Matinee Theater

Matinee Theater

1955
5.0
3 Seasons
Drama

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.

Season

Episodes

Ep 1

Beginning Now

Ep 2

Make Believe Mother

A man who left his wife and infant son turns up years later. He drops in for a visit at the home of his now-married son and grandchildren. His sudden appearance and penchant for gambling wreak havoc in his son's home.

Ep 3

The Persistent Image

A once successful writer, who now verges on the alcoholic, makes one last attempt to sell his latest work. When this fails, he must decide which is more important, personal integrity or money.

Ep 4

I'm Straight with the World

This is the tragic love story of a man and woman who fall in love as youngsters, but each married another.

Ep 5

Progress and Minnie Sweeney

A young intern tries to convince his fiance she shouldn't have the responsibility of supporting her divorced sister and the sister's child.

Ep 6

The House on Wildwood Lane

Ep 7

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Ep 8

One for the Road

Ep 9

An Apple for Miss Myrtle

Ep 10

The Man Without a Country

Ep 11

Jigsaw

An elderly father is being pressured by his family to sell his orange groves to a real estate developer. He resists but starts to reconsider when he considers that his tomboy grandaughter could use the money to develope her singing career.

Ep 12

She's the One with the Funny Face

Ep 13

All the Hoffmeyers in the World

During all the years of their married life, Helen has been bullied by her husband Phil--about the neglected house, her ill health and the care of their son. Lately, Phil has been seeing much of Ruth, their next-door-neighbor, whose husband Matt, according to Phil, is ""an unambitious cop."" A terrible accident reveals Phil as he really is.

Ep 14

The Aspern Papers

In a Korean battle five Americans become detached from their company. They take over a hut in which they find and capture two North Korean soldiers, and an orphaned youngster. The boy soon becomes their mascot.

Ep 15

Roman Fever

A shy school principal and a rising young attorney are both in love with the same woman. A man who looks a great deal like Abraham Lincoln arrives in town as a summer boarder and becomes involved in the situation.

Ep 16

Midsummer

Ep 17

The Lady Chooses

The daughter and sister of a pretty widown decide to play Cupid. Both want to marry her off to a likely suitor. - Tv Guide

Ep 18

The Courtship of Miles Standish

A Polish merchant learns that his teen-age son and daughter have been won over to communism. He laboriously arranges an escape from the country, with his rebellious son virtually his prisoner. Even in Sweden their trouble continues, as the son informs on a priest who has aided their escape. - Tv Guide

Ep 19

Dispossessed

Ep 20

One for the Road

A beautiful young socialite is found murdered.

Ep 21

The Touchstone

A middle-aged bachelor thus far has avoided matrimony. His friends, knowing he is in need of money, arrange a meeting with a prospective bride who might be willing to support a husband.

Ep 22

Wuthering Heights

A mother discovers she is falling in love with the man her daughter has married.

Ep 23

The Brass Ring

A meek little file clerk turns into a veritable tiger when his boss hires an efficiency expert. His file system has worked for 30 years. and he's not going to change it for an efficiency expert.

Ep 24

Jason

A husband has definite ideas about bringing up his children. He feels his way of life on an isolated island is better than letting his offspring be subjected to education and other ""cruelties"" of civilization.

Ep 25

Arrowsmith

Three generations come together to celebrate the grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. During the evening the newly wedded granddaughter insists on modeling her grandmother's wedding gown.

Ep 26

Passing Strange

A woman art instructor entering her 30s falls in love with a pupil younger than she. Her overbearing brother tries to convince the woman that the artist is only using her to further his career.

Ep 27

For These Services

Following the death of her husband, a widow insists on keeping his tailor shop open even though business is falling off. A long-time friend, who has been in love with her for many years, tries to convince the grief-stricken widow she is making a mistake by treating the shop as a shrine to her husband's memory.

