Matinee Theater (1955)

Name: Matinee Theater
Genre: Drama
Cast: John Conte

★ 5.3 60m/ep Drama Latest: S3 E135

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.

Cast: John Conte
First aired: October 31, 1955

Seasons

Season 1 · 199 episodes
Season 2 · 240 episodes
Season 3 · 135 episodes

Season 1 Episodes

1. Beginning Now
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.
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.
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.
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.
6. The House on Wildwood Lane
7. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
8. One for the Road
9. An Apple for Miss Myrtle
10. The Man Without a Country
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.
12. She's the One with the Funny Face
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.
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.
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.
16. Midsummer
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
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
19. Dispossessed
20. One for the Road
A beautiful young socialite is found murdered.
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.
22. Wuthering Heights
A mother discovers she is falling in love with the man her daughter has married.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
28. Cordially - With Bombs
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
30. O'Toole from Moscow
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
32. This One is Different
A man is determined to prevent his teen-age daughter from leaving home and entering a convent - Tv Guide
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
39. The Unwelcomed
40. The Red Sanders Story
41. Class of '58
42. Horns of the Dilemma
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
44. The Shot
45. Mr. Krane
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
47. Double Door
48. The Happy Rest
49. The Gate
50. One Left Over
51. All the Trees in the Field
52. The Century Plant
53. Friday the 13th
54. The Old Maid
55. Mother Was a Bachelor
56. The Bottom of the River
57. The Carefree Tree
58. Interlude
59. The Big Box
60. Sincerely Yours, Charlie Fisher
61. Doc
62. The Amateur
63. Light and Shadow
64. Romney
65. O Promise Me
66. Hold My Hand and Run
67. Dark Possession
68. The Diamond
69. Susan and God
70. As Young As You Feel
71. The White Knight
72. The Anxious Years
73. The Heart of Mary Lincoln
74. The Middle Son
75. Valentine's Day
76. Summer Cannot Last
77. The Last Battlefield
78. The Catbird Seat
79. Dream House
80. The Runaways
81. The Ledger
82. When the Bough Breaks
83. I Want to March
84. Skylark
85. Tall, Dark Stranger
86. Anything But Love
87. Robin Daw
88. Letter to a Stranger
89. Dinner at Antoine's
90. The Mating of Watkins Tottle
91. Her Son's Wife
92. The Shining Palace
93. The Odd Ones
94. A Cowboy for Chris
95. The Rocking Chair
96. The Big Guy
97. Statute of Limitations
98. The Baron and the Banshees
99. Notebook Warrior
100. Temptation for a King
101. The White Knight
102. The Anxious Years
103. M is for the Many
104. Silent Partner
105. Winter in April
106. Bread Upon the Waters
107. The Giant Killer
108. The Book of Ruth
109. Singer in the Valley
110. The Heart of a Husband
111. From the Desk of Margaret Tydings
112. But You Look Like Sisters
113. The House of Seven Gables
114. Fiddlin' Man
115. The Hollow Woman
116. People in Glass
117. One of the Family
118. Young Hands, Young Feet
119. The Lark Shall Sing
120. In Dread of Winter
121. The Babylonian Heart
122. Ask Me No Questions
123. Whom Death Has Joined Together
124. The Wedding
125. The Reckoning
126. A Woman Named Ruby
127. The Bright Boy
128. The Carefree Tree
129. Graybeards and Witches
130. The Legend of Jenny Lind
131. Daughter of the Seventh Day
132. Night Must Fall
133. The 25th Hour
134. A Man and His Maid
135. Perspective
136. The Catamaran
137. Johnny Came Marching Home
138. A Family Affair
139. Blind Date
140. To Have and to Hold
141. Edwina Black
142. The Spare Room
143. The Bottle Imp
144. Brief Music
145. The Girl from Boro Park
146. To Whom It May Concern
147. Bachelor Buttons
148. The Children of Papa Juan
149. Herself Alone
150. Three for the Money
151. Taxi to the Moon
152. The Goodtime Boys
153. The American
154. Cause for Suspicion
155. Fight the Whole World
156. Autumn Crocus
157. George Has a Birthday
158. The Serpent's Tooth
159. Crime at Blossom's
160. The Luck of Amos Currie
161. Alison's House
162. Safe Place
163. The Guest Cottage
164. Forsaking All Others
165. Love, Honor and O'Day
166. The Damask Cheek
167. Moon Over
168. But Fear Itself
169. The Birthday Present
170. The Ghost of Greenwich Village
A college boy accidentally kills a girl who is trying to blackmail him.
171. The Young and the Damned
172. There's Always Juliet
173. Seasoned Timber
174. The Declaration
175. High Places
176. Black Chiffon
177. Class of '58
178. Marriage by the Millions
179. Backfire
180. The Bishop Misbehaves
181. Remittance
182. Beg, Borrow or Steal
183. Summer Pavilion
184. The Feast
185. A Full, Rich Life
186. The Reverberator
187. Woman at the Window
188. Another Sky
189. Letter of Introduction
An American divorcee, transplanted to Paris, receives a letter stating that she is about to be visited by a young man who doesn't know she is his mother.
190. Home at Seven
191. The Cypress Tree
192. Belong to Me
193. Pygmalion Jones
194. Gretel
195. Some Man Will Want You
196. The Fall of the House of Usher
197. Cupid Rode a Horse
198. The Old Payola
199. The Perfect Alibi