Live Television Drama, 1946–1951

The “live era” or “golden age”of television drama originating from New York, 1946 through 1951, was an exciting time of creative and commercial accomplishment. This is a complete history and reference guide to the live dramas that aired during those six years. Extensive coverage is given to the NBC anthologies Kraft Television Theatre and Philco Television Playhouse, and the CBS anthologies Ford Theater and Studio One, as well as to “he competitors”—the 28 new anthologies that appeared in the prime time schedule during 1950 and 1951. Appendices comprehensively list the day-by-day program logs for BBC, CBS and NBC dramas from 1946 through 1951.

William Hawes is a professor at the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, University of Houston. He has extensive experience in producing, managing and teaching in the fields of radio, film and television, and has written two books on television performing.

William Hawes
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 400
Bibliographic Info: photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2001
pISBN: 978-0-7864-0905-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0849-5
Imprint: McFarland

“a valuable reference source”—Choice; “a nice slice of television history…recommended”—Booklist; “the best account ever done of all the live drama anthologies and regular prime-time drama series…[the] appendices are an amazing piece of research…has the answers frustrated researchers have been seeking and finally puts the era in its correct perspective”—Big Reel; “extensive coverage”—C&RL News; “provides not only a complete history but, perhaps more importantly, includes day-by-day program logs for BBC, CBS and NBC dramas of the period”—Classic Images; “exciting time of creative and commercial accomplishment…a complete history”—New Books In the Communications Library.