American anthology drama television series
Armstrong Circle Theatre
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Armstrong_Circle_Theatre_-_Sound_of_Violence_1959.jpg/220px-Armstrong_Circle_Theatre_-_Sound_of_Violence_1959.jpg) Armstrong Circle Theatre - Sound of Violence 1959.
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Genre
| Anthology drama
|
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Presented by
| |
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Composers
| |
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Country of origin
| United States
|
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Original language
| English
|
---|
No.
of seasons
| 14
|
---|
No.
of episodes
| 370
|
---|
|
Executive producer
| David Susskind
(1954–1960)
|
---|
Producers
|
- Selig Alkon
- Jacqueline Babbin
- Robert Costello
- Hudson Faucett
- George Lowther
- Ralph Nelson
- Henry Salomon
- George Simpson
- David Susskind
|
---|
Running time
| 30 mins. (1950–1955)
60 mins. (1955–1963)
|
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|
Network
| NBC
(1950–1957)
CBS
(1957–1963)
|
---|
Release
| June 6, 1950
(
1950-06-06
)
?
June 5, 1963
(
1963-06-05
)
|
---|
Armstrong Circle Theatre
is an American
anthology drama
television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on
NBC
, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on
CBS
.
[1]
It alternated weekly with
The U.S. Steel Hour
. It finished in the
Nielsen ratings
at number 19 for the 1950?51 season and number 24 for 1951?52.
[2]
The principal sponsor was
Armstrong World Industries
.
Between July 8 and September 16, 1959, CBS aired reruns of six documentary dramas originally broadcast during the
1958?1959 season
as episodes of
Armstrong Circle Theatre
under the title
Armstrong by Request
.
[3]
Armstrong by Request
aired during
Armstrong Circle Theatre
′s time slot and also alternated with
The United States Steel Hour
.
[3]
Synopsis
[
edit
]
The program's first season featured episodes that tried "to please every body in a mass audience, using only highly formularized plays.
[4]
The next season brought a different approach, with more emphasis on characters than on plot. Edward B. Roberts worked with writers from all over the United States to find scripts. By mid-November 1952, he estimated that he had talked to 3,000 writers and looked at 20,000 scripts. Authors received $750 for each accepted script.
[4]
The series featured original dramas by noted writers, although sometimes comedies were shown. Its guidelines specifically called for the avoidance of violence. Originally a half-hour production, in 1955 the show expanded to an hour and began to emphasize dramatized versions of real-life contemporary events (including the sinking of the
SS
Andrea Doria
) and a documentary on the history of
Communism in the Soviet Union
. Upon moving to CBS, the show emphasized several
Cold War
topics, including
espionage
,
Radio Free Europe
and escapes from
East Germany
.
[5]
David Susskind
, producer of the program, called the new episodes "actuals", describing them as "dramatizations based on truth".
[6]
Hosts and narrators
[
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]
Guest stars
[
edit
]
The series featured numerous guest stars including:
Directors
[
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]
International broadcast and streaming
[
edit
]
The series didn't air internationally until June 4, 2007 when Telecapri News aired the first 10 seasons of the show and on Telecapri with the 11th, 12th and 13th season until December 29, 2016 and with repeats both on Telecapri Sport until January 17, 2018 and on the same network until April 12, 2024, all with Italian subtitles in Italy. It is also known as "Teatro di Armstrong".
The success of the Italian broadcast on Telecapri News in the late 2000s and 2010s (followed by Telecapri from 2015 to 2016) led the series to broadcast in Poland, where Polsat JimJam aired only the sixth and ninth season with Polish subtitles and in the United Kingdom on CBS Justice.
It is unknown whether this show will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Currently, the rights to this show are owned by
Paramount Global
.
Episodes
[
edit
]
1950-1951
[
edit
]
Partial List of Episodes from the 1950-1951 Season of
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Date
|
Title
|
Actor(s)
|
June 6, 1950
|
"The Magnificent Gesture"
|
Brian Aherne
[7]
|
June 13, 1950
|
"The Jackpot"
|
Stuart Erwin
[9]
|
June 20, 1950
|
"The Rose and the Shamrock"
|
Nina Foch
[10]
|
June 27, 1950
|
"The Chair"
|
Vaughn Taylor
,
Lucile Watson
[11]
|
July 11, 1950
|
"Local Stop"
|
Vaughn Taylor
[12]
|
August 1, 1950
|
"The Big Day"
|
Neil Hamilton
, Louise Larabee, Frank McNellis,
Pat Crowley
, Sally Moffet, Mimi Strongin,
Grace Valentine
,
Victor Sutherland
, Tess Vinton
[13]
|
August 15, 1950
|
"Ring Around My Finger"
|
Patricia Wheel
,
John Harvey
, Joanne Dolan, Lucille Patten, Jack Sherry, Willis Townsend,
John Marley
, Elaine Williams
[14]
|
August 29, 1950
|
"Blaze of Glory"
|
Judson Pratt
, Mary Patton, Reed Brown Jr.
