Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows With Ruth Woodman

1. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Western stories and legends based, and filmed, in and around Death Valley, California. One of the longest-running Western series, originating on radio in the 1930s. The continuing sponsor was "20 Mule Team" Borax, a product formerly mined in Death Valley.

Stars: Stanley Andrews, Robert Taylor, Ronald Reagan, Dale Robertson

Votes: 1,045

2. Suspense (1949–1954)

25 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery

Live plays featuring people who were in dangerous and threatening situations.

Stars: Rex Marshall, Robert Emhardt, Robert H. Harris, John Baragrey

Votes: 357

3. Lux Video Theatre (1950–1959)

30 min | Comedy, Drama

Live dramatic shows featuring Hollywood stars, adaptations of motion pictures, and a host accompanying. The host would introduce each act, and would conduct an interview with the stars at the end of the play.

Stars: Ken Carpenter, Jay Jackson, Otto Kruger, Gordon MacRae

Votes: 153

4. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)

60 min | Drama

Documentary dramas, plays that were based on true stories, were the forte of Armstrong Circle Theater. Many movie actors and actresses got their start here.

Stars: Douglas Edwards, Sandy Becker, Bob Sherry, John Cameron Swayze

Votes: 123

5. Last of the Pony Riders (1953)

Passed | 58 min | Drama, Western

Ex-Pony Express rider Autry ties to protect his US mail franchise as the Pony Express gives way to stage coach mail and the telegraph.

Director: George Archainbaud | Stars: Gene Autry, Champion, Kathleen Case, Dickie Jones

Votes: 117

6. Cameo Theatre (1950–1955)

30 min | Drama

Live dramatic plays presented in the round with minimal props, scenery and costumes.

Stars: Claire Luce, Ernest Truex, Donald Briggs, Robert Bolger

Votes: 23

7. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
Episode: A Beautiful Friendship (1951)

30 min | Drama

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Director: Jack Tyler | Stars: Sheila Bromley, Jerome Cowan

8. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
Episode: Enter Rosalind (1951)

30 min | Drama

A High school drama teacher attempts to coach a group of temperamental students with mostly comic results

Director: George Simpson | Stars: Leo Arnold, Mary Linn Beller, Edwin Bruce, Ben Cooper

9. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
Episode: Man Talk (1954)

30 min | Drama

A shy woman sets her mind on finding Mr. Right, but when she does she has to tackle the problem of a proposal.

Director: Cort Steen | Stars: Gage Clarke, Enid Markey, Bob Sherry

10. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
Episode: Recapture (1952)

30 min | Drama

Five years before in Naples, Italy a WAC and a young airman made a date to meet at "The Top of the Mark" in San Francisco. However, two different people keep the date and a lot of romantic confusion results.

Director: Garry Simpson | Stars: Barbara Baxley, Grace Kelly, Darren McGavin, Rene Paul

11. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
Episode: Round-Up (1950)

30 min | Drama

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Stars: William Free, James Maloney, Klock Ryder, Dudley Sadler

12. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
Episode: The Right Approach (1953)

30 min | Drama

By allowing themselves to be guided in their attitude toward a young couple by a "how to" book instead of their real emotions, the parents appear indifferent to their children's wish to get married.

Stars: Elizabeth Montgomery, Claudia Morgan, Ona Munson, Bob Sherry

13. Cameo Theatre (1950–1955)
Episode: A Point of View (1950)

Drama

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Stars: Leona Marical, Lola Montes, William Post Jr., Tom Walsh

14. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: A Bullet for the D.A. (1961)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Belle has settled down to a respectable life but resents people in authority and how her husband is treated. When asked to recreate a famous stage robbery for a celebration Belle plots revenge against Judge Clayton.

