Douglas Fairbanks Presents

Douglas Fairbanks Presents is a 1953–1956 syndicated half-hour dramatic anthology series. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was the host, and he sometimes starred in episodes.[1] It was also known as Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents.[2][3] A total of 117 episodes were filmed.[2] The program was also broadcast in at least seven TV markets in Canada.[4]

Douglas Fairbanks Presents
Also known as
  • Rheingold Theater
  • Chesebrough Ponds Playhouse
GenreAnthology series
Presented byDouglas Fairbanks Jr.
StarringDouglas Fairbanks Jr. (48 episodes)
ComposerAllan Gray
Country of originUS
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes157
Production
Production locationsBritish National Studios, England
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time25 minutes
Production companyDouglas Fairbanks Jr. Productions
Release
Original networkNBC
Original release7 January 1953 (1953-01-07) 
11 February 1957 (1957-02-11)

Actors

The series offered Buster Keaton in his first dramatic role in the episode entitled "The Awakening". British actor Christopher Lee appeared in various roles in sixteen episodes, including "Destination Milan".[1]

Production

Fairbanks was executive producer for the program,[3] which was filmed at the British National Studios, Elstree, England and on location in England and in other parts of Europe.[2] NBC Films was the original distributor, but by mid-1954, it had begun distributing a package titled Paragon Playhouse, while Interstate TV distributed episodes with the original title.[5]

Herman Blaser was the production supervisor, and Lawrence Huntington was the director. John and Gwen Bagni wrote the scripts.[6] Music for the show was composed by Allan Gray.

Recognition

In 1954, Douglas Fairbanks Presents was named the best non-network dramatic film series in The Billboard's Second Annual TV awards.[5]

Other titles

The program had different titles in different areas. Those titles often included the name of the sponsor, such as Rheingold Theatre[1] (when Rheingold Brewery sponsored it in New York City[2] and at least 15 other locations[4]) and Triangle Theatre (based on sponsor Blatz Beer's logo) in Wisconsin.[2] In Melbourne, Australia the series was aired under the title Chesebrough Ponds Playhouse.

Episodes

Season 1 (1953–1954)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Accused"Lawrence HuntingtonGwen Bagni, John Bagni7 January 1953 (1953-01-07)
22"The Scream"Charles SaundersJohn Cresswell, Hester Holland14 January 1953 (1953-01-14)
33"Little Brother"Charles SaundersDoreen Montgomery21 January 1953 (1953-01-21)
44"The Clock"Lance ComforrtPaul Vincent Carroll28 January 1953 (1953-01-28)
55"Dialogue With Two Faces"Charles SaundersUnknown4 February 1953 (1953-02-04)
66"The Surgeon"Terence FisherLawrence B. Marcus, Richard Alan Simmons11 February 1953 (1953-02-11)
77"Lochinvar"Leslie ArlissWalter Scott18 February 1953 (1953-02-18)
88"Take A Number"Terence FisherLawrence B. Marcus25 February 1953 (1953-02-25)
99"Thought To Kill"Leslie ArlissSelwyn Jepson4 March 1953 (1953-03-04)
1010"Happy Birthday"Bernard KnowlesLawrence B. Marcus11 March 1953 (1953-03-11)
1111"The Five Pound Note"Bernard KnowlesLawrence B. Marcus, Robert Westerby18 March 1953 (1953-03-18)
1212"Destination Milan"Lawrence HuntingtonLawrence Huntington, Robert Hall25 March 1953 (1953-03-25)
1313"Foolish Notions"Charles SaundersGabrielle Upton1 April 1953 (1953-04-01)
1414"American Duel"Lance ComfortNelson Gidding, Doreen Montgomery, Robert Westerby8 April 1953 (1953-04-08)
1515A"The Last Moment"Lance ComfortSelwyn Jepson15 April 1953 (1953-04-15)
1615B"The Sensible Man"Lance ComfortVincent Carroll15 April 1953 (1953-04-15)
1716"Parlour Trick"Lawrence HuntingtonRoland Pertwee22 April 1953 (1953-04-22)
1817"Outpost"Dan BirtUnknown29 April 1953 (1953-04-29)
1918"My Name Is Jones"Charles SaundersSelwyn Jepson6 May 1953 (1953-05-06)
2019"A Lodging For The Night"Bernard KnowlesLawrence B. Marcus, Robert Louis Stevenson13 May 1953 (1953-05-13)
2120"Priceless Pocket"Leslie ArlissGuy Morgan, Geoffrey Wallace20 May 1953 (1953-05-20)
2221"Sylvia"John GillingDoreen Montgomery27 May 1953 (1953-05-27)
2322"The Red Dress"Lawrence HuntingtonRhys Davies, Guy Morgan3 June 1953 (1953-06-03)
2423"The Runaway Marriage"Leslie ArlissUnknown10 June 1953 (1953-06-10)
2524"The Journey"Charles FrankAlbert Jarosy17 June 1953 (1953-06-17)
2625"Lowland Fling"Leslie ArlissPaul Vincent Carroll24 June 1953 (1953-06-24)
2726"Emerald Green"Lawrence HuntingtonPaul Vincent Carroll1 July 1953 (1953-07-01)
2827"The Genie"Lance ComfortDoreen Montgomery8 July 1953 (1953-07-08)
2928"The Heel"Lance ComfortNoel Charles, Peter Graham Scott, Gordon Wellesley15 July 1953 (1953-07-15)
3029"My Favourite Aunt"Lance ComfortUnknown22 July 1953 (1953-07-22)
3130"The Door"Charles SaundersLawrence B. Marcus, Guy Morgan9 September 1953 (1953-09-09)
3231"The Great White Bird"John GillingSimon Harcourt-Smith, Moie Charles, Derry Quinn23 September 1953 (1953-09-23)
3332"Forever My Heart"Leslie ArlissSelwyn Jepson, Doreen Montgomery30 September 1953 (1953-09-30)
3433"Moment Of Truth"Lance ComfortDoreen Montgomery7 October 1953 (1953-10-07)
3534"Silent Snow"Charles SaundersDerry Quinn21 October 1953 (1953-10-21)
3635"Bitter Heart"Bernard KnowlesGuy Morgan, Albert Jarosy4 November 1953 (1953-11-04)
3736"The Death Of Michael Turbin"Bernard KnowlesPaul Vincent Carroll, Lawrence B. Marcus18 November 1953 (1953-11-18)
3837"Panic"Lawrence HuntingtonLawrence B. Marcus, Peter Quinn9 December 1953 (1953-12-09)
3938"The Charm"Lance ComfortUnknown30 December 1953 (1953-12-30)
4039"The Silent Man"Terence FisherGil Doud, Robert Westerby, Lewis Rusoff27 January 1954 (1954-01-27)

