237:: to televise five different stage plays per week live, airing around noon in order to promote color TV (which had just been developed) 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 (or was) his own set decorator (selecting furnishings and hand props)—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
42:
341:. And, my God, the telephone rang one day when I was working at WNEW, and I picked up the phone and listened very carefully, and she said, “We want to do your script.” I was stunned. I hung up, and everybody else in the office looked at me with vengeance. That’s where it began, professionally, where I was able to make some money out of the craft. After that happened, I began to figure out that if I did one television script a month, and they paid me at least $ 500 for that month, I could quit this job and live that way, doing one script a month for things like
293:, “An interesting early experiment in the unique dramatic possibilities of television… produced in the round, using a minimum of props. It made considerable use of closeups and other camera techniques to focus attention on the characterizations of individual actors. High quality scripts were used, both originals and adaptations for television.” Broadcast on June 14, 1950, Violett’s adaptation of “The Lottery” was the fifth episode of
301:“technique” of no scenery. “The Lottery” episode was awarded the Single Program Award by the National Conference for Community and Justice, for “promotion of mutual tolerance between people of different races and religions,” and thereby caused quite a stir in the middle of the era of blacklisting, especially as it was the subject of articles in both
336:
radio station in New York, as what we called a continuity writer, which paid enough, I suppose, to eat. And at that time television was beginning, and I figured why not try it and see what I could do. I had a little story in my head and I wrote it. You know the phrase “throw it over the transom?”
220:. McCleery's method of staging employed minimal sets and props well lit within a black background, enabling cameras to move about with much freedom in the darkness, picking up shots from any angle. McCleery's skill with this type of staging led directly to his producer role with NBC's
473:
Each episode ended with McCleery's trademark closing tag, a hand holding chalk and writing "Albert McCleery" on a blackboard. The hand, however, was not McCleery's; although realistic in appearance, it was actually a mannequin hand holding the chalk.
1015:
936:
897:
786:
669:
Episodes emphasized content of the stories presented rather than visual elements. "No props, scenery, or fancy costumes were used in the productions." David
Crandall directed. The program originated from
226:. The technique put the focus directly on the characters and dialogue rather than scenery. The way that McCleery used cameras became known as the "cameo shot" and was imitated widely.
429:
NBC carried the series as a replacement show four times: It was telecast from June 14 to
September 27, 1950, as a summer replacement for the second half-hour of
317:… last week presented one of the most exciting plays ever shown on U.S. television.” Violett’s teleplay was produced again on August 31, 1951, as an episode of
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212:, introduced to television the concept of theater-in-the-round, which had been well established and popularized since 1947 by
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was notable for developing young writers. Scripter
Raphael Hayes recalled entering broadcasting after he left the Army:
715:
753:
337:
That’s what I did–to the slush pile over at NBC. “A Little Night Music,” it was called, and I think it was a
1074:
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from
January 6 to April 13, 1952. The series concluded in 1955 as a summer replacement (July 3 to August 21) for
1234:
1134:
233:
When Al McCleery got back to the States, he originated a most ambitious theatrical TV series for NBC called
41:
24:
1108:
855:
615:, Dan Morgan, Larry Kerr, Sanford Gold, Phil Sterling, Roger De Koven, Lyn Merrill, James Van Dyk,
562:, Pat O'Malley, James Little, John Gerstad, Tom Heaphy, Robert Bolger, Harry Kingston, John Harvey
193:
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The premiere episode was "It Takes a Thief". Other presentations were adaptations of
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and simply decorating the scene with a minimum of props. It took a bit of ingenuity.
580:, Harry Hugenot, Robert Bolger, James Little, Paul Lilly, Bob Warren, Ann Anderson
523:
385:
185:
297:, and helped McCleery establish his reputation as a television innovator with his
818:
708:
Total
Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present
638:
577:
519:
431:
405:
370:
274:
258:
222:
209:
80:
1171:
291:
The
Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946 to Present
1154:
1094:
1057:
652:
634:
19:
This article is about the NBC anthology series. For the theater in Miami, see
1203:
599:
418:
217:
72:
20:
746:
The
Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present
612:
595:
573:
413:
229:
Jim
Buckley of the Pewter Plough Playhouse (Cambria, California) recalled:
309:
magazines. “Without scenery, well-known actors or advance fanfare,” wrote
710:(4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 139.
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375:
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213:
1179:
748:(7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 154.
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196:, from 1950 to 1955, three times as a summer replacement and once as a
380:
355:
675:
490:. Additional episodes included those shown in the table below.