Director: Harold Daniels | Stars: Carole Mathews, William Thourlby, Don Haggerty, Carlyle Mitchell

Votes: 22

15. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: A Killing in Diamonds (1955)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Two miners, Slack and Arnold, arrive in San Francisco but are cautious about showing the diamonds they've unearthed. They need investors to find more and greed gets the better of men who should be wiser about elaborate swindles.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Michael Vallon, Robin Short, Baynes Barron, Emmett Vogan

Votes: 24

16. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Arsenic Springs (1957)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Bank manager Dan Crosby is accused of a gold theft and is almost lynched. But his girl Mary breaks him out from jail and Dan is able to get a confession from the real culprit by using the proximity of arsenic water to a thirsty man.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Bert Hanson, Joan Swift, Joseph Hamilton, Douglas Henderson

Votes: 25

17. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Auto Intoxication (1958)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Tildy and Porphyry Smith move from the Mojave Desert to LA, where they bring the first car to the area. But it's a rather unique car.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Raymond Hatton, Elizabeth Slifer, Herb Vigran, Chuck Stanaker

Votes: 32

18. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Big Liz (1958)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Liz saves Scrubby's life in a mine accident and that leads to a partnership. They hit it big but then Liz's husband, who had deserted her years before, shows up demanding most of the money. It's up to Scrubby to then save his friend Liz.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Hope Emerson, Percy Helton, Charles Fredericks, Tedd Hadfield

Votes: 29

19. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Bill Bottle's Birthday (1956)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Bill sells his gold claim for $100,000 so he invites long-lost relatives to an elaborate family reunion. Those that arrive are really grifters hoping to get some of his fortune. Not bitter, Bill treats them like they are really family.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Don Kent, Camille Franklin, Jack Daly, Robert Paquin

Votes: 32

20. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Birth of a Boom (1958)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Mining has disappeared in 1900 Nevada but men like Jim Butler keep looking. He locates a major find in Tonopah, making his partners Johnny, Tasker and himself rich. But keeping claim jumpers at bay may need expert help like Wyatt Earp.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Roy Barcroft, Joel Smith, Jean Moorhead, Kathy Gilmore

Votes: 20

21. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Black Bart The PO8 (1954)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Wells Fargo is plagued by a series of stagecoach robberies by Black Bart who taunts their agents with his poetry. A retired teacher Bolton offers the detectives advice while he courts his landlady Miss Webb.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Don Beddoe, Helen Brown, John Damler, Helene Heigh

Votes: 37

22. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Gold Rush in Reverse (1957)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

After gold is discovered in California, Lt. Beale endeavors to be the first to make it back east with a sample of the precious mineral. His travels involve escaping Mexican bandits.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Stanley Lachman, Laurie Mitchell, I. Stanford Jolley, Roy Gordon

Votes: 25

23. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: California's First Ice Man (1955)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Peter Jeffries arrives in Sacramento to revive his family's fortune but learns Phineas Colby has monopolized financially the town. While courting the kind Laura Peter decides ice, not gold is the key to his future wealth.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Rhodes Reason, Donna Drew, I. Stanford Jolley, Nesdon Booth

Votes: 28

24. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: California's First Schoolmarm (1957)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Among the first American settlers to California, Olive and Vicki organize a school when the men leave to fight Mexico. Without supplies the women improvise with charcoal and other daily items near the Santa Clara mission.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Dorothy Granger, Shari Stennette, Richard Keith, Charles Stalmaker

Votes: 22

25. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: California's Paul Revere (1957)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

A small garrison, led by Lt. Gillespie, is besieged by the Mexican army during the war with United States. He sends John Brown to make a daring ride to Monterey to bring reinforcements, finding difficulties and gunfire along the way,

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Alex Sharp, Don C. Harvey, Irene James, Don Diamond

Votes: 24

26. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Camel Train (1957)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Edward Beale is in charge of an unusual experiment of the US Army before the Civil War. Camels are imported to travel the vast distances of the desert southwest while the men must learn of animal's behavior and capabilities.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Stanley Lachman, Laurie Mitchell, Lyle Latell, William 'Red' Reynolds

Votes: 25

27. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Cap'n Pegleg (1960)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

A vengeful sea captain goes after the sailors he holds responsible for the loss of his leg.

