ABC Theater

ABC Theater
Also known as ABC Theatre
ABC Theatre of the Month
Genre Anthology
Original language(s) English
Release
Original network ABC
Original release December 19, 1972

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.

Directors for the series of television movies included George Schaefer, Stanley Kramer (who, with David L. Wolper, co-produced and directed three courtroom dramatizations under the general title of Judgment)[3], 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.[4]

Selected episodes

EpisodeAirdateCastMajor Awards
If You Give a Dance You Gotta Pay the Band12/19/1972Donna M. Bryan, Georgia Burke, Laurence Fishburne, Moses Gunn, Albert Hall
Long Day's Journey Into Night3/10/1973Laurence Olivier, Constance Cummings, Denis QuilleyLaurence Olivier, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Lead Actor[5]
Pueblo3/29/1973Hal Holbrook, Ronny Cox, Andrew Duggan, Stephen ElliottHal Holbrook, Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama[5]
The Glass Menagerie12/16/1973Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Joanna Miles, Michael MoriartyJoanna Miles, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in Drama[5]
Michael Moriarty, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Drama[5]
F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles'1/7/1974Richard Chamberlain, Blythe Danner, Susan Sarandon
Judgment: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg1/28/1974Allan Arbus, Herschel Bernardi, Barbara Colby
Wedding Band4/24/1974Ruby Dee, J.D. Cannon, Eileen Heckart
The Missiles of October12/18/1974William Devane, Martin Sheen, Howard Da Silva, Ralph Bellamy
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men1/6/1975J. Eric Bell, Godfrey Cambridge, Rosalind Cash, Robert Hooks, Glynn Turman
Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley1/12/1975Tony Musante, Richard Basehart, Harrison Ford
Love Among the Ruins3/6/1975Katharine Hepburn, Laurence Olivier, Colin BlakelyPeabody Award[6]
Katharine Hepburn, Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Special[5]
Laurence Olivier, Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Special[5]
George Cukor, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Special[5]
James Costigan, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)[5]
I Will Fight No More Forever4/14/1975James Whitmore, Sam Elliott, Ned Romero
A Moon For the Misbegotten5/27/1975Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, Ed FlandersEd Flanders, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Special[5]
Eleanor and Franklin1/11 & 1/12/1976Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Rosemary MurphyPeabody Award[7]
Emmy for Outstanding Drama Special[5]
Rosemary Murphy, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Special[5]
Daniel Petrie, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Special[5]
James Costigan, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)[5]
Green Eyes1/3/1977Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham, Jonathan GoldsmithPeabody Award[8]
Humanitas Prize[9]
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years3/13/1977Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Priscilla Pointer, Blair BrownEmmy for Outstanding Special (Tie with Sybil)[5]
Daniel Petrie, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Special[5]
Mary White11/18/1977Ed Flanders, Fionnula Flanagan, Tim Matheson, Kathleen BellerCaryl Ledner, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Adaptation)[5]
The Gathering12/4/1977Edward Asner, Maureen StapletonEmmy for Outstanding Special[5]
Breaking Up1/2/1978Lee Remick, Granville Van Dusen
The Last Tenant6/25/1978Tony Lo Bianco, Lee Strasberg, Christine LahtiGeorge Rubino, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)[5]
Friendly Fire4/22/1979Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Timothy HuttonPeabody Award[10]
Emmy for Outstanding Special[5]
Daniel Greene, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or Special[5]
Attica3/2/1980Charles Durning, Morgan Freeman, George GrizzardMarvin J. Chomsky, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special[5]
The Women's Room9/14/1980Lee Remick, Ted Danson, Colleen Dewhurst, Patty Duke
The Shadow Box12/28/1980Joanne Woodward, Christopher Plummer, Valerie Harper, James BroderickHumanitas Prize[9]
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Made For Television[11]
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige5/31/1981Louis Gossett Jr., Beverly Todd, Cleavon Little
The Elephant Man1/4/1982Philip Anglim, Kevin Conway, Penny FullerPenny Fuller, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Divorce Wars: A Love Story3/1/1982Tom Selleck, Jane Curtin, Candice AzzaraHumanitas Prize[9]
My Body, My Child4/12/1982Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Albertson, Joseph Campanella, Stephen Elliott
The Letter 5/3/1982Lee Remick, Ronald Pickup, Jack Thompson
Benny's Place5/31/1982Louis Gossett, Jr., Cicely Tyson, Terry Alexander
Who Will Love My Children?2/14/1983Ann-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[12]
The Day After11/20/1983Jason Robards, JoBeth Williams, John Lithgow, Amy Madigan
Heart of Steel12/4/1983Peter Strauss, Pamela Reed, John Doucette
Something About Amelia1/9/1984Ted Danson, Glenn Close, Roxana ZalEmmy for Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special[5]
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[5]
A Streetcar Named Desire3/4/1984Ann-Margret, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo
The Dollmaker5/13/1984Jane Fonda, Levon Helm, Amanda PlummerHumanitas Prize[9]
Jane Fonda, Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Heartsounds9/30/1984James Garner, Mary Tyler Moore, Sam WanamakerPeabody Award[13]

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. ↑ "JUDGMENT SPECIALS - David L. Wolper". www.davidlwolper.com. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  4. ↑ "1973 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 O'Neil, Thomas (2000). The Emmys (3rd ed.). New York: Berkley Publishing Group. ISBN 0-399-52611-0.
  6. ↑ "1975 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  7. ↑ "1976 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  8. ↑ "1977 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "The Humanitas Prize: 90 Minute". The Humanitas Prize. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  10. ↑ "1979 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  11. ↑ "Golden Globe Awards: Winners & Nominees 1981". goldenglobes.com. The Hollywood Foreign Press Associate. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  12. ↑ "Golden Globe Awards: Winners & Nominees 1984". goldenglobes.com. The Hollywood Foreign Press Associate. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  13. ↑ "1984 Peabody Awards". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.