ABC Theater

ABC Theater is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC and featured quality dramatic presentations over a period of 12 years. Although some sources indicate the series began in 1974,[1] ABC lists the first production in 1972,[2] with irregular broadcasts until 1984.

ABC Theater
Also known asABC Theatre
ABC Theatre of the Month
GenreAnthology
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseDecember 19, 1972 (1972-12-19)

Directors for the series of television movies included George Schaefer, Stanley Kramer, Joseph Papp, George Cukor, José Quintero, Daniel Petrie, Randal Kleiser and Delbert Mann.

Writers contributing original material for the series included James Costigan, Alice Childress, Lonne Elder III and Loring Mandel.

In 1973, ABC shared in a joint Peabody Award with NBC and CBS "for their outstanding contributions to entertainment through an exceptional year of televised drama." The award particularly noted the ABC Theater productions of The Glass Menagerie and Pueblo.[3]

Selected episodes

EpisodeAirdateCastMajor AwardsDirectorWriter
If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band12/19/1972Donna M. Bryan, Georgia Burke, Laurence Fishburne, Moses Gunn, Albert HallFred CoeStanley L. Gray
Long Day's Journey Into Night03/10/1973Laurence Olivier, Constance Cummings, Denis QuilleyLaurence Olivier, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Lead Actor[4]Peter WoodEugene O'Neill
Pueblo03/29/1973Hal Holbrook, Ronny Cox, Andrew Duggan, Stephen ElliottHal Holbrook, Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama[4]Anthony PageStanley R. Greenberg
The Glass Menagerie12/16/1973Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Joanna Miles, Michael MoriartyJoanna Miles, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in Drama[4]
Michael Moriarty, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Drama[4]
Anthony HarveyTennessee Williams
F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles'01/07/1974Richard Chamberlain, Blythe Danner, Susan SarandonGeorge SchaeferJames Costigan
Judgment: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg01/28/1974Allan Arbus, Herschel Bernardi, Barbara ColbyStanley KramerHarry Kleiner
Wedding Band04/24/1974Ruby Dee, J.D. Cannon, Eileen HeckartJoseph PappAlice Childress
The Missiles of October12/18/1974William Devane, Martin Sheen, Howard Da Silva, Ralph BellamyAnthony PageStanley R. Greenberg
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men01/06/1975J. Eric Bell, Godfrey Cambridge, Rosalind Cash, Robert Hooks, Glynn Turman
Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley01/12/1975Tony Musante, Richard Basehart, Harrison FordStanley KramerHenry Denker
Love Among the Ruins03/06/1975Katharine Hepburn, Laurence Olivier, Colin BlakelyPeabody Award[5]
Katharine Hepburn, Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Special[4]
Laurence Olivier, Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Special[4]
George Cukor, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Special[4]
James Costigan, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)[4]
George CukorJames Costigan
I Will Fight No More Forever04/14/1975James Whitmore, Sam Elliott, Ned RomeroRichard T. HeffronTheodore Strauss
A Moon for the Misbegotten05/27/1975Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, Ed FlandersEd Flanders, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Special[4]
Eleanor and Franklin01/11 & 01/12/1976Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Rosemary MurphyPeabody Award[6]
Emmy for Outstanding Drama Special[4]
Rosemary Murphy, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Special[4]
Daniel Petrie, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Special[4]
James Costigan, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)[4]
Daniel PetrieJames Costigan
Green Eyes01/03/1977Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham, Jonathan GoldsmithPeabody Award[7]
Humanitas Prize[8]
John ErmanDavid Seltzer
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years03/13/1977Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Priscilla Pointer, Blair BrownEmmy for Outstanding Special (Tie with Sybil)[4]
Daniel Petrie, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Special[4]
Daniel PetrieJames Costigan
Mary White11/18/1977Ed Flanders, Fionnula Flanagan, Tim Matheson, Kathleen BellerCaryl Ledner, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Adaptation)[4]Jud TaylorCaryl Ledner
The Gathering12/04/1977Edward Asner, Maureen StapletonEmmy for Outstanding Special[4]Randal KleiserJames Poe
Breaking Up01/02/1978Lee Remick, Granville Van DusenDelbert MannLoring Mandel
The Last Tenant06/25/1978Tony Lo Bianco, Lee Strasberg, Christine LahtiGeorge Rubino, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)[4]Jud TaylorGeorge Rubino
Friendly Fire04/22/1979Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Timothy HuttonPeabody Award[9]
Emmy for Outstanding Special[4]
Daniel Greene, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or Special[4]
David GreeneFay Kanin
Attica03/02/1980Charles Durning, Morgan Freeman, George GrizzardMarvin J. Chomsky, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special[4]Marvin J. ChomskyJames S. Henerson
The Women's Room09/14/1980Lee Remick, Ted Danson, Colleen Dewhurst, Patty DukeGlenn JordanCarol Sobieski
The Shadow Box12/28/1980Joanne Woodward, Christopher Plummer, Valerie Harper, James BroderickHumanitas Prize[8]
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Made For Television[10]
Paul NewmanMichael Cristofer
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige05/31/1981Louis Gossett Jr., Beverly Todd, Cleavon LittleRichard A. CollaRonald Rubin
The Elephant Man01/04/1982Philip Anglim, Kevin Conway, Penny FullerPenny Fuller, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a SpecialJack HofsissSteve Lawson
Divorce Wars: A Love Story03/01/1982Tom Selleck, Jane Curtin, Candice AzzaraHumanitas Prize[8]Donald WryeDonald Wrye
My Body, My Child04/12/1982Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Albertson, Joseph Campanella, Stephen Elliott
The Letter 05/03/1982Lee Remick, Ronald Pickup, Jack Thompson
Benny's Place05/31/1982Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson, Terry Alexander
Who Will Love My Children?02/14/1983Ann-Margret, Frederic Forrest, Donald Moffat
Ann-Margret, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television[11]
John ErmanMichael Bortman
The Day After11/20/1983Jason Robards, JoBeth Williams, John Lithgow, Amy MadiganNicholas MeyerEdward Hume
Heart of Steel12/04/1983Peter Strauss, Pamela Reed, John DoucetteDonald WryeGary DeVore
Something About Amelia01/09/1984Ted Danson, Glenn Close, Roxana ZalEmmy for Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special[4]
Roxana Zal, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
William Hanley, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special[4]
Randa HainesWilliam Hanley
A Streetcar Named Desire03/04/1984Ann-Margret, Treat Williams, Beverly D'AngeloJohn ErmanOscar Saul
The Dollmaker05/13/1984Jane Fonda, Levon Helm, Amanda PlummerHumanitas Prize[8]
Jane Fonda, Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Daniel PetrieSusan Cooper
Hume Cronyn
Heartsounds09/30/1984James Garner, Mary Tyler Moore, Sam WanamakerPeabody Award[12]Glenn JordanFay Kanin
Consenting Adult02/04/1985Martin Sheen, Marlo ThomasGilbert CatesJohn McGreevey

