Four Star Playhouse 1952
What is Four Star Playhouse?
Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from September 25, 1952, through September 27, 1956. The program was also known in syndication as Star Performance.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1952
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 129
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- Sep 25, 1952
- Last aired
- Jul 26, 1956
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- CBS
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Updated
Where to watch
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 129 episodes and an average 30-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from September 25, 1952, through September 27, 1956. The program was also known in syndication as Star Performance. The series featured a rotating cast of four primary stars: Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell. These performers took turns starring in individual episodes that ranged in tone from comedy to drama. While the show centered on these four actors, other performers including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine also appeared in lead roles. During its first season, the series was broadcast on a bi-weekly schedule and sponsored by The Singer Company. In the fall of 1953, the program transitioned to a weekly schedule, and Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor. The production utilized various creative talent, with Blake Edwards contributing as both a writer and director. Roy Kellino is also credited as a director for the series. The show remains recognized as a classic television anthology drama from the early 1950s.
Should you watch it?
“An anthology series featuring rotating Hollywood stars in standalone episodes.”
- Features a rotating cast of major Hollywood stars
- Spans multiple genres from comedy to drama
- Includes contributions from notable writers and directors
- Episodes may feel dated to modern audiences
- Limited availability compared to modern series
You enjoy classic television anthology series with star-powered casts.
Suitable for fans of classic drama and anthology formats; tone varies by episode.
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Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 19 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 My Wife Geraldine Mytharc Sep 25, 1952
- E2 Dante's Inferno Core Oct 2, 1952
- E3 The Lost Silk Hat Core Oct 23, 1952
- E4 Backstage Core Nov 6, 1952
- E5 Welcome Home Core Nov 20, 1952
- E6 The Island Core Dec 4, 1952
- E7 The Officer and the Lady Core Dec 18, 1952
- E8 Knockout Core Jan 1, 1953
- E9 Man on a Train Core Jan 15, 1953
- E10 Trail's End Core Jan 29, 1953
- E11 Sound Off, My Love Core Feb 12, 1953
- E12 The Man in the Box Core Feb 26, 1953
- E13 No Identity Core Mar 12, 1953
- E14 The Man Who Walked Out On Himself Core Mar 26, 1953
- E15 The Last Voyage Core Apr 23, 1953
- E16 Night Ride Core May 7, 1953
- E17 The Ladies On His Mind Core May 21, 1953
- E18 To Whom It May Concern Mytharc Jun 4, 1953
- E19 Shadowed Mytharc Jun 18, 1953
Season 2 · 31 episodes
- E1 Finale Mytharc Sep 24, 1953
- E2 The Squeeze Core Oct 1, 1953
- E3 A Place Of His Own Core Oct 8, 1953
- E4 Love At Sea Core Oct 15, 1953
- E5 The Witness Core Oct 22, 1953
- E6 A Matter Of Advice Core Oct 29, 1953
- E7 Search in the Night Core Nov 5, 1953
- E8 Moorings Core Nov 12, 1953
- E9 The Hard Way Core Nov 19, 1953
- E10 For Art`s Sake Core Nov 26, 1953
- E11 The Girl On The Park Bench Core Dec 3, 1953
- E12 The Room Core Dec 10, 1953
- E13 A Man Of The World Core Dec 17, 1953
- E14 The Gift Core Dec 24, 1953
- E15 House For Sale Core Dec 31, 1953
- E16 The Test Core Jan 7, 1954
- E17 The Bad Streak Core Jan 14, 1954
- E18 A String of Beads Core Jan 21, 1954
- E19 Indian Taker Core Jan 28, 1954
- E20 Second Dawn Core Feb 4, 1954
- E21 The Gun Core Feb 11, 1954
- E22 The Bomb Core Feb 18, 1954
- E23 Meet McGraw: Long Count Core Feb 25, 1954
- E24 Detective`s Holiday Core Mar 4, 1954
- E25 Operation In Money Core Mar 11, 1954
- E26 Lady of the Orchids Core Mar 18, 1954
