General Electric Theater

Infobox television
show_name = General Electric Theater


caption =
format = Anthology
runtime = 30 minutes
creator =
host = Ronald Reagan
country = USA
network = CBS
first_aired = February 1, 1953
last_aired = May 27, 1962
num_episodes = 200

"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.

Radio

Following a January 18, 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.

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.

ee also

*Lux Radio Theater
*Suspense
*The Screen Guild Theater
*Screen Director's Playhouse
*Ford Theatre
*Theater Guild on the Air
*Academy Award Theater
*Author's Playhouse
*Cavalcade of America
*CBS Radio Workshop
*The Campbell Playhouse
*Mercury Theatre on the Air

External links

*imdb title|id=0045395|title=General Electric Theater
*Tv.com show|id=4351|title=General Electric Theater
* [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/G/htmlG/generalelect/generalelect.htm Article on GE Theater] from the Museum of Broadcast Communications
* [http://www.otrsite.com/logs/logg1006.htm Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs: "General Electric Theater"]