Playhouse 90

Playhouse 90 Season 2

TV Show

Season 2 Episodes

1. The Death of Manolete

September 12th, 19571 hr 30 min

The last hours in the life of Spain's most celebrated matador.

2. The Dark Side of the Earth

September 19th, 19571 hr 30 min

A drama set in 1956, during the unsuccessful Hungarian uprising against the Russians

3. Topaze

September 26th, 19571 hr 30 min

A mild-mannered schoolteacher gradually abandons all his principles - and finds the success which has always hitherto eluded him.

4. A Sound of Different Drummers

October 3rd, 19571 hr 30 min

In a dystopian society, reading is forbidden.

5. The Playroom

October 10th, 19571 hr 30 min

When a mother wins an award, she finds out a few things about her three grown-up children.

6. Around the World in 90 Minutes

October 17th, 19571 hr 30 min

October 17, 1957, the CBS Television Network diverted from its typical format of live dramatic presentations for "Playhouse 90" to cover Michael Todd's gigantic party commemorating the one-year anniversary of the release of his film "Around The World In 80 Days". Todd invited 18-thousand people to the gala in New York City's Madison Square Garden though the number probably was far greater because of party-crashers. Walter Cronkite hosted the coverage with future ABC Sports ace Jim McKay and news veteran Bill Leonard handling the interviewing of numerous celebrity party guests. During the broadcast, Garry Moore hosted occasional comedy vignettes of how Todd came to create his Academy award-winning movie.

7. The Mystery of Thirteen

October 24th, 19571 hr 30 min

The story of William Palmer, one of the most notorious poisoners in Victorian England - or was he?

8. The Edge of Innocence

October 31st, 19571 hr 30 min

A lawyer's new brother-in-law disapproves of his specialty of defending murderers. But when he finds himself accused of murder, he asks for his help.

9. The Clouded Image

November 7th, 19571 hr 30 min

10. The Jet-Propelled Couch

November 14th, 19571 hr 30 min

Based on a case history in psychologist Dr. Robert Linder's book "The 50-Minute Hour." Unbeknownst to his friends and colleagues, the outwardly sane and secure atomic physicist Dr. Kirk Allen has for many years been embarking upon imaginary visits to another planet. At first this mental abnormality harms no one, but when Allen begins acting strangely on the job, the Pentagon begins to suspect that he is a security risk. Under psychological counseling, Allen reveals his "secret life" and provides surprisingly accurate extraterrestrial charts as "proof" that he is truly out of this world.

11. The Troublemakers

November 21st, 19571 hr 30 min

12. Panic Button

November 28th, 19571 hr 30 min

A Civil Aeronautics Board investigation determines that the reason a plane crashed, killing all aboard except one of the pilots, is that either the dead pilot or the survivor became panic-stricken and pushed the wrong button, but the investigators aren't sure which one was at fault.

13. Galvanized Yankee

December 5th, 19571 hr 30 min

In a Northern prisoner-of-war camp during the Civil War, a crippled Yankee commander has a rebellious Rebel executed. The dead man's brother, also a prisoner, vows vengeance. He volunteers to accompany the commander on a mission, planning to murder him along the way but changes his mind and escapes instead, deciding the commander is "already dead." The commander, a changed man, covers up for the escapees and himself faces court martial.

14. The Thundering Wave

December 12th, 19571 hr 30 min

Middle-aged actress Victoria Maxwell comes to terms with her destructive lifestyle as she struggles with the lead role in a Broadway-bound play. Matters are complicated by the fact that she is co-starring opposite her estranged husband, Allen Grant, whom she never stopped loving.

15. For I Have Loved Strangers

December 19th, 19571 hr 30 min

16. The Lone Woman

December 26th, 19571 hr 30 min

17. Reunion

January 2nd, 19581 hr 30 min

A reunion party for old army buddies turns inexorably into something darker and more sinister.

