The Campbell Playhouse (TV series)


The Campbell Playhouse is an American drama anthology television series that originally aired on NBC from June 6, 1952, to May 28, 1954.
The series was sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company.

Radio series

The television series was based on the 1938–1940 radio series of the same name. The radio version was originally aired on CBS as The Mercury Theatre on the Air beginning July 11, 1938. The series made its last broadcast under that title on December 4, 1938. After that, the Campbell Soup Company sponsored the radio drama and renamed it The Campbell Playhouse. The Campbell Playhouse made its radio debut on December 9, 1938.
Orson Welles served as the host of the program.
The series offered 60-minute adaptations of famous novels and plays and, on certain occasions, adaptations of popular motion pictures of the time.
The radio program ended on March 31, 1940.

Television series

''Campbell Playhouse''

The television version of Campbell Playhouse premiered on NBC on June 6, 1952, on Fridays from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time as the summer replacement for The Aldrich Family.Filmed episodes included:

''Campbell Soundstage''

On July 10, 1953, the series returned as a permanent replacement series. The series ended its run on May 28, 1954. It was broadcast live from New York and featured stories with surprise endings.
The April 23, 1954, episode was "The Almighty Dollar" with Mildred Dunnock, Henry Hull, Mildred Natwick, and Parker Fennelly.
Other actors who starred in episodes included:

''Campbell Summer Soundstage''

On June 4, 1954, the name of the series was changed to Campbell Summer Soundstage, with filmed episodes, some of which were reruns of episodes of Ford Theatre.
It was a short-lived revival of the television series. The series aired reruns of anthology series such as ABC's Gruen Playhouse,, and DuMont's Dramatic Shorts.

Production notes

The series was originally filmed live until its second season when it was released on film.

Directors

Producers

Broadcast history

The Campbell Playhouse aired on Fridays at 9:30–10:00 pm for its entire run. Campbell Summer Soundstage aired at that time as well.