Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
A landmark CBS anthology series from Desilu Productions that gave birth to two of television's most iconic shows.
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse - Series Information
- Original Title: Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
- First Air Year: 1958
- Last Air Year: 1960
- Created by: Desi Arnaz
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 47
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: CBS
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse - Plot
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu Productions. The show ran on CBS television between 1958 and 1960. Two of its 48 episodes served as pilots for the 1950s television series The Twilight Zone and The Untouchables.
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Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Desi Arnaz
Main Cast
- Desi Arnaz
- Lucille Ball
- William Frawley
- Vivian Vance
- Jean Hagen
- Bruce Gordon
- Jack Weston
- Nicholas Georgiade
- Margo
- Barry Sullivan
Writers
- Bob Weiskopf
- Bob Schiller
- Adrian Spies
- Ralph Nelson
- William Templeton
Executive Producers
- Bert Granet
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse - FAQs
What is Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse about?
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu Productions that aired on CBS from 1958 to 1960. Each episode presented a self-contained dramatic story, and the series is best remembered for airing pilot episodes that launched both The Twilight Zone and The Untouchables.
Which famous shows got their start on Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse?
Two landmark television series were born here. Rod Serling's "The Time Element" served as the creative seed for The Twilight Zone, while "The Untouchables" pilot introduced Eliot Ness and his battle against Al Capone — a story that became one of the most celebrated crime dramas of the era.
Did Rod Serling write for Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse?
Rod Serling contributed to the series, most notably writing "The Time Element," which aired in 1958. That episode — a time-travel story set around the Pearl Harbor attack — generated such strong viewer response that it directly inspired CBS to greenlight The Twilight Zone the following year.
Who created Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse?
The series was created by Desi Arnaz, who also served as a key figure at Desilu Productions — the powerhouse studio he co-founded with Lucille Ball. Desilu was responsible for producing some of the most iconic television of the 1950s and 1960s, and this anthology series was one of its flagship projects.
Who are the main actors in Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse?
The series featured a rotating cast across its anthology format, including Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, William Frawley, Vivian Vance, Jean Hagen, Bruce Gordon, Jack Weston, Nicholas Georgiade, Margo, and Barry Sullivan among its notable performers.
How many seasons and episodes does Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse have?
The series ran for two seasons and 47 episodes in total. Season 1 comprised 31 episodes, while Season 2 featured 16 episodes. The show aired on CBS from 1958 to 1960 before concluding its run.
What genre is Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse?
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is a Drama anthology series. Each episode told a standalone story in the tradition of the great American television playhouses of the 1950s, covering a wide range of dramatic subjects from crime and suspense to human-interest stories and science fiction.
What are shows similar to Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse?
Fans of classic anthology drama may enjoy Four Star Playhouse (1952), The Twilight Zone (1985), Dramarama (1983), and Tales from the Darkside (1984). For editorial picks in a similar spirit, The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) and Sports Night (1998) are also worth exploring.
More About Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Explore further details about this classic anthology series on these authoritative resources.