Title: Four-Star Playhouse

Type: Hollywood star drama anthology

Length: 30 minutes

Broadcast history: July 3, 1949 - Sept. 11, 1949 NBC. Sundays at 8 PM.

Cast: Fred MacMurray, Loretta Young, Rosalind Russell, Robert Cummings, Janet Waldo, Jeanne Bates, Joe DuVal, Willard Waterman, Jack Edwards, Mary Jane Croft, Frank Nelson, Charles Seel, Herb Butterfield, Ira Grossel, Shep Menken, Dan O'Herlihy, Ken Christy

The idea with this show was that the four "big" stars would rotate and play one role per month. Its creation resulted from NBC's attempt to counter the CBS talent raid that had stripped NBC of stars such as Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, and Amos 'n Andy. The productions ranged from comedy to melodrama and each show revolved around one strong lead character. The story lines were adapted from "Cosmopolitan" magazine.

Source:

On the Air - John Dunning