Four Star Playhouse

1952 4 Seasons 6.8Series

DramaComedy

Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.

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Roy Kellino

Director

Robert Florey

Director

Robert Aldrich

Director

Frank McDonald

Director

Blake Edwards

Director

László Benedek

Director

William A. Seiter

Director

William Cameron Menzies

Director

Top Cast

David Niven

Bingham / Frank / Wyeth / Robert Louis Stevenson / Phil Weston / Ted Parker / Philip / Larkin / Maxwell / Jim Kenyon / Charles / Doctor / Cookie / David / Andy Fields / Henry / Hal Winters / Adams / Mitch / William Langford / Ted / John / Lee / George / Steve Carlyle / Roger Carlyle / Tony Stewart / Royal Thurston / Richard Lilliam / Andy / Uncle Fred / Deacon / Doctor Gentry · 32 eps

Dick Powell

Willie Dante / Fleet Mason / Priest / Steve / US Marshal Philip Dana / Graham / Mike Donegan / Grover Doane / Capt. Avery / Philip Benton / Chris / Dave / Dan Matson / Dave Robinson / Fred / Burt Stroude / Paul / Eddie / Dan / Eddie White / Will Sonnett / Dan Hodges / Andrew / Jeff · 32 eps

Ida Lupino

Grace / Flo Watson / Anna / Emily Cameron / Ellen / Billie / Sarah / Ann / Emma / Ginny / Meg / Kit / Nina Barton / Evelyn / Diana / Sheila / Celia Coberly / Valerie · 19 eps

Herb Vigran

Sam Rawlings / Lt. Richards / 3rd Reporter / Marc / Monte / Monty Leeds / Monte - Bartender / Bartender · 14 eps

Charles Boyer

Andre / Frank Hepp / Dr. Dumont / Carl Baxter / Carl / Grisby / Alan / Claude Le Beau / Alan Abbey / Dr. Giboux / Dr. Severson / Mr. Graham / Major Tinnente / Robert / Martin / George / John / Renneck / Jacques / Montaigne / Captain / Paul / Sampan Joe / The Man / Henri / Roger / Eric · 9 eps