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Telephone Time is an American anthology drama series that aired on CBS in 1956, and on ABC from 1957 to 1958. The series features plays by John Nesbitt who hosted the first season. Frank C. Baxter hosted the 1957 and 1958 seasons. The program was directed by Arthur Hiller.
John Nesbitt
Self - Host
1956
True story of an Armenian immigrant who overcomes all odds to become a wealthy and educated man: after his wife's death, he rears his beloved sons in old-world simplicity, only to have them turn on him and call him an ignorant peddler. Hurt, but not discouraged, he begins to educate himself by studying the encyclopedia and ultimately returns to college to earn his degree and the respect of his children. A hardworking, old-world immigrant raises two sons by himself while becoming very succesfull in the junkyard business. His sons attend the best college, but to the father's dismay, they resent and are embarrassed by his crude style and mannerisms. Undaunted, the man sends himself to college and proves to be a brilliant student with an enclyclopedic mind. The family is lovingly reunited when the boys see their father for the kind, loving, generous, happy, well-liked man that he has become.
Based on a real scandal where a cobbler posing as a captain absconded with the treasury of a Berlin suburb in 1906.
The WW2 story of Captain Dan Gallery. He convinced his superiors he could capture a German U-boat. See the top secret preparation, the planning for booby traps, and the actual boarding and capturing of the U-505 German submarine. This harrowing feat led to the capture of the German code books which helped shorten the war.
Story of Heinrich Schliemann's quest for truth and riches in the myths he read about.
Far more than courtroom drama, this TRUE STORY about how Alexander Hamilton, attorney to William Penn and the only colonial admitted to the English Bar, came out of retirement to defend a printer accused of libelling the Governor by printing the truth in his newspaper about his corrupt activities. The principals established in this case, as so eloquently argued by Hamilton, had a profound influence on the drafting of the Bill of Rights several years latter. ""Gentlemen, with an impartial, uncorrupted verdict we assure ourselves, our posterity, the right, the liberty of speaking and writing the truth."" As author and host, John Nesbitt says at the conclusion of this drama, ""The great footnote to this story, of course, lies in the Bill of Rights. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Old Andrew Hamilton that day in court was not so much defending his client with law that was already in existence, but was actually creating law that would not be clearly written down for generations to
1956
The true story of the only woman ever to run for the Presidency of the U.S. In 1884, long before women were granted the right to vote, Belva Lockwood campaigned as the Equal Rights Party's candidate.
A woman who began her career as a scullery maid and became a Denver society woman, was present on the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic. She took charge of one of the lifeboats and is credited with bringing it and its passengers to safety.
Based on a story from the life of the boxer Benny Leonard: Leonard kayos an aspiring title hunter, who suffers brain damage from the blow. His heart goes out to the victim and he simulates a real fight in the gym so the punchy fighter can achieve his dream of being the champion. The poor fellow is institutionalized and Leonard pays all his bills.
Lou Kirn, a Navy football star in 1931, a Squadron Commander during WW2, and a man faced with his biggest challenge in 1954...a dread form of paralysis. During this personal battle he reaches out to save a paralyzed boy. A true story of courage--Kirn promises to walk if the boy will walk too!
In November of 1940, the worst blizzard in the state's history hit Minnesota. Beatrice Enter, a rural schoolteacher was trapped with her students in a one-room schoolhouse without light or heat. This is the true story of her courage and resourcefulness in saving herself and her students. A teacher who saves the lives of her pupils during a terrible storm. (TVGuide)
1957
A school teacher from Massachusetts comes to a small western town to marry a young homesteader, but finds that he's been murdered. The jury frees the murderer on a phony plea of self-defense. Determined to see justice done, she decides to stay in town as a constant irritant to the murderer's conscience. She makes him so crazy, he picks a fight with one of his friends and is killed. Dismayed by her own vengefulness, the teacher decides that justice would be better served by true social reform. She campaigns successfully for women to be selected as jurors, which results in the second murderer being convicted and sent to prison.
Composer Hoagy Carmichael relates the story of a song inspired by an anonymous poem, I get along without you very well. The year is 1938. Hoagy is asked to write a song to be introduced on Dick Powell's radio show. While going through his files, Hoagy discovers a nearly forgotten poem and promises a melody for it. He remembers little about the source of the poem except that a girl gave it to him at a college sorority party several years before. But the lyricist must grant permission before the music can be cleared for use on the radio. There ensues a desperate nation-wide search, aided by the broadcasts of Walter Winchell to find the author before air time.
An author frees an innocent man from prison.
The story of a military surgeon who in a moment of crisis has to perform an action repugnant to his very nature. The story of a cavalry skirmish in the Mexican War and of two men who fought with different philosophies and methods toward the same end. One lived heroically and one died a hero.
Renowned chef Henri Charpentier--the man who invented Crepes Suzette--recalls the "good old days" with famed actress Sarah Bernhardt. He recalls for her how he went from being one of the world's most famous--and richest--chefs to his situation now, with his business gone and his once considerable fortune dissipated.
Story of an unsung racing mechanic who because of a club foot, has never dared to race himself. All he needed was the confidence in himself to succeed. Based on the true story of Bud and Gina Hand.
In the spring of 1828, the bark Vestris, is 16 days out enroute from England to Boston. The weather is fair, but the captain's ailing wife suddenly has a vision telling her (in a message written on a blackboard) to have the ship change course. At first the captain refuses, but when the weather changes and his wife becomes sicker, he reluctantly agrees. As a result, they find and rescue three survivors of a shipwreck. One of the three is a doctor, and appears to be the ""spirit"" seen by the wife. He saves her life. As it turns out, the message on the blackboard is in his handwriting. Curiously, the doctor is as puzzled as everyone else by the wife's vision.
Hiero II, king of ancient Syracuse, orders a gold crown to be made as an offering to the gods. The gold is delivered to a goldsmith and the man's wife persuades him to substitute silver for some of the gold.