Director: Bud Townsend | Stars: Douglas Fowley, Jerry Paris, Aneta Corsaut, William Schallert

Votes: 28

28. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Claim Jumpin' Jennie (1953)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Jennie has a reputation as a claim jumper and trouble brews when she and a miner argue over rights to a rich strike. But there's more trouble for Jennie when her daughter arrives unexpectedly, thinking her mother is a wealthy mine owner.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Wallace Ford, Irene Barton, Karen Sharpe, Harry Harvey

Votes: 40

29. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Cockeyed Charlie Parkhurst (1958)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Charlie Parkhurst escapes a poorhouse, apprentices to a livery and becomes a horse expert. Hired by Wells Fargo in California, Charlie is one their most trusted drivers for decades. But a surprising secret is revealed in death.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Frank Gerstle, Michael Whalen, Fred Graham, Roscoe Ates

Votes: 28

30. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Cynthy's Dream Dress (1953)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Cynthy lives in the desert but wants to get out and experience the finer things in life especially a silk dress. She is in love with Zeb but he has no money. She takes a chance on love in hopes that the finer things will come.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Virginia Lee, Brad Johnson, Helen Brown, Steve Conte

Votes: 45

31. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Dear Teacher (1953)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

New schoolteacher arrives, keeps unruly students in line with her sweet demeanor and sharpshooting skills. One vindictive female student and some town busybodies try to get her run out of town.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Nancy Hale, Donna Corcoran, Michael Moore, Paul McGuire

Votes: 63

32. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Death Valley Scotty (1955)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

This episode re-creates the record-breaking run of the "Scott Special," a passenger train of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway commissioned by Walter E. Scott in 1905. Santa Fe ... See full summary »

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Jack Lomas, William Schallert, John Hubbard, Gordon Barnes

Votes: 34

33. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Death and Taxes (1955)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Innocent Bud Payson arrives in wild mining town of Limbo and is hired to collect back taxes by the sheriff. Bud enlists Curly Bill, the area's toughest man to help, not realizing a robbery is planned when he has gathered all the money.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Wayne Mallory, Wes Hudman, Vernon Rich, Eve Brent

Votes: 39

34. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Dogs of the Mist (1960)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Steve Hewitt accidentally kills the dogs of miner Tully who had sent a desperate message. Haunted by his mistake he searches for the man while his friends suspect him of hiding a lucrative mine. Steve is guided by mysterious howling.

Director: Nat Perrin | Stars: James Douglas, Eleanor Berry, Craig Duncan, Leonard Bell

Votes: 23

35. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: 11,000 Miners Can't Be Wrong (1954)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Jim Hardwicke's act of self defense becomes a murder charge because of an ambitious politician Pike. An effort to make Columbia, California the new capital involves 11,000 signatures and lawyer Barrett uses that to his advantage.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: William Boyett, Claudia Barrett, Bill Kennedy, Gordon Barnes

Votes: 33

36. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Emperor Norton (1956)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Joshua Norton was a prosperous businessman who after losing his fortune became an eccentric, declaring himself Emperor of Mexico. His fellow San Franciscans treated his humorous behavior with kindness and dignity until his death.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Parker Garvie, Pat O'Hara, Mauritz Hugo, Charles Heard

Votes: 27

37. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Empire of Youth (1958)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Kentuckian William Coleman arrives in 1849 California to supply a city of dreams with necessary goods. But to do that, he must combat dangerous gangs.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Gregg Palmer, Darlene Fields, Virginia Lee, Douglas Odney

Votes: 25

38. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Escape (1956)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Evelyn Nelson is tired of life as wife of superintendent Harry, bored with living in isolated mining camps. But when Burke, an escaped killer holds them hostage, she and her husband must outwit him if they are to survive.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Mark Dana, Beverly Tyler, John Cason, Fran Allen

Votes: 34

39. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Fair Exchange (1959)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Charlie Stoner and his wife Phoebe struggle to get by, in large part because of his drinking. When a man from the East arrives and is willing to grubstake him, things look up until valuable items go missing. But is Charlie really to blame?

