The Golden Age of live American Television: late 40s - late 50s.

A well-received anthology series presenting live television dramas.

An American anthology series, with a new episode and different actors and actresses each week.

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 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 made with the Book-of-the-Month Club, and the plays were adaptations of current novels. Starting in the third season, the television plays were adaptations of plays, novels, dramas, etc., by known and unknown authors. The title of the show was changed to "Repertory Theatre" (1949) for episodes 1.29 to 1.31 and "Arena Theatre" (1949) for episodes 1.32 to 1.38. Effective with episode 1.39, the original title was used. Starting with the fourth season, this show alternated weekly with "The Goodyear Theatre" (1951); starting in the eighth season, this program alternated with "The Goodyear Theatre" (1951) and "The ALCOA Hour" (1955).

Live dramas that were broadcast every other week. The show had covered both light and serious drama and featured both well-known and not so well-known actors and actresses.

Of the many anthology series, this is considered the most ambitious with outstanding talent in front of the camera. Attracting top ranked directors and scripts, it was often filmed live including the entire first season.

A Friday night series lasting 2 seasons, of 30 minute playlets, interrupted by cute ads on the value of eating canned soup.

A pinnacle of the Golden Age of Television, "Studio One" presented a wide range of memorable dramas and received eighteen Emmy nominations and five wins during its prestigious nine-year run on CBS.

Actor, Producer, and Director Robert Montgomery introduced each telecast, sometimes interviewing one of the stars, and sometimes appearing in the play.

Presented by Eastman Kodak, this show was a series of original scripts directed by acclaimed directors and featuring well-known performers. The stories ranged from musicals to comedies and dramas.

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.

The show featured original plays plus plays adapted from works.

An anthology series which became the first successful filmed series on American television.

An anthology series hosted by Jane Wyman.

An anthology series with episodes split between comedy and drama. Anita Colby and Arlene Dahl shared hosting duties the first season that was originally filmed live but switched to film. Polly Bergen took over as hostess in the next year.

Originally billed as "Playhouse of the Stars" this long running anthology series was originally presented live from New York City. Irene Dunne was briefly the hostess in 1952, and the show frequently used Broadway performers in classic stories.

An anthology series hosted by Betty Furness in the first season, and Desi Arnaz in the second. Stories came from several genres, often based on fact. A two part episode was spun off as the popular show The Untouchables (1959).

Anthology presenting plays adopted from Pulitzer Prize winning stories, plays, novels, etcetera.

An anthology series based in New York City which attracted a high caliber group of actors, often Broadway stars. Stories were both drama and comedies, some original but others adaptions of films and plays.

Anthology series based on the short stories of O. Henry.

This live show was seen through the "eye" of the camera. The actors in each episode would talk to the camera as if it were a person.

This syndicated show presented adaptations of Broadway shows.

The award winning bing play of Mary Chase came to television in 1958. It tells the story of Elwood P. Dowd (Art Carney), a personable chap who drinks a little, and befriends a "pookah", a six foot rabbit he calls "Harvey". Unfortunately, his sister and main caregiver Veta Louise Simmons formation Lorne, and her spinster daughter Myrtle Mae, have had Elwood's condition negatively affect their social lives. Elwood's engaging personality with its one flaw creates problems for those around him. So his sister, thinking it is in his best interests, seeks a cure for her brother's problem. But nothing is ever that simple.

When The Alcoa Hour dramatic anthology series moved from Sunday night to Monday, both the name and the format were changed. Instead of having a completely different cast for each episode, the series now used a set group of actors who would appear repeatedly throughout the series in various roles. While most of the productions were serious dramas, a few comedies were also included in the mix.