The George Sanders Mystery Theater

The George Sanders Mystery Theater is the title of a 30-minute American television mystery drama series hosted by character actor George Sanders which aired Sundays on NBC in the summer of 1957,[1] replacing the first half of Caesar's Hour.[2]

The George Sanders Mystery Theater
Sanders as the host of the show.
GenreMystery drama
Directed byFletcher Markle
Presented byGeorge Sanders
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
ProducerScreen Gems
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time24 mins.
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJune 22 (1957-06-22) –
September 14, 1957 (1957-09-14)

Some of the actors who were cast in the episodes included: Lyle Talbot, June Vincent, S. John Launer, Paul Petersen, John Archer, Robert Horton, Kathryn Crosby, Elisha Cook, Mae Clarke, and Marion Ross.[3]

Work on the program, which had the working title The Mystery Writers Theater of TV, began two years prior to its debut. After Sanders was signed to be host, the title was changed to use his name. He began working on episodes 16 months prior to the show's debut.[2]

The producers were Sam Bischoff and David Diamond for Screen Gems.[4] Pabst Beer was the sponsor.[5]

Episodes

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No. Title Directed By Written By Cast
1 Man in the Elevator Fletcher Markle Leonard Lee[2] Don Haggerty, Dorothy Green, and Paul Peterson
2 And the Birds Still Sing Gerd Oswald Gene Wang Tristram Coffin, Havis Davenport, John Beradino, and Richard Benedict
3 The Call Fletcher Markle Halsted Welles Adam Williams and Marshall Bradford
4 You Don't Live Here Fletcher Markle Eugene Francis Marion Ross, Jim Hayward, Alex Gerry, Peter M. Thompson, and Freeman Morse
5 Last Will and Testament James Neilson Jerome Bromfield Robert Horton, Dolores Donlon, Herb Butterfield, Ray Gordon, George Eldredge, and Joseph Hamilton
6 The Liar Fletcher Markle Halsted Welles from a story by Charlotte Armstrong Robert Nichols, Richard Devon, Marvin Press, Ray Buckley, Nolan Leary, and Kathleen Mulgreen
7 Broker's Special Fletcher Markle Melvin Wald and Jack Jacobs George Sanders, Mary Lawrence, Grant Richards, Lyle Talbot, and Diana Damis
8 Try It My Way Fletcher Markle Whitfield Cook from a story by Frederick Nebel Howard Wendell, Phil Arnold, and Gilbert Frye
9 Round Trip Fletcher Markle Charles Faber Pamela Duncan, Roger Smith, Ella Ethridge, Russ Bender, and Paul Harber
10 Love Has No Alibi John Meredyth Lucas Steve Fisher based on the novel by Octavus Roy Cohen William Leslie, Kathryn Grant, Don Haggerty, S. John Launer, Paul Haber, and Jack W. Harris
11 The Night I Died Fletcher Markle Brainerd Duffield based on a story by Cornell Woolrich Paul Gary, Benny Rubin, Howard McNear, Eve McVeagh, Scotty Beckett, and Ted Jacques
12 Morning Boat to Africa Oscar Randolph Maury Hill George Sanders, Valerie French, and Peter Adams
13 The People vs. Anne Tobin Gerd Oswald Robert P. Presnell Jr. Arthur Franz, June Vincent, Reba Tassell, Robert Quarry, and Paul Keast

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "GEORGE SANDERS TO BE VIDEO HOST / Cast as Narrator of Filmed Series, 'The Ringmaster.' Built on Circus Stories", The New York Times (September 1, 1955, p.46) Retrieved February 12, 2019
  2. ^ a b c Newton, Dwight (June 16, 1957). "The Sad Summer Season". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. p. 132. Retrieved 18 June 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Shonk, Michael (June 12, 2016). Mystery*File. "A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: GEORGE SANDERS MYSTERY THEATRE (1957)." Retrieved February 12, 2019
  4. ^ Irvin, Richard (2017). Film Stars' Television Projects: Pilots and Series of 50+ Movie Greats, 1948-1985. McFarland. p. 160. ISBN 9781476669168. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Pabst's NBC-TV 'Mystery Theatre'". Variety. May 8, 1957. p. 25. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
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