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The Philco Television Playhouse

  • TV Series
  • 1948–1956
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
143
YOUR RATING
Kraft Theatre (1947)
Drama

This live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc., during its eight-year run. During the first year, the show was sponsored by the Actor's Equity Ass... Read allThis live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc., during its eight-year run. During the first year, the show was sponsored by the Actor's Equity Association, and featured adaptations of Broadway plays and musicals. Bert Lytell, the former... Read allThis live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc., during its eight-year run. During the first year, the show was sponsored by the Actor's Equity Association, and featured adaptations of Broadway plays and musicals. Bert Lytell, the former President of the Association, acted as host. During the second season, an agreement was m... Read all

  • Stars
    • Bert Lytell
    • Jay Jackson
    • Bob Stanton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    143
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Bert Lytell
      • Jay Jackson
      • Bob Stanton
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys
      • 1 win & 7 nominations total

    Episodes269

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    Photos41

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Bert Lytell
    Bert Lytell
    • Self - Host…
    • 1948–1955
    Jay Jackson
    • Announcer…
    • 1950–1954
    Bob Stanton
    • Self - Announcer…
    • 1948–1951
    E.G. Marshall
    E.G. Marshall
    • Alf Rylett…
    • 1950–1955
    Vinton Hayworth
    Vinton Hayworth
    • H.L. Potter…
    • 1950–1952
    Vaughn Taylor
    Vaughn Taylor
    • Alfred Stubbs…
    • 1948–1951
    Nelson Olmsted
    Nelson Olmsted
    • Mr. Arcularis
    • 1949–1952
    Edgar Stehli
    Edgar Stehli
    • 1949–1953
    John Baragrey
    John Baragrey
    • Colonel Brandon…
    • 1948–1955
    John Seymour
    • 1949–1951
    John Newland
    John Newland
    • D.W. Griffith…
    • 1950–1952
    Joseph Buloff
    Joseph Buloff
    • The Cantor
    • 1950–1953
    David Opatoshu
    David Opatoshu
    • George…
    • 1952–1955
    Olive Deering
    Olive Deering
    • Desdemona…
    • 1948–1953
    Alfred Ryder
    Alfred Ryder
    • Philip…
    • 1949–1952
    Ben Lackland
    • Pickett…
    • 1949–1952
    Alfreda Wallace
    • 1949–1951
    Walter Matthau
    Walter Matthau
    • Iago…
    • 1952–1955
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    7.4143
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    Featured reviews

    10dwgreen-18174

    Hard Road to The Top

    Wow. I just happened to come across Jean Pearson's picture and artical in a February 1949 addition of Life. She was being followed as she was training to be an actor she walked along the famous Schubert Alley of Broadway when she was 21. They mentioned she was supporting herself on $105-a month job in a hospital blood bank. The magazine also showed her waiting in the then famous William and Morris talent agency. Actors like Jean would sometimes wait all day and if the agency got them a job, it would take 10%.

    I looked her up to see if her hard work and sacrifice had paid off and was happy to see, to some extent she had moderate success in such a tough profession.
    9Hup234!

    It really was the Golden Age of Television.

    As we enter Y2K, it's good to look back on such terrific programs as The Philco Television Playhouse (so named for a time when one sponsor would pick up the whole tab for the series), when the production people strove for excellence, to do the very best they could on the air for their audience, and when actual thought and attention to the on-screen activities was mandatory. (It was for programs such as this that the "TV Dinner" was created, for better or worse. But at least there was something then to attract our continuous attention.) Philco Television Playhouse and the other anthologies of the day were very, very good television, indeed.

    More like this

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    7.5
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    7.6
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    7.4
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    Goodyear Playhouse
    7.6
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    8.3
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    Lux Video Theatre
    7.3
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    The Big Story
    6.7
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    Omnibus
    8.2
    Omnibus
    The United States Steel Hour
    7.8
    The United States Steel Hour
    Armstrong Circle Theatre
    7.5
    Armstrong Circle Theatre

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the first season, the show had three names: "The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse" for episodes 1.1 through 1.28; "Repertory Theatre" for episodes 1.29 through 1.31; "Arena Theatre" for episodes 1.32 through 1.38; and finally, starting with episode 1.39, the original name, "The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse", was restored.
    • Connections
      Featured in Grace Kelly: The American Princess (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Salute to Industry
      By Morris Mamorsky

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    FAQ15

    • How many seasons does The Philco Television Playhouse have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 1948 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Arena Theatre
    • Production company
      • Showcase Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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