[15]
|
September 26, 1950
|
"The Elopement"
|
Robert Allen
, Betty Caulfield
[16]
|
October 3, 1950
|
"Roundup"
|
Zachary Scott
[17]
|
October 10, 1950
|
"Give and Take"
|
Frank Albertson
[18]
|
October 17, 1950
|
"It's Only a Game"
|
Donald Woods
[19]
|
November 7, 1950
|
"Person to Person"
|
Lawrence Hugo,
Gloria Stroock
[20]
|
November 14, 1950
|
"Best Trip Ever"
|
Eli Patterson
[21]
|
November 21, 1950
|
"The Perfect Type"
|
Richard Derr
,
Augusta Dabney
[22]
|
December 5, 1950
|
"Happy Ending"
|
Otto Kruger
,
Cathleen Cordell
, Helen Gillett, Brandon Peters,
Mark Roberts
,
Barbara Cook
, Stuart Nedd
[23]
|
April 17, 1951
|
"Honor Student"
|
Donald Buka
,
Mona Bruns
, Raymond Bramley.
[24]
|
1952-1953
[
edit
]
Partial List of Episodes from the 1952-1953 Season of
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Date
|
Title
|
Actor(s)
|
October 7, 1952
|
"Remembrance Island"
|
Reimonda Orselli, Jamie Smith,
John Compton
, Royal Beal,
Floyd Buckley
, Catherine Proctor
[25]
|
November 11, 1952
|
"A Godmother for Amy"
|
Bunny Lewbel, Stefan Olsen, Evelyn Davis, Dora Sayers,
Walter Brooke
, Edna Preston, James Reese
[26]
|
November 18, 1952
|
"A Volcano Is Dancing in Here"
|
William Prince
,
Barbara Baxley
,
Edgar Stehli
,
Yvette DuGay
[27]
|
December 16, 1952
|
"The Nothing Kid"
|
Robert Bernard,
Bill Hayes
,
Jack Whiting
|
December 30, 1952
|
"Billy Adams, American"
|
E. A. Krumachmidt, Richard Wigginton
[28]
|
January 13, 1953
|
"Ski Story"
|
Nina Foch
, Robert Shackleton
[29]
|
1954
[
edit
]
1955-1956
[
edit
]
Partial List of Episodes from the 1955-1956 Season of
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Date
|
Title
|
Actor(s)
|
December 27, 1955
|
"Nightmare in Red"
|
none (documentary)
[30]
|
January 10, 1956
|
"Ward Three: Four p.m. to Midnight"
|
Patricia Collinge
,
Mary Fickett
, Peg Feury,
Philip Abbott
[31]
|
September 18, 1956
|
"The Second Family" (repeat)
|
Larry Gates
,
Harry Townes
, Loretta Leversee, Parker Cormack
[32]
|
1956-1957
[
edit
]
1957-1958
[
edit
]
1962-1963
[
edit
]
Partial List of Episodes from the 1962-1963 Season of
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Date
|
Title
|
Actor(s)
|
May 22, 1963
|
"Swindler in Paradise"
|
William Redfield
[35]
|
References
[
edit
]
- ^
McNeil, Alex (1996).
Total Television
(4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. pp. 56?57.
ISBN
0-14-02-4916-8
.
- ^
"TV Ratings"
.
Classictvhits.com
.
- ^
a
b
Brooks, Tim
; Marsh, Earle (2007).
The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946?Present
(9 ed.). New York: Random House Publishing. pp. 76?77.
ISBN
978-0-345-49773-4
. Retrieved
2024-06-04
.
- ^
a
b
Adams, Val (November 16, 1952).
"An Original Approach to TV Drama"
.
The New York Times
. p. X 11
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
ProQuest
.
- ^
Gibberman, Susan.
"Armstrong Circle Theatre"
.