Ep 28

Cordially - With Bombs

Ep 29

The White Oaks

An elderly man of letters supports his orphaned teen-age granddaughter. When he hires a young male secretary, the girl believes she has fallen in love. -Tv Guide

Ep 30

O'Toole from Moscow

Ep 31

The Milwaukee Rocket

A young couple moves into the ground floor apartment of a mansion owned by an elderly woman. The husband at first resents the fact that the old lady imposes on his wife to do household chores. Then they learn they have been made sole heirs in her will. -Tv Guide

Ep 32

This One is Different

A man is determined to prevent his teen-age daughter from leaving home and entering a convent - Tv Guide

Ep 33

Sins of the Fathers

This is the well-known story of Biblical times about Ruth, whose devotion to her mother-in-law tkes her into a new land among strangers.

Ep 34

See You on Sunday

When a confirmed bachelor who owns a restaurant tries to sell his special recipe for a salad dressing, he gets involved with a beautiful girl FBI agent.

Ep 35

Coming of Age

A young English couple decide that they will live with the groom's aged mother after the wedding. When the bride puts up her house for sale, her five brothers and sisters, whom she has not seen for years, descend upon her from all corners of the British Isles to try to prevent the sale.

Ep 36

Technique

A governess, in love with the father of her charge, is dismayed when she learns the widower is unaware of her feelings and plans to marry another woman. In her bitter disappointment, the governess turns the young boy against his prospective stepmother in an effort to prevent the marriage from taking place.

Ep 37

Gallin: All-American

The idyllic existence of an American college professor, who has moved with his second wife and two children to Mexico, is menaced by the sudden appearance of his first wife, who is determined to win him back.

Ep 38

Santa is No Saint

The fifth wealthiest woman in the world hires detectives to trail her fifth husband and ensure his faithfulness. The husband decides to regain his freedom by arranging his own ""death.""-Tv Guide

Ep 39

The Unwelcomed

Ep 40

The Red Sanders Story

Ep 41

Class of '58

Ep 42

Horns of the Dilemma

Ep 43

Little Girls Grow Up

A young man is trying to keep up pretenses even though the business he inherited from his father is failing. He is furious when a practical joker at the alumni reunion asks him if he needs a job. -NBC

Ep 44

The Shot

Ep 45

Mr. Krane

Ep 46

Yesterday is Gone

A wealthy industrialist offers to revive the dwindling industry in a small town. In his ruthless business dealings he threatens to ruin the town banker. The other prominent citizens are forced to choose between the banker and the industry the town needs so badly.- TV GUIDE

