| ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS |
In 1949, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) approached Hollywood actor
Robert Montgomery with the proposition of producing a television series for the fledgling
network. Always interested in a new challenge, Montgomery accepted and relocated his
family to New York City (then the center of television broadcasting.)
The show which developed was Robert Montgomery Presents, a live, dramatic
anthology series which Montgomery not only produced, but also hosted and on
occasion starred in. He also supervised the show, choosing the scripts and actors.
Montgomery's history as a Hollywood star enabled him to enlist the talents of many of
filmdom's top stars (James Cagney, Constance Bennett, Helen Hayes, etc.) as well as
up and coming talents (James Dean, Peter Falk, etc.) Many actors made their TV
debuts on the program, including Jane Wyatt, Zachary Scott and Montgomery's
daughter, Elizabeth.
When the show debuted in January of 1950 it was aired on a semi-weekly basis,
alternating with other shows (Musical Comedy Time, Somerset Maugham TV Theatre)
until December of 1951 when it was changed to a weekly series. Originally the show was
mainly comprised of adaptations of classic films (The Letter, Rebecca, Dark Victory,
Kitty Foyle, The Big Sleep, etc.,) however, this was soon changed due to copyright laws
which prevented the kinescoping of any production based on a film. (Kinescoping was a
process necessary so that the program could be seen on non-interconnected affiliates.)
They then turned to producing original teleplays and adaptations of stage plays, books
and short stories.
In 1952, a summer stock format was adopted in which a stock group of actors played
in every episode during the summer months; this enabled the show to run year-round.
(See below for Summer Stock cast members.)
Although the show was generally referred to as Robert Montgomery Presents, the
title was adapted to whoever the week's sponsor happened to be (i.e. Robert
Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theater, ...the Johnson's Wax Program, ...the
Richard Hudnut Summer Theater, etc.)
The show endured from 1950 through 1957 and earned an Emmy as Best Dramatic
Program in 1952 as well as well as nominations in that category in 1951 and 1953. For
the 1950-1951 season, Robert Montgomery Presents was ranked #11 with a Nielsen
rating of 38.8; for the 1951-1952 season, it was ranked #26 with a rating of 34.4.
Robert Montgomery with the proposition of producing a television series for the fledgling
network. Always interested in a new challenge, Montgomery accepted and relocated his
family to New York City (then the center of television broadcasting.)
The show which developed was Robert Montgomery Presents, a live, dramatic
anthology series which Montgomery not only produced, but also hosted and on
occasion starred in. He also supervised the show, choosing the scripts and actors.
Montgomery's history as a Hollywood star enabled him to enlist the talents of many of
filmdom's top stars (James Cagney, Constance Bennett, Helen Hayes, etc.) as well as
up and coming talents (James Dean, Peter Falk, etc.) Many actors made their TV
debuts on the program, including Jane Wyatt, Zachary Scott and Montgomery's
daughter, Elizabeth.
When the show debuted in January of 1950 it was aired on a semi-weekly basis,
alternating with other shows (Musical Comedy Time, Somerset Maugham TV Theatre)
until December of 1951 when it was changed to a weekly series. Originally the show was
mainly comprised of adaptations of classic films (The Letter, Rebecca, Dark Victory,
Kitty Foyle, The Big Sleep, etc.,) however, this was soon changed due to copyright laws
which prevented the kinescoping of any production based on a film. (Kinescoping was a
process necessary so that the program could be seen on non-interconnected affiliates.)
They then turned to producing original teleplays and adaptations of stage plays, books
and short stories.
In 1952, a summer stock format was adopted in which a stock group of actors played
in every episode during the summer months; this enabled the show to run year-round.
(See below for Summer Stock cast members.)
Although the show was generally referred to as Robert Montgomery Presents, the
title was adapted to whoever the week's sponsor happened to be (i.e. Robert
Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theater, ...the Johnson's Wax Program, ...the
Richard Hudnut Summer Theater, etc.)
The show endured from 1950 through 1957 and earned an Emmy as Best Dramatic
Program in 1952 as well as well as nominations in that category in 1951 and 1953. For
the 1950-1951 season, Robert Montgomery Presents was ranked #11 with a Nielsen
rating of 38.8; for the 1951-1952 season, it was ranked #26 with a rating of 34.4.
SUMMER STOCK PLAYERS:
1952:
John Newland
Vaughn Taylor
Margaret Hayes
1953:
John Newland
Vaughn Taylor
Margaret Hayes
Elizabeth Montgomery
1954:
John Newland
Vaughn Taylor
Elizabeth Montgomery
Jan Miner
Anne Seymour
Cliff Robertson
1955:
Jan Miner
Charles Drake
Augusta Dabney
House Jameson
Dorothy Blackburn
Eric Sinclair
1956:
Elizabeth Montgomery
Jan Miner
Charles Drake
Mary K. Wells
John Gibson
Tom Middleton
1952:
John Newland
Vaughn Taylor
Margaret Hayes
1953:
John Newland
Vaughn Taylor
Margaret Hayes
Elizabeth Montgomery
1954:
John Newland
Vaughn Taylor
Elizabeth Montgomery
Jan Miner
Anne Seymour
Cliff Robertson
1955:
Jan Miner
Charles Drake
Augusta Dabney
House Jameson
Dorothy Blackburn
Eric Sinclair
1956:
Elizabeth Montgomery
Jan Miner
Charles Drake
Mary K. Wells
John Gibson
Tom Middleton
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ROBERT
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Earl of Hollywood
WHAT'S NEW
Site Updates
BIOGRAPHY
RM Bio
FILMOGRAPHY
Films of RM
PHOTOS
Portraits, Candids,
Stills, Family, Covers
ROBERT
MONTGOMERY
PRESENTS
TV Series
BOB'S BEWITCHING
DAUGHTER:
Elizabeth Montgomery
THE SON ALSO RISES:
Robert Montgomery, Jr.
ALL IN THE FAMILY:
Elizabeth Allen &
Martha-Bryan Allen
PRINT THE LEGEND
Vintage Articles
RADIO DAYS
Radio Appearances
BRIGHT LIGHTS
OF BROADWAY
Broadway Appearances
BOB AT HOME
Pictorial of Homes
LEADING LADIES
Co-stars
THE ONES THAT
GOT AWAY
Unrealized Projects
STORE
Purchase
Videos/DVDs, Etc.
WANTED PAGE
Stuff I'm looking for
LINKS
Best of the web
GUESTBOOK
Leave your message
SITE MAP
Guide to exploring the
site
CONTACT THE
WEBMASTER