Prudential Family Playhouse

Prudential Family Playhouse
Genre Anthology drama
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 13
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time 48 mins.
Release
Original network CBS
Picture format Black-and-white
Audio format Monaural
Original release October 10, 1950 (1950-10-10) – March 27, 1951 (1951-03-27)

Prudential Family Playhouse is an American anthology drama series that aired on live CBS from October 1950 to March 1951.[1][2] Sponsored by Prudential Insurance,[3] the series features actors in adaptations of Broadway plays or best selling novels.

Among its stars were Eva Marie Saint, Grace Kelly, Jessica Tandy, Helen Hayes, Kay Francis, Kevin McCarthy (actor), Dorothy Gish, Gertrude Lawrence, and Bert Lahr. Its writers included playwrights George Abbott, Robert Anderson, Ruth Gordon, and Sidney Howard.

Production notes

The series was broadcast live from New York City. It broadcast in only twelve cities across the United States because the writers of the properties used in the series refused to allow the show to be broadcast using kinescope.[4]

Prudential Family Playhouse aired on alternate Tuesdays opposite the highly rated Texaco Star Theater, hosted by Milton Berle. As a result, the series struggled in the ratings. In February 1951, CBS announced that they were canceling the series. The final episode aired on March 27, 1951.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Kear, Lynn; Rossman, John. The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances. McFarland. p. 15. ISBN 0-786-43198-9.
  2. 1 2 "CBS-TV Drama Folds, Licked By M. Berle". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 4 February 24, 1951. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. ↑ History Factory (2001). The Power of a Story: Voices of Prudential and Its People. Harcourt, Inc. p. 177. ISBN 0-159-00526-4.
  4. ↑ "Video's Top Spotters More Kine Than Live". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 4 November 4, 1950. ISSN 0006-2510.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/22/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.