Ep 47

Double Door

Ep 48

The Happy Rest

Ep 49

The Gate

Ep 50

One Left Over

Ep 51

All the Trees in the Field

Ep 52

The Century Plant

Ep 53

Friday the 13th

Ep 54

The Old Maid

Ep 55

Mother Was a Bachelor

Ep 56

The Bottom of the River

Ep 57

The Carefree Tree

Ep 58

Interlude

Ep 59

The Big Box

Ep 60

Sincerely Yours, Charlie Fisher

Ep 61

Doc

Ep 62

The Amateur

Ep 63

Light and Shadow

Ep 64

Romney

Ep 65

O Promise Me

Ep 66

Hold My Hand and Run

Ep 67

Dark Possession

Ep 68

The Diamond

Ep 69

Susan and God

Ep 70

As Young As You Feel

Ep 71

The White Knight

Ep 72

The Anxious Years

Ep 73

The Heart of Mary Lincoln

Ep 74

The Middle Son

Ep 75

Valentine's Day

Ep 76

Summer Cannot Last

Ep 77

The Last Battlefield

Ep 78

The Catbird Seat

Ep 79

Dream House

Ep 80

The Runaways

Ep 81

The Ledger

Ep 82

When the Bough Breaks

Ep 83

I Want to March

Ep 84

Skylark

Ep 85

Tall, Dark Stranger

Ep 86

Anything But Love

Ep 87

Robin Daw

Ep 88

Letter to a Stranger

Ep 89

Dinner at Antoine's

Ep 90

The Mating of Watkins Tottle

Ep 91

Her Son's Wife

Ep 92

The Shining Palace

Ep 93

The Odd Ones

Ep 94

A Cowboy for Chris

Ep 95

The Rocking Chair

Ep 96

The Big Guy

Ep 97

Statute of Limitations

Ep 98

The Baron and the Banshees

Ep 99

Notebook Warrior

Ep 100

Temptation for a King

Ep 101

The White Knight

Ep 102

The Anxious Years

Ep 103

M is for the Many

Ep 104

Silent Partner

Ep 105

Winter in April

Ep 106

Bread Upon the Waters

Ep 107

The Giant Killer

Ep 108

The Book of Ruth

Ep 109

Singer in the Valley

Ep 110

The Heart of a Husband

Ep 111

From the Desk of Margaret Tydings

Ep 112

But You Look Like Sisters

Ep 113

The House of Seven Gables

Ep 114

Fiddlin' Man

Ep 115

The Hollow Woman

Ep 116

People in Glass

Ep 117

One of the Family

Ep 118

Young Hands, Young Feet

Ep 119

The Lark Shall Sing

Ep 120

In Dread of Winter

Ep 121

The Babylonian Heart

Ep 122

Ask Me No Questions

Ep 123

Whom Death Has Joined Together

Ep 124

The Wedding

Ep 125

The Reckoning

Ep 126

A Woman Named Ruby

Ep 127

The Bright Boy

Ep 128

The Carefree Tree

Ep 129

Graybeards and Witches

Ep 130

The Legend of Jenny Lind

Ep 131

Daughter of the Seventh Day

Ep 132

Night Must Fall

Ep 133

The 25th Hour

Ep 134

A Man and His Maid

Ep 135

Perspective

Ep 136

The Catamaran

Ep 137

Johnny Came Marching Home

Ep 138

A Family Affair

Ep 139

Blind Date

Ep 140

To Have and to Hold

Ep 141

Edwina Black

Ep 142

The Spare Room

Ep 143

The Bottle Imp

Ep 144

Brief Music

Ep 145

The Girl from Boro Park

Ep 146

To Whom It May Concern

Ep 147

Bachelor Buttons

Ep 148

The Children of Papa Juan

Ep 149

Herself Alone

Ep 150

Three for the Money

Ep 151

Taxi to the Moon

Ep 152

The Goodtime Boys

Ep 153

The American

Ep 154

Cause for Suspicion

Ep 155

Fight the Whole World

Ep 156

Autumn Crocus

Ep 157

George Has a Birthday

Ep 158

The Serpent's Tooth

Ep 159

Crime at Blossom's

Ep 160

The Luck of Amos Currie

Ep 161

Alison's House

Ep 162

Safe Place

Ep 163

The Guest Cottage

Ep 164

Forsaking All Others

Ep 165

Love, Honor and O'Day

Ep 166

The Damask Cheek

Ep 167

Moon Over

Ep 168

But Fear Itself

Ep 169

The Birthday Present

Ep 170

The Ghost of Greenwich Village

Ep 171

The Young and the Damned

Ep 172

There's Always Juliet

Ep 173

Seasoned Timber

Ep 174

The Declaration

Ep 175

High Places

Ep 176

Black Chiffon

Ep 177

Class of '58

Ep 178

Marriage by the Millions

Ep 179

Backfire

Ep 180

The Bishop Misbehaves

Ep 181

Remittance

Ep 182

Beg, Borrow or Steal

Ep 183

Summer Pavilion

Ep 184

The Feast

Ep 185

A Full, Rich Life

Ep 186

The Reverberator

Ep 187

Woman at the Window

Ep 188

Another Sky

Ep 189

Letter of Introduction

Ep 190

Home at Seven

Ep 191

The Cypress Tree

Ep 192

Belong to Me

Ep 193

Pygmalion Jones

Ep 194

Gretel

Ep 195

Some Man Will Want You

Ep 196

The Fall of the House of Usher

Ep 197

Cupid Rode a Horse

Ep 198

The Old Payola

Ep 199

The Perfect Alibi

Cast

John Conte

John Conte

Host