18. The Last Man

January 9th, 19581 hr 30 min

19. The 80 Yard Run

January 16th, 19581 hr 30 min

Long ago, Christian made a run of 80 yards to make the winning touchdown in a football game. It was the greatest moment of his life. Or was it the beginning of his decline?

20. Before I Die

January 23rd, 19581 hr 30 min

An innocent man, doomed to die for the murder of a cop that he didn't commit, is rushed from prison to the county hospital for an emergency operation. The surgeon becomes convinced of the man's innocence when he mumbles a girl's name under anesthesia. The surgeon seeks the help of a psychiatrist to penetrate his patient's subconscious.

21. The Gentleman from Seventh Avenue

January 30th, 19581 hr 30 min

Mr. Golden wonders if he has wasted his life; but the news that he is to become a grandfather cheers him.

22. The Violent Heart

February 6th, 19581 hr 30 min

Photographer Paul is invited to a French estate to take pictures but a romance develops with the lady of the house. A sudden death creates a suspicion of murder.

23. No Time at All

February 13th, 19581 hr 30 min

An airliner flying nonstop at night from Miami to New York fails to check in, then disappears from radar. We see how its disappearance affects people on the ground.

24. Point of No Return

February 20th, 19581 hr 30 min

Waiting to find out if he's obtained a valuable promotion, a banker returns to the small town he grew up in.

25. Portrait of a Murderer

February 27th, 19581 hr 30 min

Based on a true story, Donald Bashor robs and bludgeons two women to their deaths. While committing the crimes he maintains a normal existence with his girlfriend Florry.

26. The Last Clear Chance

March 6th, 19581 hr 30 min

A veteran lawyer must defend his own son when the latter is threatened with disbarment.

27. The Male Animal

March 13th, 19581 hr 30 min

The trustees of Midwestern University have forced three teachers out of their jobs for being suspected communists. Trustee Ed Keller has also threatened mild mannered English Professor Tommy Turner, because he plans to read a controversial piece of prose in class.

28. The Right Hand Man

March 20th, 19581 hr 30 min

The story of a struggle for control of a Hollywood talent agency.

29. Turn Left at Mount Everest

April 3rd, 19581 hr 30 min

30. The Dungeon

April 17th, 19581 hr 30 min

31. Verdict of Three

April 24th, 19581 hr 30 min

A murder trial is followed through different jurors and their reactions.

32. Rumors of Evening

May 1st, 19581 hr 30 min

33. Not the Glory

May 8th, 19581 hr 30 min

34. Nightmare at Ground Zero

May 15th, 19581 hr 30 min

After the first atom bomb test, scientists realize the bomb was more powerful than they expected - which may have terrible results.

35. Bomber's Moon

May 22nd, 19581 hr 30 min

A hard-hearted Colonel loses many men in his group's bombing missions over World War II Germany, but keeps on going and won't tolerate a young lieutenant losing his nerve under the strain, who refuses to continue.

36. Natchez

May 29th, 19581 hr 30 min

A Civil War veteran returns home to find his father has become a social pariah.

37. The Innocent Sleep

June 5th, 19581 hr 30 min

When a rich man marries a much younger wife and his ailing health gets rather worse, the housekeeper suspects a murder attempt is looming.

38. A Town Has Turned to Dust

June 19th, 19581 hr 30 min

A weakling sheriff is unable to prevent a lynching. Can he redeem himself by preventing a second one?

39. The Great Gatsby

June 26th, 19581 hr 30 min

A Midwesterner becomes fascinated with his wealthy neighbor, who obsesses over his lost love.

40. Bitter Heritage

August 7th, 19581 hr 30 min

The James boys, being framed for a bank heist, are saved by the banker's daughter.

All Seasons

Season 4

Season 4

Oct 1, 1959
Season 3

Season 3

Sep 25, 1958
Season 2

Season 2

Sep 12, 1957
Season 1

Season 1

Oct 4, 1956