Colgate Theatre 1949

Overview

Colgate Theatre is a dramatic television anthology series that aired on NBC. The program spanned a total of 50 episodes across two distinct production periods in 1949 and 1958. During its initial run, the series functioned as a live anthology broadcast on Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m., continuing through the summer of 1950. The second iteration of the series aired on Tuesday nights at 9:30 p.m. and featured filmed pilot episodes of unsold television programs. This later version of the show served as a last-minute replacement for the game series Dotto. The game show was cancelled in August 1958 following allegations that the program was rigged. Colgate Theatre acted as a filler for the sponsor until the premiere of The George Burns Show on October 14, 1958. The series maintained a 30-minute runtime throughout its broadcast history. By providing a platform for unsold pilots and live dramatic performances, the anthology occupied a specific niche in the television landscape during its two separate periods of operation on NBC.