Telephone Time Explained

Genre:	Anthology
Director:	Lewis Allen László Benedek Robert Florey Peter Godfrey Christian Nyby Arthur Hiller Don Taylor Peter Tewksbury
Presenter:	John Nesbitt (1956) Frank C. Baxter (1957 - 1958)
Theme Music Composer:	Leon Klatzkin
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Num Seasons:	3
Num Episodes:	81
Executive Producer:	Jerry Stagg Hal Roach Jr.
Camera:	Single-camera
Runtime:	25 mins.
Network:	CBS (1956) ABC (1957 - 1958)

Telephone Time is an American anthology drama series that aired on CBS in 1956, and on ABC from 1957 to 1958. The series features plays adapted from short stories by John Nesbitt who hosted the first season.^[1] Frank C. Baxter became the host effective with the September 10, 1957, episode.^[2] He hosted the 1957 and 1958 seasons. A total of 81 episodes aired from April 1956 to March 1957 on CBS, and from April 1957 to April 1958 on ABC. The Bell Telephone System sponsored the series.^[3]

Overview

The program showcased the talents of actors and actresses such as Alma Lawton,^{[4] [5]} Bette Davis, Florenz Ames, Greer Garson, Dennis Morgan, Joseph Cotten, Claudette Colbert, Michael Landon, Cloris Leachman, Johnny Crawford, Katherine Warren, Joel Grey, Fay Wray, Thomas Mitchell, Vivi Janiss, Wright King, Strother Martin, Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff, John Carradine, Helen Wallace, and Michael Winkelman. Famed circus performer Emmett Kelly made his dramatic debut in the presentation Captain from Kopenick.^[6] Michael Raffetto appeared in the "Vicksburg, 5:35 PM" episode as Joe Palermo (1956).

Award nomination

Nesbitt was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1957 for Best Teleplay Writing - Half Hour or Less.^[7]

Episodes

• 1.01 The Golden Junkman - April 8, 1956 - Chaney^[8]
• 1.02 Man With A Beard
• 1.03 Captain From Kopenick
• 1.04 Borders Away
• 1.05 The Mystery of Caspar Hauser
• 1.06 The Stepmother
• 1.07 Time Bomb
• 1.08 Emperor Norton's Bridge
• 1.09 The Man Who Believed In Fairy Tales
• 1.10 Harry In Search of Himself
• 1.11 Felix the Fourth
• 1.12 Smith of Ecuador
• 1.13 The Gingerbread Man
• 1.14 Joyful Lunatic
• 1.15 The Key
• 1.16 Grandpa Changes the World
• 1.17 Again the Stars
• 2.01 Keeley's Wonderful Machine
• 2.02 I Am Not Alone
• 2.03 Mr. and Mrs. Browning
• 2.04 Vicksburg, 5:35 P.M.
• 2.05 The Churchill Club
• 2.06 She Sette Her Little Foote
• 2.07 Hatfield, the Rainmaker
• 2.08 She Also Ran
• 2.09 Knockout
• 2.10 Chico and the Archbishop
• 2.11 Raccoon Hunt
• 2.12 Fortunatus
• 2.13 Scio, Ohio
• 2.14 The Sergeant Boyd Story
• 2.15 The Mountain That Moved
• 2.16 Passport To Life
• 2.17 The Jumping Parson
• 2.18 Parents Of A Stranger
• 2.19 The Consort - January 27, 1957 - Alan Napier^[9]
• 2.20 The Man Who Discovered O. Henry
• 2.21 The Greatest Man in the World
• 2.22 The Unsinkable Molly Brown - February 24, 1957 - Leachman^[10]
• 2.23 The Intruder
• 2.24 Fight For The Title - George Brenlin, Landon
• 2.25 Escape
• 2.26 Castle Dangerous
• 2.27 Bullet Lou Kirn
• 2.28 Elfego Baca - April 18, 1957 - Manuel Rojas^[11]
• 2.29 Rabbi On Wheels
• 2.30 The Diamond Peer
• 2.31 Stranded - Davis
• 2.32 Plot To Save A Boy
• 2.33 Line Chief
• 2.34 Pit-a-Pit and the Dragon
• 2.35 The Koshetz Story
• 3.01 Revenge - September 10, 1957 - Garson, Ames, Grant Richards^[12]
• 3.02 Here Lies Francois Gold
• 3.03 Campaign For Marriage
• 3.04 The Gadfly - Mitchell^[13]
• 3.05 Hole In The Wall
• 3.06 The Man The Navy Couldn't Sink
• 3.07 Under Seventeen
• 3.08 The Other Van Gogh
• 3.09 Arithmetic Sailor
• 3.10 I Get Along Without You Very Well
• 3.11 Alice's Wedding Gown - November 19, 1957 - Wray^[14]
• 3.12 The Rescue
• 3.13 Novel Appeal
• 3.14 Sam Houston's Decision
• 3.15 The Frying Pan
• 3.16 A Picture of the Magi
• 3.17 Death Of A Nobody
• 3.18 Abby, Julia and the Seven Pet Cows
• 3.19 Cavalry Surgeon
• 3.20 A Stubborn Fool
• 3.21 Flight For Life
• 3.22 The Immortal Eye
• 3.23 Recipe For Success
• 3.24 The Checkered Flag
• 3.25 The Vestris - February 25, 1958^[15] -Torin Thatcher, Karloff
• 3.26 War Against War
• 3.27 The Quality of Mercy - March 11, 1958 - Harry Towne^[16]
• 3.28 Man of Principle
• 3.29 Trail Blazer