- E27 The Book Core Apr 1, 1954
- E28 A Study In Panic Core Apr 8, 1954
- E29 Masquerade Core Apr 15, 1954
- E30 Village In The City Mytharc Apr 22, 1954
- E31 The Doctor and the Countess Mytharc Apr 29, 1954
Season 3 · 38 episodes
- E1 Man in the Cellar Mytharc Sep 30, 1954
- E2 Never Explain Core Oct 7, 1954
- E3 Interlude Core Oct 14, 1954
- E4 The Wallet Core Oct 21, 1954
- E5 The Adolescent Core Oct 28, 1954
- E6 The Contest Core Nov 4, 1954
- E7 Vote Of Confidence Core Nov 11, 1954
- E8 My Own Dear Dragon Mytharc Nov 18, 1954
- E9 Marked Down Core Nov 25, 1954
- E10 Meet A Lonely Man Core Dec 2, 1954
- E11 Bourbon Street Core Dec 9, 1954
- E12 A Championship Affair Core Dec 16, 1954
- E13 The Answer Core Dec 23, 1954
- E14 Go Ahead And Jump Core Dec 30, 1954
- E15 A Bag Of Oranges Core Jan 6, 1955
- E16 Stuffed Shirt Core Jan 11, 1955
- E17 Breakfast in Bed Core Jan 20, 1955
- E18 The Good Sister Core Jan 27, 1955
- E19 A Kiss for Mr. Lincoln Core Feb 3, 1955
- E20 Fair Trial Core Feb 10, 1955
- E21 The Wild Bunch Core Feb 17, 1955
- E22 Tusitala Core Feb 24, 1955
- E23 The Returning Core Mar 3, 1955
- E24 Eddie`s Place Core Mar 10, 1955
- E25 Henry And The Psychopathic Horse Core Mar 17, 1955
- E26 Night At Lark Cottage Core Mar 24, 1955
- E27 The Girl On The Bridge Core Mar 31, 1955
- E28 The Collar Core Apr 7, 1955
- E29 Madeira, Madeira Core Apr 14, 1955
- E30 With All My Heart Core Apr 21, 1955
- E31 The House Always Wins Core Apr 28, 1955
- E32 Uncle Fred Flits By Core May 5, 1955
- E33 Alias Mr. Hepp Core May 12, 1955
- E34 Trudy Core May 26, 1955
- E35 Broken Journey Core Jun 2, 1955
- E36 The Executioner Core Jun 9, 1955
- E37 The Frightened Woman Mytharc Jun 23, 1955
- E38 Award Mytharc Jun 30, 1955
Season 4 · 41 episodes
- E1 The Firing Squad Mytharc Oct 6, 1955
- E2 The Face of Danger Core Oct 13, 1955
- E3 Let the Chips Fall Mytharc Oct 20, 1955
- E4 Full Circle Core Oct 27, 1955
- E5 A Spray of Bullets Core Nov 3, 1955
- E6 The Devil to Pay Core Nov 10, 1955
- E7 Here Comes the Suit Core Nov 17, 1955
- E8 Looking Glass House Core Nov 24, 1955
- E9 Something Very Special Mytharc Dec 1, 1955
- E10 A Place Full of Strangers Core Dec 8, 1955
- E11 One Way Out Core Dec 15, 1955
- E12 Dark Meeting Core Jan 5, 1956
- E13 Magic Night Core Jan 12, 1956
- E14 Tunnel of Fear Core Jan 19, 1956
- E15 High Stakes Core Jan 26, 1956
- E16 The Listener Core Feb 2, 1956
- E17 Safe Keeping Core Feb 9, 1956
- E18 No Limit Core Feb 16, 1956
- E19 Command Core Feb 23, 1956
- E20 Once to Every Woman Core Mar 1, 1956
- E21 Red Wine Mytharc Mar 8, 1956
- E22 To Die at Midnight Core Mar 15, 1956
- E23 Desert Encounter Core Mar 22, 1956
- E24 The Case of Emily Cameron Core Mar 29, 1956
- E25 The Rites of Spring Core Apr 5, 1956
- E26 Autumn Carousel Core Apr 12, 1956
- E27 Wall of Bamboo Core Apr 19, 1956
- E28 Touch and Go Core Apr 26, 1956
- E29 A Long Way From Texas Core May 3, 1956
- E30 That Woman Core May 10, 1956
- E31 The Other Room Core May 17, 1956
- E32 One Forty-Two Core May 24, 1956
- E33 Beneath the Surface Core May 31, 1956
- E34 Watch the Sunset Core Jun 7, 1956
- E35 Second Chance Core Jun 14, 1956
- E36 Woman Afraid Core Jun 21, 1956
- E37 The Stacked Deck Core Jun 28, 1956
- E38 Distinguished Service Core Jul 5, 1956
- E39 Yellowbelly Core Jul 12, 1956
- E40 The Stand-In Mytharc Jul 19, 1956
- E41 Success Story Mytharc Jul 26, 1956
Frequently asked questions
Who were the main stars of Four Star Playhouse?
The main stars were Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell, with other performers occasionally taking the lead.
When did Four Star Playhouse air?
The series ran from 1952 to 1956, beginning as a bi-weekly show before becoming weekly in 1953.
What type of episodes did Four Star Playhouse feature?
It was an anthology series, meaning each episode was a standalone story, ranging from drama to comedy.
Who sponsored the show?
The Singer Company sponsored the first season, with Bristol-Myers becoming an alternate sponsor when the show went weekly.
Did Blake Edwards contribute to the series?
Yes, Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series.