Screen Directors' Playhouse, The

The Screen Directors’ Playhouse is an American radio dramatic anthology program that was broadcast on NBC from January 9, 1949, through September 28, 1951. Initially, it was called NBC Theater, but the name was changed to Screen Directors’ Playhouse in July 1949 when the Pabst Brewing Company became the sponsor.

Each episode of The Screen Directors’ Playhouse featured an adaptation of a popular film, with the director of the original film introducing the radio version and then engaging in a conversation with the stars at the end of the program. This format allowed the audience to gain insight into the filmmaking process and the creative decisions made by the directors.

The series showcased a wide range of genres, from classic Westerns like Stagecoach to psychological thrillers like The Dark Mirror. Renowned directors such as John Ford, Billy Wilder, and Henry Hathaway were featured, and the program attracted a stellar cast of Hollywood stars, including John Wayne, Rosalind Russell, James Stewart, and Claudette Colbert.

The Stars

While The Screen Directors’ Playhouse did not have a regular cast, it featured many of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time.

John Wayne, for example, reprised his role from the film Stagecoach in the premiere episode.

Other notable actors who appeared on the program included Rosalind Russell, Marlene Dietrich, Dan Dailey, Bob Hope, Ward Bond, Dorothy McGuire, Edward G. Robinson, and Olivia de Havilland.

Perhaps the most significant guest star was Margaret Truman, the daughter of President Harry S. Truman, who made her dramatic radio debut on the program in the episode “Jackpot” alongside James Stewart.

Key Dates

• The Screen Directors’ Playhouse debuted on January 9, 1949, as a replacement for Fred Allen’s program, airing on Sundays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
• On March 13, 1949, the show was moved to 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays.
• In July 1949, the program was moved to Fridays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time as a summer replacement for Eddie Cantor’s show, with the Pabst Brewing Company as the sponsor. This change also brought about the name change to Screen Directors’ Playhouse.
• After the summer run, the show was heard on Mondays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Beginning on November 18, 1949, it was moved to Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
• The program was sustained until RCA became its sponsor on January 6, 1950.

Other Information

The Screen Directors’ Playhouse was one of several shows in 1949 that mixed recordings of dialogue with live performances of musical components, a technique that reduced expenses by using lower-cost live musicians instead of more expensive transcribed music. However, by November 1950, the show had transitioned to using “canned bridges and cues” like many other network radio programs at the time.

The program received recognition for its contributions to the medium, including an award from the National Council of Teachers of English in 1949 for promoting “greater understanding and appreciation of our literary heritage.” It was also a second-place selection for “Outstanding Entertainment in drama” in the 1949 Peabody Awards.

Radio historian John Dunning praised the writing for *The Screen Directors’ Playhouse, stating that its importance “was seldom better demonstrated than here. Though the material had a familiar sound, it was made fresh.”