General Electric Theater
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| General Electric Theater | |
|---|---|
| Format | Anthology |
| Starring | Ronald Reagan (host) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 200 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CBS |
| Original run | February 1, 1953 – May 27, 1962 |
General Electric Theater is an American anthology series that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations Services.
Contents |
[edit] Radio
Following a January 1, 1953 audition show, The Token, with Dana Andrews, the radio series debuted on CBS on July 9, 1953 with Ronald Colman in Random Harvest. With such guest stars as Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Van Johnson, Jane Wyman, William Holden, Alan Young, Dorothy McGuire, John Hodiak, Ann Blyth, James Mason and Joan Fontaine, the series continued until October 1, 1953. Jaime del Valle produced and directed. Ken Carpenter was the host and announcer. Wilbur Hatch supplied the music.
[edit] Television
The television program was broadcast every Sunday evening at 9:00pm, EST, beginning February 1, 1953 and ending May 27, 1962. Each of the 200 television episodes was an adaptation of a novel, short story, play, film or magazine fiction.
Ronald Reagan became the show's only host on September 26, 1954. GE added a host to provide continuity, which was absent due to its anthology format. After four months, the show reached the Top Ten in the Nielsen Ratings. It also regularly outrated I Love Lucy in the 9:00-9:30pm time slot.
The show made Reagan wealthy and famous: wealthy, due to his part ownership of the show, and famous, due not only to its ratings, but to his constant touring to promote the show. After eight years as host, Reagan estimated he had visited 135 GE research and manufacturing facilities, and met over a quarter-million people. During that time he would also speak at other forums such as Rotary clubs and Moose lodges, presenting views on economic progress that in form and content were often similar to what he said in introductions, segues and closing comments on the show as a spokesman for GE.
Also on the series was Don Herbert, a television personality well known as the host of Watch Mr. Wizard. Herbert appeared in the role of the "General Electric Progress Reporter," adding a scientific touch to the institutional advertising pitch. The show was produced by Revue Studios, whose successor-in-interest, NBC Universal Television, is owned by GE.
Episodes from this series have been screened at the annual Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in [[Aberdeen, including "I'm a Fool" starring James Dean and Natalie Wood (originally broadcast November 14, 1954).
