Synopsis
Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of the mid-1950s were usually hour-long shows, the title highlighted the network's intention to present something unusual, a weekly series of hour-and-a-half dramas rather than 60-minute plays. Playhouse 90 began as a pitch by Frank Stanton—the formidable, forward-thinking right-hand man to CBS chairman William S. Paley—during a brainstorming session for program ideas. The project was ultimately developed by Hubbell Robinson, a CBS vice president who received no screen credit on Playhouse 90 but is often described as its creator.
Episodes
1
Forbidden AreaWhy are so many B-99 bombers from Hibiscus Air Base crashing or simply disappearing? Colonel Price comes up with a terrifying explanation, but will anyone believe him?90m2
Requiem for a HeavyweightAn over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head trauma is exploited by his manager, despite the efforts of a compassionate young woman who tries to help him recover his self-respect.90m3E3Sizeman and SonThe happy atmosphere in Mr. Sizeman's factory is disrupted by an argumentative newcomer - his son.90m4E4Rendezvous in BlackA woman is inexplicably killed on a street-corner. What has this to do with other deaths around the city?90m5E5The Country HusbandAfter a near-death experience, a businessman starts to re-think his life, and wonders about leaving his wife.90m6E6The Big SlideA vaudeville comic becomes a silent film star.90m7E7Heritage of AngerA wealthy industrialist has trouble with his sons.90m8E8EloiseIt's not so much that Eloise is a mischievous child, but the darnedest things do happen when she's around.90m9E9ConfessionWhen a much-admired community leader dies, a journalist starts to investigate his life - and finds he was not the man he seemed.90m10E10Made in HeavenWhen Zachary and Elsa separate, each seems tempted to start a new love affair.90m11E11Sincerely, Willis WadeA wealthy mill owner finances the education of a clever, but poor, young man.90m12E12The Family Nobody WantedA true story, it follows a pastor and his wife through forties beginning with one biological child, Donny. But the upheaval of the war years results in a number of mixed raced children that the Doss family adopt until they have 12 children.90m13E13Massacre at Sand CreekAn investigation into a massacre of Native Americans.90m14E14Snowshoes: A Comedy of People and HorsesSome racetrack Johnnies are talking between races when one wonders if you can hypnotize a horse into thinking it's a champion. The idea sets in motion a series of hilarious events.90m15E15The Ninth DayEvents in the aftermath of World War Three.90m16E16So Soon to DieDown on his luck, war hero Lionel Amblin contemplates committing a murder.90m17E17The Star WagonAn inventor, pondering on how he might differently have arranged his life, invents a time machine and decides to make a few changes.90m18E18The Greer CaseWhen a rich woman dies without signing her new will, all kinds of problems ensue.90m19E19The Miracle WorkerThe story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate.90m20E20The ComedianSammy Hogarth, a vaudeville comedian who now has his own TV show, is a ruthless egomaniac who demands instant obedience from his staff and heaps abuse on those in lesser positions than his. His most vituperative behavior, however, is reserved for his weak-willed brother, Lester, whom Sammy has hired as his assistant but whom he really uses as his whipping boy.90m21E21One Coat of WhiteA newly-widowed woman goes on a trip to Europe and meets a French artist.90m22E22The Blackwell StoryIn the 19th century, Elizabeth Blackwell determines to become a doctor.90m23E23Invitation to a GunfighterA gunfighter is terrorizing a small western town. The townspeople finally pool their money to a hire another gunfighter to drive him out of town. The townsfolk thought they had it bad until they handed the reigns over to the new terror. Pooling their money again, this time to hire Jeffers to get rid of Dancer.90m24E24The Last TycoonA movie producer is slowly working himself to death.90m25E25The Hostess with the Mostes'The story of Perle Mesta, who became, first, a renowned society hostess, and then an ambassadress.90m26E26Where's Charley?Lord Fancourt Babberley is forced to disguise himself as a woman - his aunt from Brazil, "where the nuts come