62:
671:
333:
269:
detailed the scripting contribution of Ellen M. Violett:
189:
146:
831:"Paley Center for Media: She Made It: Ellen M. Violett"
273:
Her first teleplay to be produced was an adaptation of
1141:. Indiana, Evansville. August 14, 1955. p. 17-B.
678:
was the sponsor, and Harry W. Junkin was the writer.
435:. From June 18, 1951, to August 6, 1951, it replaced
424:
772:
What Women
Watched: Daytime Television in the 1950s
289:was, as described by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh in
285:in 1950. Created and produced by Albert McCleery,
1201:
456:Time slots for the broadcasts were as follows:
253:featured adaptations from the short stories of
922:The Cambridge Companion to George Bernard Shaw
925:. Cambridge University Press. p. 320.
743:
1215:1950s American anthology television series
962:"This Week -- Debuts, Highlights, Changes"
460:1950 - Wednesdays 8:30-9 p.m. Eastern Time
203:
40:
919:Innes, Christopher (September 24, 1998).
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
16:American TV anthology series (1950–1955)
1220:1955 American television series endings
1075:"Claire Luce Has Role on Cameo Theatre"
768:
1230:1950s American drama television series
1210:1950 American television series debuts
1202:
1018:from the original on November 10, 2023
993:
991:
989:
987:
985:
983:
939:from the original on November 10, 2023
900:from the original on November 10, 2023
879:
789:from the original on November 10, 2023
705:
469:1955 - Sundays 10-10:30 p.m. E.T.
466:1952 - Sundays 10-10:30 p.m. E.T.
23:. For the theater in Los Angeles, see
1069:
1067:
997:
918:
808:Buckley, Jim. "Prelude to Playtime,"
769:Cassidy, Marsha F. (April 20, 2009).
724:
998:Hawes, William (November 16, 2015).
956:
954:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
691:
463:1951 - Mondays 8-8:30 p.m. E.T.
1038:"Television Highlights of the Week"
980:
880:Kellow, Brian (November 26, 2004).
633:, Miriam Goldina, Beverly Whitney,
486:and (in three parts in March 1952)
313:in its issue dated June 26, 1950, “
13:
1145:from the original on July 14, 2023
1085:from the original on July 12, 2023
1064:
812:, Vol. 2, No. 2, March/April 2006.
810:Pewter Plough Playhouse Newsletter
744:Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999).
425:Summer and mid-season replacements
345:and other things that were around.
14:
1246:
1165:
951:
688:
1048:from the original on May 5, 2021
1001:Live Television Drama, 1946-1951
886:. University Press of Kentucky.
332:I came out and got a job in the
245:
53:'s "The Inca of Perusalem", 1955
1225:American live television series
1127:
1101:
1030:
862:from the original on 2009-01-07
1044:. May 28, 1590. p. 30-A.
912:
883:The Bennetts: An Acting Family
873:
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801:
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349:
114:
103:
1:
1175:at CVTA with list of episodes
775:. University of Texas Press.
681:
664:
558:Dennis Harrison, Pat Malone,
208:The live series, produced by
1139:The Sunday Courier and Press
1081:. July 22, 1951. p. 3.
641:, Joe Roman, Jack Henderson
494:Partial List of Episodes of
7:
544:"A Daughter to Think About"
477:
25:Cameo Theatre (Los Angeles)
10:
1251:
1115:. July 27, 1951. p. 9
1004:. McFarland. p. 136.
968:. June 17, 1951. p. 1
321:, starring Margaret Hayes.
18:
856:"Raphael Hayes interview"
152:
142:
137:
129:
124:
113:
102:
94:
86:
68:
58:
39:
32:
649:"The Man From The South"
216:with her Theatre '47 in
194:Golden Age of Television
366:Richard Carlson (actor)
281:" for NBC’s sustaining
204:Television in the round
450:The Loretta Young Show
267:Paley Center for Media
198:mid-season replacement
1235:NBC television dramas
706:McNeil, Alex (1996).
444:Leave It to the Girls
277:’s "short shocker", "
533:"Weep for the Heart"
47:Sir Cedric Hardwicke
1135:"Teevee Highlights"
1079:The Portsmouth Star
498:
401:Douglass Montgomery
51:George Bernard Shaw
817:2008-05-16 at the
657:Joseph Schildkraut
552:September 20, 1950
493:
265:, and others. The
200:for other series.
