Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • 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
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • 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»Drama
    Drama TV Shows - 1950s 8 Mins Read

    London Playhouse

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 5 – 1 9 5 6 (UK)
    25 x 60 minute episodes

    This series of 21 plays was produced by Rediffusion and debuted on 29 September 1955, airing Thursday evenings at 9.00 pm.

    The Haven

    Feeling that he’s in a rut, Kenneth (Robert Harris) can’t bear to spend another summer in the family’s holiday home by the lake. Although his wife Barbara (Joan Miller) and the kids – Germaine and Roland – are disappointed, he wants to sell the house and use the money for a long trip.

    Kenneth is a serious, sensitive man whose love for the high-quality things in life makes him greatly appreciative of the works of Swinburne, classical music and the company of well-bred young women.

    Barbara, on the other hand, is a foolish, loud-mouthed ex-barmaid, rarely seen without a cigarette drooping from her lips. Loving her husband above all, she paints a pathetic, bewildered portrait.

    Caroline Denzil and James Doran as the two children of the marriage make sufficient unnecessary commotion to drive any man into the arms of a quiet and gentle mistress.

    Supporting roles were played by Lionel Jeffries and John Franklyn Robbins, and the play was directed by Peter Cotes.

    Babs
    Joan Miller
    Kenneth
    Robert Harris
    Germaine
    Caroline Denzil
    Roland
    James Doran
    Bob Ritchie
    Lionel Jeffries
    Lonely Tom
    John Franklyn Robbins


    A Call on the Widow

    Two detectives (Clifford Evans and Michael Craig) call at a lonely farmhouse to investigate the death of the owner. Marooned by floods, they become guests of his widow (Jean Kent). One finds love, the other finds murder.

    Elsa Carter
    Jean Kent
    McKendrick
    John Rae
    Inspector Grant
    Clifford Evans
    Sgt Marshall
    Michael Craig


    The Glorification of Al Toolum

    Al (Lionel Murton) has won a competition as the most average man in the USA. Then he discovers that glorification brings troubles.

    Al Toolum
    Lionel Murton
    Emily Toolum
    Joan Miller
    DJ
    Hugh McDermott
    Sherman Toolum
    Garry Billings
    Herman Toolum
    Robert Brooke
    Little Louie
    Barry Fennell
    John Bell
    Peter Dyneley
    Barbara McClain
    Betty McDowall
    Mrs Stickler
    Barbara Cavan
    Browning
    Errol MacKinnon
    Mr Bright
    MacDonald Parke
    Mrs Goren
    Bessie Love
    Mac the crazy kid
    Richard Rogers


    Summer in Normandy

    Host
    Neal Arden


    A Garden in the Sea

    This adaptation of Henry James’s The Aspern Papers featured a young writer (Robert Urquhart) searching for new material for his biography of a famous poet. He believes that a mysterious old recluse once knew the poet, and still has poems and letters yet unpublished. So he goes to visit her in Venice at the old palace that stands in a garden in the sea.

    Margaret Haslan as the beautiful girl grown old and crazy, reading and re-reading her precious letters, communicated the lost yearnings and the desperate heartbreak with a kind of twisted beauty that underlined the horror (for the story is horrible). Rosalie Crutchley as Tina, the old woman’s niece, backed up admirably.

    But the episode was televised live and there were enough bumps, rattles, rumbles, tinkles, clinks, clanks, squeaks, coughs and conversations in the background to keep a Royal Festival Hall audience happy for hours. And once we even caught sight of the camera boom.

    There was also a marked feeling of claustrophobia generated by the paucity of sets (a couple of backdrops and half a dozen corners).

    Tina Bordereau
    Rosalie Crutchley
    David Naseby
    Robert Urquhart
    Felice
    Andreas Malandrinos
    Marian Cumnor
    Mary MacKenzie
    Max Cumnor
    Cyril Chamberlain
    Juliana Bordereau
    Margaret Halstan


    The End of the Mission

    Balbina
    Derek Bond
    Alex Scott
    Eric Pohlmann


    The Inward Eye

    The story of a girl for whom a guide dog was the means by which she found her way back in life.

    Mary
    Patricia Owens
    Kenyon
    William Hartnell
    Husband
    John Horsley
    Arthur Jones
    David Markham
    Miss Dudley
    Jean Hardwicke
    Blind beggar
    Arnold Ridley
    Doctor
    Llewellyn Rees
    Matron
    Althea Parker
    Miss Baker
    Vi Stevens
    Conklin
    Peter Cozens
    Scott
    Graham Ashley


    Fair Passenger

    Avice Landon
    George Woodbridge


    Area Nine

    The play – directed by Peter Cotes – gives dramatic emphasis to the problems of those who trespass within that part of the brain known as “Area Nine”.

