Series synopsis
Playhouse 90 is an American drama television series that premiered on CBS on October 4, 1956. It ended on May 16, 1960. It was created by Hubbell Robinson, Frank Stanton. It stars Charlton Heston, Tab Hunter, Diana Lynn and Vincent Price.
Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of the mid-1950s were usually hour-long shows, the title highlighted the network's intention to present something unusual, a weekly series of hour-and-a-half dramas rather than 60-minute plays. Playhouse 90 began as a pitch by Frank Stanton—the formidable, forward-thinki ...
Premise
Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of the mid-1950s were usually hour-long shows, the title highlighted the network's intention to present something unusual, a weekly series of hour-and-a-half dramas rather than 60-minute plays. Playhouse 90 began as a pitch by Frank Stanton—the formidable, forward-thinking right-hand man to CBS chairman William S. Paley—during a brainstorming session for program ideas. The project was ultimately developed by Hubbell Robinson, a CBS vice president who received no screen credit on Playhouse 90 but is often described as its creator.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Charlton Heston as Col. Jesse Price
- Tab Hunter as Stanley Smith
- Diana Lynn as Catherine Hume
- Vincent Price as Clark Simmons
- Victor Jory as Rear Admiral Batt
- Jack Palance as Harlan 'Mountain' McClintock
- Ed Wynn as Army
- Max Baer as Mike
Supporting cast
- Maxie Rosenbloom as Steve
- Edgar Stehli as Doctor
- Stanley Adams as Pirelli
- Harry Landers as Fox
- Charles Bickford
- Charles Herbert as Jeffrey
- Ned Glass as Bartender
- Ivan Rasputin as Wrestler
- Frank Richards as Fighter in Bar
- Karl 'Killer' Davis as Wrestler
- Eddie Cantor as Self - Host
- Charles Perry as Cornerman (uncredited)
Guest cast
- Charlton Heston as Col. Jesse Price
- Tab Hunter as Stanley Smith
- Diana Lynn as Catherine Hume
- Vincent Price as Clark Simmons
- Victor Jory as Rear Admiral Batt
- Jack Palance as Harlan 'Mountain' McClintock
- Ed Wynn as Army
- Max Baer as Mike
- Maxie Rosenbloom as Steve
- Edgar Stehli as Doctor
- Stanley Adams as Pirelli
- Harry Landers as Fox
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 134 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 39 | October 4, 1956 | June 27, 1957 |
| Season 2 | 40 | September 12, 1957 | August 7, 1958 |
| Season 3 | 38 | September 25, 1958 | June 25, 1959 |
| Season 4 | 17 | October 1, 1959 | May 16, 1960 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Forbidden Area Why are so many B-99 bombers from Hibiscus Air Base crashing or simply disappearing? Colonel Price comes up with a terrifying explanation, but will anyone believe him? |
October 4, 1956 |
| 2 |
Requiem for a Heavyweight An over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head trauma is exploited by his manager, despite the efforts of a compassionate young woman who tries to help him recover his self-respect. |
October 11, 1956 |
| 3 |
Sizeman and Son The happy atmosphere in Mr. Sizeman's factory is disrupted by an argumentative newcomer - his son. |
October 18, 1956 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Death of Manolete The last hours in the life of Spain's most celebrated matador. |
September 12, 1957 |
| 2 |
The Dark Side of the Earth A drama set in 1956, during the unsuccessful Hungarian uprising against the Russians |
September 19, 1957 |
| 3 |
Topaze A mild-mannered schoolteacher gradually abandons all his principles - and finds the success which has always hitherto eluded him. |
September 26, 1957 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Plot to Kill Stalin In late 1952, an aging and increasingly paranoid Stalin puts in motion a purge against his doctors, with anti-Semitic overtones. His lackeys, including Khrushchev, Molotov and Beria, fear it will spread to the Politburo, and plan to strike first. |
September 25, 1958 |
| 2 |
Days of Wine and Roses An alcoholic falls in love with and gets married to a young woman, whom he systematically addicts to booze so they can share his "passion" together. |
October 2, 1958 |
| 3 |
The Time of Your Life William Saroyan's Pulitzer Prize-winning play revolves around the denizens of a San Francisco bar in 1939. Lonely, lovelorn, weary or cynical, the characters drift in and out of the bar and each other's lives, giving voice to Saroyan's philosophies as they randomly comment about the impending world war, the beauty of art, and traditional notions of good and evil. |
October 9, 1958 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Target for Three Three conspirators plan the death of a South American head of state. |
October 1, 1959 |
| 2 |
The Sounds of Eden Three different viewpoints of the same story - a kidnapping and its aftermath. |
October 15, 1959 |
| 3 |
Misalliance A group of people gathered at a wealthy man's country home on a summer weekend engage in an exploration of their varied romantic entanglements. |
October 29, 1959 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 4, 1956 |
| Last aired | May 16, 1960 |
| Runtime | 90 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Wednesday at 21:30:00 |