Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1950s Television
    1950s Television 1960s Television Drama Shows A USA TV 4 Mins Read

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents (The Alfred Hitchcock Hour)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 5 – 1 9 6 5 (USA)
    268 x 25 minute episodes

    Although only 20 of the 300+ episodes of this anthology of murder mysteries were directed by the Master of Suspense, he presented every episode – usually from some macabre setting, such as an electric chair or impaled on a pole like a scarecrow – signing off with a sardonic, deadpan explanation of the small but fatal slip that had proved to be the criminal’s undoing.

    One of the first anthologies to have a personality of its own, Alfred Hitchcock Presents (aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour) raided the shelves of the suspense classics for its narratives, those translated for the screen by such renowned ink-slingers as Ray Bradbury, Nicholas Monsarrat and Sterling Silliphant.

    The stories were cleverly crafted, centring on crimes such as murder and blackmail, but each had a surprising twist in the tail.

    Among the outstanding presentations were ‘Arthur’ with Laurance Harvey as Arthur Williams, the owner of a chicken farm, who is embittered after his fiancée, Helen (Hazel Court) jilts him to marry another.

    A year later, she leaves her husband and returns to Arthur. He kills her and although the police – under Sgt Farrell (Patrick Macnee) are suspicious, they are unable to find a body, prove a murder, or connect Arthur in any way.

    In the closing narrative, Hitchcock states that Arthur, who made his own chicken feed through the use of a large grinding machine, prepared a special mixture and added one extra ingredient – Helen. This was one of the very few episodes in which the criminal goes undiscovered and unpunished.

    ‘Man From the South’ was situated at the Golden Nugget Gambling Palace in Las Vegas and centred on a bet over the ability of a 99 cent cigarette lighter to light ten straight times. If it does, the challenger (Peter Lorre) will lose his car – if it does not, the owner of the lighter (Steve McQueen) will forfeit the pinky on his left hand.

    Tension mounts as the hand is tied to a table, the challenger holds an axe, and the lighter is lit seven times. The bet is cancelled when the challenger’s wife enters and announces that her husband has nothing to bet with as she has managed to win it all.

    As she picks up the car keys from the table we see the evidence of her having beaten him
    – two fingers only remaining on one hand – the thumb and the pinky.

    In ‘Voodoo’, set in an oil mining camp in the Amazon, A wife (Cara Williams), who is in love with her husband’s partner, pretends to be stricken with fever. Unaware of the deceit and believing his wife’s sanity is threatened, the husband (Nehemiah Persoff) arranges for a native servant to take her downriver to a psychiatrist.

    Uncomprehending, the servant takes her to his people, “the best head shrinkers in the world.”

    “I do what you tell,” he says, upon his return, and hands her shrunken head to his master.

    Other standout episodes included ‘Revenge’ with Ralph Meeker and Vera Miles; ‘The Jar’ with Pat Buttram; `Escape to Sonoita’ with Burt Reynolds, and ‘Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat’  with Audrey Meadows.

    The series originally consisted of 30-minute dramas, but over 900 stories were made in a 60-minute format and went out as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

    One feature of Hitchcock’s dramas on television was their shattering of the industry code that forbade evil to triumph: he routinely announced in his closing remarks that the bad guys received justice, thereby circumventing the censors. However, he also ridiculed his sponsors and teased his viewers, so very few took such disclaimers seriously.

    The show was produced by Norman Lloyd, later to appear in front of the camera as Dr Daniel Auschlander in St Elsewhere.

    In 1957 and 1958, many of the shows were directed by Robert Altman, who later became famous as the original director of the film M*A*S*H, which became a hit TV series.

    The memorable theme music to the show was Gounod’s Funeral March of A Marionette.

