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TV Reader's Digest

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TV Reader's Digest
GenreDrama, Anthology
Directed byWilliam Beaudine
John Brahm
Peter Godfrey (director)
Phil Karlson
Arnold Laven
Ted Post
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes39
Production
Executive producerHarry Joe Brown
Production locationsLos Angeles, California, United States
Running time25 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 17, 1955 (1955-01-17) –
July 9, 1956 (1956-07-09)

TV Reader's Digest is a 30-minute American television anthology drama series, which aired on ABC from January 17, 1955, to July 9, 1956.[1] Its theme music was "Polonaise" from Act III of Eugene Onegin.

Format

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Based on articles that appeared in Reader's Digest magazine,[1] the episodes were true stories that were varied in their themes, plots, and content. Themes included crime, heroism, mystery, romance, and human interest.

Cast

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Hugh Reilly was the initial host. He was succeeded by Gene Raymond[1] in January 1956.[2]

Some of the actors who were cast in the episodes include Chuck Connors, Peter Graves, Lee Marvin,[3] Claude Akins, Leon Askin, Jean Byron,[4], Marguerite Chapman,[5] Rosemary DeCamp,[6] Marilyn Erskine,[7] John Howard, Vivi Janiss (as Mary Todd Lincoln in "How Chance Made Lincoln President"), Francis McDonald, Martin Milner, Jerry Paris, Gene Raymond,[4] Max Showalter, and Michael Winkelman, and Joan Young.[4] Clint Eastwood made his first Western appearance as Lt. Wilson in the episode "Cochise, Greatest of the Apaches", which aired January 30, 1956.[8]

Selected episodes

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Partial List of Episodes of TV Reader's Digest
Date Title Actor(s)
January 17, 1955 "Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs"[9] --
January 24, 1955 "Trouble on the Double" Peter Graves, Nancy Gates[10]
January 31, 1955 "The Most Unforgettable Character" Martha Scott, Douglass Montgomery[a]
February 7, 1955 "How Chance Made Lincoln President" Richard Gaines, Vivi Janiss[12]
February 14, 1955 "I'd Pick More Daisies" Richard Denning, Jeanne Cagney[13]
February 21, 1955 "Top Secret"[9] --
February 28, 1955 "A Matter of Life or Death" Bobby Driscoll, Minor Watson, Jimmy Ogg, Erville Anderson[14]
March 7, 1955 "The End of Blackbeard the Pirate" Jeff Morrow, Randy Farr, Keith Hitchcock[15]
March 14, 1955 "The American Master Counterfeiters"[9] --
March 21, 1955 "America's First Great Lady" Gloria Talbott[16]
March 28, 1955 "The Manufactured Clue" Chuck Connors, Paul Stewart, Douglas Spencer[17]
April 4, 1955 "Incident on the China Coast" Bob Bray, Ann Doran[18]
April 11, 1955 "How Charlie Faust Won a Pennant for the Giants" Lee Marvin, Alan Reed[19][b]
April 18, 1955 "Honeymoon in Mexico" Richard Long, Merry Anders[21]
April 25, 1955 "The Great Armored-Car Robbery"[9] --
May 2, 1955 "A Million Dollar Story" Bill Bouchey, James Bell, Julie Bishop[22]
May 9, 1955 "Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts" Johnny Johnston, Joan Camden[c]
May 16, 1955 "France's Greatest Detective"[9] --
May 23, 1955 "Around the Horn to Matrimony" Robert Hutton, Donna Martell[24]
May 30, 1955 "The Anatomy of Graft" Gene Barry, Jaclynne Greene, Emerson Treacy[25]
June 6, 1955 "Human Nature Through a Rear View Mirror"[9] --
June 13, 1955 "Mr. Pak Takes Over" Philip Ahn, Kenneth Tobey[26]
June 20, 1955 "My First Bullfight" Jack Kelly[27]
June 27, 1955 "Comrade Lindeman's Conscience"[9] --
July 4, 1955 "Six Hours of Surgery" Walter Kingsford, Jerry Paris, Damian O'Flynn, Jean Byron[28]
July 11, 1955 "The Baron and His Uranium Killing" Marcel Dalio, Steven Geray[29]
October 24, 1955 "Old Master Detective" William Talman, Walter Kingsford, Jesse White[30][31]
October 31, 1955 "The Archer-Shee Case"[9] --
November 7, 1955 "The Brainwashing of John Hays"[9] --
November 14, 1955 "The Making of a Submariner"[9] --
November 21, 1955 "The Voyage of Capt. Tom Jones, Pirate" Louis Hayward[32]
December 12, 1955 "Emergency Case"[9] --
January 2, 1956 "In the Eye of the Hurricane"[9] --
January 16, 1956 "The Man Who Beat Death"[9] --
January 23, 1956 "A Bell for Okinawa"[9] --
February 13, 1956 "Texas in New York" Marilyn Erskine[7]
February 27, 1956 "Case of the Uncertain Hand" Marguerite Chapman[5]
March 12, 1956 "Night Court"[9] --
April 23, 1956 "Uncle Sam's C-Men"[9] --
May 7, 1956 "The Old, Old Story" Rosemary DeCamp[6]
May 14, 1956 "Britain's Most Baffling Murder Case"[9] --
June 18, 1956 "Go Fight City Hall"[9] Gene Raymond, Jean Byron, Joan Young[4]
June 25, 1956 "Family Reunion, U.S.A."[9] --