from".90m27E27Clipper ShipA romance on the high seas revolving around the comely widow of a shipping magnate, and her growing love for a handsome young political prisoner who was scheduled to be put to death when the vessel reached its destination. Though unyielding at first, the ship's stern captain eventually helped the woman to make a clean getaway, with the condemned man in tow.90m28E28If You Knew Elizabeth90m29E29Three Men on a HorseA meek salesman with an uncanny ability to pick horses is virtually kidnapped by a trio of gamblers.90m30E30Four Women in BlackFour nuns, led by Sister Teresa, begin a treacherous journey across the Arizona desert in 1870. Their faith enables them to deal with the challenges of nature and the hostility of their fellow mankind.90m31E31Child of Trouble90m32E32Homeward BorneJust after World War Two ends, an American woman takes in a Polish war orphan boy, a concentration camp survivor. But conflict arises when her husband, a returning Air Force bomber pilot, hates the boy and his psychological baggage.90m33E33The Helen Morgan StoryBroadway legend Helen Morgan 's life as told by her mother, from her early start in second rate speakeasies to star of top rated shows and owning her own club. Also seen is her poor choices, such as her affair with a married man, her short marriage to a much younger man, a court fight over an adopted baby and her fatal descent into booze addiction.90m34E34Winter Dreams90m35E35Circle of the DayOn her tenth wedding anniversary (which is also her daughter's birthday), a wife begins to suspect her husband of unfaithfulness.90m36E36Without IncidentCaptain Russell Bidlack, commander of a U.S. Cavalry unit in 1870, determines to complete a rescue mission through dangerous Indian territory. In the course of the mission, he rescues the wives of two slain traders and captures the Indian chief accused of the murders. When he returns to the fort, he's faced with a revolt among his own men.90m37E37Clash by NightMae Doyle comes back to her hometown a cynical woman. Her brother Joe fears that his love, fish cannery worker Peggy, may wind up like Mae. Mae marries Jerry and has a baby; she is happy but restless, drawn to Jerry's friend Earl.90m38E38Ain't No Time for GloryAmerican soldiers must use stealth to take over a German command post in Normandy.90m39E39The Fabulous IrishmanRomanticized life story of Robert Briscoe, the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin.90m
Forbidden AreaWhy are so many B-99 bombers from Hibiscus Air Base crashing or simply disappearing? Colonel Price comes up with a terrifying explanation, but will anyone believe him?90m2Requiem for a HeavyweightAn over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head trauma is exploited by his manager, despite the efforts of a compassionate young woman who tries to help him recover his self-respect.90m3E3Sizeman and SonThe happy atmosphere in Mr. Sizeman's factory is disrupted by an argumentative newcomer - his son.90m4E4Rendezvous in BlackA woman is inexplicably killed on a street-corner. What has this to do with other deaths around the city?90m5E5The Country HusbandAfter a near-death experience, a businessman starts to re-think his life, and wonders about leaving his wife.90m6E6The Big SlideA vaudeville comic becomes a silent film star.90m7E7Heritage of AngerA wealthy industrialist has trouble with his sons.90m8E8EloiseIt's not so much that Eloise is a mischievous child, but the darnedest things do happen when she's around.90m9E9ConfessionWhen a much-admired community leader dies, a journalist starts to investigate his life - and finds he was not the man he seemed.90m10E10Made in HeavenWhen Zachary and Elsa separate, each seems tempted to start a new love affair.90m11E11Sincerely, Willis WadeA wealthy mill owner finances the education of a clever, but poor, young man.90m12E12The Family Nobody WantedA true story, it follows a pastor and his wife through forties beginning with one biological child, Donny. But the upheaval of the war years results in a number of mixed raced children that the Doss family adopt until they have 12 children.90m13E13Massacre at Sand CreekAn investigation into a massacre of Native Americans.90m14E14Snowshoes: A Comedy of People and HorsesSome racetrack Johnnies are talking between races when one wonders if you can hypnotize a horse into thinking it's a