Season 2 (1954-1955)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
411"King High"Terence FisherAndrew Solt, Glen Bohannax3 February 1954 (1954-02-03)
422"Gramma Brenn"Lawrence HuntingtonMildred Cram10 February 1954 (1954-02-10)
433"The Ship's Doctor"Derek TwistVal Valentine17 February 1954 (1954-02-17)
444"The Wedding Veil"Charles SaundersLothian Daggett24 February 1954 (1954-02-24)
455"Pardon My Ghost"Leslie ArlissGuy Morgan3 March 1954 (1954-03-03)
466"The Trap"Arthur CrabtreeGabrielle Upton, Doris Gilbert10 March 1954 (1954-03-10)
477"Second Wind"Leslie ArlissJerome Gruskin17 March 1954 (1954-03-17)
488"Leave To Die"Derek TwistA.R. Rawlinson, Mark Derby24 March 1954 (1954-03-24)
499"The International Settlement"Lawrence HuntingtonCapt W.E. Johns, A.R. Rawlinson31 March 1954 (1954-03-31)
5010"Double Identity"Francis SearleJohn Haggerty, Aubrey Cash, Charles Hatton14 April 1954 (1954-04-14)
5111"The Refugee"Michael McCarthyMichael McCarthy21 April 1954 (1954-04-21)
5212"A Lesson In Love"Leslie ArlissUnknown28 April 1954 (1954-04-28)
5313"Myra And The Moneyman"Michael McCarthyVan Fleming, Leigh Vance5 May 1954 (1954-05-05)
5414"The Heirloom"John GillingJohn Kneubuhl12 May 1954 (1954-05-12)
5515"The Witness"Lawrence HuntingtonLee Edwards19 May 1954 (1954-05-19)
5616"Johnny Blue"Lance ComfortJerome Gruskin26 May 1954 (1954-05-26)
5717"Street Of Angels"Arthur CrantreePaul Erickson, Guy Morgan, Robin Estridge2 June 1954 (1954-06-02)
5818"The Happy McBains"Derek TwistNathaniel Curtis9 June 1954 (1954-06-09)
5919"Rain Forest"Lawrence HuntingtonJ.B.Williams, Dorothy Cottrell16 June 1954 (1954-06-16)
6020"Provincial Lady"Lance ComfortMiles Malleson, Ivan Turgenev30 June 1954 (1954-06-30)
6121"The Awakening"Michael McCarthyLawrence B. Marcus, Nikolay Gogol14 July 1954 (1954-07-14)
6222"The Apples"Lance ComfortStanley Mann21 July 1954 (1954-07-21)
6323"Pattern For Glory"Derek TwistAbby Mann, Bernard Drew4 August 1954 (1954-08-04)
6424"A Line In The Snow"Michael McCarthyGabrielle Upton18 August 1954 (1954-08-18)
6525"One-Way Ticket"Lawrence HuntingtonPaul Bauman25 August 1954 (1954-08-25)
6626"Dream Stuff"Charles SaundersGabrielle Upton8 September 1954 (1954-09-08)
6727"Four Farewells In Venice"Michael McCarthyCharles Frank22 September 1954 (1954-09-22)
6828"Mr Sampson"Lawrence HuntingtonJohn Sherman29 September 1954 (1954-09-29)
6929"The Man Who Heard Everything"Allan DavisLawrence B. Marcus13 October 1954 (1954-10-13)
7030"The Last Knife"Michael McCarthyMichael McCarthy20 October 1954 (1954-10-20)
7131"Rehearsal"Lance ComfortJohn Q. Copeland3 November 1954 (1954-11-03)
7232"Face Of The Law"Lance ComfortSewlyn Jepson, Lance Sieveking10 November 1954 (1954-11-10)
7333"The Relative Truth"Leslie ArlissPaul Vincent Carroll24 November 1954 (1954-11-24)
7434"The Lovely Place"Leslie ArlissGabrielle Upton8 December 1954 (1954-12-08)
7535"The Mix-Up"Anthony YoungUnknown15 December 1954 (1954-12-15)
7636"Silent Night: The Story Of The Original Christmas Carol"Lawrence HuntingtonFrank Gruber22 December 1954 (1954-12-22)
7737"Stand By"Derek TwistDoreen Montgomery29 December 1954 (1954-12-29)
7838"Forever Is A Long Time"Lawrence HuntingtonGabrielle Upton, Tedwell Chappman12 January 1955 (1955-01-12)
7939"Border Incident"Derek TwistGeorge Marrow26 January 1955 (1955-01-26)

