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Read an in-depth look at Playhouse 90 by television historian Molly A. Schneider.
Premiering 60 years ago on CBS on October 4, 1956, the landmark dramatic anthology Playhouse 90 stands today as a timeless example of the electronic medium of television being elevated to a legitimate art form. Arriving on the airwaves as the last of the hour-long live anthologies from New York were being phased out of network primetime schedules, Playhouse 90 infused a final burst of vitality to the moribund studio-bound dramatic format, upping the ante with an extra 30 minutes of running time for expanded narratives. Originating from the state-of-the-art CBS Television City facilities in Hollywood, the ambitious series quickly became a showcase for broadcasting's top creative talent, including then-emerging writer Rod Serling and battle-tested live TV director John Frankenheimer. Over the course of its innovative four season run the series would enjoy wide critical acclaim, including Emmys for Best New Program Series in 1957 and Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama in 1960. In commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Playhouse 90, join us and our special guests as we take a fond look back at a curated selection of rarely seen installments of this television milestone, including the series debut and final original broadcast.
All episodes presented with original commercials.
Program curated by Dan Einstein and Mark Quigley. Funding for this program provided by UCLA Moving Image Archive Studies (MIAS). Use of episodes from Playhouse 90 courtesy of CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