    It’s the story of Adrian Childe (Anthony Dawson) who has a brain tumour. His wife’s uncle is a famous brain surgeon with an ill-disguised contempt for psychiatrists and unqualified faith in the infallibility of the surgeon’s scalpel.

    The psychiatrist – who had once been engaged to Adrian’s wife – knows that Area Nine lies in that part of the brain the functions of which are still a mystery; if it is involved in an operation, changes of personality may occur.

    Not only do they occur, but Anthony Dawson portrays the changes with terrifying realism. Mad as he obviously is, one sympathises with him entirely as he becomes violent, menacing and given to fits which he can’t remember.

    Joan Coates
    George Curzon
    Robert Gray
    Laurence Payne
    Charles Wingrove
    Ronald Howard
    Adrian Childe
    Anthony Dawson
    Judy Childe
    Ann Castle


    Lady Must Sell

    The article for sale in this comedy play is a mink coat.

    Dorothy Ireland
    Joan Miller
    Adrian Ireland
    Hugh Sinclair
    James Lloyd
    Brian Oulton
    Annie
    Vi Stevens
    Sybil Lloyd
    Joan Carol
    Inspector Padbury
    Campbell Singer
    Mrs Fred Deacon
    Peggy Thorpe Bates
    Rodney Ireland
    William Simons
    Winkle Ireland
    Jill Williams
    Police constable
    Peter Cozens
    Host
    Neal Arden


    The General’s Mess

    Written by Giles Cooper.

    Leslie Henson
    Sam Kydd
    Joan Sims


    Fighting Chance

    Jimmy (Stephen Boyd) is a professional boxer who is tempted by his crooked brother-in-law to throw a fight.

    Betty Day
    Eleanor Summerfield
    Jimmy Day
    Stephen Boyd
    Mickey Day
    James Kenny
    Mickey Day as a child
    Fraser Hines
    Syd
    John Arnatt
    Frank
    Charles Lamb
    Ted
    Arthur Lovegrove
    Mendoza
    Richard Leech
    Matthews
    Harry Lane
    Jack
    Tom Bowan
    Max
    Jim O’Brady
    Bookmaker
    Sydney Brahms
    Harper
    Teddy Gee
    Johnson
    Alf Lay
    Mickey’s first opponent
    Joe Barnham
    Mickey’s second opponent
    Fred King
    Len
    Len Sharpe
    Boxing Board Control man
    Royal Russell
    Commentator
    Alan Weekes
    1st referee
    Billy Wells
    2nd referee
    Paddy Hayes


    The Man Who Liked Christmas

    Written by Reuben Ship.

    David Kossoff
    Estelle Brody
    Sheldon Lawrence
    Neil McCallum


    Adeline Girard

    Fay Compton
    Maureen Pryor
    Harold Scott
    Richard Thorp
    Roger Delgado


    Two Letters: Yesterday’s Mail/No Other Wine

    Reed de Rouen
    Alan Gifford
    Joan Miller


    Sam and the Great Unveiling

    Sam Bowler (Reginald Beckwith) is a well-respected bookie who has just crowned a lifetime of service by raising the money for a new children’s home.

    But some facts about his private life have been overlooked, and unfortunately, it is not in the nature of the implacable Lady Battleby (Noel Hood) to overlook anything – and she holds the purse strings.

    Written for television by Gwyneth Jones.

    Sam Bowler
    Reginald Beckwith
    John Postgate
    Richard Wattis
    Mayor Todd Fletcher
    Francis de Wolff
    Lady Battleby
    Noel Hood
    Mavis
    Pat Hornsby
    Doris
    Jennifer Phipps
    Elaine McKinnon
    Sally Lahee
    Ann Postgate
    Shirley Cooklin
    Dr McKinnon
    Michael O’Halloran
    Grace
    Megs Jenkins
    Sheila
    Catherine Finn
    Moira
    Catherine Jupp
    Mrs Gregg
    Joan Hickson
    Maudie
    Irene Handl
    Reporter
    Patrick Westwood
    Chief Constable
    Jack MacNaughton


    The Guv’nor

    A 999 call sends police racing through a deserted Piccadilly at dawn on the trail of a stolen car: The Guv’nor has struck again.

    But as Inspector Bailey (Richard Caldicot) remarks to a visiting American police chief, no matter how well The Guv’nor plans his crimes, some small detail will trip him up in the end. Written by Tudor Gates.

