Jan 16, 1954 The Gentle Deception A plumber with style is taken for a doctor.[38]
Jan 23, 1954 The Blue Serge Suit Newlywed comes to terms with the ethics of the legal profession.[39]
Jan 30, 1954 Book Overdue Mystery writer's attempt to write novel imperils his marriage.[40]
Feb 06, 1954 Teacher Schoolmarm (Olson) is caught up in rural infighting.[41]
Feb 13, 1954 The 39th Bomb Former military bomb disposal expert must deal with time-bomb.[42]
Feb 20, 1954 The Voyage Back Couple encounters lonely third party on sea voyage. Original teleplay by Tad Mosel.
Feb 27, 1954 Homestead Land agents try to cheat settlers in Oklahoma Territory.[43]
Mar 6, 1954 Sinners Woman confronts man she had sent to prison wrongfully.[44]
Mar 13, 1954 Flight to Fame Young actress must decide between her opportunity for Broadway and a stranger's life.[45]
Mar 20, 1954 Contact with the West British officer befriends liberated Russian POW during World War II. Original teleplay by Geoffrey Kean.[46]
Mar 27, 1954 The Alibi Kid Heavyweight contender has trouble with brother's impending marriage.[47] [48]
Apr 3, 1954 Safari Hunter is obsessed with capturing rare African animal.[49] [50]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present . Tim . Brooks . Tim Brooks (historian) . Earle . Marsh . 2007 . 9 . 877 . Random House Publishing . New York . 978-0-345-49773-4 . 2024-06-05 .
  2. The Man behind Medallion Theatre. Radio-TV Mirror. November 1953. 40. 6. 16. November 19, 2014.
  3. News: Coleman . Bill . A Talk with Spier . April 16, 2021 . The Tablet . July 4, 1953 . New York, Brooklyn . 15. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Gross . Ben . What's On? . Daily News . July 13, 1953 . New York, New York . 40 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: On "Medallion Theatre", It's Tops in Talent Plus Only the Best Stories . The Times Recorder . July 11, 1953 . Zanesville, Ohio . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Crosby . John . Fonda Excels In Portion Of 'Arrowsmith' On TV . Tampa Bay Times . July 17, 1953 . Tampa, Florida . 40 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Johnson . Erskine . In Hollywood . Dixon Evening-Telegraph . February 13, 1954 . Dixon, Illinois . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Richard Kiley To Star Tonight On Medallion Theater . The Oshkosh Northwestern . February 20, 1954 . Oshkosh, Wisconsin . 12 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Today's Television . Poughkeepsie Journal . July 11, 1953 . Poughkeepsie, New York . 7 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Crosby . John . Radio and Television . Lansing State Journal . July 17, 1953 . Lansing, Michigan . 18 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . April 16, 2021 . The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . July 18, 1953 . 4. Newspapers.com.
  12. News: To See - To Hear . Democrat and Chronicle . July 25, 1953 . Rochester, New York . 10 . Newspapers.com.
  13. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . August 1, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: A Comedy Starring June Havoc . Cincinnati Post . August 8, 1953 . Cincinnati, Ohio . 22 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: Week-End Highlights . Los Angeles Mirror . August 15, 1953 . Los Angeles, California . 19 . Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Saturday TV . Daily News . August 22, 1953 . Los Angeles, California . 16 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . August 29, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . September 5, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 11 . Newspapers.com.
  19. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . September 12, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  20. News: Saturday's Television Programs . Newsday (Nassau Edition) . September 19, 1953 . Hempstead, New York . 16 . Newspapers.com.
  21. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . September 26, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  22. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . October 3, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  23. News: Inge . Gene . TV and Radio . Evening Vanguard . October 10, 1953 . Venice, California . 8 . Newspapers.com.
  24. News: Danson . Tom . TV-Radiologic . The Whittier News . October 17, 1953 . Whittier, California . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  25. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . October 24, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  26. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . October 31, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  27. News: Collins . William . Helen Hayes Stars as Mrs. Stowe . The Cincinnati Enquirer . November 10, 1953 . Cincinnati, Ohio . 17 . Newspapers.com.
  28. News: To See - To Hear . Democrat and Chronicle . November 14, 1953 . Rochester, New York . 26 . Newspapers.com.
  29. News: Danson . Tom . TV-Radiologic . The Napa Valley Register . November 21, 1953 . Napa, California . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  30. News: Inge . Gene . TV and Radio . News-Pilot . November 28, 1953 . San Pedro, California . 6 . Newspapers.com.
  31. News: Danson . Tom . TV-Radiologic . Progress-Bulletin . December 5, 1953 . Pomona, California . 10 . Newspapers.com.
  32. News: Price . Paul . Adlai Stevenson in Radio-TV Talk . Daily News . December 12, 1953 . Los Angeles, California . 16 . Newspapers.com.
  33. News: Scheuer . Steven H. . TV Key . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . December 19, 1953 . Brooklyn, New York . 18 . Newspapers.com.
  34. News: Price . Paul . Plenty of variety on Radio-TV skeds . Daily News . December 26, 1953 . Los Angeles, California . 16 . Newspapers.com.
  35. News: (Photo Caption) . The Cincinnati Enquirer . December 26, 1953 . Cincinnati, Ohio . 13 . Newspapers.com.
  36. News: Saturday, January 2 . April 16, 2021 . Ross Reports on Television . January 3, 1954 . A.
  37. News: Today on TV . The Boston Globe . January 9, 1954 . Boston, Massachusetts . 7 . Newspapers.com.
  38. News: Today on TV . The Boston Globe . January 16, 1954 . Boston, Massachusetts . 7 . Newspapers.com.
  39. News: Saturday Television Program . Courier-Post . January 23, 1954 . Camden, New Jersey . 9 . Newspapers.com.
  40. News: Saturday Television Program . Courier-Post . January 30, 1954 . Camden, New Jersey . 11 . Newspapers.com.
  41. News: Today on TV . The Boston Globe . February 6, 1954 . Boston, Massachusetts . 9 . Newspapers.com.
  42. News: Saturday Television Program . Courier-Post . February 13, 1954 . Camden, New Jersey . 9 . Newspapers.com.
  43. News: Today on TV . The Boston Globe . February 27, 1954 . Boston, Massachusetts . 7 . Newspapers.com.
  44. News: Today on TV . The Boston Globe . March 6, 1954 . Boston, Massachusetts . 9 . Newspapers.com.
  45. News: Saturday Television Program . Courier-Post . March 13, 1954 . Camden, New Jersey . 11 . Newspapers.com.
  46. News: War II Incident Is Recounted on Medallion Theater . The Oshkosh Northwestern . March 20, 1954 . Oshkosh, Wisconsin . 11 . Newspapers.com.
  47. News: KMJ-TV Channel 24 (column ad) . The Fresno Bee . March 27, 1954 . Fresno, California . 6 . Newspapers.com.
  48. News: Television Program Schedule . The Windsor Star . March 27, 1954 . Windsor, Ontario . 21 . Newspapers.com.
  49. News: Television Program Schedule . The Windsor Star . April 3, 1954 . Windsor, Ontario . 15 . Newspapers.com.
  50. News: Television . Daily News . April 3, 1954 . New York, New York . 233 . Newspapers.com.

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