Errol Flynn Theatre

1956 - United Kingdom

British-produced anthology series along similar lines to Douglas Fairbanks Presents; both were made to cash in on the growing US and British television markets. Filmed in the UK at Bray Studios (best known for its association with Hammer Film Productions) in Berkshire, England.

Former Hollywood heartthrob and swashbuckler Flynn introduced all 26 episodes although he only appeared in 6 of them in the lead role and in 5 of them he was accompanied by his wife, Patrice Wymore Flynn. The filmed series ranged from adaptations of classic tales such as The Duel by Alexander Dumas to domestic melodramas. Notable guests included Christopher Lee, Glynis Johns, Herbert Lom, Mai Zetterling, Jean Kent, Leslie Phillips, Arthur Lowe and Patrick Allen.

The first episode in the series had actually been made four years earlier as an intended pilot for US broadcast only and to be shown as a 'B-Movie' in UK theatres.

Published on December 10th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

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Play and Single Dramas

The Abbott & Costello Show (1951)

November 26th, 2018

Although slammed by the critics The Abbott and Costello Show became a firm favourite with the viewing audience as the comic twosome brought to the small screen the same brand of slapstick humour that had pulled in theatre patrons for years.

Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School (1952)

November 29th, 2018

Comedic stories of a gluttonous, lazy, deceitful, self-important and conceited schoolboy that was all the rage in the 1950s.

Annie Oakley (1954)

November 27th, 2018

Television's first Western heroine was played by Gail Davis and co-starred Brad Johnson as Deputy Sheriff Lofty Craig and Jimmy Hawkins, as Annie's brother, Tagg.

All Your Own (1952)

November 27th, 2018

BBC hobby programme for children.

The Eric Barker Half Hour (1951)

December 10th, 2018

"He was a pioneer", wrote Nicholas Parsons, "the first person to do 'topical satire' on television, but as the phrase had not yet been coined, and as the sketches were part of conventional variety shows, he never received the credit he deserved for originality."

The Army Game (1957)

November 27th, 2018

Hugely successful series from Granada TV that started in 1957 as a fortnightly live sitcom, which was moved to a weekly spot when it became so popular. The series followed the misfortunes of a mixed bag of army conscripts.

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