Season 3 (1955)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
801"The Patriarch"Michael McCarthyDerry Quinn, Claire Wallis, Maxwell Sellers2 February 1955 (1955-02-02)
812"The Hideaway"Arthur CrabtreeStanley Mann9 February 1955 (1955-02-09)
823"The 90th Day"Terence FisherMalvin Wald, Jack Jacobs16 February 1955 (1955-02-16)
834"Counterfeit"Roy RichAbby Mann, Howard Apter, Guy Morgan23 February 1955 (1955-02-23)
845"Honeymoon Deferred"Dennis VanceLorraine Edwards2 March 1955 (1955-03-02)
856"The Long White Line"John GillingJohn Francis Larkin, John Gilling, Guy Morgan9 March 1955 (1955-03-09)
867"The Dark Lake"Roy RichAshmead Scott16 March 1955 (1955-03-16)
878"Pitfall"Roy RichKent Doone23 March 1955 (1955-03-23)
889"Con Cregan's Legacy"Harold HuthPaul Vincent Carroll, Charles Lever6 April 1955 (1955-04-06)
8910"Crime A La Carte"Dennis VanceStanley Mann13 April 1955 (1955-04-13)
9011"Room 506"Arthur CrabtreeJames Patrick O'Neill20 April 1955 (1955-04-20)
9112"The Thoroughbred"Harold HuthKent Doone, Guy Morgan27 April 1955 (1955-04-27)
9213"While The Circus Passes"Lawrence HuntingtonJohn Haggarty4 May 1955 (1955-05-04)
9314"The Leprachaun"Lawrence HuntingtonDerry Quinn, John Sherman11 May 1955 (1955-05-11)
9415"The Little Big Shot"Lance ComfortWilliam Wiener, Herbert Abbott Spiro18 May 1955 (1955-05-18)
9516"The Auction"Bernard KnowlesStanley Mann25 May 1955 (1955-05-25)
9617"The Only Son"Michael McCarthyUnknown1 June 1955 (1955-06-01)
9718"Goodbye Tomorrow"Bernard KnowlesJohn Gilling, Leigh Vance8 June 1955 (1955-06-08)
9819"Another Day"Arthur CrabtreeJerome Gruskin15 June 1955 (1955-06-15)
9920"Flight One-Zero-One"Derek TwistMaurice Wiltshire, Derek Twist29 June 1955 (1955-06-29)
10021"The Wedding Dress"Roy RichGizi de Blore Zsemley13 July 1955 (1955-07-13)
10122"The Enchanted Doll"Harold HuthDerry Quinn, Paul Gallico20 July 1955 (1955-07-20)
10223"Tony"Lawrence HuntingtonGuy Morgan, John Tully3 August 1955 (1955-08-03)
10324"Blue Murder"Roy RichEmery Bonett, Guy Morgan24 August 1955 (1955-08-24)
10425"The Sound Of Your Voice"Leslie ArlissUnknown31 August 1955 (1955-08-31)
10526"Big Nick"Lance ComfortUnknown7 September 1955 (1955-09-07)
10627"The Milkman"Lance ComfortLawrence B. Marcus14 September 1955 (1955-09-14)
10728"The Treasure Of Urbano"Harold HuthPaul Tabori, Derry Quinn28 September 1955 (1955-09-28)
10829"Atlantic Night"Derek TwistLeslie Reade, Arthur Bryant5 October 1955 (1955-10-05)
10930"The Hero"Harold HuthAbby Mann, Ben Arbeid12 October 1955 (1955-10-12)
11031"Success Train"Dennis VanceAbby Mann, Jack Wilson7 November 1955 (1955-11-07)
11132"Guilt"Lance ComfortJames Parish14 November 1955 (1955-11-14)
11233"A Borderline Case"Roy RichGuy Morgan21 November 1955 (1955-11-21)
11334"Heritage"Lance ComfortJoseph Schull5 December 1955 (1955-12-05)
11435"The Immigrant"Michael McCarthyMichael McCarthy12 December 1955 (1955-12-12)
11536"A Fast Buck"Dennis VanceBerkeley Mather, Guy Morgan2 January 1956 (1956-01-02)
11637"Dmitrios"Dennis VanceDerry Quinn, Norman Holland16 January 1956 (1956-01-16)
11738"Deadline: Vienna"Harold HuthKent Doone23 January 1956 (1956-01-23)
11839"Gabrielle"Bernard KnowlesPeter Pitt30 January 1956 (1956-01-30)