Production

Hal Roach Jr. and Jerry Stagg were the producers.^[17] The program was directed by Arthur Hiller,^[18] Robert Florey, and Lewis Allen. Writers included Donald S. Sanford.^[19]

The CBS version was broadcast on Sundays from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.^[1] Bell's dissatisfaction with that time slot led to the change in networks.^[20] It had asked CBS in December 1956 to move the program to a later time.^[21] The ABC version initially was on Thursdays from 10 to 10:30 p.m. E. T. In June 1957 it was moved to Tuesdays from 9:30 to 10 p.m. E. T.

Critical response

A review of the episode "Revenge" in the trade publication Billboard described it as "slickly produced" but added that it "suffered from over simplification of the basic issues, which resulted in scene punchlines and plot twists telegraphed well in advance."^[22]

External links

• • Telephone Time (TV series) at CVTA with episode list
• Video of public domain episode I Am Not Alone on the Internet Archive
• Video of public domain episode Recipe for Success on the Internet Archive

Notes and References

1. Book: Brooks . Tim . Marsh . Earle F. . The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present . June 24, 2009 . Random House Publishing Group . 978-0-307-48320-1 . 1364 . August 26, 2023 . en.
2. News: Adams . Val . Paul Winchell May Get TV Spot . August 26, 2023 . The New York Times . August 6, 1957 . 42. subscription.
3. January 16, 1957 . 41 . AT&T Holds the Phone On Nesbitt TV Series . Variety . May 24, 2023.
4. News: TV Castings. November 8, 1956. The Hollywood Reporter. 8. Peter Cookson, Jean Howell, Kathy Garver, Debra Wayne, Jack Kruschen, Dan Riss, Kathleen Mulqueen and Alma Lawton for 'Tracy Clinic' at Hal Roach Studios.. .
5. Classic TV Channel (April 9, 2020). "Telephone Time - Season 2 - Episode 18 - Parents of a Stranger | John Nesbitt, Frank Baxter". YouTube.
6. News: Tops. T.V.. Famous Clown Takes a Straight Dramatic Role. 13 May 2018. The San Bernardino County Sun. 22 April 1956. 22. Newspapers.com.
7. https://www.emmys.com/bios/john-nesbitt "John Nesbitt: Awards & Nominations"
8. Book: Smith . Don G. . Lon Chaney, Jr.: Horror Film Star, 1906-1973 . March 22, 2004 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-1813-8 . 217 . August 26, 2023 . en.
9. Book: Napier . Alan . Bigwood . James . Not Just Batman's Butler: The Autobiography of Alan Napier . November 2, 2015 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-2289-7 . 372 . August 26, 2023 . en.
10. Book: Anderson . D. Brian . The Titanic in Print and on Screen: An Annotated Guide to Books, Films, Television Shows and Other Media . December 9, 2014 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-0647-7 . 115 . August 26, 2023 . en.
11. Book: Terrace . Vincent . Encyclopedia of Television Pilots: 2,470 Films Broadcast 1937-2019, 2d ed. . January 17, 2020 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-3810-2 . 70 . August 26, 2023 . en.
12. Book: Troyan . Michael . A Rose for Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson . September 16, 2005 . University Press of Kentucky . 978-0-8131-9150-8 . 381 . August 26, 2023 . en.
13. Book: Mank . Gregory William . The Very Witching Time of Night: Dark Alleys of Classic Horror Cinema . May 23, 2014 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-1543-1 . 368 . August 26, 2023 . en.
14. Book: Kinnard . Roy . Crnkovich . Tony . The Films of Fay Wray . July 11, 2015 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-0415-2 . 175 . August 26, 2023 . en.
15. Book: Nollen . Scott Allen . Boris Karloff: A Critical Account of His Screen, Stage, Radio, Television, and Recording Work . January 1, 1991 . McFarland . 978-0-89950-580-0 . 410 . August 26, 2023 . en.
16. News: Today's Television Programs . August 26, 2023 . Chattanooga Daily Times . March 11, 1958 . 19. .
17. Book: Irvin . Richard . Pioneers of "B" Television: Independent Producers, Series and Pilots of the 1950s . November 11, 2022 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-8996-8 . 36–37 . August 26, 2023 . en.
18. Book: Roberts . Jerry . Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors . June 5, 2009 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-6378-1 . 252 . August 26, 2023 . en.
19. Book: Warren . Alan . This Is a Thriller: An Episode Guide, History and Analysis of the Classic 1960s Television Series . April 14, 2004 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-1969-2 . 32 . August 26, 2023 . en.
20. News: Adams . Val . Bergen's Sponsor Drops Its Option . August 26, 2023 . The New York Times . February 22, 1957 . 43. subscription .
21. December 15, 1956 . 6 . Bell Asks 2 Time Shifts . Billboard . August 26, 2023 .
22. Sinclair . Charles . September 16, 1957 . 16 . Telephone Time (Net) . Billboard . August 26, 2023 .