Somerset Maugham TV Theatre

1950 American TV series or program

Somerset Maugham TV Theatre

Also known as| Teller of Tales
Written by| Russell Beggs
W. Somerset Maugham
Mathilde Ferro
Theodore Ferro
Agnes Nixon
Directed by| David Alexander
Martin Ritt
Presented by| W. Somerset Maugham
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 3
No. of episodes| 47
Production
Producers| John Gibbs
Ann Marlow
Daniel Petrie
Production locations| New York City, U.S.
Running time| 30 minutes (season 1-2)
60 minutes (season 3)
Original release
Network| CBS (season 1)
NBC (season 2-3)
Release| October 18, 1950 (1950-10-18) –
December 10, 1951 (1951-12-10)

Somerset Maugham TV Theatre (originally known as Teller of Tales for the first three episodes) is an American anthology drama program.[1] The series aired on CBS October 18, 1950 - March 28, 1951, and on NBC April 2, 1951 - December 10, 1951.[2]

## Premise

[edit]

The series made its debut on October 18, 1950 on CBS. The series was a half-hour (later 60 minute) drama whose episodes were based on the works and novels of the show's namesake William Somerset Maugham.[1]

Maugham appeared for one minute at the beginning of each episode and for 30 seconds at the end. His segments were live on the first three episodes and were filmed thereafter,[3] while the dramas themselves were presented live.[1]

### Season 2 Changes

[edit]

#### Move to NBC

[edit]

After the series finished its run on CBS after one season on March 28, 1951, the series was moved to NBC on April 2, 1951. The series would remain for the rest of its run. The series also moved from Wednesday nights to Monday nights[citation needed] and expanded to 60 minutes, alternating weekly with Robert Montgomery Presents.[1]

Season two finished its second season on September 3 after airing 16 episodes.[citation needed]

### Season 3

[edit]

The series started its third season on September 17, 1951, continuing to air on Monday nights and for sixty minutes. This season would be the show's final season airing its last episode on December 10, 1951, after airing 7 episodes.

## Production

[edit]

The series was directed by directors Martin Ritt and David Alexander and produced by John Gibbs, Ann Marlow, and Daniel Petrie.

During its third season, the show alternated on Monday nights with the NBC anthology series Robert Montgomery Presents.

Tintair sponsored the program.[4] The company ended its sponsorship effective December 10, 1951, because it felt that the show's alternate-week status diminished the impact of Tintair's advertising.[5]

## Broadcast history

[edit]

* Wednesdays 9–9:30 PM, October 18, 1950 - March 28, 1951, on CBS.
* Mondays 9:30–10:30 PM, April 2, 1951 - June 25, 1951, on NBC.
* Mondays 9:30–10 PM, July 9, 1951 - August 27, 1951, on NBC.
* Mondays 9:30–10:30 PM, September 3, 1951 - December 10, 1951, on NBC.

## Cast

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Actors appearing in the series included:

* Luther Adler
* Judith Anderson
* Constance Bennett[6]
* Joan Bennett[2]
* Lee J. Cobb[2]
* Dane Clark
* Robert Cummings
* Mildred Dunnock
* Nina Foch
* Rita Gam[7]
* Bonita Granville
* June Havoc[2]
* Grace Kelly[8]
* Otto Kruger
* Veronica Lake
* Cloris Leachman
* Ross Martin[7]
* Murray Matheson
* Peggy McCay
* Mildred Natwick
* Anthony Quinn[8]
* Joseph Schildkraut[7]
* Martha Scott
* Beatrice Straight
* Jessica Tandy[8]

## Episodes

[edit]

Season | Episodes | Season Premiere | Season Finale

|
|
|

1  | 24  | October 18, 1950 (1950-10-18) | March 28, 1951 (1951-3-28)
2  | 16  | April 2, 1951 (1951-4-2) | September 3, 1951 (1951-9-3)
3  | 7  | September 17, 1951 (1951-9-17) | December 10, 1951 (1951-12-10)

### Season 1

[edit]

* The Creative Impulse – October 18, 1950
* McKintosh – October 25, 1950
* Winter Cruise – November 1, 1950
* Episode – November 15, 1950
* "The Unconquered" – November 19, 1950, Rex Williams, Olive Deering[9]
* "Lord Mountdrago" – November 22, 1950, Arnold Moss[10]
* The String of Beads – November 29, 1950
* Force of Circumstance – December 6, 1950
* The Round Dozen – December 13, 1950
* Footprints in the Jungle – December 20, 1950
* Virtue – December 27, 1950
* The Treasure – January 3, 1951
* The Man from Glasgow – January 10, 1951
* The Vessel of Wrath – January 17, 1951
* Honolulu – January 24, 1951
* Partners – January 31, 1951
* The Romantic Young Lady – February 7, 1951
* The Dream – February 14, 1951[2]
* The People You Meet – February 21, 1951
* The Outstation – February 28, 1951
* The Back of Beyond – March 7, 1951
* Halfway to Broadway – March 14, 1951
* The Luncheon – March 21, 1951
* End of Flight – March 28, 1951