Season 4 (1956-57)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1191"Better Mousetraps"Harold HuthPauline Stone, Michael Cosgrove6 February 1956 (1956-02-06)
1202"The Present"Lawrence HuntingtonMichael Voysey13 February 1956 (1956-02-13)
1213"Jason's House"Derek TwistJerry McGill20 February 1956 (1956-02-20)
1224"No Samples"Cy RothBill Barrett27 February 1956 (1956-02-27)
1235"A Walk In The Wilderness"Arthur CrabtreeMontagu Slater, Guy Morgan5 March 1956 (1956-03-05)
1246"Welcome My Wife"Leslie ArlissE.G. Cousins, Derry Quinn12 March 1956 (1956-03-12)
1257"First Day"Harold HuthPaul Dudley, Bernard Glemser19 March 1956 (1956-03-19)
1268"A Flight Of Birds"Arthur CrabtreeTimothy Hanley, Guy Morgan26 March 1956 (1956-03-26)
1279"Personal Call"Michael McCarthyUnknown2 April 1956 (1956-04-02)
12810"A New Life"Arthur CrabtreeDan Harris, Guy Morgan9 April 1956 (1956-04-09)
12911"The Dunce"Arthur CrabtreeClock Dailey, Guy Morgan23 April 1956 (1956-04-23)
13012"Ship Day"Derek TwistJohan Fabricius, Guy Morgan, Derek Twist30 April 1956 (1956-04-30)
13113"The Murderer"Harold HuthStanley Mann, Guy Morgan7 May 1956 (1956-05-07)
13214"Point Of View"Leslie ArlissPaul David, Guy Morgan14 May 1956 (1956-05-14)
13315"Mutiny"Arthur CrabtreePatrick Whyte28 May 1956 (1956-05-28)
13416"The Story Of Pan Yusef"Harold HuthFerdynand Goetel, Guy Morgan4 June 1956 (1956-06-04)
13517"A Train To The Sea"Derek Twist, Leslie ArlissHugh Walpole, Leslie Arliss11 June 1956 (1956-06-11)
13618"A Likely Story"Michael McCarthyA.R. Rawlinson, Jean Leslie25 June 1956 (1956-06-25)
13719"Play Me A Blue Note"Harold HuthAnne Howard Bailey, Guy Morgan2 July 1956 (1956-07-02)
13820"The Way Home"Harold HuthAnne Howard Bailey9 July 1956 (1956-07-09)
13921"Mister Purley's Profession"Leslie ArlissJack Roche23 July 1956 (1956-07-23)
14022"Treasure In Store"Harold HuthClaude Pirkis, Derry Quinn20 August 1956 (1956-08-20)
14123"Beloved Stranger"Harold HuthI.A.R. Wylie, Diana Morgan3 September 1956 (1956-09-03)
14224"The Guy In The Middle"Derek TwistMarion Cooper10 September 1956 (1956-09-10)
14325"Timmy The Shanks"Harold HuthPaul Vincent Carroll17 September 1956 (1956-09-17)
14426"The Man Who Wouldn't Escape"Michael McCarthyStanley Mann, Mordecai Richler1 October 1956 (1956-10-01)
14527"Winning Sequence"Leslie ArlissLeslie Arliss, Margery Sharp8 October 1956 (1956-10-08)
14628"The Last Tour"Derek TwistAnn Howard Bailey15 October 1956 (1956-10-15)
14729"Someone Outside"Lance ComfortMartin Worth22 October 1956 (1956-10-22)
14830"One Can't Help Feeling Sorry"Harold HuthFrank D. Gilroy29 October 1956 (1956-10-29)
14931"Crown Of The Andes"Francis SearleEdward Dunn5 November 1956 (1956-11-05)
15032"Homecoming"Joseph SterlingJoseph Schull12 November 1956 (1956-11-12)
15133"Rendezvous At Dawn"Arthur CrabtreeCharles Early, Joseph Early19 November 1956 (1956-11-19)
15234"Scheherezade"Harold HuthIrving Rubine, Selwyn Jepson26 November 1956 (1956-11-26)
15335"To What Great Heights"Harold HuthPaul Dudley, Guy Morgan3 December 1956 (1956-12-03)
15436"The Best Man"Derek TwistIrene Winston14 January 1957 (1957-01-14)
15537"The Ludlow Affair"David MacdonaldIrving Rubine, Herman C. McNeile28 January 1957 (1957-01-28)
15638"The Trouble With Destiny"Barry DelmaineEugene Vale4 February 1957 (1957-02-04)
15739"Together"Lance ComfortPaul David11 February 1957 (1957-02-11)