ABC Theater Award

In 1977, ABC Inc., established the “ABC Theater” Award. The award provided a grant to the National Playwrights Conference of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and a cash award of $10,000 to the winning playwright. The playwright's work was then telecast as an ABC Theater Presentation. Winners of the award have included George Rubino for The Last Tenant, Lee Hunkins for Hollow Image, Preston Ransone for King Crab, J. Rufus Caleb for Benny's Place and Phil Penningroth for Ghost Dancing.

References

  1. Terrace, Vincent (1981). Television 1970-1980. San Diego: A.S. Barnes and Company. ISBN 0-498-02577-2.
  2. ABC Theater (1984). New York: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
  3. "1973 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  4. O'Neil, Thomas (2000). The Emmys (3rd ed.). New York: Berkley Publishing Group. ISBN 0-399-52611-0.
  5. "1975 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  6. "1976 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  7. "1977 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  8. "The Humanitas Prize: 90 Minute". The Humanitas Prize. Archived from the original on 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  9. "1979 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  10. "Golden Globe Awards: Winners & Nominees 1981". goldenglobes.com. The Hollywood Foreign Press Associate. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  11. "Golden Globe Awards: Winners & Nominees 1984". goldenglobes.com. The Hollywood Foreign Press Associate. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  12. "1984 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
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