Telephone Time is an American anthology drama series that aired on CBS in 1956, and on ABC from 1957 to 1958. The series features plays adapted from short stories by John Nesbitt who hosted the first season. Frank C. Baxter became the host effective with the September 10, 1957, episode. He hosted the 1957 and 1958 seasons. A total of 81 episodes aired from April 1956 to March 1957 on CBS, and from April 1957 to April 1958 on ABC. The Bell Telephone System sponsored the series.

Overview

The program showcased the talents of actors and actresses such as Alma Lawton, Bette Davis, Florenz Ames, Greer Garson, Dennis Morgan, Joseph Cotten, Claudette Colbert, Michael Landon, Cloris Leachman, Johnny Crawford, Katherine Warren, Joel Grey, Fay Wray, Thomas Mitchell, Vivi Janiss, Wright King, Strother Martin, Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff, John Carradine, Helen Wallace, and Michael Winkelman. Famed circus performer Emmett Kelly made his dramatic debut in the presentation Captain from Kopenick. Michael Raffetto appeared in the "Vicksburg, 5:35 PM" episode as Joe Palermo (1956).

Award nomination

Nesbitt was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1957 for Best Teleplay Writing - Half Hour or Less.

Episodes

Production

Hal Roach Jr. and Jerry Stagg were the producers. The program was directed by Arthur Hiller, Robert Florey, and Lewis Allen. Writers included Donald S. Sanford. The CBS version was broadcast on Sundays from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Bell's dissatisfaction with that time slot led to the change in networks. It had asked CBS in December 1956 to move the program to a later time. The ABC version initially was on Thursdays from 10 to 10:30 p.m. E. T. In June 1957 it was moved to Tuesdays from 9:30 to 10 p.m. E. T.

Critical response

A review of the episode "Revenge" in the trade publication Billboard described it as "slickly produced" but added that it "suffered from over simplification of the basic issues, which resulted in scene punchlines and plot twists telegraphed well in advance."