The Campbell Playhouse (TV series)

The Campbell Playhouse (also known as Campbell Soundstage, TV Soundstage, and Campbell Summer Soundstage, (summer hiatus only, see below))[1] was an American anthology series and television drama that aired on NBC June 6, 1952 – May 28, 1954.[2]

This article is about NBC television series. For CBS radio series, see The Campbell Playhouse (radio series).
The Campbell Playhouse
Also known asCampbell Soundstage
TV Soundstage
Directed byGarry Simpson
Alex Segal
Marc Daniels
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes51
Production
Executive producer(s)Martin Horrell
Producer(s)Martin Horrell
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJune 6, 1952 (1952-06-06) –
May 28, 1954 (1954-05-28)

The series was sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company.

History

Radio series
Main article: The Campbell Playhouse (radio series)

The television series was based on the 1938–40 radio series of the same name. The radio version was originally aired on CBS as The Mercury Theatre on the Air beginning July 11, 1938. The series made its last broadcast under that title on December 4, 1938. After that, the Campbell Soup Company sponsored the radio drama and renamed it The Campbell Playhouse. The Campbell Playhouse made its radio debut on December 9, 1938.[3]

Orson Welles served as the host of the program. He was hired after casting directors heard Welles' work in the 1938 Halloween special War of the Worlds.

The series offered 60-minute adaptations of famous novels and plays and, on certain occasions, adaptations of popular motion pictures of the time.[4]

The radio program ended on March 31, 1940.[5]

Television series

The Campbell's Soup Corporation decided to renew the radio series but this time on television. On June 6, 1952, The Campbell Playhouse aired on NBC.

The series originally aired as a one time summer replacement for the NBC sitcom The Aldrich Family. The next year on July 10, 1953, the series came back for its second season as a permanent summer replacement series, (The Aldrich Family went off the air on May 28, 1953), and also premiered on the fall lineup. The series also aired under the new name Campbell Soundstage.[2][6]

The series ended its run on May 28, 1954.

Campbell Summer Soundstage

On June 4, 1954, the series aired a summer hiatus series entitled Campbell Summer Soundstage.

It was a short-lived revival of the television series. The series aired reruns of anthology series such as ABC's Gruen Playhouse, (later known as Gruen Guild Theatre), DuMont's Dramatic Shorts,[1] and NBC's Ford Theatre.[2]

Production notes

The series was originally filmed live until its second season when it was released on film.

Directors

[7]

Producers
  • Martin Horrell (also served as executive producer)
  • Marc Daniels (also served as associate producer)

[8]

Episodes

Broadcast history

The Campbell Playhouse aired on Fridays at 9:30-10:00 pm for its entire run. Campbell Summer Soundstage aired at that time as well.[2]

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References
  1. "Campbell Playhouse NBC (ended 1954)". www.tv.com. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  2. "CTVA US Anthology series - Campbell Playhouse". ctva.biz. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  3. "The Mercury Theatre of the Air". www.mercurytheatre.info. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  4. "My old time radio shows Campbell Playhouse". www.myoldradio.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  5. "Orson Welles - Campbell Playhouse". www.orsonwelles.org. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  6. "Campbell Playhouse 1952, TV Show". www.tvguide.com. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  7. "Full Cast & Crew: Campbell Summer Soundstage (1952-1954) Directors". www.imdb.com. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  8. "Full Cast & Crew: Campbell Summer Soundstage (1952-1954) Producers". www.imdb.com. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
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