Tag Archives: The United States Steel Hour

June 26, 2026 · 4:34 pm

FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: 1954-1955 SEASON OF U.S. STEEL HOUR

Previously, Balladeer’s Blog examined the 1953-1954 episodes of this revered anthology series HERE. Today I review standout episodes of the 1954-1955 season. 

1954-1955 SEASON

THE NOTEBOOK WARRIOR (Sep 14th, 1954) – Ben Gazzara stars as a talented violinist who is drafted into the army and has difficulty adapting to the rigid lifestyle. Richard Kiley also stars.

BASEBALL BLUES (Sep 28th) – A forty-year-old baseball pitcher tries to come to terms with his impending retirement. Starring Edward Andrews and Frank Lovejoy.

THE MAN WITH THE GUN (Oct 12th) – Anti-communist activists suffer in a concentration camp in Europe. Gary Merrill, Edward Binns, Leueen McGrath and Dana Wynter star. Continue reading →

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June 2, 2026 · 7:16 am

FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: THE U.S. STEEL HOUR (1953-1963)

THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR (1953-1963) – Some of the finest hour-long dramas aired on American television during the 1950s and 1960s were produced for The U.S. Steel Hour. Over time the anthology program added a few comedies and children’s projects, but it made its reputation on the strength of its dramas.

1953-1954 Season

P.O.W. (Oct 27th, 1953) – David Davidson wrote and Alex Segal directed this tale of the tortuous brainwashing techniques that the Communist Chinese and their North Korean allies inflicted on Prisoners of War during the Korean War. In a way the 1950s Manchurian Candidate film trivialized the ordeals that service members were subjected to so that the reality seems to have faded into the background, replaced by pop culture melodrama.

Adding to the power of this presentation was the fact that it came out shortly after the Korean War ended. The general public was shocked that China and North Korea would dehumanize and experiment on POWs like this. The cast of P.O.W. included Brian Keith, Richard Kiley, Phyllis Kirk and Anne Seymour.    Continue reading →

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