"You Are There" (1953) TV series 1953-1957

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Saul Levitt (episode)
Howard Merrill (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | unknown

Release Date:

1 February 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

Walter Cronkite hosted the reenactments of historical events. Shows included "The Landing of the Hindenburg", "The Salem Witchcraft Trials", "The Gettysburg Address", "The Fall of Troy", and "The Scuttling of the Graf Spee".

Plot Keywords:

Reenactment | Scene Based On Painting | Based On Radio Series

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Walter Cronkite

...

Himself - Host - Narrator / ... (113 episodes, 1953-1971)

Series Directed by
Sidney Lumet		(10 episodes, 1953-1955)
Bernard Girard		(9 episodes, 1953-1955)
William D. Russell		(4 episodes, 1956-1957)
Jack Gage		(3 episodes, 1955)
John Frankenheimer		(1 episode, 1954)

Series Writing credits
Jack Bennett		(3 episodes, 1956-1957)
Jeremy Daniel		(2 episodes, 1953-1954)
E. Jack Neuman		(2 episodes, 1953-1954)
Leslie Slote		(2 episodes, 1953)
Maury Stern		(2 episodes, 1954-1955)
Don Clark		(2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Bernard Girard		(2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Leo Davis		(2 episodes, 1955)
Walter Bernstein		(unknown episodes)
Shirley Gordon		(unknown episodes)
Saul Levitt		(unknown episodes)
Arnold Manoff		(unknown episodes)
Howard Merrill		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
James Fonda	....	producer (10 episodes, 1953-1957)
Charles Russell	....	producer (5 episodes, 1953-1955)

Series Cinematography by
Eddie Fitzgerald		(5 episodes, 1953-1955)
J. Burgi Contner		(3 episodes, 1955)
Lloyd Ahern		(3 episodes, 1956-1957)

Series Film Editing by
Buddy Small		(3 episodes, 1953-1955)
Lora Hays		(3 episodes, 1955)
Richard Cahoon		(3 episodes, 1956-1957)

Series Casting by
Joe Scully		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Bob Markel		(1 episode, 1953)

Series Art Direction by
William Ferrari		(5 episodes, 1953-1955)
Bob Markel		(3 episodes, 1955)
Lewis H. Creber		(2 episodes, 1956-1957)
Lyle R. Wheeler		(2 episodes, 1956-1957)

Series Set Decoration by
Rudy Butler		(5 episodes, 1953-1955)

Series Costume Design by
Oscar Rodriguez		(3 episodes, 1953-1955)
Mary Merrill		(3 episodes, 1955)
Dick James		(2 episodes, 1956-1957)

Series Makeup Department
Carmen Dirigo	....	hair stylist (5 episodes, 1953-1955)
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1953-1955)
George Fiala	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1955)

Series Production Management
Walter Blake	....	production supervisor (8 episodes, 1953-1955)
Sidney S. Van Keuren	....	production manager (5 episodes, 1953-1955)
George Justin	....	production supervisor (3 episodes, 1955)
J. Paul Popkin	....	production supervisor (3 episodes, 1956-1957)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Dixon	....	assistant director (5 episodes, 1953-1955)
Charles H. Maguire	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1955)
Wilbur McGaugh	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1956-1957)
Jack Fitzstephens	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Joel Moss	....	sound (4 episodes, 1953-1955)
Frank Webster	....	sound (3 episodes, 1953-1955)
Edward J. Johnstone	....	sound supervisor (3 episodes, 1955)
Philip Mitchell	....	sound (2 episodes, 1953-1955)
Bernard Freericks	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Art Seid	....	supervising editor (3 episodes, 1956-1957)

Series Other crew
Valerie Sharaf	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1955)

Production Companies

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1953-1957) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Woodhaven Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Quotes:

[last lines]
Narrator:What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times... and you were there.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Xena: Warrior Princess: You Are There (#6.13)" (2001)

Does anybody remember Walter?

I somehow stumbled upon this looking at the bio of director John Frankenheimer, and thought I'd throw in a quick review, just to see if I can stir up anybody else's memory.

These "films" (and I use that term loosely) were shown to me in the mid-1960's during elem. history class, and they were about on par with the "Mr. Bungle" series Pee-Wee Herman used to feature on his show. Each black and white episode was introduced by Walter Cronkite "embedded" right in the middle of some historical event, and it was all downhill from there. Bad acting eliciting snickers and catcalls from 3rd graders is most-likely not something Mr. Frankenheimer featured prominently on his resume', but he was probably more proud of these than THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU!