ABC Theater

This article is about the television series. For the venue in Blackpool, see ABC Theatre, Blackpool.
ABC Theater
Also known asABC Theatre
ABC Theatre of the Month
GenreAnthology
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseDecember 19, 1972 (1972-12-19)

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, 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

Episode Airdate Cast Major Awards Director Writer
If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band 12/19/1972 Donna M. Bryan, Georgia Burke, Laurence Fishburne, Moses Gunn, Albert Hall Fred Coe Stanley L. Gray
Long Day's Journey Into Night 03/10/1973 Laurence Olivier, Constance Cummings, Denis Quilley Laurence Olivier, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Lead Actor[4] Peter Wood Eugene O'Neill
Pueblo 03/29/1973 Hal Holbrook, Ronny Cox, Andrew Duggan, Stephen Elliott Hal Holbrook, Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama[4] Anthony Page Stanley R. Greenberg
The Glass Menagerie 12/16/1973 Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Joanna Miles, Michael Moriarty Joanna Miles, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in Drama[4]
Michael Moriarty, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Drama[4]		 Anthony Harvey Tennessee Williams
F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles' 01/07/1974 Richard Chamberlain, Blythe Danner, Susan Sarandon George Schaefer James Costigan
Judgment: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg 01/28/1974 Allan Arbus, Herschel Bernardi, Barbara Colby Stanley Kramer Harry Kleiner
Wedding Band 04/24/1974 Ruby Dee, J.D. Cannon, Eileen Heckart Joseph Papp Alice Childress
The Missiles of October 12/18/1974 William Devane, Martin Sheen, Howard Da Silva, Ralph Bellamy Anthony Page Stanley R. Greenberg
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men 01/06/1975 J. Eric Bell, Godfrey Cambridge, Rosalind Cash, Robert Hooks, Glynn Turman
Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley 01/12/1975 Tony Musante, Richard Basehart, Harrison Ford Stanley Kramer Henry Denker
Love Among the Ruins 03/06/1975 Katharine Hepburn, Laurence Olivier, Colin Blakely Peabody 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 Cukor James Costigan
I Will Fight No More Forever 04/14/1975 James Whitmore, Sam Elliott, Ned Romero Richard T. Heffron Theodore Strauss
A Moon for the Misbegotten 05/27/1975 Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, Ed Flanders Ed Flanders, Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Special[4]
Eleanor and Franklin 01/11 & 01/12/1976 Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Rosemary Murphy Peabody 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 Petrie James Costigan
Green Eyes 01/03/1977 Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham, Jonathan Goldsmith Peabody Award[7]
Humanitas Prize[8]		 John Erman David Seltzer
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years 03/13/1977 Jane Alexander, Edward Herrmann, Priscilla Pointer, Blair Brown Emmy for Outstanding Special (Tie with Sybil)[4]
Daniel Petrie, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Special[4]		 Daniel Petrie James Costigan
Mary White 11/18/1977 Ed Flanders, Fionnula Flanagan, Tim Matheson, Kathleen Beller Caryl Ledner, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Adaptation)[4] Jud Taylor Caryl Ledner
The Gathering 12/04/1977 Edward Asner, Maureen Stapleton Emmy for Outstanding Special[4] Randal Kleiser James Poe
Breaking Up 01/02/1978 Lee Remick, Granville Van Dusen Delbert Mann Loring Mandel
The Last Tenant 06/25/1978 Tony Lo Bianco, Lee Strasberg, Christine Lahti George Rubino, Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Special (Original teleplay)[4] Jud Taylor George Rubino
Friendly Fire 04/22/1979 Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Timothy Hutton Peabody Award[9]
Emmy for Outstanding Special[4]
Daniel Greene, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or Special[4]		 David Greene Fay Kanin
Attica 03/02/1980 Charles Durning, Morgan Freeman, George Grizzard Marvin J. Chomsky, Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special[4] Marvin J. Chomsky James S. Henerson
The Women's Room 09/14/1980 Lee Remick, Ted Danson, Colleen Dewhurst, Patty Duke Glenn Jordan Carol Sobieski
The Shadow Box 12/28/1980 Joanne Woodward, Christopher Plummer, Valerie Harper, James Broderick Humanitas Prize[8]
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Made For Television[10]		 Paul Newman Michael Cristofer
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige 05/31/1981 Louis Gossett Jr., Beverly Todd, Cleavon Little Richard A. Colla Ronald Rubin
The Elephant Man 01/04/1982 Philip Anglim, Kevin Conway, Penny Fuller Penny Fuller, Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special Jack Hofsiss Steve Lawson
Divorce Wars: A Love Story 03/01/1982 Tom Selleck, Jane Curtin, Candice Azzara Humanitas Prize[8] Donald Wrye Donald Wrye
My Body, My Child 04/12/1982 Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Albertson, Joseph Campanella, Stephen Elliott
The Letter 05/03/1982 Lee Remick, Ronald Pickup, Jack Thompson
Benny's Place 05/31/1982 Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson, Terry Alexander
Who Will Love My Children? 02/14/1983 Ann-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 Erman Michael Bortman
The Day After 11/20/1983 Jason Robards, JoBeth Williams, John Lithgow, Amy Madigan Nicholas Meyer Edward Hume
Heart of Steel 12/04/1983 Peter Strauss, Pamela Reed, John Doucette Donald Wrye Gary DeVore
Something About Amelia 01/09/1984 Ted Danson, Glenn Close, Roxana Zal Emmy 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 Haines William Hanley
A Streetcar Named Desire 03/04/1984 Ann-Margret, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo John Erman Oscar Saul
The Dollmaker 05/13/1984 Jane Fonda, Levon Helm, Amanda Plummer Humanitas Prize[8]
Jane Fonda, Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or a Special		 Daniel Petrie Susan Cooper
Hume Cronyn
Heartsounds 09/30/1984 James Garner, Mary Tyler Moore, Sam Wanamaker Peabody Award[12] Glenn Jordan Fay Kanin
Consenting Adult 02/04/1985 Martin Sheen, Marlo Thomas Gilbert Cates John 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w 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. ^ a b c d "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.