Tag Archives: U.S. Steel Hour

U.S. STEEL HOUR: SEASON SIX (1958-1959) – “The Broadway of Television” was back with more high-quality dramas and comedies. Some standout episodes from this season:

MID-SUMMER – Future television icon JACKIE COOPER starred as Val Barton, a man who longs to continue performing in vaudeville with his stage partner (Larry Wilde). BARBARA BEL GEDDES – Dallas‘ Miss Ellie Ewing herself – played his wife Lily Barton, who wants him to settle down in a more stable and respectable job as a teacher.   

SECRET IN THE FAMILY – Hazel Curtis (Faye Emerson), the wife of a small-town dentist (Edward Andrews) and mother of their two teenaged children, gets her novel published and becomes a celebrity. She goes off to New York City for cocktail parties and promotional appearances while her husband tries to keep their household running in her absence. A comedy-drama also with Marjorie Gateson. Continue reading →

U.S. STEEL HOUR: SEASON FIVE (1957-1958) – “The Broadway of Television” was back with more. Some standout episodes from this season:

HUCK FINN – A musical adaptation of part of the Mark Twain novel Huckleberry Finn. Earle Hyman, who played Cliff Huxtable’s father on Cosby, starred as Jim, Jimmy Boyd was Huck, BASIL RATHBONE played the Duke, Jack Carson the King, and FLORENCE HENDERSON was Mary Jane Wilk. Songs included Loafin’ on the Water, My Friend Huckleberry Finn, Funny but Likable and Too Wonderful for Me.  

WHO’S EARNEST? – An adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Edward Mulhare, Louise Troy and Rex O’Malley starred in the production.

LITTLE CHARLIE DON’T WANT A SADDLE – JUNE LOCKHART portrayed Martha Ann, a mute young mail-order bride for Mr. Hare (John Beal). Hare and his younger son Charlie (Dennis Kohler) find the dynamic young lady very charming but older son Elmo (ANDREW PRINE) believes his father is dissing his late mother by taking a new wife. Continue reading →

U.S. STEEL HOUR: SEASON FOUR (1956-1957) – “The Broadway of Television” was back for another season. Some standout episodes from this season:

WE MUST KILL TONI – The Oberon Brothers (Fritz Weaver and Norman Lloyd) need money desperately. They were counting on inheriting, but when it looks like the inheritance will instead go to Toni (Lisa Daniels) the brothers try to kill her in this dark comedy.

BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY – PAUL NEWMAN, George Peppard, Albert Salmi, Barbara Babcock and Clu Gulager star in the TV version of this classic story. A major league pitcher (Paul Newman) learns his catcher (George Peppard in his television debut) is dying from a rare disease. He honors the catcher’s request to keep the situation a secret from the rest of the team.    Continue reading →

Yes, “the Broadway of TV” is back for this look at the program’s third season.

STANDOUT EPISODES:

THE MEANEST MAN IN THE WORLD – Directed by the one and only Sidney Lumet, this episode dealt with a mean-spirited father trying to force his kind-hearted son to treat people as horribly as he himself does. It all culminates in mean ol’ dad wanting his son to join him in foreclosing on an elderly widow and a deserted orphan on Christmas Eve. Starring Betsy Palmer, Wally Cox, Richard Hilton and Josephine Hull.

THE SEVENTH VEIL – A psychiatrist (Ben Astar) tries to determine which of the men in the life of his patient Francesca (Diana Lynn) is so abusive that he has caused her nervous breakdown. Also starring Dan O’Herlihy, Conrad Janis, Richard Abbott and Cindy Cameron.

COUNTERFEIT – BORIS KARLOFF stars as George Redford, a seemingly mild-mannered British man who raises tomatoes. Actually, he is really a brilliant counterfeiter whose work is so terrific that it takes years for the authorities to catch on. Edna Best and John McGiver also star. Continue reading →