Startime

1959-10-06 | TV-G | en

Drama Comedy

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Seasons & Episodes

EP1 The Wonderful World of Entertainment

Oct. 06,1959

A musical variety show revolving around the music of the 1930s through 1950s, in which the history of show business—including motion pictures, radio, television, and vaudeville—is used as a thread to hold together the songs, sketches, and dances.

EP2 The Jazz Singer

Oct. 13,1959

A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer.

EP3 The Turn of the Screw

Oct. 20,1959

In a mid-19th century Essex country house, a young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted by ghosts and that the children are being possessed.

EP4 The Secret World of Kids

Oct. 27,1959

Art Linkletter's variety episode pays tribute to children with guests Richard M. and his mother Hannah Nixon; comedian Ed Wynn; motion picture actors Ann Blyth and Vincent Price; child performers Jon Provost of Lassie, Teddy Rooney, and Angela Cartwright of The Danny Thomas Show; the Mitchell Boys Choir; and animal performers Lassie and Jerry. Includes a modern television version of Tom Sawyer, a skit on the importance of the first baby, musical and dance numbers, interviews with children and with Richard Nixon and his mother on the Vice President's childhood, and Vincent Price's talented chimpanzee.

EP5 The Dean Martin Show

Nov. 03,1959

An hour of songs, dances and comedy with Dean Martin as the host and his guests are Frank Sinatra, Mickey Rooney, and the dance team of Augie and Margo.

EP6 The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks

Nov. 10,1959

A disgruntled bank employee executes an elaborate corporate sabotage against his employers.

EP7 George Burns in the Big Time

Nov. 17,1959

A musical variety episode featuring comedians and performers George Burns, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, and George Jessel reliving their early days in vaudeville.

EP8 Merman on Broadway

Nov. 24,1959

Ethel Merman presents showtunes from her Broadway hits, with Hollywood stars Tab Hunter and Fess Parker, and comedian Tom Poston. Bobby Sherwood's trumpet accompanies one Merman number.

EP9 Something Special

Dec. 01,1959

Two lonely singles are paired by a matrimonial bureau.

EP10 My Three Angels

Dec. 08,1959

Three convicts escaping from Devil's Island take refuge with a struggling storekeeper and his family, and are able to help them out of their straits.

EP11 Cindy's Fella

Dec. 15,1959

Peddler Azel Dorsey and a drifter wander into a town and help young Cindy find her prince, in this old-west take on the Cinderella fable.

EP12 Christmas Startime with Leonard Bernstein

Dec. 22,1959

A musical Christmas celebration featuring Leonard Bernstein, the New York Philharmonic, Marian Anderson, the Schola Cantorum, the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and others.

EP13 Meet Cyd Charisse

Dec. 29,1959

A musical variety show starring dancer Cyd Charisse, with guest stars Eve Arden; James Mitchell; Charisse's husband, singer Tony Martin; and a company of over twenty dancers. Includes Charisse and Mitchell in a dramatic ballet set on the Hong Kong waterfront, involving an ill-fated romance between an Oriental entertainer and a thief; Charisse and Mitchell in a romantic dance story set to Gershwin's 'Love Walked In'; Martin in song and dance numbers with Charisse and two featured dancers; and Arden and Ray Kellogg educating coffeehouse beatniks on the culture of the flapper generation.

EP14 The Man

Jan. 05,1960

In a small town, elderly Mrs. Gillis, who in a large Victorian home, receives a visit from a man just out of the army. He's seeking a job and a place to stay, and he knew the woman's late son, so she gives him room and board and small tasks to do. Slowly though, he becomes more and more aggressive and paranoid until it's obvious he's a psychopath that wants to get rid of her and take over the house.

EP15 The Dean Martin Show

Jan. 12,1960

Dean Martin returns to host; appearing in this show: musical comedy star Nanette Fabray, pianist André Previn, and singer Fabian.

EP16 Crime, Inc.

Jan. 19,1960

A survey employing dramatic recreations show how organized crime has infiltrated legitimate business and labor organizations.

EP17 The Wonderful World of Jack Paar

Jan. 26,1960

Jack Paar hosts a show in the casual style of his late-hours stanza. Guests include singer Pat Suzuki, comics Jonathan Winters and Alice Pearce, dancer Betty Bruce, pantomimist Harry Minno, mimic singer Duke Hazlett, a novelty act called the Strong Brothers, and Jack's young daughter Randy.

EP18 The Greatest Man Alive

Feb. 02,1960

An elderly inhabitant of a dingy Manhattan apartment, decides that his life has been a failure and prepares to hang himself when a researcher calls.

EP19 The Swingin' Years

Feb. 09,1960

Ronald Reagan hosts a celebration of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s.

EP20 Closed Set

Feb. 16,1960

Hollywood starlet Julie Forbes has used ruthless and vindictive tactics to reach the top and maintains her popularity in the same manner. After a succession of stereotyped films, she decides to make a 'quality' film and hires a young, sensitive director, Cliff Harriston. However, when he rebuffs her advances, she aims to ruin him by using her power and influence to turn the film into 'just another Julie Forbes picture'.

