Four Star Playhouse (series)
- User score: 5.7
- Production country: United States of America
- Genre: Drama, Comedy
- Release date: 9/25/1952
- Release date of last episode: 7/26/1956
- Series status: Ended
- Seasons count: 4 ( List of episodes )
- Episodes count: 129
- Run time: 30 min.
Series description
Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.
Actors
David Niven
In 32 episodes
Role(s): Bingham, Royal Thurston, Philip, Lee, Ted Parker, Richard Lilliam, Andy, Wyeth, William Langford, John, Adams, Mitch, Charles, Hal Winters, Phil Weston, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ted, Henry, Steve Carlyle / Roger Carlyle, Maxwell, Deacon, Cookie, Uncle Fred, Jim Kenyon, Larkin, Doctor Gentry, Tony Stewart, Andy Fields, Doctor, Frank, George, David
Details
Dick Powell
In 32 episodes
Role(s): Willie Dante, Dan, Eddie White, Philip Benton, Graham, Eddie, Mike Donegan, Priest, Paul, Dan Hodges, Fred, Burt Stroude, Will Sonnett, Chris, Fleet Mason, Steve, US Marshal Philip Dana, Andrew, Capt. Avery, Dave, Grover Doane, Jeff, Dan Matson, Dave Robinson
Details
Charles Boyer
In 27 episodes
Role(s): Andre, John, Robert, Jacques, Dr. Giboux, George, Eric, Carl, Frank Hepp, Major Tinnente, Henri, Montaigne, Claude Le Beau, Dr. Dumont, Grisby, Alan, Sampan Joe, Mr. Graham, The Man, Renneck, Dr. Severson, Roger, Captain, Martin, Alan Abbey, Carl Baxter
Details
Ida Lupino
In 19 episodes
Role(s): Ellen, Valerie, Meg, Emily Cameron, Kit, Sheila, Sarah, Emma, Flo Watson, Ann, Anna, Billie, Grace, Evelyn, Nina Barton, Celia Coberly, Ginny, Diana
Details
Herb Vigran
In 14 episodes
Role(s): Monte, Monte - Bartender, Sam Rawlings, Marc, Monty Leeds, 3rd Reporter, Bartender, , Lt. Richards
Details