Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.
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Air Date: 1952-09-25
Man invents a wife, then accused of murdering her.
Air Date: 1952-10-02
Willie Dante owns a bar and gambling house called Dante's Inferno. One night, the wife of an acquaintance tells Willi...
Air Date: 1952-10-23
Englishman must retrieve his hat after visiting his love.
Air Date: 1952-11-06
An actor named Paul is out on an evening stroll when he sees a young woman attempting to jump off a bridge. After a s...
Air Date: 1952-11-20
A notorious criminal returns to his home town after 15 years away, and a young man wants to join him in notoriety and...
Air Date: 1952-12-04
Rebellious physician on an island in the South Pacific.
Air Date: 1952-12-18
A reformed pickpocket in Paris obtains the purse of an attractive woman. He reads a letter telling about her dying so...
Air Date: 1953-01-01
Middleweight boxer finds his big bout has been fixed.
Air Date: 1953-01-15
William encounters an old acquaintance, John Dwerrihouse, on a train with 75,000 pounds. Only later did William learn...
Air Date: 1953-01-29
A famous marshal of Dodge City sets out in search of the murderous Sonoma Kid and runs into a tragedy of the desert.
Air Date: 1953-02-12
Woman buys hearing aid and hears husband plot her murder.
Air Date: 1953-02-26
Boyer plays four roles in story of a director and his woes.
Air Date: 1953-03-12
Young boy fights to win his foster mother's love.
Air Date: 1953-03-26
After separating from his wife, a wealthy clubman is about to marry a much young woman -- whereupon his mirror image ...
Air Date: 1953-04-23
Sea captain discovers a time bomb is planted on his ship.
Air Date: 1953-05-07
Five people, one a murderer, are trapped on subway.
Air Date: 1953-05-21
A psychiatrist listens to his female patients go on about their troubles. As they talk, he imagines himself within ea...
Air Date: 1953-06-04
A bank employee mails a letter to his boss confessing to stealing $7000 and includes the stocks he bought with the mo...
Air Date: 1953-06-18
Past haunts politician running for Senator.