Shows
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Alfred Hitchcock Presents
CBS (ended 1962)Alfred Hitchcock Presents was a mystery and suspense anthology hosted by the master of supsense Alfred Hitchcock. Each 30 minute episode included opening and closing vingettes featuring Hitchcock who would often explain some aspect of the day's show and would often offer subtle (or not so subtle) jabs at the shows sponsors. The series premiered on CBS on Sunday, October 2, 1955 in the 9:30-10:00 PM timeslot opposite ABC's The Original Amateur Hour and NBC's Alcoa-Goodyear Playhouse. In its sixth season the show moved to NBC and was shown on Tuesday 8:30-9:00 PM. On NBC it served as the lead in for two other anthology shows Thriller and The Dick Powell Show. Alfred Hitchcock Presents featured both original works produced directly for television and adaptations of existing source material. Some authors whose work was adapted for the series include: Alexander Woollcott, Ambrose Bierce, Cornell Woolrich, Frederic Brown, Henry Slesar, H.H. Munro (aka Saki), John Cheever, John Collier, John Wyndham, Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl, and Robert Bloch. The show also featured work by famous (or later famous) directors Alfred Hitchcock and Robert Altman. It also served as a proving ground for stars and future stars: Charles Bronson, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, Peter Lorre, Robert Duvall, and Vera Miles. In 1962, Alfred Hitchcock Presents was expanded to one hour and was shown under the title the The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. In 1985, the these shows experienced a revival under the title Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Spinoff: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Revivals: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) Broadcast History CBS: October 1955-September 1960----Sunday----9:30 p.m.
NBC: September 1960-June 1962----Tuesdays----8:30 p.m.
Nielsen Ratings: (Top 30 or Better)
#6 in the 1956-1957 Season
#12 in the 1957-1958 Season
#24 in the 1958-1959 Season
#25 in the 1959-1960 Season
Emmy Awards and Nominations
1955
Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Action or Adventure Series Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock Best MC or Program Hose (Male or Female) Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock, "The Case of Mr. Pelham" Best Director (Film Series) Winner: Edward W. Williams, "Breakdown" Best Editing of a Television Film
1956
Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Series (Half-Hour or Less) Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock Best Male Personality (Continuing Performance) Winner: James P. Cavanagh, "Fog Closes In" Best Teleplay Writing (Half-Hour or Less)
1957
Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Dramatic Anthology Series Winner: Robert Stevens, "The Glass Eye" Best Direction (Half-Hour or Less)
1958
Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Dramatic Series (Less Than One Hour) Nominated: Alfred Hitchcock, "Lamb to the Slaughter" Best Direction of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series (Less Than One Hour) Nominated: Roald Dahl, "Lamb to the Slaughter" Best Writing of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series (Less Than One Hour)
1959Nominated: John J. Lloyd Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Scenic Design Nominated: Edward W. Williams, "Man from the South" Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Television
1960
Nominated: Edward W. Williams, "Incident in a Small Jail" Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Television
Other Awards or NominationsThe Golden Globe Awards (Voted each year since 1944 by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association):
1957 Winner: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Television Program
Look Magazine's Annual Television Awards (Voted initially by poll of TV executives, producers, directors, advertising executives and TV columnists, then, in 1955, via polls taken of TV critics and editors. The Award was Presented annually from 1950 to 1959 by the editors of Look magazine):
1955 Winner: Alfred Hitchcock Best Director 1956 Winner: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Dramatic Series (One-Half Hour) 1957 Winner: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Dramatic Series (One-Half Hour)
Television Champion Awards (Voted each year since 1949 by polls of the nation's TV critics taken by the publishers of Television Almanac. The awards ceased in 1972):
1955 Winner: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Mystery Program 1956 Winner: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Mystery Program 1960 Winner: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Best Mystery Program
First Telecast: October 2, 1955
Last Telecast: June 26, 1962
Unaired Episodes: 1
Episodes: 266 B&W Episodes
(266 half-hour episodes, 1 three-part episode) moreless -
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The Adventures of Robin Hood
CBS (ended 1958)The original Robin Hood series, intended primarily for children, featuring Robin of Locksley and his merry men in Sherwood Forest, who protect England from the evil machinations of Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham, while good King Richard is away at the Crusades. An unusual television series at the time in that it frequently re-used the same actors in different roles, or different actors in a recurring roles.moreless -
3
Tales of Tomorrow
ABC (ended 1953)Tales Of Tomorrow was a science fiction anthology program that aired on the American Broadcasting Company network between 1951 and 1953.
The episodes aired live and featured the top sci-fi stories up until that time, with a total series run of 85 half hour episodes over two seasons.moreless -
4
H.G. Wells' Invisible Man
ITV (ended 1959)Welcome to the H.G. Wells' Invisible Man episode guide at TV.com. A series produced in the 1950s from ITV in the UK, this show was remarkable for its time for the special effects and action storylines. It is the story of a scientist who's pursuit for the secret of invisibility causes an accident where he himself becomes invisible. While trying to cure himself, he is drafted by the government to solve crimes and conduct secret spy missions. After broadcast in the UK, the series had a successful run on CBS in the USA.moreless -
5
Shirley Temple's Storybook
NBC (ended 1958)This was a very popular show which brought back Shirley Temple in her adult life. Shirley was the narrator and would introduce the show for the evening. These stories were most often a version of a fairytale. At times, Shirley would even act in them. Her children also made appearances. Television opened up a whole new generation to her and her movies. Four of her childhood movies were put on television, Wee Willie Winkie, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Captain January, and Heidi. Shirley Temple mania started all over again!
These compare favorably to Shelley Duvall's fairy tales and had the wonderful advantage of showing a grown-up Shirley Temple.
Jan. 12, 1958 - Dec. 21, 1958, NBC; 16 Specialsmoreless -
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The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
CBS (ended 1965)The Alfred Hitchcock Hour was a mystery and suspense anthology hosted by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Each 60 minute episode included opening and closing vignettes featuring Hitchcock, who would often explain some aspect of the day's show and would often offer subtle (or not so subtle) jabs at the show's sponsors. The series premiered on CBS on Thursday, September 20, 1962, in the 10:00-11:00 PM time-slot opposite ABC's Alcoa Premiere and NBC's The Andy Williams Show. In its third season, the show moved to NBC and was shown on Monday 10:00 to 11:00 PM. On NBC it was broadcast opposite ABC's Ben Casey and CBS's Slattery's People. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour featured both original works produced directly for television and adaptations of existing source material. Some authors whose work was adapted for the series include: Cornell Woolrich, Ellery Queen, H.G. Wells, Henry Slesar, John Wyndham, William Link, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Bloch. The show also featured work by famous (or soon to be famous) directors Alfred Hitchcock, Sydney Pollack, and William Friedkin.moreless -
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Mister Ed
CBS (ended 1966)One of the most successful of the numerous 1960's nonsensical sitcoms was this one about a talking horse. Ed belonged to Wilbur Post, a young architect who had decided to move out of the city to get a little closer to nature. The rambling country home he and his wife decided upon came complete with a barn that doubled as Wilbur's office and a very talkative palomino named Ed. Problem was Ed didn't care to talk to just anyone, in fact he would only talk to Wilbur (the first human he'd ever met worth talking to). The confusion caused by having a talking horse, and the situations Ed got Wilbur into, and occasionlly out of, formed the stories.moreless
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8:00 pmCBS
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FOX
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8:30 pmABC
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9:00 pmNBC
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9:30 pmNBC
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ABC