Crossroads (1955 TV series)
Crossroads was an American television anthology series based on the activities of clergy from different denominations. It aired from October 1955 to June 1956 on ABC. The series' second season aired from October 1956 to June 1957 in syndication.
| Crossroads | |
|---|---|
 Jean Willes and Dennis Morgan in Crossroads (1955) | |
| Genre | Anthology |
| Directed by | Justus Addiss Nathan Juran Richard Kinon Paul Landres Leslie H. Martinson Ralph Murphy Ralph Nelson George Waggner |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 78 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Harry Joe Brown |
| Producers | Harry Joe Brown Bernard Schubert |
| Editors | Roy V. Livingston James E. Smith |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 25 mins. |
| Production companies | Federal Telefilms Sterling Films (IV) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC Syndication |
| Picture format | Black-and-white |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | October 7, 1955 – June 6, 1957 |
Overview
The episodes, which often had deep spiritual themes, were usually set in the 1950s, but some were framed for an earlier era.
The series featured numerous guest stars, many of whom appeared in several episodes throughout the series' run. James Dean appeared in a 1955 episode, "Broadway Trust", along with Lloyd Bridges and Mary Treen. The episode aired five weeks after Dean died in an automobile crash in September 1955.
Victor Jory was cast in the 1957 episode "Lone Star Preacher", a dramatization of the Texas Baptist pastor George Washington Truett, with Barbara Eiler as his wife, Jo Truett.[1]
Other guest stars include:
- Hugh Beaumont
- Noah Beery, Jr.
- Edgar Buchanan
- Chuck Connors
- Jeanne Cooper
- Johnny Crawford
- Donald Crisp
- Richard Deacon
- Don DeFore
- Elinor Donahue
- Brian Donlevy
- Howard Duff
- Barbara Eden
- Stuart Erwin
- Yvonne Lime Fedderson
- Arthur Franz
- Virginia Gregg
- Barbara Hale
- Taylor Holmes
- Vivi Janiss
- Russell Johnson
- Michael Landon
- Gene Lockhart
- Jimmy Lydon
- Barton MacLane
- Hugh Marlowe
- Strother Martin
- Kevin McCarthy
- Eve Miller
- Martin Milner
- Gerald Mohr
- J. Carrol Naish
- Jeanette Nolan
- Susan Oliver
- Maureen O'Sullivan
- Jerry Paris
- Leo Penn
- Vincent Price
- Roy Roberts
- Lyle Talbot
- Regis Toomey
- Lee Van Cleef
- Bobs Watson
- Grant Withers
Broadcast history
In its first season on ABC, Crossroads followed the long-running sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on the Friday evening schedule. It was scheduled opposite Our Miss Brooks on CBS and The Life of Riley on NBC.
ABC canceled Crossroads after one season. The series was then picked up for a second season, airing in syndication from October 1956 to June 1957, for a total of 78 episodes.
Sample episodes:
- "A Bell for O'Donnell" – A reverend (Edmund Lowe) learns a lesson in forgiveness when he is swindled by a fast-talking con man.
- "Call for Help" – A priest (Richard Carlson) works with troubled youths when a gang fight leads to a fatal shooting.
- "Cleanup" – A pastor (Vincent Price) exhorts his parishioners to take back their city from the gangsters and corrupt politicians who have taken it over.
- "Dig or Die, Brother Hyde" – A new preacher (Hugh Marlowe) on the harsh Dakota frontier is severely tested.
- "God's Healing" – Vincent Price plays a priest who heals an old woman's embittered heart.
- "The Good Thief" – A US Army chaplain (James Whitmore) is tortured by Red Chinese captors for ministering to his fellow prisoners of war.
- "The Judge" – Brian Donlevy does double duty in a lawless town as a preacher and a judge.
- "Mother O'Brien" – A police detective is torn between family and duty when his younger brother is involved in a petty crime.
References
- ""Lone Star Preacher", March 15, 1957". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved June 14, 2013.