champion. The idea sets in motion a series of hilarious events.90m15E15The Ninth DayEvents in the aftermath of World War Three.90m16E16So Soon to DieDown on his luck, war hero Lionel Amblin contemplates committing a murder.90m17E17The Star WagonAn inventor, pondering on how he might differently have arranged his life, invents a time machine and decides to make a few changes.90m18E18The Greer CaseWhen a rich woman dies without signing her new will, all kinds of problems ensue.90m19E19The Miracle WorkerThe story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate.90m20E20The ComedianSammy Hogarth, a vaudeville comedian who now has his own TV show, is a ruthless egomaniac who demands instant obedience from his staff and heaps abuse on those in lesser positions than his. His most vituperative behavior, however, is reserved for his weak-willed brother, Lester, whom Sammy has hired as his assistant but whom he really uses as his whipping boy.90m21E21One Coat of WhiteA newly-widowed woman goes on a trip to Europe and meets a French artist.90m22E22The Blackwell StoryIn the 19th century, Elizabeth Blackwell determines to become a doctor.90m23E23Invitation to a GunfighterA gunfighter is terrorizing a small western town. The townspeople finally pool their money to a hire another gunfighter to drive him out of town. The townsfolk thought they had it bad until they handed the reigns over to the new terror. Pooling their money again, this time to hire Jeffers to get rid of Dancer.90m24E24The Last TycoonA movie producer is slowly working himself to death.90m25E25The Hostess with the Mostes'The story of Perle Mesta, who became, first, a renowned society hostess, and then an ambassadress.90m26E26Where's Charley?Lord Fancourt Babberley is forced to disguise himself as a woman - his aunt from Brazil, "where the nuts come from".90m27E27Clipper ShipA romance on the high seas revolving around the comely widow of a shipping magnate, and her growing love for a handsome young political prisoner who was scheduled to be put to death when the vessel reached its destination. Though unyielding at first, the ship's stern captain eventually helped the woman to make a clean getaway, with the condemned man in tow.90m28E28If You Knew Elizabeth90m29E29Three Men on a HorseA meek salesman with an uncanny ability to pick horses is virtually kidnapped by a trio of gamblers.90m30E30Four Women in BlackFour nuns, led by Sister Teresa, begin a treacherous journey across the Arizona desert in 1870. Their faith enables them to deal with the challenges of nature and the hostility of their fellow mankind.90m31E31Child of Trouble90m32E32Homeward BorneJust after World War Two ends, an American woman takes in a Polish war orphan boy, a concentration camp survivor. But conflict arises when her husband, a returning Air Force bomber pilot, hates the boy and his psychological baggage.90m33E33The Helen Morgan StoryBroadway legend Helen Morgan 's life as told by her mother, from her early start in second rate speakeasies to star of top rated shows and owning her own club. Also seen is her poor choices, such as her affair with a married man, her short marriage to a much younger man, a court fight over an adopted baby and her fatal descent into booze addiction.90m34E34Winter Dreams90m35E35Circle of the DayOn her tenth wedding anniversary (which is also her daughter's birthday), a wife begins to suspect her husband of unfaithfulness.90m36E36Without IncidentCaptain Russell Bidlack, commander of a U.S. Cavalry unit in 1870, determines to complete a rescue mission through dangerous Indian territory. In the course of the mission, he rescues the wives of two slain traders and captures the Indian chief accused of the murders. When he returns to the fort, he's faced with a revolt among his own men.90m37E37Clash by NightMae Doyle comes back to her hometown a cynical woman. Her brother Joe fears that his love, fish cannery worker Peggy, may wind up like Mae. Mae marries Jerry and has a baby; she is happy but restless, drawn to Jerry's friend Earl.90m38E38Ain't No Time for GloryAmerican soldiers must use stealth to take over a German command post in Normandy.90m39E39The Fabulous IrishmanRomanticized life story of Robert Briscoe, the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin.90mReviews & discussion
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