Douglas Fairbanks Presents is a 1953–1956 syndicated half-hour dramatic anthology series. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was the host, and he sometimes starred in episodes. It was also known as Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents. A total of 117 episodes were filmed. The program was also broadcast in at least seven TV markets in Canada.

Actors

The series offered Buster Keaton in his first dramatic role in the episode entitled "The Awakening". British actor Christopher Lee appeared in various roles in sixteen episodes, including "Destination Milan".

Production

Fairbanks was executive producer for the program, which was filmed at the British National Studios, Elstree, England and on location in England and in other parts of Europe. NBC Films was the original distributor, but by mid-1954, it had begun distributing a package titled Paragon Playhouse, while Interstate TV distributed episodes with the original title. Herman Blaser was the production supervisor, and Lawrence Huntington was the director. John and Gwen Bagni wrote the scripts. Music for the show was composed by Allan Gray.

Recognition

In 1954, Douglas Fairbanks Presents was named the best non-network dramatic film series in The Billboard's Second Annual TV awards.

Other titles

The program had different titles in different areas. Those titles often included the name of the sponsor, such as Rheingold Theatre (when Rheingold Brewery sponsored it in New York City and at least 15 other locations ) and Triangle Theatre (based on sponsor Blatz Beer's logo) in Wisconsin. In Melbourne, Australia the series was aired under the title Chesebrough Ponds Playhouse.

Episodes

Season 1 (1953–1954)

Season 2 (1954-1955)

Season 3 (1955)

Season 4 (1956-57)

Archive status

Out of an original total of 157 episodes, 52 episodes are currently missing: In September 2024 A copy of "Myra And The Money Man" (Series 2 Episode 13) was located in Archives Canada by missing episodes hunter Ray Langstone in Archives Canada, reducing the number to 52.