Production

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Chester Erskine created the show[33] and was the producer.[1] William Beaudine, Harry Horner, and William Seiter were the directors.[34] Episode writers included Frank Gruber,[35] Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, and Cleveland Amory.[citation needed] Studebaker-Packard initially sponsored the program, but the company's financial problems caused that relationship to end.[36]

Erskine gained the rights to make the series after he went through every issue the magazine had published since 1928 to ensure that the TV series would reflect the magazine "as faithfully as possible".[37]

The show replaced Soldier Parade.[34] It was broadcast on Mondays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.[3]

Critical response

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A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety said that Erskine "appears to have successfully translated that human interest element that's made the Reader's Digest a literary phenom into television terms."[35] It commended Gruber's writing and Beaudine's directing and described the cast as "excellent".[35]

J. P. Shanley, writing in The New York Times, found the December 5, 1955, episode ("The Sad Death of a Hero", about the 1925 Scopes trial) to be "an uninspired presentation."[38] Shanley wrote, "Douglass Dumbrille was effective as the uncompromising Fundamentalist Bryan."[38] Carl Benton Reid "had some impressive moments" as Darrow, the review said.[38] The main negative factor was introduction of "a side issue" about a journalist covering the trial and a teacher who influenced her.[38]

Notes

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  1. ^ Scott plays the "unforgettable" Mrs. RObert Louis Stevenson and Montgomery, Robert Louis Stevenson.[11]
  2. ^ Marvin stars as the pre-World War I Major League pitcher Charlie Faust and veteran charater actor Alan Reed portrays longtime New York Giants manager John McGraw.[20]
  3. ^ Portraying composer Stephen Foster and his soon-to-be bride Jane McDowell, the inspiration for "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair'.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 812. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. ^ "The Show-Makers". Motion Picture Daily. January 16, 1956. p. 12. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 998. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  4. ^ a b c d "Go Fight City Hall Stars Raymond". The Sacramento Bee. June 16, 1956. p. F-30. Retrieved July 28, 2025. "Gene Raymond, host of the TV Reader's Digest series, [...] will portray Albert Whitman, a taxpayer in a New York suburb who is aroused to action against the politicians who control the municipal government. [...] Jean Byron will play Whitman's wife, Claire. Their children, Kitty and Ted, will be portrayed by Joan Young and Chet Marshall."
  5. ^ a b "TV Fill-In". The Washington Daily News. February 27, 1956. p. 37. Retrieved July 28, 2025.' "TV Readers Digest: Marguerite Chapman stars as a private eye in 'The Case of the Uncertain Hand.'"
  6. ^ a b "TV Tips: Young Love Dominates Schedule". Oregon Journal. May 7, 1956. p. 19. Retrieved July 28, 2025. "TV Reader's Digest version, 'The Old, Old Story," stars Rosemary De Camp in a drama of a pair of teenagers determined to marry despite, parental opposition."
  7. ^ a b "RADIO AND TV HIGHLIGHTS FOR TONIGHT". Santa Barbara News-Press. February 13, 1956. p. A-6. Retrieved July 28, 2025.' "TV Reader's Digest presents "Texas in New York." starring Marilyn Erskine (7)."
