The Front Page (TV series)

The Front Page is an American newspaper drama television series, broadcast on CBS beginning September 29, 1949, and ending on January 26, 1950. The stars were John Daly and Mark Roberts,[1] with Richard Boone, Curt Conway and Janet Shaw. The live 30-minute show, based on the 1928 play The Front Page by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht, aired Thursdays at 8pm ET.[1]

The Front Page
Created byFranklin Heller
Written byCharles MacArthur (play)
Ben Hecht (play)
Alvin Saplinsley
StarringJohn Daly
Mark Roberts
Richard Boone
Curt Conway
Janet Shaw
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes18
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkCBS Television
ReleaseSeptember 29, 1949 (1949-09-29) –
January 26, 1950 (1950-01-26)

Premise

edit

The series revolved around editor Walter Burns and his star reporter Hildy Johnson.

In the series premiere an assassination attempt has been made on the city's corrupt mayor. Hildy is on his honeymoon, so Burns compels him to come back and cover the story by kidnapping Hildy's mother-in-law. After a follow-up assassination plot is discovered and foiled, Burns keeps Hildy in town by getting the mayor to arrest Hildy.[2]

Cast

edit
  • John Daly as editor Walter Burns[3]
  • Mark Roberts as reporter Hildy Johnson[4]
  • Cliff Hall as Mayor Barber
  • Leona Powers as Mrs. Grant
  • Janet Shaw as Peggy Grant

Production

edit

Donald Davis was the producer, Frank Heller was the director, and Alvin Sapinsley was the writer. The show originated from WCBS-TV.[5]

Critical response

edit

A review of the premiere episode in The New York Times called Daly's role "serious miscasting" and said he "is in seriously over his head".[6] The review explained that the newspaper's managing editor needed to have a "vivid personality" and be tough and ruthless.[6] "Under such circumstances, Mr. Daly's sonorous and pear-shaped tones, coupled with an excessively suave and almost delicate interpretation, are completely out of character."[6] Otherwise, it said the cast did well. It said that some situations in the episode were "wholly implausible", and that the scenes had little relation to actual events at newspapers.[6]

Preservation status

edit

Three episodes are in the collection of the Paley Center for Media.[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows - 1946-Present (9 ed.). Random House Publishing. p. 508. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  2. ^ June Bundy (1949-10-08). "The Front Page (review)". The Billboard. p. 11. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  3. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 306. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  4. ^ "Radio and Television: CBS Video to Offer 'Front Page,' Based on the Hecht-MacArthur Play, Starting Sept. 29". The New York Times. September 17, 1949. p. 28. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Dramatic Shows". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. November 27, 1949. p. 5. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Gould, Jack (October 9, 1949). "Television in Review: 'Inside U. S. A.' Opens -- Two Other Shows". The New York Times. p. X 11. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Internet Archive entry

Bibliography

edit
edit