    Mr Frisby
    Michael Hordern
    Amanda Pinkerton
    Coral Browne
    Buxton
    Jimmy Hanley
    Sgt Darcy
    Nigel Davenport
    Det Insp Bailey
    Richard Caldicot
    Constable
    Edward Mulhare
    Frederick
    Sydney Vivian
    Charles
    Sam Kydd
    Martin Flashman
    Robin Ray
    Fragalli
    Alan Gifford


    The Sun Divorce

    Written for television by Margot Bennett.


    Wish on the Moon

    Ruth (Julia Worth) longed to see her name in lights. Olivia (Margaret Allworthy) wanted a husband, but London remodelled the lives of each and put both girls on the road to success.

    Ruth Barclay
    Julia Worth
    Olivia Beech
    Margaret Allworthy
    Roy Wayne
    Brian Nissen
    Barney Goodwyn
    Leo Franklyn
    David Thorne
    Hugh Latimer
    Mr Allbright
    James Dyrenforth
    Miss Boyce
    Glen Alyn
    Hal Peterson
    Bill Nagy
    Mr Duval
    John Vere
    Secretary
    Diana Lambert
    Miss Jones
    Jill Melford


    Margaret Moves On

    Margaret (Mary Merrall) is a widow in her sixties and has a genius for losing friends and exasperating people. Comedy and drama follow when she moves into the hard-pressed household of her son David (Patrick Barr).

    David
    Patrick Barr
    Margaret
    Mary Merrall
    Ann
    Ursula Howells
    Peter
    Jonathan Swift
    Barbara
    Iris Russell
    Tony
    Roderick Lovell
    Mrs Pothecary
    Dandy Nichols
    Mrs Clark
    Gladys Boot
    Mr Clark
    Richard Caldicot
    Nurse Castle
    Barbara Ogilvie
    Sergeant
    Leonard Williams
    William Steadman
    Henry Longhurst


    Goodbye Jonah

    A west country comedy by John Beaumont about the ruthlessness of the big businessman pitted against the guile and experience of the countryman. The big shot tried to buy the farmers out and impose modern methods, but after an immense amount of grumbling in the local village pub, everybody was reconciled.

    Welsh character actor Enyon Evans was crafty West Country Reuben (with a trace of his Welsh accent coming through) and Roddy Hughes was amusing as an inefficient efficiency expert.

    Reuben
    E Eynon Evans
    Stokes
    Richard George
    Craig
    William Lucas
    Major Gray
    Gerald Case
    Brian Shaw
    Nigel Davenport
    Diana Doyle
    Ann Stephens
    Eccles
    Roddy Hughes
    Mrs Crabthorne
    Margot Lister
    Jack Forge
    Leo Franklyn

    Related Posts

    • Those Whiting Girls
      Those Whiting Girls
      1 9 5 5 - 1 9 5 7 (USA) 26 x 30 minute episodes Premiering on CBS on 4 July…
    • Goodyear TV Playhouse
      Goodyear TV Playhouse
      1 9 5 1 - 1 9 6 0 (USA) Goodyear tyres sponsored this hour-long, early US television anthology programme that…
    • SMS (Somerset Maugham Stories)/ The Somerset Maugham Hour
      SMS (Somerset Maugham Stories)/ The Somerset Maugham Hour
      1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 3 (UK) 38 x 60 minute episodes Beginning in February 1960, this…
    • Inch Man, The
      Inch Man, The
      1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 (UK) 14 x 30 minute episodes This BBC adventure/drama series related the…
    • Idiot Weekly, Price 2d, The
      Idiot Weekly, Price 2d, The
      1 9 5 6 (UK) 5 x 30 minute episodes In 1956 Associated-Rediffusion tried to cash in on the popularity of…
    • Defenders, The
      Defenders, The
      1 9 6 1 - 1 9 6 5 (USA) 132 x 50 minute episodes This CBS crime drama series featured…
    • O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
      O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
      1 9 7 1 - 1 9 7 2 (USA) 23 x 60 minute episodes This hour-long drama series premiered on…
    • House of Caradus
      House of Caradus
      1 9 7 8 (UK) 7 x 60 minute episodes This drama series from Granada Television revolved around a family…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleSwank
    Next Article Greatest Story Ever Told, The (1965)

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • Wreckers at Dead Eye
      1 9 7 0 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes A ferocious night in 1770 […]
    • Hootenanny Hoot (1963)
      The marriage of New York television director Ted Glover (Peter […]
    • Dinosaur Jr
      Although these Massachusetts guitar-squallers were initially […]
    • Comedy Sale, The
      1 9 9 3 (Australia) 3 x 60 minute episodes Intended by Channel […]
    • Jacob’s Club
      “If you Like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit join our […]
    • Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
      Fun-loving, guitar-playing, history-flunking airheads Theodore […]
    Twitter Feed
    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.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

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