  8. ^ McGilligan, Patrick (August 19, 2002). Clint: The Life and Legend. Macmillan. p. 573. ISBN 978-0-312-29032-0.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Rouse, Sarah; Loughney, Katharine (1989). 3 Decades of Television: A Catalog of Television Programs Acquired by the Library of Congress 1949-1979. Library of Congress. p. 553. ISBN 0-8444-0544-2. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Television Programs". Hollywood Citizen-News. January 24, 1955. p. 18. Retrieved July 24, 2025. "In 'Trouble on the Double,' KABC (7) at 8, Walter Elwood (Peter Graves) follows telephone instructions in delivering the fourth child of his wife, Elsie (Nancy Gates). [...] TV Reader's, Digest."
  11. ^ "Television Programs". Hollywood Citizen-News. January 31, 1955. p. 18. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "Martha Scott will be seen as Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson, Douglas Montgomery as her husband in "The Most Unforgettable Character,' KABC (7) at 8. [...] TV Reader's Digest."
  12. ^ "TV Gossip". The News of Cumberland County. February 5, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "Monday, Channel 6, at 8 O'clock, TV Reader's Digest, 'How Chance Made Lincoln President'; drama of five fateful events starring Richard Gaines, Vivi Janiss; Hugh Reilly hosts series based on articles that have appeared in Reader's Digest."
  13. ^ "Today's Television Highlights". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). February 14, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "Drama. 8:00 (7) Reader's Digest: 'I'd Pick More Daisies,' Richard Denning, Jeanne Cagney."
  14. ^ "Television Programs". Hollywood Citizen-News. February 28, 1955. p. 20. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "In 'A Matter of Life or Death,' KABC (7) at 8, a surgeon saves the life of his enemy's grandson. Bobby Driscoll is Dr. Radford Sawyer when young, Minor Watson, when he is an adult. Jimmy Ogg plays Vernon Kimble, the boy, Erville Alderson, Kimble, the grandfather."
  15. ^ "Television Programs". Hollywood Citizen-News. March 7, 1955. p. 20. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "Blackbeard? the Pirate meets his end in the play at 8 on KABC (7). Before doing so, he (Jeff Morrow) orders Mary Oakland (Randy Farr) and John Gibbs (Keith Hitchcock) held as hostages. [...] TV Reader's Digest. (7)"
  16. ^ Brode, Douglas (October 15, 2009). Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-71849-4. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Television and Radio: Television Program Notes". New York Herald Tribune. March 28, 1955. p. 30. ProQuest 1336813356. Digest: 'The Manufactured Clue,' murder mystery of crime detection in a New Jersey seaside town. Chuck Connors, Paul Stewart and Douglas Spencer (7), 8.
  18. ^ "TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS FOR MONDAY". The Baltimore Sun. April 4, 1955. p. 24. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "'Incident on the China Coast,' is the title of a drama about how eight of eighteen persons aboard a big airliner survive a brutal and unexplained attack. Stars Bob Bray and Ann Doran. 8 P.M."
  19. ^ Lentz, Robert J. (2015). Lee Marvin: His Films and Career. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-7864-2606-5.
  20. ^ Marill, Alvin (2008). Sports on Television. Westport, CT: Praeger. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-313-35105-1. "Marvin starred in the baseball-oriented drama, 'How Charlie Faust Won a Pennant for the Giants.' Faust was the real-life pre-World War I pitcher for the New York Giants under John McGraw (played by Alan Reed)."
  21. ^ "TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS FOR MONDAY". The Hollywood Citizen-News. May 2, 1955. p. 23. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "'Honeymoon in Mexico,' KABC (7) at 8, is the true story of a young Texan and his Boston who adopted 10 Mexican youngsters. Richard Long and Merry Anders are John and Peggy Wilhelm."
