TV Reader's Digest

*TV Reader's Digest*
TV Reader's Digest
Genre	Drama, Anthology
Directed by	William Beaudine; John Brahm; Peter Godfrey (director); Phil Karlson; Arnold Laven; Ted Post
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	39
Production
Executive producer	Harry Joe Brown
Production locations	Los Angeles, California, United States
Running time	25 minutes
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	January 17, 1955 –; July 9, 1956

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

Format

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

Hugh Reilly was the initial host. He was succeeded by Gene Raymond.^[1]

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

Production

Chester Erskine was the producer, and William Beaudine was the director.^[1] Episode writers included Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, Cleveland Amory, and Frank Gruber.^{[citation needed]} Studebaker-Packard initially sponsored the program, but the company's financial problems caused that relationship to end.^[2]

Critical response

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."^[3] Shanley wrote, "Douglass Dumbrille was effective as the uncompromising Fundamentalist Bryan."^[3] Carl Benton Reid "had some impressive moments" as Darrow, the review said.^[3] The main negative factor was introduction of "a side issue" about a a journalist covering the trial and a teacher who influenced her.^[3]

References

^ ^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.
^ "On 2d Thought, Auto Firms May Change Minds Re TV". Billboard. August 18, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
^ ^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.

External links

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[tt-1] 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] "On 2d Thought, Auto Firms May Change Minds Re TV". Billboard. August 18, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2023.

[nyt-3] 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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