1011:978-1-4766-0849-5
932:978-0-521-56633-9
893:978-0-8131-7192-0
782:978-0-292-78272-3
662:
661:
588:"Of Unsound Mind"
361:Constance Bennett
177:
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95:Original language
87:Country of origin
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1109:"Monday July 30"
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833:. Archived from
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627:"Heart's Choice"
609:"The Third Time"
555:"The Paper Sack"
524:Patricia Breslin
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484:Dark of the Moon
386:Cedric Hardwicke
319:Fireside Theatre
186:anthology series
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138:Original release
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646:August 14, 1955
639:Vinton Hayworth
624:August 27, 1951
578:Barbara Britton
520:Richard Carlyle
516:"The Long Walk"
480:
438:What's My name?
432:Four Star Revue
427:
406:Mildred Natwick
371:Angie Dickinson
352:
275:Shirley Jackson
259:Shirley Jackson
248:
235:Matinee Theatre
223:Matinee Theatre
210:Albert McCleery
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184:is an American
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81:Shirley Jackson
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1166:External links
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837:on 2011-07-19
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619:, Bob Bolger
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606:July 30, 1951
605:
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600:Donald Briggs
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585:July 23, 1951
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567:June 25, 1951
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343:Cameo Theatre
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326:Cameo Theatre
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315:Cameo Theater
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283:Cameo Theatre
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251:Cameo Theatre
246:Story sources
240:
236:
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227:
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219:
218:Dallas, Texas
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181:Cameo Theatre
166:7 August 1955
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90:United States
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78:Raphael Hayes
74:
73:Arthur Miller
71:
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52:
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43:
38:
35:
34:Cameo Theatre
31:
26:
22:
21:Cameo Theater
1180:
1172:
1153:– via
1147:. Retrieved
1138:
1129:
1117:. Retrieved
1113:Ross Reports
1112:
1103:
1093:– via
1087:. Retrieved
1078:
1056:– via
1050:. Retrieved
1041:
1032:
1020:. Retrieved
1000:
970:. Retrieved
966:Ross Reports
965:
941:. Retrieved
921:
914:
902:. Retrieved
882:
875:
864:. Retrieved
850:
839:. Retrieved
835:the original
825:
809:
803:
791:. Retrieved
771:
764:
745:
707:
668:
613:Ilona Massey
574:Jeffrey Lynn
513:May 30, 1950
495:
487:
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472:
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448:
442:
436:
430:
428:
414:Ernest Truex
410:Judy Parrish
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180:
179:
178:
130:Running time
33:
674:. In 1951,
631:Tod Andrews
596:Philip Reed
592:Claire Luce
560:John Marley
396:Claire Luce
376:James Drury
350:Guest stars
279:The Lottery
214:Margo Jones
192:during the
156:16 May 1950
117:of episodes
1204:Categories
866:2009-05-28
841:2009-05-28
682:References
665:Production
570:"Blackout"
391:June Havoc
263:Irwin Shaw
255:Roald Dahl
170:1955-08-07
160:1950-05-16
133:30 minutes
125:Production
106:of seasons
69:Written by
617:Rita Shaw
508:Actor(s)
488:Peer Gynt
381:Nina Foch
356:Ed Begley
1149:July 14,
1143:Archived
1119:July 15,
1089:July 12,
1083:Archived
1046:Archived
1022:July 12,
1016:Archived
972:July 15,
943:July 12,
937:Archived
904:July 12,
898:Archived
860:Archived
815:Archived
793:July 12,
787:Archived
478:Episodes
672:WNBT-TV
168: (
164: –
158: (
153:Release
143:Network
98:English
1052:May 5,
1008:
929:
890:
779:
752:
714:
676:Noxema
239:per se
505:Title
299:Cameo
63:Drama
59:Genre
1195:IMDb
1186:IMDb
1151:2023
1121:2023
1091:2023
1054:2021
1024:2023
1006:ISBN
974:2023
945:2023
927:ISBN
906:2023
888:ISBN
795:2023
777:ISBN
750:ISBN
712:ISBN
502:Date
334:WNEW
311:Time
307:Life
305:and
303:Time
1193:at
1184:at
547:--
536:--
190:NBC
147:NBC
115:No.
104:No.
49:in
1206::
1137:.
1111:.
1077:.
1066:^
1040:.
1014:.
982:^
964:.
953:^
935:.
896:.
858:.
785:.
726:^
690:^
655:,
637:,
598:,
594:,
576:,
522:,
261:,
257:,
120:38
1157:.
1123:.
1097:.
1060:.
1026:.
976:.
947:.
908:.
869:.
844:.
797:.
758:.
720:.
452:.
172:)
162:)
109:4
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
