Star Tonight
GenreAnthology
Written byRay Bradbury
Roald Dahl
Abby Mann
Rod Serling
Oscar Wilde
Thornton Wilder
Directed byEdmund Goulding
Harry Herrmann
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes80
Production
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time25 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseFebruary 3, 1955 (1955-02-03) –
August 9, 1956 (1956-08-09)

Star Tonight, an American television anthology series, aired on ABC from February 3, 1955,[1] to August 9, 1956.[2] It consisted of 80 total episodes, 30 from 1955 and 50 from 1956. Each episode was a self-contained story, usually adapted from famous plays, short-stories or novels by some of the writers of the day.

Format

Episodes featured "rising young actors and actresses in their first starring roles", and performers with more experience had supporting parts.[3] the pairing of little-know actors with more established professionals was similar to that of Hollywood Screen Test.[2]

Playwrights whose works were presented on Star Tonight included Josefina Niggli.[4]

Production

Harry Herrmann produced the program, which replaced So You Want to Lead a Band. It was sponsored by the Brillo Manufacturing Company[1] and originated from WABC-TV in New York City.[3] The program was broadcast from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursdays.[5] Chester Hadley wrote for the series.[6]

Episode list, partial

Notable guest stars

Theodore Bikel
Leo G. Carroll
Buster Crabbe
Robert Culp
Richard Davalos
Susan Harrison
Signe Hasso
Kim Hunter
June Lockhart
Nancy Malone
Kevin McCarthy
Jason Robards
Lois Smith
Rudy Vallee
Jo Van Fleet
Elizabeth Wilson
Joanne Woodward
Efrem Zimbalist Jr

Critical response

A review of the initial episode in the trade publication Variety called the show's concept "one of those laudable ideas" but said that the premiere showed that a good script is needed to make an actor look good.[6] The review said that Holt's "extremely competent performance" was undermined by "a soap-operaish story', so that "the entire effect was wishy-washy".[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Adams, Val (December 24, 1954). "Fonda to be host of drama on TV". The New York Times. p. 18. ProQuest 113021731. Retrieved March 20, 2021 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ a b 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. 785. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  3. ^ a b "This Week -- Network Debuts & Highlights". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. January 31, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Martinez, Elizabeth Coonrod (2007). Josefina Niggli, Mexican American Writer: A Critical Biography. UNM Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-8263-4272-0. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  5. ^ 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. 960. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  6. ^ a b c "Star Tonight". Variety. February 9, 1955. p. 37. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Concerning Death" [adapted from the John Collier story] (2- 17-55) Edward Andrews, Jo Van Fleet 4. "How Beautiful the Shoes" [adapted from the short story by Wilbur Daniel Steele] (2-24-55) John Baragrey, Lois Smith 5. "Zone of Quiet"
  8. ^ Larry James Gianakos Television Drama Series Programming: A Comprehensive Chronicle 1980 "43."The Summer Road" (12-1-55) Don Dubbins, Joan Tetzel, Don Briggs 45. "Nightmare by Day" [by Anne Howard Bailey] (12-8-55) Dor- een Lang, James Gregory 46. "Gang Up" [by Nicholas E. Baehr] (12-15-55) George Grizzard, Paul Carr, Polly Rowles 47. "The Selfish Giant" [adapted from the Oscar Wilde fable; narrated by Basil Rathbone] (12-22-55) George Mathews, Mia Slavenska 48. "Write Me a ...

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