Four Star Playhouse (syndicated as Star Performance) is an American anthology series that ran from September 25, 1952, through September 27, 1956.

Overview

Four Star Playhouse was owned by Four Star International. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedies, such as "The Lost Silk Hat". The original premise for the program was that Charles Boyer, Dick Powell, Rosalind Russell, and Joel McCrea would rotate as stars of episodes. By the time it debuted, David Niven and Ida Lupino had replaced McCrea and Russell. In addition to those four stars, other performers, including Ronald Colman, Joan Fontaine, Frank Lovejoy, Merle Oberon, and Teresa Wright occasionally had leading roles. Powell portrayed the recurring character of illegal gambling-house operator Willie Dante. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff.

Cast

Many actors appeared in different roles in more than one episode, including

Production

The show was sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company. Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953 (both sponsors' names alternated as part of the show's title in its initial broadcasts). From September 1952 through September 1954 it was broadcast on Thursdays from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. In October 1954, it was moved to 9:30 to 10 p.m. E. T. on Thursdays, remaining in that slot for the rest of its run. While it never made the Nielsen Top 30, the ratings were sufficient to keep it on the air for four seasons. In 1954, Billboard voted it the second best filmed network television drama series. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series, making his debut as a director on the program in 1952. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here (under that title, February 25, 1954), as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat (titled "Search in the Night", November 5, 1953).

Directors

Directors who worked on the show include

Writers

Writers who worked on the show include:

Syndication

Official Films syndicated reruns of Four Star Playhouse under the title Star Performance. In 1956 it was named the best syndicated dramatic show in Billboard's Fourth Annual Program and Talent Awards. Powell was named the best dramatic performer in the competition, and Niven took second place in that category.