    Related Posts

    • Way Out
      Way Out
      1 9 6 1 (USA) 14 x 25 minute episodes The CBS anthology series Way Out first appeared on Friday 1 March…
    • Storyboard
      Storyboard
      1 9 8 3 - 1 9 8 9 (UK) 13 x 60 minute episodes This highly regarded Thames anthology…
    • All Square
      All Square
      1 9 6 6 - 1 9 6 7 (UK) 9 x 30 minute episodes Michael Bentine's ATV follow-up series…
    • Shades of Darkness
      Shades of Darkness
      1 9 8 3 (UK) 7 x 60 minute episodes 1 9 8 6 (UK) 2 x 90 minute episodes This occasional…
    • Lash of the West
      Lash of the West
      1 9 5 3 (USA) 15-minute episodes Cowboy movie star Alfred "Lash" LaRue - who resembled and spoke like Humphrey Bogart…
    • Best Things in Life, The
      Best Things in Life, The
      1 9 6 9 - 1 9 7 0 (UK) 13 x 30 minute episodes Cockney wide-boy Alfred Wilcox (Harry H.…
    • ABC Comedy Hour, The
      ABC Comedy Hour, The
      1 9 7 2 (USA) 13 x 60 minute episodes The ABC Comedy Hour aired between 12 January 1972 and 5…
    • Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents
      Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents
      1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 7  (UK) 156 x 30 minute episodes Douglas Fairbanks Jr. narrated, produced…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleAlbion Market
    Next Article Casanova

    Comments are closed.

    Can you help?
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.


    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Colour TV – The Dawn of Glam Television
      It’s no coincidence that Britain embraced Glam at […]
    • Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson
      1 9 7 9 – 1 9 8 0 (USA/Poland) 24 x 25 minute episodes […]
    • Transistor Radios
      When the transistor replaced the bulky and unreliable vacuum […]
    • Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)
      Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) took $23.4 million at the box […]
    • Teetime and Claudia
      1 9 8 3 (UK) 10 minute episodes Teetime the dog (voiced by […]
    • Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine (Carter USM)
      Formed in South London, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine began […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    Sad news. We wish her well 🤗

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dame Esther Rantzen says her lung cancer is in stage four

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV presenter and Childline founder says she is on a new form of medication for the disease.
    3 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 3

    Comment on Facebook

    Oh no 😢 in my prayers Esther xxx

    Didn’t she want to put the unvaccinated into camps during lockdown…

    That’s not cool 😞

    Another great voice has left us 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Tina Turner: Music legend dies at 83

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Her unmistakable voice on hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It made her a superstar.
    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    I found out on tiktok before I saw it on any news channels..

    Terrible, terrible news. Taken far too young. Vale Andy Rourke!

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Andy Rourke: The Smiths bassist dies aged 59

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Johnny Marr confirmed Rourke died after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9_xELTfEds

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65576903 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Beatles: Rare first edition White Album given to charity

    www.bbc.co.uk

    A 1968 White Album, complete with original inserts, is given to a Sutton Coldfield charity shop
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I recently fulfilled the dream of over 40 years and saw The Zombies perform live (They were amazing!). Their current bass player is a chap called Søren Koch, and this is his regular band - The Beatophonics. If you love 60s Beat music, do yourself a favour and have a listen. They are truly superb. open.spotify.com/artist/5W05FY5rERtVTBippPjold?si=nU5zM8gJSXONAGCWOUrTnA

    variety.com/2023/film/news/beetlejuice-2-release-date-theaters-1235607767/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ Starring Michael Keaton and Jenna Ortega, to Hit Theaters in 2024

    variety.com

    Whether or not you say his name three times, Beetlejuice is returning to movie theaters next year. Warner Bros. has announced that “Beetlejuice 2” will be released on the big …
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 3
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-65470238 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Why The Wicker Man has divided opinion for 50 years

    www.bbc.co.uk

    It has been described as the Citizen Kane of horror movies - and one of the worst films ever made.
    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    RIP Harry Belafonte 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Harry Belafonte: Singer and civil rights activist dies aged 96

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The King of Calypso, who became a major voice in America's civil rights movement, died at home.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bfi.org.uk/features/railway-children-yorkshire-locations ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Railway Children: in search of the Yorkshire locations, 50 years on

    www.bfi.org.uk

    Does the chocolate-box Yorkshire depicted in The Railway Children still exist? More than half a century since its release, we went looking for the locations.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 9
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Farewell Possum :(

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Barry Humphries: Dame Edna Everage comedian dies at 89

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Australian was known for comic creations such as Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 4
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    RIP Mary Quant - the originator of the mini skirt and a key figure in the rise of “Swinging London“. 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65265531

    RIP Mary Quant - the originator of the mini skirt and a key figure in the rise of “Swinging London“.
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65265531
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 months ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 16
    • Shares: 3
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Canada Cold War Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Kraütrock Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music Video games
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.