Museum.tv
. Retrieved
2009-04-10
.
- ^
Adams, Val (August 28, 1955).
"Radio-TV News and Notes: More Words"
.
The New York Times
. p. X 9
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
ProQuest
.
- ^
a
b
"Two Dramas Added For Summer Airing! Satan To Make Bow"
.
The Cincinnati Enquirer
. June 6, 1950. p. 16
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Edwards of C. B. S. must drop show"
.
The New York Times
. April 11, 1961. p. 75
. Retrieved
April 18,
2021
– via
ProQuest
.
- ^
"Stuart Erwin Billed In Circle Theater"
.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
. June 11, 1950. p. 69
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Nina Foch Heads Cast In the Circle Theater"
.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
. June 18, 1950. p. 69
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Pick of the Programs"
.
The Record
. New Jersey, Hackensack. June 27, 1950. p. 27
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Pick of the Programs"
.
The Record
. New Jersey, Hackensack. July 11, 1950. p. 24
. Retrieved
April 20,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Neil Hamilton in Circle Theater Role"
.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
. July 30, 1950. p. 5 G
. Retrieved
April 21,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"(untitled brief)"
.
The Times Dispatch
. August 15, 1950. p. 14
. Retrieved
April 22,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Tuesday Television Programs"
.
The Cincinnati Enquirer
. August 29, 1950. p. 12
. Retrieved
April 20,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Television"
.
The Boston Globe
. September 26, 1950. p. 32
. Retrieved
April 28,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"(photo caption)"
.
The Cincinnati Enquirer
. October 3, 1950. p. 13
. Retrieved
April 20,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Air Attractions"
.
The Boston Globe
. October 10, 1950. p. 19
. Retrieved
April 29,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Television Highlights"
.
The Central New Jersey Home News
. New Jersey, New Brunswick. October 17, 1950. p. 17
. Retrieved
April 30,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Pick of the Programs"
.
The Record
. New Jersey, Hackensack. November 7, 1950. p. 29
. Retrieved
April 30,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Air Attractions"
.
The Boston Globe
. November 14, 1950. p. 19
. Retrieved
April 30,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Television Highlights of the Week"
.
The Boston Globe
. November 19, 1950. p. 20-A
. Retrieved
May 4,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Otto Kruger Starred In the Circle Theater"
.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
. December 3, 1950. p. 5 G
. Retrieved
April 20,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Video Highlights"
.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
. April 17, 1951. p. 13
. Retrieved
April 21,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Tuesday October 7 (Cont'd)"
.
Ross Reports
. October 5, 1952. p. 10
. Retrieved
February 7,
2022
.
- ^
"Armostrong Circle Theater"
.
Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index
. November 9, 1952. p. 10
. Retrieved
March 23,
2022
.
- ^
"Armstrong Circle Theatre"
.
Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index
. November 16, 1952. p. 9
. Retrieved
April 4,
2022
.
- ^
"Video Highlights"
.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
. December 30, 1952. p. 8
. Retrieved
April 21,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Television Highlights"
.
The Central New Jersey Home News
. New Jersey, New Brunswick. January 13, 1953. p. 12
. Retrieved
April 21,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
"Armstrong Circle Theatre"
.
Motion Picture Daily
. January 3, 1956. p. 17
. Retrieved
January 4,
2024
.
- ^
Shanley, J. P. (January 11, 1956).
"TV: Drama in 'Ward 3': Hospital Story Is Seen on 'Circle Theatre'
"
.
The New York Times
. p. 63
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
ProQuest
.
- ^
"TV Key Previews"
.
The Capital Times
. Wisconsin, Madison. September 18, 1956. p. 25
. Retrieved
April 21,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
- ^
Gould, Jack (February 20, 1957).
"TV: 'Trial of Poznan': Drama by Alvin Boretz About the Polish Uprising Seen on 'Circle Theatre'
"
.
The New York Times
. p. 67
. Retrieved
April 18,
2021
– via
ProQuest
.
- ^
Shanley, John P. (March 20, 1958).
"TV: Quackery Is Exposed: ' Armstrong Circle Theatre' Presents 'The Meanest Crime in the World'
"
.
The New York Times
. p. 59
. Retrieved
April 17,
2021
– via
ProQuest
.
- ^
"TV Key Previews"
.
The Record
. New Jersey, Hackensack. May 22, 1963. p. 69
. Retrieved
April 21,
2021
– via
Newspapers.com
.
External links
[
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]