  22. ^ "TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS FOR MONDAY". The Paterson News. May 2, 1955. p. 23. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "8:00 (7) Television Reader's Digest: 'Million Dollar Story,' with Bill Bouchey, James Bell, Julie Bishop, others."
  23. ^ "TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS FOR MONDAY". The Paterson News. May 2, 1955. p. 23. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "8:00 (7) Television Reader's Digest: 'Million Dollar Story,' with Bill Bouchey, James Bell, Julie Bishop, others."
  24. ^ "Television Programs". Detroit Free Press. May 23, 1955. p. 41. Retrieved July 31, 2025. TV READER'S DIGEST -Man takes boatload of women around Cape Horn from New York to Seattle in days of pioneers in 'Around the Horn to Matrimony,' staring Robert Hutton, Donna Martel."
  25. ^ "Television Programs". Hollywood Citizen-News. May 30, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "The efforts of Victor Martin (Gene Barry) to work for better government are thwarted, KABC (7) at 8, in 'The Anatomy of Graft.' Portraying his wife, Jean, is Jaclynne Greene; her father, Emerson Treacy."
  26. ^ "Radio and Television Programs: Television". The Hammond Times. June 13, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "(7)-TV's Reader's Digest. Mr. Pak Takes Over,' Phillip Ahn, Ken Tobey."
  27. ^ "Matador". Pasadena Independent. June 20, 1955. p. 21. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "Jack Kelly in the role of Sidney Franklin, bullfighter from Brooklyn, in the 'TV Reader's Digest' drama, 'My First Bullfight,' on KABC-TV tonight at 8."
  28. ^ "TV Programs for Monday". Detroit Free Press. p. 19. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "7 P.M. 7-TV READER'S DIGEST: 'Six Hours of Surgery,' drama personal problems of five people involved in delicate heart operation on boy, 16. Walter Kingsford, Jerry Paris, Damian 0'Flynn, Jean Byron star."
  29. ^ Retrieved July 31, 2025. "7:00-TV READER'S DIGEST--Tonight's melodrama, 'The Baron and His Uranium Killing,' stars Marcel Dalio and Steven Geray in a rollicking spy adventure."
  30. ^ "Radio and TV Highlights for Tonight". Santa Barbara News-Press. October 24, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "TV Reader's Digest presents "Old Master Detective," starring William Talman, Walter Kingsford and Jesse White (7)."
  31. ^ "8:00 P.M. Tonight! 'Old Master Detective' on TV READER'S DIGEST". New York Daily News. p. 56. Retrieved July 31, 2025. "Was it a priceless masterpiece ... or a worthless fraud? A question is asked about a painting ... and a strange kind of detective sets out to find the $300,000 answer!"
  32. ^ "TV Program Notes". The Evening Sun. Maryland, Baltimore. November 21, 1955. p. 36. Retrieved April 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Deane, Pamala S. (October 1, 2014). James Edwards: African American Hollywood Icon. McFarland. pp. 86–87. ISBN 978-0-7864-5816-5. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  34. ^ a b "This Week -- Network Debuts & Highlights" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. January 17, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  35. ^ a b c "TV Reader's Digest". Variety. January 19, 1955. p. 37. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  36. ^ "On 2d Thought, Auto Firms May Change Minds Re TV". Billboard. August 18, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  37. ^ "TV Reader's Digest Is One-Man Show". The Evening Sun. Maryland, Baltimore. McClure Newspaper Syndicate. November 21, 1955. p. 36. Retrieved April 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ a b c d Shanley, J. P. (December 6, 1955). "TV: Court Takes Recess: Scopes Trial Story Is Dull on Channel 7". The New York Times. p. 75. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
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