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Fireside Theater

1949 – 1955Show7 seasons142 episodes

Drama
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6

A nostalgic drama series about pop culture.

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 laughs, scares or awe.

Shows with

Episodes

7 seasons · 142 episodes · best: S1E1 "Friend of the Family" 8.5

Episodes

8.5
5.8
6.3
6.3

Story

Fireside Theater is an American anthology drama series that ran on NBC from 1949 to 1958, and was the first successful filmed series on American television. Stories were low budget and often based on public domain stories or written by freelance writers such as Rod Serling. While it was panned by critics, it remained in the top ten most popular shows for most of its run. It predated the other major pioneer of filmed TV in America, I Love Lucy, by two years.

Feels like

  • Classic Anthology
  • Early Television
  • Human Drama
  • Varied Stories
  • Mid-Century TV
  • Public Domain Adaptations
  • Historical Significance
  • Character Vignettes

Cast

5 of 5 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Frank Wisbar
Written by
Agatha Christie, David Dortort
Produced by
John Houseman

Everyone

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

Facts

April 5, 1949 · June 28, 1955 · Ended

First aired
April 5, 1949
Last aired
June 28, 1955
Status
Ended
Length
7 seasons · 142 episodes
Genres
Drama
Original language
English

Q&A

5 questions, like "Is Fireside Theater worth watching?"

Questions about Fireside Theater

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Fireside Theater worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.6). Season 4 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 5.8 against 8.5 for the best season.

Which season of Fireside Theater is best?

Season 1, with an IMDb average of 8.5. Season 4 is the weakest at 5.8. The highest-rated episode is Friend of the Family (season 1, episode 1) at 8.5, and the lowest is A Christmas Carol (season 4, episode 18) at 5.8.

Is Fireside Theater okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch Fireside Theater?

142 h

About 142 hours: 142 episodes in 7 seasons of about 60 minutes each, aired from 1949 to 1955.

Can I half-watch Fireside Theater?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 3 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.