Matinee Theater

1955·Show
574Episodes in3Seasons
59
DecentGoodWatch score

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Matinee Theater fingerprint

Low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension4
  • Fast Pace4
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Nostalgic

  • Nostalgia7
  • Melancholy6
  • Catharsis6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Satire & Parody3
  • Situational Comedy2

World

History

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability5

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Acting7
  • Character Depth7
  • Direction6

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography6
  • Editing6
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismThought-Provoking

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About

Matinee Theater is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from 1955 to 1958. The series, which ran daily in the afternoon, was frequently live. It was produced by Albert McCleery, Darrell Ross, George Cahan and Frank Price with executive producer George Lowther. McCleery had previously produced the live series Cameo Theatre which introduced to television the concept of theater-in-the-round, TV plays staged with minimal sets. Jim Buckley of the Pewter Plough Playhouse recalled: When Al McCleery got back to the States, he originated a most ambitious theatrical TV series for NBC called Matinee Theater: to televise five different stage plays per week live, airing around noon in order to promote color TV to the American housewife as she labored over her ironing. Al was the producer. He hired five directors and five art directors. Richard Bennett, one of our first early presidents of the Pewter Plough Corporation, was one of the directors and I was one of the art directors and, as soon as we were through televising one play, we had lunch and then met to plan next week’s show. That was over 50 years ago, and I’m trying to think; I believe the TV art director is his own set decorator —yes, of course! It had to be, since one of McCleery’s chief claims to favor with the producers was his elimination of the setting per se and simply decorating the scene with a minimum of props. It took a bit of ingenuity.
Anthology SeriesLive TelevisionGolden Age of TVHistorical SettingTheatrical AdaptationsCharacter-DrivenClassic DramaIntimate Storytelling

Actors

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Matinee Theater

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Matinee Theater legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for Matinee Theater in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is Matinee Theater worth watching?

59
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 59/100 (IMDb 6.8). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How many seasons does Matinee Theater have?

3 seasons

It has 3 seasons with 574 episodes.

When did Matinee Theater air?

It ran from 1955 to 1958 and has ended.

What language is Matinee Theater in?

English

It was made in English.

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