EP21 Talent Scouts

Feb. 23,1960

Dave Garroway hosts this showcase for several talented young show-business professionals, each 'sponsored' by an established performer.

EP22 Jeff McCleod, the Last Reb

Mar. 01,1960

Set within the twenty-four hours of April 17, 1865, in and around the Tressler farm in Missouri, Confederate soldier Captain Jeff McCleod has been wounded and left for dead on a small Missouri battlefield. He is found by 15-year-old Yankee boy Jannie, and brought home to a household of women who, reluctantly, hide McCleod in the cellar and lie about his presence to a search party of Union soldiers.

EP23 The Swingin', Singin' Years

Mar. 08,1960

Ronald Reagan returns to hosts anotjer celebration of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s that recall the greatest recordings made during the swing era.

EP24 Academy Award Songs

Mar. 15,1960

Jane Wyman hosts a showcase of movie songs that won an Academy Award and features the five tunes nominated for this year's Oscar.

EP25 Dear Arthur

Mar. 22,1960

Sophisticated international rogue Fred Cortin has devoted a lifetime to the study and practice of imaginative confidence games. When he encounters his divorced, wealthy daughter, Edith Brooks, on the French Riviera, he devises a plan to protect her from a rash of unwanted suitors by creating a husband for her who doesn't exist. As the moneyed international set in Monaco and along the Riviera—led by Emerald Dane—tends to its fun and games, Cortin sets about achieving his greatest deception.

EP26 The Young Juggler

Mar. 29,1960

Medieval French monks find a freezing, ill juggler and take him in. Upon recovering, the impoverished man wishes to illustrate his tremendous gratitude.

EP27 Incident at a Corner

Apr. 05,1960

A school crossing guard reprimands the PTA president for careless driving. He is later dismissed from his job on the basis of an anonymous note accusing him of being too friendly with little schoolgirls.

EP28 Well, What About You?

Apr. 19,1960

Figures from politics and entertainment join forces to get people to vote in November. The parties are represented by Vice President Richard Nixon, as well as by Paul Butler, Democratic national chairman; Massachusetts Sen. John Kennedy. Thruston Morton of Kentucky, Butler's Republican counterpart; Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of New York; and Adlai Stevenson.

EP29 Soldiers in Greasepaint

Apr. 26,1960

A 20th anniversary tribute to the USO with host Bob Crosby and performances by singer Jane Morgan, comedian Don Adams, and the vocal group The Modernaires. Film clips are shown of USO entertainers doing shows behind the lines during WWII and in Korea.

EP30 Fun Fair

May. 05,1960

Celeste Holm hosts a salute to the American county fair. Her guests include Cliff Arquette as Charley Weaver, singers Marion Marlowe and Jaye P. Morgan, comedienne Hermione Gingold, character actress Margaret Hamilton, musical-comedy performer Peter Palmer, and magician Carl Ballantine.

EP31 Tennessee Ernie Ford Meets King Arthur

May. 10,1960

Tennessee Ernie Ford is transported back to England in the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

EP32 Sing Along with Mitch

May. 24,1960

Conductor-arranger Mitch Miller transfers his 'Sing Along with Mitch' format from records to television. In this program, he is joined by the vocal group Brothers Four, singers Leslie Uggams and Diana Trask, the Sing Along Chorus, and an aggregation of singing children. The studio audience is encouraged to participate.

EP33 The Nanette Fabray Show

May. 31,1960

An original musical, 'So Help Me, Aphrodite', with Nanette Fabray starring as Sally, a diner waitress owned by Ernest Jones, who earnestly wants to marry her. But Sally dreams of being famous — like Marie Antoinette or Pocahontas.

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Startime, an anthology of drama, comedy and variety, was one of the first American television shows broadcast in color.

Startime Audience Reviews

WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

smithy-8 I never heard of "Startime" playhouse on television in 1959. Audie Murphy made a few appearances on television. His performance in "The Man" episode was not good. Mr. Murphy played a disturbed former soldier who is trying to kill his former buddy's mother (Thelma Ritter). Ms. Ritter is terrific. Mr. Murphy tried to keep up with Ms. Ritter. Their scenes together were good, but when he is alone and trying to act like a psycho, he overacts.The script is not very good. It doesn't explain why he wants to kill his buddy's mother, however, you can't stop watching the entire one-hour show. Another performance that was over Mr. Murphy's head was in "The Quiet American". Mr. Murphy was best in westerns. The highlight came after the show was when Mr. Murphy spoke to the audience, apparently, it wasn't a routine thing to do for the star of the show, but Mr. Murphy wanted to. It was nice to see this quiet man, standing in front of his sponsor's car, praising his leading lady, the other actors, and the sponsor. That segment showed you a glimpse of the real man. What a waste, when Mr. Murphy died in that plane accident in 1971.

The-Lonely-Londoner Having achieved success with 'Vertigo', Hitchcock tried his hand at directing an episode from a murder, mystery series such as 'Startime'. He was already realising television success with 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but was capitalising on the fact that television was now going to progress from cinema in the 60's.