### Season 2

[edit]

* Of Human Bondage – April 2, 1951
* Theatre – April 16, 1951
* The Moon and Sixpence – April 30, 1951[2]
* The Facts of Life – May 14, 1951
* Cakes and Ale – May 28, 1951[2]
* The Narrow Corner – June 11, 1951
* The Letter – June 25, 1951
* The French Governor – July 9, 1951
* The Promise – July 16, 1951
* In Hiding – July 23, 1951
* The Ardent Bigamist – July 30, 1951
* Bewitched – August 6, 1951
* The Great Man – August 13, 1951
* The Yellow Streak – August 20, 1951
* A Woman of Fifty – August 27, 1951
* Appearances in Reality – September 3, 1951

[citation needed]

### Season 3

[edit]

* The Mother – September 17, 1951
* Grace – October 1, 1951
* Masquerade – October 15, 1951
* The Fall of Edward Bernard – October 29, 1951
* Before the Party – November 12, 1951
* Home and Beauty – November 26, 1951
* "Smith Serves" – December 10, 1951, starring Eddie Albert[11]

## Critical response

[edit]

Reviewers for the trade publication Billboard had differing reactions to two episodes of the show.

The January 17, 1951, episode was described as "a superb job of emasculation" of the short story "Vessel of Wrath".[12] The reviewer wrote that he had not seen "more lacklustre, dull, stodgy, boring, inane, stupid, empty, silly and nauseating dramatizations".[12] He added that it was " a completely pointless production ... disgracefully dull in execution."[12]

A review of the September 3, 1951, episode called it "one of the best full-hour programs to be seen hereabouts in a long time ... completely superior in script adaptation, acting and direction."[7] The only flaw cited by the reviewer was "a top-heavy overdose of lengthy commercials" that were repetitive enough to irritate viewers.[7]

## Radio version

[edit]

The Somerset Maugham Theater, a radio version of the program was broadcast on CBS from January 20, 1951, through July 14, 1951, sponsored by Tintair. It ran on NBC from October 27, 1951, through January 19, 1952, with By-Mart as the sponsor. Stars of episodes included Clark, Hume Cronyn, Alfred Drake, Nancy Kelly, Scott, and Tandy. The producers were John Gibbs and Ann Marlowe; the director was Mitchell Grayson.[13]

A review of the January 27, 1951, episode in Billboard said that despite "a soap opera slant", The Somerset Maugham Theater was "far above the usual daytime drama, because its basic story ideas are much stronger".[14] The review commended Tandy's acting and Grayson's directing and complimented the commercials.[14]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 1269\. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
2. ^ a b c d e f g McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 772\. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
3. ^ Adams, Val (November 12, 1950). "A Minute-and-a-Half Work Week". The New York Times. p. 109. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
4. ^ "Tintair Wants Better TV Time". Billboard. November 24, 1951. p. 87. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
5. ^ "Tintair Drops 'Maugham' TV". Billboard. December 1, 1951. p. 5. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
6. ^ Kellow, Brian (November 26, 2004). The Bennetts: An Acting Family. University Press of Kentucky. p. 479\. ISBN 978-0-8131-7192-0. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
7. ^ a b c d e Francis, Bob (September 15, 1951). "Somerset Maugham Theater". Billboard. p. 11. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
8. ^ a b c Calder, Robert (February 13, 2024). Somerset Maugham and the Cinema. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 200\. ISBN 978-0-299-34620-1. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
9. ^ "Television Highlights of the Week". The Boston Globe. November 19, 1950. p. 20-A. Retrieved May 4, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Television . . . . . . Highlights of the Week". Detroit Free Press. November 19, 1950. p. 22. Retrieved April 13, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Road bond appeal tonight, singing stars to be heard". The Birmingham News. December 10, 1951. p. 22. Retrieved April 15, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ a b c Franken, Jerry (January 27, 1951). "Somerset Maugham Theater". Billboard. p. 9. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
13. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 623\. ISBN 978-0195076783. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
14. ^ a b Morse, Leon (February 10, 1951). "The Somerset Maugham Theater". Billboard. p. 8. Retrieved August 11, 2024.

## External links

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* Somerset Maugham TV Theatre at IMDb
* Somerset Maugham TV Theatre at CVTA with episode list

*[No.]: Number