Somerset Maugham TV Theatre

Somerset Maugham TV Theatre (originally known as Teller of Tales for the first three episodes) is an American anthology drama program.[1]

Somerset Maugham TV Theatre
Also known asTeller of Tales
Written byRussell Beggs
W. Somerset Maugham
Mathilde Ferro
Theodore Ferro
Agnes Nixon
Directed byDavid Alexander
Martin Ritt
Presented byW. Somerset Maugham
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes47
Production
Producer(s)John Gibbs
Ann Marlow
Daniel Petrie
Production location(s)New York City, U.S.
Running time30 minutes (season 1-2)
60 minutes (season 3)
Release
Original networkCBS (season 1)
NBC (season 2-3)
Original releaseOctober 18, 1950 (1950-10-18) –
December 10, 1951 (1951-12-10)

The series aired on CBS from October 18, 1950–March 28, 1951 and on NBC from April 2, 1951–December 10, 1951 airing, in total, 47 episodes.[2]

Premise

The series made its debut on October 18, 1950 on CBS. The series was a half-hour (later 60 minute) drama whose episodes were based off the works and novels of the show's namesake William Somerset Maugham.[1]

Maugham made special appearances at the beginning and ending of each play always giving the introduction and conclusion to each episode.[2] His segments were filmed, while the dramas themselves were presented live.[1]

Season 2 Changes

Move to NBC

After the series finished its run on CBS after one season on March 28, 1951, the series was moved to NBC on April 2, 1951. The series would remain for the rest of its run. The series also moved from Wednesday nights to Monday nights and expanded to 60 minutes, alternating weekly with Robert Montgomery Presents.[1]

Season two finished its second season on September 3 after airing 16 episodes.

Season 3

The series started its third season on September 17, 1951 continuing to air on Monday nights and for sixty minutes. This season would be the show's final season airing its last episode on December 10, 1951 after airing 7 episodes.

Production notes

The series was directed by directors Martin Ritt and David Alexander and produced by John Gibbs, Ann Marlow, and Daniel Petrie.

Also, the introductions and epilogues given by Maugham were filmed live from his home in the French Riviera[2] and the plays broadcast live from New York City.[3]

During its third season, the show alternated on Monday nights with the successful NBC anthology series Robert Montgomery Presents.

Broadcast history
  • Wednesdays from 9-9:30 PM from October 18, 1950–March 28, 1951 on CBS.
  • Mondays from 9:30-10:30 PM from April 2, 1951–June 25, 1951 on NBC.
  • Mondays from 9:30-10 PM from July 9, 1951–August 27, 1951 on NBC.
  • Mondays from 9:30-10:30 PM from September 3, 1951–December 10, 1951 on NBC.

Cast

Actors appearing in the series included:

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesSeason PremiereSeason Finale
1 24 October 18, 1950 (1950-10-18) March 28, 1951 (1951-03-28)
2 16 April 2, 1951 (1951-04-02) September 3, 1951 (1951-09-03)
3 7 September 17, 1951 (1951-09-17) December 10, 1951 (1951-12-10)

Season 1
  • The Creative Impulse - October 18, 1950
  • McKintosh - October 25, 1950
  • Winter Cruise - November 1, 1950
  • The Unconquered - November 8, 1950
  • Episode - November 15, 1950
  • Lord Mountdrago - November 22, 1950
  • The String of Beads - November 29, 1950
  • Force of Circumstance - December 6, 1950
  • The Round Dozen - December 13, 1950
  • Footprints in the Jungle - December 20, 1950
  • Virtue - December 27, 1950
  • The Treasure - January 3, 1951
  • The Man from Glasgow - January 10, 1951
  • The Vessel of Wrath - January 17, 1951
  • Honolulu - January 24, 1951
  • Partners - January 31, 1951
  • The Romantic Young Lady - February 7, 1951
  • The Dream - February 14, 1951
  • The People You Meet - February 21, 1951
  • The Outstation - February 28, 1951
  • The Back of Beyond - March 7, 1951
  • Halfway to Broadway - March 14, 1951
  • The Luncheon - March 21, 1951
  • End of Flight - March 28, 1951

Season 2
  • Of Human Bondage - April 2, 1951
  • Theatre - April 16, 1951
  • The Moon and Sixpence - April 30, 1951
  • The Facts of Life - May 14, 1951
  • Cakes and Ale - May 28, 1951
  • The Narrow Corner - June 11, 1951
  • The Letter - June 25, 1951
  • The French Governor - July 9, 1951
  • The Promise - July 16, 1951
  • In Hiding - July 23, 1951
  • The Ardent Bigamist - July 30, 1951
  • Bewitched - August 6, 1951
  • The Great Man - August 13, 1951
  • The Yellow Streak - August 20, 1951
  • A Woman of Fifty - August 27, 1951
  • Appearances in Reality - September 3, 1951

[3]

Season 3
  • The Mother - September 17, 1951
  • Grace - October 1, 1951
  • Masquerade - October 15, 1951
  • The Fall of Edward Bernard - October 29, 1951
  • Before the Party - November 12, 1951
  • Home and Beauty - November 26, 1951
  • Smith Serves - December 10, 1951

References
  1. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2009). "Somerset+Maugham+TV+Theatre"&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi_hfS4qZ_kAhUxOn0KHU9bA2UQ6AEwAHoECAYQAg#v=onepage&q="Somerset%20Maugham%20TV%20Theatre"&f=false The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 1269. ISBN 9780307483201. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  2. "Somerset Maugham TV Theatre CBS (ended 1951)". www.tv.com. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  3. "CTVA US Anthology series - Somerset Maugham TV Theatre". ctva.biz. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
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