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The Philco Television Playhouse

1948 – 1956Show8 seasons267 episodes

Drama
70
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5

A nostalgic, slow-burning drama series about everyday modern life and show business.

Good for family movie night · kids · teens

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Not for scares, laughs or brutality.

Shows with

Episodes

8 seasons · 267 episodes · best: S6E23 "The Catamaran" 8.0

Episodes

6.8
7.7
7.0
7.7
7.6

Story

The Philco Television Playhouse is an American anthology series that was broadcast live on NBC from 1948 to 1955. Produced by Fred Coe, the series was sponsored by Philco. It was one of the most respected dramatic shows of the Golden Age of Television, winning a 1954 Peabody Award and receiving eight Emmy nominations between 1951 and 1956.

Feels like

  • Golden Age Anthology
  • Historical TV Drama
  • Character-Driven
  • Mid-Century Aesthetic
  • Prestige Television Precursor
  • Emotional Realism
  • Cultural Artifact
  • Theatrical Performance

Cast

24 of 326 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Delbert Mann, Fred Coe, Vincent J. Donehue
Written by
Robert Alan Aurthur, Paddy Chayefsky, David Swift
Produced by
Robert Alan Aurthur, Fred Coe

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 3, 1948 · February 12, 1956 · Ended

First aired
October 3, 1948
Last aired
February 12, 1956
Status
Ended
Length
8 seasons · 267 episodes
Genres
Drama
Original language
English

Q&A

6 questions, like "Is The Philco Television Playhouse worth watching?"

Questions about The Philco Television Playhouse

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is The Philco Television Playhouse worth watching?

70
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 70 (IMDb 7.5).

Does The Philco Television Playhouse get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 6.8, and seasons 5 and 7 peak at 7.7. The highest-rated episode is The Catamaran (season 6, episode 23) at 8.0, and the lowest is The Way of an Eagle (season 5, episode 24) at 6.4.

Is The Philco Television Playhouse okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch The Philco Television Playhouse?

267 h

About 267 hours: 267 episodes in 8 seasons of about 60 minutes each, aired from 1948 to 1956.

Can I half-watch The Philco Television Playhouse?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 4 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it drop-in friendly.

Is The Philco Television Playhouse plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (8 of 10) and character depth (6 of 10) more than on its plot.