Director: James Sheldon | Stars: George Mitchell, Robert Griffin, Linda Watkins, Gregg Dunn

Votes: 19

40. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Faro Bill's Layout (1956)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Grace rejects Bill when she discovers that he is a Faro dealer who fatally shot a man. She's relieved when he leaves town but gets a big surprise when he comes back with an unlikely companion.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Britt Lomond, Jack Daly, Fran Allen, Diane Brewster

Votes: 30

41. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Fifty Years a Mystery (1957)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Charlie Bates is a watchman in the mining town of Bodie and believes he has second sight. When a stagecoach robbery happens to miles away he's able to recount specific details. Many years later wife Edith provides the solution.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Patrick Waltz, Rosemarie Ace, John Holland, X Brands

Votes: 28

42. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Forbidden Wedding (1960)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

A couple face opposition to their marriage: the governor of California, whom the woman once rejected.

Director: Nat Perrin | Stars: Ziva Rodann, Ted Otis, Ben Wright, Edward Colmans

Votes: 26

43. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Gamble with Death (1961)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

An old prospector partners with a newcomer in search of a gold strike.

Director: James Sheldon | Stars: Ken Murray, Dick Sargent, Eddie Quillan, Tom Greenway

Votes: 26

44. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Gold Is Where You Find It (1956)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

A stagecoach robbery involving gold bars occurs but a novice sheriff has his doubts regarding the eyewitness accounts. A matter of simple math and weight horses can carry help him catch the criminals.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: George E. Mather, Claudia Barrett, George Baxter, Michael Bryant

Votes: 30

45. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Halfway Girl (1954)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Gordon McLean and Ginny Cluett meet then fall in love even though they belong to feuding families. They intend to marry until Gordon makes a deathbed promise to his father starting the animosity in the next generation.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Steven Clark, Barbara Bestar, Bill Kennedy, Hank Patterson

Votes: 29

46. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: His Brother's Keeper (1960)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Six months after his brother assassinated President Lincoln, Edwin Booth arrives in Downieville to perform a Shakespearean show against wishes of the town's bully and his followers.

Director: Murray Golden | Stars: Harry Townes, Alan Baxter, Don Grady, William Vaughn

Votes: 26

47. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Human Sacrifice (1960)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

An Indian chief's young widow fights an ancient ritual requiring her to be killed following her husband's death.

Director: Murray Golden | Stars: Christopher Dark, Arlene Martel, Russ Bender, John Hackett

Votes: 25

48. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Husband Pro-Tem (1954)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Phelps, a railroad executive, needs Andy Prentice's help with Chief Black Hawk in getting permission for the train to go through Indian territory. His daughter Evelyn causes trouble for Andy and he must fight the brave warrior.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Jock Mahoney, Lane Bradford, Gloria Marshall, John O'Rourke

Votes: 40

49. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: I Am Joaquin (1955)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

The outlaw career of California's notorious Joaquin Murieta is portrayed. It's seen through the experience of Ann Dix whose husband is murdered and her child disappears, leading her to spend years searching for her daughter.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: Cliff Fields, Jeanne Cooper, Steve Conte, John Damler

Votes: 30

50. Death Valley Days (1952–1970)
Episode: Jerkline Jitters (1958)

TV-PG | 25 min | Western

Teamsters Lem and Brad make what is usually an uneventful time hauling borax. But one trip they must contend with crazed cook Chang, an Indian burning, and Lem gambling away some of the mules. Brad just wants to wed Enid.

Director: Stuart E. McGowan | Stars: William Haade, Clay Randolph, Audrey Conti, Paul McGuire

Votes: 22