The Best of Broadway

1954 - 1955

The Royal Family

15th September 1954

Episode 1

Comedy about the Cavendishes, a leading and slightly eccentric theatrical family. Their real-life family drama occurs in a Manhattan apartment when the grand matriarch, Fanny Cavendish, learns that her daughter and granddaughter may both be giving up the stage for marriage. Complicating the situation is the arrival of Fanny's son, Tony - a Hollywood matinee idol on the run from a breach-of-promise suit.

The Man Who Came to Dinner

13th October 1954

Episode 2

Comedy about what happens to a typical midwestern family when a visiting New York theatre critic slips and breaks his hip leaving their house and is forced to stay there to recouperate. The critic, Sheridan Whiteside, completely disrupts, and unnerves, the family and townspeople. He doesn't shy away from telling people exactly what he thinks of them and how they should live their lives. Further complicating things are visits by his eccentric theatrical friends.

Panama Hattie

10th November 1954

Episode 3

Hattie Mahoney is a singer in the Canal Zone in love with a Philadelphia socialite, Nick Bullett. Hattie has to win over Nick's daughter Gerry before she can marry him. She does so with an assist from her sailor pals and foils an attempt to blow up the canal in the bargain. Songs by Cole Porter, music arranged by Buddy Bregman. Songs from the original score included Fresh As A Daisy/Let's Be Buddies-Merman & Wolfe/Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please-Merman. Added were Ridin' High-Merman (from Red, Hot & Blue) and I Love You (from Mexican Hayride).

The Philadelphia Story

8th December 1954

Episode 4

Spoiled Philadelphia heiress Tracy Lord throws out her playboy husband C.K. Dexter Haven shortly after their marriage. Two years later, Tracy is about to marry respectable, but dull, George Kittredge. Dexter arrives at the Lord mansion the day before the wedding with Mike Connor and Liz Imbrie, respectively a writer and photographer from a sleazy tabloid, determined to prevent the marriage from taking place.

Arsenic and Old Lace

5th January 1955

Episode 5

Comedy that concerns the Brewster sisters, Abby and Martha, who put lonely old men out of their misery by serving them poisoned elderberry wine. Their nephew Teddy buries them in the basement. He thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt and that the bodies are Panama Canal workers that died of yellow fever. Another nephew is Jonathan, an escaped criminal looking for a hideout. He's had plastic surgery to change his looks and now resembles movie actor Boris Karloff. Into this madness comes nephew Mortimer, a drama critic, who tries to set things right.

The Show-Off

2nd February 1955

Episode 6

Aubrey Piper, only a clerk, pretends to be a railroad executive. He comes into the life of the Fisher family when daughter Amy falls in love with him. The family sees through his stories and can't stand him and his blowhard manner, especially Mrs. Fisher. Aubrey ends up unemployed and walking the street wearing a sandwich sign-the only work he can find. Eventually his luck turns and he helps a friend sell a patent and a deal he worked out at the railroad comes through making him wealthy. He marries Amy and her family comes to accept him and his show-off ways.

The Guardsman

2nd March 1955

Episode 7

Story concerns a married couple, actors both, where the husband suspects the wife of losing interest in him. To test her love and fidelity he disguises himself as a royal guardsman and attempts to seduce her. All ends happily although he is never quite sure whether or not she saw through his disguise.

Stage Door

6th April 1955

Episode 8

Story of aspiring actresses and dancers who live in a theatrical boarding house. Terry Randall is from a well-to-do family and her superior attitude annoys the other girls. Kaye Hamilton is a sweet, unassuming, totally dedicated actress who aspires to one role in particular. Jean Maitland is the streetwise hoofer with a heart of gold who rooms with Terry. After Terry outmaneuvers Kaye for the coveted part Kaye commits suicide, turning the other girls against her and forcing Tracy to do some soul searching. Jean helps Terry to learn a few things about herself and Terry emerges a better person and actress.

Broadway

4th May 1955

Episode 9

Dancer Roy Lane and gangster Steve Crandell vie for the affection of chorus girl Billie Moore amidst gangland turf battles, dancing girls, bootleggers and assorted Broadway types.

Top Cast

Comedy Drama

The Best of Broadway is a 60-minute television anthology series telecast live on CBS from 1954 to 1955 for a total of 9 episodes.