Archive status

Out of an original total of 157 episodes, 53 episodes are currently missing:

  • Series 1 Episode 01 "The Accused" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 02 "The Scream" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 03 "Little Brother" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 04 "The Clock" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 05 "Dialogue For Two Faces" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 06 "The Surgeon" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 07 "Lochinvar" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 08 "Take A Number" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 09 "Thought To Kill" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 10 "Happy Birthday" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 11 "The Five Pound Note" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 12 "Destination Milan" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 15A "The Last Moment" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 15B "The Sensible Man" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 16 "The Parlour Trick" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 17 "The Outpost" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 18 "My Name is Jones (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 19 "A Lodging For The Night" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 20 "The Priceless Pocket" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 21 "Sylvia" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 22 "The Red Dress" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 23 "Runaway Marriage" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 24 "The Journey" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 26 "Emerald Green" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 27 "The Genie" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 28 "The Heel" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 30 "The Door" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 31 "The Great White Bird" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 32 "Forever My Heart" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 33 "Moment Of Truth" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 35 "Bitter Heart" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 36 "The Death Of Michael Turbin" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 37 "Panic" (missing)
  • Series 1 Episode 38 "The Charm" (missing)
  • Series 2 Episode 13 "Myra And The Money Man" (missing)
  • Series 2 Episode 17 "Street Of Angels" (missing)
  • Series 2 Episode 25 "One Way Ticket" (missing)
  • Series 2 Episode 28 "Mr. Sampson" (missing)
  • Series 2 Episode 37 "Stand By" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 01 "The Patriarch" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 03 "The 90th Day" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 08 "Pitfall" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 09 "Con Cregan's Legacy" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 10 "Crime A La Carte" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 11 "Room 506" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 25 "The Sound Of Your Voice" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 31 "Success Train" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 33 "Borderline Case" (missing)
  • Series 3 Episode 38 "Deadline: Vienna" (missing)
  • Series 4 Episode 18 "A Likely Story" (missing)
  • Series 4 Episode 24 "Guy In The Middle" (missing)
  • Series 4 Episode 34 "Scheherezade" (Sound only exists – there is no picture).
  • Series 4 Episode 39 "Together" (missing)

References

  1. 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. 235. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987'. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 64–65. ISBN 0-7864-1198-8.
  3. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 280. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  4. "Fairbanks Series Sold Into 7 New Canadian Markets". Billboard. August 21, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  5. "D. Fairbanks Noses Out 'Favorite Story'". Billboard. July 31, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  6. "Review of TV Film Shows". Billboard. April 25, 1953. p. 32. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
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