The Best of Broadway

*The Best of Broadway*
The Best of Broadway
Created by	Martin Manulis
Directed by	David Alexander; Sidney Lumet; Paul Nickell; Franklin J. Schaffner; Herbert B. Swope Jr.
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	9
Production
Producers	Martin Manulis; Felix Jackson
Running time	60 mins
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	September 15, 1954 –; May 4, 1955

The Best of Broadway is a 60-minute live television anthology series that aired on CBS Television on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time from September 15, 1954, to May 4, 1955, for a total of nine episodes. Each show was broadcast live in color from New York City, was an adaptation of a famous Broadway play, and included commercials for Westinghouse featuring Betty Furness.^[2] Using a "giant new studio,"^[3] plays were presented in front of a studio audience, which contributed a Broadway-like element.^[1]

Production

This series ran every fourth week, with Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts being aired the other three weeks.^[3]

The series originated from CBS Television Studio 72 at WCBS-TV. Martin Manulis was the initial producer, and Paul Nickell was the director. David Brookman was in charge of the music.^[2] In February 1955, Felix Jackson became the producer when Manulis began producing Climax!.^[4]

Episodes

	Play	Author(s)	Broadcast Date	Stars
1	The Royal Family	George S. Kaufman, Edna Ferber	September 15, 1954	Charles Coburn, Claudette Colbert, Helen Hayes, Fredric March, Nancy Olson^[5]
2	The Man Who Came to Dinner	George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart	October 13, 1954	Joan Bennett, Margaret Hamilton, Buster Keaton, Bert Lahr, Merle Oberon, ZaSu Pitts, Monty Woolley
3	Panama Hattie	Cole Porter, Herbert Fields, B. G. DeSylva	November 10, 1954	Art Carney, Ethel Merman
4	The Philadelphia Story	Philip Barry	December 8, 1954	Mary Astor, Herbert Marshall, Dorothy McGuire
5	Arsenic and Old Lace	Joseph Kesselring	January 5, 1955	Billie Burke, Helen Hayes, Edward Everett Horton, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre
6	The Show-Off	George Kelly	February 2, 1955	Carleton Carpenter, Jackie Gleason, Thelma Ritter, Cathy O'Donnell, Alice Ghostley, Russell Collins^[6]
7	The Guardsman	Ferenc Molnár	March 2, 1955	Claudette Colbert, Margaret Hamilton, Franchot Tone
8	Stage Door	George S. Kaufman, Edna Ferber (adapted by Gore Vidal)	April 6, 1955	Rhonda Fleming, Elsa Lanchester, Diana Lynn, Victor Moore^[7]
9	Broadway	George Abbott, Philip Dunning	May 4, 1955	Joseph Cotten, Piper Laurie, Gene Nelson, Akim Tamiroff, Keenan Wynn

Critical response

A review of "The Show-Off" in the trade publication Variety said that the episode was "pretty feeble stuff" but that Gleason's performance kept it from being "a trying experience, indeed."^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b Hawes, William (2001). Filmed Television Drama, 1952–1958. McFarland. pp. 22–23. ISBN 9780786411320. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Wednesday (15)" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television. September 12, 1954. p. 152. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 89. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
^ "Other Network Changes & Additions" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television. February 6, 1955. p. 17. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
^ "Television in Review: Color Drama," The New York Times 17 Sept. 1954.
^ ^a ^b "The Show Off". Variety. February 9, 1955. p. 37. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
^ Shanley, J. P. "Television: 'Stage Door,'" The New York Times 8 Apr. 1955.

External links

[ftd-1] Hawes, William (2001). Filmed Television Drama, 1952–1958. McFarland. pp. 22–23. ISBN 9780786411320. Retrieved 27 March 2019.

[rr-2] "Wednesday (15)" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television. September 12, 1954. p. 152. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

[brooks-3] Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 89. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.

[4] "Other Network Changes & Additions" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television. February 6, 1955. p. 17. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

[5] "Television in Review: Color Drama," The New York Times 17 Sept. 1954.

[v-6] "The Show Off". Variety. February 9, 1955. p. 37. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

[7] Shanley, J. P. "Television: 'Stage Door,'" The New York Times 8 Apr. 1955.

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